Student Presentation – Spark Innovation Lab
Computer Studies Lecturers Helga Paggi, Edmond Hong, and Ken Michalek sponsored a work-based learning project for an OCC student group. During the project, the students worked closely with members of the Spark Innovation Lab located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The students were required to develop a database of sensitive information that permits both visitors and personnel to visit the lab. This initiative was developed as part of OCC’s ongoing relationship with the Joint Base. At Thursday’s meeting, OCC students Christopher Mata, Marco Ferriera, and Joseph Spalliero will present the “Visitor Kiosk Development” project that has a completion date of May 2023.
The project is defined as follows:
The Visitor Kiosk Development project implements a visitor log functionality for visitors to the Spark Innovation Lab. The system captures relevant information for both visitors and personnel who are permitted to visit the lab as defined by the staff on base. Examples of this information are name, location, contact information, and reason for visit. The software development included custom Python programming, implementation of SQL database queries, and a web-based user interface. The hardware platform for this system is a micro-computer and iPad.
Academic Affairs
School of Arts and Humanities
Dr. Madison Peschock, College Lecturer II in English, traveled to Niagara, New York, during Spring break and presented a paper, “Learning from Past Mistakes: A Look Back at F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Life in ‘Babylon Revisited,’” at the North Eastern Modern Language Association Conference sponsored by the University of Buffalo. Also, Dr. Peschock was recently accepted to the National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar on Flannery O’Connor.
On March 29, 2023, the Global Education Committee presented “Adventures in Filmmaking” with Sandra Levine, a member of OCC’s Media and Communications Advisory Board and documentary filmmaker.
On March 31, 2023, Jazz Jam Band was hosted by Music Adjunct Assistant Professor David Marowitz. The event included student performances on vocals and instruments, showcasing the vast musical talent of OCC students.
The 22nd Annual Ocean County College Poetry Festival Week began on April 3, 2022. School of Arts and Humanities Interim Dean Heather Sciarappa and English College Lecturer II Christine Cryan invited American poet Timothy Liu to give a reading of his latest poetry collection, which is set to publish later this month, and to conduct a question and answer session for students in the Grunin Center Theatre. Mr. Liu, who retired as a professor at William Paterson University after 24 years, spoke candidly to students about writing, life, death, and everything in between.
Poetry Festival week closed on April 6, 2023, with “He Do the Police in Different Voices,” a reading of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. The performance featured readings of Eliot’s famous poem by Professor of English David Bordelon; Associate Professor of English Jayanti Tamm; College Lecturer II in English Ameer Sohrawardy; College Lecturer II in Communications/Theater Paul Chalakani; and students Kaitlin Clutter, Jabriyah Lee, Caitlin McGlynn, Lisa Stansbury, and Samantha Boryeskne. Dr. Sandra Brown, Professor of English, provided an introduction of Eliot and highlighted his controversial nature. Professor Brown noted the beauty and artistry of the poem and answered questions from students after the performance.
On April 5, 2023, in collaboration with Student Life, Professor of English Jayanti Tamm led an open-mic afternoon for students in the Larson Student Center. The event encouraged poets, musicians, rappers, storytellers, and literary enthusiasts to share their original or favorite works with their peers. Attendees were provided with refreshments as they listened to the open mic.
Local pianist Christopher Shin performed on April 7, 2023, in the Grunin Center as part of the Friday Afternoon Recital Series. Christopher is a 16-year-old pianist from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, attending Cherry Hill High School East. In the past few years, Christopher has performed concerti with the Rowan University Orchestra, Northern Lights Music Festival (NLMF) Orchestra, Global Music Partnership (GMP) All-Star Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, and was also a finalist in the Philadelphia Orchestra Greenfield Concerto competition. In July 2021, he won the grand prize of the NLMF Concerto competition, performing the first movement of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.1.
On April 19, 2023, the Global Education Committee and College Lecturer II in English Jason Molloy hosted a screening of the 2023 Academy Award-winning film, All Quiet on the Western Front, followed by a question and answer session. Mr. Molloy, who teaches film studies, introduced the film and provided an overview to students.
The Ocean County College Repertory Theater presented William Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew from April 21 to 23, 2023, and will perform again from April 28 to 30, 2023. Directed by College Lecturer II Paul Chalakani and featuring nine OCC students, the first performances were packed and ended with cheers from the crowd.
School of Business and Social Sciences
On April 6, 2023, Business Studies College Lecturers Christopher Bottomley and Ibrahim Moustafa, along with the student Business Innovation Consortium (BIC), hosted a demonstration in Google Analytics presented by Mr. Jim Mahlmann and his colleague, Ms. Melissa Chariello, from a local marketing firm, NetCetra. The presentation was micro-targeted to eight current sections of marketing, with approximately 150-200 students, and provided information for those interested in becoming Google-certified. Students had the opportunity to witness the strength of data mining and analysis, which will improve marketers’ return on investment (ROI) and key performance indicators (KPIs).
On April 20, 2023, Accounting College Lecturers Stephanie Kroeger and Jim Hadley, with support from Mr. Chris Bottomley and the student BIC, hosted the second annual Accounting Symposium in the Gateway Building auditorium. Speakers and representatives from small accounting firms, mid-sized regional accounting firms, Big Four firms, the State of New Jersey (government auditors), the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, and popular transfer universities attended. The purpose was to expose students to a wide array of careers within accounting and have them explore their next academic steps. Students were able to make connections with the representatives from the field and other universities.
On April 3, 2023, the Ocean Education Club provided books, Easter baskets, and small toy bunnies for all children attending the OCEAN, Inc., Head Start preschool on campus. This initiative aimed to promote early literacy and encourage children to read with their parents over the Easter holiday break.
Dr. Nicole Kammer, College Lecture II in Education, the OCC Library, and students in Development of the Learner and Teaching Profession in America courses hosted Early Childhood STEM Day on April 13, 2023. This event was an opportunity for kindergarten through third-grade children to learn from current OCC education students via interactive science and Minecraft-themed displays and activities.
