MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MEDICAL CENTER CAMPUS
October 22, 2001
PRESENT: Frances Aronovitz, Annette Baker, Darlene Berger, Martha Bryan, Carl
Jean-Charles, Arcie Ewell, Hernan Febres, Diann Gregory, Caridad Gutierrez, Raquel Hardie, Susan Kah, Lillie Martinez, Joan McLaughlin, Carlos Pedemonte, Richard Prentiss, Lessie Pryor, Michelle Richards, Silvia Romero, Pam Singer, Eric Weaver, Mary Worsley, Lenora Yates
ABSENT: Terrence Davis (on duty at fire dept.), Orlando Fernandez (on duty at fire dept.), Virginia Fuillerat (interview committee meeting), Miguel Menendez , Carol Miller (off campus meeting)
GUESTS: Ellyn Biggs, Carmen Bisono, Carol Petrozella
The minutes from 9/24/01 were approved, provided “each semester” on page 4 is corrected to “per year,” as pointed out by Richard Prentiss.
ELECTION OF NEW CAMPUS CASSC MEMBER
Susan Kah announced that Silvia Romero was elected to Campus CASSC, representing Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Histologic Technology and Vision Care. She will replace Mark McKay.
Susan Kah announced that Darlene Berger, Hernan Febres and Eric Weaver were elected to the Campus CASSC Coordinating Committee. Virginia Fuillerat is the appointed administrator to the committee.
Susan Kah announced that Pat Stephenson completed her term as Chair of Collegewide CASSC. Allen McPhee, a North Campus faculty member, will now be chairperson of Collegewide CASSC. Pat Stephenson will now be a faculty representative on the Coordinating Committee. Rosemary Green will be the staff representative on this committee.
Susan Kah also announced that College CASSC approved the new math proposal, which requires students majoring in education to complete 9 credits of college level math. Susan announced that the math department assured College CASSC that faculty would be assigned to teach lab classes. This new math requirement is effective for the new academic year.
Susan also reported that Dr. Jeffrey Lukenbill discussed Miami-Dade Community College’s emergency procedures. Susan Kah discussed the importance of everyone leaving the building when an emergency alarm is activated. She stated that we should always assume there is a real emergency and that this message should be echoed to students as well. Arcie Ewell stated that many students don’t want to leave the building, but they must get into the habit of leaving, even during emergency drills.
Lillie Martinez asked which doors should be exited during an emergency. Arcie Ewell stated that everyone should go to the nearest exit. Richard Prentiss commented that sometimes when the alarms in building 1 go off, they don’t go off in building 2. Arcie announced that the alarms will go off in both buildings from now on.
Susan Kah also reported that Dr. Lukenbill discussed the budget and the ways Miami-Dade can save money. Dr. Lukenbill did not think that the college would have to come up with drastic measures to achieve the necessary 5-8% cut.
Dr. Lukenbill also reported that Miami-Dade Community College would be participating in Operation Paycheck, which is now underway.
Ellyn Biggs announced that today’s PowerPoint workshop was the first one this semester that hasn’t had to be cancelled due to low enrollment. Ellyn also reported that in an effort to increase participation, future workshops will be spread out in the mornings and afternoons.
Susan Kah asked CASSC members about their thoughts on why the enrollment for CT&D workshops has been low.
Martha Bryan commented that because of the demands of lectures and clinics, schedules sometimes do not permit time to attend CT&D workshops. However, she did point out that CT&D always provides one on one attention whenever necessary.
Eric Weaver suggested putting each session on a module so that people can access it through online tutorials. Ellyn Biggs pointed out that this would be done next semester. Pam Singer thinks this is a good idea and will work out.
Carl Jean-Charles commented that perhaps specific groups should be targeted for workshops. He suggested that the schedules of specific groups be reviewed and workshops be offered to fit the schedules of the groups.
Annette Baker stated that after completing Excel I, a certificate should be issued without having to complete Excel II. Ellyn Biggs stated that Excel II can be made up at a later date.
Susan Kah announced that the Stem Cell Research forum was held today at 10:30am. She thanked all panelists and commented on the need for more interdisciplinary activities on the Medical Center Campus.
Fran Aronovitz agreed and commented that we have to help our students look at other sides of issues.
Susan Kah announced that Lisa Soontupe has agreed to become the Honors Coordinator for the Medical Center Campus. She will officially begin in January, 2002.
