The PJC Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow at 5:30 in Room 736.
New PJC faculty will be introduced to the Board at this meeting. A complete agenda for the meeting is available at all campus LRCs.
All Board meetings are open to the general public.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
IS IT TIME FOR AN EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM?
How many weekends now have we had to follow weather reports to track that particular week's hurricane? How many emails has Dr. Martin sent out to provide us with the latest information? I thank him for keeping us informed, but I couldn't help but wonder on a Monday morning (while listening to the radio trying to learn whether PJC would be open), is there not a better way? Why couldn't a message be sent to my cell phone saying that the decision to hold classes had been made?
Last spring, at a safety meeting asked for by Bldg. 1 faculty, Chief Newland described a cell phone notification system that the college could implement at little or no cost. While I'm not well-versed on the particulars, I do recall that a person would have to "opt-in" and would then receive advertisements on occasion. (Remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch!)
After reading about a gun scare on the UF campus this past weekend, I wondered how would I know if there were a gun scare on my campus? Luckily, the gun at UF turned out to be a water pistol.
Chief Newland and Dr. Martin have developed a system in which every building has someone who is supposed to get word to the people in that building should such a situation occur. That's great, but if I'm teaching in Room 46 and the shooter is in the parking lot in front of Bldg. 5, I'd rather have my cell phone ring than have a colleague dashing around the wings of Bldg. 1.
Hurricanes and other inclement weather, students with behavior disorders, a campus wide open to the public - with a gym that Ted Bundy took a shower in - are all reason for faculty to be concerned about safety issues.
I agree with what Chief Newland said during that Spring meeting with Bldg. 1 faculty - we all need to take ownership for our own safety. Think about what might happen, make a plan, practice that plan and prepare yourself. But shouldn't we also make use of available technology? Are a few minutes of advertising too high a price for such a notification system? I don't think so.
Last spring, at a safety meeting asked for by Bldg. 1 faculty, Chief Newland described a cell phone notification system that the college could implement at little or no cost. While I'm not well-versed on the particulars, I do recall that a person would have to "opt-in" and would then receive advertisements on occasion. (Remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch!)
After reading about a gun scare on the UF campus this past weekend, I wondered how would I know if there were a gun scare on my campus? Luckily, the gun at UF turned out to be a water pistol.
Chief Newland and Dr. Martin have developed a system in which every building has someone who is supposed to get word to the people in that building should such a situation occur. That's great, but if I'm teaching in Room 46 and the shooter is in the parking lot in front of Bldg. 5, I'd rather have my cell phone ring than have a colleague dashing around the wings of Bldg. 1.
Hurricanes and other inclement weather, students with behavior disorders, a campus wide open to the public - with a gym that Ted Bundy took a shower in - are all reason for faculty to be concerned about safety issues.
I agree with what Chief Newland said during that Spring meeting with Bldg. 1 faculty - we all need to take ownership for our own safety. Think about what might happen, make a plan, practice that plan and prepare yourself. But shouldn't we also make use of available technology? Are a few minutes of advertising too high a price for such a notification system? I don't think so.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
LET'S TALK ABOUT MID-TERM GRADES
A blogger posted this under an earlier topic: (let's give mid-term grades their own heading)
The effectiveness of mid-term grades might be a good thing to blog about. I know that some people didn’t like that surprise. In general we don’t want to be surprised. We like providing input on all decisions regarding the classroom. Administrators are not in the classroom. Their vision might not be our vision. And we don’t want people in suits seeing visions. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
I’ll tell you what my opinion is of mid-term grades. Students, if they are going to have problems, usually have problems well before the mid-term point. I don’t think publishing mid-term grades increases student achievement. If anything, students get tired near the end of the term and calculate how low they can perform on final exams to still get that B or C they want. I believe that time could be better used.
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it, and your feet will surely show it, If your happy and you know it clap your hands. We know where I am going next. The beloved does not feel loved when they hear comments that pertain to the unbeloved.
August 22, 2008 4:59 AM
The effectiveness of mid-term grades might be a good thing to blog about. I know that some people didn’t like that surprise. In general we don’t want to be surprised. We like providing input on all decisions regarding the classroom. Administrators are not in the classroom. Their vision might not be our vision. And we don’t want people in suits seeing visions. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
I’ll tell you what my opinion is of mid-term grades. Students, if they are going to have problems, usually have problems well before the mid-term point. I don’t think publishing mid-term grades increases student achievement. If anything, students get tired near the end of the term and calculate how low they can perform on final exams to still get that B or C they want. I believe that time could be better used.
