COM NewsNOVEMBER 2008

1200 Amburn Road • Texas City, TX 77591 • 409-938-1211 • 1-888-258-8859 • www.com.edu

COM PTEC PrOgraM rECOgnizEd

Texas Governor Rick Perry recently recognized College of the Mainland’s associate degree process technology program for its contribution to the state’s workforce efforts. Perry cited COM’s leadership in upholding the Texas Skill Standards Board’s (TSSB) recognized industry standards to prepare students to meet the demands for a highly-skilled workforce. “With institutions like yours leading the way, the Lone Star State will continue to prosper in the future,” Perry concluded. And with an outstanding PTEC faculty and staff moving the program forward, is it any wonder the governor took notice?

Bus sTOP

Texas City launched a new bus service recently with daily stops at COM among other places. One of our Welcome Center student workers, Starr Morris, found the new transportation option...welcome. The buses run every 45 minutes from 6:15 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Fares are $1 one way and 50¢ for seniors, persons with disabilities and students. Children under six ride free. Other stops include Mainland Medical Center, Texas City High School, City Hall, Mall of the Mainland, and WalMart among others.

COM COsMETOlOgy CElEBraTEs iTs grand OPEning

a ViP Car Wash aWaiTs nExT WinnEr

(l-r) President Durrence; Stephanie Carmona, Sunshine Center; Monica O’Neal, COM Foundation; Deborah Perryman, Hospice Care Team; Betty Pena, MI Lewis and Chris Delasandri, Mainland Communities United Way The winner for the first drawing for the United Way Giveaway was Dr. Bill Spillar. He received a certificate for five daily specials from Mr. C’s Bistro. Linda Creech was the second winner and received a gift certificate from The Reef Seafood House in Texas City. A drawing will be held each Friday during the United Way campaign for those who have donated or pledged to the 2008 Mainland United Way Campaign. Other drawing giveaways include complimentary dinners worth $15.95 each from the Reef Restaurant, $50 gift certificate from the Pho Tran Restaurant, certficates for Luna’s and Cabo’s, and a very special Car Wash from the President’s Cabinet. The Car Wash Giveaway will be for those who have pledged or donated at least $150 to the 2008 Campaign (three lucky winners from that group will have their cars washed by the President’s Cabinet). Currently, the Foundation has received 95 percent of its goal of $5,500.

November 2008

lOOk WhO’s haVinga BirThday This MOnTh!

David Divine Chief Information Officer ........................................11/1

Geneva Murphy Administrative Assistant III ......................................11/1

James Finley Faculty - Masters .....................................................11/2

Ernest Navy Faculty - Masters .....................................................11/3

Roberto Arenas Advisor - Academic ..................................................11/3

Julie Colarich Laboratory Assistant I .............................................11/4

Chris Rushing Records Specialist - Admissions ...............................11/5

Alice Whistler Administrative Assistant V .......................................11/5

Bernard Smiley Faculty - Doctoral ....................................................11/7

Kimberly Coons Administrative Assistant IV......................................11/7

Guinndolyn Sharpe Program Coordinator II .............................................11/8

Electra Long Job Placement Specialist ...........................................11/10

Edwin Glover Faculty - Masters ......................................................11/10

Christopher Boyd Media Assistant ........................................................11/16

Nancy Chacon COM Press Operator ...............................................11/16

Rebecca Miles Director of Student Financial Services ......................11/17

Tami Allison Faculty - Masters ......................................................11/17

Oscar Hernandez Groundsworker ........................................................11/17

Carolyn Veiga Administrative Assistant IV ......................................11/19

Melissa Judson Administrative Assistant II .......................................11/20

Savannah Davis Faculty - Associates ..................................................11/20

Peter Early AVP for Facilities Services.........................................11/20

Arlinda Washington Faculty - Masters ......................................................11/20

Barbara Frieze Faculty - Bachelors ...................................................11/21

Roy Nickerson Maintenance Technician - Journeyman Plumber ......11/21

Brad Traylor Coordinator - Lab ....................................................11/22

Olga Smith Administrative Assistant I ........................................11/22

Tillie Henson Library Circulation Manager ...................................11/23

Susan Wooten Administrative Assistant II .......................................11/23

Michelle Gerami Administrative Assistant II .......................................11/24

Elida Matthews Program Coordinator I ............................................11/25

