NOTES FROM THE SEPT. 28, 2016, MEETING OF THE CF DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

By Board Report

The meeting was held at the CF Hampton Center.

RECOGNITION
The District Board of Trustees recognized the Ocala Campus Student Ambassadors who will serve the college in 2016-2017. The ambassadors promote the college at community events and on campus. Teri Little-Berry, director of Admissions and Records, also introduced Leanna Mosquera, a CF alumna who has returned as Admissions and School Relations specialist.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE BOARD:

  • Approved the purchase of nine state-of-the-art, high-definition simulation nursing mannequins from Laerdal Medical Corporation at a cost of $425,000. The purchase was made possible by generous donations from two individuals and will give nursing students access to the best clinical simulation equipment available.
  • Approved an agreement with National GUITAR Museum for the Appleton Museum of Art to host the exhibition “Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar” at a cost of $28,500 in summer 2018.
  • Approved an agreement with the Huntsville Museum of Art for the Appleton Museum to host “Folk Couture: Fashion and Folk Art” at a cost of $30,000 in spring 2018.
  • Approved change orders for the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus construction project. The deductive change orders, Nos. 4-8, will result in tax savings of $87,625.33 due to direct purchases by the college.
  • Approved an agreement with Munroe Consulting Inc. for manager development, coaching, training and team building; performance appraisal development and training; Patriot PRIDE service excellence consulting and training; and other development services, not to exceed $30,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.
  • Received the 2016 Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability Report.
  • Received the Monthly Fiscal Summary report and List of Warrants.

PERFORMANCE FUNDING UPDATE
The college made a “Herculean effort” to improve performance funding metrics in 2015-2016, said Dr. Henningsen. Dr. Jillian Ramsammy shared last year’s data as well as ongoing strategies to positively influence the metrics in 2016-2017. Retention and completion strategies include the Student Success Committee, embedded degrees that lead to certificates, outbound calls to improve retention, academic advising, the Title III grant and Quality Enhancement Plan. Job placement and continuing education strategies include Career Chats, DirectConnect to the University of Central Florida and FUSE, a similar program with University of South Florida.

HAMPTON CENTER UPDATE
The Hampton Center has had a good year, said Dr. Deanna Stentiford, associate dean of Health Sciences. The center focuses on education, service and community. Thirty-eight students are enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant program and 18 students are enrolled in the Dental Assisting program. The dental program will expand its community outreach with the addition of five dental chairs, thanks to a $416,000 grant from the Munroe Regional Medical Center Hospital District.

TRUSTEE COMMENTS
Trustee Don Taylor commented on how the increase in Workers Compensation rates might affect the college. Joe Mazur shared that the college may see additional costs and an increase in insurance premiums related to the change in Workers Compensation laws.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

