Goal I. Access To Higher Education
Dr. Eric Reno, NLC president and Dr. Martha Trevino, NLC director of grants and college development, presented at the Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on October 9th. Both Reno and Trevino presented information on The Watts Lower Valley School District #33 that will be housed on the new Northeast Lakeview College campus. In addition to learning the history of the schoolhouse, attendees learned about fundraising opportunities as well as other ways to assist with the project.

Northeast Lakeview College hosted a Transfer Fair on October 9th. Students had the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from various local and state universities. Coordinated by Phillip Hicks, the Office of Student Services is planning another Transfer Fair for the spring.

Goal II. Student Support
The Northeast Lakeview College Business Club partnered with the Live Oak Lions Club during the month of September to collect eyeglasses. During the month-long service project, over 80 pairs of glasses were collected and will be donated to help improve the impaired vision of children and adults in developing nations who have little or no access to basic eye care. The collected eyeglasses were presented to Live Oak Lions Club officials during an official presentation on October 12th .

Additionally, the Business Club held a workshop on personal finances on October 10th. Shaun Kennedy, Broadway Bank President, addressed the group on establishing and managing credit and the relationship of debt to personal income. Stephen Delgado, NLC Director of Student Financial Services spoke about college funding, including completing the FAFSA form and finding government and private college funding sources.

Goal III. Workforce Development
The Northeast Lakeview College Division of Workforce and Community Education announces its initial course offerings in community education and is now registering for the following classes: INTERIOR DESIGN - THE FUNDAMENTALS; GOLF - FROM THE BEGINNING; *Encore 50: Senior Hackers; *Encore 50: The Walking Club. Northeast Lakeview College is also piloting the Encore 50 program, a future community education program that will provide courses, lectures, and various activities for active, older adults.

Goal IV. Capacity To Serve
Barbara Mayo, Humanities chair at Northeast Lakeview College, attended the Texas Speech Communication Association convention in San Antonio where she was installed as president for the 2007-2008 year. The convention focused on updated professional awareness, networking with other professionals, and exposure to innovated teaching methodologies. Senator Judith Zaffirini was the keynote speaker and received the Communicator of the Year award. The Texas Speech Communication Association is the largest state speech association in the US.

Goal V. Organizational Communication
On October 9th, Dr. Eric Reno, NLC president, met with Col. Dann Carlson, commander of the 425th Flight Training Squadron that is based at Randolph Air Force Base. Col. Carlson provided Dr. Reno with a tour of the facilities at RAFB, the history of the 425th (also known as the “Wing Man Squadron”), and a demonstration of the squadron’s equipment. During his visit, Dr. Reno also explored NLC’s involvement and relationship with RAFB and discussed opportunities offered by NLC with base representatives.

Goal I. Access To Higher Education
Northwest Vista College kicked off College Connections at Northside’s Warren High School on October 15 and 16. The following Northwest Vista College volunteers helped approximately 500 students complete their ApplyTexas application to one of the Alamo Community Colleges: Doreen Abrams, Michelle Aguirre, Amanda Amaya, Don Balli, Katherine Cruz, Trina Diehl, Pati Garza, Yalitza Guerra, Angela Molina, Charlotte Potter-Bates, Bertha Vidales, and Alyssia Woolard. Michelle Aguirre saw how College Connections can help increase access to higher education. “Being a part the College Connections program was very rewarding for me. …Seeing the students press the submit button was all that I needed to know I was making a difference is someone’s life,” she commented.
College Connections is an ACCD initiative with Edgewood, Harlandale, Judson, North East, Northside and San Antonio ISDs to increase the number of high school seniors who attend college. College Connections offers onsite assistance with admissions applications, testing and mini-advising for all graduating high school seniors. NVC staff will be working with Jay High School on October 30-31.

Goal IV. Capacity To Serve
Patrick Fontenot has been recommended for the new position of Dean of Workforce Development for Northwest Vista College. The hiring recommendation will be forwarded to Employee Services for approval by the Board of Trustees at the next board meeting. Mr. Fontenot has proven himself and contributed to the development of Northwest Vista College as a faculty member, an academic leader and the Director of IT. The Dean of Workforce Development is a new position at Northwest Vista College reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and overseeing all workforce programs both credit and non credit. This new dean will help us arrive at a strong shared vision, move toward exemplary status for our programs and continue to expand our workforce offerings to meet the needs of the community. I hope you will all join me in congratulating him.

