October, 2013 - Madisonville Community College

MADISONVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
President’s
Newsletter
Vol. 16, No. 3 - October, 2013
President Rhoads signing
CollegeFish agreement;
see story on page 8
School Counts! Class of 2014
Hopkins County Central
High School
School Counts! Class of 2014
Dawson Springs High School
Efforts Continue to be a Work Ready Community
Judith Rhoads, Ed.D., President
Hello! In fall 2012, Hopkins County was certified as a Work Ready Community in Progress by the Kentucky
Workforce Investment Board. This designation is an indication of our county’s commitment to preparing our
workforce for the jobs of today and creating a pipeline of skilled workers for the jobs of the future. Surrounding
counties also designated as Work Ready Community in Progress include Muhlenberg, McLean, and Webster.
Work Ready in Progress indicates that Hopkins County has met or surpassed some, but not all criteria. Community leaders in economic development, business and industry, education, local government, and workforce development are continuing to work towards meeting the program’s criteria, specifically the National Career Readiness Certificate Holders. To be
fully certified as a Work Ready Community, Hopkins County must have 9% (2,591) within 3 years and 15% (4,318) within 5 years of
working-age (18-65) adults (28,785) holding NCRC credentials. To date, there are 1,591 NCRC holders in our county. To boost this effort, Hopkins County Schools Superintendent Linda Zellich has agreed to the testing of all senior students. School officials in Dawson
Springs, Muhlenberg County, and Webster County have also committed to senior testing.
The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is an industry-recognized, portable, evidence-based credential that certifies essential
skills needed for workplace success. This credential is used across all sectors of the economy and verifies the following cognitive skills:
problem solving, critical thinking, reading and using work-related text, applying information from workplace documents to solve problems,
applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems, setting up and performing work-related mathematical calculations, locating,
synthesizing, and applying information that is presented graphically, and comparing, summarizing, and analyzing information presented in
multiple related graphics. To learn more about NCRC, visit http://www.act.org/certificate. If you or someone you know would like to
schedule a testing appointment, contact MCC’s Assessment Center at (270) 824-1702.
Work is also continuing in the other Work Ready Community criteria areas.
Current data indicates that the Graduation Rate goal of 82.32% has been
surpassed; Hopkins County has a average of 92.9%. The School Counts!
program continues to be one of the main focus points for the Soft Skills
Measurement criteria. In mid-October, the college hosted the School
Counts! reward breakfast events for all program participants successfully
meeting the program’s criteria during the 2012-2013 academic year. Work
ethic certificates were awarded to 539 School Counts! students from Dawson Springs High School, Hopkins County Central High School, and Madisonville North Hopkins High School. The college’s focus on degree completion goes hand-in-hand with the Educational Attainment criteria. Records of students with a high number of credit hours but no credential are School Counts! Class of 2014 - Madisonville North Hopkins High School
continually reviewed and contact is made with the students to show them available degree options. MCC is ranked 2nd among the KCTCS
colleges for the number of associate degrees awarded as a percentage of total credentials.
As I am known for saying, “There are miles to go before we sleep.” Efforts will continue towards earning the full Work Ready Community
certification by 2015.
In this issue:
Pages 2-3 - Employee News; Page 4 - MAMA; Page 5 - Adult Education Programs Earn Performance Funding; Page 6- Applied Technology Programs
Increase in Enrollment; Page 7 - Hydroponic Greenhouse Project; and Page 8- Transfer and Upcoming Events.
