Maricopa Matters Fall 2015 by The Maricopa Community Colleges

MARICOPA Matters News for the Community From the Maricopa Community Colleges

Issue Highlights

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CHANCELLOR GLASPER ON INNOVATION NEW HEALTHCARE TECH PROGRAM

MESA POLICE CHIEF ON MARICOPA NEW INSURANCE STUDIES PROGRAM

Candace Chase helps others breathe easier. See story – page 8.

IN MEMORIAM: MILDRED BULPITT

Fall 2015

Maricopa Enters New Partnerships Creates New Jobs Initiative The Maricopa Community Colleges have joined with several organizations in Rework America Connected, a partnership that uses online technology to improve the way people find jobs and learn new skills and improves the way employers find the best people to hire. In June 2015, the Maricopa Community Colleges participated in an announcement of the partnership with Markle Foundation CEO and President Zoë Baird, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, LinkedIn Co-Founder Allen Blue, Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow, edX, and some Phoenix employers.

technology to the retail worker looking for a leg up into a middle-skill career — to professional and educational opportunities and develop a more qualified workforce.

Markle is committed to advancing transformative strategies and scalable solutions to prepare the workforce.

“As the digital economy continues to rapidly change our work lives, we have an opportunity here in Phoenix to help thousands land middle-skill jobs that offer them a way toward meaningful career paths,” said Markle CEO and President Zoë Baird, who leads Rework America. The New York City based Markle Foundation is dedicated to advancing economic opportunity for all Americans.

Rework America Connected is an online platform that will provide an opportunity for many more Americans to qualify for good-paying careers, whether or not they have a college degree. Through this portal, employers will be able to more effectively fill available positions with skilled employees and grow their businesses. More than half of all American employers say a lack of skilled workers is the reason so many jobs remain unfilled.

“The Greater Phoenix metropolitan area can have the most prepared workers in the country if we leverage the power of the Internet to help them train for the work of the future,” said Dr. Ernie Lara, President of Estrella Mountain Community College, one of 10 Maricopa Community Colleges. “The Rework America Connected platform will help jump-start this process by connecting workers to the jobs that are already available across Arizona.”

The partners will work with the City of Phoenix, Phoenix employers, and educators to connect, enhance, and scale efforts already underway and tailor the program to local needs. The goal is to connect people — from the skilled, mid-career worker whose job has been reshaped by

Phoenix and Denver will be the first two cities to participate in Rework America Connected. They were chosen for their track record and commitment to job creation, education, innovation, and partnerships aimed at improving the lives of its citizens.

Foundation Seeks $14 Million to Support Veterans The Maricopa Community Colleges system plans to create a statewide program to support military personnel, veterans, and their families as they move from active duty to civilian life. The program, which has many components designed to help veterans get the education they need, will begin once the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation raises $14 million to support the initiative. The new program will build on Maricopa’s successful record in providing education to veterans through such facilities as its East Valley Veterans Education Center in Tempe, which is supported by several Maricopa Community Colleges and led by Rio Salado College. The new Veterans Success Project proposes creation of a similar center in the West Valley to serve as a point of entry for local veterans and help students get the support they need to start and/or finish college. (“Foundation Seeks” continued on Page 10)

Leadership

Maricopa Wants to Use Innovation to Grow Revenue by Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor No one can accurately predict the future; but when it comes to the future of the Maricopa Community Colleges, one thing is certain: We need new sources of revenue if we are to fulfill our mission of helping students succeed.

KJZZ to Open Mexico City News Desk KJZZ, the Phoenix-area affiliate of National Public Radio, plans to open a news bureau in Mexico City later this year. The new partnership was cemented this past June and will broaden news coverage about global companies that are opening facilities in the Southwestern U.S., economic development of the region, and general efforts to spur international business.

The Arizona legislature has made it clear that our colleges can’t rely on the State for revenue. During their 2015 session, legislators eliminated from the budget all funding for Maricopa. That leaves us with two sources of revenue — property taxes and tuition — and there are limits to how much either can be raised in the future. The issue isn’t just the legislature’s action this year. Since the 2008–09 school year, our state funding has been cut by $68 million. We need to find ways to replace that lost money and to generate revenue that will allow us to continue to provide the latest technology to our students. The problem is that our colleges operate under the provisions of a 1980 Constitutional amendment that limits the revenues we can raise beyond tuition and property taxes. If we reach the limits imposed on us, we would have to give back to the State a dollar for every new dollar we raise. Because that restriction is not imposed on State universities, they have been successful in raising money through such arrangements as patent and technology licensing. We need the same consideration. We want to be able to partner with outside organizations in innovative ventures to bring us new revenue. As a result, I’ve been asking elected officials to help us find the best way to ease the restrictions that prevent us from being entrepreneurial. We’re starting to gain some traction, as shown in a recent front-page article in the Phoenix Business Journal.

The Honorable Doug Ducey, Arizona Governor (left) and Dr. Chris Bustamante, President of Rio Salado College (middle). Photo credit: Arizona-Mexico Commission

In partnership with Tecnológico de Monterrey (the Monterrey Institute of Technology), KJZZ will use the latest broadcast technology to highlight international business stories, while at the same time training the next generation of Mexican journalists. “The editorial scope of this project will extend far beyond trade relations between the U.S. and Mexico,” said Dr. Chris Bustamante, President of Rio Salado College. “Reporting will serve individuals and companies throughout the American Southwest that operate with a focused interest in the global marketplace. The project vision includes an ongoing series of radio and television broadcasts, online reports, and biannual gatherings with international business leaders.”

There are also other reasons why this is an exciting time at Maricopa. Thanks to a district-wide program called Maricopa Priorities, we’re starting to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of numerous operations. Every department in our District office and each of our colleges has reviewed all their programs with a goal of building an efficient organization whose programs meet the needs of tomorrow’s students.

