President’s Report to the Board

Welcome to the Fall 2004 President’s Report. To ensure enhanced internal communications with the college, the distribution of this report has changed. At each board of trustees meeting, I will present a written report to the board which will then be posted on the college website. View this month's report on the college's reorganization.

Board Committee Reports

External Affairs

Momentum at the state level continues to gather speed as the legislature contemplates the funding structure of the Commonwealth’s 14 community colleges. A hearing before the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee was held in Harrisburg on October 5 and testimony was presented by 11 Pennsylvania community colleges, including CCAC. Primary issues of concern focused upon the need for capital (statewide institutional need exceeds $500 million, but this would require some $30 million in debt service); operating funds and the funding formula; workforce initiatives; and accessibility. In response to these pressing issues, the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PCCC) has created a committee consisting of current board members. The mission of the committee is to work with trustees from Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges in a broad range of state-level activities, including interaction with legislators and other state officials. The committee will also support the legislative agenda and priorities of the PCCC. The committee held their first meeting by teleconference on Tuesday, October 12.

Strategic action plans for each of the three centers (Center for Health Careers, Frieda G. Shapira Center for Learning, Center for Professional Development) are now in the stages of final completion and all programs and projects are tied to the strategic plan. This will assist our fundraising efforts through public and private funding sources greatly.

Finally, CCAC will host the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) program’s preliminary peer review of applications for 2005 in mid-November. This is a first for CCAC. Professors from CCAC and other area colleges and universities will be asked to participate as preliminary reviewers of national FIPSE program submissions. Approximately 40 reviewers and two FIPSE project directors will spend two and half days at Byers Hall reading submissions. Aside from assisting FIPSE, participation in this program may help to spark creative programming ideas and familiarity with the submission process among our faculty. Hosting this program will also help in strengthening CCAC’s institutional relationship with FIPSE.

Human Resources

The human resources committee has announced a tentative structure that will include Dr. Mona Generett, Chair; Mr. Alex Keddie; Mr. Kenneth Broadbent; Ms. Jeanne Shader, presenter; and Dr. Peggy Betlyn. Ms. Donna-Rene Ferris, SEIU systemwide steward, and Mr. John Dziak, AFT president, will also participate as needed for discussions relative to contractual content.

The committee will continue to discuss how it can best support Dr. Sutin’s re-organizational plan, which is intended to support systemwide standards and a performance-driven, cost-effective administrative environment.

Additionally, the committee is reviewing the SEIU/Excluded Early Retirement Motion.

There were no reports this month for the finance or education and student services committees.

Summation

I wish to once again extend my appreciation to our board of trustees and college staff for their hard work, support, and patience as the college undergoes organizational changes. CCAC continues to move forward thanks to the collaboration of remarkable faculty, staff, and administrators with a passion for education and the communities we serve. Such dedication contributes to the many successes we see at CCAC each day. The Frieda G. Shapira Center for Learning, the Center for Health Careers, and the Center for Professional Development are making progress due to the strong leadership and enthusiasm of our staff and community partners. New programs are being created to fulfill workforce needs within the region. The college has also joined with its sister institutions to deliver a strong message to Harrisburg: community colleges must receive additional funding so that we may continue to provide quality, accessible education without increasing costs to our students. Throughout our successes and challenges, CCAC remains true to our mission, which is to deliver exceptional education and outreach to residents of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Ongoing Initiatives – updates

Collegewide participation encouraged in Middle States process

After two and a half years of exploring every aspect of the college in the self-study process, the time for CCAC’s reaccreditation is truly drawing near. The first draft of the complete report is now posted on the CCAC website, and it is also available in campus libraries. Informational forums are scheduled at all campuses and College Office throughout the fall semester. Dates of the forums are posted on the website.

All employees are strongly encouraged to read the report and give feedback to the Middle States Steering Committee by emailing your comments to bdavis@ccac.edu or by attending one of the forums and sharing your information there. This is your opportunity to be fully involved and prepared when the Middle States Team arrives this April.

As an incentive for collegewide participation, the Steering Committee has launched a Quiz Contest. Watch for the details in your email and be sure to enter. There are great prizes for each quiz!

Center for Health Careers

On Oct. 29, CCAC Boyce Campus and the Center for Health Careers will once again sponsor Health Quest from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Boyce Campus, located at 595 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146. Health Quest provides western Pennsylvania students with current information about career opportunities in health care and will feature representatives from colleges, universities, and hospital-based training programs. Equipment displays, hands-on activities, and presentations by health care professionals will also be available at Health Quest. Admission is free to all students. For additional information, please contact Boyce Campus at 724.325.6833 or the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania at 1.800.328.0505.

