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NEWS & EVENTS

November 5, 2020

Dr. Larson’s November 2020 Report to the OCC Board of Trustees

OCC president Dr. Larson

Proposed Board Policy #1365, Public Comments

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has forced local government entities and boards of trustees to hold public meetings remotely. New Jersey Public Law 2020, Chapter 11, approved on March 20, 2020, allows public bodies to conduct meetings and provide notice by electronic means during periods of emergency. Subsequently, new regulations for remote public meetings during an emergency have been promulgated, one of which is that the public body develop a policy relating to public comments. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that public bodies can conduct official public business in an open and transparent manner whenever an emergency requires a meeting without physical attendance by members of the public.
    In accordance with the Bylaws for the Operation of the Board of Trustees, Policy #1370, Amendments to Bylaws, an amendment to the Bylaws may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the Board succeeding the meeting at which it is proposed.
    New Policy #1365, Public Comment at Board Meetings, attached to this report, is introduced for your review and comment. With trustee support, the policy will be recommended for adoption at the next meeting on December 10, 2020, to ensure the Board’s compliance with the new regulation. An accompanying procedure will be developed regarding the details and instructions for public comments at Board meetings.
  • Presentation: Does Remote Learning Work?
    • The switch to remote learning due to COVID-19 has shed light on one thing in particular – all educators, regardless of their previous technology skills, have a better understanding of technology, whether or not they see its role as valuable in their instructional practices. Research has also confirmed that educators will come together for their students during times of need. By using action research to determine if remote learning is successful in 2020, it was found, as determined by collecting data from a variety of perspective, that layers of other factors contribute overall.
    • Dr. Eileen Garcia, Vice President of e-Learning and Learning Enterprises, will introduce Ms. Rachel Doss-Block, Associate Director of e-Learning and Learning Enterprises, and Ms. Laura Wingler, e-Learning Instructional Designer, who will present to you on Thursday the results from this study and compare Ocean County College’s impressive performance to that of other educational institutions in New Jersey.
      Academic Affairs

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

  • Donna Bonacorso, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services at Community Medical Center (CMC), met with nursing students on October 12 and October 22, 2020, to discuss potential nursing positions following completion of the Nursing Program. CMC offers graduates a year-long Nurse Residency Program that assists new nurses to transition from students to professional Registered Nurses.
  • A Virtual Pre-Nursing Information Session was held on October 9 and October 21, 2020, for students who intend to enter the Nursing Program. Ms. Mary Fennessy, Director of Program Services for Nursing and Health Sciences, collaborated with representatives from the Advising Department and Kean University to provide key information regarding the program. Approximately 50 pre-nursing students attended the sessions.
  •  The School of Nursing collaborated with the RWJ Barnabas Health Medical Group to provide students and faculty with COVID testing, which is required prior to entering health care facilities. Over the course of three days, approximately 140 tests were delivered within the Health and Wellness Center located in the H. Hovnanian Health Sciences Building.
  • Representatives from New Jersey City University (NJCU) attended the School of Nursing meeting on October 7, 2020. Joyce Wright, PhD, RN and RN to BSN Coordinator, and Steven Lambert, EdD, Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator, discussed the RN to BSN curriculum and scholarship opportunities that are available to Ocean County College students as they complete the BSN degree. Dr. Wright will be meeting with OCC students in November to provide information on the NJCU RN to BSN Program, including the admissions process, available financial assistance, and flexible course schedules.
  • Students continue to attend hands-on practice sessions within the Skills and Simulation Labs on campus as well as provide patient care at various healthcare facilities. The School of Nursing works closely with the Facilities and Security departments to implement processes outlined within the Return to Campus Plan to ensure the safety of all students, faculty, and staff.