“We know that gaps exist in the information that we receive in our respective regions,” continued Dr. Bustamante. “There are so many news stories that are left untold – stories that don’t often reach the residents of our communities. This project will provide listeners with the information they need to better understand globalization and its economic impact, especially as it relates to our respective regions of the world.”

Change is even coming to the way we present ourselves to the outside world. In January, we will unveil a new system of logos that better demonstrates the relationship our colleges have with the Maricopa organization. We’re proud of the fact that our 10 colleges are part of one of the largest educational systems in the Country, and in January, our new organizational identifiers will better reflect that fact.

KJZZ and its partners serve more than a half million listeners every week. It is a community service of Rio Salado College and licensed to the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Read the article: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/ Phoenix Business Journal, July 24, 2015

CGCC Faculty Miguel Fernandez Advocates for Veterans The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has recognized English faculty member Miguel Fernandez with the 2015 Employee Recognition Award for his outstanding contributions to the District’s mission.

Focus on Faculty

Faculty Honors

Monika Bilka (Chandler-Gilbert, History) won the Western History Association’s Walter Rundell Award for dissertation research, When We Heal the Land, We Heal the People: Tribal Empowerment through Natural Resources Management, 1960–2014.

Fernandez, who is a faculty liaison for veterans as well as a cosponsor of the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) chapter of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO), spent his sabbatical semester researching and developing an online training program to help faculty members understand and deal with student veterans. Working closely Miguel Fernandez with the SVO, the result was Toolkit for Training Faculty to Best Serve Student Veterans, a training program that benefits student veterans and those who teach them.

Karen Wellner (Chandler-Gilbert, Biology) was selected to participate in a National Science Foundation’s GEOCACHE project, an effort to develop career and educational pathways in geospatial technologies. Tracy Liz Miller (Chandler-Gilbert, Theatre) cofounded The Bridge Initiative: Women in Arizona Theatre. The program seeks to empower female artists in the Southwest region across all theatrical disciplines. Maria Lucretia Alvarez (Chandler-Gilbert, Biology) is an editor of RNA Mapping: Methods and Protocols, published in the journal Methods in Molecular Biology.

The 10-chapter training program is available at no cost. It can be used as self-paced training for individual instructors, or its modules can be used by others to conduct in-person training at individual campuses. Because veteran awareness training for faculty is one of the required components of the State of Arizona’s Veterans Supportive Campus designation, Fernandez’s Toolkit directly benefits all of the Maricopa County Community Colleges by moving them one step closer to that important designation. Fernandez plans to introduce the Toolkit to colleges and universities across the country. “Concise, accurate, worthwhile training for faculty and staff in dealing with student veterans has been hard to find for many years,” said Reda Chambers, CGCC Coordinator of Veterans Services, who nominated Fernandez for the award. “For-profit groups have stepped in to fill this need, but at several thousand dollars per unit, these programs have proven cost-prohibitive for many schools. Miguel’s Toolkit contains a wealth of information, yet its format is extremely readable and undaunting.” In recognition of his accomplishment, Fernandez will receive a $1,000 scholarship to designate to a student at any college or center within the Maricopa County Community College District.

http://goo.gl/HPnLJM

Faculty, Staff Win Roueche Awards for Excellence More than 20 Maricopa Community Colleges faculty and staff were selected for this year’s John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards from the League of Innovation in the Community College. The national awards are given to community college educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and leadership. What makes it even more special is that recipients are nominated by their colleagues. One recipient is Holly Harper, Dean of Dental Programs at Rio Salado College. “What I love most about my job is working with the students in the dental clinic and interacting with patients,” Harper said. “I am also proud to see the students graduate and realize their dreams.”

Professor Melanie Abts

Dr. Melanie Abts (Rio Salado, Counseling) was among 30 Phi Theta Kappa advisors honored with a Paragon award, which recognizes advisors who have served less than four years and have contributed to the growth of their chapter members. John Liffiton (Scottsdale, English) received the 2015 Shofar Zakhor Award from the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors Association. The award is presented to those who keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and who teach from its lessons. Elaine “E. E.” Moe (Scottsdale, Theatre Arts) received the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion of Excellence from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), Region VIII. Dr. Kirk Bowden (Rio Salado, Chemical Dependency) won the Lifetime Achievement Award of the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators. Greg Silcox (Paradise Valley, Athletics) was named an Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). This honor is given annually to only four community college athletics directors in the Country. James Sallis (Phoenix, Creative Writing) published Black Night’s Gonna Catch Me Here: New and Selected Poems, a compilation of poems written between 1968 and 2014. He is also the author of Drive, which became a major motion picture in 2011.

Holly Harper

Kim Feld (Glendale, Communications) and Betsey Wheeler (GCC, ESL) were selected as Harvard Fellows. Their research will result in the creation of a project that allows students to tell and listen to personal-migration stories.

In all, 21 educators were chosen from across the Maricopa Community Colleges system.

http://goo.gl/SFWiKv

David M. Rodriguez (Glendale, Library) received the EBSCO Community College Learning Resources Program Award. The award is sponsored by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).

Student Success

Student Athletes, Teams, Earn Academic Honors Seven Athletes Score Perfect 4.0 GPA Sixty-eight student athletes and 37 teams from the Maricopa Community Colleges earned academic recognition from the National Junior College Athletic South Mountain Wome n’s Volleyball team Association (NJCAA) for the recently completed 2014–15 academic year. To qualify for the award, student athletes must have a minimum 3.6 GPA while earning at least 12 credit hours. Seven of the student athletes received a NJCAA Pinnacle Award for posting perfect 4.0 GPAs. They are: Evan Fresquez (Mesa baseball), Kevin McMahon (Mesa tennis), Alexis Flores (Phoenix soccer), Aly Kennedy (Phoenix basketball), Katerina Diaz (South Mountain volleyball), Delaney Scanlan (South Mountain volleyball), and Brianna Schrimpf (South Mountain softball).