During March and April, about 600 students in the Student Success Seminar participated in an active shooter training event presented by the Ocean County College Safety and Security Department. It is the goal of the department to keep students, faculty, and staff safe at all times. Active shooter training not only prepares individuals for a hostile situation but also provides them with the necessary tools to create an action plan for themselves, a group, or a department. Being aware of one’s surroundings is critical to being prepared.
Throughout April and May, the OCC Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education, under the leadership of Dr. Ali Botein-Furrevig, Director, is presenting a program to the Student Success Seminar courses that will provide students with an overview of the mission and programs of the Center and educate them on the Holocaust and its relevance to the current climate of antisemitism in the county today. Dr. Botein-Furrevig has published extensively on this topic and is the author of four books, including the award-winning Heart of the Stranger: A Portrait of Lakewood’s Orthodox Community. In addition, Student Success College Lecturer II Stephanie Frattini and Dr. Margaret Maghan, College Lecturer II in Social Work, along with several of their classes, assisted in displaying 600 Holocaust remembrance flags on campus to honor the six million lives lost during the Holocaust.
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Nursing college lecturers, clinical instructors, and staff attended a webinar, Developing an Environment Supporting Diverse Student Success. The program focused on strategies that engage students in the classroom and clinical areas to support their completion of the Nursing program.
Nursing students and lecturers attended the New Jersey National League for Nursing Convention, “Nursing Foundations: Building Blocks for Healthy Communities” in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 30, 2023. Sixty-four students had the opportunity to network with their peers throughout the state and meet with potential employers. Educational sessions were provided throughout the day related to preparing the students for professional practice.
Nursing College Lecturers Marybeth Millan, MSN, RNC, CCE, and Sharon Scrofine, DNP, RN, CNE, CEN, presented a poster, “A Guided Student Mentoring Program: The Key to NCLEX-RN® Success” at the National League for Nursing Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The focus of their presentation was the structured mentoring processes that were implemented within the School of Nursing and Health Sciences this past academic year to assist graduates in passing the licensing examination (NCLEX-RN®) required to practice as a registered nurse.
On March 29, 2023, Ms. Amy Keefe of the New Jersey Sharing Network presented information to graduating Nursing students related to organ and tissue donation. Students are required to attend a presentation discussing organ and tissue donation processes in New Jersey by the Board of Nursing as part of the Nursing program curriculum.
On March 29, 2023, Ms. Donna Bonacorso, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services at RWJ Barnabas Health, presented information to graduating students regarding the nurse residency program at Community Medical Center. Ms. Bonacorso discussed the application process as well as the schedule of events included in this year-long program.
Mr. Matthew Driadon, RN, BSN, CPTC, Clinical Donation Specialist from the New Jersey Sharing Network, met on March 29, 2023, with students preparing to graduate from the Nursing program. Mr. Driadon, a graduate of the OCC School of Nursing, discussed his experiences within the profession, including positions he held as a critical care nurse working in the operating room and as a certified procurement transplant coordinator. He also shared his experiences related to practicing as a male nurse in a predominantly female profession.
School of Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Assistant Professor of Science Christine Pericone, Honors by Contract Coordinator, will be hosting the Honors by Contract Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2023. I have been asked to present awards to three students who did exceptional work on their program projects. Student works were nominated by instructors, and a committee met in early March to review all submissions. The three winners will receive monetary awards from the Ocean County College Foundation.
College Lecturer II in Biology Lincoln Simmons reported that the first annual Environmental Sciences Technical Conference held in the Grunin Center on March 30, 2023, was a great success. Over 25 vendors within the environmental industry and OCC education institutional partners met with more than 150 students from OCC, local high schools, and the Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools.
On March 20, 2023, representatives from Engineering and Industrial/Technical Studies participated in a three-night program at Manchester Middle School. The goal of this program was to encourage a vision of future STEM careers in both the student and parent participants. This is done through presentations and family STEM challenge activities.
Students in ENGR 198, Autodesk Inventor, this Spring semester have been given a design challenge to create an activity involving Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality assets from Purdue University, for the purpose of better promoting and showcasing Industrial Engineering. It is anticipated that the activity these students design and deliver will be used in the free STEAM Camp for middle and high school students the week of August 21 to 24, 2023.
On April 15, 2023, the Engineering Club and History Club jointly hosted a trip to InfoAge Learning Center in Wall, New Jersey. Since its start in 1999, InfoAge has evolved into a consortium of science and history museums and exhibits that serve as the focal point for the preservation and interpretation of New Jersey’s rich communications, computer, and electronic technology history.
April 28, 2023, is the deadline for proposal submissions to the OCC School of STEM K-12 Projects and Research Experience. The goal of this Summer program is to provide students with an opportunity to do guided independent work. Students are required to submit a proposal for their work in one of the following areas: science, technology (computer science), engineering, or math. At the completion of this fourteen-week program, participants will present their work in a poster format on campus. Each participant will be paired with a mentor.
Finance and Administration
Ocean County College Board of School Estimate Meeting
The Ocean County College Board of School Estimate meeting took place on March 29, 2023. The County Commissioners and OCC Trustees approved the FY2024 operating budget for Ocean County College, which included a 4% increase in operating support from the County of Ocean. The Board of School Estimate also approved FY2024 Chapter 12 projects, which will fund the repaving of Parking Lot 1 and upgrades to parking near the Gateway Building. The OCC Trustees expressed their appreciation for the unwavering support of the County, and the Commissioners praised the affordable service OCC provides to the Ocean County community.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Volunteer Service
Ms. Sara Winchester, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, served on a Middle States team for a follow-up visit to Clinton Community College in upstate New York on March 16 and 17, 2023.
Purchasing
An inventory spreadsheet of all College-purchased technology within the last two years was recently compiled and made available to the campus by Ms. Dinara Sherman, Procurement Supervisor, and Mr. Bryan Zangrando, Procurement Analyst. This inventory addressed Objective 2.4 in the College’s Technology Strategic Plan: Develop an IT equipment, infrastructure, and software inventory to begin prior to the annual budgeting process and to include useful life for appropriate allocation of reserved funds for equipment replacement needs.
Edits and updates to the inventory spreadsheet will be performed periodically by Purchasing staff as technology purchases are made. Departments are asked to refer to the information on the spreadsheet when considering software purchases as the information may save time and effort, as well as assist with controlling costs by utilizing the College’s existing technology when available.