School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

  • During the Fall Colloquium, Dr. Sylvia Riviello, Dean of STEM, presented a workshop on OCC’s Approach to Hybrid Courses for Fall 2020: Science. Ms. Pam Bogdan, College Lecturer II in Engineering, and Mr. Lincoln Simmons, College Lecturer II in Science, presented on Roadmap to Work-Based Learning.
  • Science lectures were pre-recorded using PowerPoint, McGraw Hill Tegrity, VoiceThread, and Screencast-O-Matic. Student engagement and personal involvement were high during the live class sessions using WebEx conferencing, VoiceThread video commenting option, and Acadly immediate response software, as well as document cameras and the XP Pen drawing tablet with molecular modeling kits. All of the tools engaged in the classroom worked seamlessly and were successfully used by the students. Most tools used allow for built-in backup plans in case problems should arise.
  • All Chemistry lab experiments were pre-recorded on video during the summer months by selected faculty and lecturers; they were edited and distributed to all instructors using OneDrive, accompanied by data sets for distribution to students for analysis. The entire set of experiments were instruction-ready the first day of classes.
  • Ms. Pam Bogdan is working with Alumni and Advancement Director Kimberly Malony to connect OCC currently enrolled Engineering students with recently graduated Engineering students who transferred to four-year colleges to devise a mentorship and speaker series.
  • Ms. Pam Bogdan has also implemented a very successful Summer Virtual STEAM Camp, Spatial Visualization, free to sixth through eighth grade students. The camp will be offered again on Thursdays, November 5 and 12, 2020, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The goal is to encourage spatial skills in both technical and artistic applications for middle school students.
  • Ms. Bogdan was recently selected as a Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property Educator in Residence. OCC is one of five institutes that were selected to participate in this program, which encourages formal education in Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship. The Michelson Institute provides a wealth of training resources and activities through designing, testing, and sharing a comprehensive collection of educational offerings for next generation inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
  • OCC Engineering students in Spring 2020 were able to create technical drawings that will be included in both OCC Distance Learning courseware and OER textbooks when OCC is a contributing author. All students will be cited as the source of their images. This is one of many initiatives to help OCC Engineering and Technology students gain practical experience and more content for their resumes.
  • On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, the kick-off meeting was held for the first project as part of the EPA with NAWCAD. Resources from NAVAIR are partnering with OCC Engineering Club students, faculty, and lecturers to create a virtual reality-based lab simulation for the CVET 123, Surveying I course; the simulation is anticipated to be a prototype for future use of VR-enabled labs for this course throughout engineering and, hopefully, throughout the College. Each semester, NAVAIR and the OCC Engineering Club will pursue a project that allows students to interact with the various NAVAIR research laboratories located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. This semester they are working with the virtual reality lab.
  • As part of OCC’s Cyber Security Series, the Computer Science Club hosted a presentation on Friday, October 16, 2020, by Mr. Jonathan Weiss, College Lecturer II in Computer Science, on OCC’s new Cyber Security Program. The series continues with a presentation by Mr. Howard Israel, an expert in the field of cyber security, who has worked for 38 years as a product engineer, strategist, consultant, and virtual Chief Information Security Officer. This presentation took place on Friday, October 30, 2020, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. via Webex.
  • Mr. Duane Grembowicz, Associate Professor of Science, reported the outdoor labs in both Ecology and Environmental Science have been taking place as scheduled, and attendance has been the best of any semester. All social distancing mandates are being followed, including face masks. The students seem to appreciate a little bit of normalcy, and some have told him it is the first time they are meeting classmates.
  • On Friday, October 9, 2020, several STEM faculty and lecturers attended the virtual C2 Summit for Pedagogical Advancements in STEM. The event, hosted by Raritan Valley Community College, offered presentations specifically for two-year college instructors. The Keynote Address focused on Academic Integrity. Among the workshops attended were: Leveraging Canvas Quizzes Against Issues of Academic Integrity, the Union County College Undergraduate Research Journal, Creating a GUI Home Page in Canvas, and No Exams: Writing to Promote Critical Thinking in Introductory Biology.