It is also important to note that several very important appointments were made within the Center for Health Careers during the last year. Rebecca Harmon was appointed to assistant dean of allied health, and Theresa Piekut was appointed to assistant dean of nursing. I would also like to add that Jodi Campano, executive director of business and industry, is now working with the center and assisting in the formation of new community partnerships. I am sure each of these individuals will do an outstanding job in their new roles.

The Frieda G. Shapira Center for Learning

The director of Educational Services from the National Institute at Landmark College has just completed a two-day visit to the offices of supportive services at each of our campuses. The purpose of the visit was to have Landmark officials initiate a comprehensive review of CCAC’s programs for students with learning disabilities. In a debriefing at the end of the visit, the Landmark representative praised the professionalism and enthusiasm of our faculty and staff who work with these students. A formal evaluation will be submitted to the college in writing, which will assess our current practices and facilities and recommend areas for improvement.

This summer, CCAC partnered for the first time with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) to offer a specialized tutoring program designed to help young elementary students improve their reading skills. Seventeen children were exposed to intense, one-on-one instruction with nine CCAC student interns, all of whom are enrolled in Education and Child and Family Studies programs among the college’s four campuses. This initiative was funded with grants from the Hillman and Heinz foundations. We appreciate their generosity and support.

The college’s Professional Development Program is now part of the Center for Learning. Maureen Stradley, department chair for developmental studies at Allegheny Campus, will serve as systemwide coordinator with four campus coordinators. They are: Jacqueline Cavalier, Allegheny Campus; Rita Gallegos, Boyce Campus; Gail Boyea, North Campus; and Stephen Wells, South Campus.

Center for Professional Development

Several new initiatives are underway within the Center for Professional Development (CPD). In July, the center welcomed new executive director Reggie Overton, who most recently served as first vice president/client manager at Mellon Financial Corp. Reggie’s experience and fortitude will undoubtedly lead the center forward as it seeks to expand its clientele.

In July, I announced that the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $2.4 million grant to the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse. The Greenhouse and local partners will now co-develop curriculum that satisfies training needs identified by local biotechnology and medical device employers. CCAC was identified as one of those partners and will work closely with the Greenhouse to design, develop, and deliver training to incumbent and prospective biotechnology workers—primarily in the medical device industry. The grant calls for industry and business participation as the training identified must be purely demand-driven and based upon the needs identified by companies and leaders in the medical device industry.

The contract between the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse and the U.S. Department of Labor was finalized in early October. It is expected that by early January, CCAC’s fiscal arrangements with the Greenhouse will be in place and training development and delivery can commence.

In other news, the CPD is proud to continue its work with Renal Solutions, Inc. (RSI), a local start-up biotechnology firm. Our staff will train RSI employees to work with medical device systems in accordance with federal regulations. The CPD was successful in obtaining a Customized Jobs Training Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to reimburse RSI for a substantial amount of their training costs.

Faculty and Staff Achievements

In each newsletter, I will highlight faculty and staff achievements that have occurred in recent months. Please be sure to join me in congratulating these individuals for their service to the college and the community, and for their pursuit of professional advancement. We are fortunate to have such dedicated faculty and staff here at CCAC.

Larry Furlong to head Lifetime Learning and Personal Development

Larry Furlong has been appointed to executive director of Lifetime Learning and Personal Development. Larry is a 1986 graduate of CCAC South Campus and received a B.S. in accounting and M.B.A. from Robert Morris University in 1989 and 1998, respectively. He began his working career with CCAC as the assistant business manager at North Campus in 1999 and, in February 2003, he was named the interim business coordinator of Continuing Education. In July 2003, he became business coordinator of Continuing Education. Prior to working at CCAC, Larry held positions in accounts payable, payroll, and accounts receivable at Harbison-Walker Refractories. He then worked for the credit and collections division of the customer satisfaction department at Respironics.

Allegheny Campus art professor recognized nationally

Allegheny Campus art professor Howard Lieberman’s graphite drawing of a fire escape was recently published in a college textbook that is used internationally and published by Prentice Hall. An example of advanced three-point perspective, his work was selected for the book titled “Perspective Drawing & Applications (3^rdedition),” by its author Charles O’Conner, Jr. Prentice Hall is the world's leading publisher of academic and reference textbooks. Howard has won numerous national and international awards for his graphite artwork, most recently at the prestigious 46^th annual Exhibition of American Art at Chautauqua Institute in New York.

