The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
March 21, 2022
Greetings to the Pensacola State College family! 

We have had limited large gatherings this past year, and I have not had a chance to provide a general College update or State of the College address. Therefore, I am starting this periodic message to everyone to provide information regarding the College. I will also occasionally invite others to provide specific information from their area of the College. For this inaugural column, I will address enrollment.

Drop and add for the Spring 2022 D session ended March 9 and I am pleased to share that, compared to a similar date last spring, our FTE credit enrollment is slightly down, but our overall headcount for the year has increased 2.7 percent compared to the previous year. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has worked hard to recruit, enroll, retain, and teach our students! This increase is particularly notable since the expectation for statewide and nationwide enrollment trends has been a fairly significant drop in enrollment. Indeed, several of our sister state colleges are reporting enrollment decreases in the double digits. 

The most recent Fact Book published by the Florida Department of Education that does not include this current year shows that our enrollment has dropped approximately 11 percent over the past five years. That is roughly the same rate that the Florida College System enrollment as a whole has decreased over the same time period. The vast majority of colleges in the Florida College System have experienced significant losses in enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic including colleges with decreases of over 20 percent and one with a decrease of 54 percent. The Florida Department of Economic Development is predicting that the Florida College System will experience a 22.8 percent loss of enrollment over the next five years.

However, we have taken several steps to impact enrollment in a positive way:

  1. A position was moved to Student Affairs to create an Associate Dean of Enrollment Management to focus on recruiting and admissions.
  2. Multiple enrollment campaigns have been undertaken in recent years involving calling and texting currently-enrolled students, previously-enrolled students, students who applied to the College but did not enroll, and other groups of students.
  3. Programs such as the A.S. degree in Cybersecurity, the B.A.S. degree in Cybersecurity, and the Career Certificate in Commercial Vehicle Driving have been added as well as recent short certificates in a number of programs such as accounting,
  4. Because of the implementation of Workday, information to the Recruiting and Admissions departments will be available that has heretofore had not been.
  5. We have worked to more efficiently award scholarships to ensure that students progress toward completion and that students are retained. 

We have experienced some trying times in the last 13 years, including the Great Recession, hurricanes, a flood, the pandemic, and fewer high school graduates. I am thankful for all the hard work done by faculty and staff to minimize our enrollment decrease through events beyond our control. I am thankful beyond measure for each of you, your hard work, and your dedication to Pensacola State College. 

As we move into the future, we will continue to explore ways to increase our enrollment. If you have suggestions, please share them with our department heads, deans, and campus directors.  

I look forward to continuing to share good news and College challenges in future editions of The Pirate.

Ed Meadows
President
president@pensacolastate.edu
Money from the nearly $12 million grant will help fund the 46,133-square-foot Bear, Jones, Moore and Reeves Advanced Technology Building, seen here in a rendering, which will be home to Cybersecurity/IT programs and other high-tech fields.
Pensacola State College has been awarded a nearly $12 million grant to fund construction of Phase II of the replacement of the Mary Ellison Baars building, which was demolished in 2019. 

The $11,998,919 grant comes from Triumph Gulf Coast, the organization charged by the state of Florida with distributing the $1.5 billion settlement from BP stemming from the 2010 oil spill. 

Money from the grant will help fund the 46,133-square-foot Bear, Jones, Moore and Reeves Advanced Technology Building construction, which will be home to Cybersecurity/IT programs and other high-tech fields. Funds also will be used to purchase equipment, supplies, certificate and student fee waivers, recruiting, technology and faculty positions for Cybersecurity/IT programs.  

The building’s name pays tribute to four prominent Pensacola families who have collectively given $1 million to fund STEM-related scholarships at the College. 

