MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MEDICAL CENTER CAMPUS

CAMPUS CASSC MEETING

September 24, 2001

MINUTES

PRESENT:  Frances Aronovitz, Annette Baker, Darlene Berger, Matha Bryan, Terrance Davis, Arcie Ewell, Hernan Febres, Orlando Fernandez, Virginia Fuillerat, Diann Gregory, Caridad Gutierrez, Raquel Hardie, Susan Kah, Lillie Martinez, Joan McLaughlin, Miguel Menendez, Carol Miller, Carlos Pedemonte, Richard Prentiss, Lessie Pryor, Pam Singer, Eric Weaver, Mary Worsley, Lisa Velasco, Lenora Yates

ABSENT:  Charles Jean-Charles (absent from work)

GUESTS:  Ellyn Biggs, Carol Petrozella, Dixie Lemons

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from 5/21/01, 6/25/01, and 7/23/01 were approved.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW CAMPUS CASSC MEMBERS

Introductions of all 2001-2002 Campus CASSC members were made.

Susan Kah informed CASSC members that they should contact Debra Shannon ahead of time if they are unable to attend CASSC meetings.

Susan Kah also discussed the need for a special Campus CASSC election in the Vision Care, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Histologic Technology areas to replace Mark McKay, who is no longer employed at M-DCC. The election will take place before the October 22, 2001 Campus CASSC meeting.

C T & D REPORT

Ellyn Biggs and Carol Petrozella announced that a new Lab Technician by the name of Neil Domingo has been hired to work for C T & D. Ellyn and Carol also discussed the workshops listed on the tentative C T & D calendar for the 2001-1 term.

Carol reported that the new employee orientation that was held on August 24, 2001 was also successful. Carol Petrozella also reported that the Medical Center Campus was number one in attendance for the C T & D Open House that was held on September 17, 2001. 

HONORS COORDINATOR ASSIGNMENT

Susan Kah reported that the new Honors College at Miami-Dade Community College is currently trying to increase its visibility and she would like for us to do more with Honors courses on the Medical Center Campus. One approach is to offer honors options in existing courses.

Susan Kah reported that there is currently an opportunity for a faculty member to receive release points as the Honors Coordinator for the Medical Center Campus. This assignment would begin in January, 2002.

Susan Kah reported that information about this available assignment was announced to all

full-time Medical Center Campus faculty several weeks ago via e-mail, but as of today, no one has expressed any interest. Duties for this assignment were included in the e-mail as well. Susan inquired how interest in this assignment could be increased. 

Pam Singer stated that she thinks that this assignment is one that faculty would be interested in and that they might just be busy right now because the new term just started. 

Student Campus CASSC members Lillie Martinez and Lisa Velasco, both members of the Student Government Association, agreed that the idea of Honors courses on the Medical Center Campus is a good one.

Eric Weaver inquired if students would receive elective credits for taking separate honors courses, instead of incorporating honors courses into the current programs.  He also inquired about the opportunity for students to complete a special research project for honors credit.

Fran Aronovitz inquired about the process for applying for the assignment and stated that perhaps Campus CASSC members can think of someone and recommend him or her to Susan Kah.  Susan stated that the candidate for this assignment should be someone who has the desire to work across disciplines and feels that they should self-identify if they are interested.

Susan Kah also stated that this assignment would not have to be forever and could be done on a  yearly basis. In an effort to recruit applicants for the assignment, Susan Kah will announce this opportunity again through e-mail and phone mail and feels that having an honors program on the Medical Center Campus can be a good student recruitment tool.

PHI THETA KAPPA SATELLITE SEMINAR SERIES

Dixie Lemons, Phi Theta Kappa President, Medical Center Campus, reported that the Medical Center Campus Phi Theta Kappa and the Honors College will be presenting five Satellite Seminars with the theme, “Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:  The Human Drive for Community.”

Satellite #1, titled, The Marginalized Community: Bridging the Great Divide will be broadcast on Tuesday, September 25, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., in room 1175.

Satellite #2, titled, The Isolated Community will be broadcast on Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., in room 1175.

Satellite #3, titled, An Exploration of Community Through the Arts and Humanities will be broadcast on Tuesday, October 23, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., in room 1175.

Satellite #4, titled, The Livable Urban Community will be broadcast on Tuesday, November 6, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., in room 1175.

Satellite #5, titled, The Future of Community will be broadcast on Tuesday, November 20, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., in room 1175.

Dixie Lemons reported that this would be the first time the Medical Center Campus will be broadcasting the satellite series and she encouraged everyone to attend.

STEM CELL RESEARCH FORUM

Susan Kah reported that a embryonic stem cell research forum, initiated by the Honors College of Miami-Dade Community College, will be held on the Medical Center Campus, Monday, October 22, 2001, from 10:30am-11:45 am, in room 1175.

The panel will consist of Lenora Yates, Kenneth Lee, Justine Clegg and Carol Petrozella. This discussion will be moderated by Kenneth Kozeka, Chairman of the Biology- Health & Wellness department, North Campus. Everyone was encouraged to attend.

RECRUITMENT/RETENTION

Virginia Fuillerat, Director of the New Student Center, Retention and Transition Services- Medical Center Campus, reported that she is currently putting a plan together to gather data. She stated that her area is also looking at vocational programs and how they transfer.

Virginia is also looking for others who are interested in joining the recruitment and retention committee. Joan McLaughlin inquired if she is able to receive assistance with Medical Laboratory Technology recruitment. Virginia told Joan to contact Erica Redman.