KENTUCKY COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
President’s Newsletter
2
Employee News
Christy Adkins, Communications Professor, and Sonya Shockley, Associate Professor in the Computer and Information Technologies program, participated in Phi Theta Kappa’s first Advisor Institute for Maximizing Student Success. This conference
brought 75 advisors from 21 states together for a closer look at
Society programs and how they lead to enhanced student and
chapter success. The two-day advisors-only conference, which
was held September 13-14 in Fresno, California, featured workshops for both new and seasoned advisors on such Phi Theta
Kappa programming as Honors in Action, College Project,
Competitive Edge and CollegeFish.org. Headquarters staff
members also walked advisors through PAM, advisors’ online
Personal Assistant Manager, and summed it all up for participants through a presentation on “A Year in the Life of a Phi
Theta Kappa Chapter.” The training equips new and seasoned
advisors with the tools and knowledge to help their colleges reap
the benefits of a fully engaged Phi Theta Kappa chapter. Established by Missouri two-year college presidents in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society serves to recognize and
encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming.
David Alsip, Assistant Professor in the Advanced Integrated
Technology program, attended the principal investigators conference in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF)
grant on October 23-25 in Washington, DC.
Karla Brasher, Kelsey Chadwick, Marleny Flores, and Cynthia Sasser, Migrant Education Program staff, attended the 2013
Identification & Recruitment Forum in Tampa, FL on Oct. 1-3.
Ava Cook, Assistant Professor in the Nursing program, presented at the Kentucky Association of Nursing Students (KANS)
State Convention in Scottsville, KY on October 10.
Tim Davis, Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice program,
attended the Fraternal Order of Police State Conference on October 11-13 in Bowling Green, KY.
Communications faculty Mike Dean, Dr. Beth Norton, and
Roshun Radford attended the September 20-21 meeting of the
Kentucky Communication Association in Carrollton, KY.
Darlena Gallegos, Associate Professor in the Advanced Integrated Technology program, attended the National Career Pathways Conference in San Antonio, TX, on October 13-16.
April Grace, Professor in the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood
Educator Program, and Lisa Lee, Professor of Education, attended Kentucky-Field Experience Tracking System (K-FETS)
training on October 11 in Bowling Green, KY. Training focused
on a new monitoring system to be used by the Education Professional Standards Board to track clinical/field hours for preservice teachers.
Jeff Florea, Associate Professor in the Business Technology
program, attended the Kentucky Economic Association Conference in Frankfort, KY on October 11.
Kelly Hayes, Associate Professor in the Respiratory Care program, attended the Kentucky Society for Respiratory Care meeting in Lexington on September 25.
Ann Hofmann, Professor in the Nursing program, attended the
Perinatal Education Partners (P.E.P.) rally on October 9 at the
University of Southern Indiana campus in Evansville, IN.
Faith Lutz and Tracie Lear, Assistant Professors in the Nursing program, attended the Dr. Loman C. Trover Symposium at
Baptist Health Madisonville on October 24.
Judy Mitchell, Instructor in the Nursing program, will have a
piece published in the November 2013 literary issue of Kentucky
Monthly. The entry titled, “The Little Church,” was one of only
four entries selected for publication in the 15-word story/poem
category.
Communications Professor Dr. Beth Norton’s research article
entitled A Longitudinal View of the Liberal Arts Curriculum a
Decade after Merger: A Multiple Case Study of Community Colleges in Connecticut, Kentucky, and Louisiana was accepted for
publication in the Community College Journal of Research and
Practice. The research article was based on her dissertation
study, which she completed in 2011. Her research had three major objectives: (1) to explore changes to the English and communication curriculums after the states’ community and technical
colleges were merged (2) to explore changes in faculty work
life, particularly as it relates to curricular modifications after
merger, and (3) to explore changes in organizational administration, especially related to curriculum development and modification after merger. Her study findings suggested that the English
and communication curriculums are narrowing and the mission
is more toward workforce skill preparation. Also, the changing
demographics of today’s community college students, as well as
the ongoing budget constraints, create challenges and frustrations for faculty members.
Martha Phelps, Director of Financial Aid, was the Financial
Aid Table Top speaker at the “Close the Deal” event in Logan
County on November 1.
