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April 2004

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 9

College joins clearinghouse for student information

Blinn College has recently gone on line with the National Student Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization founded by the higher education community, which streamlines the student record verification process for colleges and universities, students and alumni, lending institutions, employers and other organizations. The clearinghouse maintains a comprehensive electronic registry of student records that provides a single, automated point-of-contact for organizations and individuals requiring timely, accurate verification of student enrollment, degree and loan data. The college is currently participating in DegreeVerify and EnrollmentVerify. We are working on a third service called EnrollmentSearch which will allow us to go to the database and query where our students have transferred, said registrar Dennis Crowson. DegreeVerify and EnrollmentVerify are free services while there will be a nominal charge for EnrollmentSearch, he said. More than 2,700 colleges, representing 91percent of the nations enrollment, participate in the clearinghouse. Student loan providers, employers, student credit issuers, student health insurance providers, the federal government and others access the clearinghouses registry more than 100 million times annually to conduct electronic student record verifications. The clearinghouse website is: http://www.studentclearinghouse.org

Cornyn visits Bryan campus

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, visited the Bryan campus on April 3 to show his support for technical and workforce education. Cornyn toured the EMS lab where he got a demonstration on SimMan, a computerized mannequin that simulates medical conditions. He used the defibrillator to try to restart SimMans heart. Then he walked through the physical therapy assisting and associate degree nursing labs for an overview on equipment and training in those programs. What Ive seen here is the best kind of training initiative, Cornyn said. I strongly believe that programs like this one are critical to our efforts to get our economy moving again. Cornyn expressed his support for President Bushs proposed $250 million to strengthen the role of community colleges in workforce development by funding programs, such as healthcare, where there are demonstrated labor shortages.

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Teaching Scholars Program produces Blue Chip Recruits

Six students in the Blinn College Teaching Scholars Program are among the 13 Blue Chip Recruits selected by the College of Education at Texas A&M University for the 20032004 school year. Cathy Stuckert, Teaching Scholars director, nominated the students. This is the first time that Blinn students have been chosen for this honor. Previously the Blue Chips were A&M freshmen only. The Blinn honorees are Katherine Bargas of Houston, Sheree Charanza of Caldwell, Courtney Emerson of Katy, David Laird of Katy, Bobbi Jo Lyles of Brenham and Amy Spanhel of Bryan. They are showcased at: http://partnerships.tamu.edu/publications/publications.asp.

that she would not seek reelection. Dr. Henry J. Boehm Jr., who has held the Precinct 3 position since 1980, was the only candidate for that post. During the boards vote to cancel the election and declare the two winners, Dr. Boehm abstained from voting. Both men will be sworn in for their six-year terms after May 15.

Lease, architect, construction manager for Schulenburg campus addition approved

A lease, development and sublease agreement between the college and the Schulenburg Economic Development Corp. was approved for the purpose of constructing an additional classroom building on the Schulenburg campus. The college will lease the land to the EDC, construct the classroom and sublease the land and the building from the EDC. The EDC intends to issue tax revenue bonds to provide the funds for construction and then pay off the bonds with proceeds from the citys half-cent economic development sales tax. Bond proceeds are projected to be $1.35 million with $25,000 being used for issuance costs and $112,000 set aside in a reserve fund. The remaining $1.213 million will be used for the construction project. Expenses are projected at: construction of the 11,500 square foot classroom building, $1.289 million; construction of 135-space parking lot, $175,000; architect and engineering fees, $71,750; landscaping, $15,000; and furnishings, $60,000. This leaves a net cost of $397,750 to be paid by Blinn. This will include $60,000 for furnishings, $15,000 for landscaping and all other costs, including any construction cost overruns and all expenses not otherwise covered by the bond proceeds. Brad Cutright, of Cutright and Allen of La Grange and the architect for the renovation of the facility for the Schulenburg campus, was employed as the architect for the expansion. Kalina Inc. of Schulenburg was employed as the construction manager for the project with a low bid of $72,495.