Maricopa Community College Teams Receive Academic Honors In addition to the individual awards, 37 Maricopa Community Colleges teams received academic honors for having an average team GPA of 3.0. The teams with the top GPA in each sport are the 2014–15 NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year, and South Mountain CC’s Women’s Volleyball team took home that honor. Chandler-Gilbert Golf (Women/Men), Soccer (W), 5 Awards Softball, Baseball Glendale 2 Awards

Softball, Volleyball (W)

Mesa 6 Awards

Baseball, Basketball (W), Golf (W/M), Softball, Tennis (M)

Paradise Valley 11 Awards

Golf (W), Indoor Track/Field (W/M), Outdoor Track/Field (W/M) Soccer (W), Softball, Tennis (W/M), Cross Country (W/M)

Phoenix 6 Awards

Baseball, Basketball (W/M), Soccer (W), Softball, Volleyball (W)

South Mountain Baseball, Basketball (W), Golf (W/M), 7 Awards Soccer (W), Softball, Volleyball (W)

Major League Baseball Teams Draft Seven Maricopa College Players In June 2015, Major League Baseball (MLB) ran its annual first-year player draft. In this draft, all 30 MLB teams choose from more than 1,200 amateur players nationally. In all, seven current or former Maricopa Community Colleges players were selected. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Chris Plitt, a right-handed pitcher from South Mountain Community College (SMCC). Plitt helped lead the SMCC Cougars to the 2014 Region Championship, earning 2nd Team All-Conference and All-Region honors. He posted a 1.87 ERA with a 7–1 record as a freshman. For the full selection list, visit: https://goo.gl/KpqmpF

MCC’s Valerie LeGrande Honored for Many Achievements How did you first connect with the Maricopa Community Colleges? My aunt used to teach at a community college and explained the benefits of going to a community college. With her guidance, I looked up the local community college in my area and began to investigate the options I had. After viewing the college, I knew Mesa was my best option. Where are you in your Valerie LeGrande degree/certificate completion process? I graduated in May 2015 with my AA in Arts, AGEC, and a Certificate of Communications. What has been the best part of your Maricopa experience? The best part was being a part of Phi Theta Kappa (the National Honor Society for community college students), in which I received over $77,000 in scholarships. I also got to be the graduation speaker. What’s next? I am starting my bachelor’s at ASU in the fall of 2016 with a major in Social Work and a minor in Nonprofit. Why did you pick Social Work to study? I picked Social Work because I really enjoy helping people. There is a vast variety of opportunities that social workers are employed in. My life experiences allow me to empathize with a lot of people and help others through situations similar to mine. How did Maricopa Community Colleges prepare you for your next step (educationally and/or at work)? Mesa prepared me to overcome obstacles that we sometimes go through during our schooling and to never give up. It allowed me to build up my confidence and courage to change my own community. Mesa prepared me to be a better citizen. What is your favorite quote? Tom Brokaw once said, “You are educated, your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as your ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of it as an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world!” What motivates you? A better life for my son and me. What is your ideal job? Director of a nonprofit that centers its focus on helping women with trauma. Who is the most influential person in your life? Why? My most influential person in my life is my dad, because he pushes me to do better and not settle for anything less. What do you want more people to know about the Maricopa Community Colleges? Community college is not a backup plan. That to some it is the first choice. Community college allowed me to explore opportunities, gain confidence, and remain debt free! Today I look back on my journey at Mesa and know without doubt that I made the right decision to go to a community college over a university.

New Healthcare Technology Systems Degree Serves Industry Needs Glendale Community College (GCC) and Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) have combined their expertise to meet growing industry demand for qualified healthcare information technology employees. The Colleges have jointly launched a collaborative Healthcare Technology Systems associate’s degree and certificate program starting this semester. Some courses will be taught online while others will use in-person and hybrid formats. As medical data continues to move online, providers are beginning to rely on integrated charting and billing systems for efficiency, financial stability, and patient satisfaction. Healthcare information technology is a career field that demands both IT and healthcare operations skills. The Healthcare Technology Systems associate’s degree and certificate program are designed for students who are already in, or who want to enter, the healthcare information technology field. Courses include a combination of IT - and healthcare-related subjects, including data integration, web design, database management, and healthcare operations.

“

Learning will happen in and out of the classroom. Internships are critical in our approach to making sure students apply what they learn in the classroom. This Associate in Applied Science program was designed to lead to internships and a bachelor’s degree program.

”

—John Gibson, Business & IT Faculty at GCC

The first class in the program, Introduction to Healthcare IT & Systems (HTM150), is available online this Fall at PVCC. Both colleges will offer subsequent courses.

Innovations

Online Math Camp Powers Student Success

The Maricopa Community Colleges began offering the historically in-person “Power Math Camp” online course this past Spring and Summer. The interactive program allows any Maricopa student to take a series of online tutorials to brush up on their math skills throughout the semester, whether it’s at the beginning or to test themselves before final exams. Over the past several months, 780 students have signed up for the online course.

“

Power Math Camp has been really helpful for me as I am returning to school after 20 years. All the modules are explained really well and are fun to work through. I am very grateful for this resource.

”

—Cipriana Danielli, student

Ophthalmic Program Receives International Accreditation

Maricopa Millions Getting Closer to Goal of $5 Million Saved in 5 Years

Maricopa Skill Center (MSC) recently received accreditation from the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology for its Ophthalmic Assistant program.

Last year, we reported on Maricopa Millions, a project that uses open educational resources (OERs) to save students money. OERs are teaching, learning, and research resources that are copyright-free or have been released under a copyright license. Examples include: full courses, course modules, syllabi, lectures, homework assignments, quizzes, lab and classroom activities, and many more resources contained in digital media collections from around the world.

