Holocaust Remembrance 2009  “The Shoah: Understanding Holocaust Memories” is the theme for Holocaust Remembrance 2009 at PBCC Palm Beach Gardens March 26. Historian and author Christopher Browning will talk about the testimonies of slave labor camp victims and his role in a landmark trial challenging a Holocaust denier.  (more)

Four-day summer work week hours policy announced   In an effort to save money and reduce energy costs over the summer months, PBCC will move to a four-day work week from May 11 through August 6. The College will be open Mondays through Thursdays and will be closed on Fridays.  (more)

Electric Vehicle Initiative comes to PBCC automotive students   Ron Fahs and his family visited a group of about 50 automotive students at the PBCC Lake Worth campus Feb. 25 to talk about his grass-roots movement, the Electric Vehicle Initiative (EVI) and too show them the future of automobiles: a plug-in hybrid car that can travel over 100 miles on one gallon of gas.  (more)

In the late 1960s when Christopher Browning was searching for a topic for his doctorate as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, he read one of the few books available at the time on the history of the Holocaust, Raul Hilberg’s The Destruction of the European Jews. After reading Hilberg’s book Browning knew what he wanted to write about for his thesis.

“The Holocaust wasn’t a legitimate scholarly subject at the time. There were no college courses taught on it and there wasn’t a large body of literature covering the Holocaust,” Dr. Browning said in a telephone interview from his North Carolina home. “Hilberg’s book was a groundbreaking piece of work that provided the first comprehensive history of that era. It was fascinating to me and that’s when I decided to become a Holocaust historian.”

Dr. Christopher Browning

A specialty quilt created by JoAnn Donato

PBCC cosmetology student Rachel Karram (left) applies hair extensions to Callie Hish.

Two PBCC career programs will receive national exposure in upcoming trade publications. PBCC’s cosmetology program will be featured in Spring 2009 The Hair Industry Connection, a magazine about hair replacement, hair extensions, news, trends and education. The article highlights the program, CCE courses, a former cosmetology student and hair extensions expert, as well as current students. The publication will be printed in April.

PBCC’s “Sugar Technology Institute: A Sweet Addition to the Glades,” Contact magazine story from the Winter 2008 - 2009 edition, will be featured in The Community College Times, a national newspaper about academic programs, campus issues, government and workforce development. Click here to read the story previously published in Contact.

Both articles were written by Diana Paliuca, college relations and marketing specialist. Photos for the cosmetology feature were taken by Mark Udry, college relations and marketing specialist. Wellington photographer John Ricksen shot the pictures for the Sugar Technology Institute feature.  For more information about these programs, visit their websites at: www.pbcc.edu/Cosmetology.xml and www.pbcc.edu/Sugar.xml .

Professor Sankaranarayana Chandramohan shows students the various weeds that plague the sugar cane.

Meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist (second from left) are, from left, trustees Wendy S. Link, William Berger and David H. Talley, and PBCC President Dennis Gallon.

Members of the Palm Beach Community College District Board of Trustees joined their colleagues from institutions throughout the state at the Trustees Annual Legislative Conference Feb. 3-4 in Tallahassee.

Sponsored by the Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC), the conference provided a series of briefings on state and federal legislative issues. The trustees and PBCC President Dennis Gallon also participated in individual meetings with the House and Senate leadership and staff in the Capitol chambers.

“The conference and legislative meetings provided a great opportunity for us to talk directly with our state leaders about PBCC challenges and successes, “ said Wendy S. Link, District Board of Trustees vice chairperson. “ We also received the latest information on the budgetary issues they are facing. It was a tremendous learning experience for all.”

During the conference, Gov. Charlie Crist welcomed the trustees, college presidents and members of the Florida Legislature at an evening reception at the Governor’s Mansion. The event was sponsored by the Foundation for Florida’s Community Colleges.

Faculty, staff and students at the Belle Glade campus celebrated National Heart Month Feb. 19 by staging a jump-rope competition in the campus courtyard. Individuals able to skip rope for at least two minutes were awarded prizes. National Health Month, created by Congress in 1963, promotes heart-healthy lifestyles, recognizes health care professionals and promotes awareness of heart disease.

Palm Beach Community College has approved a lease agreement with Nichols College that paves the way for the small private Massachusetts-based business school to offer master’s degrees on the Lake Worth campus.

