The Ranger 9-17-12

Single copies free • 210-486-1773

Vol. 87 Issue 1 • Sept. 17, 2012

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CIVIL WAR

This week

Civility tips offend some students.

Board of trustees meets Tuesday

By INGRID WILGEN

The Alamo Colleges board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan.

To view agendas, visit alamo. edu and click About Us, Board of Trustees, Meeting Agenda and Click here to access board meeting agendas.

For more information, call board liaison Sandra Mora at 210485-0300.

Alma Linda Manzanares

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Jacob Wong, psychology major and Student Government Association president, explains the role of the newly founded Student Senate at College Council Tuesday in visual arts. Sergio Ramirez

SGA pushes for Student Senate representation Chairs are asked to pick a responsible student to represent department.

By REBECCA SALINAS

rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu

Events include lectures, festivals and concerts.

The Student Government Association has created a new organization to be known as Student Senate to broaden participation in student governance, President Jacob Wong announced Tuesday at College Council.

The Student Senate will be made up of students appointed by department chairs.

Departments representing multiple programs can appoint students from each program, he said

in response to a question.

The initial meeting for the appointed Student Senate members to meet with SGA will be at noon Monday in the craft room on the second floor of Loftin Student Center.

SGA will serve refreshments at 11:30 a.m. to mingle and get to know the senators.

SGA members and officers are elected by students and operate under a constitution and bylaws.

The Student Senate will operate under the supervision of an SGA

commissioner, Wong explained in an interview. The group will work with SGA to modify the SGA’s constitution to formalize the structure of the new organization.

Members of the Student Senate will vote on major issues, he said.

Wong said public relations Director Vanessa Torres suggested the idea as another way SGA could “speak for the student body.”

Wong said if chairs do not want to have a representative, then they

See STUDENT, Page 10

Hispanic Heritage events begin today The college observation of the month-long Hispanic Heritage Month begins with an opening ceremony and remarks from Dr. Carmen Tafolla at 11 a.m. today in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.

See Page 8 for more events here and at St. Philip’s College and the college websites for full schedules.

Janeka Porter

Students are taking issue with messages they say are not too civil.

Civility tips, reminding students, faculty and staff how to show respect, have been sent to academic departments to be posted in hallways.

Nursing sophomore Natalie Escobedo said of the messages,“ I think they are really not too civil; there is a better way to put things.”

For example, Civility Tip 331 says ,“ Take it out on a piñata, not on us. We are going to need your Banner ID number and ID card. Please be ready when it’s your turn so people behind you won’t give you the stink eye.”

Public relations Director Vanessa Torres said this is one of 13 messages created out of a civility initiative started last year by the 10-member Student Affairs Committee.

Torres said the committee tried to tailor messages to this campus.

“The committee hopes the humorous messages will invite participation and awareness, by students, faculty and staff,” she said.

She said the goal is to “remind everyone to be civil to one another.”

Committee members represent offices that often are on the receiving end of student frustrations.

Aug. 28, police were called to the business office when a student who had dropped his classes became angry and started yelling because he had not received his AlamoCash card.

Although the civility tips idea was created last year, Torres said no specific situation had spurred the campaign, just a desire to remind everyone to be respectful to each other.

She said she did not think the campus has a “huge civility problem.”

Counselor Melissa Sutherland described high student contact areas as “customer service with an edge to it.”

“We are stuck between a rock and a hard place; we have to deliver customer service and give bad news sometimes. That’s not easy.”

See CIVIL, Page 11

Student Affairs Committee: Free booklets of the Constitution of the United States are placed on the first floor of Fletcher outside the financial aid

office. SAC celebrates Constitution Day today with panel discussions. Vincent Reyna

Constitution Day events set for Monday

By FAITH DUARTE

fduarte3@student.alamo.edu

/ReadTheRanger

@TheRangerSAC

Scan The Ranger

In honor of Constitution Day, the history, criminal justice and political science departments are hosting four lectures from 9 a.m.1 p.m. today in Room 218 of the nursing complex.

The themes of the lecture topics include international law, civil liberties and immigration.

Criminal justice Professor Tiffany Cox said students should

participate in Constitution Day and understand the document because it has a direct impact on their civil liberties.

Justice Steven Hilbig, 4th Court of Appeals, will present “Application of the Constitution in Your Life” from 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m.

Robert Summers, law professor at St. Mary’s University, will present “International Law and the Constitution” from 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m.

Roger Enriquez, criminal justice chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will present “The Constitution and Criminal Justice” from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m.

Walter “Bud” Paulissen, chief of the major crimes unit at the San Antonio Division of the U.S. attorney’s office, will present “The Living Constitution” from noon12:50 p.m.

For more information, call Cox at 210-486-0835.

Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs Adolph Lopez, director of assessment Martin Ortega, director of enrollment services Dr. Helen Vera, chair of services for women and nontraditional students Maria Gomez, coordinator of disability support services Jorge Posadas, director of student life Melissa Sutherland, counselor Manuel Flores, student conduct officer Tom Campos, director of financial services Michelle Gable, assistant bursar

People

2 • The Ranger

Sept. 17, 2012

www.theranger.org/people

Calendar For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.

Today

Sept. 24

Exhibit: “2012 Visual Arts Juried Student Exhibit” in the visual arts center.

Continues through Sept. 28. Call 210486-1030.

SAC Recital: Faculty Recital with Ignacio Gallegos and Mary Lou Russell 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255.

NLC Event: “The Talk: Important Numbers to Know about the Constitution”

by Dr. Robert Yowell sponsored by the political science department noon-1 p.m. in Room 109 of the library. Visit www. alamo.edu/nlc.

Sept. 25 Awareness: “Let’s Talk About Sex and Sex Education,” 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in Room 150 of Loftin. Visit www.orgsync. com.

SAC Meeting: Men’s Bible study, “Following Jesus” 1 p.m.-2 p.m. at Church of Christ Student Center. Continues Mondays. Call 210-736-6750.

NVC Performance: Air Force Band 7 p.m.-8 p.m. in auditorium of Palmetto.

Call 210-486-4527 or email nvc-palmettoevents@alamo.edu.

Tuesday

Sept. 26

SAC Workshop: Canvas: Student Essential sponsored by the student technology center 11 a.m.-noon in Room 542 of Moody. Continues Thursday. Call 210-486-0041 or visit www.alamo.edu/ sac/canvas.

SAC Event: “See You at the Pole” prayer event sponsored by the Church of Christ Student Center 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. at the flagpole east of Fletcher. Call 210736-6750.

People lower their heads for a moment of silence Tuesday during a memorial walk commemorating 9/11. Riley Stephens

Sept. 27 SAC Event: Hot Potato lecture “Sexual Assault: Laws, Myths and Misunderstandings” 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. at the Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-733-1441.

SAC Recital: Faculty recital with Andrew Gignac and Mary Lou Rusell 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255.

PAC Event: Opening reception for photo exhibit, “Rick Hunter: 25 Years of Photography” 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Gallery 100 of Concha. Call 210-486-3205.

Wednesday SAC Event: Salsa dance lessons sponsored by student life 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

SAC Meeting: Gay Allied Lesbian Association 3 p.m. in the faculty and staff lounge in Loftin. Continues Wednesdays.

Call 210-201-4252.

SAC Workshop: Résumé Writing Workshop sponsored by student life in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210-4860126.

Oct. 1 SAC Event: Model auditions in Fiesta Room of Loftin for students 18 or older.

Call 210-486-0128 or visit www.orgsync. com.

SAC Event: Karaoke sponsored by student life 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Continues Mondays.

Call 210-486-0128 or RSVP at www. orgsync.com.

Oct. 6 UTSA Event: SAPD Law Enforcement Career Day sponsored by the vice provost for the downtown campus 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Bill Miller Plaza. Call 458-2910.

Psychology sophomore Carlos Mata and physical therapy sophomore Roman Rangel enjoy a game of pingpong Wednesday in Loftin. Equipment is available to students with an ID 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday. David Torres Engineering sophomore Katherine Bentley, president of Society of Women Engineers and a member of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists, reports on her summer internship at NASA and shows examples of her projects during an open house Wednesday in the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement Center in Room 204 of Chance. Monica Correa

Oct. 2 SAC Meeting: Women’s Bible study 1 p.m.-2 p.m. at Church of Christ Student Center. Continues Wednesdays. Call 210736-6750.

NVC Lecture: National Society of Leadership and Success Lecture Series at 6 p.m. in Rooms 121 and 122 of Cypress.

Call 210-486-4000.

Friday Oct. 4 SAC Music: “The Science of Sound” first show of the semester produced by the music business program 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 98. Call 210-486-1380.

SAC Performance: Accord of Dissonance, Despot Lounge, Mikey Vibes and The Willing Few 7 p.m.-10 p.m. presented by San Antonio College Music Association in auditorium of McAllister. $5 for public and $3 with student ID. Call 210-486-0258.

Saturday OLLU Event: Reading and book signing of “María, Daughter of Immigrants” by author María Antonietta Berriozábal sponsored by the Center for MexicanAmerican Studies and Research 5:30 p.m. in Thiry Auditorium. Call 210-434-6711 ext. 2735.

SAC Workshop: Portfolio building workshop sponsored by student life 11 a.m.-noon in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.

Oct. 11 NVC Lecture: “You Need a Runway?

Take off from Where You Are!” led by Vernice “Flygirl” Armour sponsored by the National Society of Leadership and Success 12:30 p.m. in Room 121 and 122 of Cypress. Call 210485-0800.

Oct. 22 SAC Event: Tryouts for a talent show sponsored by student life 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin.

Call 210-486-0128 or visit www. orgsync.com.

Psychic Cassandra Santori reads tarot cards for real estate freshman Arturo Ocura Wednesday during a Psychic Fair in Loftin.

Ocura said he wanted to know his future. David Torres

News

Sept. 17, 2012

The Ranger • 3

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ProRanger accepts intern applications Students in program can intern in national parks.

By CHELSEA DRISKELL sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Natural or social science major?

The ProRanger Program is designed to provide the skills to become an employee with the National Park Services.

The ProRanger program offers two 12-week paid summer internships at a national park in the United States. This is an internship that is paid in full by the National Park Service, which starts at about $12 an hour for 40 hours a week.

