Community College Week articles from July 2007

Community College Week archives from July 2007

Texas Gov. vetoes insurance funds for state's community colleges.(around the nation)
July 16, 2007... Texas Gov. Rick Perry enraged community college leaders across the state with a decision last month to veto $154 million that was earmarked for health insurance benefits for community college faculty members and administrators. Community...

Maine trustees approve tuition increase.
July 16, 2007... FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) -- Tuition at the state's seven community colleges will go up by 2.5 percent next year under a plan approved by the Maine Community College System board of trustees. Beginning the next academic year, tuition for...

Enrollment increasing at Ohio Colleges.
July 16, 2007... COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Community colleges in Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland are seeing big increases in student registrations for this fall, a trend education officials say is due to a jump in the number of high school graduates but could also...

Ill. president resigns amid rift with faculty.
July 16, 2007... College of Lake County president Richard W. Fonte, who had butted heads with faculty members during his 17-month tenure, resigned from his post last month just after the faculty union helped to elect a new member to the college's Board of...

President of Denver College dismissed in finance dispute.
July 16, 2007... The well-known president of the Community College of Denver was dismissed last month amid allegations she instructed her chief financial officer to under-report the amount of money in the college's reserves. Christine Johnson also is...

College leaders at Ed. Dept. summit debate the drive for more data.
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The drive for more accountability in community colleges has placed new emphasis on collecting and analyzing more data than ever before. But what will become of the data once it is collected? How will it be used? And who will...

The funding conundrum.(SPECIAL REPORT: Funding Community Colleges)
July 16, 2007... If there's one thing that has become clear to community college leaders over the last few years, it's that they can't sit back and rely on the same old funding sources. State appropriations have slipped, local taxpayers are hesitant to ante up...

California chancellor proposes state monitor for tiny college facing accreditation woes.
July 16, 2007... The chancellor of the 109-college California state community college system has sent a memo to one of the state's smallest colleges, urging officials there to bring in a state-appointed monitor to help cope with accreditation and financial woes...

Proposed rules clarify relationships between lenders, students.(dateline: Washington)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Establishment of a preferred lender list could not stop a student from choosing another lender, nor could colleges delay or refuse a borrower's eligibility for choosing a non-preferred lender. Those are among the proposed...

Congressional committees reject Bush's education spending blueprint.(dateline: washington)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Signs so far are mixed as to what higher-education programs will get increased federal aid next year. But most of the administration's requests to cut or terminate funding for some programs have been rejected by congressional...

Obama bill would aid Black colleges.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, has introduced the Predominantly Black Institution Act of 2007, referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The bill would award unspecified funding to community colleges and...

Coleman bill promotes older adoptions.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., has introduced the Fostering Adoption to Further Student Achievement Act. It was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The bill would redefine "independent student" to...

Firm contracted to conduct child care study.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development at the Department of Education has contracted with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. to evaluate the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program. Mathematica is...

Increase in Veterans college aid proposed.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., introduced the Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The bill would increase educational benefits for veterans who served at least two years, with at...

Scholarships would boost nuclear industry.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill for next year that includes $15 million for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide scholarships in science, engineering and related fields. The commission...

Visually impaired would benefit from house bill.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 16, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity approved the VA Vision Scholars Act of 2007, which would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to use whatever money it has available to pay for scholarships for...

Analyzing the data.(TOP 100 associate degree producers 2007)
July 16, 2007... Community Colleges are involved in the business of many things: offering associate-degree programs and one--and two-year certificates, preparing students to transfer to four-year colleges, vocational training, personal enrichment, community...

Degree holders crowding N.C. colleges.
July 16, 2007... GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Many North Carolinians with degrees are returning to community colleges to further their education, largely the result of majoring in a subject that doesn't bode well in today's job market, officials said. "If...

Butler President accepts new job in California.
July 16, 2007... BUTLER, Pa. (AP) -- Butler County Community College President Cynthia Azari is leaving for a new job this summer. Azari said she will become the vice chancellor of the State Center Community College District in Fresno, Calif. Azari...

Grade-changing scheme spreads to second college.
July 16, 2007... PLEASANT HILL, Calif. (AP) -- A scheme to change grades for money also affected a second Contra Costa County community college, administrators said. After months of denials, Contra Costa Community College District leaders conceded that the...

Computer news and views available from wide variety of sources.(technology today)
July 16, 2007... There are hundreds of different computer publications and their online kin that crave your attention. Some are newsstand magazines, available at your local bookstore and by subscription; others are "controlled circulation" publications,...

Rockland Community College.(around campus)
July 16, 2007... Science students from Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York and located in Suffern, N.Y., formally presented their research findings at two four-year institutions, Binghamton University and Purchase College....