The Inventory of Purchased Technology is accessible from the Faculty/Staff Portal, Purchasing and Payables page, at https://employee.ocean.edu/offices-and-services/purchasing-payables/.
Human Resources
In 2022, the Gramm-Leech-Bliley Act (originally enacted in 2003) was updated to strengthen data security requirements for non-bank institutions, including colleges and universities. The new requirements include mandatory faculty/staff training courses that cover what constitutes private information and how employees are responsible for confidentiality and proper handling of this information. Two online cybersecurity awareness courses, Preventing Phishing and Privacy Awareness, will be deployed through the employee LEARN platform in early May. These courses add to the existing mandatory FERPA (Family Educational Right to Privacy Act) information.
College Relations
Alumni
Please save the date of Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 7 p.m. for the Annual OCC Community Picnic at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws game. Join in on a private party deck for a buffet and baseball with alumni, students, staff, and faculty. Tickets are $10; buy your tickets soon as this event will sell out. An announcement about the opening of ticket sales will be forthcoming.
TV Studio
On March 1, 2023, television host and producer Sandra Levine led a successful on-camera workshop for the members of the Viking Video Club and students of the Digital Mass Media Program. Ms. Levine discussed breaking into the industry, preparing for interviews, and provided feedback during student mock interview sessions. Two additional industry professional workshops are scheduled for the Spring semester featuring a television director and an audio engineer.
Ocean County College Foundation
Assemblyman John Catalano, District 10, was officially welcomed to the OCC Foundation Board of Trustees at his first meeting held on April 12, 2023.
The New Jersey Symphony (formally the NJSO) will be welcomed back to the OCC campus on Tuesday, June, 27, 2023, at 8 p.m. The Foundation Executive Board unanimously voted to approve this sponsorship opportunity to benefit the OCC campus and the broader community with the Symphony under the Stars.
The year 2023 is the New Jersey Symphony’s centennial year; the Foundation’s Executive Director, Mr. Ken Malagiere, currently serves on the state-wide Centennial Committee.
The official fund distribution application period for campus-wide requests is open and will remain open through the first week in May. As always, all requests to the Foundation must first be reviewed by area Vice Presidents for approval and signature as well as by the College President to ensure that fund requests are aligned with the institutional mission, goals, and objectives. The application can be found on the Faculty/Staff Portal. More information is available by contacting Ms. Lisa Hussain, Advancement and Database Specialist, at lhussain@ocean.edu.
Please Save the Date for the Donor/Scholarship Meet and Greet Reception scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 5 p.m. in the beautiful Atrium of the Instructional Building.
Vice President of e-Learning and Learning Initiatives Eileen Garcia and OCC Foundation Executive Director Ken Malagiere, Co-Chairs of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, continue to assist the DEI working groups in preparing presentations to both the College and Foundation Boards at their June meetings.
The members of the committee’s working groups, selected based on expertise in their respective College divisions, are all addressing one leading challenge: How to build opportunities for conversation and reflection on current issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and social justice to enhance OCC’s institutional culture.
Additionally, the committee is working closely with the Social Justice Academy of Monmouth University, a consortium of all higher education institutions in Monmouth and Ocean counties. In July, OCC will be the first community college in New Jersey to bring the Academy to campus for a two-week immersive experience for 25 teaching professionals. The Academy is funded by a generous grant from the Grunin Foundation.
The next phase of the Legacy Campaign is scheduled to launch in June with a series of newsletters, including Foundation updates, a by-the-numbers section, upcoming events, and a look back to each of the decades of the Foundation’s service to the College community. The initiative will be spotlighting impact events, stakeholders, and Board members through curated narrative and images over the years, all in an effort to inspire additional legacy campaign commitments.
As the coming year’s Blauvelt Speaker Series is taking shape, the 2022-23 series will conclude on April 25, 2023, with Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss.
Tickets will be available as of July 15, 2023, at www.GruninCenter.org, for upcoming speakers:
- Author of How the Other Half Learns, Robert Pandiscio
- Pulitzer Prize Winning Biographer, Stacey Schiff
- Restaurateur and Celebrity Chef, Lidia Bastianich
- Acclaimed Professor and Lecturer on International Law, Dr. Craig Morton
- Tony Award-Winning Actor and Comedian, John Leguizamo.
Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts
Ms. Jaclyn Wood, Assistant Director of Education and Community Engagement, reported that the 2023 Ocean County Teen Arts Festival was held on March 21 and 22, 2023, with over 1,000 students from 15 high schools and 1 middle school participating in workshops, adjudications, and drop-in programming. In addition to thanking the Grunin Center tech crew and the Grunin team for all of their hard work, both Ms. Wood and Mr. Erik Stratton, Education and Community Engagement Coordinator, expressed sincere appreciation to the following individuals who directed workshops and adjudications; without their incredible talent and hard work, this event would not have been possible:
- Mr. Brian Gilmore, Mr. Beomjae Kim, Mr. George Perwo, and Mr. Donald VanDenberge for their Music Workshop
- Dr. Sungji Kim for serving as Vocal Adjudicator
- Mr. Nat Bard and Ms. Laura Westmoreland for serving as Visual Art Adjudicators
- Dr. Beth Brierley for serving as Theater Adjudicator
- Mr. Ralph Bertini and Ms. Mary Granahan for Filmmaking Adjudication and TV Studio tours
- Ms. Melissa Sporer and Ms. Haley Abruzzese for Vision Board Workshops
- Mr. Jason Malloy and Ms. Heidi Sheridan for Creative Writing and Poetry Adjudications
- Ms. Catherine Mancuso for serving as Dance Adjudicator and leading Dance Workshops
In addition, students from the Music Club coordinated an open mic each day, the Improv Club led student workshops, and students Alexa D’Alessandro and Katharine Tito assisted in Visual Art Adjudications and led Art Workshops.
All of these individuals were exemplary representatives of the College for the greater Ocean County school community.
As part of the Schools n’ Stage student matinee series, over 800 students attended performances of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz and Democracy and Bella Gaia (Beautiful Earth).