Pam Singer asked if the low enrollment in the Medical Laboratory Technology program is due to students attending other schools.  Joan stated that the low enrollment might be due to the lack of available jobs in Miami in this field. Virginia stated that selling points to students would help with recruitment efforts.

Susan Kah reported that Fran Aronovitz and Carol Miller would be attending a proactive meeting with other school directors today on how Miami-Dade Community College can offer career choices to those losing their jobs because of the change in the economy since the terrorist attacks.

Hernan Febres stated that in an effort to recruit new students, we should find out where our current students found out about our programs. Lillie Martinez feels that students should participate in some of the recruitment and retention expositions with faculty. 

Eric Weaver suggested that we repackage some of our current programs and set up track programs so that students are not taking courses they don’t need. Pam Singer expressed the need for a Medical Center Campus telephone hotline for students who get confused because they receive conflicting information.

Arcie Ewell stated that we should all be sure that we are giving consistent information about our programs and what students should be taking. Virginia Fuillerat stated that Erica Redman is currently working on getting information about our programs to pre-select students on all campuses and Henry Lewis is working on scheduling meetings with advisors on other campuses to thoroughly discuss our programs and requirements.

Susan Kah stated that there is a need to be divided into two separate committees, one for retention and one for recruitment.

PHONE LIST AND DIRECTORY UPDATING

Susan Kah asked everyone to make sure that his or her home and office numbers are up to date in the Medical Center Campus on-line phone book.  Miguel Menendez should be contacted if there are any problems accessing the phone book.

Richard Prentiss requested that the Medical Center Campus directory be printed at least once per year. Miguel stated that this relies on too much paper and the college is trying to avoid this.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Susan Kah informed CASSC members that full-time and adjunct faculty need to remind students in our programs that Hartford Accident Insurance covers them if they have an accident while they are in class or in a clinical site. They are not covered once they leave the clinical or classroom setting. Susan reported that many students are unaware that they pay for this insurance and that they are covered. 

Lillie Martinez inquired whether students should be given the Hartford Accident Insurance policy number to carry around with them. Pam Singer agreed that this would be a good idea.

Carol Petrozella expressed the importance of the faculty member guiding the student through the proper procedures if an accident does occur in a clinical site.

HOLISTIC HEALTH COURSE

The Deans have not yet reviewed the Holistic Health course. It should come back for review at the next Campus CASSC meeting on October 22, 2001. 

OPEN HOUSE

Susan Kah announced that the date for the Medical Center Campus Open House is October 25, 2001 and will begin at 5:30 pm.  The entire community is invited.

CAMPUS CASSC MEETING SCHEDULE

Susan Kah announced that Campus CASSC meetings for the Medical Center Campus are usually held the third Monday of every month, although she suspects that there will no longer be any July meetings. However, we will leave the July 22, 2002 meeting date on the schedule in case we do decide we need to meet.

ELECTION OF CASSC COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

An election was held to elect a Campus CASSC Coordinating Committee. The CASSC Coordinating Committee should consist of two faculty, one support staff member and one administrator. As a result of the election, the following CASSC members will serve on the CASSC Coordinating Committee for 2001-2001:

Darlene Berger (support staff), Eric Weaver (faculty), Hernan Febres (faculty). Susan Kah will appoint the administrator.

OTHER

Pam Singer reported on the Learning Innovations meeting that was held on September 10, 2001, on the Medical Center Campus. She reported that thirty-eight Medical Center Campus faculty members were in attendance and that she was unanimously elected as the learning coordinator, representing the Medical Center Campus. Also, the minutes from the Learning Innovations meeting were shared with CASSC members.

One issue that was discussed by the MCC faculty was the need for more time to meet with other faculty and exchange ideas across disciplines, as well as within disciplines. Faculty also seems to be interested in a bottom up approach to implementing the learning innovations project, not a top down approach.

She reported that the learning coordinators from all campuses would be meeting with Dr. Padron on September 25, 2001 to further discuss the learning innovations project.

Susan Kah reported that because there is a new math requirement for education majors in Florida that is effective this fall term (2001-1), students majoring in education will be required to complete 9 credits of college level math.  In order to keep Miami-Dade Community College in compliance with this new requirement, the math department has proposed that education majors take one of the following options: 

Option 1- MAC 1105-College Algebra (3 credits), MAC 1105L-College Algebra Laboratory (1 credit), MTG 2204-Geometry for Educators (3 credits), MTG 2204L- Geometry for Educators Lab (1 credit), and MGF XXXX- Basic Probability (1 credit), which includes probability and basic statistics.

Option 2- Students can take any combination of college-level mathematics courses (excluding MAT 1033) that totals at least nine credits and includes MAC 1105(or a substitute course higher in the algebra/ calculus sequence) and MTG 2204.

MAC 1105, MGF XXXX, and MTG 2204 all satisfy the general education math requirement and are also available for the CLAST alternative.  MAC 1105L does not satisfy the general education math requirement and is not available for the CLAST alternative.

Richard Prentiss asked why the math laboratory courses are required under option 1 if they don’t satisfy the general education math requirement. Susan Kah explained that the laboratory courses are meant to be support courses.

Pam Singer stated that the new math proposal only seems to be meeting only part of the new requirement and feels that the state will question it.

Also, many CASSC members expressed concerns about the possibility of the math labs not actually being taught by faculty and believe that they need to be.

CASSC members endorsed this new math proposal.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2001, AT 12:00PM IN ROOM 2304.

Submitted by Debra A. Shannon

Cassc.min.9.24.01