St. Louis Community College's.(around campus)
July 16, 2007... The installation of 1,000 green roof blocks was recently completed at St. Louis Community College's new Wildwood campus, making SLCC-Wildwood the region's first "green" roofed college building. Each of the two-foot square, four-inch deep blocks...

Miami Dade College.(around campus)
July 16, 2007... "Let the fish loose!" declared local fish farmer Philip Marraccini to a crowd of onlookers gathered at the edge of the North Campus lake at Miami Dade College. And with those words, more than 100 colorful koi fish were released into the lake as...

The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year, $695,000 grant to a statewide coalition involving the Ohio Supercomputer Center and three Ohio community colleges.(Grants & Gifts)
July 16, 2007... The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year, $695,000 grant to a statewide coalition involving the Ohio Supercomputer Center and three Ohio community colleges. The funds will be used to develop and associate degree program in...

A grant sub-award from the National Science Foundation gives $234,997 to South Carolina's Greenville Tech for Biotechnology & Biosystems Technology.(Grants & Gifts)
July 16, 2007... A grant sub-award from the National Science Foundation gives $234,997 to South Carolina's Greenville Tech for Biotechnology & Biosystems Technology. Clemson University's Department of Biosystem Engineering is the lead for a three-year project....

Lake City Community College in Florida has launched the Employ Florida Banner Center for Logistics and Distribution with a $500,000 grant from Workforce Florida, Inc.(Grants & Gifts)
July 16, 2007... Lake City Community College in Florida has launched the Employ Florida Banner Center for Logistics and Distribution with a $500,000 grant from Workforce Florida, Inc. The purchase of a truck driving simulator was made with $105,000 of the...

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education has granted licensure to Wilmington College of New Castle, Del., to offer select degree completion programs and courses at three southern New Jersey community colleges.(around campus)
July 16, 2007... The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education has granted licensure to Wilmington College of New Castle, Del., to offer select degree completion programs and courses at three southern New Jersey community colleges. This is the first time that...

Lorain County Community College.(around campus)
July 16, 2007... Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, has been named project leader for a $4.9 million National Science Foundation program establishing a National Center for Welding Education and Training on the college's campus. The center will...

Jennifer Grove.(Honors & AWARDS)
July 16, 2007... Jennifer Grove, operations manager at Clark College, in Vancouver, Wash., has been selected as a participant in the National Institute for Leadership Development Leaders program, an international program for administrators and faculty in higher...

Shirin M. Goodarzi.(Honors & AWARDS)
July 16, 2007... Shirin M. Goodarzi, chief technology officer at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md., was selected for the Tribute to Women in Industry award for 2007 for her contributions to the college's success. Goodarzi, who has both a bachelor's...

Patricia Crosson.(Honors & AWARDS)
July 16, 2007... Patricia Crosson, chairwoman of the Greenfield Community College Board of Trustees, is now the chairwoman of the Massachusetts Community College Trustees Association. She was elected to the position at the association's quarterly meeting in...

Elsa Rapp.(Honors & AWARDS)
July 16, 2007... Elsa Rapp, professor of history and political science, was named the recipient of the 2007 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award at Pennsylvania's Montgomery County Community College. Rapp has taught at the College since 1971. During that time,...

St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 16, 2007... The St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Paul E Pal as president of the Meramac campus. Pai, who most recently was president of Imperial Valley (Calif.) College, will serve as the chief executive officer...

San Diego Community College District.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 16, 2007... David Umstot has been selected as vice chancellor of facilities management for California's San Diego Community College District. Umstot will oversee all of the district's construction, facilities maintenance and police functions for City, Mesa...

Volunteer State Community College.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 16, 2007... Karen Mitchell has been named vice president for resource development at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee. She comes to the college with an extensive background in development, including director of business and...

Phoenix College.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 16, 2007... Phoenix College in Phoenix, Ariz., has named Derek Mpinga as the new vice president of academic affairs. Since September 2005, Mpinga has served as the vice president of instruction at Brookhaven College, a unit of the Dallas County Community...

MiraCosta College.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 16, 2007... Richard Robertson, longtime vice president for student services at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, Calif., has been named acting superintendent/president by the MiraCosta College Board of Trustees. Robertson recently marked his 20th year of...

Calendar.
July 16, 2007... JULY July 23-26, 2007 SEMICONDUCTORS, AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING, ELECTRONICS--TRAINING AND EDUCATION CONFERENCE (SAME-TEC) Dallas, Texas (480) 517-8662 July 26-29, 2007 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CERTIFICATION SEMINAR...

Louisiana Community colleges get windfall in facilities money.(around the nation)
July 30, 2007... BATON ROUGE, LA. -- The Louisiana Community and Technical College System scored a major victory last month when the state Legislature passed a bill that will provide $151 million to expand and revamp the state's community and technical...