MSC is the only school in Arizona to offer the Ophthalmic Assistant program. The accreditation is valid for three years and allows MSC students and alumni of the program to sit for their Certified Ophthalmic Assistant exam after working in the industry for 500 hours.

Ciara Wolf and Cody Joe are the first two recipients from Project SENA.

While enrolled in the program, students learn the core level of care for an entry-level position in a clinical or office setting. The course prepares the students to assist ophthalmologist, specialists in dealing with patients’ medical and surgical eye problems. The Ophthalmic Assistant program is 702 hours long and takes approximately seven months to complete. As part of their training, students participate in a 120-hour externship. Ciara Wolf is a recent graduate of the program and received a scholarship from Project Scholarship and Education for Native Americans (SENA), which provides educational mentorship opportunities to Native American youth.

OER SAVINGS PROGRESS Spring 2015

$3,458,000

Fall 2014

$2,402,000

Spring 2014

$1,482,000

Fall 2013

$664,000 Source: Maricopa Millions

https://goo.gl/EQ9AJ0 “I am a mother and I feel so happy that I now have a job because of Project SENA,” Wolf said. “One day I hope to open up my own practice at my reservation.”

http://goo.gl/oYM1Jh

Community

Mesa Police Chief: Maricopa Helped Me Be Successful Interview with Mesa Chief of

New Maricopa Program Helps Foster Youth Succeed The Maricopa Community Colleges recently announced a new program that will help children who have become too old to remain in the state’s foster care system get into and complete college. The Bridging Success Initiative is funded by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Police John Meza. Glendale, Mesa student. Adjunct faculty at Mesa, Chandler-Gilbert Community Colleges for 15 years. How did you end up at Maricopa Community Colleges? I was born and raised in Phoenix and went to Cortez High School. My brother was a Phoenix police officer, and I wanted to follow in his

The initiative advisory board has representatives from Arizona State University (ASU), Children’s Action Alliance, Arizona’s Children Association, Arizona Friends of Foster Care, College Success Arizona, College Depot, Florence Crittendon, and the Arizona Department of Child Safety. The program focuses on three key areas: retention, degree completion, and transfer. The Maricopa Community Colleges are creating supportive environments at all of its main campuses where students can get tutoring, academic counseling, career planning, skill development, and other support services.

footsteps. Out of our cul-de-sac of John Meza, Mesa Chief of Police

about six houses, five cops came out of the group.

So, after high school, I went to Glendale Community College (GCC). My goal was to get my associate’s degree and try to get a job with the Phoenix Police Department. In the first semester of my second year at GCC, I ended up testing for the Mesa Police Department and was just really impressed with them and how they treated me like an individual. I got the job offer from Mesa, and taking it was the best decision I ever made. Did you have a mentor? When I started with Mesa PD I was 20 years old and had my dream job. So I didn’t think I needed to go to school anymore. I had that attitude. I was a detective working gangs and really didn’t think any more about

Kathleen Perales (MCC), Maddy Day (Fostering Success Michigan), Ray Ostos, and Program Director Stephanie Garman at the kickoff event in July 2015.

education. My boss at the time (Dennis Donna, who became my Chief) told me I had a lot of skills and asked me if I’d ever thought about being a supervisor. And then he reminded me I needed an associate’s degree to be a Sergeant. Talk about the power of mentoring – he was a true mentor.

Finishing a program usually leads to greater overall earning potential for youth in foster care. And through ASU’s similar Bridging Success program, counselors who work with these young people will make the transfer go smoothly.

So one day he says, “Hey, Johnny, let’s go for a ride.” So he drives me over to Mesa Community College (MCC) and the counselor laid out what I had on my transcript, what credits I’d get from the [police] academy, and what I needed to finish my degree. They set me up, and I went back to school because of that. So that gave me enough to get my associate’s degree and test for Sergeant. I knew education was important, but I was one of those kids who really needed that nudge. I attribute my educational success to Chief Donna and MCC. I owe a lot of my success to them. Did MCC prepare you educationally for what was to come?

“Supporting youth who are aging out of foster care is core to our mission of access and student success,” said Felicia L. Ganther, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. “We are extremely committed to this work and are thankful to our community partners for helping us to create a web of support for these students. Like other young people, youth in foster care have dreams. Yet we know that there are big challenges and obstacles in the way of these dreams. Our goal is to turn these dreams deferred into dreams realized.”

My first beat was patrol, which I did for two years, and then went to work gang intelligence for the next seven years. We started with just a couple

FACTS About

Youth in Foster Care

advo R E

of people back in the late 1980s, and now Mesa PD has two full-time gang units. What sort of people are you looking for on the police workforce? We’re hiring people who have good judgment, who are ethical and resourceful — people who have a strong work ethic, and they understand diversity. Who’s the most influential person in your life? My dad was a rough, tough hardworking guy with a heart of gold. He was the man that was always trying to stick up for the little guy. All of us who become cops have a little bit of that in us. What do you do in your free time? I play guitar. I brew beer. I have a plum beer going right now. And I love to cook. Mexican food – the garlic, cilantro, and good chilies are the secret.

• Every year, more than 700 Arizona children age out of foster care when they turn 18. • One in four youth in foster care in the U.S. will finish a certificate or two-year degree. • Nationally, only 3% of youth in foster care finish a four-year degree. • More than 25% experience homelessness and/or prison. • One in three receives public assistance, and their unemployment rate is more than 50%.

te ca

What was your first beat?

FOST

Oh, absolutely. And, I’m a firm believer in education for this job.

