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NFCC Asks For Communities Help In Preparing New Strategic Plan

July 15, 2011 Education, Front Page Comments Off
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

North Florida Community College has begun preparing their new strategic process for the coming months. This plan outlines NFCC’s process for determining the strategies they will use in order to advance the college in the future.

The staff at NFCC request that everyone, whether they are staff, students or simply community members to please take part in this survey to gather information to help them begin the new strategic plan. The community plays a huge role in the daily activities at NFCC and the community’s feedback is essential to the success of this plan. The survey can be found at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/52RR5W3.

Currently the plan has seven goals and 26 activities that will help the college meet these goals. The introduction to the 2007-2010 plan states that, “Strategic planning at North Florida Community College is an ongoing process meant to provide a framework for planning by divisions, departments, and individuals. The plan consists of seven goals and 26 objectives that are interrelated and tied to the College’s mission. These goals and objectives were developed to provide the foundation for a three-year planning cycle.”

The current Vision provided in the outline states, “Our vision for North Florida Community College is to be a vibrant educational community serving rural North Florida, including the counties of Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor, and beyond. We will offer a student-centered faculty and staff who embrace diversity in a friendly and inclusive learning environment. The college will provide technologically advanced educational opportunities in response to the community’s need for quality, affordable, and accessible programs. The College will partner with business, industry, community and educational institutions to promote the economic and community development of our region.”

The current Mission reads, “North Florida Community College provides quality teaching and learning opportunities for individual and community development in a changing society.” And their Motto is, “Our Mission: YOU.”

The 2007-2010 strategic plan also explains the opportunities that students have at NFCC. It explains, “North Florida Community College offers: Transferable college credit programs leading to the Associate in Arts Degree. Workforce development programs leading to the Associate in Science Degree or technical certificates for occupational skills and employment. Access to baccalaureate degree programs through partnerships with colleges and universities. Basic literacy and adult general education leading to the GED. Personal, professional and academic development opportunities through credit and non-credit programs. Partnerships with business, industry, government and other institutions to promote  economic development and provide retraining opportunities for the district’s  workforce. Support services to assist students in making educational, vocational and personal decisions. Cultural, recreational and enrichment opportunities for students and residents of the  community.”

To view the current strategic plan, you may visit http://www.nfcc.edu /media/58772/sp%2007-10.pdf.

If you have any questions, please contact Tara Orlowski at orlowskit @nfcc.edu or (850) 973-1789.

 

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Take Stock In Children Launches New Online Virtual Tours Of Florida Colleges

June 28, 2011 Education Comments Off

NFCC Included In The 15 Colleges Selected

 

A new collection of virtual tours of Florida’s most popular colleges has been launched by Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization with a 16 year history of helping low-income and at-risk youth break the cycle of poverty by providing scholarships, mentors and hope. With funding provided by the Helios Education Foundation, this free online service gives students who do not have the means to travel and tour schools the chance to “visit” them online, and consequently eliminates the financial burden and costs associated with individual campus visits.
Available exclusively through Take Stock in Children’s website, www.TakeStockInChildren.org, the online virtual tours will highlight key aspects of various state college campuses in order to assist students during the college selection process. Scholars will be able to virtually visit 15 of the most-attended state colleges throughout Florida including: Brevard Community College, Broward College, Indian River State College, Florida Gateway College, Miami Dade College, Palm Beach State College, Valencia Community College, College of Central Florida, Tallahassee Community College, North Florida Community College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Santa Fe College, St. Petersburg College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota and Edison State College.

The online virtual tours serve as an invaluable resource to our program participants and all those pursuing a post-secondary education,” says Richard Berkowitz, State Board Chair of Take Stock in Children.