  • As of Sept. 28, Full Time Equivalent enrollment is up .3 percent. This is a positive turnaround to a multi-year enrollment decline. Baccalaureate enrollment continues its strong growth pattern with an increase of 8.6 percent. Academic Foundations, or development coursework, continues to show a strong decline (-19.1 percent), while Business (+1.5 percent), Health Sciences (+3.0 percent), Liberal Arts (+1.3 percent) and Criminal Justice (+20.4 percent) are all increasing. In addition, we had great success in our efforts to improve the retention rates of fall 2015 first-time-in-college students this fall. The rate improved from 62.5 to 71.7 percent.
  • Joe Mazur, vice president for Administration and Finance, has been elected vice chair for the Council of Business Affairs for 2016-2017. COBA reports to the Council of Presidents and comprises all 28 Florida College System chief business officers, human resource directors, procurement directors, finance directors and controllers, and budget directors.
  • As part of a CF Foundation Endowed Teaching Grant, the college will participate in an interdisciplinary, multi-agency law enforcement exercise with faculty, staff, students and local first responders at the Ocala Campus Oct. 4. This emergency drill is set for College Planning Day, when there are no day classes and no children at the Learning Lab School. This large, coordinated effort is a partnership among CF; Ocala and Marion County law enforcement and fire rescue agencies; county emergency operations; and our regional health care providers to enhance our preparedness in case of an actual emergency. Special thanks to Associate Professor Rod McGinnis and Professor Marta Allen for coordinating the exercise.
  • Drs. Jim Henningsen, Mark Paugh and Stephanie Cortes met with the chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for Ocala Regional Medical Center Sept. 1 to discuss initiating a cohort of ORMC nurses to pursue CF’s RN-BSN degree program. The proposed cohort would begin in January 2017 with up to 20 students. A second cohort would begin in August 2017, again with up to 20 students. All students admitted to a cohort must meet admission criteria. CF will provide information sessions at ORMC and program fliers will be distributed to employees. The college will ensure that courses are offered every term to facilitate the students’ progression through the program and to avoid breaks in enrollment. Employer tuition reimbursement dollars will essentially cover the costs for students.
  • We had a great turnout at the annual Careers and Colleges Expo, held in partnership with Marion County Public Schools, at the Ocala Campus Sept. 2. More than 1,300 potential students, family members and friends learned about CF and other colleges and universities, despite Hurricane Hermine. Staff representing CF said that the lower attendance gave students more opportunity to ask questions and get answers about our programs. Citrus Campus Careers and Colleges Expo, Sept. 12 in partnership with Citrus County Schools, brought approximately 100 potential students to campus.
  • CF is once again sponsoring a team for the 2016 Marion County Heart Walk Oct. 1, with Dr. Vernon Lawter and Mac McIntosh as co-chairs of the CF Heart Walk campaign. To date, the college has seven teams and 66 registered participants. Participation and donations are still welcome. The event will be held at the Baseline Road Trailhead in Ocala. Team photos will be taken at 8 a.m., and festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. To register or make a donation, visit Marionheartwalk.org. Donations of $10 or more will earn a Team CF T-shirt.
  • Dan Albergotti, visiting poet, will have a reading of his poetry and book signing Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Building 8, Room 110. This event is presented by the CF Communications Department and made possible by the Florida Literary Arts Coalition and a grant from the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida.
  • On Sept. 7, Rusty Skinner, CEO for CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, and Dr. Henningsen participated in a live WOCA radio show to promote the new Talent Center partnership and how it is enhancing opportunities for students and the community to find jobs.
  • On Sept. 14, the college hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception with CareerSource CLM and the Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, officially opening the Talent Center, located in the Enterprise Center at the Ocala Campus.
  • On Sept. 8, members of President’s Staff conducted a table top training exercise to improve readiness should a critical incident ever occur on campus. The exercise is part of a three-step training process that will culminate with the live exercise at the Ocala Campus Oct. 4.
  • CF and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership co-hosted a steering committee of business leaders in the logistics and trucking sector. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the climate for a fundraising campaign to start a Commercial Driving License (truck driving) academy. The team is continuing to work with a regional logistics company to develop a unique approach to a logistics academy.
  • Dr. Henningsen visited students in the Cedar Key School AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program that encourages students to attend college. He shared his story with middle and high school students and spoke about the value of college and low cost of attending CF.
  • Dr. Henningsen and Rob Batsel visited with upcoming leaders in the Florida Legislature. Meetings were held with Rep. Chris Sprowls from Clearwater and Sen. Rob Bradley, who now has Levy County in his district.
  • Thanks to those trustees who attended the Association of Florida Colleges webinar on Performance Funding and the Funding Formula sponsored by the Trustees Commission of AFC. Chancellor Madeline Pumariega reviewed both funding models and answered questions from participants.
  • The college received a $2,121,179 five-year, Title IIIA Strengthening Institutions Grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve student success. The grant, StartSmart@CF, will be utilized to improve retention of first-year students, increase the success rate for key first-year classes, and increase four-year graduation and transfer rates. CF will receive $437,841 Oct. 1, and with first-year funding will hire project personnel, enhance onsite and online tutoring, expand professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, and design and implement a First-Year Experience course.
  • The Grants Department and CF Foundation hosted the Florida Council for Resource Development’s 2016 fall gathering Sept. 27-28. FCRD membership includes all 28 Florida college grants and foundation offices. The mission is to support and equip advancement professionals so they succeed in fundraising and philanthropic resources development across the Florida College System. More than 60 attendees from all 28 Florida colleges attended.
  • In CF Foundation news, a $100,000 bequest has been made by a former patron of the Performing Arts Series and Dinner Theatre to advance the mission of the college. The amount will be paid over two years. The Alumni Association has launched the nomination process for Distinguished Alumni. Forms can be found on the foundation website, and the deadline is Oct. 30. Members of the Friends of the Foundation, a volunteer group that assists with foundation and college events, were recognized at the annual kickoff breakfast Sept. 22. On Sept. 20, more than 220 future students, family members, donors, public school teachers, principals, and board members from the college and foundation attended the annual reception for recipients of STEPS, Scholarships Taking Elementary Promising Students to CF. Save the date for the annual Taste of Ocala March 4, 2017.
  • At the Appleton Museum of Art, the Sept. 3 First Saturday event brought in more than 70 adults and children, even with the threat of rain bands from Hurricane Hermine. More than 150 people attended the opening of “Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience” Sept. 9; the exhibit features futuristic drawings, photographs, sculptures, and portable structures by artists, designers and architects from around the world. The “Elements of Art” exhibit, featuring artwork by children in Marion County Independent Schools, opened Sept. 17 with more than 180 people in attendance. Appleton intern Dr. Jason Lundock completed his research on a selection of artifacts in the collection and has refreshed the “Art of the Ancient World” exhibit.
  • In Athletics, CF women’s volleyball is currently ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 9 in the nation. The team leads the Mid-Florida Conference with a 3-0 record. Setter/Hitter Nataly Alvarez has been selected twice in the early season as the Florida College System Athletics Association/National Junior College Athletics Association Region 8 Player of the Week. Men’s and Women’s Basketball begin practice Oct. 1 and will seek to repeat as conference champions. The women will be looking to return to the state tournament and also and will be looking for their second conference title in the past three seasons. Baseball and Softball have entered into the fall scrimmage season.

The next meeting of the CF District Board of Trustees will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. in the Founders Hall Board Room at the Ocala Campus.