Year Up Arizona Helps Students With Real-Life Experiences

For many young adults, figuring out the next steps in life may be a challenge because of a lack of resources or access to attend college. That, in turn, can make it hard to achieve a professional career. A partnership launched in January among GateWay Community College (GWCC), Maricopa Skill Center (MSC), and Year Up hopes to bring education and a career within reach for many of these young adults in the Valley. Year Up, a nonprofit organization, provides young adults with an opportunity to gain knowledge and professional experience to better themselves by partnering with educational institutions and corporations across the country to offer one-year education and internship programs. “The partnership is the first for Year Up in Arizona and the Valley,” says Randy Moore, Director of Higher Education Programs for Year Up. “Based on our statistics, we identified Phoenix as having a high rate of disconnected young adults. It was the catalyst for us to seek a location in the Valley.” Moore explains that students spend the first six months in computer programming, business operations, and professional skills classes taught by GWCC faculty at Maricopa Skill Center and the next six months taking one class and serving an internship with a Fortune 500 company. “ Through this innovative partnership, we are providing new opportunities, hands-on experience, and a transformational path in a way that we were not able to do before,”says GWCC President Steven Gonzales. “It’s something that may be able to expand throughout the district.”

De La Torre Juan Carlos

Maricopa student Juan Carlos De La Torre, who describes himself as being lost before finding the program, is grateful for the support. “I decided to apply to the program because I didn’t really have a direction with my life,” said De La Torre. “I was stuck between majors and did not know what I wanted to do.”

“Year Up is wrapping its arms around the students to make sure they are successful, and they have great connections in our business community to make sure that the program is providing what employers need,” says Al Larson, Executive Director of MSC. “This mutually benefits the community, the students, and our programs.”

Canines Help SMCC Bring Stress Relief to Students

The dogs were provided by Paws 2 Read, a local organization that allows children to read to certified therapy animals, a process that teaches the children patience, confidence, and reading in a fun, interactive, nonjudgmental environment. South Mountain Community College President Dr. Shari Olson said, “It’s important for all of us to take time to nourish our well-being. Our canine companions help us do that every day. I’m glad that our students had the chance to participate in this wonderful event.”

SMCC Celebrates 20 Years of Storytelling For 20 years, South Mountain Community College (SMCC) has made a name for itself in the ancient art of storytelling. This art form is more complex than simply memorizing a script, because no two performances are the same.

Nationwide, Year Up has served more than 10,000 young adults and provided interns for over 250 corporate partners since its founding in 2000.

De La Torre is now on track to finish his certificate in Computer Information Systems and has an internship at American Express.

Before finals this past Spring, the South Mountain Community Library hosted three four-legged friends, Barney, Maddy, and Ringo, for a study break. The three therapy dogs were brought in to ease students’ stress before they had to take their final exams.

Year Up students of the Maricopa Skill Center

The partnership started with nearly 40 students in Spring 2015 and has expanded to 80 students for Fall 2015. Students earn up to 30 college credits and receive a stipend while they gain experience in the field.

Community

• 100% placement of qualified Year Up students into internships • Over 90% of corporate partners would recommend the Year Up program to a friend or colleague • 85% of graduates are employed or attending college full time within four months of completing the program • Employed Year Up graduates earn an average of $16 per hour – the equivalent of $32,000 per year

The first SMCC storytelling festival was held October 1995. Since then, the programming has been embraced by a large and expanding audience in Phoenix. Led by Director Liz Warren, an internationally acclaimed storyteller, the institute is a great place to take a basic class or even study for an academic certificate. Among a variety of events celebrating the 20 years of Storytelling this year, Liz Warren and Storytelling faculty member Marilyn Torres will conduct workshops with mentors from Maricopa’s bilingual nursing fellowship program. The idea is that storytelling helps people to connect, which is an important skill in the world of healthcare. The dynamic storytelling duo has also created new partnerships with Arizona Storytellers, the Gila River Indian Community, and nationally recognized and renowned storytellers who will be featured in the Institute’s signature event, as well as in new performances throughout the year. For performances scheduled for the 20th year anniversary celebration, visit: http://goo.gl/aKUxTr

Jobs

EMCC Cybersecurity Program Wins National Honor

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have designated Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education. EMCC is the first two-year institution in Arizona to receive this distinction for academic years 2014–19. According to NSA, the EMCC cyber-security program will serve the nation by contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure. It supports President Obama’s National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and the International Strategy for Cyberspace, which highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America’s cyberspace. “Becoming a CAE indicates that our program is meeting the highest standards for training students to protect and defend cyberspace,” said Dr. Clay Goodman, EMCC Vice President of Learning and Director of the Arizona Sun Corridor — Get Into Energy Consortium. “Completing the CAE program opens doors for our students at a national level for federal and corporate careers.”

For more, visit: estrellamountain.edu/ programs/cybersecurity

CEI Helps Clients Launch Their Businesses A year ago, we introduced Maricopa Matters readers to the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI), a division of the Maricopa Corporate College. CEI is the business incubator helping its clients grow by providing in-house space and on-site support to help them validate, develop, and commercialize their disruptive technologies. CEI has experienced some exciting updates recently. In April, the incubator publicly CEI on-site support center launched its 3-D printing and prototyping center, StartUpLabs, in partnership with local manufacturing firm Phoenix Analysis & Design Technologies (PADT). The lab combines affordable 3-D printing with PADT’s engineering and design expertise and is available to community entrepreneurs and small businesses, with specific discounts for members of CEI. In addition, CEI will soon roll out competitive intelligence services — with its state-of-the-art workspace and innovative software solutions — to provide actionable, real-time data on competitors, industry trends, and more for its clients. The member companies are doing their part, too. Through August 2015, preliminary estimates show that CEI clients have created 145 local jobs, more than double the number from last year. The average salary of these jobs is $56,000. They also raised more than $11 million in capital and earned more than $29 million in revenue. One such company, VisionGate, may soon seek an Initial Public Offering of stock as a result of the development of a revolutionary medical technology that aids in the early detection of lung cancer. With the recent addition of two new clients, and with several more expected to join the program, the future for Phoenix-area entrepreneurs and CEI looks bright. “Every month, we are accepting innovative companies and progressing them through our unique business development process,” said Jeff Saville, CEI Executive Director. “We are supporting some of the region’s most promising entrepreneurs who are creating lasting impact for the region.” To learn more about CEI, visit: ceigateway.com

Student Discovers Career Path While in Hospital When she found herself in the hospital battling an asthma attack, Candace Chase found the perfect opportunity to learn more about a career path she had been considering.

