April 2018
IN THIS ISSUE
Spotlights



 






Message from Chancellor Madeline Pumariega
A talented workforce will ensure Florida remains competitive in today's global economy. To that end, the Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council set a goal to raise Florida's attainment level statewide by increasing the percentage of working-age Floridians with a degree, industry certification or educational certificate to 55 percent by 2025. Postsecondary attainment undoubtedly benefits the individual through increased personal income and society through reduced welfare and unemployment, improved health, and reduced crime. Likewise, Florida College System (FCS) graduates also contribute to the economic development of their regions and our state as a whole.

As demonstrated in the FCS  Graduate Outcomes Data Dashboard, 92 percent of recent graduates are employed or continuing their education after graduation. FCS graduates working full time have an average salary of $39,540; for Associate in Science graduates and baccalaureate graduates, those salaries are $46,708 and $50,708, respectively. Data consistently show that higher education pays off - college graduate wages outpace the wages of individuals who have a high school diploma.  

In addition to increasing higher income by enhancing skills of workers, our colleges are encouraging new business, assisting existing business and creating long-term economic growth. The results of these efforts are undeniable-the total effect of system on the Florida economy based on student productivity gains, college operations and student spending is $26.6 billion; for every dollar of support, taxpayers see a cumulative return of $2.90 over the course of students' careers; and 93 percent of graduates remain in Florida and contribute to the state's economic growth.

The Talent Center at the College of Central Florida is one example of how collaborations and partnerships with local businesses and CareerSource support businesses and economic development of a region. Talent Center staff work one-on-one with employers to help recruit, train and retain vetted professional and highly-skilled technical talent. Candidates receive individualized career counseling, job leads and referrals, resume assistance, interview preparation and invitations to job fairs and hiring events.

At Gulf Coast State College, the Entrepreneurship Simulation Lab (ENT-Lab) is a teaching initiative that not only focuses on providing students with a real-life challenge, but also encompasses a mix of programmatic and scheduling practices to maximize student services and high economic impact. The ENT-Lab covers three dimensions: (1) experiential learning through community/corporate partnerships; (2) program affordability and; (3) accessibility. Students are matched with local employers or non-profit organizations to develop and implement solutions that will create value for the selected organization.

An economic analysis of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota's (SCF) impact on its service area shows that the college has a total annual impact of $432.4 million, which is 1.5 percent of the total regional economy. SCF plays a significant role in the local economy and creates value for students by increasing their employability and value for society by ensuring taxpayers benefit from a larger economy and lower social costs, increased job and investment opportunities, higher business revenues and an eased tax burden.

In celebration of April as Florida College System Month, Governor Rick Scott recognized Florida as being number one in higher education. As a system, we will continue to collaborate to achieve the highest of success that will benefit our institutions, communities and state as whole. I am confident these efforts will benefit our families and future generations in the years to come. 

With great appreciation,


Madeline Pumariega
Chancellor
St. Johns River State College's Student Success Campaign  
Maintaining a talented workforce and increasing educational attainment is crucial to future prosperity both for our state's economic stability and our residents' quality of life. By 2025, Florida is forecasted to have more jobs requiring a postsecondary education than workers equipped to fill them. Therefore, as a state we must ensure Floridians are prepared for the kind of high-wage, in-demand jobs that will fuel our economy, and encourage the growth of companies that can sustain meaningful careers.

The 28 Florida College System institutions work hard to ensure that students are gaining the knowledge needed when entering the workforce. One example is St. Johns River State College's Student Success Campaign (SSC), which aims to increase student attainment by reimagining the overall student experience from enrollment through graduation.

The SSC is a college-wide, employee-driven, multi-year effort that cuts across traditional silos. Initiatives aim to improve outreach and student engagement for new and returning students, in and out of the classroom, key processes for operations, academics and student support, student support across academic, financial, work/life and campus services, and communication with students and the organization. In proactive advising, every FTIC student is assigned to an advisor. The advisors reach out to their assigned students at least twice each semester.