Ms. Jessica Zawerczuk, Assistant Director of Marketing and Sales, reported that The Sixties Show was sold out on March 18, 2023.
Assistant Director of Operations and Productions Laura Westmoreland reported that the theater is bustling, hosting two graduation ceremonies for local fire companies, nine events for multiple OCC departments and clubs, and 21 public shows in March and April, including two Blauvelt Speaker Series events.
Novins Planetarium
In March, the Planetarium hosted over 1,000 third-grade students from the Toms River District in 16 sky talks customized to their curricular needs. This comprised half of the 31 total school and group bookings for March, a record since reopening. The Planetarium also hosted nine private parties in March, also the most in a single month since reopening.
This Spring, the Planetarium piloted a Family Science Series, an event featuring a short dome show and hands-on activities in the classroom. Four events were held, with 124 children between the ages of 4-10 and their families in attendance to learn about science together.
Planetarium and other OCC staff continued to meet with KSS Architects to complete conceptual drawings for the Planetarium lobby spaces.
Associate Director Cara Muscio attended the STEM Early Education day held by the Education Department and Library. Forty-two attendees were led through activities by Ms. Muscio, other department representatives, and Education students. The Planetarium also provided content for Astronomy labs and the Center for Academic Success as well as collaborated with the Math Club and the Tutoring Center on Pi Day activities.
Security
In accordance with New Jersey Public Law 2015, Chapter 220, and College Policy #2332, Reporting of On-Campus Criminal and Fire Events, attached is the monthly statistics report of crimes, fires, and other emergencies on campus for the reporting period of March 18 through April 21, 2023.
Student Affairs
Advising
Transfer
Transfer Coordinator Laura Wills has collaborated with Academic Affairs and Career Services to bring four-year college and university representatives to campus. For the Accounting Symposium, which took place on April 20, 2023, Ms. Wills secured representation from Kean Ocean, Rutgers University School of Business, Rowan University School of Business, and Montclair State University School of Business.
To support Career Day on May 1, 2023, Ms. Wills has worked with several institutions, such as Georgian Court University, The College of New Jersey, and New Jersey Institute of Technology, to bring representatives to campus to discuss pathways for transfer in programs that fall under Perkins funding.
Curriculum Tracks
The Advising Office has completed Curriculum Tracks for all programs in the current and upcoming academic year OCC catalogs. Advisors are currently utilizing these tracks to enter a complete academic plan for all Fall 2023 applicants, as well as current students as needed.
Curriculum Tracks allow advisors to enter a complete course plan for students with the click of one button. Benefits of utilizing Curriculum Tracks include:
- Reducing the time needed for an advisor to complete a plan for a student
- Providing a student with a comprehensive plan from the beginning of their program, highlighting course sequences, semester-specific courses, and a timeline for graduation
- Increasing accuracy in advising and enabling more advisors to advise in specialized programs
- Institutional ability to understand the courses students will need in a given semester
Student Success Classroom Visits
Advising is currently piloting an initiative to bring advising and registration assistance to Student Success (STSC) classes. In Spring 2023, advisors presented to students in 14 STSC sections with the goal of teaching students how to understand and utilize their academic plans and to assist students with registration for Fall 2023.
This pilot is in preparation for Fall 2023, during which Advising will be presenting in all STSC sections. Effectiveness of the pilot will be measured in part by the number of students advised and registered for the upcoming semester.
Career Services
On Monday, April 3, 2023, Career Services hosted a Part-Time and Summer Employment Job Fair for all OCC students, which included 32 employers from various industries in the fields of recreation, healthcare, public sector, hospitality, education, and non-profit. Over 125 students attended the fair. The OCC Helping Hands Food Pantry was also present at the fair to provide grab-and-go snacks for attendees.
On Wednesday, April 5, and Thursday, April 6, 2023, in collaboration with the Southern Education Center and the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, two Part-Time and Summer Employment Job Fairs were hosted for students at the SEC. Approximately 50 students participated throughout the two-day event to meet with 14 employers. Again, the OCC Food Pantry was present to provide snacks.
Career Services Coordinator Taylor Dulemba organized the STEM Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Career Panel and Career Fair on April 12 and 13, 2023.
Career Services assisted with the planning and recruitment of industry employers for the Industrial Hygiene Conference held on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
Ms. Taylor Dulemba and Ms. Laura Wills hosted two Transfer and Career presentations to provide students with the opportunity to receive guidance on their transfer and career options.
Ms. Taylor Dulemba and Dr. Debora Kepics, Director of Career Services, continued to see current OCC students to assist with career exploration, job/internship search, and resume/cover letter reviews. Additionally, Ms. Dulemba concluded her visits to Student Success courses and her presentations at Pre-Nursing Information Sessions. Dr. Kepics has had ongoing workshops for Student Support Services (TRIO), Billing and Coding, and EOF students.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center is currently undergoing several staffing changes:
- Ms. Jessica Richardson, Displaced Homemakers Program Coach, transferred to a Coordinator position in the Veterans and Military Resources Center.
- Ms. Heather Mayer resigned her position as Mental Health Technician/Case Manager to work in the marketing industry, which is the focus of her master’s degree.
- Ms. Susan Ebeling-Witte, after a long and successful career at OCC, is retiring at the end of April. Ms. Ebeling-Witte joined OCC in the Counseling Center as a volunteer; she then interned while completing her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Next, she became a staff member; over the years, she worked in all of the department’s areas (Career Services, Displaced Homemakers, Student Support Services, and Counseling).
We wish all of our colleagues the best in their new endeavors. Recruiting is currently underway for these positions.
Director of Counseling and Student Development Kate Pandolpho has been working with Dean of Faculty Development and Learning Innovation Catherine Mancuso, Interim Assistant Dean of Arts and Humanities Samantha Glassford, Interim Arts and Humanities Lecturer II Michael Edmonson, Assistant Director of Student Disabilities Services Jamie Prioli, and Assistant Director of Veterans and Military Resources Center Christina Hernandez to bring Trauma Informed Pedagogy to the campus.