Candace found that her experience at GWCC has also helped shape her future. “After my experience in the program, I really want to get into the asthma education aspect of this field,” she said. “I really want to help children and bring awareness to asthma.”

“I was in the hospital speaking to my therapist, when I mentioned I was thinking about respiratory therapy,” says Candace who will be graduating Candace Chase with the class of Spring 2015. “He immediately said ‘Go to GateWay, it’s the best school hands down for respiratory.’”

During her time at GWCC, she saw one of her best friends die because of asthma complications. The preventability and the closeness of his death have propelled her to raise awareness of asthma and the seriousness of the disease. “We don’t hear about this anymore, but asthma can kill,” says Candace. “People need to be aware of their symptoms and know when to go to the hospital.”

Upon realizing this was something she wanted to pursue, Candace completed her prerequisites and enrolled in the Respiratory Care program at GateWay Community College (GWCC). Candace found she had to polish her time management skills so she could fulfill all the program’s requirements. “The program is intense, and you definitely have to have time management,” says Candace. “[The instructors] want to make sure that we are the best out there, that we know not just about respiratory but also how this affects other areas in the body.” While in the program, she not only learned about the discipline but also was able to apply this knowledge to help others at GWCC’s HUG Clinic, a pro bono clinic that serves the community. This is an experience she truly cherished, as she was able to begin creating bonds with her patients and help them improve their quality of life.

Candace, along with other respiratory care students, raised $1,200 for the American Lung Association’s Camp Not-A-Wheeze, which helps provide outdoor recreation opportunities for children with Respiratory therapist students – GateWay asthma. The donation was made in honor of the student that passed away.

CGCC Awarded National Grant to Teach Latino History and Culture The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association have awarded Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) a Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant. As one of 203 grant recipients from across the country, CGCC will receive $10,000 to produce programming about Latino history and culture. CGCC’s participation in the Latino Americans grant affords an opportunity to provide a framework for students and community members to explore the history and cultural impact of Latinos in the United States. At the center of the programming is the six-part, NEH-supported documentary film Latino Americans, created in 2013 by WETA, a public television station. The award-winning series chronicles the history of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present. Learn more about the series at www.pbs.org/latino-americans. Three episodes of the documentary will be screened between September and May, with scholar-led discussions afterward.

News in the District

Student Update

David Ellefson of Megadeth Headlines Mesa’s Band Camp June 8, 2015 Students attending MCC’s Summer Band Camp got a surprise visit from David Ellefson, bassist of the metal band Megadeth. His appearance at MCC caught the attention of major music publications BlabberMouth and Metal Hammer. See his interview:

Donna Thompson, Humanities and Woman Studies faculty, CGCC, and grant codirector, emphasized the importance of “using the arts and humanities to explore the challenges and opportunities present in our communities.” Program activities will engage students and community youth from the Si Se Puede Foundation in writing and sharing their stories and hearing the writing of Southwest and local writers.

Maricopa Community Colleges Introduce New Insurance Studies Program On September 23, Rio Salado College hosted the Arizona 2015 Insurance Summit to introduce a new Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Insurance Studies. The CCL, which is the first of its kind in Arizona and for community colleges, was created in direct response to current employer needs and to prepare the fast-growing industry for projected employment shortfalls. “There were no programs like this in Maricopa County to prepare graduates for jobs in the insurance industry, which has a significant presence in Arizona,” said Otis White, Rio Salado’s Faculty Chair for Business Programs, who played a key role in the development of the program. “So we consulted with local industry professionals to design a certificate that addresses those needs.” Insurance Summit, September 23, 2015

Rio Salado College collaborated with Glendale (GCC) and Mesa (MCC) Community Colleges, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), and 35 insurance professionals from 20 different insurance companies to develop the program. Students have the option of taking online classes at Rio Salado, which offers flexible Monday start dates, and in-person classes at GCC and MCC. Students who complete the certificate can transfer into a variety of business programs offered at the three public Arizona universities. Several insurance companies, such as Scottsdale Insurance, Nautilus, and CopperPoint are based in Arizona. Other insurance companies, such as USAA, State Farm, MetLife, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, GEICO, and Farm Bureau, have large regional operations in Maricopa County. State Farm in particular is currently expanding its operations in Tempe and will be hiring many new candidates in the upcoming years. Among the industry leaders who expressed the importance for the CCL was Chair of Student Engagement for the Arizona Insurance Institute and Arizona CPCU Society Chapter Lamont D. Boyd. “As the property and casualty insurance industry continues to view Arizona as a growth opportunity for regional office placement and expansion, we need to continue our work with Arizona’s education community to assure that the ‘best and brightest’ students fully understand the value of, and are fully prepared for, an insurance career,” said Boyd.

https://goo.gl/Wp45NY Students, Faculty Study Sea Life in Mexico June 3, 2015 Mesa students studying marine biology got a great opportunity to learn in the field. They joined faculty for the Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, Study Abroad program May 16–23. This introduction to Marine Biology, designed for the nonmajor, took them to the Sea of Cortez (Maricopa’s nearest ocean experience), which has one of the best intertidal expanses in the world. At low tide, as much as 300 feet of what was once covered by the sea is exposed. Students studied the area between the tides and collected both plant and animal specimens, which would be studied under the microscope. Said one participant, “On day two, the Marine Biology crew and I spent the morning exploring and learning about all of the diverse organisms that thrive in this challenging environment.”

http://goo.gl/TeP3Ku Maricopa Student Wins National Art Honor June 5, 2015 Each year, the League for Innovation in the Community College invites its board member colleges to participate in the annual Student Art Competition. The Student Art Competition enables community college students to compete with their peers across North America. This year, Rumi Poling of Glendale CC won one of three awards from 85 submitted nationally. She won for her ceramic portrait entitled “Harmony.”

http://goo.gl/Bz2uN7 Jeff Bronaugh, Executive Director of the Arizona Insurance Council discusses program with ASU students.