CCAC and Pittsburgh Pirates honor a North Side legend

Mr. Milt Moore, who works for the Allegheny Campus, was honored August 28 at the Pittsburgh Pirates game. He was recognized for his service to the North Side through 36 years of participation with the Little League. Milt received 100 tickets for the game to distribute to kids and families. According to a letter from the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was honored for his “outstanding demonstration of selfless humanity and the dedication…displayed toward the enrichment and development of underprivileged youths in the community.” To Milt’s surprise, the Allegheny Campus student life office created a special Milt Moore T-shirt, and CCAC employees wore them to the game in his honor.

More accolades to…

• Diane Maldonado, a professor at South Campus, received her Ph.D. from DuquesneUniversity in May 2004. Dr. Maldonado teaches English composition, literature, and mass media. She has taught at CCAC since 1990.
• Norman Johnson, professor and director of the physical therapist assistant and massage therapy certificate programs at Boyce Campus, received two doctorates this year, including his doctorate in physical therapy from Slippery Rock University and his doctorate in adult education from Penn State University. Dr. Johnson was also appointed as Specialty Leader to the Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pharmacy. Additionally, Dr. Johnson was recently selected to the rank of captain in the Medical Service Corps in the United States Navy Reserve, and he was just appointed as the executive officer for the Naval Reserve Naval Hospital Unit in Pensacola, Florida, where he is assigned to Headquarters Detachment.
• Carl Mazzetti, professor of nuclear medicine technology at Allegheny Campus, has received certification in positron emission tomography (PET). In nuclear medicine, PET images the glucose metabolism in the body. Through such imaging, technologists can diagnose different diseases. Mazzetti is now qualified to teach PET courses, which will be held at Allegheny Campus starting in January.
• Professor Ping’an Wang, a South Campus CIT faculty member, has been certified as a Security+ Professional by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).This certification recognizes proficiency in areas such as general security concept, communication security, infrastructure security, basics of cryptography, and operational/organizational security.

Partnerships and Community Relations

CCAC provides space for disaster emergency center

The major flooding of Sept. 17 affected thousands of residents in southwestern Pennsylvania. Sadly, many homes and business were damaged or destroyed. In response, 10 disaster recovery centers were established throughout the state to aid flood victims. Federal, state, and county emergency agencies chose Allegheny Campus as the Allegheny County site due to its central location, access to public transportation and major roadways, adequate signage, recognizable landmarks, and the college’s association with county government. CCAC also has a history of helping the region in times of crisis, and we are pleased that we can play a role in this very important effort. Since the center opened in late September, state, county, and federal personnel at the site have provided service to 1,270 families. Emergency personnel, however, expect more people to seek aid, and so the center will be at Allegheny Campus one extra week—through October 23.

I would also like to commend the staff at Allegheny Campus for helping emergency officials “move in” to the Physical Education Building and for providing support as needed. When we learned the recovery center would be at CCAC, I asked college employees to extend their cooperation and to prepare themselves for temporary changes in daily routines generated by restricted parking, rescheduled meetings, and disruptions to gymnasium operations. Employees were happy to do their part in helping the recovery effort and I am impressed with the ease and expediency with which they made accommodations. Thank you to our staff and students for your assistance and patience.

Lincoln exhibit coming soon; related programs underway

This fall, CCAC Allegheny Campus Library will host “Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation,” an exhibit chronicling the former president from his beginnings as a young politician to his presidency during the Civil War. CCAC is one of only 40 sites in the nation to host this prestigious exhibit. In addition to the exhibit, a variety of related programming—including a film series, lecture series, music, and theatre, as well as a panel discussion about relevant Civil War-era topics and their impact—are scheduled. The film and speakers series have already begun, and I encourage each of you to attend one or more of the scheduled events if you have not already. The exhibit will open Oct. 27 on the third floor of the Allegheny Campus Library. A public reception will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on that day.

Additionally, I ask that faculty encourage their students to visit the exhibit and attend one or more of the many accompanying programs. You may also consider incorporating the exhibit and/or programs into your curriculum. Participation in these activities will certainly enhance our students’ educational experience here at CCAC. These programs are also open to the public, so if you know of anyone who may be interested, please pass the word along. Booklets detailing the exhibit and events are available in campus libraries and are being distributed throughout the campuses and center. Or, please contact Sylvia Green at 412.237.2591 if you would like a booklet sent to you. You may also view details online at www.ccac.edu/library/lincoln

Academics and Student Services

Enrollment up for fall semester

I am pleased to announce that Fall 2004 enrollment is up 3.74 percent in headcount and 4.09 percent in FTE (full-time equivalency) over the Fall 2003. This increase is present on all four campuses, however much of the increase is attributable to enrollment in health programs (600 new students) as well as significant growth at the new Braddock Hills Center (28 percent) and in our Internet courses (25 percent). Annual FTE enrollment was up last year for the fourth year in a row at 31,174 credit FTEs. The last time that credit FTE exceeded the 31,000 mark was in the 1992-93 academic year.