The ProRanger is a two-year program in the Law Enforcement Academy. Travel and stay are covered as well as admission into the Law Enforcement Academy where cadets will be required to complete 500 hours of to receive a law enforcement certificate. They can be hired as

Level 2 park rangers after graduation.

This program accepts applications once a year during the fall semester.

ProRanger is accepting applications for the spring semester until Nov. 1.

Fifteen students will be chosen per semester.

“We do encourage them to be focused, mature and sure that this is something they would like to do,” Dr. Lavell Merritt, program manager, said Tuesday.

“This is a great opportunity for a young person to serve in our nation and gain unique leadership skills and have an opportunity for a permanent job as a park ranger. It’s a great opportunity to build a career out of.

You can retire from this in 20 years.”

Once accepted into the ProRanger

program, a leadership course is a required each semester while enrolled in this program.

The ProRanger management team will assist students in signing up for the class, which costs $150.

The student will learn all the skills needed to become a successful park ranger as well as obtain a wildfire certification, he said.

This college is the only school in Texas that offers this program, he said.

The only other place that participates is Temple University in Philadelphia. The highest-level performer in this college’s program will get the first choice of 18 national parks for internships.

Cheryl Armstrong, workforce enhancement specialist and part of the ProRanger management team, said the career is fun.

“This is an outstanding opportu-

ProRanger student George Sanchez interns in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Courtesy nity for young people to come into the federal service to serve a higher purpose,” she said.

“You are protecting the America’s national treasure.”

“This is an excellent career oppor-

tunity and it’s a pathway into a federal career. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.”

For more information, contact Merritt at 210-486-1701 or visit the college website at alamo.edu/sac/ proranger/about-program/.

KSYM returns after dead air, low power Upgrades set for next month should prevent new transmission problems.

By ADAM MEZA

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The transmitter for campus radio station KSYM 90.1 FM is working at full power after a series of technical difficulties over the summer.

The first report of transmission error occurred July 12.

The exact cause of the malfunction is unknown, but radio-television-film Professor John Onderdonk, adviser to the station, speculated that it could have been caused by solar flares.

It took about 10 days and $1,643 to fix the transmission tower, which is located on the roof of McAllister Fine Arts Center.

Vic Pfau, chief engineer for KSYM 90.1, attributed the prolonged malfunction period to the tower maintenance company, Ransor Tower Service Inc., being out of town when the problems started.

Pfau explained that a portion of wiring went out on one of the connectors, and when one part of the circuit is damaged it affects the rest of the wiring system.

Matt Martinez, the KSYM 90.1 staffer who made the initial report July 12, said the transmission was completely out for “about five to seven days,” but at times was running at 500 to 1000 affected radiated watts.

Martinez also added that throughout the entire malfunction period, KSYM continued to stream online.

To prevent such difficulties in the future, plans have been made for upgrades to the transmission tower, Pfau said.

The wiring harness and all connectors of the tower will be replaced.

In addition, a backup antenna will be placed on the tower in case the wiring fails again.

“We are still waiting for the parts to perform the upgrade,” Pfau said.

It also takes time to schedule Ransor Tower Service Inc. and perform the labor, he said.

The upgrades will get started “hopefully in about a month.”

The Resendiz Mural at 534 S. General McMullen is one of 15 murals considered in the survey. Courtesy

City surveys West Side for preservation

By CRISTINA CARREON sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Since February 2011, the city’s Office of Historic Preservation has focused on recognizing a number of West Side buildings as landmarks.

Properties deemed historical after review of information collected in the Westside Cultural Resource Survey will be protected from demolition and alteration.

Elizabeth Porterfield, the lead architectural historian in the Office of Historic Preservation, stressed the importance of the area.

“The city is preserving and protecting history by increasing awareness,” she said. “The survey currently has plans to save 90 properties and two districts, Prospect Hill and Southcross, through landmark designation.”

Nicholas Fuqua, a planner for the project, said, “Landmark designation is an ordinance passed which uses zoning measures to prevent hasty demolition of landmarks.”

The designation regulates exterior changes and requires approval for modifications.

Porterfield said an incentive plan would allow potential landmarks to qualify for tax exemptions and owner-occupants for loans.

All buildings being considered must meet a minimum three of 16 criteria based on architectural historical and cultural relevance.

The properties in the program range from owners and advocates to collect additional inforBelgian silos to tuberculosis cottages to popular mation on properties in the survey. “More recent restaurants as well as churches, fire stations, properties will be in the second phase of the surbakeries, former gas stations, funeral homes, vey. This is an ongoing project,” Porterfield said. corner grocers and a pharmacy.

By Saturday’s deadline, the preservation Fifteen murals, such as the Resendiz mural office would like community feedback about at 534 S. General McMullen are included in the which landmarks deserve consideration and survey. why.

According to the survey website, other landThe survey asks for information on potential marks of interest are Our Lady of the Lake landmarks and community feedback on properUniversity and the adjacent Elmendorf Lake ties already under consideration. and Park and award-winning comedian Carol Porterfield said public meetings will be in Burnett’s childhood home.

October but there are currently For more “Some landmarks are at least no set dates. information, call the 50 years old, but potential landAs part of Fotoseptiembre, a office of historic preservation at 210marks are also chosen for their month-long international pho215-9274. significance to West Side histotography festival, photographs of ry,” Porterfield said. “Community some of the city’s historic buildhelpers have researched and learned the stories ings will be on display through Oct. 13 with the behind the landmarks and want the public to Somos San Antonio exhibit at the Villa Finale have access.”

Visitor Center, 122 Madison.

Most entries in the survey, available in four For more information on the exhibit, call locations downtown and on the West Side, include 223-9800 ext. 34323 or visit www.villafinale.org.

Bazan Library, 2200 W. Commerce; Guadalupe For more information on the survey, call the Street Coffee, 1320 Guadalupe; Esperanza Peace historic preservation office at 210-215-9274 or and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave.; and the visit www.sanantonio.gov/historic. The survey Office of Historic Preservation, 1901 S. Alamo. is available under Events and Announcements.

The Westside Historic Preservation Alliance Visit www.fotoseptiembreusa.com under is assisting in the project.

2012 Exhibitions and Events Calendar for a On Aug. 13, city officials met with property schedule of Fotoseptiembre exhibits.

4 • The Ranger

News

Sept. 17, 2012

www.theranger.org

Student opposes tax hike because of wasteful spending

By ALMA LINDA MANZANARES amanzanares6@student.alamo.edu

The Alamo Colleges are being wasteful or inefficient in their spending, Claudia Martinez, automotive technology sophomore at St. Philip’s College, said during the second public hearing Tuesday on a proposed tax increase that would add $10.85 to the average home valued at $144,161.

Martinez attended after a 15-minute recess to allow time for members of the public to show up at Killen Center.

She said instead of a tax increase, the district should look at how wasteful certain purchases are, such as the AlamoCash card.

Martinez said the district purchased the AlamoCash card but already furnished a debit card provided by Bank of America.

“How come they’re not able to be combined to be more efficient?” she said.

Effective this summer, the AlamoCash card is a prepaid debit card issued to students for disbursement of financial aid and other refunds.

Later during the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee, Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, clarified that the Bank of America debit card was for payroll ser-

vices and the district does not pay for those cards.

District 9 trustee James Rindfuss and District 6 trustee Gene Sprague arrived late. District 1 trustee Joe Alderete and District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante were absent.

At the Aug. 21 regular board meeting, the trustees voted 7-0 with no discussion to propose a combined tax rate of $0.149150 per $100 of property value, which is less than eighth-tenths of a cent increase from the current combined tax rate of $0.141623.

A tax increase is necessary to counter state funding declines from 22 percent to 12 percent over the next 10 years, Snyder told trustees at the July 11 board budget retreat.

The combined tax rate of $0.149150 per $100 valuation includes a maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.104400 and the debt levy tax rate of $0.044750.

The maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.104400 would result in estimated operating tax revenues of $103.1 million.

Two public notices and two public hearings were required before the final approval of the tax rate because the combined tax rate is above the combined effective tax rate of $0.142231.

No members of the public attended the first tax hearing Aug. 30.

Claudia Martinez, automotive technology sophomore at St. Philip’s College, voiced opposition at the second public hearing Tuesday on a proposed tax increase of eight-tenths of a cent per $100 valuation.

Faith Duarte The Audit, Budget and Finance Committee approved a proposal for the tax increase to go before the board at the regular board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan.

Vendor error delays 10,000 AlamoCash cards Presidents say textbook help is available for needy students.

By ALMA LINDA MANZANARES amanzanares6@student.alamo.edu

The vendor for AlamoCash cards neglected to produce debit cards for 10,000 students, trustees learned at the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee Sept. 11 in Killen Center.

On July 26, 2011, the board of trustees unanimously approved a $320,000 five-year contract to Heartland Payment Systems to provide a debit card: the AlamoCash card.

Effective during the summer, the AlamoCash card was launched to save money on paper, postage and employee labor.

AlamoCash cards are used for refunds to students, including financial aid disbursements.

Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, said no revenue is generated from issuing the cards, but an estimated $70,000 will be saved annually on paper and postage.

College officials discovered Aug. 21 that the order received had omitted cards for 10,000 students.

Officials in the district finance and fiscal services department were not available for comment Thursday to specify the number of cards ordered.

On Aug. 23, Snyder said Heartland hand-carried the cards by plane.

She said fiscal services made an arrangement with the U.S. Postal Service to ensure the cards were delivered by the Aug. 24 distribution deadline.

A total of 23,569 cards distributed $32.32 million to students for the summer and fall semesters.

“One of the things we did this for is just to have a tighter control process because it’s so many students, so much money,” Snyder said.

For fiscal year 2010-11, 112,500 checks were mailed to 37,500 students who received $160 million in disbursements and refunds.

Snyder said that the benefits of the card include free ATM withdraws from ATMs on campus that bear the AlamoCash card logo and two free withdrawals at ATMs off campus.

The card can be used for purchases anywhere Discover is accepted, and students can request a check instead or a transfer funds to another debit card or bank account.

Campus student ID cards issued since this summer can act as a replacement card.

Students who do not have the new student ID card can receive one at no cost.