As of 15 October 15th, Northwest Vista College has 11 Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) distributed in alarmed boxes on campus. Additionally, there is one AED in the College Heath Center and one located in the NVC Ambulance. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a semi-automatic computerized medical device programmed to analyze heart rhythm, recognize rhythms that require defibrillation, and provide visual and voice prompts for the device operator. The AED instructs the operator to deliver an electric shock if indicated after ensuring all personnel are clear.

Ten NVC staff members have undergone extensive training to serve as AED volunteer operators. They will render appropriate emergency care based upon the patient’s condition and approved protocols at the scene. They also verify scene safety before assessing the patient. NVC has ten trained personnel to date in all areas of the campus. Future classes to train more volunteer responders are scheduled and will include the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid Course. Thanks to John Seimetz for taking the lead in getting this equipment and volunteer responders in place.

Goal I. Access To Higher Education
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez visited PAC to speak with students on “The College Cost Reduction and Access Act,” Oct. 11. According to Congresspedia, the Act seeks to lower the cost of higher education by reducing lender subsidies by $19 billion and then investing those funds in programs that increase grant amounts to students, improve access to student loans, cut interest rates on student loans, provide for the repayment of parts of the loans through employment or service in areas of national need, and reward colleges for lowering costs to students. The Congressman also toured construction sites on Campus, and received an overview of the Gateway to College Program.

Goal II. Student Support
In preparation for PAC’s Sixth Annual High School Journalism Contest, Dr. Denise Barkis Richter, lead dean of communications, contacted service-area high school journalism advisers with requirements, entry information and deadline information for the spring contest. The competition covers News, Feature, Sports, and Editorial writing, along with Layout/Design, Headlines, and Photography.

Goal III. Workforce Development
John Aken, interim lead Instructor of Aviation Technology, met with the U.S. Air Force ROTC director at Medina Valley High School to finalize a private pilot ground school class PAC will offer to ROTC Honor Students as part of the dual credit program during the Fall 2008 semester.

Goal IV. Capacity To Serve
PAC artists Karen Mahaffy and Lloyd Walsh participated in the fourth annual Chalk It Up Art Festival, Oct. 13. Mahaffy, Walsh and other local artist created original artworks on Houston Street sidewalks between Soledad and Presa Streets. The day-long art festival was funded by the Artpace Foundation for Contemporary Art and was free and open to the public.

Goal V. Organizational Communication
Stacey Johnson, interim vice president of academic affairs, has been named one of “The 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” by the Institute for International Sports. The list caps a three-year project by the Institute that originally reviewed 1,500 nominations. A selection committee composed of coaches, athletic administrators, journalists and academicians, and chaired by David Bloss, a former sports editor for the Providence Journal, reviewed the 200 finalists prior to making the final selection. Joining Johnson are notable athletes such as Tiger Woods, Cal Ripken Jr., and Billie Jean King.

Goal I. Access To Higher Education
Students from the Good Samaritan Center toured the LVN Nursing Program on October 16. The tour was led by Southwest Campus Continuing Education staff. Fifteen students ranging in age from 16 to18 participated in the tour which also included viewing a brief nursing recruitment film. The goal of the tour was to expose the students from the Good Samaritan Center to the many opportunities available to them by completing a high school education and preparing to enter the workforce by attending St. Philip’s College and pursuing one of many career fields in the health care industry.

Goal II. Student Support
St. Philip's College Southwest Campus hosted the annual High School/Skills USA, District 11, Professional Development Training on October 12. Over 213 Skills USA high school student members and their high school advisors attended the various training sessions. The Advising/Student Services Department provided students with information on SPC programs and other information related to admission to the college.

Goal III. Workforce Development
Employees from the City of San Antonio Public Works Department attended a two-day seminar on Project Management sponsored by the Continuing Education Department on October 9-10. Participants received training that will allow them to apply this knowledge to developing and closing out projects effectively.

