AUGUST 2012

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SCENES FROM SWIC NIGHT @ THE GRIZZLIES, SPONSORED BY THE SWIC FOUNDATION

Human Resources IS Specialist Dana Schneebeli and her grandson, Aiden, 6

ABE Specialist Jeff Campbell and his wife, Lisa Campbell

ESLCCC Office Supervisor Tracy Haggins-Bolden and her husband, Gerry Bolden

Executive Assistant to the President and Board Secretary Beverly Fiss, left, and Trustee Philip L. Smith

IT Systems Analyst/Programmer Ray Frost and his daughter, Jennifer

Vice President for Administrative Services Bernie Ysursa, left, and Men’s Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Jay Harrington

From right, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Network Design & Administration Matt Swinford, Business Division Administrative Secretary Laura McKinney, Leah and John Wordell from Heartland Community College, Business Division Dean Janet Fontenot and her husband, Ron Fontenot

From left, Billie Mance, wife of Board Chair Nick J. Mance; Mance; Kashmir the Snow Leopard; college President Georgia Costello, Ph.D.; and her husband, U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello Foundation Board Chair Carol Bartle

FROM THE DESK OFTHE PRESIDENTAnthony P. Carnevale, Ph.D., is the director and research professor at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce; he is a former vice president for Public Leadership at the Educational Testing Service; and he has served three U.S. presidents in various education and economic consulting roles. So when he talks about the economics of education, as he did at the recent 2012 NCCEP/GEAR UP Conference in Washington, D.C., people listen.

The National Council for Community and Education Partnerships provides grants to high-poverty middle and high schools. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs grantees serve cohorts of students starting in the seventh grade and follow them through high school.

As reported July 24 in Diverse Issues in Higher Education, here are a few of his noteworthy perspectives:

• “Though education serves a variety of noble purposes that transcend the needs of employers, a primary aim should be to prepare students to get education that pays.”

• “You’re gearing people up to get them to move on to get some education that will work for them. My bias about it is that what they will be interested in most of all is education that gets them a job.”

• (Because) “if you can’t get a job in the American system, it’s very hard to be a good citizen, good family member, productive member of the community or improve yourself through learning.”

• The value of a college degree, particularly in relation to a high school diploma, has increased over the past four decades “as entry-level jobs that offered on-the-job training for employees to move from manual labor to higher positions within the company have waned.”

• As a result: “Institutions of higher education, particularly community colleges, have had to step in to pick up the slack … essentially becoming America’s de facto workforce development system.”

While Dr. Carnevale’s conclusion may not be “new” news to longtime community college educators most familiar with their workforce development charge, this national public proclamation about community colleges’ linchpin role in the American economy is just the latest example that we continue to have robust support at the highest levels.

Pay It Forward,

Georgia Costello, Ph.D.President

AUGUST CALENDAR10 New Student Orientation

11 Saturday Registration

13-17 Faculty Opening Week

18 Fall Semester Classes Begin

18 Saturday Registration

Sept. 3 College Closed for Labor Day

SWIC.edu POLL RESULTS

Summer Classes, the Longest Day of the Year and Surfing the Web

Every two weeks, a new poll question is asked on SWIC.edu. Some gauge student involvement around campus, some are just for fun and all are meant to be entertaining.

In June, the polls asked students why they were taking summer classes and how they marked the beginning of summer.

Those responding to the question “Why are you taking summer classes?” overwhelmingly said it’s because they are working on their associate degree (59 percent). Twenty-two percent said they want transfer credits, 10 percent said they are trying to earn a certificate and 9 percent said they just want to learn something new.

Of those responding to the question “How did you mark summer’s arrival?” 45 percent said they cranked up the AC and enjoyed it. Next were the 33 percent who voted that it’s just more hours to work. Fourteen percent said they beat the heat by the pool, and 8 percent said they spent all 15 hours of daylight outside.