At this college, student IDs can be obtained in Room 200A of Fletcher Administration Center.

Students who want to use their student ID card to withdraw from ATMs have to activate the card by calling 866-930-4065.

There is a $10 charge for lost AlamoCash cards, she said.

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete asked if there was a time limit for students to use their student ID card.

Snyder said there is no time limit, but student ID cards can be used only to withdraw from an ATM. She said other functions are being planned for the student ID cards, such as the ability to use the ID cards to pay for GoPrint services.

Snyder said checks were still dispersed during the summer and fall because there was a commitment to make sure refunds were received by the disbursement deadline.

A total of 3,221 checks distributed $1.82 million to students during the summer and fall.

According to the Department of Education disbursement timeline window, financial aid refunds cannot be issued earlier than 10 days before the first day of classes, and no later than 14 days after the date the balance occurred on the student’s account.

She said this semester’s disbursement schedule was targeted for Aug. 24 before classed started Aug. 27.

District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante said, “The Friday before does not seem to be very effective.”

However, Snyder said the distribution schedule is tied to when students register.

She said Chancellor Bruce Leslie has instructed a team to rethink the registration process.

“I think this calendar we will be looking at to see where can we get the win-win. If we cut off registration earlier, then we can give them their money earlier, or maybe there’s other creative ways that we can come up with,” Snyder said.

Alderete asked how the district deals with students who received the financial aid 14 days after the first day of classes and could not buy required textbooks or materials.

“We may be losing some really wonderful students,” he said.

Snyder said offices of the college presidents have cash cards that they can provide to students in need, similar to a scholarship.

Robert Garza, interim vice president of student affairs at Palo Alto College, said $100-$300 book cards, depending on the need of the student, are available for students at Palo Alto who have not received financial aid.

He said students are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are usually referred by the financial aid office.

President Robert Zeigler said this college has a similar procedure but thinks the colleges needs to do a better job on informing students that help is available.

Dr. Adena Loston, president of St. Philip’s College, said a textbook loan program is available at St. Philip’s but runs on a first-come-first-served basis.

Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, tells trustees the benefits of the AlamoCash card during the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee Tuesday in Killen Center. She said the district wanted a better way to distribute refunds and financial aid disbursements. Faith Duarte

She said the most common textbooks are available in the library for students to check out for two hours.

Snyder said on Aug. 20 another issue occurred for the sameday-pay registration process.

The Banner system added excessive records to 400 student accounts.

She said information technology services created a script to extract the 400 students so the system could process other students trying to register.

Snyder also said 510 students with credit balances in their accounts were not being picked up by IT’s refund batch and did not get their refunds by the Aug. 24 deadline.

She said the 510 students were proactively notified by email that their refunds would not arrive until the first day of classes.

In addition, 418 students who had credit balances did not have an account with Heartland.

They were notified by email and sent checks during the first week of classes, Snyder said.

She said another issue was an inconsistency in information for a contact number for Heartland on the district’s website and Heartland’s website.

Snyder said the Heartland call center contact number was updated everywhere, and the financial aid office worked the number into their answering machine to direct calls about the AlamoCash card to the vendor.

She said the process for disbursements to students who are also employees was unclear.

She said work-study students disbursements followed the payroll election, meaning if a student was signed on for direct deposit, their refunds were transferred to the direct deposit location and not their AlamoCash card.

News

Sept. 17, 2012

The Ranger • 5

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Committee recommends support for city’s Pre-K initiative

By FAITH DUARTE

she served as superintendent at Spring Branch Independent School District.

She said the Pre-K 4 SA initiative would focus on giving 4-year-olds more academic work than Head Start.

“I have the hard data for every single one of those grade levels to show that the students who were in Pre-K programs have stayed in school, they’re involved in more activities, and they, by far, out-score their peers on the state tests,” she said.

“When we give our youngsters that extra booster shot in the 4-year-old timeframe … we know that they’ll stay with us,” she said.

“We know that if they get to the third grade and they don’t know how to read, their little minds drop out, they turn off and they drop out.

And then they wait for their bodies to catch up with them in the seventh and eighth grade, and that’s when their bodies drop out,” Katz said.

District 6 trustee Gene Sprague said, “Unlike the other program that was mentioned, this is a locally driven program and one that is actually going to spend most of its money delivering services to the children who really need it.”

District 9 trustee James Rindfuss said, “The concept here is saying, ‘Well, we’re going to take care of the 3,700.’ Well, what happens to the other 2,000?”

“It’s not that we’re not in support of the

fduarte3@student.alamo.edu

The Academic Accountability and Student Success Committee Tuesday recommended a resolution supporting the mayor’s initiative to provide kindergarten for 4-year-olds citywide.

The program will serve 22,400 4-year-olds over eight years.

The resolution will be forwarded to the Alamo College board of trustees for approval at the regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday in Killen Center.

Dr. Adena Loston, president of St. Philip’s College, and Dr. Ana “Cha” Guzman, former president of Palo Alto College, were part of a task force created by Mayor Julián Castro to develop a Pre-K 4 SA, a local program which would improve the quality of preschool education over eight years.

Once fully implemented, the program would work with local independent school districts to serve 3,700 4-year-olds annually.

According to the resolution, 5,700 4-yearolds do not benefit from full-day preschool.

District 8 trustee Gary Beitzel asked what the difference was between the initiative and Head Start, a national initiative benefiting lowincome households.

District 7 Trustee Yvonne Katz she had implemented a similar program in 2002 while

District 7 trustee Yvonne Katz says she knows from working as superintendent at Spring Branch ISD, the Pre-K 4 SA initiative would focus on giving 4-year-olds more academic work than Head Start.

She favored recommending a resolution in support of the initiative at the Academic Accountability and Student Success Committee meeting Tuesday. Alma Linda Manzanares

Pre-K education, but I think it might be overstepping our bounds to take a position on that as elected officials on the tax.”

According to the City of San Antonio’s website, pending voter approval Nov. 6, revenue for the initiative would be generated using a oneeighth of a cent sales tax increase and state and

federal funds.

Two Education Excellence Centers would open in August 2013 and August 2014, serving 500 students a year with a student-to-teacher ratio of two teachers per 20 children.

For more information, call board liaison Sandra Mora at 210-485-0030.

President discusses campus housing at pizza event

By JOSHUA TRISTAN

and East Laurel Street.

The project consists of a 1,000-space parking garage; a four-story, 150-unit residential development; and 63 residential units in a third building at Evergreen Street and Main.

Amenities will include a fitness center, theater room and swimming pool. Each apartment will have a flat screen television.

The rent will start at $600 to $700 per month, he estimated.

By the end of this month, there will be a rental office on campus in the continuing education annex on West Dewey between Belknap Place and Lewis Street, Zeigler said.

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

This college will offer student housing to be available by October 2013 that includes furnished apartments with paid utilities and a parking garage, President Robert Zeigler said Thursday at Pizza with the President in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.

The event was sponsored by the Student Government Association to give students a chance to question administrators.

He referred to the Tobin Lofts project, a public-private partnership that will be built at the northwest corner of North Main Avenue

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director.

The space formerly occupied by the veterans affairs office on the second floor of Moody Learning Center is undergoing renovation.

Before the first slice of pizza was even handed out, around 100 people were waiting in line.

By the end of the event, another 100 people had a free lunch.

Justin Wideman, secretary of Student Government Association, said it was a “great event and students stayed around to address questions that might not have come across before.”

SGA donated about 10 boxes of pizza left over to SAMM Ministries.

Searching for a major?

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Nursing freshman Jeannie Ochoa asked, “ Is the nursing program going away?”

Zeigler replied, “ No, 60 percent of nurses in our area come from SAC.” Business administration sophomore Scott Rivera complained to administration about the treatment of veterans. His main concern was the number of counselors working with veterans.

“We’re being rejected by counselors as soon as they hear the word VA,” he said.

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, responded the college is in the process of giving veterans a new facility as well as a new

Chart your course at the Media Communications Career Fair

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5 Fiesta Room Loftin Student Center

Bring a résumé and visit with representatives of radio and TV stations, newspapers, transfer universities and more.

IAMA (International Academy of Music & the Arts) Coffee Company “A unique, creative, art space for coffee, meetings, music and mingling.”

Coffee House, Deli, Music Lessons Biker Rewards Program, Monthly Events Calendar, 10% Discount with Student/Military ID 1627 Broadway, 78215 · www.iamacoffeehouse.com · Phone: 210.669.4277 After Hours: 210.310.6298 Hours: Monday. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

News

6 • The Ranger

Sept. 17, 2012

www.theranger.org

Job descriptions for VP, faculty go to board Tuesday

By REBECCA SALINAS

rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu

The Policy and Long-Range Planning Committee approved a new job description for full-time faculty and for the vice presidents of academic success at Tuesday’s standing committee meeting.

Both will be recommended to the full board at the next regular meeting Tuesday.

The title of vice president of academic affairs was changed to vice president for academic success.

The job description will guide the search for vice president of academic success at this college and Palo Alto College.

President Robert Zeigler said the name was changed to emphasize student success.

“Changing the name from affairs to success was simply a way of emphasizing that this job was about, as we are all about, students being successful,” Zeigler said.

The position at this college was vacated when Dr. Jessica Howard left June 28 for Oregon to become president of the Southeast Campus of Portland Community College.

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs, has been filling the vice president of academic affairs position since July 2 in addition to his regular duties.

The position closed Sept. 14, and Zeigler will assemble a search committee of about 10.

The position at Palo Alto was left vacant when Stacey Johnson, former vice president of academic affairs, left May 31 to become president of Valencia College’s East and Winter Park campuses.

The new vice president of academic success job description was created to accurately reflect the current roles, priorities and qualifications of that position.

The minute order states that position priorities from the current contract will be incorporated into the updated description.

The description also includes input from the chancellor, vice chancellors, associate vice chancellor for human resources and organizational development, presidents and current position incumbents.

People Link, a website for districtwide job postings, is advertising the position with the old job description.

Needed experience in the new job description is a combination of five years teaching and administrative experience in higher education.

It also states they would administer and lead the college’s academic programs, such as transfer, career, noncredit, continuing education and learning support services.

They would also work with the vice president of student services to integrate student programs and services.