School of Business and Social Sciences

  • Mr. Chris Bottomley, College Lecturer II in Business Studies, and Mr. Sean Bips, College Lecturer II in Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management, have organized an NACCE-sponsored webinar that will take place on Friday, November 6, 2020, for both full- and part-time faculty and lecturers within the School of Business and Social Sciences. NACCE, the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs, provides leadership and resources to foster entrepreneurial thinking and action for community colleges across North America.
  • This OCC virtual event, hosted by Ms. Rebecca Corbin, President and CEO of NACCE, will consist of two workshops on innovation strategies. The first workshop, Design Thinking Activity, will be facilitated by Mr. Andy Gold, Assistant Professor of Business at Hillsborough Community College, located in Tampa, Florida. Professor Gold will cover a series of principles that guide innovation, including Deep Customer Empathy, Going Broad to Narrow, and Rapid Experiments with Customers. The second workshop, Bridge for Billions Demo, will be facilitated by Ms. Andrea Caron, NACCE Partner; she will demonstrate a digital ecosystem of early-stage entrepreneurship programs called The Leap, which takes the early-stage entrepreneur from business concept to business plan in just three months with an interactive platform and proprietary methodology.
  • Mr. Jason Ghibesi, College Lecturer II in Political Science and head of the Governmental Affairs Institute, moderated a virtual discussion of the 2020 Presidential Election with Dr. Krista Jenkins on October 28, 2020. Dr, Jenkins is a Professor of Politics and Government at Farleigh Dickinson University. She is also the Director of FDU’s Survey Research Center: the FDU Poll. Dr. Jenkins is the author of Mothers, Daughters, and Political Socialization: Two Generations at an American Women’s College. She is also the co-author of two books: A New Engagement? Political Participation, Civic Life and the Changing American Citizen and Where Have All the Heroes Gone? Changing Concepts of American Valor.
  • Dr. Margaret Maghan, College Lecturer II in Psychology, was selected to join the Marquis Who’s Who in College and University Faculty. This publication highlights faculty members who have made significant contributions to their field.Ms. Laura Wagner, Assistant Adjunct Professor of Business Studies, is working together with the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), a virtual global college exchange initiative created by SUNY over ten years ago. COIL is an experiential learning environment that allows students to “go abroad” virtually. Through COIL, student projects are orchestrated with participating universities to internationalize curriculum, build global partnerships, and infuse international perspective into course learning objectives.
  • This Fall 2020 semester, Professor Wagner and her BUSN 271, Principles of Management, class will team up with a participating partner, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). A majority of the 40,000 enrolled students at AUAS are from all over the world. This is a particularly unique student body, as it will introduce Professor Wagner’s class to a variety of cultures and backgrounds. AUAS teaches all of its courses in English, and the time zone difference is manageable for the students to collaborate synchronously or asynchronously through technology platforms, such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and OneDrive.
  • AUAS has a department dedicated to connecting professors globally with their faculty, and training is provided on how to collaborate with each other’s classrooms. Professor Wagner completed the COIL training in October 2020, and the student collaboration project will be conducted from the beginning of November to the end of the Fall 2020 semester.
  • Professor Wagner’s Fall 2020 International Marketing class at Kean Ocean will be participating as well and will be pairing with her OCC BUSN 271 class to best match with the higher number of participating Amsterdam students. The project will have the students conduct ice breakers with their Amsterdam group counterparts, learn about their backgrounds and culture, and complete exercises exploring marketing and management abroad.
  • On Friday, November 20, 2020, Mr. Sean Bips will be hosting a Webex Virtual Event titled Hospitality Virtual Pathway to Success (HVPS). The event will focus on exciting sessions, including Best Practices in Franchise Restaurant Operations: Developing a Restaurant Franchise. This session will cover Restaurant Forecasting, Customer Service, Food Production/Kitchen Management, and Cost Control. Mr. Paul Altero, Founder and CEO of Bubbakoo’s Burritos, will be the guest speaker. Mr. Altero is an Ocean County College alumnus.
  • The HVPS event will also include a Resume Workshop presented by Ms. Patti Kunzman, Interim e-Learning College Lecturer II in Business Studies, and a Virtual Hospitality Career Fair presented by Mr. Christopher Carbone, OCC Career Services Coordinator.

School of Arts and Humanities

  • On September 2, 2020, College Lecturer II in English Samantha Glassford, presented an informal welcome back roundtable discussion for English Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) instructors. The session discussed the definition and background of successful ALP programs, why the OCC English ALP program is successful, and addressed instructor questions. This session was followed by additional Fall ALP Roundtable sessions, with the first formal session on September 25, 2020, which addressed challenges and successes in teaching ALP remotely.
  • Dr. Madison Peschock, College Lecturer II in English, organized Banned Books Week activities for OCC on September 30, October 1, and October 2, 2020. The activities featured prerecorded videos created by OCC instructors. This year’s books and authors included: And Tango Makes Three; In Cold Blood; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Awakening; A Light in the Attic; The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness; The Grapes of Wrath; and Animal Farm.
  • Dr. Madison Peschock contributed a chapter in the book, Critical Insights: Truman Capote, which was released by Salem Press in late October. Dr. Peschock’s chapter is entitled, “What Happened in Kansas: Harper Lee’s Role in In Cold Blood.”

