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Volume 88 Issue 7 • Oct. 25, 2013
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Heads up Graduation application due by Thursday Students planning to graduate in December must submit an application by Thursday. To begin the process, log on to ACES and look for the link under the Student tab. Before applying, students must complete a degree audit with an adviser or counselor. The counselor or adviser can provide the required graduation packet. Liberal arts majors should visit the counseling center on the first floor of Moody Learning Center, but students with a specific major should consult a faculty adviser in the major department. The college conducts a commencement ceremony in May only, but fall graduates are welcome to participate. Degrees will be mailed at the end of the semester once verification has been completed. For more information, call 210486-0200.
Retention incentive nets Leslie $60K lump, $15K annually By Carlos Ferrand
cferrand@student.alamo.edu
Chancellor Bruce Leslie is expecting a retention incentive of $60,000 by Oct. 31 for remaining with the Alamo Colleges for the four years of a contract that ended Aug. 31. A retention payment of $15,000 a year is part of Leslie’s contract effective Sept. 1, 2009, through Aug. 31, but was not paid until the terms of the contract were met. In addition, a new contract includes an annual increase of $15,000 as an incentive exclusive of any additional increases. The old contract included an annual base salary of $313,663, but by fall 2012, the base salary had
increased to $343,475. That increase will vary based on current market. included a 7 percent pay raise. In a special board retreat July 13, His current pay under a new Linda Boyer-Owen, associate vice three-year contract effective Sept. chancellor of human resources and 1 through Aug. 31, 2016, includes organizational development, prea base salary of sented salary rec$358,475 through ommendations for See the Dec. 31, 2013. fiscal year 2014. chancellor’s District 9 trustee To keep employcontracts at James Rindfuss said ees average salary the $15,000 increase www.theranger.org within the top three is the retention among eight large incentive payment Texas community rolled into his base salary. Trustees colleges, a 4.8 percent increase was anticipate Leslie’s salary will increase recommended for full-time faculty Jan. 1 by $10,774 to $369,229 as the and an estimated 3.7 percent for fullresult of a districtwide pay raise. time and part-time administrators. Rindfuss said districtwide raises The board of trustees will meet
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Electronic cigarettes enjoy ambiguous classification. By Paula Christine Schuler and Katherine Garcia sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Tobin Lofts grand opening today
Katherine Garcia
Nov. 9 in a special retreat meeting to determine salary increases. No time or location has been determined. Mario Muñiz, director of district public relations, said retention payments are common among executives. “It’s an investment in our administration’s future,” he said. The retention agreement is in place to retain the services of the chancellor so that the district can avoid the time and expense of searching for a new chancellor. The process could cost more than $100,000. District 5 trustee Roberto Zárate said the bonus is a reflection of the board’s satisfaction in Leslie’s performance. “He has done a great job.”
On campus ‘vaping’ may attract smoking ticket
Emily Rodriguez
Today, members of the community will have an opportunity to tour Tobin Lofts, part of which is the first student housing on this campus. An opening ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. at the pool in the interior of Tobin Lofts property at 1415 N. Main Ave. In addition to college and district officials, Mayor Julian Castro will be attending. Tobin Lofts is the result of a public-private partnership between this college and The NRP Group LLC. The college provided land that was formerly three student parking lots in exchange for student access to a parking garage at Tobin Lofts. After remarks and a ribbon-cutting, guests will be taken on tours of the four-story apartment building. Tobin Lofts features a pool, recreation room, gym and tanning room and has 201 beds available for lease. Occupancy is 191 students at this college and 75 students at other colleges. They live in configurations of one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments. Although students may share an apartment, they sign individual leases. For more information, call 210254-9160. Go online at theranger.org to read more about Tobin Lofts.
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Paramedics and campus police wheel a gurney to an ambulance after a student lost consciousness Tuesday outside the student success center. Emergency phones that connect
directly to district police are located throughout campus to report emergencies or call 210-222-0911. For non-emergencies, call 210-485-0099. Emily Rodriguez
Finally, Moody fourth floor opens By Henry M. Martinez Jr. sac-ranger@alamo.edu
After half a semester, the fourth floor of Moody Learning Center opened Oct. 18. Librarian Eileen Oliver said Tuesday that even though the fourth floor was completed at the beginning of the semester, lack of staff prevented it from being used. Oliver said student employees and library staff are working in shifts to keep the floor running. Still, the fourth floor of the library is open only 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The fourth floor contains a study hall, cubicle-style desks for students to study individually and five study rooms. The only books on this floor are
in the special rare books collection, named the McAllister Collection. Reference Librarian Celita DeArmond described these books as “irreplaceable” and “one of a kind.” The collection consists of books Walter McAllister Sr., former mayor and founder of this district, collected throughout his life. There is also a small stage that can be used for performances to the left of the entrance. DeArmond said the library hopes to hold poetry readings and similar events in that space. She said these events will likely take place in the afternoon because the fourth floor of the library should remain quiet for most of the day. Computers are available on the fifth floor in the mega lab and the
student learning assistance center on the seventh floor. Before renovation, the fourth floor held paper periodicals, reserve materials and special collections. Now the periodicals can be found online, and reserves are located on the second floor. David Mrizek, vice president of college services, said the renovation started about four months ago and the fourth floor was the last floor to be done. Mrizek said a rough estimate of how much the fourth floor cost to renovate is about $2.25 million. Renovation cost for the building was about $18 million. For more information, call 210486-0554 or visit www.alamo.edu/ sac/library/.
Electronic cigarette users may attract the attention of campus police. That may come as a surprise to vapers, who do not equate vapors with smoke. Human resources sophomore Mary Cole said she was not sure what the e-cigarette policy is, but she heard of a student stopped by police for “vaping” and given a warning. “I know somebody in my class that ‘vapes’ during class — an older woman — but, I don’t know if the professor sees her do it.” Police Deputy Chief Joe Pabon said e-cigarettes emit smoke and this is a smoke-free campus. Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs, said there is no specific policy on e-cigarettes, a nicotine-delivery system former smokers use. The smoking policy in the student handbook does not specifically mention e-cigarettes in its electronic devices or smoking policies. “Irrespective of what you smoke, it is covered,” student conduct officer Manuel Flores said. Student conduct officer Tracy Floyd said the policy is in the process of being updated, but that takes time. She said the devices are included under the district’s tobacco policy because they can present a disruption in the classroom. Page 30 of the student handbook, only mentions “all electronic communication devices.” The smoking policy on Page 35 states, “All of the Alamo Colleges are designated smoke-free. Smoking and/or using tobacco products is prohibited in all classrooms, laboratories, offices, conference rooms, hallways, parking lots, and all other rooms in all buildings of the Alamo Colleges and on all property that is owned by the Alamo Colleges.” Students may be confused. “I understand their option to say no,” Cole said, noting the lack of butt litter that distinguishes vaping from tobacco smoking. “In reality, it’s not what they think it is. It’s not messy.”