To align academic programs, workforce

programs and student success initiatives, they must collaborate with vice chancellors of academic success, student success, workforce development, economic development and the chancellor.

Other duties include promoting curriculum development; developing, measuring, evaluating and improving student learning outcomes; and revitalizing processes that meet student and public stakeholder needs.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and state requirements must be met as well.

The vice president of academic success must lead the academic team in planning, developing, implementing and improving institutional and academic publications, new technology, facility use and academic services.

Another duty includes leading implementation of the college planning and effectiveness process for the college’s academic areas as well as learning resources and instructional technology.

The vice president is required to recommend academic policies and procedures to improve student success and fulfill the district and college’s objectives.

The committee also recommended a new job description for full-time faculty.

According to the minute order, the description was revised because it needed to show the importance of the faculty’s role in student

success.

A faculty evaluation team is co-chaired by English Professor Dawn Elmore-McCrary and Dr. Jackie Claunch, president of Northwest Vista College.

The committee was formed to develop a new faculty evaluation process.

One of their first duties was to review and revise the job description.

Faculty across the district, presidents, vice chancellors and the chancellor were involved in the evaluation process development.

The new description defines the cyclical duties required for the continuous teaching and learning improvement.

The minute order states a separate job description will be formed for adjunct faculty, librarians and counselors.

Duties for full-time faculty will include: • plan an optimal learning environment • provide high quality instruction and advising • assess themselves, their students and their teaching techniques to increase effectiveness • continue professional development • participate in shared governance The full-time faculty job description and the vice president of academic success description will go for approval to the board of trustees at the board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at in Killen Center.

UPS en route to Alamo Colleges Students can apply to be employees.

By REBECCA SALINAS

rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu

The United Parcel Service Inc. is moving into the second floor of Fletcher Administration Center by the end of the month, Alamo Colleges’ store owner Fernando Aristeguieta said.

The store will be open from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

UPS stores also will be available in place of mailrooms at Palo Alto, St. Philip’s, Northwest Vista and Northeast Lakeview colleges and St. Philip’s Southwest Campus.

There is no scheduled date set for the opening of the store at this college, Aristeguieta said.

The store will be 1,175 square feet and the storage room will be 195 square feet, Louis Kreusel, district facilities operations and construction management project manager, said.

The store will offer color and black-and-white printing or copying; binding services; wide format poster, Banner and Canvas printing services; laminating services; notary service; ID badges; office supplies; freight services; mailbox services; professional packaging; postal services and UPS shipping.

Aristeguieta said the store is beneficial because it is convenient for not only students and employees, but for local residents as well.

He said the stores at the colleges will employ students at district colleges.

There are currently four parttime workers hired, but Aristeguieta said there will be more hiring as the semester progresses.

Work-study students are able to work at the store or students can apply through UPS. Students interested in applying should email store2773@theupsstore.com.

John Strybos, associate vice chancellor of facilities operation and construction management, said the total cost of construction is $132,400, which is paid by district funds.

The decision was passed March 27 by the Alamo Colleges trustees for contracting services to replace campus mailrooms.

The district will pay around $76,625 for fiscal year 2012 and $306,500 each year for fiscal years 2013-15 to FEJICO, LLC, and Two Step, LCC, franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc. Inc. It will pay for the receiving and sorting of mail, as well as the delivery to each college and district offices.

Since facilities workers were staffing the mailroom, they were not doing other duties, Strybos said.

Facilities reached their staff limit, so they could simply not hire more employees, Styrbos said.

He said facilities staff could not readily maintain services because they were needed elsewhere.

“Throughout this past calendar year, any given day, one or more mailrooms have been closed for some, a part or all part of the day,” Strybos said.

He said the store will benefit students and employees because it is an open store, which can be used by anyone.

Strybos said the former mailroom was restricted to official college business.

Human resources sophomore Katherine Ruiz walks by a civility tip Thursday in McCreless. Ruiz did not notice the signs

CIVIL from Page 1 The civility tips collection showcasing the messages can be seen on the college’s Facebook page at http:// www.facebook.com/sanantoniocollege/photos.

Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs, said displaying the messages is not mandatory and departments could select relevant civility tips.

Mendiola said the posters were created to address issues of rude-

STUDENT from Page 1 do not have to appoint one. He thinks, however, that chairs will want to appoint representatives because they like to see students active in the college.

“It’s in this way that I want to open SGA to, I guess, a greater presence of students,” Wong said.

He told College Council that most SGA meetings draw only the eight SGA officers, and members of the Student Senate can contribute information on what their departments are doing.

“There’s a lot of different things that could be happening, that I’m not

at first, but after she read it, she said, “I agree, and to think ahead of time and be organized.” Steven Nieto

ness and to improve communication between students, faculty and staff.

Not all students see a need for the messages. Kinesiology sophomore Isaiah Riebeling said, “I feel very offended as they do not apply to every student, and those that they do apply to are rare.

It makes me feel generalized.”

Student conduct officer Manuel Flores said of the student responses, “What if you spoke to a couple of hundred? I am not surprised that

some people feel offense to the messages.”

He continued, “The intent is noble. The intent is for all of us to be more aware of dignity and respect that should be prevalent in an institution of higher learning.”

Torres said anyone can request civility tip posters in Mendiola’s office in Room 305 of Fletcher Administration Center. For more information, call 210-486-0373.

aware of,” Wong said. “It’s another avenue of communication for us.”

Wong said the Student Senate will be able to vote on issues that involve a large number of students and serve on committees.

Members can suggest initiatives for SGA to pursue and could be instrumental in bringing problems to the attention of the college administration.

“The more they see the students active in their education or their safety or what’s happening on campus, they more likely they are to quickly respond to an issue,” Wong said.

He said usually the administra-

tion does not act on an issue from SGA members because they represent a small population, but more students concerned with the same issue would add weight to their argument.

SGA sponsors Pizza with the President, a forum to allow students to question the administration, and Pepsi with the President, a monthly meeting with the president, and Sweet Treats, an effort to learn student concerns.

If department chairs have questions, they can call the SGA at 210486-0133 or email Wong at jwong19@ student.alamo.edu.

News

Sept. 17, 2012

The Ranger • 7

www.theranger.org

FAFSA corrections deadline Friday

Business management freshman Nikki Nay and photography sophomore James Engel wait on the median of San Pedro west of the college Thursday while taking a longexposure photo with a pinhole camera. The assignment is for Photography 1 in fine arts with Adjunct Jannette Morales.

The cameras were made using a small box and a Quaker Oats container. Exposure can be up to 5 minutes. The camera contains one piece of photosensitive paper instead of film.

Carolina Vela

By PAULA C. SCHULER sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Any corrections or updates to the 20112012 FAFSA must be submitted by midnight Friday.

The announcement was on FAFSA. ed.gov, the official site for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, this week.

If applicants are updating tax information, the website encourages applicants to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Delays and expense result if the student financial aid office cannot verify tax data and asks the applicant for a copy of a tax return.

The processor can request a transcript from the IRS, which increases the delay.

For help making corrections to the FAFSA form, browse FAFSA.ed.gov/help.htm or email FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ ed.gov.

Applicants can talk to a representative at 1-800-433-3243 or 319-337-5665.

Call 1-800-730-8913 for a TTY for hearing-impaired applicants or live chat is available online.

Hours are 7 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Student responses delay verifications Complaints are down, but number selected for check increases.

By PAULA C SCHULER sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The vast majority of the Alamo Colleges’ more than 64,000 students this fall have a new reason to routinely check ACES email.

Financial aid awards could be held up indefinitely if students do not respond to messages from student financial services.

By Sept. 5, Alamo Colleges had received 56,888 FAFSA applications and had verified 6,740 of them.

Change in federal law requires student financial services to verify every FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, randomly

selected for the process this year.

Before the law change, only a percentage of the randomly selected applications had to be verified.

Among email messages to guarantee receipt of financial aid in a timely manner, students could find requests to respond by a deadline or rectify incomplete or incorrect documents.

Verification processing is estimated to take one week because the Alamo Colleges hired a verification service provider.

Complaints this year-to-date about data retrieval, system access, denied appeals, missed deadlines, and check disbursements fell 0.001

percent. In 2011, there were 63 complaints, and in 2012, it dropped to 34.

Dr. Adelina S. Silva, vice chancellor for student success for Alamo Colleges, said, “We take note of those.”

She said she believes complaints are down because changes in the law reduce eligibility for financial aid and improve communications with students.

The student financial services office at San Antonio College has extended hours, open to 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

The office is also open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday to Friday.

For more information, call 486-4600.

Premiere

8 • The Ranger

Sept. 17, 2012 • 9

www.theranger.org/ premiere

Colleges celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

By JANEKA PORTER sac-ranger@alamo.edu

St. Philip’s College is hosting multiple events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from through Oct.15.

St. Philip’s, long a historically black college, has also earned a designation as a Hispanicserving institution, and has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month since 2008.

This year’s theme is “Honoring Our Heritage.”

“Our purpose is to celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage Month,” Felipa Lopez, director of college services, said.

Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, According to Hispanicheritagemonth.gov.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.

It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18.

To kick off the celebration, St. Philip’s volunteered Saturday at Guadalupe Plaza for the 31st annual 16 de Septiembre Parade and Festival sponsored by the Avenida Guadalupe Association.

From 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wednesday at Heritage Pavilion at St. Philip’s students can get a taste of Colombian, Asian-Latin fusion and Mexican cuisine from mobile food trucks.

A meet and greet with artist Melissa Flores will from 4 p.m.6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the main campus, and there will be a reception for students and faculty.

The art exhibit will be from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 25-Oct. 12. in the Kathryn Morgan Gallery.

There will be showings of the film “Walk-Out” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Tiger Bistro at Southwest campus, 800 Quintana Road.

The film “Walk-Out” is based on a true story of a student activist and Mexican-American Paula Crisostomo who realized the disparity in treatment of Hispanic students and staged a peaceful walk-out in five East Los Angelos high schools in 1968.

“I hope that students will be impressed with the movie, and realize that Hispanics were being treated unfairly and the progress didn’t happen overnight.

“Also to know everyone is equal and I hope they can experience the journey,” Lopez said.

“Because of these walk-outs by those students, we are where we are today,” she added.