The overall goal of the campaign focuses on increasing fall -to-fall persistence for first-time-in-college (FTIC) students by 10 percent over the next five years. In fall 2017, advisors were assigned 1,131 FTIC students. Of these, 431 students visited with an advisor at least once during the semester. Faculty, staff and administration are currently collaborating to evaluate SSC activities and suggest improvements/or new initiatives.
142 Students Named to the 2018 All-Florida Academic Team Honored at Awards Ceremony

Students recently gathered with their college presidents, advisors, families, and loved ones to be recognized and honored for their academic achiev ement, community service and leadership. The 2018 All-Florida Academic Team Awards Ceremony held in Tam pa was a day to remember for 142 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) students from Florida colleges as they were named to the prestigious All-Florida Academic Team . Of the 142 students recognized, 134 of these students are from Florida College System (FCS) institutions throughout the state and are nominated by their respective colleges. Twelve of these students also earned national scholarships ranging in value from $1,000 to $5,000 for demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence, intellectual rigor and community service.

The rigorous academic standards requiring the students to maintain a 3.5 GPA prove these are not
only some of the brightest students from the FCS, but also students who have contributed hundreds of volunteer hours serving their community through various activities.

"As Chancellor of the Florida College System, it is my privilege to commend these students on the dedication they have shown to their studies and for the contributions they have made to their communities," said FCS Chancellor Madeline Pumariega. "These are just a few examples of the many truly remarkable students in the Florida College System."

Additionally, two of the FCS students nominated to the All-Florida Academic Team also earned national scholarships. Hillsborough Community College (HCC) student Luis Mesias has the unique distinction of being selected as both a member of the 2018 All-USA Academic Team and the 2018 Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar for Florida, a result of having the highest All-USA Academic Team application score in the state. As a member of the All-USA Academic Team, Mesias is one of only 20 others in the United States. He is also one of only 100 students recognized across the United States as a Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar.

A native of Guatemala,  Mesias has excelled since arriving at HCC, serving as an honors ambassador, member of Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In addition to his academic accomplishments, he has had the honor of serving as the first student trustee in the history of HCC. The District Board of Trustees, administration and staff have been greatly impressed by his informed advocacy for his fellow students during the academic year. After completing his course work at HCC, Mesias hopes to continue his studies in electrical engineering at a university. Mesias earned a $5,000 scholarship as a member of the All-USA Community College Academic team and $2,000 as Florida's Coca-Cola New Century Scholar.

Valencia College (VC) student Shanta Bacchus was selected as the 2018 New Century Workforc e Pathway Scholar. This scholarship recognizes the achievements of  workforce-ready students and provides scholarships to complete their associate degrees, obtain the necessary certifications and purchase the tools or other trade-specific items needed to enter the workforce. Fifty students from across the nation are recognized. Bacchus is currently pursuing an Associate in Science in Office Administration from VC and will receive a $1,250 scholarship from PTK.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation also recognized outstanding leadership, service to the community and academic excellence through the selection of the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team, which is selected annually by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Gold scholars are awarded with a $1,500 scholarship, silver scholars receive a $1,250 scholarship and bronze scholars receive a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Gold Scholars
    • Michaylla Boring, Eastern Florida State College
    • Jennifer Smalley, Northwest Florida State College
  • Silver Scholars
    • Ann Brown, Chipola College
    • Michidael Ceard, Miami Dade College
    • Medjyna Moreau, Broward College
  • Bronze Scholars
    • Summer Chrzescian, Florida SouthWestern State College
    • Estefany Rivas Ortiz, Hillsborough Community College
    • Monique Ruiz, Miami Dade College
    • Erika Weaver-Coleman, South Florida State College
    • Felipe Zwanzger, Miami Dade College
During this year's ceremony, additional awards were given, including the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Awards. Seminole State College President Dr. E. Ann McGee was honored with this award for her contributions to PTK. The Bennett Awards honor retiring college presidents who have provided consistently outstanding support to PTK chapters and advisors throughout their careers. Dr. McGee will be recognized with 12 other college presidents during PTK Catalyst 2018, the society's annual convention in April.
 