Under the agreement approved by the PBCC District Board of Trustees Feb. 17, Nichols College would use classrooms in the Technical Education building for its Master of Business Administration and Master of Organizational Leadership degree programs.

The lease agreement is among several steps the not-for-profit school must take to finalize its partnership with PBCC. It also must gain certification from the Florida Commission for Independent Education to offer degrees in the state. If approved by the commission, Nichols officials hope to begin offering the programs either this fall or spring 2010.

PBCC also is working on an articulation agreement to give students in PBCC’s new Bachelor of Applied Science degree in supervision and management program a seamless transfer opportunity to earn a graduate degree.

“It’s an excellent pathway for our students who want to pursue a master’s degree and for other people in our community,’’ said Dr. Sharon Sass, vice president of academic affairs.

PBCC’s bachelor’s degree program, which begins this fall, also will be offered in the TE building, where renovations are underway to convert all of the classrooms into high tech multi-media classrooms and add a central area for registration, admissions and advising. “The site is designed for a one-stop center concept. Students can come to take care of all of the business there,” said Dr. Magdala Ray, dean of baccalaureate students at PBCC.

“The beauty of this (partnership) is the fact that you allow students to further their education without leaving their comfort zone. All of the resources they’re already familiar with are right there,’’ said Laurie Albert, dean of graduate and professional studies at Nichols. 

The Lake Worth campus communications department brought documentary filmmaker Georg Koszulinski to the Harold C. Manor Library at PBCC Lake Worth Feb. 16 for a showing of his documentary, “Cracker Crazy: The Invisible Histories of the Sunshine State”. The film covers bits and pieces of Florida history from the Native Americans 12,000 years ago to migrant workers today. While the film covers many controversial topics, it begs the viewer to question the way that history has been portrayed as well as apply lessons learned from history to contemporary society.

After the showing, Koszulinski fielded questions from the audience which led to a lively discussion of history and how it has been portrayed. Professors Steve Brahlek, Regina Dilgen and Susan Buchannan were among those who had their classes in attendance.

Beginning May 11 all PBCC campuses will operate on a four-day work week this summer, ending Aug. 6. All campuses will be closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during this period. Campuses will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. during this time.

There will be a few exceptions, based on specific needs and these exceptions must be approved by Vice President, Administration & Business Services Richard Becker. Examples of exceptions already approved are the Center for Early Learning, Historic Building and maintenance and security of the Eissey Campus Theatre.

Provosts (or appropriate vice presidents) will approve specific hours of individual departments. The goal is to reduce energy costs, specifically air conditioning, saving the College between $125,000 and $150,000.

All non-exempt, full-time staff will be required to work their regular number of hours (either 35 or 40 hours per week, based upon their current assignment). They will receive a ½-hour paid lunch break Monday through Thursday. This lunch break should be taken in the middle of the shift and cannot be accumulated from day to day. Part-time employees should work up to their allowable hours per week based upon need as determined by a supervisor. There is not a ½-hour paid lunch break for part-time employees.

Supervisors should be as flexible as possible with staff schedules, but must ensure that the department is open and functional during its stated hours of operations. Employees may not work from home for any part of their normal working hours. If an employee requests a full day of annual leave or sick leave, he/she will need to use 10 hours of leave for that day.

Currently, there are no plans to move PBCC to a four-day work week year-round.

Question: With the College moving to a four-day work week over the summer, what do you plan to do with an extra day off?  Click here to share your thoughts.

PBCC Adjunct Professor Larry Siegel (right) at the U.S. embassy in Abidjar, Ivory Coast

Palm Beach Community College Adjunct Professor Larry Siegel had been pondering a vacation trip to Africa. So, when he received an offer to give a lecture at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, he jumped at the opportunity.

“It’s always been a dream to be able to go. That’s what sealed the deal,’’ Siegel said after arriving home Feb. 10 from his 10-day trip to West Africa. He spoke Feb. 3 to about 50 people, including members of the National Council of Medicine of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire about how to treat victims of sexual and general violence.

Siegel, a psychotherapist and clinical sexologist, was representing the Sage Institute for Family Development, his nonprofit training and counseling institute. He also spent a day at the medical society’s headquarters participating in an information exchange. The group presented him with an honorary membership in the medical society and a token of their appreciation.