Board of Trustees
Meeting opens with awards report
Prior to the start of the agenda items, the board of trustees recognized Beta Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa members and advisors who presented the awards their chapter received at the recent international convention in Minneapolis. Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for two-year colleges, has more than 1.5 million members in more than 12,000 chapters around the world. Approximately 800 chapters competed for honors at the international convention where the Beta Alpha Chapter was among the top 10 in the fellowship hallmark, in the top 25 overall and finished fifth in the world in Distinguished Chapter rankings. President Don Voelter also recognized chapter president Debbie Goss and chapter vice president John Travis Smith as selections to the 2004 All-USA Academic Team sponsored by USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges. Smith was also named a New Century Scholar based on his scores earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition. The highest scoring student in each state is named a New Century Scholar and receives a $2,000 stipend from the Coca-Cola Foundation and the CocaCola Scholars Foundation. Other chapter members attending the board meeting were Bradley Ulrich and Alexis Mechura and advisors Debbi Cook and Karin Kinson.

Course fees approved for 2004-2005 year

Approval was given for the list of course specific fees for the 2004-2005 academic year. The majority of the fees were unchanged with the exception of the implementation of some new fees ranging from $8 to $15 and increases in some existing fees ranging from an additional $1 to an additional $30.

Annual budget workshop set

The board set its annual budget workshop for June 10 to review and discuss the preliminary proposed budget for the 2004-2005 school year.

Board candidates declared winners

With only one candidate declaring for each of the board positions up for election on the Blinn College Board of Trustees, the board was able to declare them winners and cancel the May 15 election. Retired construction company executive Don Jones was the only candidate who filed for the Precinct 2 position currently held by Sudie Stark. Mrs. Stark announced in March

District policy changes reviewed

The board reviewed the update of approximately 80 policies in the college districts policy manual as the result of changes to laws. Since the meeting the changes have been incorporated

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into the electronic version of the manual found on the college website.

Bookstore reports given

Pete Plotts, Marc Eckhart, Sharon Green and Jeremy Brown with Barnes & Noble presented reports on the operations, management and merchandizing of the companys bookstores on the Brenham and Bryan campuses. They reported that a customer satisfaction survey shows a 94 percent satisfaction level at the Brenham store and a 98 percent level at the Bryan store. They also outlined an internship program available for student employees. The stores used book re-purchase is approximately 41 percent, much higher than the industry standard 25 percent, they reported.

bers considering retirement on or before Dec. 31, 2004. To make reservations, call TRS toll-free at 1-800-223-8778 to speak with a counselor.

New employees
Brenham full time: Doris Collins, payroll clerk; Michael Manthei, mechanic I; Alan Siemsglusz, electrical technician; David Talamantez, custodian; and Marcie Phipps, TEACH administrative assistant. Brenham part time: Alan Hinze, repair mechanic. Bryan part time: Steven Latimer, learning center assistant; and Yolanda Columbus, learning center assistant. Bryan full time: Jack Moreland, nursing instructor. Post Office campus part time: Robert Munson, instructor workforce education.

Library renovation proceeds

President Don Voelter announced that the city of Bryan had given the go-ahead for the repair of the library building foundation so that renovation work on the building could proceed. Meanwhile the city will negotiate with the buildings original contractor to determine liability for the faulty foundation. The repair work is estimated at $65,000.

Leave forms
Please make sure that leave forms are turned in promptly. The form states that it should be in Human Resources no later than the third day of continuous absence. If an employee is gone more than three days, the leave form should be turned in by the supervisor and a copy given to the employee to sign and forward to HR upon return to work. If an employee is gone for less than three days, the leave form should be turned in promptly to HR the day of return with signatures from the employee and the supervisor. Requests for most leave, with the exception of sick leave, should be made in advance.

New employees hired

Following a closed session, the board reconvened to approve the employment of Brad Jones as an assistant band director on the Brenham campus and Nancy Sheffield as an emergency medical technology instructor on the Bryan campus.