On April 12, 2023, the first of three sessions was presented on this topic. Dr. Pandolpho presented an overview of trauma and the various ways trauma can impact individuals; Ms. Glassford discussed trauma-informed pedagogy and identified methods of working with students in a trauma-informed way; Ms. Hernandez discussed veterans and what is needed to understand and debunk myths about trauma and veterans; Ms. Prioli presented about the relationships between students with disabilities and trauma; and Mr. Edmonson handled the technology and developed an informative video about how to use the HR LEARN system to register for this and subsequent sessions. This session was well received by the 27 attendees. On April 19, 2023, a session was held with two experts on trauma-informed pedagogy; and on April 25, 2023, the group will discuss resilience and how to use this knowledge when working with students, staff, and faculty.
The Counseling Center staff has been presenting to and training the OCC community on various issues:
“Changing Minds: Stories over Stigma” was presented with Minding Your Mind, a national mental health organization promoting stigma reduction and mental health awareness and education, as well as encouraging help-seeking and recovery. This presentation received very positive feedback, with over 50 faculty, staff, and students in attendance. At the request of the campus community, a second presentation from this speaker is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Kate Pandolpho presented to STEM faculty and staff.
Student Intervention Specialist Kelly Petrolis, Coordinator of the Displaced Homemakers Program Carmen Mora, and Ms. Heather Mayer presented to the School of Arts and Humanities faculty, lecturers, and staff.
Student Intervention Specialist Darra Stack participated in Wellness Day at the Southern Education Center.
Ms. Carmen Mora and Ms. Darra Stack collaborated with the Social Work Club on a Journaling Workshop. They have been working closely with the Social Work Club and with Dr. Margaret Maghan, College Lecturer II in Social Work. Ms. Mora and Ms. Stack presented on the social work field in Dr. Maghan’s Introduction to Social Work class. Ms. Mora has been invited to be the keynote speaker for the Social Work Honor Society induction ceremony.
Two sessions of both QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) and Mental Health First Aid were provided to faculty, lecturers, staff, and students. These trainings were presented by Prevention Education Coordinator Katie Hueth, Ms. Darra Stack, Ms. Heather Mayer, and Ms. Kelly Petrolis. Additional sessions of each of these valuable trainings are planned.
Dr. Kate Pandolpho presented two sessions on CARE Reporting. Over 200 staff and faculty have trained on CARE Reporting since OCC implemented the Maxient system.
Ms. Katie Hueth, Ms. Carmen Mora, and Ms. Susan Ebeling-Witte participated in a joint series of events with Disability Services and the Veterans and Military Resources Center to provide wellness activities and support resources to students via tabling in various locations throughout campus.
Ms. Heather Mayer and Ms. Carmen Mora participated in OCC’s Open House, representing the Counseling Center and Displaced Homemakers Program.
Ms. Kelly Petrolis presented sessions of Relax and Recharge.
Ms. Heather Mayer completed a multi-session certification in Student Success Coaching.
Ms. Kelly Petrolis reported that 11 students in the current Restore Your Score Program cohort attended at least one appointment to work with her.
The Recovery Support Program continues to offer support and programming to students affected by Substance Use Disorder. An “Ice Breaker” event was held in the Larson Student Center, offering an informal opportunity to connect with available supports and participants in the program. Weekly “All Recovery Meetings” are held on Tuesday afternoons, and the program also hosted a “Sober Spring Break” event for students at a local Escape Room in an effort to provide safe, recovery-friendly social activities over Spring Break.
Ms. Katie Hueth provided training to four students to enter the field of Peer Recovery Coaching, completing Recovery Coach Academy and Ethical Considerations trainings, both accredited by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), the national leader in peer recovery education. “Recovery Speaks,” held in collaboration with the Center’s community partner, Hope Sheds Light, was held on the mall on April 20, 2023. This is a celebration of recovery, featuring musicians, recovery champions telling their stories, and more. All were invited to attend this wonderful annual event.
The Displaced Homemakers Program is providing services to 28 new and 99 continuing clients, for a total of 127 clients. May is Displaced Homemakers Awareness Month. The Displaced Homemakers Program is hosting an in-person celebration on May 4, 2023, honoring clients of the Program. Clients who have completed training programs, computer training, and other professional, career, and personal trainings will be presented with certificates of completion. In the past month, three participants have completed their certifications in medical assisting, yoga teacher, and billing and coding. Six participants are currently enrolled full-time at OCC; one is completing the apprenticeship program for a master’s degree, and six other participants are enrolled at four-year schools. The program has been working with an intern from the OCC Social Work Program. The Center looks forward to continued funding from the State for this valuable program.
It is respectfully requested that the Board adopt a resolution proclaiming May 2023 as Displaced Homemakers Awareness Month at Ocean County College.
The CARE Team has handled 577 reports since July 1, 2022, with 198 of these reports since January 1, 2023. The Center continues to see increases in student mental health concerns, family issues, relationship breakups, and housing insecurity.
Enrollment and Retention Services
Dr. Sheenah Hartigan, Executive Director of Enrollment Services, and Ms. Anna Regan, Executive Director of Advising and Transfer Services, presented at Ellucian Live 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 28, 2023. The title of the presentation was “Well, That Was Fun…Ocean County College’s Implementation of CRM Advise.”
Dr. Sheenah Hartigan also presented twice on March 27, 2023, at Ellucian Live in New Orleans. The first presentation to a standing-room-only crowd was entitled, “Decisions, Decisions: Deconstructing the Enrollment Funnel,” and the second was “Say What: Developing and Implementing a Collegewide Communication Plan.”
Enrollment Services, in collaboration with departments across campus, hosted the Spring Open House on April 6, 2023. In addition to beautiful weather, attendees and their guests were treated to meet-and-greet events with faculty and staff, campus tours, workshops and a student panel, and a complimentary dinner from Bubbakoos.
Enrollment Services Advisors Melissa Sporer and Haley Abruzzese represented OCC at opening day at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws baseball game in Lakewood, New Jersey. They engaged with fans, did an Instagram takeover, and encouraged attendees to “shell-ebrate” education by painting a shell at their tables.
The HUB team completed 5,767 outgoing calls in March, and the Success retention team was busy completing 2,805 outgoing calls in the same time frame. The HUB team also completed 592 in-person transactions during March, with an average service duration of 3.0 minutes and an average wait time of 2.3 minutes.