New Michigan law will mean enrollment boost for colleges.(around the nation)
July 30, 2007... Officials at the Wayne County Community College District in Detroit are gearing up for a surge in online enrollment due to a new state mandate that requires high school students to complete at least one online course to graduate. Stephanie...

Proposed college in Montana clears hurdle.
July 30, 2007... HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- The state Board of Regents has certified the results of a May election to establish a community college district in the Bitterroot Valley, clearing the way for a recommendation on the idea to the Legislature. Final...

Ariz. professor who faced firing over e-mail draws support from free speech organization.(around the nation)
July 30, 2007... A tenured math professor at Glendale Community College who was facing termination for a holiday message he sent out on his college's e-mail system has reached a settlement with the college and will return to teaching classes in the fall. ...

Court: staffers at Calif. college can pursue claims of racial bias.(around the nation)
July 30, 2007... Two black employees of Antelope Valley College can pursue their claims of racial bias and retaliation, an appellate court has ruled. However, the California Court of Appeal refused to reinstate claims by a third black adjunct professor,...

Despite setback, Tennessee governor remains committed to free tuition plan.(around the nation)
July 30, 2007... NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A proposal to grant free community-college tuition to high school students with a C average was among only a handful of legislative defeats for Gov. Phil Bredesen during the recently completed session. Bredesen, a...

The world is my classroom; valuable learning experiences await community college students taking classes at far-flung field stations.(Cover story)
July 30, 2007... Over the last decade, several community colleges have acquired field stations--remote locations where scientific research or education is conducted in a natural setting. Typically, biology, geology or botany classes would be held, though,...

Green grants proposed for colleges in House bill.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The House Committee on Science and Technology approved the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2007. The bill would create a program at the National Science Foundation to provide grants competitively to...

Boost in aid to veterans is aim of legislation.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has introduced legislation that would provide an additional $2,000 a year in educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill for veterans studying science, technology, engineering or math. ...

Tester bill would benefit Tribal Colleges.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has introduced the Tribal Health Promotion and Tribal Colleges and Universities Advancement Act of 2007. It was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. The bill would give each tribally...

Green worker training plan gets OK.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The House Committee on Education and Labor approved the Green Jobs Act of 2007, which would create an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program at the departments of Labor and Energy. Consortia of...

New caucus to promote career education.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- A new bipartisan caucus in Congress will be addressing the needs of career colleges this fall. So far, 29 House members, including nine Republicans, have joined the nascent Career and Technical Education Caucus. Rep. Brian...

Lack of marketing called barrier to boosting high-tech enrollment.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Perhaps a lack of marketing is keeping community colleges from attracting students to study for high-technology manufacturing careers. That was what the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science...

House education bill faces Bush veto.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- A House-passed bill with about $18 billion in proposed grants and loan relief for college students faces a threatened presidential veto. House members approved the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, which boosts the maximum...

Florida budget cuts lead to enrollment freeze.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... MIAMI (AP) -- The State University System Board of Governors has instituted a three-year freeze on freshmen enrollment at the funded level, meaning they will not increase the number of freshmen admitted to public universities. With looming...

Iowa colleges reach out to Hispanic population.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Several universities and colleges in Iowa are ready to add Spanish-language pages to their Web sites and buy Spanish radio ads to help recruit more Hispanic students. The number of Hispanic students enrolled in...

Bids sought for performance program.(CAPITOL briefs)
July 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education plans to take bids for a Student Achievement and Institutional Performance Pilot Program. It hopes to get the program running in late September. The fund plans to pay...

Justice Training Academy to move to Wallace Community College.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... SELMA, Ala. (AP) -- The aging Criminal Justice Training Academy at Craig Field will move into a new $24.5 million complex at Wallace Community College for use by state troopers and prison guards. The Alabama Department of Public Safety is...

Duties of departing Bishop State president disputed-by chancellor.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- State Rep. Yvonne Kennedy will remain at Bishop State Community College to write a book on the school's history after she retires as president. But her lawyer and two-year chancellor Bradley Byrne differ on what her duties...

Alabama program to help with fees, tuition for college transfers.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- The University of Alabama will help cover tuition and fees for some community college transfers starting with the fall semester. The university's new Alabama's Promise program is for students who have completed two...

Oklahoma praised for easing transfer path.(dateline Washington)
July 30, 2007... OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma is making it easier for students to transfer from community colleges to universities, according to a report by the Southern Regional Education Board. Oklahoma guarantees that students earning associate degrees...