In the first two weeks of July, website visitors were asked, “How do you surf the Web?” Fifty-four percent voted for laptop computer, 21 percent voted for desktop computer, 18 percent use their smart phone and 7 percent use a tablet.

AUGUST CAMPUS BRIEFSBELLEVILLE CAMPUS

Don’t miss your chance to see the latest show at the Schmidt Art Center! The exhibit featuring Jill Rumoshosky Werner and The Thursday Night Drawing Group will run through Friday, Aug. 17. For more information, visit SWIC.edu/sac.

Register now for Kids’ Club! New fall hours begin in August. The hours are Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids’ Club will only remain open until 10 p.m. if services are scheduled in advance at the beginning of each semester. For more information, call ext. 5KID (5543) or visit SWIC.edu/kidsclub.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTSWIC Business students brought home a myriad of awards from the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference held recently in San Antonio, Texas. From left to right, front row, PBL Faculty Adviser Tina Dierkes, Cortney McGowan of Belleville, Heather Borowiak of Maryville and Natalie Wellen of Pinckneyville; second row, Eric Lassman of Shiloh, Stuart Maue of Belleville and Andrea Hibbard of Collinsville. Among their awards were the Gold Seal Chapter of Merit Award and First Place Professional Division Membership Award for the North Central Region.

SWIC Athletics and College Activities helped host a basketball and cheerleading camp for local YMCA kids from around the Metro East. Student-athletes helping that day included, back row, from left, Trae Anderson, Keanau Post and Mat Piotrowski. Campers included, front row, from left, Ryan Schildknecht, 11, Adam Fraley, 10, Jarod Schrum, 12, Jack Resenstengel, 9, Mark Reyes, 12, Jeremy Reno, 11, and Alyssa Junkins, 9.

SCHMIDT EXHIBITMore than 70 turned out for the opening of the Jill Rumoshosky Werner and The Thursday Night Drawing exhibitions at the Schmidt Art Center. Visitors also welcomed new Curator/Facility Coordinator Nicole Dutton, right. Pictured, from left, behind Rumoshosky Werner’s piece, titled Tangled, were Cecelia and Brad Eilering, senior adjunct Art faculty member; Curator Assistant Jessica Mannisi; and Dutton.

SUMMER HARVEST—The work of the volunteers at the East St. Louis Community Garden has resulted in 30 pounds of produce (so far) being delivered to area food pantries. All produce is organically grown, and most of the plants are heirlooms so the seeds can be saved from season to season.

Right now the garden has six varieties of tomatoes, three varieties of peppers, three varieties of beans, okra, spinach, lettuce, kale and sweet potatoes. Herbs include seven varieties of basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, chives, parsley, dill and cilantro.

Volunteers maintain the garden by watering, weeding and picking produce. “With all the heat and lack of rain, it is a credit to all the student volunteers who have helped with watering that the garden is producing as well as it is,” ESLCCC Site Supervisor

Rick Gregory said.

Pictured in the garden (above), from left to right, are student Alexis Glenn; ESLCCC Office Supervisor Tracy Haggins-Bolden; students Vincent Strode, Jackie Wyatt and Vannecia Woods; and Gregory.

At left, Haggins-Bolden, Woods and Strode work in the garden.

Volunteers from all campuses are welcome at the garden. Call 618-874-6595.

FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEESAT THE JULY MEETING, THE SWIC BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

• Accepted a $457,855 grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services to benefit Belleville AmeriCorps and a $62,500 grant from the St. Clair County Housing Authority to benefit the Senior Services Coordination Program with Programs and Services for Older Persons.

• Approved the following appointments: Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Student Employment Dena Johnson; GED Director Vicki Whitener-Lepanto; Public Safety Full-Time Commissioned Officer Ryan Mahoney; Admissions Coordinator Sonia Fischer; Admissions Specialist Kelly Bione; Admissions Specialist Jennifer Costello; and full-time tenure track position Assistant Professor for Physical Therapist Assistant program Michelle Kujawa.