Susan Kah presented the newly proposed elective course, HSC 1130- Introduction to Alternative Medicine and Complimentary Therapies. She reported that Dr. Larry Seaman, a podiatrist and faculty member in the Biology, Health & Wellness department on the North Campus of Miami-Dade Community College initiated this course. She also reported that the course will be managed by the Medical Center Campus under the Continuing Education department and will begin in the Spring term if approved by College CASSC. This is a college credit course and may be offered on all campuses. The students on the Medical Center Campus can take this course as well.
Fran Aronovitz asked how this course fits into the Associate in Arts Degree. Susan Kah stated that this course is a general education elective course. Martha Bryan commented that the course competencies for this course seem very general. Joan McLaughlin and Caridad Gutierrez questioned the lack of prerequisites for this course. Caridad stated that the course does not appear to be a realistic course for students who want to go into medicine.
Silvia Romero stated that students taking this course need at least Anatomy and Physiology. Eric Weaver did not agree and noted that if Anatomy and Physiology were required, many students would not take it.
Pam Singer stated that this course is an elective; a course for students to explore and find things they are interested in. Lillie Martinez agreed, describing it as clearly an elective.
Annette Baker questioned why there is a need for faculty who are interested in teaching this elective course to have a Masters degree. Susan Kah explained that all faculty teaching transferable courses must have a Masters degree with 18 credits in the discipline.
Susan Kah remarked that she can raise the concern of some CASSC members who feel that there is a need for Anatomy and Physiology. She asked all CASSC members if there was any strong opposition to this course moving forward to College CASSC. Campus CASSC endorsed the course.
Susan Kah announced that Open House will be on Thursday, October 25th. Labs will be open and a good turnout is expected.
Pam Singer stated that in the future, we should announce the date of Open House at convocation. Lenora Yates pointed out that this was actually done in August. Pam also stated that it should be made clear to faculty that they can add Open House on their schedules as campus/college time.
Some of the recruitment ideas of Hernan Febres and Eric Weaver were discussed. Some suggestions included having a suitcase that contains all information about Medical Center programs readily available and having small displays for each program available.
Eric Weaver also suggested that field trips with Anatomy and Physiology classes on other campuses be scheduled to bring students to the Medical Center Campus. Eric also commented that we need to work on making classes more appealing to students by offering more evening and weekend classes.
Hernan Febres suggested targeting the hospitals and those thinking of new careers. Joan McLaughlin agreed that we should target the adult population. Fran Aronovitz remarked that we have never done a good job of recruiting from high schools and middle schools, but we should not just ignore them.
Lenora Yates inquired if high school students can volunteer on the Medical Center Campus in order to fulfill their high school service-learning requirement. Arcie Ewell suggested that perhaps this is something we can explore, although we don’t currently do this.
Lillie Martinez stated that she thinks students would be bored if their experience on the Medical Center Campus is simply answering the telephones and taking messages.
Arcie Ewell stated that in an effort to recruit successfully, it is helpful to know what programs have a need for students.
Diann Gregory commented that more coordination is needed when advertisements go out because incorrect contact information is sometimes provided to the public. She stated that the direct phone numbers to the departments should be given.
Richard Prentiss agreed and stated that there are too many time delays when calls are sent to a call center where calls are then forwarded to departments. He stated that this process is causing lots of frustration.
Susan Kah reported that the previous recruitment and retention committee has a plan that they will present at the November CASSC. She also reported that new members are currently being sought for the new recruitment and retentions committees. Diann Gregory, Hernan Febres, Lenora Yates, and Caridad Gutierrez volunteered for the recruitment committee. After volunteering for either committee, Joan McLaughlin was asked to serve on the retention committee.
Carol Petrozella inquired whether or not there has been any follow-up with those who volunteered at convocation for recruitment because she stated she has not been contacted. Arcie Ewell stated that she would follow-up with this.
Lessie Pryor reported that the attendance at the One-Stop Retraining meetings has been limited. Lessie stated that they were ready to offer short term Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide programs, but the response to retraining has not been sufficient.
Eric Weaver stated that people may be hesitant because of the huge leap from the travel industry to the healthcare field.
Susan Kah stated that she would keep us posted on the results of the retraining efforts.
Hernan Febres inquired about the status of the projectors in the classrooms. Susan Kah asked him to call Miguel Menendez directly and stated that there has been a theft of some of the projectors.
Arcie Ewell reminded everyone that they should call security to lock doors to the classrooms or conference rooms when they are no longer in use.
Lillie Martinez announced that the Medical Center Campus will have Octoberfest on October 31, 2001, at 11:30am in the atrium. This is a to benefit the United Way.
NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2001, AT 12:00PM IN ROOM 2304.
Submitted by Debra A. Shannon
Cassc.min.10.22.01