The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
April 24, 2020
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PSC student
Kylie Crowell believes you can travel the country and even the globe searching for a quality visual arts college or university and not find one better than PSC. She knows. Crowell was one of five PSC Visual Arts students who won Gold Awards from the
American Advertising Federation District 4 American Advertising Awards competition. Winners were announced April 6. In all, the five students captured seven Gold ADDYs during the District 4 competition, which includes colleges and universities in Florida and the Caribbean. PSC students also captured five Silver Awards. No college or university in District 4 won more Gold and Silver Awards than PSC. “Honestly, I will praise the PSC Visual Arts program until I die,’’ said Crowell. Troy Moon
talks with winners and their instructors and looks at some of the ADDY-winning entries.
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Important Notice To PSC Students: CARES Act and Bank Mobile
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The
CARES Act
is a recent federal government initiative passed to help businesses, individuals, and college students who are in need of emergency funds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pensacola State College received notification of the award recently and the College is preparing a simple application for any currently enrolled student who may be eligible to requests funds because of changes to current living, work, or college situations. The emergency funds may be used for course materials, technology, food, housing, health care, and childcare. These are emergency grant funds and will not have to be paid back.
If you are currently enrolled or have ever been enrolled at Pensacola State College, you received an email from
Bank Mobile
letting you know that their service is available for your use if you are granted funds through PSC’s application process. The Bank Mobile email was not a notice that you have been approved to receive funds. If you are approved for funds, they will be delivered via your Bank Mobile account setting (direct deposit to your own personal bank account OR Bank Mobile Vibe account).
The College will be sending out the application to currently enrolled eligible students early next week.
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What’s better than a new car smell? It’s a new building smell. And the state-of-the-art
STEM facility
going up in the middle of the Pensacola State College Pensacola campus has got it. “You can smell the paint,’’ said
Dianne Bracken
, PSC’s director of Facilities, Planning and Construction. “We’re getting there.” Phase 1 of the building plan is the $15 million two-story east wing building that is in the final construction stages. Phase I completion is slated for May, and classes in the new facility will begin at the start of the fall term in August. Pre-lockdown,
Troy Moon
took a tour of the building in its current stage of production and offers
an update
.
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The kids are home from school, so it’s hard for some Pensacola State College students to do their classwork. That’s why PSC will offer weekend and late night live online weekday math and computer science classes during the summer term, which begins May 11. Some of the classes that will be offered on weeknights and weekends include College and Intermediate Algebra, Liberal Arts Mathematics, Liberal Arts Mathematics and more. In all, 11 live online classes will be offered. “We want to accommodate students having issues with childcare,’’ said Morris Buchanan, PSC Math and Computer Science Department head. “We have a number of faculty and adjunct instructors who have stepped up to teach these classes. If this is successful, we will see about continuing this during a normal semester. It just seemed like a great opportunity to explore something we as a department have been flirting with for a couple of years.”
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Virtual trips, online fun-&-games help keep PSC students in touch
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The COVID-19 shutdown hasn’t kept some Pensacola State College students from enjoying a group horseback ride – or being spectators at a live cooking show.
Don’t worry, all the students are respecting social distancing guidelines.
Sure, a cooking demonstration might be better if you could taste the finished dish. And a horseback ride might be more enjoyable if you could smell the pines and country freshness along the trail.
But still, the
PSC Robinson Honors Program is doing what it can to keep students entertained, engaged and connected. Even if those field trips are virtual trips enjoyed from the couch or kitchen table.
“We’re letting them share their passions,’’ said Program Coordinator
Amber Carey. “We have musicians, we’ve had someone put on a cooking demonstration. Two are horseback riders. They used a GoPro and took the rest of the club on a virtual horseback ride. It gives them a chance to have some connection with people and to share what they love with the others.”
And there are more virtual opportunities for PSC students to connect.
Student Activities has offered students everything from virtual trips to Tokyo, Paris, Jerusalem and Sydney to online trivia games and resume building workshops.
“We’re completely transitioned to virtual social media and webinar type of events,’’ said
MaKenzie Johnson, PSC Student Engagement and Leadership coordinator. “We try to host something once or twice a day.”
