Vol. XXXVIII, No. 12, March 30, 2009

This Week at Valencia

Wednesday, April 1

Learning Assessment Committee, 2:30 p.m., West Campus, 6-202

17th Annual Florida Playwright Competition-World Premiere, 7:30 p.m., East Campus, Black Box Theater (see additional information in the body of the Bulletin)

Thursday, April 2

College Learning Council, 2:30 p.m., West Campus, HSB-211

Human Resources

The current issue of the HR Notes is now available on the Human Resources website. This month's issue is on Military Family Leave and Qualifying Exigency Leave. Please take a moment to review this important information.

The Valencia Character Company Presents the World Premiere of "Couch Potatoes of the 22nd Century"

The Valencia Character Company will present the world premiere of Couch Potatoes of the 22nd Century from April 1-5 in the Black Box Theater on East Campus. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Written by Tampa playwright and well-known visual artist, Jeff Whipple, the play was the winning script from Valencia’s 18th annual competition among Florida playwrights.

Couch Potatoes is a wacky satirical farce that takes place in a future where “utopia” consists of having one’s brain implanted into a potato-like form, and existing on a couch watching television day and night. Hank and Bertha, the main characters, meet and fall in love, and with the help of an ensemble of funny, creative characters, discover that “utopia” may not be all it’s cracked up to be.

Jeff Whipple is a three-time past winner of Valencia’s play competition. His previously produced plays were Bitter in 1994, Tourist Trap in 1997, and Terrorism of Love in 2002. Julia Gagne, Valencia’s artistic director, will direct this world premiere, and Kristin Able, Valencia’s technical director, designed the scenery and lighting for the production.

Seating in the Black Box Theater is extremely limited and reservations are strongly suggested. Latecomers will not be seated until intermission. Please be advised that this play contains language and themes that are not appropriate for children.

Ticket prices are $8 for general admission and $6 for students, seniors and Valencia staff and alumni. Admission is free for Valencia students. For reservations and further information, please call the Box Office at 407-582-2900. Tickets may also be purchased at www.redchairproject.com.

News from Procurement

Procurement Terminology - “Piggyback” simply means that we may utilize an existing (competitively solicited) contract from another government agency. Many government solicitations contain a clause that allows the vendor to extend the resulting contractual pricing to other agencies. This option permits the college to take advantage of competitive pricing obtained by larger organizations. There are additional cost savings through reduction in administrative expenses. For example, we often “piggyback” on State of Florida term contracts. This is another way we are able to obtain goods or services quickly at a reasonable cost.

Tax Exempt - Valencia is a tax exempt institution. For on-line purchases let your supplier know that we are tax exempt prior to making your purchase. You can find the tax exempt certificate on the Procurement website on the vendor page. Note:  Tax is NOT reimbursed to employees if using petty cash. 

Interoffice Envelopes - The courier services department kindly requests that all departments send back any unused interoffice envelopes to the mail room. Please put them in your outgoing mail box so the couriers may pick them up during their next mail run. This will help us save precious dollars as we can recycle our used ones back in the system and we won't have to buy new ones.

Procurement Cardholders - There are easy tools for you to use to check your P-Card’s current available balance.

• Call the JPMorgan Chase Cardmember Service’s “800” number found on the back of your credit card.
• Run Payment’s Cardholder Status report (step-by-step instructions for running
  this report can be found in Tab 3 of your manual.)

Endowed Chairs for the Learning Leadership Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009-10 Endowed Chairs for Learning Leadership Program. The program provides resources tofull-time, tenured faculty for the advancement of instruction and learning. This year the Valencia Foundation is offeringone application round of 39 chairs, altogether totaling $162,700. The guidelines and application package can be found on the foundation’s website at http://www.valencia. org/ or by calling Shauna Anstey at ext. 3211. Applications must be received in College & Community Relations by April 13 at 5:00 p.m.

Leadership Valencia

Circles of Belonging - Ever wonder what makes a person tick? Individual experiences play a huge part in shaping the way we interact with others and view the world around us. This in-depth interactive workshop will examine how diversity of experience impacts our interpersonal communications and relationships. Through discovery and discussion, learn more about yourself and the people around you. Participants will leave the session with an increased understanding of and appreciation for similarities and differences. March 30, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., East Campus, Room 5-112, Registration Code: PCOB-1

Podcasting 101 - LTAD 3241 - There is a required online orientation for this course. The remainder of the coursework will be completed online using WebCT. Your facilitator will send an e-mail with orientation details five days prior to the course start date. Note:  This is an introductory course. Faculty and staff new to podcasting are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop. April 14, ONLINE WORKSHOP, Registration Code: TPC101-1

Reading Circle: Strengths Based Leadership - If you are a manager or a supervisor and are interested in learning how to utilize your strengths, the strengths of those on your team, and getting people with the right strengths on your team, then please join us for this reading circle. The book includes an access code for an online assessment of your strengths that needs to be completed prior to the reading circle date. April 21, 12 noon-1:30 p.m., East Campus, Room 3-113, Registration Code: PREAD-1

Dynamic PowerPoint Slideshows-LTAD 2281 - Make a Flash photo slideshow in PowerPoint the easy way. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to make a photo slideshow in PowerPoint using the Photo Album tool. Topics covered will include animation effects, image editing, background music, and looping options. The workshop will then demonstrate how the slideshow can be saved in PowerPoint or converted to Flash and uploaded to a website using iSpring, a free software. Participants are encouraged to bring their own photos for use in the workshop. April 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-326A, Registration Code:TDPS-1

