Goal I. Access to Higher Education
Ann Bolton-Brownlee, Interim Lead Library Instruction Librarian; Sandra Hood, Academic Outreach and Automation Librarian; and Tina Mesa, Dean of Learning Resources, presented at the Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute in Atlanta. The librarians presented data that demonstrates how the library’s Information Research Certificate program has positively affected student success in higher education.

Goal II. Student Support
Members of the SPC Business Information Solutions Department met with officials from the UTSA Computer Science Program. UTSA has agreed to align the recently revised SPC Associate of Arts Degree in Computer Science with UTSA’s degree plan, which will result in a seamless transition for SPC students transferring to UTSA.

Goal III. Workforce Development
The Workforce and Community Education division of NLC is pleased to announce a new partnership and $30,000 award from Alamo WorkSource to support implementation of the first Career Readiness Certificate program in Central Texas. This pilot program will include web-based delivery of a curriculum in essential employability skills and will prepare job seekers to obtain a nationally recognized credential for jobs across most occupations.

As reported last week, the A.D. N. program at SAC completed its site visit from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. What was not mentioned was that the visitors reported they would be recommending full accreditation until 2016. This is the longest span of time for accreditation which is 8 years. In the report, the site visit team noted no need for improvement, no weaknesses, and 5 areas of strengths including the achievement of exemplary status uninterrupted since 1997.

Dr. Zaragoza and Dr. Lu Pelayo presented an overview of the Alamo Community Colleges Bio-Science Programs at the Alamo Region Bio-Med Cluster Committee meeting held at the Genzyme Corporation. Approximately 35 representatives from area hospitals, bio-med research and development companies attended the meeting.

Goal IV. Capacity To Serve
The SPC Southwest Campus Allied Construction Trades Department is assisting in the development of a westside community garden project, the Gardens of St. Therese, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. Students in the Plumbing and Homebuilding Trades are helping to create a safe haven and green zone for seniors and children from the nearby community.

Goal V. Organizational Communication
Faculty in the SPC Fine Arts Department appeared on “Great Day SA,” on KENS-TV. The segment highlighted the upcoming 110th Anniversary of SPC, SPC’s Schedule of Black History Month events,
and the February premiere production of Paul Robeson, starring SPC faculty member Vincent Contrell.

Recently, Dr. Leslie spoke to the Boerne Rotary Club, where he shared information about the new north central campus and the opportunities for partnerships. The group of about 80 individuals was supportive of ACCD’s efforts and expressed interest in participating in the planning process.

Drs. Leslie and Zaragoza met with the leadership of the Greater San Antonio Chamber to discuss enhancing strategies to increase the size of the Academies program.

Dr. Leslie attended the Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit with Trustees Zárate, Sprague, McClendon, Beitzel and Rindfuss to present federal legislative priorities to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.

Firstmark Credit Union donated $5,000 to the Lower Valley School District restoration project. It is anticipated that the building will be transported from its current location in Cibolo, TX to the new NLC campus next week.

We have an increasing number of events and activities district-wide and are taking the opportunity to showcase such events on Time Warner Cable channel 98 and Grande cable channel 21. This section of the Chancellor’s Weekly Report provides a schedule of the programming for our regularly scheduled times of 12 – 2 pm on Saturday and 9 – 11 am on Sunday. Programming varies due to the timing of Board and committee meetings, groundbreaking ceremonies, etc. The programming for the coming weekend is as follows:

Saturday,3/8, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Ribbon-cutting for the Palo Alto College new Veterinary Technology Building and the first half of the regular Board Meeting of 2/19

Sunday, 3/9, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Second half of the regular Board Meeting of 2/19 and the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee Meeting of 2/18