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it, and your feet will surely show it, If your happy and you know it clap your hands. We know where I am going next. The beloved does not feel loved when they hear comments that pertain to the unbeloved.
August 22, 2008 4:59 AM
2008-2009 PJCFA LEADERSHIP
2008-2009 PJCFA Leadership
Paige Anderson, 484-2167, pnanderson@pjc.edu
Chief Negotiator; Executive Board
Cindy App, 484-1016, capp@pjc.edu
Membership Chairman; Executive Board; Negotiating Team
Jennifer Brahier, 484-1126, jbrahier@pjc.edu
Sunshine Chairman
Rich Cacace, 484-2052, rcacace@pjc.edu
Executive Board
Michelle Haggard, 484-2209, mhaggard@pjc.edu
Webmaster for www.pjcfa.org
Richard Irvine, 484-2508, rirvine@pjc.edu
Executive Board
Janet Levins, 484-1115, jlevins@pjc.edu
Treasurer
Todd Neuman, 484-1431, tneuman@pjc.edu
Grievance Chairman; Executive Board
Patricia Reppenhagen, 484-2553, preppenhagen@pjc.edu
Negotiating Team
Julie Ruengert, 484-2399, jruengert@pjc.edu
Secretary
Kathleen Shelton, 484-2178, kshelton@pjc.edu Hospitality & Special Events Chairman; Executive Board
Lisa Sims, 484-2535, lhsims@pjc.edu
Senator and UFF Distance Learning Task Force
Carol Stinson, 484-2207, cstinson@pjc.edu
UFF Nursing Task Force
Charlotte Sweeney, 484-2007, csweeney@pjc.edu
President; Negotiating Team
Blaine Wall, 484-1352, kbwall@pjc.edu
Vice President; Negotiating Team
Cindy App is in the process of reorganizing chapter representatives. That listing will be posted soon.
Please do not hesitate to call any of us if we can be of assistance to you.
Paige Anderson, 484-2167, pnanderson@pjc.edu
Chief Negotiator; Executive Board
Cindy App, 484-1016, capp@pjc.edu
Membership Chairman; Executive Board; Negotiating Team
Jennifer Brahier, 484-1126, jbrahier@pjc.edu
Sunshine Chairman
Rich Cacace, 484-2052, rcacace@pjc.edu
Executive Board
Michelle Haggard, 484-2209, mhaggard@pjc.edu
Webmaster for www.pjcfa.org
Richard Irvine, 484-2508, rirvine@pjc.edu
Executive Board
Janet Levins, 484-1115, jlevins@pjc.edu
Treasurer
Todd Neuman, 484-1431, tneuman@pjc.edu
Grievance Chairman; Executive Board
Patricia Reppenhagen, 484-2553, preppenhagen@pjc.edu
Negotiating Team
Julie Ruengert, 484-2399, jruengert@pjc.edu
Secretary
Kathleen Shelton, 484-2178, kshelton@pjc.edu Hospitality & Special Events Chairman; Executive Board
Lisa Sims, 484-2535, lhsims@pjc.edu
Senator and UFF Distance Learning Task Force
Carol Stinson, 484-2207, cstinson@pjc.edu
UFF Nursing Task Force
Charlotte Sweeney, 484-2007, csweeney@pjc.edu
President; Negotiating Team
Blaine Wall, 484-1352, kbwall@pjc.edu
Vice President; Negotiating Team
Cindy App is in the process of reorganizing chapter representatives. That listing will be posted soon.
Please do not hesitate to call any of us if we can be of assistance to you.
NEW TERM BEGINS
Was it really mid-June the last time that I posted? Cindy App has made me promise to post twice a week this term and I'll do my best to keep that promise. The blog worked well for keeping the faculty informed last year as we went through the Presidential search so let's hope that it will work well for keeping faculty informed about other news as well.
As you all know, budget cuts have hit every department and the LRC is no exception. My hours on the Reference Desk have increased substantially so if you do not receive a quick response to an email or I don't answer the phone, it's probably because I'm on the Reference Desk. My release time for PJCFA is scheduled as follows: Mondays and Wednesdays 2-3pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11am. If those times are not convenient, get in touch with me and we'll figure something out. Of course, I'm not the only PJCFA memebr who can help you. I'll create a separate posting now to remind you of who's on the Executive Board and serving memebrs in other ways.
