Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Phoenix College Names Paul DeRose Head of Administrative Services

Phoenix College Names Paul DeRose Head of Administrative Services

Following a nation-wide search, Phoenix College has named Paul DeRose as the new Vice President of Administrative Services, effective November 8, 2010.

DeRose has served as the Interim Vice President of Administrative Services at Phoenix College for the past nine months. He has more than 17 years experience working for the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) in business and administrative services, including more than a decade at Phoenix College.

“Paul’s stellar contributions to the talented Phoenix College family include a collaborative leadership style, a wealth of knowledge, and extensive experience,” said Phoenix College president Dr. Anna Solley. “We are delighted that he will use his expertise to direct the fiscal and general operation of the college, which directly affects the delivery of teaching and learning experiences that inspire success among our students.”

As chief operational officer, DeRose is a member of Phoenix College’s senior management team. His duties include oversight of the areas of business services, information technology, operations, employee services, public safety, and athletics. Phoenix College serves over 30,000 students each year and is the flagship of the Maricopa County Community College District, which is the largest provider of health care workers and job training in Arizona and one of the largest providers of higher education in the United States.

“Administrative Services plays an integral role in providing services that support the college’s mission of delivering teaching and learning experiences,” said DeRose. “I am very excited for the opportunity to provide leadership to this area.”

DeRose has played an active role in budget development for Phoenix College. His leadership contributed to the college’s ability to overcome over $3 million in operational budget reductions during the last five years. In addition, he is actively involved with the college’s capital development plan, and provides direction to the $24 million renovation project of Hannelly Center and Learning Center building.

With a transparent approach to budgeting and processes, DeRose has been instrumental in establishing collaborative working relationships within the campus community and throughout MCCCD. He has actively participated on the Phoenix College Budget Review Committee for 10 years, serving as a co-chair for five years. In addition, he is currently working to improve systems and processes throughout MCCCD as a member of several of Chancellor Rufus Glasper’s 21st Century Maricopa work teams.

DeRose holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Arizona State University. His educational goals include the pursuit of Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. For the past four years, he has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Phoenix College Business department.

DeRose resides in Mesa with his wife and two daughters.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Phoenix College International Reading Fest: Crossing Borders, Making Connections

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Join the Phoenix College Reading Department for a special celebration of all things literary on November 16 and 17, 2010. In conjunction with International Education Week Activities, the Phoenix College International Reading Festival will feature author visits, book signings, a book shop, storytelling, and more. All events are free and open to the entire community. Bring a book to donate in support of child care centers and Faculty Association student scholarships.
For more information, contact Cindy Ortega at 602.285.7768.

Tuesday, November 16th                 
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Opening Reception featuring storyteller Fatimah Halim ~ Willo Room
Light refreshments will be served.
Hosted by Phoenix College Alumni Association

Wednesday, November 17th
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Book Shop ~ Sophomore Square

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Keynote Speaker Marisel Herrera-Anderson ~ Bulpitt Auditorium
Marisel Herrera-Anderson is a dynamic speaker, author, and life coach who energizes audiences with empowering messages that draw from her rich cultural heritage and passionate belief in the power of education and faith to transform lives. A New York-born Puerto Rican, educator and servant-leader, she speaks to the bilingual and bicultural realities facing Latina/os. Herrera-Anderson is the author of the memoir Puerto Rican Goldilocks and other creative works. [Taken from the author’s website, www.mariselspeaks.com.]

10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Book Signing at Book Shop ~ Sophomore Square

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. “Do Tell” Storytelling Event ~ Campus Vista Room (Library)

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Crossing Borders:  Stories That Connect Us ~ Bulpitt Auditorium
Join us for an author panel and book signing featuring Bryan Beach, Hershman John, and Rita Maria Magdaleno. Enjoy Cuban dance performed by Fuego Latino - Revista Musical. Light refreshments will be served.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Phoenix College to Participate in National Student Success Program

Phoenix College has been awarded a $187,000 grant by the Gateway to College National Network as part of the Project DEgree initiative. Funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this initiative will help students achieve success in their pursuit of a college education. Phoenix College was chosen as one of eight schools across the nation to participate.

Project DEgree is designed to provide a college success structure for 18-26-year-olds who have earned a high school diploma or GED, but who still require further education to prepare for college-level coursework. The program provides students with intensive academic and social supports, offers an engaging foundation-based curriculum and establishes a peer group learning community to help students structure their lives so they can build and maintain the momentum necessary to complete their educational goals.