Foundation

Foundation Spotlight:

Angie Rose

Foundation Seeks (continued from front page) Other features of the initiative – all dependent on raising funds to support them – are: • A prototype for a centralized District and State Application for Veterans Aid database that would allow electronic submission, processing, and tracking of veteran aid and preenrollment advisement; • A centralized location for student referrals to be entered and tracked and customer satisfaction to be recorded; • A center for curriculum evaluation and transfer model for military credits, and among other things, military courses to be checked against courses and skills at Arizona’s colleges and universities; • Faculty and staff training to raise awareness about such veteran issues as posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury; • A veterans Career Re-entry job placement and referral center in collaboration with local business and industry; • A District contact and resolution center to help veterans transition into the Maricopa Community Colleges, as well as link veterans to critical community-based support services; • Veterans success courses specifically oriented to the needs of veterans; and • Expansion of existing veterans centers to provide satellite support services to veterans, active-duty Guard, reserve military members, and their families. The proposal calls for the District to work closely with community organizations supporting veterans. A key goal is to provide a seamless transfer process for veterans interested in completing a baccalaureate degree. Working through a centralized Maricopa Community Colleges veterans office, a pathway specifically for veteran students will be developed with the State’s public universities to help veterans secure their benefits, transfer their military courses and credits, and get properly connected to the same support services they received at their community college.

New Foundation Board Members Named The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF), the fundraising arm of the Maricopa Community Colleges, is pleased to announce the naming of four new members to the MCCF Board of Directors. These new Board members were elected by other Board members to three-year terms.

Hertzberg

The 2015 Board newcomers are: Stephanie Hertzberg, Principal, Director of Business Development, SmithGroup JJR; Julie Rees, Principal, Triadvocates, LLC; Joellen Tenison, Chief Financial Officer, Health Services Advisory Group, Inc.; and Steve Curley, Senior Vice President, Western Alliance Bank (not pictured). Rees

Tenison

Additionally, MCCF is proud to announce its 2015–17 Board officers: Chair: Russell Johnson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Merchants Information Solutions, Inc. Vice Chair: Ashley Kasarjian, Attorney, Snell & Wilmer Secretary: Rodolfo Parga, Jr., Managing Shareholder, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite Treasurer: David Kohne, Director, KPMG LLP

Campaign Update The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation continues its Campaign for Student Success, a comprehensive campaign to ensure that students have the resources they need to succeed. The Foundation’s goal is to raise $50 million to support student success in these three thematic areas:

T H E

C A M PA I G N

F O R

STUDENT SUCCESS F O R T H E M A R I C O PA C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E S

Endcating our Community, Ensuring our Future

• $25 million to fund scholarships and programs that will directly support student success; • $15 million in support for faculty and staff innovation, creativity, and excellence to develop new programs, initiatives, and methodologies to enhance student success; and • $10 million to support community partnerships that expand opportunity for students. As of July 2015, $28 million was raised as part of the campaign. The amount raised thus far is unprecedented in the history of Maricopa and will increase the amount of support given to students and college programs to ensure student success. Won’t you join us? Visit mcccdf.org and learn how you can partner with the Foundation.

After graduating from eighth grade, Angie Rose, 14, found herself homeless and without personal connections. Attending high school was out of the question, as survival took Angie Rose priority. Her first of five children arrived when she was seventeen years old. As a single mother, Rose was overwhelmed with responsibilities and choices that seemed beyond her control. At age 26, Angie enrolled at Phoenix College but was not prepared for the demands of balancing college classes, family, and work. She failed her classes and gave up. At age 30, however, her children’s future weighed heavily on her heart, and the decision to return to school felt right. This time, she pursued courses at GateWay Community College, which was convenient to home. To her great relief and surprise, she earned her first B grades, and her confidence blossomed. The Gateway Work/Study program offered her a job in the college’s Financial Aid Department, where she acquired new skills and valuable personal connections. During her first year of college, Angie learned about the Nina Mason Pulliam Scholarship, which facilitates transfer to Arizona State University from a community college. She initially considered herself unworthy and did not apply, but the scholarship committee discovered her and asked why she hadn’t applied. A spot opened up for the “Nina Passport,” and Angie’s dream was realized; she was a Sun Devil and her tuition, books, and other school expenses were covered through Nina. Her long-coveted Psychology degree was achieved while also juggling work and raising five children. Her children have a deep appreciation for the personal commitment and benefits of education, as their improved quality of life daily testifies. Now half-way through her graduate degree in Licensed Professional Counseling at Grand Canyon University, Angie supports other GateWay Geckos in Advisement and serves on the Advisory Board for the Nina Mason Pulliam Scholarship. Goal-oriented and driven by her hard-earned successes, Angie’s advice to other students is: “Failure is not an option when you leave no choice but to be successful.” Angie is passionate about mentoring other women in challenging circumstances. Her motto is “Let’s find resources that are available.”