Kim Simons and Debbie Wright, Professors in the Business
Technology program, attended the National Association for
Community Colleges through Entrepreneurship (NACCE) conference in Charlotte, NC on October 12-16. Simons is serving
as an HP Life Ambassador through NACCE and hosted a session at the conference to describe how the college’s Business
Administration program is incorporating the NACCE membership and HP Life into the Entrepreneurship Module designed for
MCC students.
Paula Sinopoli, Paralegal Program Coordinator, attended the
NALS annual conference in Atlanta, GA on October 16-19.
President’s Newsletter
3
Employee News
Scott Vander Ploeg, Professor of English, presented “How
Change Changed: Medieval Nemesis to Renaissance Opportunity” on October 25 at the Community College Humanities Association’s National Conference held in Louisville. Vander Ploeg
was recently notified of his selection by Phi Theta Kappa to
serve as a 2014 Faculty Scholar. In this role, he will be attending the Faculty Scholar Conference held in Tortola, British Virgin Islands on January 23-February 2, 2014, and the Honors
Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, MO on June 1621. Faculty Scholar duties and benefits include:
 Working closely with leading scholars as they analyze issues pertaining to the Honors Study Topic, Frontiers and the
Spirit of Exploration;
 Working with experienced seminar leaders to enhance and
practice skills as a small-group dialogue leader and facilitator;
 Gathering ideas, study questions, and bibliography for an
honors course or seminar;
 Being challenged and inspired by the questions and comments from conscientious colleagues and, at the International Honors Institute, honors students with varied backgrounds;
 Developing ideas for chapter and regional programs to implement the Honors Study Topic with Honors in Action
projects and activities that emphasize and integrate academic investigation and analysis, leadership development, collaboration, action and reflection.
Cathy Vaughan, Counseling Services, and Aimee Wilkerson,
Director of Enrollment Management, presented at the National
Conference on Students in Transition on October 19-20 in Atlanta, GA.
Faculty members attending the STEMtech Conference in Atlanta, GA on October 26-29 were: Shannon Allen, Professor of
Nursing; Sharon Davis, Assistant Professor of Mathematics;
Brooke Edens, Assistant Professor of Nursing; Katrina Florea,
Mathematics Instructor; Darlena Gallegos, Associate Professor
in the Advanced Integrated Technology program; Peggy Harris,
Nursing Instructor; Tracie Lear, Assistant Professor of Nursing;
Pam Smith, Professor of Biology; Dr. Aseem Talukdar, Assistant Professor of Physics; and Jennifer Welch, Biology Instructor. Smith, Talukdar, and Welch presented “Problem Based
Learning in the Science Classroom.” Davis, Florea, and Welch
presented “Improving Reading Comprehension in the Science
and Math Classroom.” The conference brings together educators to focus on improving education and student success in the
disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Faculty and staff members attending The Teaching Professor
Technology Conference on October 4-6 in Atlanta, GA were:
Chet Cunningham, Professor in the Information Technology
program; Joey Jones, Professor in the Healthcare Technology
Management program; Dr. Aseem Talukdar, Assistant Professor of Physics; Tim Trice, Instructional Designer; Jennifer
Welch, Biology Instructor; and Marsha Woodall, Associate
Professor in the Nursing program. The conference examined
technologies related to social media, mobile learning, apps,
MOOCs, online learning, flipped classrooms, etc.
Faculty members attending the TeachMeet Kentucky 2013 on
October 3 at Western Kentucky University were: Katrina Florea, Mathematics Instructor; Sharon Fugate, Associate Professor of Biology; Dr. John Lowbridge, Associate Professor of
Chemistry; and Jennifer Welch, Biology Instructor. TeachMeets are unconferences focusing on educational technology.
Unconference means there is no charge to attend and sessions
are decided upon by participants. Typically TeachMeets are fast
paced (20 minute sessions), tech sharing, friend making, and
never boring gatherings of people sharing web 2.0 tools for education. Florea presented a session on making QR codes and
using them in the classroom. Welch presented a session on incorporating technology in teaching content-specific reading and
writing skills.