Events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call Lopez at 210-486-7231.

This college’s celebration rolls out today with an opening ceremony from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.

On Tuesday, a presentation on the underground library by Ernesto Olivio will be from 10:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m. in Room 218 of the nursing complex.

Students United for the Dream Act will lead a session on “What Dreamers Should Know About the Deferred Action Policy” 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m.

Thursday in the same room.

An Antojitos Festival sponsored by the office of student life will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the mall also Sept. 26.

Also, that day Dr. Larissa Mercado-Lopez will present “Fitness y Cultura: Blogging at the Intersections of Gender, Identity, Culture and Health” from 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. in Room 218 of the nursing complex.

Civil engineer Hernan Jaramillo will speak from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m. Oct. 3 also in Room 218 of the nursing complex.

VIA bus No. 3 pulls up to the bus stop on the northwest side of this college. “All roads lead to SAC” photo contest ends Sept. 28. Carolina Vela

Photo contest prizes total $1,100 All roads lead to SAC entry theme promotes VIA commute in lieu of personal vehicles.

By JENNIFER LUNA sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The public relations office at this college could pay for your gas or other expenses when you compete in a photo contest to promote using VIA Metropolitan Transit for commuting to the college.

Contest entries must illustrate the theme “All roads lead to SAC.” The office of public relations said the concept is up to the contestants but offered three potential ideas: • Riding VIA is a good option.

• Make new friends on the parking lot shuttle.

• Put the commute to college to good use.

According to San Antonio gas prices website, the average price for regular gas is $3.65 per gallon, a penny lower than the highest price of gas last month.

“When using VIA, you’re saving time, money and gas …” VIA public information coordinator Andy Scheidt said. “It’s a break in your day without having to worry

about the stress of parking.

“Using the VIA saves transportation costs, such as the cost of the maintenance of a car, paying for insurance, and gas,” Scheidt said.

“It also helps on an emotional level, you don’t have to worry about traffic; the bus driver worries about that.”

Scheidt continued, “It helps on an economical level: for every one person that is on the bus is one car less on the road, and the air gets cleaner.”

As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, which is the census date on which the official enrollment for the fall semester is based, this district’s enrollment stood at 64,286.

Scheidt said 1,161 students purchased $35 bus passes districtwide.

The contest began Aug. 27 and all entries must be emailed by Sept. 28 to sac-pr@alamo.edu.

Judging will be in the first week of October and winners will be notified by email.

Open Mic Coffee Night Friday Students gather to read poetry, meet people and enjoy refreshments.

By NICOLE WEST

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The Cheshyre Cheese Club and the office of student life will host the fall’s first Open Mic Coffee Night from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday in Loftin Student Center.

The event is an opportunity for students to perform poetry, meet other literary souls and drink free coffee, Jane Focht-Hansen, English professor and club adviser, said.

Other refreshments include cookies, fruit and cheese, she said.

If this week conflicts with something on your calendar Open Mic Coffee Night is also scheduled for Oct. 26, and Nov.16.

Coffee Night is open to all students and the public. Children are

welcome as long as they are supervised, Focht-Hansen said.

Students who want to perform will appear in order on the sign-up sheet.

“We learn a lot about each other,” Focht-Hansen said, noting students’ poetry is often personal and autobiographical.

The Cheshyre Cheese Club, one of the oldest organizations of the college, was created by a group of young women who wanted to express themselves, Focht-Hansen said.

She said the club is meant for student discussion of a variety of topics, including art and poetry.

The club name pays homage to a London pub frequented for several centuries by writers, including Dr. Samuel Johnson, who compiled the first dictionary and hosted in the 1700s such a club to discuss art. The pub is still in operation.

For more information, call Focht-Hansen at 210-486-0668.

“When using VIA, you’re saving time, money and gas. It’s a break in your day without having to worry about the stress of parking” Andy Scheidt, VIA public information coordinator The top eight entries will be awarded prizes.

The winner will receive a $500 cash card from VIA and this college; the first three places will receive L&M bookstore gifts in the amounts of $250, $150 and $100 gift cards.

The next four places will receive one of two $25 gift cards from the Follet-owned SAC Bookstore or one of two $25 gift cards from San Antonio Discount Textbooks.

To be considered, entries must comply with the following rules:

• Limit of three photos per contestant.

• Photos must be submitted digitally in a 72 dpi jpg format no larger than 3MB. • Photos must be the original work of the photographer.

• Photos must have been taken after Aug. 27.

• Photos must not have been published previously.

• Photos cannot include a watermark or any other identifying mark of the photographer.

• All submissions should meet college standards of taste and propriety.

Photos that do not meet the college standards will not be considered.

• Contestants must agree all entries will become property of the college and can be used at any time without compensation.

For more information about the photography contest, call public relations officer Julie Cooper at 210486-0882.

For information about VIA, call Scheidt at 210-3622386 or visit www.viainfo.net.

Biomedical sophomore Rene De La Fuente gets a massage from massage therapist Ella Lunesz on Spa Day Aoril 4 in Loftin before he attends his fencing exposition. Ella explained her technique to massage is using her fingertips instead of her elbows to allow the client to feel more relaxed pressure. File

Keyword for Spa Day: Relax

By CARLOS FERRAND sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The Psych Club will be hosting a spa day 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.

“Its purpose is to give the students an opportunity to have a quiet, calming moment to receive a free massage,” President Sonya Santiago said in an interview.

The office of student life is co-sponsor.

Ten massage therapists will work on students, who also can enjoy some aromatherapy.

Other treatments available will include a foot

massage station and a spot for paraffin waxes.

As students get pampered with VIP treatments, a guitarist will provide the perfect ambient soundtrack to help mellow the mind.

“The keyword during spa day is relax,” Santiago said.

The event is free to all students.

“Last time they had a spa day, I went after every class,” education sophomore Afton Barber said.

For more information, call student life at 210-486-0125 or visit the office in Room 260 of Loftin.

Calendar features student art Save the date for your favorite fine arts event on campus.

By OSITA OMESIETE sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The fine arts department has published a 2012-13 department event calendar showcasing original student artwork.

Public relations office funded this project.

Jeff Hunt, chair of the fine arts department, said the idea came from a similar project the Community College of Philadelphia had.

The Community College of Philadelphia published a calendar that included student artwork but did not include campus events.

Hunt thought of a more effective use for a calendar.

The calendar was mailed in January 2012 to the office of the chancellor, Dr. Bruce Leslie, and then shown to Hunt.

This college’s calendar includes events for programs in the fine arts department in the the 2012-13 academic year. The programs are music, theater, speech communication, visual arts and dance.

Initially, the calendar was produced to promote the fine arts department and recruit high school students for its programs.

The calendar was sent to all Bexar County high schools, college administrators and departments, Hunt said.

He said the calendar’s real purpose was to recruit students to the department.

Only 500 calendars were printed.

The funds came from the public relations budget and cost $5,000.

It cost another $100 to mail the calendars to the high schools.

If a demand for the calendar develops, Hunt said there would be a small charge and it would be a great fundraiser for scholarships.

An electronic version of the calendar can also be found at www.alamo.edu/sac/fine-arts/.

The online version is not as decorative, but all the events appear in it.

Hunt encourages everyone to find a fine arts event they feel a strong connection to and plan to attend.

For more information, call the fine arts department at 210-486-0255.

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Sept. 17, 2012

www.theranger.org

PTK targets hunger among college students

By BEAU MCCARTER sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Chapter President Kim Lorine said the main project for this semester will be the implementation of the Phi Theta Kappa Food Pantry to all Alamo Colleges.

“This semester, we will focus on hunger among all college students,” the biology premed sophomore said.

By following through with the hallmarks of service, scholarship, leadership, and fellowship, the Phi Theta Kappa Beta Nu Chapter was able to regain its 5 Star status last semester, FochtHansen said.

“The Phi Theta Kappa will continue to rigorously follow its four hallmarks in order to maintain its five-star status this semester,” Lorine said.

The Beta Nu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society provides a number of opportunities to members.

“If you’re a member, you qualify for a number of scholarships and can automatically receive up to $1,000 to UTSA, or other transferable universities,” Focht-Hansen said. “(Texas) A&M San Antonio sent an email to advisers asking specifically for Phi Theta Kappa students, saying that they want our students,” Mary Mena added.

A number of students have earned scholarships through their commitment to the Beta Nu Chapter, Mena said.

“They appear more attractive, when compared to average college students and have more of an advantage to obtain bigger and better scholarships,” she said.

Advisers of Phi Theta Kappa stress the greater academic status, opportunities and scholarships members achieve.

Focht-Hansen said students should be honored by membership. “The chapter is dedicated to serving the community.”

Small business sophomore Hanna Carothers paints a box to promote a campus food drive for needy families outside Loftin Nov. 4. File

2 sessions for PTK member orientation

By BEAU MCCARTER sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Phi Theta Kappa Beta Nu Honor Society is welcoming new members to join its team.

English Professor Jane Focht-Hansen, an adviser to Phi Theta Kappa, said the goal for this semester is 75 new students.

The first orientation session for new members was scheduled for Wednesday, but two more sessions are this week at 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday and 12:15 p.m. Wednesday in Room

241 of Nail Technical Center.

To qualify, a student must: • be enrolled in a minimum of six hours of academic work at a regionally accredited institution, • have completed at least 12 hours of coursework to be applied to an associate degree, • have maintained an overall grade-point average of 3.5, • and adhere to the moral code of the society.

The induction ceremony will be in October.

Students unable to attend the orientations will have an opportunity to join the organization.

“Submit a transcript and we will get back to you as soon as possible,” Focht-Hansen said.

“It’s $95 to join the organization, but the benefits far outweigh the entry fee with thousands of dollars offered in scholarships and financial aid,” mortuary science Professor Mary Mena said.

Celebration marks start of college self-study Foundations of Excellence seeks to improve transfer rates.

By FAITH DUARTE

fduarte3@student.alamo.edu

Students, faculty and staff mingled over cookies and punch during a launch celebration Sept. 5 in the nursing complex for a college selfstudy called Foundations of Excellence.

During the celebration, President Robert Zeigler said, “I know, and I know I’ve said this before, that probably when you first heard this, your eyebrows went up and you said, ‘Uh oh, here we go, another initiative. This is much more than that.” This college’s campaign is called From the Ground Up and will examine the college environment concerning transferbound students.

