Board Report from the Feb. 28, 2018, meeting of the CF District Board of Trustees

The meeting was held at the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus.

Levy Campus Update

Provost Holly McGlashan welcomed District Board of Trustees members, college representatives and guests to the campus, which she said is serving the community well. New science courses have been added, which allow students to complete all prerequisites for nursing at the campus. Students continue to be able to complete an Associate in Arts at the campus and dual enrollment is growing. The Timber Harvesting Equipment program will be offered May 29-July 19 and is free for students to participate.

Recognition

The board recognized Levy Campus students Megan Bruce, Jessica Crawford, Sydney Lawhorn and Micaela Studstill, who will complete her CF classes this summer and transfer to the University of Florida to pursue a bachelor’s degree in watershed science.

StartSmart Presentation

Karla Wilson, implementation director for the Quality Enhancement Plan and Title III project manager, shared information on StartSmart@CF. The QEP is part of the reaccreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and the $2.1 million Department of Education Title III grant supports the QEP with increased staff, enhanced programs and facilities, and expanded professional development. The goal is to improve students’ capabilities to achieve their educational goals. Objectives are to enhance first-year success advising, develop and implement academic pathways, create an early support program, increase student success, increase retention of first-time in college students, and increase transfer and graduation rates.

Trustee Remarks

Board members discussed possible state funding for security measures on college campuses in light of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. Dr. Henningsen stated that any funding would likely be for K12 schools only. He has asked that a CF task force on campus safety and security be assembled. He reinforced that we have great partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies.

In other business, the District Board of Trustees:

  • Approved the lease of space at the Vintage Farm Campus for horse boarding. Two horse owners will board their horses at the farm at a cost of $2,000 each. Students will benefit by working with the animals for grooming, bandaging, first aid care, applying tack and equipment, physical examinations, etc.
  • Approved professional services agreements with Moore Solutions Inc. to provide Perkins Professional Development Institute training workshops in Adobe Certified Associate in Dreamweaver and Photoshop, as well as Microsoft Office Specialist.
  • Approved an agreement with Assessment Systems to utilize CF as a testing center.
  • Approved the Academic Calendar for the academic year 2018-2019 and the Administrative Calendar for fiscal year 2018-2019.
  • Approved write-offs in the amount of $77,696.08 for fiscal year 2017-2018. Students are still responsible for their debts.
  • Approved the College Wide Master Plan.
  • Received the Monthly Financial Summary Report and Warrant List.
  • Received an update on the college’s internal controls and fraud prevention policies