Paula Pendergraff
Workforce Solutions
Welcome
MCC welcomes Kristy
Quinn as the new Continuing Education/Community
Services (CE/CS) Coordinator in the college’s
Workforce Solutions department. Quinn holds a
Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/History and a Master’s Degree in Public Service Administration from
the University of Evansville. Her background is in
meeting and event planning as well as sales/marketing for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, most recently with Abbott Laboratories. In
the CE/CS role, she will be working closely with businesses and
industries plus the community in the development of community education course scheduling, the Summer Youth College, and
other training opportunities.
Originally from Newburgh, Indiana, Quinn has lived in Hanson
for the past 8 ½ years with her husband, Tim, who is a partner at
Rudd Insurance, and their sons Elliott, Cooper, and Gavin.
President’s Newsletter
4
MAT 205 Class Project
Reflecting on The Teaching
Professor Technology
Conference
by Joey Jones, Professor – Healthcare Technology Management Program
The Teaching Professor Technology Conference was rewarding
despite being overwhelmed by the vast amount of information
presented to me. Many of the sessions centered on the concepts
of flipped and blended instruction and I have come to realize,
particularly after attending the conference, that this means different things at different institutions and, in some cases, the meaning is unique among individuals within the same institution.
Some of the sessions I attended provided insight into resources
Elyssa Lear’s MAT 205 bi-term class at MCC’s Muhlenberg that could be integrated as part of a flipped and/or blended apCampus developed bulletin board ideas to represent the different proach. One of my favorite sessions was entitled “A Threecourse topics. The class voted on the favorite one to create as Dimensional Approach to Online Learning.” This approach has
the classroom bulletin board.
been executed at San Jacinto College in Texas and was driven, in
part, by their Quality Enhancement Plan. The three-dimensional
aspect is intended to improve student success by building a
structurally-sound course, addressing various levels of critical
thinking, and helping students assess their own metacognitive
processes. I found that a lot of the initiatives taking place at San
Jacinto College parallel those of Madisonville Community College. Our instructional approach may be somewhat different to
by Mike Davenport, Director of Workforce Solutions
theirs but the ambitions and goals of the two institutions are the
Charles T. Rothe, Workforce Solutions
same … to help students to become independent thinkers as well
MCC is now hosting the monthly meetings of the Madisonville as strengthen their ability to solve real-world problems that reArea Manufacturer’s Association (MAMA). The first meeting quire higher levels of thinking.
was held on September 19 in the Brown Badgett Sr. Energy and
Advanced Technology Center. Mike Davenport, Director of Some of the conference sessions I attended made me aware that
Workforce Solutions at MCC, welcomed the membership and there is more to teaching than just teaching… that is, the delivery
guests to the college saying, “This meeting will be a great start of content and information and the student’s assessment of that
to MAMA’s resurgence as a voice for our local and regional knowledge. There is a human component to teaching that can
manufacturing businesses.”
become easily diminished and, in some cases, completely lost
when instruction is delivered online. Connecting with your
MAMA’s President Kent Waide introduced the featured pro- online student has a lot to do with how that student will be
gram, presented by Greg Higdon, President of the Kentucky drawn into that course and become engaged in the learning proManufacturer’s Association. Mr. Higdon stressed the im- cess. We, as instructors, serve as the pathway for student success
portance of manufacturing to the state of Kentucky by pointing regardless of how the class is delivered. Courses delivered solely
out that the manufacturing sector employs over 220,000 people online may be fine for highly skilled, highly motivated people,
in Kentucky, more than any other economic sector. He also not- but may not be appropriate for struggling students who make up
ed that manufacturing contributes 96% of the overseas exports a significant portion of college enrollment and who need close
from Kentucky.
contact with instructors to succeed. Besides content delivery,
instructors should look for ways to use technology to effectively
The October meeting was held on October 17 with featured
communicate with their online students in order to create a posispeaker Jason Vincent, Executive Director of the Pennyrile Area
tive learning experience that results in achievement of stronger
Development District (PADD). Vincent provided an update on
course outcomes. How we connect with students as individuals
recent PADD activities and answered questions.
is just as important, if not more important, than how we connect
them with content. It is those relationships we build with stuThe next meting of
dents that will have a longer lasting impact on them compared to
MAMA is scheduled
the knowledge they acquire while in our courses.
for Thursday, November 21 beginning at
11:30 a.m. in the Quad
Room of the Brown
Badgett, Sr. Energy &
Advanced Technology
Center.