Social Justice Series

  • During 2020-2021, a number of OCC departments have worked collaboratively to make available a series of Social Justice activities and events for students and the Ocean County community. Participating are the OCC Foundation, Student Life, School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business and Social Sciences, EOF, Library, and Grunin Center. Events and activities include a film series, panel discussions, theatre, dance, and poetry. The social justice topics relate to race, hunger, immigration, environmental change, gender, and LGBTQ concerns.
  • The Social Justice Series featured three events in October:
    • On October 14, 2020, Assistant Dean Veronica Guevara-Lovgren, College Lecturer Samantha Glassford, and History College Lecturer Stephen Downey led an Immigration Panel with OCC students. The panel discussion, featuring faculty and lecturers, as well as leaders from immigration rights organizations from across the state, centered on the experiences of Dreamers living in the county and across the state. The discussion also included a short documentary on immigration by a recent OCC graduate.
    • On October 23, 2020, Dr. Henry Jackson, Executive Director of Academic Success, presented Voting Rights: A Social Justice Perspective, which explored the difference between the right to vote and the ability to vote. The event discussed the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments; the Civil Rights Act of 1965; and an in-depth look at voting issues.
    • On October 27, 2020, Mr. Ameer Sohrawardy, College Lecturer II in English, and Mr. Paul Chalakani, College Lecturer II in Communications/Theater, hosted Shakespeare Live! at OCC. This Webex event for OCC students and local high school students featured a trial scene from Act I, Scene 3, of Othello. After the performance, the students took part in a Q&A session with the actors and director.
  • The Social Justice Series continues in November with the Visiting Writers Series featuring actress, playwright, teacher, and author Anna Deavere Smith on November 5, 2020. This virtual event, sponsored by the Blauvelt Speakers’ Series through the generosity of the late Bradford Thomas and Eleanor G. Blauvelt and the Wintrode Family Foundation, will be presented by Assistant Professor of English Jayanti Tamm, marks the first of two events with Anna Deavere Smith. In addition to the virtual event, she is planning a live event at OCC on April 1, 2021, depending on the pandemic protocols in place at that time. Her events “look at contemporary issues from multiple viewpoints and combine the journalistic technique of interviewing her subjects with the art of interpreting their words through performance.” Among the topics she addresses are the vulnerability of youth, inequality, the criminal justice system, and contemporary activism.
    Finance and Administration
  • The Ocean County College Return to Campus Committee has completed the plan for the Spring 2021 semester. The semester will begin by continuing to offer most academic instruction either remotely or online, except for a limited number of on-campus programs and laboratories. However, should the State of New Jersey move beyond Stage Two, the College will be prepared to offer more in-person instruction mid-semester. The plan for students and employees is compliant with newly issued Executive Order 192, which becomes effective on November 5, 2020. Executive Order 192 requires public employers, including OCC, to:
    1. Take measures to ensure that employees maintain six feet of distance to the maximum extent possible, including during meetings.
    2. Require all “employees, customers, visitors and other individuals entering the worksite” to wear cloth or disposable masks at all times while at the workplace.
    3. Provide masks for employees at the employer’s expense.
    4. Provide sanitization materials at the workplace, including hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
    5. Routinely clean and disinfect all “high-touch areas” throughout the workplace.
    6. Conduct “health checks” of all employees on a daily basis, including requiring temperature screenings and health questionnaires.
  • As has been the case since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the basis of all College decisions is first and foremost the health and safety of all students, faculty, and staff. The plan for the Spring 2021 semester continues to demonstrate our long-standing deep concern for all of our colleagues and students and our commitment to academic excellence at Ocean County College.
     A revision to the OCC FY2021 budget is being presented on Thursday. The revision takes several changes into account, including a reduction to budgeted state support, a reduction in miscellaneous revenue, and a reduced enrollment projection.
  • The Planning and Budgeting Council (PBC) budget hearings for the FY2022 budget began on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, via Webex and will run every Wednesday through November 11, 2020. All hearings are scheduled from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and are open to the campus community. Planning documents are posted on Ocean Connect on the Institutional Research and Planning Office page. The documents and schedule are contained in the Planning and Budgeting Council folder on the left side. Information obtained through the PBC process will be used to develop the FY2022 budget.
  • Ocean County College is in compliance with the Public Quarterly Reporting Requirements for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF funding). First reports were due to be publicly posted on an institutions’ website by October 30, 2020, covering the period from the date of the first HEERF grant award through September 30, 2020. The College is also in compliance with the Quarterly Reporting for the Student Aid Portion of HEERF Student Aid Portion Public Reporting Requirement. Please visit our Coronavirus information page.

