PRESIDENT’S REPORT – October 2019
Missouri’s Fast-Track financial aid provides a bridge for adults pursuing careers in critical fields St. Charles Community College (SCC) now offers Fast Track, Missouri’s new financial aid program for adult students pursuing a certificate, associate degree or industry-recognized credential. The program marks a promise by Gov. Mike Parson to make workforce development a priority in his administration. The Missouri Legislature has budgeted $10 million for the program. The program is designed specifically to target critical, growing economic sectors in Missouri like technology, agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare. Eligible programs offered at SCC range from a general technology Associate of Science degree, nursing and manufacturing technology degrees and certificates in welding and web development.
Key requirements for eligibility include: adults 25 years of age and older and who have a maximum household adjusted gross income of $80,000 per year if filing taxes jointly or $40,000 annually for a single income household. The grant will serve students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree and are planning to enroll part time or full time. Students who are awarded the grant must apply for federal financial aid; the grant is designed to cover any remaining tuition and fees or supplement their aid with up to $500 if already fully covered. Those who receive a grant must work in Missouri for three calendar years or else the grant will convert to an interest-bearing loan the student will have to repay.
“SCC is proud to accept Missouri Fast Track financial aid for eligible students,” said Dave Leenhouts, SCC vice president for student services. “This new funding will help adults accelerate their existing careers or switch to new fields. By expanding on existing federal aid programs, Missouri and SCC are working to bridge the costs of education in critical workforce development areas in the region and the state.” Learn more about SCC and Missouri Fast Track by emailing FastTrack@stchas.edu or visiting stchas.edu/admissions/financial-aid/ types-aid/fast-track.
Governor provides workforce update at annual economic development awards dinner Missouri Gov. Mike Parson was the keynote speaker at the 2019 Greater Warren County Economic Development Council annual awards dinner. The governor spoke to the strong position Missouri is in regarding economic development and announced several new companies taking root in our state. Attending the event for SCC was Dr. Barbara Kavalier, president, who was accompanied by the President’s Cabinet. SCC was recognized as a Platinum Contributor at the awards dinner. “We are privileged to be an educational partner for the residents and businesses of Warren County,” Kavalier said. “The Governor’s words punctuated the need for a trained workforce in Missouri. SCC is a proud member of a team that is assisting regional employers by providing the tools they need to train their employees.”
Diversity Campaign Launch With a 20% minority student population compared to 10% in the county as a whole, SCC is at the forefront of addressing the complexities, challenges and benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion in our area. Through awareness, information and learned behavior (cultural competencies), we can all be more inclusive and welcoming to all our students.
SCC students get their hands dirty digging for life-saving antibiotics
Antibiotics helped to usher in the modern era of human health and longevity, but experts agree the world now faces a crisis as over-prescription by doctors and over-use by global animal farming has led to wide-spread bacterial resistance. The problem is that antibiotics are both difficult and expensive to discover and produce, leading to a lack of innovation and investment by pharmaceutical companies and an alarming scarcity of effective treatment. This year, SCC students have joined the fight, digging and sampling soil from the campus and beyond, then cultivating bacteria in the lab in search of effective antibiotic agents to help combat one of the world’s most pressing health threats. According to the World Health Organization,
“Antibiotic resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality…[and] without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.” Research into antibiotic resistance estimates that more than 700,000 people die each year as common diseases become untreatable. Tiny Earth, a network built on crowdsourcing antibiotic discovery, enlists students all over the world to take samples of soil and search for a diamond in the rough – an organism or molecule with antibiotic properties which could later be developed into life-saving drugs. The program is headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. Annually, nearly 10,000 students participate in some version of the course, spanning 46 U.S. states and 15 countries. Working with Professor Monica Hall-Woods, SCC students are now actively participating in the program. “Tiny Earth is student-sourced, not just crowd-sourced,” said Hall-Woods, “so we’re training the next generation of scientists as well as providing a crucial resource to help fight antibiotic resistance.”