MCC Hosts Madisonville
Area Manufacturer’s
Association Monthly Meetings
President’s Newsletter
5
Matheny Named BPW Woman of the Year
Nena Matheny was presented with the Hopkins County Business and Professional Women “Woman of the
Year” award during the organization’s annual banquet held on October 24. The event was held in conjunction
with the 85th anniversary of Kentucky Professional Women’s Week sponsored by the Kentucky Federation of
Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (KFBPW).
The “Woman of the Year” award honors business and professional women who have distinguished themselves in their careers and their communities.
Matheny is the administrative assistant in MCC’s Advancement Office and is also an active ambassador for
the Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce.
Melton Completes AIT Coop Course
Dylan Melton recently became the first Advanced Integrated Technology (AIT) program student to complete the 3 month AIT Cooperative Education course offered by Madisonville Community College. This course is a planned and evaluated work experience related to the student’s educational objective. A 2012 Muhlenberg County High School graduate, he is employed by Fluid Power Services, Inc., a full service hydraulic center located in Madisonville. In selecting Melton for the coop position, Mike Deal, assistant
professor in the AIT program, cited Melton’s level of responsibility, integrity, cooperation, and reliability as factors in his placement.
Melton presented his coop executive summary to a group consisting of AIT faculty
members, representatives from MCC’s Advancement and Academic Affairs departments, his parents, and his employer. He shared that his primary responsibilities
included the tear down of various hydraulic parts in preparation for rebuilds. This
has provided him with a better understanding of the inner workings of hydraulics as
well as his classroom theory instruction. Melton’s interest in electricity and hydraulics stems from his high school enrollment in AIT dual credit classes offered by
MCC. Benefits of the cooperative education course included the hands-on experience in his field of study, work experience for future employment, and the opportunity to hone his communication skills. Jim Sexton, owner of Fluid Power Services, complimented the organization and detail of his presentation and indicated
that it was representative of Melton’s everyday life. “It was a pleasure to have Dylan as a coop student, especially with the skills and knowledge that he has,” stated
Sexton.
Pictured (l-r) are: Nena Matheny, MCC’s Advancement Office; Dylan Melton; Jim Sexton, owner of Fluid
Power Services, Inc.
Melton plans to complete the Power Plant Operator and Multi-skilled Technician credentials by the summer of 2014. He anticipates
transferring either to Murray State University or Western Kentucky University to pursue a degree in Electromechanical Engineering
Technology or other related field.
Adult Education Programs Earn Performance Funding
Madisonville Community College President Judith L. Rhoads is pleased to announce that the college’s adult education programs in
Hopkins County and Muhlenberg County have been awarded performance funding by the Kentucky Adult Education - Council on
Postsecondary Education. Awards will be added to the current year contract; for the Hopkins County program, an additional
$13,176 will be received and $7,878 will be received by the Muhlenberg County program. Funds will support instructional delivery
and curriculum development in preparation for the new 2014 GED test.
Cris Crowley, Director of MCC’s Adult Education Program, shared “Our program and student success is a direct result of the dedication and expertise of our instructors. We try very hard to ensure that every student has the access and opportunity to reach their
potential. GED attainment is just the first step toward entering postsecondary education and/or the workforce. The students’ goals are
our goals; our job is to help them achieve it.”