“Regular Board Meeting Minutes” and “Other Board Minutes” are posted on SWIC.edu. Click “About Us” and “Board of Trustees.”

DESERVED RECOGNITION The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Investigative Services recently recognized two SWIC employees for their dedicated service and assistance with routine verification checks on students. Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Student Development Monique Leonard and Enrollment Services Registration Clerk Julie Boeschen were presented with a certificate and pen in a surprise

recognition ceremony. Presenting the certificates to Boeschen, left, and Leonard, right, is Janet Tormasi of the OPM.

RUNNERS, TAKE YOUR MARKS!Kashmir the Snow Leopard joined other area mascots at the St. Clair County Relay for Life. The event, held at Belleville Township High School West, was supported by the American Cancer Society and included local cancer survivors and hundreds of supporters.

THINK PINK. BE PINK.

This October, SWIC will again host the annual American Cancer Society “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” 5K walk in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Join the fight Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 a.m. on the Belleville Campus.

In 2011, more than 1 million walkers across the country joined the American Cancer Society in the fight against breast cancer. Making Strides events raised $60 million—one donation at a time. Come out in October to raise dollars and awareness that lead to incredible progress!

For more information, contact Donna Watson at ext. 5262, or visit MakingStridesIllinois.com.Already signed up to walk? Let us know!Email julie.ninnis@swic.edu with information about you or your group’s involvement that day.

ABOVE THE CALL OF DUTY– The Sam Wolf Granite City Campus recently awarded two employees for their dedicated service with the “Above and Beyond” awards. The two recipients were Instruction Services Assistant Connie Gudelauski, for helping a faculty member with a difficult student situation, and Public Safety Officer Christina Hamilton, for assisting faculty in icy weather. Presenting the employees with their awards is SWGCC Executive Director Chuck Whitehead.

KIDS ON CAMPUS—Ellie and CJ Eichenlaub, children of Vice President for Community Services and Campus Operations Mark Eichenlaub, participated in the Community Education department’s Kids on Campus enrichment classes. The program is presented by SWIC and the Association for Bright Learners’ Education. Ellie learned how to create her own business, and CJ took the theme park design class.

VOLUNTEERING WITH THE STARSA delegation from Programs and Services for Older Persons recently attended the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Chicago. Among the events was a session with U.S. Army veteran and “Dancing with the Stars” champion J.R. Martinez, who spoke about a new generation of service. PSOP RSVP Volunteer Coordinator Pat Etling and Senior Companion Program Assistant Director Carla Boswell each got to take a photo with Martinez. Sharon Hamilton, assistant director of PSOP and director of Senior Corp Programs, also attended the conference.

TITLE III

Assistant Math Professor Robin Anderson introduced a variety of multimedia tools in her spring MATH 111 Liberal Arts Mathematics in order to fully engage GenX students. Anderson included stories and lessons from math history, images from popular culture, YouTube videos, Facebook pages and projects which utilize smart phones and other devices to expound on the standard concepts in the curriculum.

Pre- and post-surveys were used to gauge students’ preconceived notions about math and determine the impact of the multimedia resources on students’ learning. Post-survey results show 95 percent of students reported that the incorporation of multimedia increased their understanding and/or interest in the class; 100 percent reported it changed their perspective on mathematics; 100 percent reported the handouts made it easier to take notes; 90 percent liked having math history stories included; and 90 percent reported they felt they can be successful in math. At the beginning of the course, only 60 percent of students stated they could see math in the world around them every day but 86 percent reported being able to see it at the end of the course. The same percentages (pre and post) were reported as to the students’ belief that math is creative. An astonishing 64 percent of students reported they liked math at the end of the course, versus only 32 percent when the course began.

“I am especially excited because Math 111 is for students choosing paths other than math or science. These students usually tell me on the first day that they hate math,” says Anderson. “To see their engagment and interest spurred me to continue this project.” Anderson has already expanded on this idea by incorporating multimedia into her MATH 94 Basic Algebra class during the summer term.