Chris Hubbard Jackson recognized at 2019 Women Who Inspire Chris Hubbard Jackson, Ph.D., director of institutional research at SCC, was selected as one of the 2019 Women Who Inspire. The annual event honors women from the St. Louis region who excel in business and have continued to make a lasting impact on the local community through their service and leadership. “We are lucky to have her as a member of our team,” said Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D., SCC president. “Chris is an inspiration to all of us.”
The hands-on work is “discovery-based,” meaning instead of spending their time in the lab repeating experiments in which the outcomes are well-known, students are participating in literally ground-breaking work. “This work builds on a national trend especially at the community college level, to expose undergraduate students to research experience, and has contributed to SCC’s affiliate partner status with CCURI, the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative.” “It’s a great thing when science engages and educates while at the same time helps save the world,” said Hall-Woods.
Hubbard Jackson holds a Doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies, Master of Education in adult and higher education, and a graduate certificate in institutional research, from the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL); a Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE); and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Illinois State University. She has more than 10 years of experience in higher education, serving in various roles such as institutional research, grants, instruction, planning, assessment, administration, student services, etc. Her research interests include institutional data trends, retention, assessment, post-secondary faculty, burnout and special interest populations.
Manufacturing Day at SCC just one element of the college’s overall workforce development efforts On Oct. 1, St. Charles Community College hosted Manufacturing Day, the region’s largest student manufacturing workforce development event organized by the Grow Manufacturing St. Charles County Committee. The event allowed more than 1,100 students to learn about opportunities and careers in manufacturing and tour local facilities to gain firsthand experience. Manufacturing Day events are held each year all across North America to expand knowledge about and improve general public perception of manufacturing careers and the value of manufacturing to the American economy. “Manufacturing Day provides a unique opportunity for parents and students to see the many opportunities available to them in manufacturing. There’s a need for skills in chemistry, computer-aided design, welding and machining, but also in management, marketing and finance. There’s literally no end to the varying paths to employment in manufacturing,” said Amanda Sizemore, assistant vice president for corporate & community development at SCC. At Manufacturing Day, 1100+ students learned what modern manufacturing facilities look like, what participating companies make and who they sell to, the kinds of jobs available and the skills needed for today’s manufacturing jobs.
Of the top 25 employers in O’Fallon, six are manufacturing based. In wider St. Charles County manufacturing employs more than 16,000 people and represents over one billion dollars in wages. True Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of commercial refrigeration production and a participating partner in the Manufacturing Day event, employs more than 1,000 people and operates a newly designed distribution center in O’Fallon. Another participating company, AR Manufacturing Innovation, is one of Nike’s oldest suppliers of sustainable innovation for the popular Nike Air line of products. Seyer Industries, a local third generation, family owned business who specializes in higher-level assemblies for the aerospace and maritime industries, has been a partner and supporter of St. Charles County Manufacturing Day since its inception. General Motors, one of the industry sponsors, has some 4,000 employees in Wentzville. These companies also work directly with St. Charles Community
College to recruit, train and re-train employees for their growing enterprises. According to Scott Kearns, program specialist for SCC’s Continuing Education Department, “One of SCC’s most popular career tracks is welding. We offer everything from a Basic Welding certificate to a General Technology, Welding A.A.S. Students also have the opportunity to earn American Welding Society (AWS) certifications in each as part of the curriculum. Students receive training in the latest plasma cutting, welding techniques, and welding technology. We have twice as many prospective students interested as we have room in the program.” “With programs like these and events like Manufacturing Day,” said Sizemore, “the college is uniquely positioned to help channel interested students not only towards manufacturing, but into other important industries like healthcare, information technology and logistics.” “St. Charles Community College is a regional leader in workforce training and job certifications, and in addition to working directly with employers to train their workforce with technical skills, SCC provides continuing education programs in management and communication – critical soft skills for career advancement of employees. Manufacturing Day is just one piece of a much wider workforce development effort,” said Sizemore. For more information, contact Tammie De Los Santos at 636-922-8342 or tdelossantos@stchas.edu.