Each year, county programs are placed into one of three program performance categories based on final enrollment and performance
data for the previous fiscal year. The three performance categories are Excellence, Proficient, and Needs Improvement. MCC’s Hopkins County and Muhlenberg County adult education programs ranked in the Proficient category – meeting 70.4% and 69.8% respectively of their enrollment goals, exceeding their 54% academic performance goal by more than 7 percentage points during the 20122013 fiscal year, and meeting 80.8% and 64.5% respectively of their GED goals. Overall, 771 students were enrolled; 161 earned
GED credentials and 118 transitioned to postsecondary education.
President’s Newsletter
6
Physical Therapy Month
by Stephanie Taylor, Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coordinator
In October, the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program Class of 2014 students celebrated both Physical Therapy month and Breast Cancer Awareness month with several different outreach activities. For PT month, the students created and distributed “Thank You”
gift bags to local Physical Therapy departments/clinics to celebrate their contributions to the
field of physical therapy as well as their support of the MCC PTA program. In addition,
students held a t-shirt fundraiser that raised $350 for donation to the National Breast Cancer
Awareness Foundation.
On October 25th, three representatives from the PTA
class attended the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) National Student Conclave held at the Galt
House in Louisville, KY. The conclave provided the
students with a unique opportunity to meet physical therapy leaders and network with other national PT and PTA
students. They were also able to attend a special-interest
session titled, “Frontiers in Rehabilitation Science and Technology FIRST” that discussed several future physical therapy initiatives including genomics, regenerative rehabilitation, bioengi- Pictured (l-r) are Aaron Russelburg, Brianne McCarty, Stephanie Taylor, Brian
neering, and telehealth.
Belcher.
Pictured (l-r) are: 1st row - Paula Mayes, Taylor Berry, Amy Pecaro; 2nd row - Brianne
McCarty, Courtney Robertson, Amanda Holder,
Carrie Harpole, Katelin Parsley, Kennya Gill,
Josh Herold; 3rd row - Jerry Mathis, Brian
Belcher, Jarred Cooper, Jared Groves, Victoria
Herndon, Aaron Russelburg.
Applied Technology Programs Increase in Enrollment
by Lisa Howerton, Dean of Academic Affairs
This fall, the Applied Technology Division experienced a significant increase in enrollment. As classes began filling up, additional
daytime sections had to be added to meet the increased demand from students and local employers; we see this demand as a signal
that the local and regional economy is showing signs of improvement. To meet future and immediate demands for technical programs, night options are currently being developed to allow more student access and help even student
load. The Air Conditioning, Advanced Integrated Technology (AIT), Welding, and Mining programs
all experienced growth in enrollment this fall 2013 semester with some of the biggest increases coming from Air Conditioning and Welding.
The Air Conditioning program increased by 14 students with additional labs scheduled to meet student demand. HVAC Instructor Don Lomache increased the cap size of the lecture courses to allow
for this additional enrollment, and scheduled various labs at a time which would accommodate the
students in the program. In spring 2014, we are planning to offer evening options for students in the
air conditioning program to help make the courses and programs more accessible for students.
To accommodate the increased demand for the Welding courses, an evening option was developed
with a new adjunct faculty member to instruct students. The Welding program enrolled 16 additional students this fall. These students will have the opportunity to complete the Gas Welder certificate
this fall. This evening welding option will continue through the Spring 2014 semester with the option of completing the Tack Welder certificate.
The Mining program also saw an increase in the number of students. This fall also saw the addition
of Bart Allen as a new faculty member for the mining program; Bart is splitting his time between
the classroom and recruiting for the mining program. An exciting outcome for the mining program
has been the addition of dual credit courses offered both in Muhlenberg County and, for the first
time, at Madisonville North Hopkins High School. The Introduction to Mining Technology course is offered to approximately 30
high school students currently with plans to expand dual credit offerings into other areas of mining.