Adverse report new name among changes at Southern Nevada.
July 30, 2007... LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The Community College of Southern Nevada has a shortened name, and several administrators are being promoted as the campus prepares for the departure of its president, Richard Carpenter. Michael Richards, vice president of...

Prompts Ala. nursing director to resign.
July 30, 2007... MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- Bishop State Community College's nursing director resigned days after a report by the state two-year college system cited problems in her department. Barbara Powe's resignation will be effective Aug. 2, Bishop State...

Tuition, aid to increase at N.H. Colleges.
July 30, 2007... CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Tuition is going up this fall at New Hampshire's Community Technical College system, but so is scholarship aid. Tuition for in-state students will increase from $164 to $175 per credit. System trustees said there will...

Though uncommon, computer viruses can inflict serious damage.(technology today)
July 30, 2007... "My computer is acting up. It must be a virus." You've undoubtedly heard comments like this or even thought this yourself. In actuality, most computer glitches are caused by software conflicts or user error. Viruses are not as common as...

The Maryland Higher Education Commission recently awarded $396,033 to the Community College of Baltimore County to increase the graduation rate of nurses earning associate degrees.(Grants & Gifts)
July 30, 2007... The Maryland Higher Education Commission recently awarded $396,033 to the Community College of Baltimore County to increase the graduation rate of nurses earning associate degrees. Working in partnership with Mercy Medical Center, St. Agnes...

Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. has announced plans to name the new dining lab in the college's future culinary facility the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation Dining Room.(Grants & Gifts)
July 30, 2007... Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. has announced plans to name the new dining lab in the college's future culinary facility the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation Dining Room. The naming comes as a result of a gift made earlier...

Del Mar College's Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, in Corpus Christi, Texas, received $272,782 from a $754,830 National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education award as part of the Integrated Geospatial Education and Technology Training (iGETT) project.(Grants & Gifts)
July 30, 2007... Del Mar College's Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, in Corpus Christi, Texas, received $272,782 from a $754,830 National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education award as part of the Integrated Geospatial...

The Community and Economic Development program at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill., was given an additional $40,000 to augment a workforce training grant originally awarded to the program this spring, bringing the total sum of the grant to $110,000.(Grants & Gifts)
July 30, 2007... The Community and Economic Development program at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill., was given an additional $40,000 to augment a workforce training grant originally awarded to the program this spring, bringing the total sum of the grant to...

Allan Hancock College.(around campus)
July 30, 2007... Students from Allan Hancock College, on the central coast of California, are getting hands-on experience and access to some of the best opportunities in the nation, including NASA internships. Student Leanna Dugger, for example, is studying...

Montgomery County Community College.(faculty lounge)
July 30, 2007... Montgomery County Community College's Relay for Life team--dubbed the Montgomery County Community College Bookworms--raised a total of $14,763 during the American Cancer Society's 10th annual Relay for Life event in Pottstown, Pa. The team,...

Tom Hudson.(Honors & AWARDS)
July 30, 2007... The Four Corners Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers has honored Tom Hudson, coordinator and instructor of safety at the San Juan College School of Energy, in Farmington, N:M., as the safety professional of the year. Called the...

Fred Klappenberger.(Honors & AWARDS)
July 30, 2007... The League for Innovation in the Community College recently recognized Fred Klappenberger for his development of the information systems security degree and certificate program at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold Md. Klappenberger...

Cape Cod Community College.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 30, 2007... Philip J. Sisson has been named vice president of academic and student affairs at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Mass. Sisson, who had been serving as dean of arts and sciences, has been a faculty member or administrator for 25...

Community College of Allegheny County.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 30, 2007... The Board of Trustees of the Community College of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania announced that Michael T, Murphy will serve as the institution's interim president until a permanent chief executive is in place. Murphy retired in 2004 as...

Sussex County Community College.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 30, 2007... Sussex County Community College, in Newton, N.J., announced the selection of Constance Mierendorf as the fourth president in the school's 25-year history. Mierendorf was a high school teacher in Omaha, Neb., before serving on the faculties of...

Association of Presidents of Public Community Colleges.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 30, 2007... Debbie L. Sydow has been appointed to a two-year term as president of the New York state's Association of Presidents of Public Community Colleges. Sydow has served as a community college educator and administrator for more than 20 years and is...

Houston Community College.(APPOINTMENTS)
July 30, 2007... Arthur Q. Tyler, president of Sacramento City College in California, will join Houston Community College in Texas as chief operating officer and deputy chancellor. Tyler has 20 years of combined experience at the senior executive level in...

Calendar.(Calendar)
July 30, 2007... AUGUST August 05-08, 2007 SUSTAINABILITY FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT Cornell University, Ithaca NY www.iccd.cornell.edu August 6-7, 2007 MAJOR GIFTS CAMPAIGN SEMINAR,...