The Success Team assisted the Office of Academic Advising in visiting Student Success classes throughout March to assist in planning Fall 2023 schedules. The team also hosted the Game of Life, a financial literacy event, for the Student Support Services (TRIO) program on March 27, 2023.
Mr. Jim Campbell, Coordinator of Enrollment and Outreach at the Southern Education Center, accompanied Ms. Christina Hernandez to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Resource Fair on March 23, 2023. At Joint Base MDL, over 100 active-duty members of the military and their families participated in the resource fair to connect with community resources, job prospects, and academic opportunities. OCC was one of five colleges present, and the only community college in attendance.
On March 24, 2023, Mr. Jim Campbell attended the Ocean County Probation Jobs and Education Fair. During this fair, over 60 individuals who were recently incarcerated and are now serving probation learned about educational opportunities available to them, as well as potential jobs and careers.
The Enrollment Services team hosted or attended multiple events throughout March. Highlights include helping high schoolers at the Teen Arts Festival make vision boards on March 21 and 22, presenting a Career workshop to high school seniors at Jackson Liberty High School on March 12, attending an Engineering event for high school seniors at Rutgers University along with Engineering College Lecturer Pam Bogdan on March 15, completing a tour for Achievement Center students on March 28, and attending the Ocean County School Counselors Association College Fair on March 28.
The NJ STARS information session was held in-person on campus on March 31, 2023. There were 37 attendees who were engaged and enjoyed hearing about the program from NJ STARS Coordinator Jennifer Kipp. They also learned about financial aid, student testimonials from current NJ STARS students, and information on the NJ STARS II program from Kean University.
Office of Disability Services
The Office of Disability Services continues to document an increase in service provision to students self-identifying as having disabilities. Student enrollment for the Spring 2023 semester is currently recorded as 502. This reflects a 7.4% increase from Spring 2022 semester (467). To improve student outreach and provide supportive resources, the Office of Disability Services promoted pop-up Wellness Events on campus. One such event, co-sponsored with the Counseling Center and Veterans and Military Resources Center, was held on April 11, 2023, and students engaged in mindfulness activities. Informational brochures were available for distribution.
On April 4, 2023, the Office of Disability Services collaborated with Academic Affairs to present an overview of service provision to the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Disability Services staff appreciate the opportunity to speak with faculty and lecturers about the services they provide.
Ms. Jamie Arasz Prioli, Assistant Director, attended a multi-day professional development series, The ABCs of Cultural Competence and Humility Certificate. This program addressed diversity, equity, and inclusion as it intersects with cultural identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and rehabilitation. The series was presented by the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas.
After successful completion and assessment, Ms. Prioli obtained the Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Certification, which examines and addresses issues of DEI leadership in organizations, self-awareness, bias, accessibility, and civility. The certification empowers participants with the leadership skills needed to support sustainable action and organizational transformation. Participants engaged in facilitated discussions about employee resource groups; cultural identity; the intersection of race, ethnicity, and disability; accessibility and LGBTQIA+; and rehabilitation. The Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Certification is issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).
Staff supported Enrollment Services at the Spring 2023 Open House held on April 6, 2023. Informational literature was distributed, and staff members were available to answer questions from prospective students and parents. In addition, Disability Services staff monitored an event accessibility services table next to the check-in area. This table offered general access services for visitors requiring accessibility services (digital access, service animal assistance), allowing for equitable participation at the public event.
On April 15, 2023, Ms. Prioli conducted a seminar at the Ocean County College Autism Resource Fair titled “Preparing for Emergencies.” The seminar addressed helping individuals with autism and their families, friends, and caregivers cope with emergencies. Informational literature from the office was distributed to attendees during the full-day resource fair.
On April 26, 2023, the Office of Disability Services will join with Student Life in hosting the College’s inaugural Delta Alpha Pi (DAPi) induction ceremony. OCC’s new Theta Omicron Chapter of DAPi recognizes high-achieving students with disabilities with an overall 3.10 GPA. The ceremony will induct 15 students in the inaugural class. Ocean County College is proud to be the first community college in New Jersey to host a DAPi chapter supporting academic achievement, leadership, and advocacy for post-secondary students with disabilities.
Southern Education Center
The Southern Education Center Canvas Announcements continue to be a great help to students and staff. Recent announcements have included the opportunity to register for Summer and Fall courses, Job Fair opportunities, dates when various services/colleges will be visiting the SEC, and various college-wide opportunities. Staff from many Ocean County College offices have visited the SEC during this semester. Appreciation is expressed to the members of Disability Services, Career and Transfer Advising, the Library, Counseling, Student Support, and Student Life, as well as representatives from both Kean Ocean and Stockton University for continuing to connect with students at the SEC.
The SEC and Career Services coordinated with the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce to bring a Part-Time Job Fair to the SEC. This event afforded local businesses and SEC students the chance to connect about job opportunities for the Summer months. This flagship event went well, and it is hoped the partnership with the Chamber will continue in subsequent semesters.
SEC Director Brian Schillaci and the Advising Team of Jeff Kurz, Toni Ann DiPasquale, and Jenna McAteer recently hosted a Lacey Township High School student visit at the SEC. Students rotated through various activities during their visit, including a meet and greet, overview presentation of the SEC, a lesson from one of the Student Success Seminar classes, a look at one of the SEC’s video-connected classrooms, a brief SEC tour, and the opportunity to connect with a couple of SEC Student Ambassadors who shared their OCC experiences and answered questions. This was a great opportunity to connect and provide additional awareness about the SEC with one of the local area high schools.
Mr. Schillaci coordinated with Kean Ocean to offer four Kean Ocean classes at the SEC for the coming Fall semester. Since many OCC students transfer to Kean Ocean, offering Kean Ocean classes at the SEC allows them to stay close to home depending on their individual course schedules.
Mr. Schillaci shared both Summer and Fall course offerings with guidance teams from Southern Regional, Lacey, Barnegat, and Pinelands High Schools. The information is passed on to their students to provide awareness of opportunities to enroll at the SEC. In addition, SEC Student Advisor Toni Ann DiPasquale gave class presentations to SEC students about Summer courses. The SEC Student Advisors, in coordination with the advising team on the main campus, connected with current students in their Student Success Seminar classes to assist with registration for Fall courses. This initiative is making it easier for students to select their courses and ask questions in real time, so they are prepared for the upcoming Fall semester.