Leave balances on check stubs

Although leave balances are on employee check stubs, please keep a record of absences and balances. Check stubs do not reflect a true reading of leave taken if a form is turned in after the payroll cut-off date. This is further support for turning in leave forms promptly. To have questions answered call Debbie Lyons in HR at 4128.

Human Resources
Steps to Retirement
TRS members will soon be able to view a 10-minute interactive presentation online at www.trs.state.tx.us that explains all the steps necessary to apply for TRS retirement. This will be the first of several videos planned for the website. Steps to Retirement provides step-by-step assistance to members who wish to learn which forms must be submitted when retiring from TRS. As members watch the program, they can stop the presentation at any time to visit the TRS website, view forms, or practice printing and completing them all through conveniently placed links. Then, they can resume the presentation where they left off. To view the new presentation, visit the Whats New page or Benefit Programs of the TRS website at www.trs.state.tx.us.

Insurance
From Sandi Conatser, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, State of Texas Service Representative, 512-795-5936, sandi_conatser@bcbstx.com: Effective April 1, North Houston Anesthesiology has contracted as BCBSTX BlueChoice providers at Conroe Regional Medical Center. This group consists of Dr. Innis, Dr. Caperson and Dr. Ambrose. Remember it is the subscribers responsibility to ensure that all services are provided by BlueChoice physicians and healthcare providers or the subscriber will be responsible for the difference between the billed charges and the BCBSTX allowed amount. For more information, visit the HealthSelect website: http://www.bcbstx.com/hs.

TRS Summer Retirement Presentations

TRS will conduct group retirement presentations at the TRS Building in Austin. Most sessions, generally on Mondays and Fridays, will be at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, 24, 25, 26, 27; June 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, 25, 28; July 9, 12, 16, 19, 26, 30 and August 3, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 30. Each two-hour presentation will be limited to 15 mem-

Around the Campuses

Annual board barbecue is May 1
Anyone who has not already sent in an RSVP and plans to attend the Blinn College Board of Trustees year-end barbecue

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on May 1 should contact Becky Krebs (4112 or bkrebs@blinn.edu) no later than April 26. The meal of barbecue and all the trimmings and hot dogs for the children will be served from 5:30-7 p.m. A brief program will be held at 6:30 to award service pins. In addition, the Star of the Republic Museum will be open with free admission until 6 p.m. The park gift shop will be open until 4:30 p.m. Barrington Living History Farm will be open until 5 p.m. where discounted admission will be $2 for adults and $1 for children. Allow at least one hour for touring the farm. Visit www.starmuseum.org for a map and other information.

Brenham retirement luncheon on May 12

The Blinn Professional Association - Brenham will hold its annual retirement luncheon on May 12 honoring those faculty, staff and administrators who have retired or will retire in the 2003-2004 academic year. The luncheon will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Student Center banquet room. The program will begin at 12:40. The Teaching Excellence Award winner will also be announced. Freewill donations will be accepted with the proceeds going to the associations endowed scholarship. For more information about the luncheon, contact Margie Kovar at 4129 or mkovar@blinn.edu.

Bash for Life raises money for equipment

Students, faculty and staff took out their frustrations to the tune of $300 during the Bash for Life fundraiser on April 20 for the Bryan campus Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). A dollar bought two swings of the sledgehammer on a donated wrecked car. Concessions were also sold. The money will go toward buying automatic external defibrillators, devices that can shock a patients heart back into a regular rhythm.

Personal Notes
At the 34th annual Texas Junior College Student Government Association state convention in Houston, the late Joel Franke, a long-time Blinn SGA advisor and an award-winning advisor with TJCSGA, was honored posthumously with creation of the Joel Franke Memorial Advisor of the Year Award. Mr. Franke served as state advisor and state advisor-elect in 1990 and 1991. He helped his students win statewide office on the executive board of TJCSGA four times before retiring as SGA advisor in 1995. He retired from Blinn in May 2003 and passed away in November. At this years convention, Mr. Frankes son and Bryan campus SGA advisor Brandon Franke was inaugurated as state advisor. The Brenham campus advisor, Mary Barnes, was inaugurated as Region IV advisor-elect.