CCAC officially first community college in Pennsylvania to offer cosmetology program

I am pleased to announce that CCAC is officially the first community college in the state of Pennsylvania to offer an associate’s degree in cosmetology management. Boyce Campus Vice President Irene Campano and Quentin Martin, director of Forbes Road Career & Technology Center, formalized the partnership agreement in a signing ceremony on August 27. Twenty-five students have enrolled in the evening-weekend program which began on September 7.

In fact, Sandy Edmunds from the Pennsylvania Department of Higher Education, said recently that: “From the perspective of program development at colleges and universities, I consider the development of the Cosmetology Management program a "Best Practice" that will ensure success for the student, as well as the college.”

Indeed, this training is consistent with the college’s mission to make quality education affordable and accessible to the community. We are proud to provide leadership in workforce training and support the economic development of the region.

Nine new programs were launched this fall. These credit programs will help students earn credentials for the workplace or provide them with affordable transfer credits. They include: degree or certificate programs in Africana and Ethnic Studies; a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology; certificates in American Sign Language, Cisco Networking, Fire Science Administration, Landscape Design, and Multimedia Web Design; and diplomas in Global Studies and Technical Theatre.

User-friendly online tour launches

Through a generous grant from the CCAC Educational Foundation and Sprint, the web team, student life, and supportive services collaborated this year to develop a virtual tour that is state-of-the-art for a community college. Many colleges have an online tour that provides an external and limited look at a campus and its buildings. CCAC’s virtual tour offers directions and building floor plans for all campuses that nearly jump off the page. The tour is also user-friendly. Students or visitors can negotiate the twists and turns, parking areas, emergency exits, and handicapped accessibility online before they even step on campus. The tour includes points of interest on campuses, neighborhood landmarks, and highlights including enrollment management services.

New web features

*Instant Enrollment

For the past year, CCAC Central has enabled students—at the touch of a button—to access grades and transcripts, account information, and financial aid status. They have also been able to drop or add a class through this service. Now, through the collaboration of CCAC’s Information Technology Services (ITS), enrollment services, Lifetime Learning, and the web team, our noncredit, Lifetime Learning students can search, register, and pay for their classes quickly and conveniently using the new Instant Enrollment module within CCAC Central. These students can access Instant Enrollment through a redesigned, streamlined web interface.

*Online bookstore

With the new online bookstore, students can conveniently order books online and receive them in the mail before classes begin. Students registering for credit classes can purchase new and used textbooks and pay with a credit card. Books will be delivered to their doorstep. This new feature is especially important to our distance learning students.

*Enrollment management

In June, the college launched an enhanced version of the web information and inquiry form. The new form is supported by the college communication management system, which tracks students from inquiry to application. In a predefined time frame, students receive up to five personalized pieces of communications from the campus in which they have expressed an interest. Students may access and complete this inquiry form 24 hours a day to request information. In addition, CCAC faculty, staff and administrators have the ability complete the form via the college website for a student who calls or visits the campus.

New kitchen enhances Culinary Arts Program

To meet the needs of the growing culinary arts program at Allegheny Campus, the Jones Hall kitchen was recently upgraded. Perkins Vocational Education grant funds were used to purchase several pieces of new equipment, which include additional work tables, two stoves, a steamer, and a replacement for an aged walk-in freezer/cooler. The replacement freezer/cooler was installed outside the kitchen which resulted in more space for instruction and practical experience within the kitchen. Most of the work was completed by campus physical plant personnel.

Biotechnology faculty receive grant for laptops, instructional materials

Congratulations to biology and biotechnology faculty members at Allegheny Campus for helping CCAC to secure a $25,000 grant from the Catalyst Connection earlier this year. CCAC was awarded $25,000 to purchase laptop computers and interactive educational materials for student use in biology and biotechnology course work. I applaud Dr. Sandra Bobick, Dr. Juanita Plaskon, and Dr. Maura Stevenson, for their work on this important project.