Here's to a great term!
As you all know, budget cuts have hit every department and the LRC is no exception. My hours on the Reference Desk have increased substantially so if you do not receive a quick response to an email or I don't answer the phone, it's probably because I'm on the Reference Desk. My release time for PJCFA is scheduled as follows: Mondays and Wednesdays 2-3pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11am. If those times are not convenient, get in touch with me and we'll figure something out. Of course, I'm not the only PJCFA memebr who can help you. I'll create a separate posting now to remind you of who's on the Executive Board and serving memebrs in other ways.
Here's to a great term!
Monday, June 16, 2008
ADMINISTRATIVE EVALUATIONS DELIVERED
By now, all provosts and department heads have received the report from the administrative evaluations conducted by faculty. Each department head received his or her own evaluation. Each provost received his or her own evaluation as well as the evaluation for each department head who reports to him or her. Dr. Meadows received the evaluations for each provost.
85 faculty (40%) responded to the provost evaluation and 96 (46%) responded to the department head evaluation. This was the first time in PJCFA’s history that it had conducted administrative evaluations.
PJCFA believes that continual assessment is important in every area of the College. The purpose of faculty evaluation of administrators is to annually provide administrators with valuable faculty feedback regarding administrator internal performance. Regular evaluation encourages open communication, healthy interchange of information, and a shared sense of responsibility for the College’s direction. Evaluation allows faculty to recognize administrators for outstanding achievement as well as identify areas where improvement is needed.
I have heard from one provost and one department head regarding the evaluations. In each case, the response was positive, thanking PJCFA for the opportunity to hear from the faculty about how they were doing their job. That's what the evaluation is about - opening the channels of communication so that working together we can make PJC the best college possible for our students.
Once again, I would like to thank those faculty who worked on developing evaluation questions and particularly Michelle Haggard who was the impetus for this. Job well done!
85 faculty (40%) responded to the provost evaluation and 96 (46%) responded to the department head evaluation. This was the first time in PJCFA’s history that it had conducted administrative evaluations.
PJCFA believes that continual assessment is important in every area of the College. The purpose of faculty evaluation of administrators is to annually provide administrators with valuable faculty feedback regarding administrator internal performance. Regular evaluation encourages open communication, healthy interchange of information, and a shared sense of responsibility for the College’s direction. Evaluation allows faculty to recognize administrators for outstanding achievement as well as identify areas where improvement is needed.
I have heard from one provost and one department head regarding the evaluations. In each case, the response was positive, thanking PJCFA for the opportunity to hear from the faculty about how they were doing their job. That's what the evaluation is about - opening the channels of communication so that working together we can make PJC the best college possible for our students.
Once again, I would like to thank those faculty who worked on developing evaluation questions and particularly Michelle Haggard who was the impetus for this. Job well done!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
TODD NEUMAN IS NEW PJCFA GRIEVANCE OFFICER
For several years now, Dr. Tom Grow has served the PJC faculty admirably as the PJCFA Grievance Officer/Contract Enforcement Officer. Dr. Grow had the ability to speak well and forcefully on behalf of faculty. We will always be grateful to him for his sevice.
As next term (Fall 2008) will be Dr. Grow's last term, he has asked to be relieved of his PJCFA duties. Fortunately for PJC faculty, this transition occurs just as Todd Neuman will be returning to full-time faculty status. Mr. Neuman has served the faculty well as a member of PJCFA's Executive Board and Negotiating team and as a past PJCFA Chief Negotiator. His familiarity with the contract will serve the faculty well as he takes on the duties of Grievance/Contract Enforcement Officer.
Mr. Neuman can be reached at TNeumann@pjc.edu and at 484-1431. Here's hoping that you never have the need to contact him, but knowing that he will be a stong advocate on your behalf if you do.
As next term (Fall 2008) will be Dr. Grow's last term, he has asked to be relieved of his PJCFA duties. Fortunately for PJC faculty, this transition occurs just as Todd Neuman will be returning to full-time faculty status. Mr. Neuman has served the faculty well as a member of PJCFA's Executive Board and Negotiating team and as a past PJCFA Chief Negotiator. His familiarity with the contract will serve the faculty well as he takes on the duties of Grievance/Contract Enforcement Officer.
Mr. Neuman can be reached at TNeumann@pjc.edu and at 484-1431. Here's hoping that you never have the need to contact him, but knowing that he will be a stong advocate on your behalf if you do.
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