Mona Aldana-Ramirez, director of retention support services, said the initiative focuses on the entire student body.

“It focuses on getting every single student who comes through our door, getting them to complete something, getting them to complete a program of some sort, and then with the encouragement to continue on to get a fouryear degree,” she said.

A YouTube video featuring a personal message to the college from the founder of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education was screened during the reception.

“I didn’t know until today I was going to have this opportunity to speak to you by this video technology,” Dr. John Gardner said on the video.

“If I’d known, I would have tried to wear something more stylish to attempt to achieve a high standard set by your very suave and debonair and stylish president, Bob Zeigler,” he said to the amusement of guests.

Twenty-one colleges and universities in Texas and 231 across the U.S. have conducted the institute’s self-study since its launch in 2003. Reception guests seemed excited to be starting the project here.

Vanessa Torres, public relations director, said, “This is another way to celebrate what we’re doing, how we’re moving forward.”

Dr. Johnnie Rosenauer, director of Murguia Learning Institute, said, “We wanted people to have an opportunity to kind of scout around and discuss while our co-chairs are here because it’s an important time for them to get an awareness of the options.”

A task force of about 100 faculty, staff and students will survey the college during the 2012-13 academic year and compile a report to send to the institute for review.

Rosenauer said today the college sends to the institute an inventory on its current practices regarding completion and transfer and uses the information the college sends and then lists suggestions the college can use as part of an action plan.

Aldana-Ramirez said the college did not fund the self-study and was paid for by district funds. Zeigler said today the two-year study costs $60,000.

An action plan based on feedback from the institute is planned for the 2013-14 academic year. The self-study task force is made up of a steering committee composed of co-chairs of nine Foundational Dimension committees.

“We’re looking at everything from what philosophy we’re going to approach to service all of our students, all the way down to the campus culture — how are we going to imbed the idea of going on and continuing your education once

Mike Martinez, SGA vice president, discusses politics with political science Professor Michael Sanchez Sept.

5 during a Foundations of Excellence launch party in nursing. Student Government Association representatives will participate in the self-study to increase student input. Riley Stephens you’ve completed here, to what is our communication plan with outside universities letting them know that we have 26,000 students that you all could be recruiting,’” Aldana-Ramirez said.

The 24-member steering committee is the six members of the college’s Foundations of Excellence Launch Team and the two co-chairs from each of the nine committees.

Each committee is made up of eight to 10 faculty, staff and students, including Student Government Association representatives.

To increase student input for the self-study, President Jacob Wong said SGA will contact students who provided information Aug. 27-28 on a sign-up sheet from SGA’s Sweet Treats event and student club and organization representa-

tives of the Presidents Round Table.

“There’s a certain level of professionalism that needs to occur, and the expectations are high for student commitment,” he said.

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, said, “We are so fortunate to work with Dr. Gardner to help SAC and what we do on a daily basis to ensure that students ultimately first complete and transfer.”

In the video, Gardner said, “I think it’s a form of social justice to achieve better success for transfer students.”

For more information, call Torres at 210486-0883 or visit www.alamo.edu/sac/fromthegroundup.

Sept. 17, 2012

News

The Ranger • 11

www.theranger.org

Austin VP sees urgency for student support

NVC VP wants more grads

Fast pace of change in the district surprises candidate.

amanzanares6@student.alamo.edu

By ALMA LINDA MANZANARES

By ALMA LINDA MANZANARES amanzanares6@student.alamo.edu

Dr. Stephanie Hawley, associate vice president of college access programs at Austin Community College, is seeking the position of vice chancellor for academic success because of projects in the district, such as Achieving the Dream and Completion by Design.

One of two finalists, she was introduced at a reception Sept. 6, which drew about 30 people at Killen Center.

“The whole district is involved in national initiatives, and I’m also interested in the fact that the colleges are coming together to provide standards — standardizing some things but still retaining their identities and their culture. And that’s not and easy thing to do, but it’s exciting work,” Hawley said.

The district has been searching for the vice chancellor for academic success since Dr. Robert Aguero, former vice chancellor of academic success, retired in December.

Mario Muniz, district director of public relations, said the district advertised the position Nov. 18 and officially closed the position July 16. Jo-Carol Fabianke, associate vice chancellor for academic success, is serving as interim vice chancellor for academic success.

Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor of planning, performance and information systems, chaired the 12-member search committee.

Dr. Stephanie Hawley, associate vice president of college access programs at Austin Community College, greets Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, at a candidate reception Sept. 6 in Killen. Alma Linda Manzanares

He said six applicants were interviewed by the committee, and 61 applications were received.

Hawley has served as vice president and associate vice chancellor in the academic affairs division at City Colleges of Chicago, consultant and vice president of academic affairs at Morton College in Cicero, Ill., and founding director of Oklahoma City University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

She received a doctorate from the community college leadership program at the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas.

Hawley said she was surprised at the fast pace at which the district is moving toward student success.

“The work that’s being done here, not only is it the right direction but the pace is — I think it demonstrates the urgency of helping students to be more successful at the Alamo Colleges,” she said.

Expanding online offerings and improving developmental education and graduation rates are the priorities of Dr. Jimmie Bruce, vice president of academics at Northwest Vista College, who is seeking the position of vice chancellor for academic success.

“Those are the things that we really need to focus on — to make sure that we get as many students a degree as possible,” Bruce said Sept. 7.

He was the second of two finalists to be introduced at receptions in Killen Center.

The hallway where the reception for Bruce was held on Sept. 7 was double-booked and showcased eight caterers as well as the candidate reception. In total, about 50 people attended the events.

Gary O’Bar, district director for purchasing, said 13 contracts were awarded to caterers, and an invitation to sample foods was sent to departments across the colleges that usually order catering services.

Bruce received a doctorate in educational leadership from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. For 10 years he has served at Northwest Vista in two positions. In 2002, was dean of student success before landing his current position. He spent 13 years at Elizabethtown Community College in Kentucky in various positions including director of academic support services, speech professor and speech division chair.

Bruce said he is interested in the position because it allows him to work in academics

El Paso professor believes sense of community vital

PAC interim VP wants engagement

Decision for president expected at Tuesday’s board meeting.

By ALMA LINDA MANZANARES

with all five colleges. He said since he has been with the district for 10 years, he has worked on initiatives to help bring the colleges together to better serve students.

“I think by not only my experience at Northwest Vista, but working collaboratively with the other vice presidents at the colleges over the years really, I think, positions me well to move into this role to kind of help us move the district forward,” Bruce said.

“My vision would be, I want to see more students graduate.”

Want more coverage?

Visit www.theranger.org to read full stories on the vice chancellor for academic success and PAC presidential candidates.

amanzanares6@student.alamo.edu

By REBECCA SALINAS

rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu

College students who feel a sense of community on campus are more likely to graduate, Dr. Ernst Roberts, faculty member and former interim president at El Paso Community College, said Aug. 30 in the first of two forums at Palo Alto College.

He is one of two finalists for president of the college.

Roberts said when students and employees are comfortable with each other, things change for the better. About 115 people attended the session in Pedernales Hall.

Palo Alto College is searching for its sixth president because Dr. Ana “Cha” Guzman, president of Palo Alto College, retired Aug. 31.

Guzman, who was not at the forum, has been president of Palo Alto College for 11 years and assumed the presidency of Santa Fe Community College Sept. 4.

Roberts started at El Paso Community College in 1978 as a psychology professor.

He has also been an assistant to the president and vice president of finance before becoming interim president.

Roberts’ received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and pre-medicine from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso and a doctorate degree in higher education from Texas Tech University.

One achievement Roberts named was El Paso Community College’s recent nomination for the Aspen award, a “prestigious award in higher education.”

The Aspen Prize for Community Colleges given by the Aspen Institute recognizes com-

Jimmie Bruce, vice president of academics at Northwest Vista College introduces himself to Bridget Torres, associate director of residency and reports, and Mary Jane Carreon, coordinator of special projects of residency and reports, Sept. 7 in Killen during his reception as a finalist for the position of vice chancellor for academic success.

Riley Stephens

Dr. Ernst Roberts, faculty member and former interim president at El Paso Community College, answers a question about interaction between employees and students Aug. 30 at Palo Alto College. Roberts answered it is important to have unity to be successful. Riley Stephens munity colleges with impressive academic and workforce outcomes.

El Paso Community College is one of 120 community colleges across the country that have acquired admirable student success in persistence, retention and transfer; and increased outcomes over time; and have shown equal outcome for students with various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, according to the Aspen Institute website.

Roberts said he became interested in Palo Alto College because of its similarity to El Paso Community College. Since El Paso’s population is 86 percent Hispanic, Roberts is familiar with the same needs San Antonio has.

El Paso Community College had 29,260 students enrolled during the spring semester and Palo Alto College had 8,387, public relations Director Ginger Carnes said.

Other familiarities include working with first generation college students and financial obstacles.

He said making sure students have secured finances, like scholarships or financial aid, is a way to increase retention.

He said another way the college can increase retention rates is by students spending less time in developmental education classes.

Although there is no deadline, the position is expected to be filled at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The engagement of faculty, staff and students is important because Palo Alto College is a beacon within the community, Dr. Michael Flores, interim vice president of academic affairs at Palo Alto College, said Aug. 31 in a forum at Palo Alto.

He is one of two finalists for president of the college. About 90 people attended the session in Pedernales Hall.

Flores has been part of Palo Alto for 13 years and has had various roles including dean of institutional effectiveness and community development, vice president of college services and vice president of student services.

He said he is interested in becoming Palo Alto’s president because community colleges play a special place in the nation and community.

Flores said because both of his parents ended up with careers in higher education, higher education has played an important role in his life.

He is the son of Ruben Flores, retired dean of evening, weekend and distance education at this college.

Flores graduated from Holmes High School in the Northside Independent School District, and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He received a master’s degree in political science from Illinois State University and doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

“For the past six years, which I think is a special part of my life, I actually live, work and worship in the same place, in the same community as our students,” Flores said.