The AIT program added more new students this fall due to demand from traditional students and incumbent workers from employers, such as Berry Plastics, JennMar, and J-Lok. The biggest influx of students from the industry side has been the startup of the new
Berry Plastics facility here in Hopkins County; 27 students enrolled in the AIT program from that facility. Both maintenance technicians and operators are currently taking AIT classes to increase their skill level and productivity. Due to the increased demand for
open lab hours in the AIT lab, the lab is now open until 10 p.m.
President’s Newsletter
7
Home Team
Marketing
MCC/MNHHS Career Coach
by Darlena Gallegos, Associate Professor – Advanced Integrated Technology Program
As part of the second AIT NSF grant, Darlena Gallegos is spending four mornings a
week at Madisonville North Hopkins High School (MNHHS) serving in the capacity
of Career Coach. The ultimate goal of this position is to increase awareness and enrollment of MNHHS students in the college’s Advanced Integrated Technology
(AIT) program plus promotion of the college in general.
To date, she has had the opportunity to work with over 300 students. All of these
students have completed interest surveys regarding programs at MCC and will be
receiving program information packets containing financial aid information, an admission application (for seniors), selective admission requirements (if applicable),
and an assessment of any test scores that they have on file at the high school. Each
student will also be encouraged to meet individually with Gallegos to discuss the
programs options.
As part of the Kentucky Community and
Technical College Home Team marketing
initiative, MCC Recruiter Vincent Wilson
along with Tara Moore, President of
MCC’s Student Government Association,
presented Caldwell County High School
Principal Christy Phelps with an $850
check during the September 27th football
game. Funds will be used to support the
high school athletic program.
High school counselors often refer students with college-related questions to
Gallegos. Working closely with MCC Transfer Counselor Lori Johnson, Gallegos
strives to ensure that these students have accurate information and are aware that they
do have a very viable option for beginning their college studies at MCC. “The past
few months have been about building relationships within the high school -- relationships with the teachers, the students, and the administration -- in the hope of increasing the college readiness of these students plus increasing college/program enrollment,” stated Gallegos.
Gallegos attended the National Career Pathways Network Conference in midOctober to learn more about Career Coaching and how it is being used in other colleges and in high schools. What she discovered was that MCC’s model of a college
providing this service in a high school setting is unique.
Hydroponic Greenhouse Project
by David Schuermer, Director of Grants, Planning & Effectiveness
In preparation for a project between MCC and Muhlenberg County High School (MCHS), David Alsip and Mike Deal of the college’s Advanced Integrated Technology Program, along with Jay McElwain and Derrick Benton of the MCHS Agriculture Program,
attended a two-day workshop on hydroponic vegetable production in Lodi, Ohio. Crop King International, a corporation that has
been in business for 29 years servicing and constructing hydroponic greenhouse systems, hosted the workshop. For those not familiar
with hydroponic vegetable production, think of it as a factory that produces vegetables on an industrial scale. The production method
is not unlike what one would see in a modern manufacturing facility. There are mechanical systems, automation systems, environmental controls, and a host of production methods that would be
at home in any industrial setting. In this controlled method of production, nutrients can be tailored
for optimal plant growth and productivity in a soil-less environment. Environmental conditions can
be closely calibrated for the particular plant that is in production. While the concept of hydroponics has been around in some form for centuries, advances in technology and methods have improved the economic feasibility of the production of vegetables on a large scale. Some of the biggest improvements are improvements in material and control systems.
These hydroponic and greenhouse production systems are as complicated and advanced as one
might find in a modern industrial manufacturing facility. This offers a wonderful opportunity for
MCC’s AIT program, which is an “integrated technology” program, to collaborate with the MCHS
agriculture program to utilize this technology in teaching the systems approach to sustainable food
production. One outcome of the project will be a dual credit engineering controls course focused
on utilizing the systems approach with the hydroponic greenhouse as the system. Another outcome
of the project will be the utilization of the vegetables produced in the greenhouse in the MCHS high school cafeteria to offer fresh
nutritious food options for students. The United States Department of Agriculture is promoting “food security”; that is, the ability of
rural communities to provide healthy, sustainable food production for their citizens, in addition to improving access to affordable,
nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. The hydroponics greenhouse project aligns well with one of
their “food security” grant programs. MCC will submit a grant to the USDA in November of this year to construct the greenhouse
and develop educational programming that will serve the interests of both MCHS and MCC.