Banner Finance for Beginners - Learn how to look up your budget, create budget transfers, create requisitions and research your budget and spending. April 24, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Winter Park Campus, Room 219, Registration Code: TBFB-4

Collaboration at the Learning College Workshop - Join Valencia's leaders for a conversation about our habits of collaboration. Questions to be considered include: What is collaboration at a learning college? Why do we collaborate? What are some characteristics of authentic versus inauthentic collaboration? What are the preconditions for effective collaboration? How do we balance our collaborative process with the need to move work forward? What level of collaboration is appropriate for what types of decisions? April 29, 2-4:30 p.m., West Campus, Room 6-202, Registration Code: PCALC-1

Outlook 2007 Basics Workshop - This is a hands-on workshop that will guide you through the basics of navigating, email/messaging, contacts/address books, and using the calendar in Outlook 2007. Choose from one of the following:

Criminal Justice Institute (CJI Employees Only)

• April 6, 9-11 a.m., Room 228, Registration Code: TOL2007-14
• April 6, 1-3 p.m., Room 228, Registration Code: TOL2007-15

Downtown Center (Downtown Center Employees Only)

• April 13, 9-11 a.m., Conference Rooms A/B, Registration Code: TOL2007-16
• April 13, (open lab for walk-in questions) 1-3 p.m., Conference Rooms A/B, Registration Code: TOL2007-17

East Campus

• April 7, 8-10 a.m., Room 4-123, Registration Code: TOL2007-5
• April 7, 1-3 p.m., Room 4-123, Registration Code: TOL2007-6
• April 8, 3-5 p.m., Room 4-203, Registration Code: TOL2007-10
• April 8, 5-7 p.m., Room 4-203, Registration Code: TOL2007-11
• April 9, 9-11 a.m., Room 4-203, Registration Code: TOL2007-12
• April 9, 1-3 p.m., Room 4-123, Registration Code: TOL2007-13

Osceola Campus

• April 6, 9-11 a.m., Room 2-115, Registration Code: TOL2007-4
• April 7, 1-3 p.m., Room 2-115, Registration Code: TOL2007-7
• April 8, 9-11 a.m., Room 2-115, Registration Code: TOL2007-8
• April 8, 5-7 p.m., Room 2-116, Registration Code: TOL2007-9

Sand Lake Center

• March 30, 9-11 a.m., Room 2-108, Registration Code: TOL2007-28
• March 30, 1-3 p.m., Room 2-108, Registration Code: TOL2007-29

West Campus

• April 13, 5-7 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-18
• April 14, 9-11 a.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-19
• April 14, 1-3 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-20
• April 15, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-21
• April 15, 3-5 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-22
• April 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-23
• April 16, 3-5 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-24
• April 16, 5-7 p.m., Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-25
• April 17, 10 a.m.-12 Noon, Room 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-26
• April 17, 1:30-3:30 p.m., 6-220, Registration Code: TOL2007-27

Winter Park Campus

• March 31, 9-11 a.m., Room 219, Registration Code: TOL2007-1
• March 31, 1-3 p.m., Room 219, Registration Code: TOL2007-2
• April 4, 9-11 a.m., Room 219, Registration Code: TOL2007-3

To register for all classes go to http://valenciacc. edu/leadership/regstr.cfm. Please be sure you have the approval of your direct supervisor prior to registering for a workshop. If a workshop is canceled, only those registered can be sent a cancellation e-mail. To view the status of a particular workshop and to see a full listing of the Spring workshops check the Leadership Valencia calendar located online.

Quit Smoking Now! A six-week Quit Smoking Now program will be starting next week on East and West Campus and there is no cost to you. This program is available to all faculty, staff and students. East Campus starts on April 7, 1-2 p.m. in room 4-204 and West Campus starts April 9, 1-2 p.m., room 2-213. For more information and to register please contact Debi Jakubcin at ext. 2281 or djakubcin@valenciacc.edu.

Mark your calendar for the next brown bag workshop on April 16th as Blue Cross & Blue Shield presents Sleep Deprivation, Get some ZZZs. Presentations will be 11 a.m.-12 Noon on East Campus, room 3-113 and 1-2 p.m. on West Campus, room 1-212.

The Step by Step program is underway with 253 participants. WOW! Congratulations to all who signed up, and made a commitment to "start moving". Watch out, because here we come!!!

Spanish Courses - Have you always intended to learn Spanish but never started? In your position at Valencia, do you find that there are many students or parents that speak Spanish, but you are unable to assist them? 

Valencia Enterprises offers a variety of Spanish classes at Sand Lake Center and Winter Park Campus including Spanish Conversation Club (Intermediate – Advanced) and Getting Started in Spanish Series (Beginner).  For more information, visit our website at www.valenciaenterprises.org, call VE’s Client Service Center at ext. 6688, or send us an email at ve_info@valenciacc.edu.

Accounts Payable Request

When submitting paperwork to accounts payable, please try not to use staples to attach backup. Tape all receipts and back-up information on the back of the paperwork, or on a clean piece of paper or use binder clips or paperclips. Invoices, check requests, per diem, travel requests and any other paperwork sent to Accounts Payable is scanned. We will be able to process your requests in a more timely fashion if you avoid stapling your paperwork. Thank you for your help on this issue.

Kudos

Jim Inglis, program director, Hospitality Restaurant Management, coordinated over 80 student volunteers who participated in the first annual Wine and Food Fest, a two day event held at Lake Eola in November, 2008 and sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association. At the last monthly chapter meeting Jim was presented with a check for $3,000 for Valencia's chapter of the Future Hospitality Leaders of America. These funds will help off-set the travel for 10 student members who are attending the national Restaurant Show in Chicago in May.