Reva Towslee Corbett, a part-time faculty member in criminal justice on the Bryan campus, won the Republican Party nomination for 335th District Court judge on March 9. She faces Democrat Martin Placke in the November general election. J. Dan German, a part-time faculty member in criminal justice on the Bryan campus, recently retired from criminal justice after 33 years. He was an officer for Bryan Police Department but spent most of his career with Brazos County Juvenile Services where he was deputy director. He has taught criminal justice for Blinn since 1976, many of those years were spent teaching on the Brenham campus. Edgar Feldman, a part-time faculty member in criminal justice on the Bryan campus, announced his plans for retirement in December 2004. Chief Feldman has 39 years of service in law enforcement and has been the chief of police for College Station Police Department since 1992. He has taught for Blinn on both campuses since 1990. Michelle Fecowycz, a part-time faculty member in criminal justice on the Bryan campus, was featured on the front page of The Eagle regarding her innovative work with female juvenile delinquents. She is teaching a three-month program called Girls on Track, which is designed to build selfesteem as they spend time preparing for a 5K race. Ms. Fecowycz is a psychologist for Brazos County Juvenile Services and has taught for Blinn the past four years with students from both campuses using interactive video classes. Margaret Bruchez, who teaches anthropology on the Bryan campus, attended the annual meetings of the Society for American Archaeology and the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges in Montral, Qubec, March 31 through April 3. Dr. Bruchez presented the paper Texas Prison Inmates Digging In: Teaching Archaeology for College Credit. Randal Hoppens and Gary Ivy attended the Texas Section Mathematical Association of America annual meeting April 1-3 at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. They are mathematics instructors on the Brenham campus where Mr. Hoppens is also the division chair. Beta Alpha Chapter advisors Deborah Cook and Karin Kinson attended the Phi Theta Kappa Regional Honors Institute in Houston on March 11-14. Ms. Cook received the Horizon Award and Ms. Kinson was inducted into the Texas Hall of Honor for Outstanding Advisors. Ms. Cook advanced to chair of the regional advisory board. Both are speech instructors on the Brenham campus. Vocational nursing faculty Mary Arnold (director), Carolyn Reese and Linda Stewart, Bryan, and Ina Eckert (director) and Michelle Marburger, Brenham, attended the Texas Association of Vocational Nurse Educators Spring Convention, March 24 - 26, in Dallas. Seminar topics included Pediatric Asthma, Manufactured Excellence, Power of the Educator, Looking Back Towards Excellence, Childhood Obesity/Eating Disorders and Board of Nurse Examiners Update.

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Jim Moreno, economics instructor on the Bryan campus, attended the Texas Community College Teachers Association convention in Fort Worth in February. Deborah Cook was a presenter during the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Minneapolis on March 30-April 4. She co-presented with Kristin Solt of the American Cancer Society regarding the International Service program. Ms. Cook also served as a facilitator during the advisor roundtable discussions regarding Building Advisor Teams. She advanced to chair of the International Association of Chapter Advisors. She is a Beta Alpha Chapter advisor and a speech instructor on the Brenham campus. Additional 2004 nominees to Whos Who Among Americas Teachers include Judy Baker, business, Bryan; Mary Barnes, government, Brenham; Randal Hoppens, mathematics, Brenham; Sheri Roussel, English, Bryan; Beverly Williams, mathematics, Bryan; and Linda Zientek, mathematics, Brenham.