Students also had the opportunity to submit a student-produced, one minute video highlighting ways their PTK chapter increased civic engagement through campus-wide student involvement, education and awareness initiatives to be recognized with the 2018 Chancellor's Student Service Award. Videos submitted were judged based upon  the impact on the community, ability for civic engagement to be replicated, level of student participation, technical features, and video content and creativity. Valencia College's Alpha Gamma Omega PTK Chapter was recognized with the 2018 Chancellor's S tudent Service Award and received both a certificate and a monetary award of $500.
St. Petersburg College Collaborates with Tampa Bay Area Partners to Train Future Workforce 
In an effort to bring mechatronics and electromechanical jobs to Florida, St. Petersburg College (SPC) will work alongside Tampa Bay area manufacturers to launch an innovative workforce training program that is modeled after a premier automotive industry-education collaboration. Program participants will receive paid training to become mechatronics and electromechanical technicians. This emerging, high-demand field involves the synergistic application of mechanical, electrical and automation skills.

Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Cissy Proctor recently visited the college to award SPC with a $1.6 million grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The grant is part of an $84 million initiative by Governor Rick Scott and the DEO to improve public infrastructure and enhance workforce training in order to promote economic development.

"The new Mechatronics and Electromechanical Technician Training Program stood out as a program sure to provide transferable, sustainable workforce skills to those who participate," said Proctor. "We look forward to the opportunities this funding will bring to the families in the St. Petersburg area."

To design the program, SPC worked with various employers, including Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, an aerospace and defense global leader, and Monin, an international beverage manufacturer and distributor. This industry-led, competency-based curriculum will ensure participants receive quality training that will help them succeed in a number of high-demand advanced manufacturing positions.

"As a result of an expansion at our Pinellas Park facility in particular, we are realizing a need for 80 to 100 technicians to support assembly and fabrication over the next 12 to 18 months as we move toward peak production over the next several years," said Andr é F. Trotter, program director and general manager at Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics Pinellas Park location. "This is exactly the type of educational partnership that allows us to enhance our skilled workforce."

SPC's Mechatronics and Electromechanical Technician Training program is modeled after the Automotive Manufacturing Training Education Collaborative (AMTEC), a premier automotive industry-education collaboration. AMTEC, a National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education Center, is considered the leader in online, modularized curriculum and industry engagement for automation training. It counts Ford, General Motors and Toyota as content leaders and boasts 55 active college partners that deliver the training.

"We are excited to have a dynamic group of industry and educational partners collaborate on this high-impact workforce training program that will drive our local and state economies and strengthen our community," said SPC President Tonjua Williams.

The growth of new industry partners highlights the demand for new skill development in automation by advanced manufacturers in general. The program will kick off June 1. SPC will be the first in Florida to deliver this type of training.

SPC also recently joined LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network, which is a cross-sector network of regional partners who work together to promote their community-wide commitment to college access and attainment in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to ensure that Tampa Bay has a globally competitive workforce. LEAP leadership uses a collective impact model of collaboration to guide coordinated strategies by partners, all geared at increasing attainment of high-quality college degrees and credentials. LEAP's overall vision aligns with Florida's "RISE to 55" initiative and the national "GOAL 2025" movement, which seeks to have 60 percent of working-age adults holding such credentials and degrees by 2025. 

"LEAP is the pathway for Pinellas and Hillsborough residents to prosperity," said Williams. "This collaborative initiative equips the region to be a thriving workforce and to move the economy forward." 
   