Carolyn DeLecour, chair of fine and performing arts and speech communication at

Dr. Michael Flores, interim vice president of academic affairs at Palo Alto College, says he is thankful to the committee for making him a finalist in the search for Palo Alto’s sixth president in a forum Aug. 31. Riley Stephens Palo Alto College, asked Flores what direction he envisions for the college.

Flores said he wants the college to be an engaged community and he would meet with each department’s faculty and staff within the first 30 days if he becomes president.

In mid-October during Employee Development Day, Flores said all employees will get together to discuss and plan the next chapter for Palo Alto.

He said the institution needs to support service learning, and the new president will be able to engage with external partners.

Flores said he also wants a “celebratory culture” to honor accomplishments and contributions from employees and students during forums.

Alex Bernal, English professor at this college, asked Flores how his 13 years of experience at Palo Alto have helped him interact with the district’s other four presidents.

Flores said during his time at Palo Alto he has been able to work with school districts because of dual credit and the Family Service Association to create the Ray Ellison Family Center. He also created a program to decrease dropouts as part of Gateway to College.

“Our entities are organic, so if somebody new comes in, everything else kind of shifts a little bit,” he said.

Editorial

12 • The Ranger

Sept. 17, 2012

www.theranger.org/opinion

Editor Alma Linda Manzanares Managing Editor Rebecca Salinas Calendar Editor Jennifer Coronado Photo Editor Riley Stephens Photographer Vincent Reyna Photo Team David Torres, Gloria Fernandez De Clements Jovan Ibarra, Monica Correa, Samber Saenz Sergio Ramirez, Steven Nieto, Carolina Vela Multimedia Editor Ingrid Wilgen Illustrator Juan Carlos Campos Production Jason Hogan Mandy Derfler Staff Writers Cristina Carreon, Jennifer Charo Angelo Dixon, Chelsea Driskell Lucia Espino, David Espinoza, Carlos Ferrand Edgar Garcia, Kirk Hanes, Thomas Hardaway Tiffani Harvey, Diana Lira Jennifer Luna, Rebecca Martinez Beau McCarter, Patricia McGlamory Graham M. Mendez, Adam Meza, Ivie Okungbowa Osita Omesiete, Diana Palomo, Felipe Perez Jr., Janeka Porter, Christina Quintanilla, Amanda Rios Paula C. Schuler, Joshua Tristan, Nicole West Web Editor Faith Duarte

©2012 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations.

The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org.

News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-9292), by email (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center).

Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org.

The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.

Guest Viewpoints:

Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words.

Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style.

All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer.

Letters Policy:

The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages.

Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length.

Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter.

Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299.

Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, emailed to sac-ranger@alamo.edu or faxed to 210-486-9292.

Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773.

Single Copy Policy:

Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs.

Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office.

Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single- copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.

Juan Carlos Campos

Return thrill to Playland Don’t drive around campus in frustration hunting for parking.

New construction begun this summer consumed about 450 parking spaces.

Spaces are limited In Lot 16 for remodeling in Moody Learning Center and in employee Lot 21 for expansion of Scobee Planetarium and building a Challenger Learning Center.

Lot 26 and the unpaved Lots 31 and 33 at North Main Avenue and West Evergreen Street are closed for construction of Tobin Hill Lofts, a public-private partnership between the Tobin Hill neighborhood and the college that will include retail, residential and parking facilities.

To alleviate the tight lots, the college has arranged access to a nearby district-owned property.

An additional 650 parking spots are at the site of the former Playland Park, 2222 N. Alamo St., for students, faculty or staff at this college.

The use of the site is a good first step, but the college needs to step up and ensure it provides what it is promising.

A contract with Star Shuttle is supposed to provide a 40-passenger bus to shuttle driv-

ers with $50 parking permits between North Alamo Street and Fletcher Administration Center at Lewis Street and West Dewey Place every 15 minutes from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

The ride is estimated at seven minutes though high traffic hours may affect the length of the ride; however, a student complained Wednesday afternoon that she had waited almost two hours at Fletcher with no sign of the shuttle.

Eventually, a friend arrived to transport another stranded student, and she and another were offered a ride to the Playland site.

Other complaints have surfaced about the announced security at the lot. So far, the coverage has been spotty or confined to mornings, so drivers will have to weigh the potential convenience against the potential for losses or damage.

Parking access has plagued this college at least since this campus opened in spring 1951, and there appears to be no end in site.

Just remember why we are all here.

Everyone needs to get to work and class on time, so figure out how to do that and make the necessary accommodations.

Reopen the hiring process Candidate forums for a new president of Palo Alto College were Aug. 30-31 for Dr. Michael Flores, interim vice president of academic affairs at Palo Alto and Dr. Ernst Roberts, faculty member and interim president at El Paso Community College.

Simple receptions for vice chancellor of academic success candidates Dr. Stephanie Hawley, associate vice president of college access programs at Austin Community College, and Dr. Jimmie Bruce, vice president of academics at Northwest Vista College, were Sept. 6-7.

About 300 people attended each candidate forums at Palo Alto while only 60 people — mostly administrators, or about one-fifth the number of people, attended the district receptions.

Why no forums for the vice chancellor candidates, just an opportunity for them to schmooze potential colleagues?

The vice chancellor will be responsible for overseeing districtwide initiatives, including Achieving the Dream and Completion by Design.

According to the online news outlet Texas Tribune, the vice chancellor’s position pays $181,030 annually, while a college president’s position pays $186,186.

A vice chancellor is technically a subordinate at the district level while a president is the titular head of a college, though

in practice, authority seems be constantly sucked vacuum-like from the colleges to district offices.

Although the difference in salary is slight, logic dictates that a district second-tier candidate should be exposed to audiences across the district.

Under the last two chancellors, the hiring process for district-level administrators has been closed. No access, no identification, no background, no questions. Sometimes, the membership of a hiring committee is hidden.

A finalist is introduced publicly through the board agenda minute-order to approve hiring.

We are told how wonderful the new hire is and how perfectly suited to a position.

The explanation for a closed process has usually been to protect candidate whose employers do not know they are in the job market.

In reality, a large portion of highly paid administrators are always on the market.

The loyal, invested employees in muchless well paid positions, who are concerned about the quality, ideology, experience and history of their new supervisors are excluded from input, from assessing a candidate’s ability to truly serve the needs of the colleges.

Don’t worry, this approach announces: These are the administrators you are looking for.

News

Sept. 17, 2012

The Ranger • 13

www.theranger.org

Canvas replacing Blackboard Jan. 1 New learning management system integrates with social media and is user-friendly.

By PATRICIA MCGLAMORY

instructional innovation centers, distance education departments, faculty Canvas, the new learning managemembers and district information ment system, will replace Blackboard technology departments.

Vista and will be fully phased in by A formal committee, formed Feb, the end of this semester.

2011, chose not to go with the brand “Blackboard is completely going new Blackboard product. away at the end of this semester,” Faculty and staff reviewed more said Usha Venkat, director of inforthan 15 learning management sysmation and communication techtem vendors. Surveys were sent out nologies. to students and faculty.

Canvas enables faculty to manIdeal features the formal comage and deliver online courses to mittee looked for were functional students. It also can be used in facerequirements, technical requireto-face classes. ments, vendor In early 2011 management of “To really build Alamo Colleges services, costs and that community was notified pricing, and trainbetween the faculty Blackboard Vista ing support. and the student, would be retired Canvas was the faculty can at the end of 2012 determined as also give their and the company the best choice feedback on student was going to a because it is built progress using video new manageon a more modment learning ern infrastructure, snippits.” system named can integrate with Usha Venkat, Blackboard Learn. social media and director A team was is user-friendly. of information formed to con“It had a very and communication sider whether to clean, intuigo with the new tive interphase,” Blackboard prodVenkat said. uct or explore other learning manIt has built-in conference tools, agement solutions.

Facebook notifications and video disThe team consisted of 10-15 cussions. representatives districtwide from Faculty can use these video dissac-ranger@alamo.edu

cussions to be more connected to the students, she said.

“To really build that community between the faculty and the student, the faculty can also give their feedback on student progress using video snippits,” Venkat said.

Venkat said this college started using Canvas during Flex 2 in the spring with a small group of about 10 faculty. Another small group used Canvas in the summer.

“With any new product, we have people not used to the way it processes information. But one good positive feedback that we got was the support that Canvas offered in terms of calling Tier 1 support. The faculty were pleased with the level of support.”

Canvas’ Tier 1 support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Instructure/Canvas hotline.

Venkat said 268 faculty are onlinecertified and 167 are trained to use Canvas in face-to-face classes.

There are 332 full-time faculty and 468 adjunct faculty this fall, according to information from Dr. David Wood, director of institutional research, planning and effectiveness.

Venkat plans to visit campus departments to reach the remaining faculty.

“Especially, we are targeting those faculty members who are teaching

on Blackboard. We don’t want them to not get this information and be unprepared.”

Faculty certified in online instruction are required to have Canvas training.

“If they (faculty) are already certified in online teaching with Blackboard, they don’t have to get re-certified again ... all they have to complete this go-around is to get trained on Canvas.”

Training is available online or face-to-face.

Online training is self-paced, and faculty can take up to two weeks to complete.

Faculty can sign up for online training and view the face-to-face training calendar at www.alamo.edu/ sac/canvas/ Students can view eClips video tutorials at www.alamo.edu/student-

canvas, go to the Canvas quick guide available on their ACES account, or attend face-to-face workshops at the student technology center in Room 542 of Moody Learning Center. eClips is an online quick guide with video tutorials “...created by the students, for the students,” using speech team students from this college, Venkat said.

The office of technology services is temporarily relocated in two places because of remodeling of the seventh floor of Moody Learning Center.

The faculty/staff instructional innovation center is in Room 416, and the student technology center is in Room 542.

For support, call Instructure/Canvas hotline at 210-485-0555, Option 2.

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News

14 • The Ranger

Sept. 17, 2012

www.theranger.org

Six students wait — one for almost two hours — for a shuttle Wednesday north of Fletcher to transport them to parking at 2222 N. Alamo. Shuttles were promoted as running every 15 minutes from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays.

Playland shuttle strands students Playland shuttle goes AWOL for nearly two hours Wednesday.

By JENNIFER CORONADO

jcoronado60@student.alamo.edu

New Playland parking for students provides this campus with more than 650 additional parking spots while campus construction projects have closed three lots and reduced the number of spaces in two others.