Ongoing construction, renovations

CCAC's board of trustees recently authorized the issue of a $20 million bond to provide funds for data, network and telecommunications upgrades, as well as repairs and renovations to our buildings. About 150 projects should be completed within a four-year period. Projects will include replacement of elevators, boilers, and chillers; numerous roof repairs; renovations to several classroom areas; upgrades to exterior and interior lighting systems; repairs to masonry; rebuilding of roads, lots and concrete walks; security system upgrades; energy management system expansions; Americans with Disabilities Act compliance upgrades; and the purchase of classroom furniture as well as new doors and windows at several locations. Many of the first year’s projects are in the design phase, so please expect significant contractor presence on the campuses.

External Relations

New marketing, enrollment management

In the last two President’s reports, I have mentioned the efforts of Jack Chielli and Betty Davis’ departments to brand the college via a new marketing plan and an enrollment communications management system. I hope you had the opportunity to witness some of these efforts in action. Brand new television and radio commercials featuring students hit the airwaves in July, as did advertisements, postcards, and billboards capturing the new branding message “Choose CCAC.” This theme will extend into the Spring 2005 college marketing campaign, which will include additional strategies targeting high school juniors and seniors making final decisions about where to attend college. As previously mentioned, in June the college launched the enhanced version of the web information and inquiry form, which is supported by the college enrollment management communications system. Again, this system will track students from inquiry to application and prospective students will receive personalized communications from the campus in which they have expressed an interest.

I believe the combination of marketing and branding efforts with enrollment management will prove successful as we strive to enhance CCAC’s image in the community and increase enrollment among new students—particularly high school students.

CCAC Educational Foundation

Creation of Alumni Association underway

I am excited to announce that a CCAC Alumni Association is being created. In this first year, the focus of the alumni plan is to identify and begin regular communications with our alumni, form an advisory board, and compile a list of benefits for the members of the alumni association. As the alumni advisory board is formed, your help is needed. If you are a CCAC alumnus or know of any successful alumni stories, please contact Lara Flister at 412.237.4429 or lflister@ccac.edu. As CCAC staff and constituents, each of you is a valuable resource in identifying our former students and their successes. Any and all help with these efforts will be greatly appreciated.

Annual golf tournament raises $45,000

The FedEx Ground/CCAC Educational Foundation Golf Tournament was held on Monday, September 20, 2004 at the Treesdale Golf and Country Club. The 14^th annual event raised $45,000 to support the mission of CCAC. The Educational Foundation would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all participants for supporting this event. Gold sponsors included: Pepsi Bottling Group; Western Pennsylvania Labor Management Cooperation Council; I.B.E.W. Local Union #5; and the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of NECA Labor Management Cooperation Council. Silver Sponsors included: CJL Engineering, Inc.; National City; NRG Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC; Pittsburgh Steelers; U.S. Steel; and West Penn Allegheny Health System. Bronze Sponsors included: AVI Foodsystems, Inc.; DRS Architects; North Side Bank; Radelet McCarthy Architects; and United Concordia. Make plans to join us next year!

Fall 2004 scholarships total nearly $300,000

The CCAC Educational Foundation awarded nearly 500 scholarships totaling almost $300,000 for the Fall 2004. Competition for scholarships was particularly intense this year. The scholarship recipients represent all four campuses and college centers and a wide variety of majors and interests. Information on Educational Foundation scholarships is available at campus financial aid offices and online.

Among these numbers are nearly 400 CCAC nursing students who received scholarship assistance for the Fall 2004 term from the Nursing Education Grant Program of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation. Approximately $225,000 in scholarships was awarded. This aid will support deserving students in critically-needed nursing education programs, which will ultimately help alleviate the state’s nursing shortage. State health officials predict a shortage of more than 40,000 nurses by 2020.

The Nursing Education Grant Program is supported by health care organizations, health systems, and other related organizations across Pennsylvania. Eligible scholarship recipients received amounts averaging $570, which were distributed through the CCAC Educational Foundation. CCAC currently has 1,191 students enrolled in its nursing programs and we are the seventh largest two-year nursing degree provider in the United States.

Foundation receives grants from Heinz Endowments, Race for the Cure^®

The CCAC Educational Foundation has received two grants totaling $300,000 from The Heinz Endowments. The first grant will support a recruitment and retention initiative that will encourage more African-Americans to attend CCAC. The second grant is intended to support CCAC’s efforts to undertake a workforce and academic leadership development initiative. The Educational Foundation has also received a grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Pittsburgh Race for the Cure® to fund $36,000 worth of scholarships for CCAC allied health programs directly related to the detection and treatment of breast cancer and $4,000 for program tutoring.