His speaking engagement was the result of a joint collaboration between the Information Resource Center at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan and the medical society. Siegel said he has a friend at the U.S. Embassy who presented his information to the medical society to consider him as a guest speaker.

“I’ve been to and spoken in many other places but this is the furthest I’ve ever gone,’’ said Siegel, who has been teaching psychology, human sexuality and other credit and continuing education classes at PBCC for 20 years. “I think it’s something everybody should do. Everybody should visit the African continent at some point in their lives. It’s an amazing experience.”  

Thanks to a grant from The Douglas and Virginia Stewart Foundation through the PBCC Foundation, the Stewart Distinguished Teaching Awards have been made possible once again this year. Two awards of $5,000 each will be available this spring term to recognize distinguished teaching utilizing proven student engagement practices promoting interactive learning.

The awards are open to all full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and program instructors teaching PSAV courses (except for previous recipients) who utilize interactive learning practices as a critical component of effective teaching that promotes student engagement, retention and success. Self-nominations will be sought from the college community starting March 2.

Applicants will submit an Intent to Apply form available on the Stewart Distinguished Teaching Award Web site, followed by a lesson plan used in the 2007-2008 or 2008-2009 academic years with documentation of student coursework and assessment as evidence of the practice on the learning experience.

Student coursework may include actual student projects, research, and papers, or digital images of the same. Documentation should include a detailed lesson plan with stated learning outcomes, descriptions of the teaching methodologies, evidence of how the stated learning outcomes were assessed, any pertinent measurement data, including grades or scores awarded, and an analysis of the data presented.

The awardees will be required to make a presentation describing and modeling their practices at either the Fall 2009 Convocation or an Academic Development Day in the 2009-2010 academic year.

The selection committee will be led by Dr. Magdala Ray, dean of baccalaureate studies, and will include the two 2008 Stewart Distinguished Teaching Award recipients. All submissions should be sent to Ray by internal college mail at Mail Station #12, electronically at raym@pbcc.edu, or delivered to her office on the Lake Worth campus, CE104. The deadline for all submissions is April 1 and the Intent to Apply form should be submitted immediately.

The Intent to Apply form and additional information concerning the Stewart Distinguished Teaching Awards may be found at www.pbcc.edu/StewartAwards.xml  .
 

PBCC President Dennis Gallon presented freshman Lisa Craig with a framed copy of the 2008 president’s holiday card she designed, selected from 50 entries submitted by four classes of graphic designs students. This is the fourth year a graphic design student created the president’s holiday card, mailed to over 1,300 members of the community, including board members, donors and friends of the College. Craig also received a $100 check for her winning design. Professor Tim Eichner (left) and Associate Dean Vernon Grant were also on hand to congratulate Craig.

James Rowland

Annual Comedy and Talent Explosion winners (from left): William and Faith Proper, first place; Rhona Nain, second place; host Marvin Dixon; Gregory Suffrin and Supreme Impact, third place.

Three Palm Beach Community College students will receive scholarships after winning the hotly contested 9th Annual Comedy and Talent Explosion attended by more than 400 people at the Duncan Theatre Feb. 27.

William Proper, a freshman on the Lake Worth campus who is pursuing an A.A. degree with plans to earn a Ph.D. in history and become a college history professor, won the first-place $600 scholarship for his performance of “Stand in the Rain” by Superchicks. He played an electric acoustic guitar while his sister, Faith, a 10th grade home-schooled student who is dual enrolled at PBCC, played the violin and sang the song.

Rhona Nain, president of the Student Government Association on the Lake Worth campus, won the second-place $500 scholarship for her rendition of The Fugees song, “Killing Me Softly.” She plans to become a high school mathematics teacher.

Gregory Suffrin, who is studying dental assisting, won the third-place $400 scholarship for his original rap called “Wabedobedo,” which he performed with Supreme Impact, a group of high school dancers featuring Joel Abbott, Torrelle Gomes, Tay Gaines and Rafael Lockhart.

The talent competition hosted by comedian Marvin Dixon and sponsored by the PBCC chapter of the National Council on Black American Affairs, included 13 singing, dancing, and spoken word performances. The winners were chosen by a panel of five judges.

A small, silent car makes a big impression   

Ron Fahs (left) talks with automotive students about his modified 2005 Toyota Prius.