Student Life
Over the weekend of April 8 and 9, 2023, the OCC Sailing Team took on local rivals Monmouth and Rutgers at a major sailing regatta hosted by the Toms River Yacht Club and cohosted by the OCC Sailing Team. OCC was one of seventeen colleges that competed in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Invitational Regatta. The team finished 9th overall in its first competition since the pandemic. The Toms River Yacht Club, which sponsored its first regatta in 1871, serves as the program’s base, lending a sense of heritage to the College’s relatively young program, which has proven to produce worthy competitors over the years.
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 6 p.m., OCC’s Tau Iota Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa held its annual induction ceremony in the Grunin Center Theater for 103 students who accepted membership into the organization this semester. The moving ceremony was led by PTK Advisors Carolyn Showalter and Dr. Jennifer Dellner.
On Friday, April 14, 2023, at 6 p.m., Psi Beta, the National Honor Society for psychology majors at two-year colleges, held its annual Spring semester induction ceremony under the leadership of Club Advisor, Dr. Margaret Maghan. Fifty-three students accepted membership and were inducted into the organization.
Over 20 student clubs partnered with JBJ Soul Kitchen to present Clubs for a Cause on Thursday, April 20, 2023. This event brought together the entire OCC community in an evening of food, music, and advocacy intended to address hunger in Ocean County and help eliminate the stigma of food insecurity.
In addition to food prepared by JBJ Soul Kitchen, members of the Dance Club, Sign Club, Environmental Club, Chess Club, Improv Club, Wellness Club, Hospitality Club, Soroptimist Club, Computer Science Club, WOCC Student Radio, Ocean Pride, PTK, and NJ STARS provided food for the evening. Set-up, decorations, and clean-up were done by the History Club, Social Work Club, Psychology Club, and the Student Government Association. Many other clubs were in attendance to support this important cause.
Everyone in attendance enjoyed delicious food and music by DJ Brian, collaborated on a group art project, and learned facts about food insecurity by participating in a scavenger hunt. The money raised in the mystery bag fundraiser was donated to JBJ Soul Kitchen and the campus food pantry, Helping Hands. The money raised for Helping Hands will support the grab-and-go section of the pantry next year.
Non-profit organizations with the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce were also present at this event. Students were able to learn about different resources available to them in the community. The Chamber also ran a food drive to support the Helping Hands Food pantry.
Many thanks are sent to the president of the History Club, Casey Connor, and History College Lecturer II, Dr. Justin Pfeifer, for working with the Student Life Department to help plan and coordinate this amazing event.
Veterans and Military Resources Center
The Veterans and Military Resources Center (VMRC) is currently working toward increasing knowledge of services and programs offered to military-affiliated students. During the past month, there have been 83 student interactions by email, phone, and in person, as well as 53 internal and external stakeholder contacts.
The VMRC established first contact and monthly meetings with other 2019 CVESS grant recipients to discuss best practices, and attendees shared ideas, strategies, resources, and challenges.
The VMRC continued contact with the Chief of the Education Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to begin discussion of embedment of OCC at the base to help increase enrollment of active-duty members and their dependents as well as any members leaving service.
The Center worked with the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau to embed a Veterans Service Officer once a week on Mondays for veteran students. The Veterans Service Officer provides Ocean County veterans and their dependents with information and guidance in filing claims, including claim increases and claim reopening. This collaboration is expected to help drive current students to the Center and support the Center’s move toward a one-stop-shop model.
The VMRC was invited to a resource fair at Joint Base MDL and was able to make contact with other area partners as well as potential military affiliated enrollees.
The Center partnered with Addiction Studies on a PTSD event, The Walking Wounded, and with Disability Services for multiple wellness events.
The VMRC is preparing for its virtual site visit with Ellucian for grant compliance.
e-Learning and Learning Enterprises
2023 DEAG (Distance Education Affinity Group) Distance Education Conference
The e-Learning academic administration and college lecturers presented at the 2023 Distance Education Conference on March 31, 2023, at Mercer Institute, in West Windsor Township, New Jersey, for two adjoining sessions highlighting best practices for professional development for online teaching and for use of innovative apps that engage students. The conference was attended by 13 community colleges, making it a valuable opportunity for professionals in the field to share their expertise and insights on distance education.
The first presentation titled, “Unlocking the Secrets of Professional Development,” was provided by Ms. Vivian Lynn, e-Learning Dean; Dr. Meredith Riddle, e-Learning Assistant Dean; and Mr. Neil Mastroianni, Associate Director of Educational Technology. Each presented the strategies of designing professional development for online faculty. Their presentation emphasized the need to be innovative to drive attendance at professional development sessions and to cultivate the interest and enthusiasm of faculty and lecturers by choosing topics that align with the instructional calendar. The various professional development sessions of the e-Learning Department were highlighted, including the Adjunct Roundtables, General Meetings, and Check-in Chats. Resources to empower educators to market their professional development with their own faculty were shared with the 35 attendees at the presentation.
The second session was titled, “Best Apps for Student Engagement.” This session was led by Ms. Aqsa Sheikh, e-Learning College Lecturer II in Biology; and Ms. Kristen D’Amico, e-Learning College Lecturer II in Psychology. Each lecturer presented engaging technologies that maximize asynchronous discussions and peer collaboration in online courses. During their presentation, they demonstrated the applications Padlet and Flipgrid. Conference attendees learned how to use the applications and incorporate the technology into their courses. Their presentation had 40 in-person attendees and an additional 15 attendees via Zoom.
Simple Syllabus
The final phase of the Simple Syllabus launch for e-Learning is complete with the opening of the Online Syllabus Library. The syllabus library is publicly accessible to all current, past, and future students at ocean.simplesyllabus.com. The library will also be available on the e-Learning Department website. Interested students can search and export sample syllabi for course research or transfer credit evaluation before class registration. Next, e-Learning will assist Academic Affairs and Workforce and Professional Development with their anticipated Fall pilot.