Earlier this month, the FCS released a new online Graduate Outcomes Data Dashboard that highlights wages, continuing education, and employment outcomes of college graduates one year after completion. The business intelligence tool allows users to manipulate the dashboards by college, year, methodology (standard wage analysis or FCS performance funding wage analysis), specific employment and continuing education outcomes, and average or mean wage. Data were provided by the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP). The information is separated into three different dashboards: 
       1.College Overview highlights data at the college level for a specific year and displays information for all award types. 
       2. Award Level Trends highlights trend data for a specific award type. 
3. Award Level Detail highlights data for a specific award type for a specific year. This dashboard provides the most detail on the outcomes of graduates.
Emily Brock - Pasco-Hernando State College  

Emily Brock is a sophomore at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) pursuing an Associate in Arts degree. Brock is a leader in both her school and community through her involvement in various organizations. She is president of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), a national, state and local business organization for students interested in business, where she hosted a dodgeball tournament in which all proceeds went to a local women's shelter. In July 2017, Brock attended the Institute for Leadership Conference and Nationals PBL Conference in California where she placed in the top 10 in Small Business Management Plan.

Brock is also a member of Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society. She volunteers at a youth shelter where she conducts various therapeutic activities. Brock is a peer mentor and student worker at PHSC. Not only has Brock shown her leadership at PHSC, but she has also served as the co-chairperson of the marketing committee at the Humane Society of the Nature Coast and is currently the communications intern at the United Nations of Tampa Bay.

Additionally, Brock attended the Global Engagement Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. She is a champion for the 'Nothing But Nets' project, a United Nations affiliated organization dedicated to raising funds to eliminate malaria. In late March, Brock attended the 'Nothing But Nets' summit in Washington D.C. and will also be attending the United Nation Association National Summit in June.

Among all of her accomplishments, Brock also volunteered at an event that helped raise more than $300,000 for those affected by the genocide in Myanmar. Brock has and continues to serve as a leader and positive example in both her community and among her peers at PHSC.
Faculty and Administrators: Nominate a Student to be the Chancellor's Clark Maxwell Scholar Student of the Month
In honor of the late Chancellor Clark Maxwell Jr., each month a student is selected to represent the Florida College System. Nominations for the Student of the Month are accepted on a rolling basis. If you know a student who demonstrates exemplary leadership skills, academic success, and/or commitment to community service through their involvement in the Florida College System, nominate them today!
Florida State College at Jacksonville's New 20West Café
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) recently celebrated the grand opening of its new restaurant,  20West Café, operated by its students and staff. The latest addition to downtown Jacksonville's dining options is a farm-to-table, counter-service restaurant located on the ground-floor of FSCJ's student housing, 20 West Adams.

The café will showcase FSCJ's Culinary Arts and Hospitality students' culinary talents and provide them with valuable real-world learning opportunities while also deepening the College's commitment to the city's revitalization efforts.

"FSCJ's Downtown Immersion effort was inspired first and foremost, by the desire to provide a more inclusive and comprehensive experience for our students," said FSCJ President Cynthia Bioteau. "What began as an idea two years ago is now a reality and even more beautiful and meaningful than any of us could have expected."

Not only does the restaurant highlight the work of art and hospitality students, but the chef, Brett Cromer, is also a graduate of FSCJ's culinary management and is passionate about bringing forward-thinking, healthy options to downtown Jacksonville.

"He has designed a menu that is farm-to-fork," said Bioteau. "So not only are we contributing to the urban core of Jacksonville, all of our produce and food used to create the menu items are locally sourced. We're supporting local as well."

20West Café delivers chef-driven and cutting edge culinary concepts in a fast-casual atmosphere. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Restaurant menu choices will rotate on a weekly basis. Catering services will also be provided.

By special request, 20West Café can accommodate private events during the evenings and weekends. The Winston Room, a 12-seat, private dining area, will also be available to guests by reservation only for breakfast and lunch meetings and private receptions. This space was named to honor the support of philanthropist Jim Winston toward both the restaurant and housing units.