The Automotive Technology Department continued to provide instruction to auto technicians currently employed in dealerships throughout Texas. Training focused on General Motors auto brake systems and allowed participants to update their skills on late model vehicles. In addition, the City of San Antonio’s Fleet Maintenance Department will partner with SPC for training aimed at improving automotive skills of City employees with the ultimate goal of attaining the Automotive Service Excellence certification.

Goal IV. Capacity To Serve
St. Philip’s College has been notified that programs in Physical Therapy Assistant, Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist, and Cooking and Related Culinary Arts have qualified for exemplary status based on an institutional effectiveness evaluation conducted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This prestigious recognition signifies excellence in quality educational experiences in post-secondary institutions.

Goal V. Organizational Communication
Web authors and Web content managers throughout the college have been busy over the last few months converting their department Web sites to the new SPC Web standards. To recognize these efforts, the SPC Web Site Committee has announced the SPC Web Site Excellence Awards. Department Web sites will be reviewed for adherence to the SPC Web Site Standards and for content and relevancy to the mission of the department. Judging will take place the week of November 12

The district-wide monthly meeting of Instructional Technology leadership met at St. Philip’s College on Friday, October 12. The meeting was informative and filled with ideas to move current projects forward and to improve communication and processes within the IT departments across the District.

Goal II. Student Support
San Antonio College held its annual Honors Ceremony at McAllister Auditorium on Oct. 18, recognizing students who earned honors during the Fall 2006 and/or Spring 2007 semester. To qualify for honors, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a 3.5 – 4.0 GPA in a given semester while taking a minimum of six credit hour courses. While approximately 4,500 students qualified for honors during the 2006-2007 academic year, about 300 students and their families attended the event. President Robert Zeigler and Executive Vice President Kris Clark joined Academic Senate Chairperson Terry Walch, Chair of the Chairs Jeff Hunt, Phi Theta Kappa President Paul Marmesh, and Student Government President Matthew Williams in congratulating the students for their achievements. A reception followed the ceremony.

Frank Elston, president and CEO of the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, awarded a $500 scholarship to 17 San Antonio College students who are majoring in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or Substance Abuse & Counseling. According to Elston, the amount the foundation was able to provide increased from $1,500 last year to $8,500 this year.

Goal IV. Capacity To Serve
San Antonio College has received a $1 million grant ($250,000 per year over a four-year period) from the U.S. Department of Education for the Evening, Weekend, and Distance Education Division to direct an Upward Bound Program for neighboring Fox Tech High School students. According to Dean Ruben Flores, the goal of the program is to improve the chances for at-risk, low-income, first-generation-in-college minority students to finish high school with adequate academic preparation needed to assure success in college and entry into professional careers.

San Antonio College will provide academic enrichment in math, language arts, and science. Staff and undergraduate mentors will provide tutoring, mentoring, summer bridge programs, dual credit opportunities, and college preparation/exposure activities, as well as cultural and career-preparation activities. Students will receive 200 hours a year of academic enrichment, tutoring and/or mentoring during the school year and summer bridge programs, and at least 12 hours of non-academic college preparation assistance, earning at least six hours of college credit at no cost by the time they graduate from high school.

Dr. Thomas Clarkin, history professor, co-authored a two-volume study guide for the second edition of Give Me Liberty!: An American History, a two-volume U.S. History textbook written by Columbia University Professor Eric Foner and published by W.W. Norton & Company.

Goal V. Organizational Communication
Theatre Instructor Paula Rodriguez recently joined one Speech student and two music students in a conversation about San Antonio College’s Speech and Music programs on the Ron Aaron show that aired on WOAI, KAJA, and Q101.9 radio stations. Public Information Officer Deborah Martin facilitated this interview opportunity.

KABB-TV did a feature story on San Antonio College EMS student Meagan Oliver, who is one of the students to receive a scholarship from the Baptist Health Foundation.

KABB-TV also aired a story on the musical group Fort Pastor and promoted their performance at San Antonio College, a part of the college’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration.

Nancy Cobb, director of San Antonio College’s Gateway to College Program, was interviewed on KZEP 104.5 radio, discussing and promoting the program as well as the upcoming Project Re-Connect, a community education fair and flu immunization clinic to be held at SAC on Oct. 27.