Professional Development
March Adjunct Roundtable
The March Adjunct Roundtable was held on March 16, 2023, at 6 p.m. via Webex with 15 faculty attendees. The roundtable discussion was titled, “Reaching Out for Help is Hard. Can We Help Them First? Supporting Students in e-Learning.” This session focused on supporting students in online courses and providing adjunct faculty with diverse options of support, such as Smarthinking, an online tutoring service available to students.
During the roundtable, Ms. Brianna DeCicco, Associate Director of Academic and Tutoring Services, provided valuable insights on the early detection of students at risk and the importance of tutoring as a vital part of early detection. Attendees learned effective strategies for reaching out to students and promoting tutoring services. Adjunct faculty members gained practical knowledge and skills to support students in e-Learning and help them succeed.
April Adjunct Roundtable
The April Adjunct Roundtable titled, “Spring Forward with Apps that Will Help You Teach Online Courses,” met via Webex on April 20, 2023, at 6 p.m. The purpose of this roundtable was to provide an opportunity for adjuncts to collaborate on five apps for e-Learning success. This collaboration focused on e-Learning course objectives, student success indicators, student communications, and how to create a welcoming and student-centered learning environment. The instructional methods for using educational apps were collected in a repository document. This document included best practices aimed at improving student persistence, adjunct job efficiency, and increasing the passing rates for e-Learning students. Adjunct faculty had the opportunity to demonstrate their instructional apps that assist with online learning during this session.
Artificial Intelligence Series
Throughout the months of March and April, the e-Learning Department hosted a four-part professional development series that focused on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on online and traditional education. Presenters included Mr. Neil Mastroianni, Associate Director of Educational Technology; Dr. Jack Kelnhofer and Dr. Binh Dang, College Lecturers for English, and Computer Science, respectively; and Ms. Laura Wingler, e-Learning Lead Instructional Designer. The series was open to face-to-face and online faculty so the entire OCC educator community could learn about and collaborate on how to effectively address the positive and negative effects AI has on student learning.
Session I was held on March 2, 2023, and was presented by Dr. Jack Kelnhofer, Dr. Binh Dang, and Ms. Laura Wingler. There were 28 attendees, with OCC faculty, lecturers, and administrators participating. During this session, “Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT,” presenters and attendees explored the history, opportunities, and challenges of AI in education. The session also provided tips on managing AI in courses.
Session II was held on March 23, 2023, and was presented by Ms. Laura Wingler to 20 attendees. During this session, “Designing, Learning, and Teaching with AI,” Ms. Wingler demonstrated strategies for utilizing tools like ChatGPT to increase productivity and provide inspiration for faculty and staff to use ChatGPT in developing content for various course materials and projects, including presentations, and learning simulations. Examples were shared throughout the session, such as using AI to improve accessibility in media transcripts, to monitor the tone of student feedback. Additionally, examples of using AI to inspire storytelling in content creation and differentiating instructional materials for the classroom (for both face-to-face and online courses) and to support students of different learning levels were explored. Lastly, the session promoted using authentic assessment methods, such as reflective writing and Project-Based Learning (PBL) to improve student learning outcomes because, as it was noted, AI cannot help students with reflective writing, current events, local events, or complete a semester-long project. A question-and-answer session took place at the end of the session where ideas were generated for future assessments and using AI to help inspire content in case studies, scripts, screen plays, and automating lower-level tasks.
Session III, held on March 30, 2023, was presented by Dr. Jack Kelnhofer. to 15 attendees. During this session, “Artificial Intelligence and Academic Writing,” Dr. Kelnhofer focused on the challenges that AI poses to teaching fundamental writing and communication skills. Dr. Kelnhofer introduced multiple detection techniques for writing instructors and demonstrated the benchmarks utilized when analyzing content created by generative artificial intelligence.
Session IV, held on April 6, 2023, was presented by Dr. Binh Dang to 8 attendees. During this session, “Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Courses,” Dr. Dang focused on the use of ChatGPT in computer science courses. Attendees examined the benefits, challenges, and potential solutions to the challenges that ChatGPT presents. They discussed ways to incorporate it appropriately and effectively using various teaching methodologies.
Ellucian Live
In March 2023, Ms. Caroline Brittain, Academic Administrator of e-Learning, attended the Ellucian Live conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference featured more than 150 panel discussions, presentations, highlights, and guest speakers. Having attended this conference, the e-Learning department will increase its fluency and efficiency in Ellucian Colleague and Entrinsik Informer. Best practices were collected to bring the e-Learning team current trends in reporting and data analysis of enrollment data. Through networking with other institutions, the team will explore Ellucian products to increase institutional efficiency.
OCC Open House
On April 6, 2023, e-Learning College Lecturer IIs in Biology, Psychology, English, and Physics engaged with prospective students and their families during the Spring 2023 Open House. Visitors to the e-Learning table were informed about the extensive range of courses and programs offered and the unique features of online learning. The College Lecturers conducted interactive demonstrations of virtual labs, while distributing prizes and treats to visitors. Students and their families learned the many advantages of online learning and the e-Learning Department’s commitment to providing quality education
Tutoring Services Request for Proposal
OCC is the lead agent of the tutoring services contract for the New Jersey Council of County Colleges’ Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Ms. Christine Healey, Executive Director of Procurement and Compliance, and Ms. Vivian Lynn, Dean of e-Learning, are the Tutoring Committee co-chairs. The committee has representation from e-Learning, Academic Affairs, IT, and Student Affairs to assist with the RFP process. The projected date to award the vendor(s) is June 1, 2023, to allow the e-Learning Department to complete a 2023 summer pilot before launching the tutoring software for the 2023-24 academic year.
International Programs
Since mid-March, the international team has been busy with program preparations for Alamein International Consortium programs. In coordination with Egyptian partners and American affiliates, the team has been working on curriculum mapping, course matching, and a comprehensive document that includes a service agreement and operational plan for each of the four affiliate universities and sequences of courses for each of the eight pilot programs in the consortium. The first of a series of Egyptian governmental consortium approvals (political homeland security) was recently granted, and Dr. El Kordi is working on finalizing all approvals by the end of May.