Project DEgree provides the funds to concentrate all of the best practices to ensure success and completion for this cohort of students,” said Robin Ozz, director of developmental education at Phoenix College. “This includes a theme-based, active engagement learning community of Reading, English, and College Success skills, along with a dedicated resource specialist who will not only teach the success course but whose primary job it is to ensure student success, whether the barriers are academic or personal,” she said.

In their first year, students will be part of a learning community with 25 peers. Together, they will take developmental coursework in reading and writing, a college success course, and will receive preparatory tutoring in math. After completing their initial courses, students will progress as a learning community, taking the next sequence of reading, writing, and math classes, as well as a counseling and personal development course.

During the second year of the Project DEgree initiative, students will transition into college-level coursework and progress toward the certificate or degree of their choice. They will be encouraged to take 12 credit hours of coursework each semester. In this phase, the students will be supported by a completion advisor who will work closely with advising staff to provide counseling and connection to college resources and support services.

“This program is based on what has been working for the Gateway to College Network with incredible results for the past five years in high schools nationwide, and now they are replicating these success strategies for the under prepared student in the community college,” said Ozz.

Gateway to College National Network is a national nonprofit organization that is tackling the dropout crisis and catalyzing change across developmental education in colleges. Organizational strategies include creating and replicating innovative programs, building partnerships, influencing systems, conducting research and sharing what they know, helping effect policy and regulatory changes, and providing customized consulting services. The National Network also offers training, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities to Gateway to College and Project DEgree programs across the country. 

Nominate a PC Instructor for the Distinguished Teaching Award

Phoenix College Distinguished Teaching Award

One of the hallmarks for excellence in two-year colleges is the recognition and reward of excellence in teaching. Phoenix College has established the Distinguished Teaching Award to recognize teaching excellence by its faculty. Recipients receive a plaque, have all expenses paid to professional conferences or seminars (up to $1,500), and share their methods and techniques with other faculty. Also, they award a $250 scholarship given in their name to a qualified PC student of their choice. The recipient of this award is chosen by a committee of peers, based on a screening process, submitted supporting paperwork, and classroom observation of the nominees.

To be eligible for the Distinguished Teaching Award, nominees must demonstrate a sustained contribution to the students and the college. Therefore, before being nominated, nominees must be current residential (full-time) faculty and have completed three or more years of residential (full-time) teaching at Phoenix College. Any student, employee, alumnus of Phoenix College, or any member of the community may make nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award.


NOMINATION FORM: http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/ctlt/forms/nominationForm.php

Complete the online form, and explain, to the best of your knowledge, why the nominee is a Phoenix College Distinguished Teacher. Consider how the nominee demonstrates any or all of the distinguished teaching criteria listed below. Address only those areas about which you have knowledge. Do not feel that you must address all of the established criteria.

1. With Students

* displays a high degree of respect for attitudes and values of the students
* interacts effectively in formal and informal situations
* concentrates on students needs
* allows students to explore ideas effectively
* encourages life-long learning
* demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching and for subject area
* invites independent thinking


2. With Subject Area

* stays current with new information
* develops classroom techniques and/or materials that reflect new concepts in subject area, and/or new concepts in the presentation (or teaching) of the subject area


3. With Course Learning Materials

* has thorough knowledge of subject
* develops and/or maintains learning materials for particular courses (syllabi, learning packets, supplementary handouts, media, etc.)
* stimulates student interest about the course subject.


4. With College/Community Involvement

* contributes to institutional vitality
* represents the college in the greater community
* involved in campus activities beyond the classroom, such as developing new courses, writing grants, etc.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Scholarship Opportunity: Women's Philanthropy Circle

The purpose of the Maricopa Colleges Foundation Women's Philanthropy Circle is to create resources and raise funds to diminish barriers to higher education for MCCCD women students. In doing so, the WPC will cultivate women as philanthropists.

The Women's Philanthropy Circle invites applications for the WPC Scholarship. Five students will be awarded $1,000 each for the Spring, 2011 semester based on the following criteria:

* ·attended at least one semester at a Maricopa Community College;
* · earned at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average;
* ·are enrolled in the semester for which the scholarship will be awarded for at least 6 credit hours;
* ·can describe barriers to their success in college; (there will be an additional question on the application to cover this)
* · and, are a resident of Maricopa County.

Scholarship awards are potentially renewable; recipients are asked to apply each academic year.

As part of the WPC Mission to cultivate women as philanthropists so they can one day reach back to help other women, scholarship recipients will be expected to:

* participate in Women’s Philanthropy Circle events; and
* speak to groups about how the scholarship has helped them to achieve their educational goals.

Applications must be submitted on-line before Dec. 5, 2010 through the STARS system of the Maricopa Colleges Foundation.