Cost for the Bear, Jones, Moore and Reeves Advanced Technology Building is estimated to be $22 million to $25 million. Funding is also provided by the state, which previously gave the College $15.4 million for the construction project and is expected to commit another $3.5 million later this year. 
2022 AAMES-Wiggins Scholarship Recipients (front row, l-r): Agatha Wilkes, Ramonda Coles, Rose Witherspoon, Briana Chahine, Shantora Grant, Shelby Witherspoon, Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary; (middle row, l-r) Joey Avant, Dr. Tonie Anderson-Steele, Gregory Posey, Jaisiah Rivera, Marissa Greene, Kennethia Corpuz, Sharlene Blackmon; (top row, l-r) Portia Keith, Shauna Stoute, Amelia Nichols, Alexandra Samuel, Sandra Savage, Chef Darrell Nelson, Dr. Ed Meadows. Not pictured: Avery Johnson, Janieya Ephriam, Darrell Howard, Jasmine Lewis, Dominque McWaine, Haley Pratt, Shamekia Sigler, Jessica Spencer.
Jaisiah Rivera believes in himself and his own ability and promise. The Pensacola State College student is grateful that others have faith in his potential as well.

“I’m going to make it big someday, you watch," said Rivera, one of 25 PSC students who were awarded an African American Memorial Endowment Scholarship or a Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship at a special ceremony on March 4 in the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio at WSRE-TV. 

Rivera, a PSC Health Sciences student who plans to become a physician, was one of 21 students who received an African American Memorial Endowment Scholarship. 

Four PSC other students received Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarships.

To fund the scholarships, the College launched a “100 for 100” campaign. Volunteers set a goal for 100 people to donate $100 each – a $10,000 goal that was surpassed.

Left to right: Dr. Tonie Anderson-Steele; Chef Darrell Nelson; Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary; Dr. Ed Meadows.
2022-AAMES-Wiggins Scholarships Volunteer Group (front row, l-r): Michelle Jones, Verona Hutchinson, Khaliah Williams, Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary; (back row, l-r) Dr. Ed Meadows, Tom Ford, Trace Brown, Dr. John Woods, Brian Sutton, Jonathan Stallworth.
Pensacola State College has been named a 2022-2023 Gold Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media. 

This is the 13th year the College has received the accolade, and the first time earning the gold designation. 

Pensacola State is one of 282 schools to receive the “Gold” award status for leading practices, outcomes and effective programs that dedicate resources to military students to ensure success in the classroom and after graduation.

“Here at Pensacola State, we are committed to serving our active duty and retired military as well as their family members,” said Pensacola State President Ed Meadows. “The College continually strives to provide outstanding support to military service members and their families as demonstrated by Viqtory Media’s recognition.”

More than 1,800 colleges, universities and trade schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey, 665 earned gold, silver and bronze status by Viqtory Media. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® designation were evaluated using public data sources along with responses from a proprietary survey. 
Hannah Clarke's winning entry in the 2022 PSC Sunset Photography Contest.
PSC’s Hannah Clarke wins Sunset Photography Contest
Hannah Clarke’s abstract photo “At Twilight” was named the winner of the Pensacola State College Sunset Photography Contest on Monday, March 7, during a short ceremony at Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille.

Clarke was one of 12 PSC photography students who competed in the annual contest which ran through February. The students’ photographs were displayed in Jaco’s through the month and people were asked to vote for their favorite. Voting also occurred online.

For winning the competition, Clarke was awarded a solo exhibition show at Jaco’s that will run through the month of April. 

“It’s crazy, kind of a surreal experience,’’ Clarke said. “I have so much work from the past semesters that I want to show. I’m really excited about it.” 

Clarke will graduate from PSC in two semesters.

Jaco’s is a longtime supporter of the PSC Photography Program and has contributed more than $12,000 to the Student Photography Award.

“We love supporting the community and what better way to do that then helping students who are the future of our community,’’ said Madeline Cates, Jaco’s marketing manager. “It’s great exposure for the students and we get to display their beautiful photographs on our walls every February. It’s a win-win for sure.” 