In Memoriam: Dr. Mildred Bulpitt, Long-time Advocate for Women in Education

Past and Future

Meet Splash, Rio’s New Mascot

Dr. Mildred Bulpitt, a longtime educator and administrator at the Maricopa Community Colleges and a true pioneer in modeling the way for women in higher education, passed away in August 2015. She was 89 years old. Dr. Bulpitt began teaching English at Phoenix College in 1955, later teaching U.S. History and Geography. Within five years, she was asked to oversee what was known as Phoenix College’s Evening College. By 1962, she was appointed to the position of Dean of the Evening Division at Phoenix College, making her one of the first women in the country to hold a position at the administrative level in higher education. During her tenure, she Mildred Bulpitt used her position to advocate for adult education – she was among the first to use the term “lifelong learning” – as well as women in higher education. Her career included founding Adults Who Are Returning to Education (AWARE), in addition to the Women’s Equity Action League and the District’s first Affirmative Action Committee. She later went on to serve the college as Dean of Continuing Education and Community Services. Dr. Bulpitt and her colleagues founded the American Association of Women in Community Colleges. She became president of the organization in 1975, serving until 1981, and ultimately received its Woman of the Decade distinction in 1988. Dr. Bulpitt worked with city and county governments to develop the first two-year college training programs for police and fire personnel in Arizona, efforts that advanced the College’s ability to train the city’s first responders. After retirement, Dr. Bulpitt remained connected to Phoenix College, volunteering her time in the areas of leadership development and in expanding scholarships for students. In 2006, she was granted the American Association of Community Colleges’ Leadership Award for her lifetime achievements.

Rio Salado College has decided on a name for its newly adopted mascot. Meet Splash, the newest member of the Rio Waves family! The college had help from more than 250 students, faculty, and staff who submitted names for consideration. “Splash was the clear winner,” said Rio Salado President Chris Bustamante. “Rio Salado has been known for making a ‘splash’ in higher education through our innovative strategies, programs, and services, which provide expanded higher educational opportunities to the residents of Maricopa County.” As an ambassador, Splash will help the college increase awareness about the programs, services, and locations that are available to students and how they can become a part of the Rio Waves community. Splash will also engage students, staff, faculty, and alumni to get more involved. The next step is creating a costume to help Splash fit in with the other Maricopa Community Colleges mascots. Watch for Splash to be out and about this winter!

In the summer of 1963, a new leadership team was formed. Back row: Ted Pierson, BIll Wallace, J. Lee Thompson, and John Riggs Front row: Jinette Kirk, Robert Hannelly, Irwin Spector, and Mildred Bulpitt

A testament to her enormous impact at Phoenix College, the College’s auditorium was renamed the Bulpitt Auditorium during the school’s 75th Anniversary in 1995. A staple of the college’s landscape, the auditorium has been a hub for campus activity since 1939. The college again honored Dr. Bulpitt in 2005 when it inducted her into the Phoenix College Alumni Hall of Fame.

“ Phoenix College’s Bulpitt Auditorium

Dr. Bulpitt’s dedication to Phoenix College and its students has held a lasting impression. The campus community, past and present, is forever thankful for her contributions.

”

—Chris Haines, Interim President, Phoenix College

In a 2012 interview, Dr. Bulpitt spoke of her pioneering efforts in advancing the careers of women in higher education. “The Leaders for the Eighties program was for women in leadership,” she recalled, adding that a colleague had told the organization that “over the next few years there were going to be many presidencies coming available in community colleges because of retirement, and we needed to position women for those presidencies. But unless you had women in positions ready to move into those, you couldn’t do that, and we didn’t have many women deans.” “So we had to get them ready, and that was the point of the Leaders program, to move them into positions where they would be ready to move on up,” she continued. “It’s a national effort and over the years ... many thousands of people have been through the program.”

Visit www.riosalado.edu/mascot for the latest news about Splash.

Maricopa to Unveil New Logos in January Effective January 1, 2016, the Maricopa Community Colleges will unveil a new system of logos designed to better describe the way the colleges are related to one another as one large educational system. The changes are being made to help current and potential students, as well as members of the community, understand the size and scope of the system and to realize that each of the 10 colleges is related to the larger organization. The new symbols also are designed to help prospective students understand that when they enroll in one Maricopa Community College, they have access to the offerings and facilities of all 10.

2411 W. 14th Street Tempe, Arizona 85281

Meet Kyle Mitchell NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT NO. 449

Business Owner, Storyteller, U.S. Army Veteran and a Student of a Maricopa Community College

What story did you tell for your final class project? The Navajo twins story. Those two twins wanted to learn more about their father, who helped them defeat the monsters. After they won those battles, they were bothered by the spirits of those monsters – they were experiencing PTSD. They conducted a ceremony to rid themselves of the bad spirits.

What words of wisdom have you received in life? I was raised by my grandparents on the reservation. They told me to always help those who are in need and to work hard.

How was your experience at South Mountain as an American Indian? The outreach there was great. I didn’t know much when I started at South Mountain, and a lot of times Native Americans aren’t great at interacting with other tribes. The South Mountain Native American club was just great with everyone. I felt really welcome.

What do you do in your free time? I do cross-fit and am a workout junkie. My family, we love to watch movies and the Walking Dead. And we love to take road trips. We went up to Flagstaff and Oak Creek and did Sedona as a tourist for the first time.

Welcome to Maricopa Matters!

News For the Community From the Maricopa Community Colleges Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board Mr. Doyle Burke | Mr. Alfredo Gutierrez | Ms. Johanna Haver Mr. John Heep | Ms. Tracy Livingston | Ms. Jean McGrath Mr. Dana Saar

Maricopa Matters is published twice a year by the Marketing and Communications Department of the Maricopa Community Colleges. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive future editions, contact: maricopamatters@gmail.com View Maricopa Matters online at: www.maricopa.edu/matters Tom Gariepy, Editor Carol Diego, Managing Editor and Art Direction Andrew Tucker, Writer; Laurie Carr, Designer Content Contributors: Carlos Samano, Amy Tupay, Greg Bullock, Karen Harbin, Heidi Capriotti and Candace Oehler

A Glimpse of MCCCD Graduations and Convocations l May 2015

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