President’s Report

  • The CF story was shared with the business community at the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership monthly breakfast Feb. 21. A few details shared were 95 percent of our students are found working in their field or continuing their education after graduation, more than 10,600 certificates and degrees were awarded, and our students have earned 1,422 industry certifications in the last five years.
  • Trustee Rusty Branson, CF Governmental Relations Manager Jessica Kummerle, and Dr. Henningsen traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit. They met with Congressman Neal Dunn, Senator Bill Nelson, and staff from Senator Marco Rubio’s They discussed the need for Pell Grant funding for short-term, workforce-oriented programs and expressed concerns with the financial aid “risk sharing” proposal that would negatively impact the college.
  • The Ocala City Council approved the memorandum of understanding with the college and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to create a Law Enforcement Training Center at the Ocala International Airport. The facility will serve as a lab for specialized training and would enhance training at the Ocala Campus.
  • Judy Haisten won the Teacher of the Year Award at the Florida World Languages in Colleges and Universities. This is a top award for college teachers of foreign languages.
  • CF Visual and Performing Arts students John Miller and Christopher Patti received first place statewide in the Concerto Competition at the Florida College System Activities Association Winter Music Symposium held at Jacksonville University in January.
  • Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega convened an Excellence in Innovations Conference on Feb. 8 in Tallahassee on best practices in the college system. Dr. Henningsen served on a panel moderated by Michelle Dennard, president of CareerSource Florida, and shared our Talent Center partnership with CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion.
  • CF hosted 2018 Ocala Campus Preview Night Feb. 27. The event allowed CF to showcase its education programs and departments and allowed prospective students and parents to participate in workshops on Dual Enrollment, Financial Aid and Student Life. Attendees were given the opportunity to complete their application for admissions on the spot. The Admissions staff, along with Educational Opportunity Center, participated in the third annual Marion County Youth Expo held at Circle Square Cultural Center. The event permitted CF to lay a foundation for future Patriots; more than 400 middle and high school students were in attendance.
  • The Florida Legislature is close to going into conference session to iron out budget and policy decisions. The current House plan has budget reductions based on colleges and universities maintaining reserves above 10 percent. We are working all avenues to get the House to understand that our reserves are critical for potential emergency funding needs. Given the tragedy in south Florida and the effort of Gov. Rick Scott and legislators to fund solutions, we are not anticipating a positive response to our college and system requests.
  • The Financial Aid team hosted the 2018 Financial Awareness Week in February. Students participated in information sessions on checking accounts and credit cards, and learned how to check their credit score. CF Foundation Board Chair and CF alumna Patti Conrad hosted a “Retirement Planning for the Newly Employed” event.
  • A college team of approximately 50 faculty, staff and students participated in the annual United Way Day of Caring at Evangeline Booth Garden apartments in Ocala Feb. 24. Projects included car washes, gardening, painting, cleanup, miscellaneous apartment tasks and bingo.
  • CF hosted the Citrus County African American Read-In on Feb. 25 at the Citrus Learning and Conference Center. Approximately 250 community guests attended the event to hear Citrus County students and community leaders share famous literary works and musical performances.
  • The Ocala Student Activities Board attended the Florida College System Student Government Association event hosted by the Kent Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Students networked with more than 250 peers, participated in a service project making cards for veterans, and listened to keynote speaker Kimberley Locke. Damien Brooks graduated from FGSSGA Leadership Training and several new members of the team started the certification process. Students met with Jackie Beard, Mr. CF 2011, who is employed in Student Engagement at Florida SouthWestern State College and presented two sessions.
  • In CF Foundation news, the Foundation Investment Committee and Board of Directors approved an increase in the spend rate for endowed scholarships and chairs for 2018-2019 college budget year resulting in a $575,900 increase over last year; Taste of Ocala is March 3 and proceeds will benefit students with scholarships in Equine and Agribusiness programs; 92 percent of full-time employees have participated in the CF Family Campaign; the Distinguished Alumni Award will honor Luther Drummond at the May 4 graduation. The new Foundation CFO, Dawn Gonsalves, joined the team Feb. 1.
  • The CF Forensics Team attended the Florida College System Activities Association State Tournament in Tallahassee Feb.1 and brought home several awards. They competed in Duo Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, and Impromptu. Earning first place in Readers’ Theatre were Katelynn Thibos, Katelyn James, Maria Lasaga and Arrianna Rico; third place in Duo Interpretation, Arrianna Rico and Katelyn James; sixth place in Poetry Interpretation, Maria Lasaga; and the entire team earned sixth place in Overall Team Sweeps.

In Appleton Museum of Art News

  • Ninety-five people attended the Rembrandt exhibition reception and lecture by Lisa DeBoer on Jan. 19.
  • One hundred people attended the reception for “On the Edge of the Florida Frontier: Perspectives from Life at Fort King” exhibition Jan. 26.
  • Some 182 attended the Jan. 27 reception for “Art on the Move: License Tag Art” by Marion County school students.
  • One hundred-fifteen people enjoyed music by SoulBase Band during Feb. 1 After Hours.
  • More than 200 people visited the museum’s booth at the Feb. 2 First Friday ArtWalk.
  • More than 40 people participated in the Feb. 3 First Saturday in the ARTSpace.
  • More than 80 people attended Tyrus Clutter’s 4 lecture on Rembrandt’s etchings, and 15 people participated in his Feb. 10 workshop on the etching process Rembrandt used.
  • 16-18, more than 400 people visited the museum’s booth at the Knap In event at Silver River Museum.
  • The “Very Special Arts Reception” on Feb. 17 was attended by more than 40 people.
  • Kate Stone’s Inspired Speaker event on Feb. 18 was attended by more than 30 people.

In Athletics News

  • Men’s Basketball has an overall record of 24-6 and a conference record of 9-3. They are currently ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 23 nationally. A play-off game will be held Feb. 27 to determine the second seed to the Florida College System Activities Association State/National Junior College Athletic Association District Tournament. If the men qualify, they will play March 7 at 1 p.m. against Florida SouthWestern State College.
  • The Women’s Basketball team is currently at 8-19 overall and 5-4 in conference play. The ladies lost to Florida State College at Jacksonville Feb. 26 and will not qualify for the state tournament.
  • The Baseball team is 9-6-1 on the season. Conference play opens March 3 at Daytona State College. The men are currently ranked No. 9 in the state.
  • The Softball team is 22-4 overall and ranked No. 3 in the state. Conference play begins for the women on March 10.
  • Israel Delgado is the new head volleyball coach and will begin with CF March 1. He comes to CF from Polk State College where he served as an assistant with a previous stop at Santa Fe College.
  • The FCSAA State/NJCAA District Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held at the college for the fourth consecutive year March 7-10.

The next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 28, at 3 p.m. at the Ocala Campus.