Kristen Regan, PSC Associate Professor of Photography, said the annual contest is a true learning experience for the students.

“They worked very hard to produce these images and I’m really proud of them,’’ Regan said. “Jaco’s has always been there to support PSC and they provide a lot of support for our students.”

PSC photography student Amber Beasley also competed in the 2022 contest. She won the 2021 contest and the follow-up solo exhibition in April 2021.

She’s been asked by Jaco’s to have another solo exhibition of her work in July.

“It was a wonderful experience to have my own exhibition,’’ said Beasley, who graduates in May. “I even sold a couple of pieces which was really cool. Jaco’s has been tremendous in their support.” 

— Troy Moon

INSET PHOTO: Hannah Clarke, center, winner of the 2022 PSC Sunset Photography Contest, with Jaco’s Bayfront marketing manager Madeline Cates, left, and Kristen Regan, PSC associate professor of photography.
Kelsi Adams' second-place-winning entry in the 2022 Sunset Photgraphy Contest.
Santa Rosa high school principals, guidance counselors visit Pensacola State College for scholarship luncheon
The high school principals and guidance counselors who attended the information session luncheon at the Pensacola State College Milton campus on March 2 probably didn’t expect there would be a quiz. Actually a few quizzes.

Good thing they were taking notes.

Principals and guidance counselors from 12 Santa Rosa County School District attended the annual Principals Scholarship Luncheon and heard plenty of solid and specific information about admissions, scholarships and financial aid from Pensacola State administrators, including PSC President Ed Meadows.

At the end of information segments, PSC speakers would quiz the group about the topics – admissions and financial aid deadlines, scholarship information. Winners – and there about a dozen – received PSC swag, including cool beach towels and swanky umbrellas.

Most of the principals and counselors had been jotting down information anyway, eager to hear about opportunities Pensacola State has for their students.

Central High School Principal Sean Twitty noted many of his students take dual-enrollment classes at the Milton campus.

“It’s great for our students because they get to start college early and really get a good foothold on their future,” Twitty said. “It’s a great place to start your college career. It’s affordable, which is great for parents and students.”
PSC Milton campus Dean Jennifer Hill Faron noted that many Santa Rosa high school students already are dual-enrolled at campuses, including the Milton campus and South Santa Rosa Center in Santa Rosa County.

Santa Rosa County also will be home to the $7.8 million PSC Truck Driver Training Facility in Santa Rosa Park East in rural East Milton. Classes at the new facility are expected to begin in late summer.

More than 1,600 Santa Rosa County high school students are dual-enrolled annually at PSC. High school students who are dual-enrolled pay no tuition or book fees.

“We have a large dual-enrollment population from a majority of these schools,” Hill Faron said of the represented schools. “This is another way to get the word out about what we have to offer at PSC. We get to show off our programs and our scholarships and what we can offer their students and they can take that information back to their students.”

Michael Johnston, PSC Associate Vice President Institutional Research and Management Information Systems, said low fees are always a positive when trying to recruit students.

Among first-time college students taking more than 12 credit hours at Pensacola State, 95 percent graduate debt free and 68 percent receive some type of financial aid, including scholarships and grants.

“We have a huge portion of our students that pay nothing,” Johnston added. “The others pay far less than they would at any other educational institution. PSC students leave and come out with opportunities instead of debt.”

— Troy Moon

INSET PHOTOS: PSC President Ed Meadows addresses the group of principals and counselors at the March 2 luncheon.
Does our first language shape our thoughts? Join us for a community discussion about one of the first lenses with which we view the world around us: our language(s). Ms. Carey will elaborate on some of the theories surrounding language acquisition and its influence on our thoughts and the way we interpret the world. Some areas to be discussed include: the Sapir-Wharf Hypothesis, linguistic relativity, code-switching, and more.
Please join us in person or via Zoom!
We are so thankful for the many donors who provide support for students like Amelia at PSC! #FoundationFriday