20TH ANNUAL ATHLETICS GOLF CLASSIC

Friday, Sept. 28Shotgun start - noonThe Orchards Golf Club

18-hole four-person tourney$90 per person includes greens fees, cart, range balls, box lunch, dinner and drink tickets

To register, call ext. 5371.

CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY RECOGNIZEDCisco Systems Inc. recently recognized SWIC for 10 years of partnership. Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Network Design & Administration Matt Swinford, left, accepts a plaque from Cisco Senior Manager for Community Engagement and Sustainability Jackie Barker. SWIC has offered courses through the Cisco Networking Academy since 1999.

Cisco Product Manager/Marketing Nathalie Barreneche thanked SWIC for “the dedication and contributions of your academy that help make Cisco Networking Academy the premier global educational program for developing the networking architects of the future.”

WORLD-RENOWNED TRAININGSelsiusTM Account Executive Lisa Kenney, left, talks with Amy Timmersman of Feralloy Corp. at the recent Dale Carnegie Sales Success course. In partnership with the Dale Carnegie Training Center in St. Louis, SelsiusTM is the exclusive provider of Dale Carnegie training in southwestern Illinois.

Pat Etling with Martinez

Carla Boswell with Martinez

HONORING ILLINOIS’ FALLEN

In July, the United States flag and the state flag were flown at half-staff in honor of:

• The victims of the tragedy in Aurora, Colo.

• Sergeant Michael E. Ristau, United States Army, Rockford

In accordance with the Illinois Flag Display Act, the flags are flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of the funeral of every fallen Illinois soldier and the two days preceding that day.

SUSTAINABILITY CORNERBY KAREN STALLMAN

Political Science Professor Emeritus Wayne Ault, left, and Film and English Professor Dan Cross captured one of five finalist spots in the 2012 CinemaSpoke Screenwriting Contest.

Their script, “Time Won’t Let Me Be,” has its roots in Vietnam. It tells the tale of a young airman who meets a woman in Saigon, returns to the states after the war, reconnects with her stateside and makes a cross-country trip with her that lands him in California. The winner of the CinemaSpoke competition will be announced at the closing night party of the St. Louis International Film Festival in November.

THINK GREEN. BE GREEN.

Welcome back students and faculty! As we start the fall semester, it is a great time to think about what we are saying to our students. Do we “walk our green talk?” All of our efforts add up.

Are we recycling as much as we can? Are we using the refillable water stations? Are we using public transportation or carpooling when we can? Are we printing double-sided and using scratch paper?

We are introducing sustainability to our new students through various means, including student orientation, the day planner and the SWIC catalog. We are also introducing sustainability to our new employees. We are always looking for new ways to introduce green into the college community. Visit SWIC.edu/gogreen and send us your green suggestions. Let’s think green and be green as we move into the fall semester.

SWIC TAKES STEPS TOWARD A MORE WALKABLE CAMPUS

Citizens for Modern Transit recently blogged about college efforts to create a more accessible Belleville Campus. The SWIC Green Campus Initiative project includes additional turn lanes at campus exits, a crosswalk on Illinois 161 to the Green Mount Commons shopping center, new lighted footpaths through campus and a pedestrian bridge over the MetroBikeLink trail.

Read the blog.

SWIC TO OFFER NEW AAS DEGREE PROGRAM

SWIC will be offering a new program in the fall: Electrical Design and Management. This program will prepare students to design electrical systems for residences and business plus teach entry-level electrical construction project management.

Students will learn a variety of skills through coursework that focuses on electrical distribution systems with an emphasis on basic electricity theories, electrical wiring practices and codes, design and construction of electrical distribution systems, computer-aided drafting and more.

Electrical system designers provide the layout, materials and procedures necessary to construct and implement a new electrical system.

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

GOT SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT?Email julie.ninnis@swic.edu with your individual

or department accomplishments.