SCC Students attend leadership Institute The Student Government Association (SGA) traveled to Jefferson City for the MCCA Student Leadership Institute conference Sept. 11, The SGA met with legislators and the Missouri Council of School Administrators. Members also attended various training lectures, including Emotional Intelligence, Power of Networking and The Social Change Model of Leadership Development: Conflict With Civility.
From left to right: Katelyn Montanaro (Treasurer), Sophia Calignaon (Secretary), Robert Jones (SGA Advisor), Representative John Wiemann, Grey Rische (President), Rachel Verbeck (Parlimentarian), and Fernanda Pasillas (Vice President).
SCC Men’s Cross Country ranked #1 in nation by NJCAA and USTFCCCA The National Junior College Athletic Association has announced the first poll of the 2019 Division III Men’s Cross Country season. The National Junior College Athletic Association and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has determined that SCC is ranked first in the nation. SCC had top five team finishes and overall finishes by individuals for first, sixth, and 15th in their first two meets.
• Men’s team celebrates after victory.
Learn more: njcaa.org/sports/mxc/2019-20/div3/polls Edwin Kipainoi ranked #1 nationally (NJCAA Division III).
SCC Athletics boasts largest number of athletes to date
Tim Brix, Athletic Director
At the third annual Athletics Meet ‘n Greet With the President, Athletics Director Tim Brix had five coaches introduce more student athletes to the administration than ever before. Some 134 students are currently taking part in men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country/track, baseball and softball teams, according to Brix. The event, which included a welcome from Dr. Barbara Kavalier, SCC president, was held in the SSB auditorium this year in order to accommodate the student athletes, coaches, support team and guests. “It was very encouraging to see so many students taking part in our expanding athletics program,” Kavalier said. “I know the coaches are dedicated to our students’ success in the classroom, as well as on the field.”
The meet ‘n greet introduced student athletes, their coaches, the athletic trainer, field specialist and the Athletics Office coordinator to administrators in a casual atmosphere that allowed teams to mingle while enjoying refreshments. According to Brix, the total number of student athletes increased 43 percent compared to 2018-19; the number of outof-state athletes increased by 173 percent; and the number of international students taking part in intercollegiate athletics increased by 25 percent since last year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hispanic Fiesta Tuesday, Oct. 8 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Campus Plaza ______________
Material art exhibit Oct. 21-Nov. 15 8 a.m.-8 p.m. FAB gallery ______________
Pride Day Celebration Thursday, Oct. 10 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. SSB auditorium ______________
Material art exhibit reception Wednesday, Oct. 23 6-8 p.m. FAB gallery ______________
Mix & Mingle Thursday, Oct. 10 2:30-4 p.m. ADM 113 ______________
Disability Awareness Week Oct. 21-24 SSB auditorium ______________
Day of Service Friday, Oct. 11 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Various places on and off campus ______________
Mercy Blood Drive Thursday, Oct. 24 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. SSB auditorium ______________
Fall Fun Blitz Oct. 16-17 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Campus Plaza ______________
Dr. Barbara Kavalier, SCC President
SCC Faculty Recital Sunday, Oct. 20 3-5 p.m. FAB theater ______________ Spring 2020 registration open Oct. 21-Jan. 13
SCC Womens Soccer team
Student Government Bonfire Friday, Oct. 25 7-10 p.m. Sand volleyball court fire pit ______________ SCC Annual Solo Concert Sunday, Oct. 27 12-7 p.m. FAB 118
