Honors Student Committee

We are delighted to see our website mentioned in the President's Report of Broward College. Our innovative use of this website to run this organization has set an example for other student organizations of Broward College; they look forward to our website as a role model. As of now, we have more than 50 members and we continue to grow. We appreciate our member's support and hope they continue to use this website. Click here to see the President's Report.

President’s Report  

December  2009

Board approves salary increase
At the Board of Trustees meeting on November 30th, the Board approved a base-building salary increase of $1,000 or 2 percent, whichever is greater, for non-represented professional technical staff and administrators.  This increase was designed to provide a more significant pay raise for employees at the lower end of the pay scale.  The increase is effective July 1, 2009 for those employees on payroll as of June 30, 2009 and who are still employed as of November 30, 2009. Increases including retroactive pay adjustments will be reflected in the December 15 paycheck.  I recommended this pay raise to recognize the outstanding work done by everyone at the College to serve our students during unprecedented times of growth as well as economic challenge.  Negotiations are actively underway with the United Faculty of Florida and the Federation of Public Employees that include salary proposals to provide salary adjustments to represented groups once the negotiation process is complete and contracts have been ratified.  For more information on the Board-approved salary adjustments, please contact the Division of Human Resources and Equity.

Wellness initiative
In the College’s overall efforts to promote wellness, a taxable incentive of $50.00 to take the online Health Risk Assessment (HRA) provided by CIGNA Healthcare was approved yesterday by the Board of Trustees for professional technical staff employees and administrators.  Negotiations are underway with the United Faculty of Florida for inclusion of faculty in this incentive program. The HRA is a confidential questionnaire that can be completed by employees on the CIGNA website in 15 to 30 minutes.  The individual confidential data shared in the report is not available to the College except in terms of aggregate trends. This program will enhance our  wellness initiative by allowing employees to take advantage of preventative care services and health improvement programs offered by CIGNA at no cost to employees.  The College’s new Wellness Coordinator in the Human Resources and Equity Division, Mr. Charles Hollis, will share details about the program in a forthcoming announcement.

Finish what you start goes Facebook

Broward College has officially entered the world of social networking. Not just social networking, but social networking with a purpose: Supporting student success. Visit our Broward College Facebook page and you will see post with purpose, discussion with direction, and links with latitude. The Broward College Facebook page supports the Finish what you start culture by providing Faculty to Student, Student to Student, and staff to student networking. The page will host videos and group discussions on student success topics. Become a fan today and be a part of “success networking” at Broward College.  Check it out the link.

Finnish international education agreement signed
Broward College’s President J. David Armstrong, Jr., joined with leaders of Hyria Education Ltd. on October 29th in Fort Lauderdale to sign an affiliation agreement with the Hyvinkaa, Finland-based vocational education and technology center.

Hyria Education is a private institution that enrolls more than 5,000 students in seven centers and sites in Hyvinkaa, and Rihiimaki, in southern Finland, just north of Helsinki. The affiliation is expected to result in the creation of Broward College courses in English there, starting in the fall of 2010.

Hyria Education plans to create an American-style program for its students, providing two years of education using Broward College’s program in Finland for students who plan to transfer to the United States to complete baccalaureate studies, to remain in Finland to complete their baccalaureate studies, or to enter the workforce. As a result of the affiliation with Broward College, Hyria will award associate degrees to students who complete programs in business and technology, following a model similar to ones Broward has established in Singapore, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Peru and Vietnam. Broward College currently has affiliations with 11 institutions in 10 countries.

American Diabetes Association Walk
Broward College employees, students, family and friends participated in the American Diabetes Association Walk on Saturday, October 24, 2009.  More than $4,300 was raised for diabetes, significantly exceeding the $2,000 collegewide goal. The money raised will go toward diabetes research, education, and advocacy.

Special recognition is given to our team captains who did a wonderful job:  Karin Goodine, Tommye Canton, Bibi Karim, Claudette Burke, Ann Kennedy, Alfreda Manuel, Barbara Piscitelli, Alberta Parker, Delia Kennedy and Mareta Sizemore.  