Sparky Koerner Faculty - Masters ......................................................11/26

Matthew Clausen Coordinator of Computer Support ..........................11/27

Delores Fernandez Administrative Assistant II .......................................11/28

Alice Watford Faculty - Masters ......................................................11/29

Charles Jackson Program Coordinator II ...........................................11/29

Ana Cordero Custodian .................................................................11/30

Gregory Johnson Faculty - Doctoral ....................................................11/30

BirthdaysNOVEMBERdiVErsiTy COunCil rEP aTTEnds COnfErEnCE

John Presnall, faculty in the Social and Behavioral Science Department, represented the COM Diversity Council at a conference, paid in part by PDA and the Office of Diversity and Equity. Diversity, Learning and Inclusive Excellence: Accelerating and Assessing Progress Conference was held in Long Beach, Calif. “In general, I came away from the conference with the sense that COM is somewhat ahead of the curve in its attempts to foster a diverse learning environment. While we have work to do in implementation, and while change is often incremental, COM nonetheless has many of the curricular and institutional models in place,” Presnall reported.

daTaTEl lOgin

The Datatel login request form is found on the network drive I:/Datatel/Datatel Security. There is a separate form for the ST suite and the CF suite. Choose the form that is right for your job requirement. If you have any questions about who is eligible for a Datatel Login or you need refresher training, please call Martha Willis at ext. 698 or e-mail mcrain@com.edu.

E-POrTfOliO is hErE!

Our faculty has been sent a link for a FREE E-Portfolio site to evaluate for inclusion into their classroom as well as a personal showcase for educational and career development. E-Portfolio will give College of the Mainland students the edge with an electronic portfolio to manage their education, career experiences and milestones, which are always ready on the web for the perusal of a prospective employer. E-Portfolio is a robust, feature-rich environment that supports use of interactive tools like audio, video and surveys and so much more. Please contact Glenda Brents at ext. 168 for more information.

sWan sOng

A recent visitor to campus, this swan made friends with Caterrean (Cat) Wade, Gym employee, who didn’t mind sharing his lunch. The swan was last seen heading for the Student Center presumably in search of one of Mr. C’s deli sandwiches.

November 2008nEW faCEs aT COM

Marlon StevensPELAWSWellness Co-CoordinatorGymE-mail mstevens@com.edu

COMing aTTraCTiOns

NOV. 11 COM Veterans Day Salute 12:30-1:30 p.m., Library Special guest Anna Edwards, Native American speaker NOV. 11 COM Jazz Ensemble Concert 8 p.m., FA Recital HallNOV. 17 COM Concert Band 8 p.m., FA Recital HallNOV. 19 THE RUBY SUNRISE 8 p.m., Theater Free employee preview NOV. 27 Thanksgiving DEC. 3 First day of spring registration

fuTurE nEWslETTErs

• Whatactivitiesareyouinvolvedwithoutside of COM? Other than wearing a caped body suit, driving a Batmobile or fighting crime in Gotham City, tell us about any unusual hobbies you have or what you do to unwind on weekends. We just might use it in our After Hours section. We will watch for the Bat signal.

• Pleasesendsuggestionsforfutureemployee newsletters to marketing

@com.edu and put “Newsletter Suggestions” in the subject line.

WEdding BEllE in adMissiOns

Congratulations go out to admissions records specialist Jimmi Brown who tied the proverbial knot recently to become Jimmi Selman. On hand to share in the celebration were coworkers and friends, left to right: Christina Poston, Ruthie

Newman, Chris Rushing, Connie Bardwell, the new Mrs. Jimmi Selman, Laura Divine, Beverly Self, Martha Willis, Peggy Blizzard, Elma Aguilera, Martin Perez. Also in attendance were Wanda and Al Bass.

BlasT frOM ThE PasTTexasCitySun•Friday,March27,1992

fasT-TraCk MaTh CElEBraTEs Rose Shirey and the Fast-Track Math 0310 class celebrate the completion of their course while many of their friends are only taking mid-terms in the 16-week classes. The Fast-Track Math classes were created so that hard-working motivated students could complete both Math 0310 and Math 0320 during the fall semester, allowing them to enroll in College Algebra or Technical Math in the spring semester. This past year, marketing budgeted for more advertising for this course, and it has been very successful. These students that passed Math 0310 will begin the Math 0320 course.