Faculty updates and accomplishments LYNNE SNYDER, professor, directed and choregraphed Center Stage’s summer musical “Catch Me if You Can,” which boasted several sold-out shows and had over 1,700 people in attendance from July 23-28. The musical direction was provided by Jon Garrett, accompanist. Set design was provided by Jeff Roop, theatre manager. Jane Bagnall, part-time faculty, provided costume design. Deborah Phillips, part-time faculty, provided hair and makeup design. The show was based on the film of the same name about real-life con man, Frank Abagnale, Jr., and his many fraudulent personas and escapades while being pursued by the FBI. JOE BAUMANN, PH.D., assistant professor of English, was attended the Lambda Literary Writers’ Retreat (on the campus of the Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, Calif. from Aug. 4-11). The retreat admits only twelve writers per cohort, and there are five cohorts. Baumann was a member of the fiction cohort, which had over 120 applicants this year. This summer, Baumann also had several pieces of fiction accepted for publication by literary journals, including: Veneration, in Bookends Review, In Memoriam, in Paris Lit Up, Forgotten Folk, in Marathon Literary Review, Crying Boys Welcome Here, in New Southern Fugitives, Where You Go, I’ll Follow, in Queer Sci-fi, Twilight in Heroland, in Strange Stories, Do to Me What I Can Do to You, in Manhattanville Review and Snow Birds, in Quiddity. Additionally, his short story Terrarium will be published as a standalone chapbook by Head & Hand Press. KEVIN PATTON, emeritus faculty, participated in workshops in: audio engineering and editing, episode planning and creation and legal issues of podcasting. Patton presented
several workshops – Running Concept Lists: A Simple Strategy to Identify, Connect, & Apply Core Concepts of Anatomy & Physiology and Textbook Features Based on Current Learning Science. PAMELA ROUSSIN, accompanist, sent 20 students to MAMA (Mid-America Music Association) and all 20 came home with Superior rating trophies. She also sent a student to the Steinway Piano Competition this summer. JEFF BARUDIN, PH.D, adjunct music faculty, was hired on as percussion faculty at Webster’s Community Music School. He also played with the Gateway Festival Orchestra this summer. BECKY THORN, assistant professor of music, accepted the Repertoire and Resource Chair for 2-Year Colleges position with MCDA (MO Choral Directors Association) and participated in their Executive Board meeting on August 3 in Springfield, Mo. Thorn, and Ken Tucker, music adjunct, attended the 2019 MCDA conference, Bringing the Past into the Future, July 17-20 in Jefferson City, Mo. REBECCA HILL, music adjunct, performed Bernstein’s Candide as principal clarinet with Union Ave Opera, performed with Gateway Festival Orchestra, and performed Peter and the Wolf for kids at the Piper Palm House. Additionally, her trio was accepted to perform at UT Knoxville for Clarinet Fest. JIM MARTIN, associate professor of music, played bass trombone for The MUNY production of 1776. He co-directed this summer’s Community Music School Band Camp at Webster University. He performed, taught and presented at the Eastman School of Music “Eastman Summer Trombone Institute.” Martin also performed at the
International Trombone Festival at Ball State University (All Star Jazz Night and Cramer Faculty Trombone Choir) on July 10-13. JON GARRETT, music adjunct, accepted the position of Artistic Director of the Gateway Men’s Chorus. Garrett, collaborated with Lynne Synder, theatre chair, this summer to Music Direct the SCC Center Stage production of Catch Me If You Can! Music Adjuncts, Sarah Walseth, Stephanie Brueggemann and Aaron Mahnken, along with former SCC students, Tommy Robert and Louis Dalton performed in the pit orchestra for the musical. MARY SWEETIN, music adjunct, played with The Who at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on May 23. Sweetin performed with Weird Al Yankovic at The Fabulous Fox June 22! She played violin/viola for the production of Matilda at The Muny on Aug. 5 -11. Sweetin’s original piece River Cathedral was performed by the Edwardsville Symphony on Sept. 29. KEVIN GIANINO, music adjunct, performed at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts with the Swing of Hearts Orchestra. He participated in the Dave Dickey Big Band at the ECC Jazz Festival earlier this summer. He performed along with a stellar local line-up of artists at the Sheldon Concert Hall on Aug. 20. Gianino was also included in Dennis Owsley’s new book, St. Louis Jazz - A History. SARAH GALLAHER-MCGUIRK, music adjunct, performed in the pit orchestra for SIUE’s production of Mamma Mia! this July. Computer Science created a new collaborative classroom – Tech 214 Collaboration Room Diversity posters were included inside of the classroom, and old tables have been repurposed – some of the original tables are being reused outside of Tech 214 for student stations.