New student web pages debut
Every day at the college we look for different tools to communicate with our students and for them to communicate with each other. Such communication enhances our students’ higher education experience. Recognizing this, the Honors Student Committee (HSC) has created a video newscast employing online networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and a website, www.hsccentral.org for broadcasting the news reports.  The HSC is a busy group – engaged in learning, leadership, fellowship and service projects throughout the year.  The newscasts utilize entertainment and innovation, while providing important information to students. The most recent newscast highlighted cancer prevention, sustainability, the HSC honors student of the month, and the Lyceum Outstanding Scholar Award. You may click on the following link to view a HSC Newscast: HSC NEWSCAST.

Vice President for Human Resources and Equity appointed to two boards
Dr. Edna Chun has been selected to be on the editorial board of the magazine INSIGHT into Diversity (formerly Affirmative Action Register).  She has also been unanimously elected to serve on the advisory board for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) for a term of three years.

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, for 35 years, INSIGHT into Diversity has been the leading national magazine and authority on diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace and internationally.  More than one million readers each month seek in-depth news reports and commentary on issues surrounding all aspects of diversity and inclusion.  In addition, the publication continues to connect employers to the most highly qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.   Dr. Chun’s appointment is currently featured on the INSIGHT website.  To view the article, click here.

Members of the ASHE Advisory Board make recommendations to the ASHE board of directors and president on possible new publications and other publications-related issues.  The advisory board also oversees the current publications program. Other members of the board represent the University of California, Stanford University, the University of Michigan and Indiana University among others.

North Campus Professor interviewed by Channel 4 television
Professor David Plumb was interviewed on Sunday,  November 15th, at 10:30 a.m. on CBS affiliate, Channel 4 for the program FOCUS.  During the broadcast Professor Plumb and Pablo Cano read from their recently published book, Poetry on Strings.   The two co-authors also participated at the Miami Book Fair.   

College flight team shines at National Intercollegiate Flying Association competition
The Broward College 12-member Seahawks Flight Team has returned from the NIFA sponsored SAFECON event held in Jacksonville.  Our students honed in on their skills in a competitive environment and Broward was well represented.  The teamwork among our students was outstanding.

Broward ranked fifth overall, trailing behind all of the four year programs, but placed ahead of all two year aviation programs.  Broward placed first in the Message Drop event with Niv Karni as the drop master and Oryn Compton as the pilot. We also placed first in the Ground Trainer event (simulator) with Niv Karni.  Eddie Marrero also won a medal for eighth place.  Oryn went on to win two more medals in landing events; ninth place in Power Off Landing and fourth place in Short Field Landing.  We also have been selected as the next host in our region for fall of 2010.  A special thanks to Delta Connection Academy for their support.

Wildflower Project update from Professor Genevieve Chungschickle
On November 18th, the University of Florida Master Gardeners visited the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus to view our native Florida wildflower plantings.  The on-campus wildflower plantings have been nominated for the prestigious Broward County Emerald Award and Professor Chungschickle will be compiling a portfolio for this competition during December.  This program has been successful both inside and outside of the classroom.

Professor Barry Mowell receives Foreign Ministry award from Republic of Latvia
On November 13, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the United States, Andrejs Pildegovics, presented a Foreign Ministry award to Dr. Barry Mowell, Honorary Consul of Latvia to the State of Florida, and professor of geography and history at the college.  The award was presented for outstanding work on behalf of Latvia and for enhancing cooperation between Latvia and the United States.  The presentation ceremony was held at the Embassy of Latvia in Washington, D.C.

After receiving the award, Consul Mowell met with the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission Edgars Trumkalns and Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs Rudolfs Bremanis.  During the meeting, the parties discussed Latvian-US cooperation in ongoing areas, as well as the Consul’s future plans for activities in the State of Florida.

Broward College Delegation attends FACC Convention -- brings back awards
The Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC) held its 60th anniversary convention in Orlando November 18-20 and a delegation from Broward College was there among the more than 500 attendees. I was proud to join them and Broward College alumna Dr. Susan B. Hasmiller, winner of the 2009 Leroy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award, who was feted at the gala reception and dinner.