Each Friday Student Activities posts surprise challenges and content. Students can access all the activities and connection opportunities by liking the
Pensacola State College Student Engagement & Leadership Facebook page or going to Instagram (@pscpirateslife). Upcoming activities include Sprit Week, where PSC students, staff and faculty are urged to send photos of them in their favorite PSC gear, and more.
“I think now more than ever, we need to provide students an outlet and give them a break from their classes and everything they’re having to deal with,’’ Johnson said. “Maybe it will be an outlet for them to release some of that stress. Maybe they might learn something, or just have fun and stay connected with their classmates and friends.”
Other PSC clubs and organizations also are staying as active as possible during the shutdown.
The
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter at PSC, is collecting items for
Santa Rosa Kids’ House through the summer, and is asking individuals to make hats, scarves and other items for homeless military veterans.
PTK member
Andrew Kincaid said the group meets each Tuesday using Zoom technology.
“We can’t get together in person,’’ he said. “So, it’s good to be able to get together virtually. We’re all at home, we can’t see anyone. So, this gives us a good opportunity to get together and get your emotions out. If someone is struggling, you can talk about it. It’s just important to stay in touch.”
-- Troy Moon
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The Pensacola State College chapter of the
Association of Florida Colleges recognizes
Traci Jones as the spotlight member for April. Traci doesn’t need a spotlight to shine. Her incomparable work ethic and dedication to the College and its students do that on their own. Anyone who has visited Student Services on the Warrington Campus has been on the receiving end of one of Traci Jones’ welcoming smiles.
From the moment Traci stepped foot on the Pensacola Junior College campus, she says, “It just felt right.” She graduated from PJC in 1983 and began her career at the College in 1986 in the Student Affairs office. Today, 33 years later, Traci is still helping students navigate the waters of college life. According to Traci, the fulfillment she gets from assisting students is irreplaceable.
Being a member of AFC has given her another opportunity to give back. She has been a member for more than 15 years and has served as the chapter’s Treasurer for the last two years. Traci says her favorite thing about AFC is, “I love being part of a greater good and AFC gives me that chance. Seeing all the good AFC members can do when we come together is very rewarding. Another bonus that comes from being a part of the AFC family, is the great friendships you make along the way.”
Chapter President
Melonie Miner says, “Traci Jones is an essential part of the Chapter Executive Committee. Her years of service at the College provide her with an understanding of the students, faculty and staff many of us haven’t yet achieved. Traci’s willingness to share her experiences have no doubt helped us come up with new ways to benefit the chapter and its members.”
Thank you, Traci for everything you do. You are appreciated!!
Please contact Melonie Miner, 2019-20 Chapter President to recommend an AFC member for the monthly spotlight.
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Student services still are available at Pensacola State College
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Pensacola State College summer registration has begun -- and fall registration is set to start June 1 -- and the
Student Services department is here to meet students’ needs – virtually.
Current and potential students can still access the Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid and Records departments – though not face-to-face.
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Admissions: Potential students who have not completed a PSC application and have general questions can an email Askus@pensacolastate.edu. For more information, visit www.pensacolastate.edu/admissions, click the live chat button in the lower right-hand corner to reach a member of the College admissions team for assistance. Staff members can also answer calls at 850-484-2000.
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Advising: Virtual advisors are available 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Current students can call 850-484-1630 or email advising@pensacolastate.edu to reach an advisor. For an appointment via QLess, visit www.pensacolastate.edu/pirateq/advising/.
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Financial Aid: The Financial Aid call center is available to assist with questions. The center’s FAVA inbox is being monitored closely to ensure timely responses. Students also can call the center at 850-484-1680 (leave a message if there is no answer), or via email at fava@pensacolastate.edu. Students should monitor their PirateMail for additional requirements.
The Cashier’s Office and Testing Center are closed until further notice. However, students can leave voice messages for someone to respond.
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Cashier’s Office: Staff members in the Cashier’s Office are monitoring phone calls and can be reached at 850-484-1782. If there no answer, please leave a voice message.