“It’s pretty quiet, isn’t it?” he says.

Ron Fahs, his wife Fran and their 15-year-old daughter, Joy, are on a mission. The Tallahassee family visited with about 50 automotive students at the Lake Worth campus Feb. 25 to talk about their grass-roots movement, the Electric Vehicle Initiative (EVI). PBCC was the second stop of the family’s 2,000-mile drive through the state, stopping to show off their modified 2005 Toyota Prius at 16 community colleges to show students in automotive programs the wave of the future.

The Fahs believe the future is in electric cars, specifically plug-in hybrids such as the one they are using to tour the state. They bought the Prius in 2007 for $18,500 and had a $10,000 Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module (PCM) installed. The module is a Nanophosphate lithium ion battery kit from A123 Systems based in Watertown, Mass.

The rechargeable battery pack allows the car to run only on electric power for about 40 miles, boosting the car’s fuel mileage to over 100 miles per gallon. The Fahs are a relative handful of private citizens that own a plug-in hybrid of this type; for now the cost of the car, the battery kit and installion remains out of reach for most consumers.

“We are early adopters of this technology, and early adopters pay the highest price,” said Fran Fahs. “It isn’t about the money, it’s about doing what's right for the environment. Once this technology goes into mass production, the cost will go down."

Ron Fahs retired last August after working as a director of facilities and planning for the state’s community college system with plans to do some travelling. He and Fran decided to purchase the car and made plans to travel the state at their own expense, spreading the word about plug-in hybrids along the way.

“I’ve always considered myself an environmentalist, and I decided to put my money where my mouth is,” said Fahs.

During their visit with the automotive students, the Fahs family talked about the Electric Vehicle Initiative, answered questions about their car and showed clips from the 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The students then crowded around the car as Fahs talked about the car and the 165-pound rechargeable battery pack located in the spare tire compartment under the trunk.

It was a demonstration the students needed to see, said Luis Tamayo, automotive program director.

“Of all the trade programs, automotive and diesel technology are experiencing the most changes,” said Tamayo. "The technology is evolving very quickly and we need to get our students prepared for it.”

The PBCC automotive program will integrate a new textbook with chapters on hybrids during the summer session and as the technology becomes mainstream, courses on hybrids will be added to the curriculum.

“We are here because you are the technicians of the future,” said Fran Fahs. “We want you to get the jump on this technology, because it will be here before you know it. Our future depends on it.”

The Fahs are writing a blog of their experiences as they travel around the state. Visit eviblog.floridaeaa.org to read it and post comments.

Additional Resources:
“We obsessively cover the green scene” says AutoblogGreen, a Web site that reviews and reports green news, events and car manufactures.

To learn more about the Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module (PCM) visit the company’s Web site.

Plug-In America claims to “accelerate the shift to plug-in vehicles powered by clean, affordable, domestic electricity to reduce our nation's dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment.”

For more "green" activities at PBCC visit the website: www.pbcc.edu/Sustainability.xml

Comings and Goings

Comings

German Cruz-Torress, student services representative I, Lake Worth

Coleen Farinelli, administrative assistant II, Lake Worth

Hansome Jones, security lieutenant, Lake Worth

Allan Lewis, security officer, Palm Beach Gardens

Drew London, records specialist, Palm Beach Gardens

Richard Stormer, records specialist, Lake Worth


Transfers/Promotions

Karen Burrell, career advisor/scholarship coordinator I, West Palm Beach

Jestina Clayton-Buyuknisan, lead security officer, Lake Worth

Charla Reece, grant writer, Lake Worth


Departures

Heather Alvarez, administrative assistant II, Lake Worth

Scott Balogh, maintenance mechanic I, Lake Worth

Shae Blasko, career advisor/scholarship coordinator, West Palm Beach

Eileen Christofi, administrative assistant I, Boca Raton

Eddie Hoyle, program grant director, District

Gary Metzger, maintenance mechanic I, Palm Beach Gardens

Beverly Robinson, provost, Belle Glade

Gary Smith, PSAV instructor, Lake Worth

Reinhold Tamayo, graphic designer, District

The memorial service for Wayne B. Franke, son of Dr. Helen B. Franke, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2009, at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, 4601 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. The family will greet friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the memorial service in the church sanctuary.

Please remember your colleague in your thoughts and prayers.