The college’s public relations department was another winner at the event, picking up two second-place Awards of Excellence from the Institutional Advancement Commission. One award was for the 2008 Report to the Community, and the other was for the media coverage of last December’s graduation.

In addition, Dr. Edna Chun’s  and Alvin Evan’s most recent books Bridging the Diversity Divide: Globalization and Reciprocal Empowerment in Higher Education and Are the Walls Really Down?: Behavioral and Organizational Barriers to Faculty and Staff Diversity were recommended by the chair of the FACC Equity Commission, Imani Asukile from Pasco-Hernando Community College. 

The college also contributed trunk-loads of items to this year’s convention service project, a collection of books, toiletries, snacks, and more to be sent to U.S. service members overseas. The project filled an entire room with donations from Florida’s Great 28.  FACC is a great organization working on your behalf, and offering many professional development opportunities. I urge you to get involved, become a member, and join the team.

Dean of Aviation interviewed on national television
On November 17th, an interview with Dean Jorge Guerra aired on Univision’s nationally televised Spanish-language show !Despierta America!  The interview focused on the Air Traffic Control program, with much of the footage taken at the Buehler ATC Lab at the Miramar Center.  Our bilingual students who are in the ATC program did an outstanding job of representing the college during the interview, as did Dean Guerra.  The length of the segment was significant at more than 7-1/2 minutes.  Nielsen estimated that the audience numbered 1.4 million, with a publicity value of $65,440.   Below is a summary of the content of the interview in a format provided by our television monitoring company.  If you wish to view the segment, click this URL.

Medical Assisting program graduates have 100 percent pass rate for certification exam
I am proud to report the 2009 Medical Assisting program graduates’ results on the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Certification Examination.  The Class of 2009 had a 100 percent first-attempt pass rate on the certification examination.  The AAMA-CMA Certification Examination is a voluntary examination so program graduates are not required to take this exam to practice in the profession.  Candidates that complete and pass the examination are granted the credential of Certified Medical Assistant, CMA (AAMA).  The CMA (AAMA) credential is a nationally recognized credential and is considered the premier credential for medical assistants.

The Medical Assisting program is housed at the Adams Central Campus but managed by Professor Lloyd Holness on the North Campus. Ms. Adie De La Guardia-Piz is the program manager and only full-time faculty for this program. I commend both Mr. Holness and Ms. De La Guardia-Piz for their efforts in making our program’s graduates so successful.

Professors Jeanette Madea & Robert Fusco organize “First Carl Sagan Day” celebration
On the 75th anniversary of Carl Sagan’s birth, the late astronomer and Pulitzer Prize winner was celebrated with a unique, all-day event on Saturday, November 7th at the Broward College A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie. Free-of-charge, except for the Planetarium programs, and open to the public, the event featured speakers, teacher workshops, children’s activities, episodes from the COSMOS series hosted by Sagan on PBS, magic shows, displays, telescope workshops, games, door prizes, and star-gazing.

The event was co-sponsored by the college, the Center for Inquiry Fort Lauderdale, the Center for Inquiry on Campus, Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists, and the James Randi Educational Foundation. A pre-event dinner on Friday evening, followed by a reception was held at the Judson A. Samuels South Campus in Pembroke Pines.

College Holiday Event
We hope you can join us at the annual holiday event on Friday, December 11th from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Signature Grand, 6900 W. State Road 84 in Davie. Features of the event include a hot lunch buffet with dessert and plenty of soft drinks, music, a disc jockey and raffles.
Keeping with the party’s tradition and the holiday spirit of giving, attendees are urged to bring a donation of canned or other nonperishable food and/or toys. All donations will go to the Cooperative Feeding Program of Broward and the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

We are kicking off our United Way campaign at the Holiday Bash.  An added incentive to give to the United Way, or to increase your current pledge, is the opportunity to win a Honda Insight.  The car will be on display at the Signature Grand during the Bash, and details of how to become eligible to win will be announced.