MSU Free Transfer Day
MADISONVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
President’s
Newsletter
The President’s Newsletter is an official
publication of Madisonville Community
College published 8-10 times annually.
Questions about the President’s Newsletter should be directed to Joyce
Riggs, Director of Public Relations, at
(270) 824-8581.
MCC is one of 16 colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. MCC is a comprehensive
two-year college that prepares students
for careers, offering more than 167 associate’s degree, diploma, and certificate options in over 20 academic and
technical programs.
Murray State University Madisonville Regional Campus is having a Free Transfer Day on
November 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students interested in transferring to MSU in
Spring, Summer, or Fall 2014 will have the opportunity to apply for FREE! Students will
also receive free MCC transcripts, receive onsite advising, and transcript evaluation. To
reserve a spot, visit MSU-Madisonville Regional Campus on the 1st floor of the John H.
Gray Building from Nov. 4th to Nov. 12th. For more information, please call (270) 8254379.
Upcoming Transfer Visits




November 5 - Campbellsville University representative will be in the Student Center
from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 12 - Troy State University representative will be in the Student Center
from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 14 - Western Kentucky University-Owensboro representative will be in the
Student Center from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 18 - Brescia University representative will be in the Student Center from
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. along with WKU-Owensboro representative from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
For more information about transfer events or visits,
contact Lori Johnson at (270) 824-1827 or lori.johnson@kctcs.edu.
CollegeFish Launched
MCC has four campus sites:
North Campus
2000 College Drive
Madisonville, KY 42431
Health Sciences Campus
750 North Laffoon Street
Madisonville, KY 42431
Muhlenberg County Campus
406 West Everly Brothers Boulevard
Central City, KY 42330
MCC launched CollegeFish on October 28-31. Participating students had
the opportunity to create an individualized profile to assist with the transfer process and receive information on $37 million in available transfer
scholarships. The first 50 students received a free t-shirt and all who registered were entered into a drawing for two iPad Minis. Congratulations
to Brittany Carr and Lesley Wolfe on being the lucky winners!
CollegeFish.org is a web tool created by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to aid community college students as they plan their future after community college, either through transfer to a 4-year institution in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree, or by entering the workforce. Currently, CollegeFish.org is focused on providing transfer assistance to students.
ACE² and Assessment Center
100 School Avenue
Madisonville, KY 42431
For more information about MCC, call
(270) 821-2250 or visit online at
madisonville.kctcs.edu.
KCTCS does not discriminate based on
race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, disability, or age in its programs
and activities. The following person
has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Employment, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity,
KCTCS, 300 North Main Street, Versailles, KY 40383, (859) 256-3264.
Upcoming Events
November
6-7
MCC hosting Council on Postsecondary Education meeting
7
MCC Board of Directors quarterly meeting (5 p.m. - room C90/JHG Building)
8
Classified Staff Meeting (9 a.m. - room 309/JHG
Faculty Council meeting (12N - room 242/JHG)
22
Faculty/Professional Staff meeting (2:30 p.m. - Quad Room/BBC)
28-29
Thanksgiving Holiday Break
Glema Mahr Center for the Arts
Nov. 8
Coffeehouse: Jane L. Powell Goddess of Soul (7:30 p.m.)
Nov. 16
Center Stage: Sarah Council Dance Projects (7:30 p.m.)
Nov. 23
Chamber Music: Sarah E. Geller - Violin (7:30 p.m.)
Anne P. Baker Gallery
November 8 - December 16
“Collectively Independent”
featuring the works of local artists
Suzanne Henley, Maria Lee, Gina Munger, and Sarah Orange