Students were notified about the new offcampus lot via email, and fliers were distributed across campus.

According to the college’s website, the lot is about 1.4 miles east of campus.

College President Robert Zeigler contracted Star Shuttle & Charter to provide transportation. The shuttle is scheduled a round-trip between campus and North Alamo Street every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Star Shuttle did not respond to requests from The Ranger for an interview.

The Ranger was notified about 5 p.m.

Wednesday by graphic design sophomore

Mandy Derfler, who said a student had been pick-up point after her class ended at 4 p.m. waiting more than an hour for the shuttle to and estimated she arrived about 4:15 p.m. arrive at the pick-up spot adjacent to Fletcher She waited for more than an hour.

Administration Center.

At 5:50 p.m., she left the stop after being Derfler, also waiting on the shuttle, said offered a ride by another student waiting on she called the district police’s the shuttle who was picked up 24-hour non-emergency line by a friend.

The college about 5:05 p.m., but they had Education freshman Jesse president and no information on the missing Root said he never had to district police transport. wait for the shuttle before pledge to obtain Derfler was formerly a Wednesday. a contact number Ranger editor and now is a “We’re going to wait until for Star Shuttle to production assistant. they show up,” he said. assist students in About 15 minutes after Biology freshman Jodi the event of any Derfler called the police, an Williams said she had been officer in a district electric cart, waiting 30 minutes for the similar instances stopped by to tell students the shuttle. in the future. police had looked into it and “There’s posters everychecked around campus but where, giving us these times,” did not hear anything about the tardy shuttle.

Williams said.

The officer also offered the students trans“Right now, we don’t know what’s going on portation to North Alamo Street if the shuttle and that’s why we’re freaking out,” she said. failed to return.

Alex Roman, police dispatcher, said the American Sign Language sophomore police department did not have a schedule Marisol Macias said she headed to the shuttle or contact number for the shuttle service, but

2 lots close for High Holy Days

By DAVID ESPINOZA sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Almost 400 parking spaces in two lots on the north side of the campus will be unavailable today and again two days next week.

Parking Lot 1 at Ashby and Belknap places and Lot 2 at Courtland Place and San Pedro Avenue will be closed to students until after 1:30 p.m. today to allow parking for congregants of Temple Beth-El, 211 Belknap Place, to observe the Jewish High Holy Days.

The High Holy Days last for 10 days starting with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which began Sunday night and ends Tuesday.

The lots also will be unavailable to students Sept. 25 and 26 during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Yom Kippur begins the evening of Sept. 25 and ends the evening of Sept. 26.

Temple Beth-El owns Lot 1 with 142 spaces, and the college owns Lot 2 with 254 spaces except for a row of spaces adjacent to the west side of the temple, Tim Rockey, dean of continuing education training network, said.

The college and temple share the use of the lots.

For information, call Temple Beth-El at 210-733-9135 or visit temple@beth-elsa.org.

he notified officers on campus to make them aware of the situation.

“We will work on getting contact information,” Roman said.

At about 5:57 p.m., a shuttle arrived.

Tammy Moore, a driver for Star Shuttle & Charter, one of two bus drivers assigned to the route, told students she had passed the shuttle stop after 4 p.m. but saw no students waiting for a ride.

She said she didn’t know what happened to the other bus driver and explained that the two drivers rotate from the lot to the campus.

“All I can do is apologize and find out what happened,” Moore said.

Zeigler followed up with The Ranger Thursday, reporting he did not hear of the situation.

He called Star Shuttle and the company stated there was no report of trouble with the buses or drivers.

Zeigler said the company has censors on buses and will check to make sure the drivers were on route.

“We won’t see a repeat,” Zeigler said.

New chair for activity fee committee The student life director resigned from the nonvoting post in the summer.

The meeting was postponed once again after it was rescheduled for Sept. 6.

Posadas had served as nonvoting chair of the committee

By FAITH DUARTE since the fee was first assessed in fall 2006. fduarte3@student.alamo.edu During his tenure, the committee met in closed sessions.

At least part of the mystery of the fate of the Student Zeigler told committee members to open their deliberations Activity Fee Committee has been unveiled. to the public in a meeting Nov. 16 that included The Ranger, Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs, is the new which has repeatedly editorialized for transparency. nonvoting chair of the committee, President Robert Zeigler In February, the committee conducted its second open announced Thursday during a Pepsi with the meeting without a quorum, awarding $5,721.97 President meeting with Student Government to four organizations, which caused Eddie Cruz, Association in the president’s conference room ethics and compliance officer for the district, in Fletcher Administration Center. to rule that a quorum consists of five members Student life Director Jorge Posadas resigned with a plurality of those being students and at from the committee during the summer and least one faculty or staff member present. announced it at an adviser’s brunch Aug. 23.

Two student members and a student alterThe committee consists of five students and nate were present at the Feb. 2 meeting. four faculty or staff who determine the expenIn April, the committee recommended to diture of funds from the fee collected from stuZeigler a 2012-13 student activity budget of dents at $1 per semester hour. $800,000, which required doubling the current Emma Mendiola Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student fee to $2 per semester hour. affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs,said Aug. That budget included a line item of $70,000 for a second 30 Posadas was not asked by administration to step down. student newspaper.

The committee has not convened since May. In May, a lack of a quorum forced the committee to cancel its Vela said a meeting to determine who would still serve on meeting. Two student members and two student alternates were the committee was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 4, but it was present, but all four faculty and staff members were absent. postponed because of scheduling conflicts.

For more information, call Mendiola at 210-486-0373.

News

Sept. 17, 2012

The Ranger • 15

www.theranger.org

Burn calories, not electricity: Take the stairs Wellness Committee encourages students and faculty to improve health by avoiding elevators.

Peer Educators about more than safe sex

By FELIPE PEREZ JR. sac-ranger@alamo.edu

By CARLOS FERRAND

The next time you find yourself in the parking garage waiting on an elevator, think about taking the stairs.

That’s the advice of the college’s Wellness Committee.

The committee has started an initiative to “Burn Calories, Not Electricity. Take The Stairs!”

Wellness Coordinator Chris Dillon said about half of the campus is dotted with signs informing students about this initiative.

The signs read: “Did you know the average person burns 10 calories per minute while climbing the stairs?

“Just walking the stairs for 2 minutes a day will lead to good heart health, something we take for granted in our youth but will have our full attention as we age.”

About 150 signs have been placed in the parking garage, Oppenheimer Academic Center, nursing complex, student success center, Nail Technical Center, chemistry and geology, and Chance Academic Center.

He hopes that within a year the rest of the campus also will have these signs.

Signs have been color-coordinated with the same red, white, and blue scheme of the college’s signs providing directions.

Feedback from this initiative has come in emails from college employees letting Dillion know that taking the stairs has already increased their stamina and has made them feel better.

He said he has heard positive comments from individuals forced to take the stairs in Moody Learning Center because the escalators are not operational during remodeling.

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Nursing sophomore Mari Roman takes the stairs in the college parking garage Wednesday afternoon. Roman said she prefers the stairs to the elevator. Vincent Reyna Dillion said, “Healthier students equal students being more productive in the classroom.”

Something as simple as taking the stairs may give students the edge they need to become bet-

ter students, he said.

For more information, visit the Facebook page of the kinesiology and dance department at https://www.facebook.com/sackinesiology.

Peer Educator Mariana Solis said the students of that organization know all too well that they are known as “the condom people” around campus.

Among their high-profile events each year are education on safe sex, during which they distribute free condoms, and free AIDS testing throughout the school year.

These students provide more than just free prophylactics.

Some Peer Educators also support disabled students by assisting them to navigate the campus to get to classes.

“We are much more than just the condom people; we are a big support group,” Solis said.

Peer Educators also provides an ear for students stressing on anything from test anxiety and time management to domestic abuse or depression.

Adviser Patricia Sanchez said, “If a student is overwhelmed and doesn’t feel comfortable speaking to a counselor, stop by and speak to a Peer Educator.”

Peer Educators are available 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 144 of Moody Learning Center.

For more information, call Peer Educators at 210-486-1448.

PASS ON THE PARKING HASSLES AND RELAX WHILE YOUR FRIENDS

try to find a parking spot.

$35 for 5 MONTHS

BUS STOPS AROUND CAMPUS 37759

38719

38783 38799

Ashby 37773

37747

38797

TAKE THE RIDE AND WIN! San Antonio College - PHOTO CONTEST

37783 38796

Courtland

47147

W.Dewey 48297

47356

48296

W.Locust

Stops in front of SAC

“All roads lead to SAC”

Answer one of these with a photo: 1) Why taking VIA is a good option 2) Making new friends on the parking lot shuttle 3) Putting the commute to good use

47647

SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE CAMPUS

48697

W. Myrtle

48696

N W

E S

58197

W.Park 47947

47846

58196

VIA...what smart students are taking.

VIA Semester Passes are available for sale at the SAC Business Office beginning August 2012 All passes are also sold at VIA across the street from SAC, 1021 San Pedro Ave. Discounted Student monthly bus passes also available online at www.viainfo.net

It’s the best way to get to campus... a VIA Semester Pass for only $35 for five months. Finding a parking space at SAC may be more difficult because of construction on campus.

W.Park

W.Evergreen

Route #3 & #4

Route #4 (ONLY)

Route #20

Route #90

PRIZES:

Grand Prize: $500 gift card from VIA/SAC 1st prizes: $250 gift card from L&M Bookstore $150 gift card from L&M Bookstore $100 gift card from L&M Bookstore 2nd and 3rd prizes: $25 gift card SAC Bookstore $25 gift card SA Discount Textbooks

Numbers along route are stop identification numbers.

To plan your bus trip go to Google Maps, enter San Antonio College and select “get directions by public transit.”

• • • • •

For more details on how to enter go to alamo.edu/sac 210-486-0880 GET REAL-TIME BUS ARRIVALS ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE

Saves time and money Gets you there on time Forgo a parking permit No more parking headaches Drops you off on campus

Contest begins Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. All entries must be received by Friday, Sept. 28, 2012.

Construction starts soon on campus.

Phone: 210.362.2020 | www.viainfo.net

16 • The Ranger

News

www.theranger.org

Sept. 17, 2012