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Testing Center: The Testing Center is not taking any appointments at this time. For questions, call 850-484-1656 and leave a voice message. Staffers in the Testing Center will return voicemail messages.
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Calling all laptops (Well, new laptops. With Windows 10. And a webcam. And a microphone.)
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Based on a recent survey of Pensacola State College students and their technology requirements during the COVID-19 crisis, the College is putting out a call for donations of new laptop computers that can be loaned to students in need.
“Through the survey we have discovered that, to date, 27 percent of students responding to the survey have lost their jobs” said Andrea Krieger, Executive Director of Institutional Development. “While technology is one of the greatest needs, they have additional needs related to rent, food, utilities. We are working to help meet those additional needs, but in the meantime we are putting out a call to the public for help with the technology.”
The College is asking for donations of new laptop computers with these minimum requirements: an Intel i3 processor; 8GB RAM; 128GB solid state drive; Windows 10; built-in webcam and microphone.
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PSC students use computer labs, Wi-Fi hot spots available on campuses
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Pensacola State students without home internet access are making use of the College’s computer labs and Wi-Fi hot spots to do coursework.
More than 100 students have used computer labs on the Pensacola, Warrington and Milton campuses since March 30.
On the Pensacola campus, 71 students signed into the computer lab between March 30 and April 11. The Warrington campus had 23 students while the Milton campus saw nine students use the computer labs during the same time period.
The labs are open on a limited basis to currently enrolled students only, said
Tom Gilliam, vice president of administrative services.
“Students must present a valid PSC student ID card and we’re limited to only 10 persons (students or faculty) per lab,” he said. He added no more than two students have been using the computer labs at any given time.
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The computer labs location and hours are:
Pensacola Campus
Bldg. 21, Rm. 2163
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday -Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Warrington Campus
Bldg. 3100, Rm. 3142
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday -Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Milton Campus
Bldg. 4400, Rm. 4413
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday -Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Gilliam said the computer labs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and for students who have no other means of accessing courses or completing coursework.
“If they have other alternatives such as use of a cellphone or a relative’s computer, students should take advantage of those options first,” he added.
In the computer labs, users are required to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other at all times. Also, use of the computer labs by vulnerable populations is discouraged because the Florida Surgeon General issued a Public Health Advisory on March 25 advising vulnerable residents to remain in their homes.
Vulnerable populations include anyone over age 65 as well as those with serious health conditions such as lung, renal or heart disease or a compromised immunity.
Some internet service providers (ISP) may offer COVID-19 promotional plans. Students are advised to check with their ISP about free or discounted internet services.
To learn more
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Parking lot Wi-Fi hot spots
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College Wi-Fi is available on each campus and a student may park in College parking lots to access Wi-Fi. Students are expected to remain in their parked car. The parking lots available for use are listed below (Or see the orange areas in the maps above and below):
Campus parking lot Wi-Fi hot spots include:
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Pensacola: Lots S, T and U (near buildings 13, 17 and 21)
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Milton: Lots A and B (main parking lot)
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Santa Rosa: Lot C (north of the building)
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Warrington: Lot C (center of campus near the breezeway) and Lot D (service road north of the library parallel to Highway 98).
In accordance with the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge, local service providers have issued statements regarding the COVID-19 virus and how they can assist with internet connectivity.
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P
irate parents, here are some resources to keep your families occupied
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Hey, Pirates, the
Student Activities Staff
has gathered some resources for you and your families to help keep you occupied during this social distancing time. These resources include virtual tours of famous museums, national parks, and landmarks. They include live animal cams, websites for children's activities, and some wellness videos. They’ve also included ideas to help keep any little ones you may have occupied while you study or work. Please note that Pensacola State College does not endorse any of the companies or organizations listed in the pack. Also, the PSC Marketing Department has created a couple of coloring pages for Pirate-style activities. If you or your family colors the pages, send us the end results and we’ll post it to our social media.
The links to the Pirate Pack and the coloring pages are below.
Don’t forget to follow Student Activities on Instagram (@pscpirateslife) and Facebook (PSC Student Engagement & Leadership) to participate in some virtual events they’ve created for you.
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