Bryan campus holds Beautification Day

More than 90 faculty, staff, administrators and students turned out to clean up and beautify the Bryan campus on April 16. Litter was collected from all green areas as well as parking lots and sidewalks on the main campus and the Post Office Street campus. Workers removed debris from the creek and pond and operated heavy equipment. Volunteers began a major landscaping project by converting an area to the north of the H Building from a clay and rock strip to a manicured area with a manmade dry creek bottom and flowerbeds. Work was also started on the area between the Science and E Buildings by extending the dry creek bed and preparing for the installation of a fountain donated by the health/kinesiology department. Students Josh and Erin Mowdy donated a three-ton boulder, which was strategically placed where other stones can be added to serve as seats for outdoor meetings. Volunteers at the Post Office Street campus mulched around trees and washed the windows and awnings. More beautification days are being planned. Thanks go out to all who pitched in on this project as well as to several employees and area businesses who donated landscaping materials, equipment and labor. The following list of volunteers consists of those who signed in or were observed working on April 16. Apologies to anyone overlooked. Dick Arnold, John Beaver, Terry Beaver, Amy Bennett, Tracey Biggs, Dwight Bohlmeyer, Blanche Brick, Margaret Bruchez, Mary Castle, Sandra Chumchal, Megan Craycraft, Susan Dennis, Dawn Eckenrode, Nilsa Ehresman, Maria Elia Flores, Jonathon Fortune, Juan Garcia, Neil Goldman, Laurie Grimes, Tina Harvell, Harley Haussman, Deborah Hobson, John Holman, Eugenia Hull, Kim Jackson, Amanda Julson, Paul Ketchum, Heather Ketchum, Crystal King, Steve Kirkpatrick, Janice Lapaglia, Larry Latterman, Cathy Lively, Mary Lorenzo, Wanda Macioge, Carolyn Massey, Marque Mathis, Bill May and Melissa McClennen-Davis. Bill Nix, J.C. Odom, Ellen Ott-Reeves, Sheri Pappas, Gena Parsons, Tina Paulis, Shelly Peacock, Barbara Pearson, Phil Pearson, Steve Powell, Judy Pratt, Vidya Rajan, Steve Rathbone, Guadalupe Reyes, Linda Richardson, Liz Rogers, Catherine Roueche, Rhoda Segur, Eddie Shanley, Victoria Sharpe, Michelle Shoemaker, Margaret Smith, Teresa Smith, Kristin Stoley, Sue Slowey, Cindy Tate, Cathy Thomas, Dennis Utley, Irma Valdez, Charlene Vance, Leslie Webb, Lisa Wiese, Bill Wiese, Jim Wright and Nancy Wright. (See photos on next page)

Our Family
Births
Annette Stadelmann and Lisa Neill, English instructors on the Brenham campus, announce two new additions to their clan. Ansley Maryt West was born Feb. 26 at 10:18 a.m. She weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 17 inches long. Her parents are Kanyon and Mary West. Olivia Margaret Gerhart was born March 30 at 5:04 a.m. Her birth weight was 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and her length was 19.25 inches. Her parents are John and Olga Gerhart. Mrs. West and Mrs. Gerhart are daughters of Mrs. Stadelmann and sisters of Mrs. Neill.

Sympathy
Condolences to Bryan social sciences division chair Blanche Brick and her husband natural sciences division chair Bob Brick on the loss of Mrs. Bricks mother. Blanche Killingsworth Henderson Abney, 94, passed away on March 11 in College Station. She was buried near her family home in Longview. Sympathy is also extended to Dr. Jane Stowell whose mother, Mary N. Myers of Lancaster, Pa., passed away March 10 in Chester, Pa., Dr. Stowell is coordinator of Operation REACH for ADN/Allied Health. Memorials in Mrs. Myers name may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 407 Lafayette St., Lancaster, PA 17603.

UPDATE is a newsletter for the faculty and staff of Blinn College. To submit information, contact the Office of Public Information in the Schmidt Building on the Brenham campus; phone: 830-4129; fax: 8304105; e-mail: mkovar@blinn.edu; or in the Science Building on the Bryan campus; phone: 821-7285; fax: 821-7302; e-mail: gparsons@blinn.edu

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Bryan Campus Beautification Day

Juan Garcia, Barbara Pearson and Tracey Biggs show off the trash collected near the main entrance.

Guadalupe Reyes and John Holman prepare for planting next to the H Building

The 3-ton boulder is placed between the Science and E Buildings

Overhead view of the dry creek bed and landscaping next to the H Building

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