“Many of our students are first generation college attendees and are not familiar with the different aspects of a college campus, and this gives them direct access to view the most popular state colleges in Florida at any time.”
The launch of online virtual tours is part of Take Stock in Children’s continued efforts to enhance technology and improve college enrollment across Florida through a $1 million donation from the Helios Education Foundation. Alongside the online virtual tours, a portion of the donated funds are providing students with college survival toolkits and online educational modules in several languages including English, Spanish and Creole.
“The Helios Education Foundation recognizes the importance of preparing students for success through post-secondary education,” says Paul Luna, President and CEO of the Helios Education Founda- tion. “We are proud to support Take Stock in Children and such an important program that will assist our youth to advance in their pursuit of education.”
“We are excited that Take Stock in Children has launched this online resource allowing students to further explore each college, and thus make a better informed decision about their future studies,” says Will Holcombe, Chancellor of the Florida College System. “It is yet another way that this important organization is helping to provide and increase access to a college education in Florida.”
Students enrolled with Take Stock in Children are identified in middle and high school, and then sign a contract pledging to remain drug and crime free, as well as maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or greater. All students that fulfill these obligations and successfully complete the program then receive full scholarships to a state college or university.
To learn more about Take Stock in Children or to become a valued mentor or supporter, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.
About Take Stock in Children
Take Stock in Children is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a solid 16 year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships and hope for Florida’s low-income and at-risk youth. The organization has provided educational support and college scholarships for over 17,000 children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout 67 counties in Florida. It is the only scholarship mentoring program with the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education, and has attained a high school graduation rate of 92 percent in Florida (as compared to Florida’s average graduation rate of 76%). The program’s multi-year commitment to students and their comprehensive program services begin in middle school and continue through high school graduation and into college.  Special emphasis is placed on student accountability and specific measurable outcomes. Take Stock in Children students pledge to meet with their assigned mentor once a week, maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5, and remain drug and crime free.  Upon successful high school graduation, as a fulfillment of their contractual agreement, students are then awarded a college scholarship to any college, university or vocational school in the state of Florida. To learn more about Take Stock in Children, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.

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NFCC Recognizes College Employees For Professional Achievement And Years Of Service

May 26, 2011 Education Comments Off
NFCC’s “Above and Beyond Award” recipients are, left to right: Kim Halfhill, Marie Guest and Lisa Barden.

Lisa Barden, Marie Guest and Kim Halfhill receive NFCC’s “Above and Beyond Award”

NFCC’s “Above and Beyond Award” recipients are, left to right: Kim Halfhill, Marie Guest and Lisa Barden.

North Florida Community College employees gathered in the courtyard of the NFCC Walter L. Bishop Administration Building April 26 for the NFCC Courtyard Party. The gathering honors all NFCC employees for their contributions to the college, recognizes NFCC’s Above and Beyond award recipients and honors employees for years of service to NFCC.
Three NFCC employees were selected to receive NFCC’s Above and Beyond Award for 2010-2011 – Lisa Barden of Madison County, Marie Guest of Lake Park, Ga., and Kim Halfhill of Madison. Barden is an art instructor at NFCC. She also coordinates the NFCC Hardee Center for the Arts and is advisor to the NFCC Art Club.
Guest is a business and digital media instructor at NFCC, serves as Department Chair of Social Science, Business, Education, and Computer Science for the college, and is an advisor to the NFCC Business Club.
Kim Halfhill is Director of Student Services at NFCC and is advisor to NFCC’s Student Government Association (SGA).  The Above and Beyond awards are given each year to NFCC employees, staff and faculty members, who go above the call of their regular jobs to assist students, to assist their colleagues or to benefit the college.
Fifteen employees received service awards from NFCC recognizing years of service ranging from five years to 25 years. They are:
25 Years: Doug Brown (Madison County); Margie Phillips (Madison County); and Kathy Smith (Madison County).
20 Years: Cissy Adleburg (Madison County); Cindy Gaylard (Madison County); and Karen Surles (Madison County).
10 Years: Betty Starling (Madison County) and Annette Thornton (Madison County).
Five Years: Denise Bell (Suwannee County); Tammy Horne (Madison County); Skip James (Madison County); Phillip Taylor (Madison County); Susan Taylor (Jefferson County); Wesley Thompson (Madison County); and Margaret Wilkerson (Madison County).

NFCC employees (left to right) are: Tammy Horne, Denise Bell, Susan Taylor, Skip James and Margaret Wilkerson are recognized for dedicating five years of service to NFCC.

Thirteen employees received special recognition for professional achievement. The awards were given in honor of employees completing degrees, publishing works, and serving on state and national boards among other things. Those honored include Jefferson County residents Bonnie Littlefield and Susan Taylor; Lake City, resident Efrain Bonilla; and Madison County residents, Debbie Bass, Vickie Bossé, Doug Brown, Amy Ellison, Kathy Fields, Skip James, Rose Knox, Tara Orlowski, Julie Townsend and Julie Walden.
Retiring foreign languages instructor Rosie Leparulo was also honored during the ceremony. Leparulo, a resident of Tallahassee, began teaching at NFCC in 1987 and built a very impressive career that spans more than two decades.
For more information contact College Advancement at (850) 973-1653 or email news@nfcc.edu.

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