Ocean County College Foundation

  • OCC Foundation Executive Director Kenneth Malagiere is being honored by the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council (MODC) at its 55th Annual Silver Gull Awards Dinner on November 10, 2020. He is being presented with the Community Service Award for his outstanding service to and support of MODC’s two-county region. Congratulations are extended to Mr. Malagiere for this well-deserved recognition.

Blauvelt Speakers’ Series Update

  • On Monday, November 16, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., the Foundation will virtually host historian and Pulitzer-Prize winning author, Doris Kearns Goodwin. Dr. Goodwin will discuss the American Presidency in a brief historical narrative and provide insight on where we go post-election. There will be a moderated Q&A following. Dr. Goodwin will return in person to OCC on October 6, 2021.
    Additionally, should guidance permit on-campus activities by next March, we have confirmed visits by David Ignatius on March 3, 2021, and Dr. Temple Grandin on March 13, 2020, in recognition of National Autism Awareness Month.

Scholarships

  • Over 100 awards have been made for the pilot Jump Start/Academy scholarship program. Additionally, to date, 36 qualified applications have been received from students who were awarded Citta Scholarships for the Fall 2020 Quick Term.
    The Foundation’s Spring Scholarship Award Period opened on November 2, 2020.

Annual Golf Classic

  • With a record 112 golfers, the Foundation raised over $64,000 at the 19th Annual Golf Classic on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at the Pine Barrens Golf Club to provide for scholarships and special grant opportunities. Appreciation is expressed to all who participated and sponsored this year’s outing in support of the students of Ocean County College.

Annual Appeal and Endowment Reports

  • This year’s annual appeal has been prepared and will be distributed in the coming month, along with a complementary Foundation facemask, to over 1,100 of the Foundation’s stakeholders. Additionally, all annual endowment reports have been prepared and will be issued the first week of November, as scheduled.

College Relations

Alumni

  • The latest issue of the OCC Alumni magazine, Ocean Views – Summer/Fall 2020, is complete and has been mailed to the College community. The magazine contains alumni, faculty, lecturer, and student stories as well as campus news and developments, including how the College adapted to the Coronavirus pandemic. Highlights from the magazine will be shared on social media. The magazine is available in its entirety on the OCC webpage at
    https://www.ocean.edu/news/ocean-views-summer-fall-2020/.
  • The quarterly alumni newsletter was emailed to all alumni this month with specific information on alumni services, benefits, and opportunities to connect with the College community. This includes information about Continuing Professional Education classes, course enrollment, career services, networking opportunities, and virtual events scheduled during this Fall semester.

 Ocean County College Web

  • Mr. Nicolaus Burr, Social Media/Web Developer, and Ms. Maureen Conlon, Associate Director of Web Services, collaborated with Mr. Kevin Byrne, Athletics Technical Coordinator, to develop a series of social media posts honoring Baseball Coach Ed McRae, Women’s Basketball Coach Darnell Williams, and Women’s Lacrosse Coach Sam Fernandez on National Coaches Day, which occurs annually on October 6. This campaign provided an opportunity to engage with student athletes and supporters of OCC’s athletics programs, reaching 5,598 individuals with 551 engagements throughout the day.
  • Ms. Jaimee Nadzan, Website Coordinator, and Mr. Michael Leon, Manager of Graphic Design, collaborated to develop virtual Ocean County College backgrounds for use on Webex and Zoom platforms. Highlighting signature locations on our campus, the virtual backgrounds provide an opportunity to promote the beauty of our College campus while supporting the host’s presentation with a professional background.

TV Studio

  • College Relations is collaborating with the Veterans and Military Resource Center on the development of a virtual Veteran’s Day social media campaign. Beginning November 2, 2020, and continuing through November 11, 2020, remembrances, student and alumni veteran stories, videos, and photographs will be shared across the College’s social media platforms. Highlights of the commemoration include a remembrance of OCC alumnus Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell; the Alpha Phi Omega – Tau Omega Alumni Chapter’s 50th Reunion; a story highlighting Veterans Coordinator, Ryan Luurtsema; a Virtual Town Hall featuring Congressman Andy Kim; as well as my remarks in honor of veterans and active military service members in our community.

Grants

  • The Supporting Students in Recovery grant has been renewed by the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in the amount of $98,000 for the contract period of October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. The Project Director is Dr. Kathryn Pandolpho, Director of Counseling and Student Development.

Human Resources

  • Pensions and Benefits Open Enrollment
    • Open enrollment for health and prescription benefits was conducted from October 1 to October 30, 2020. Extra personal outreach occurred during this open enrollment as a result of the State’s passage of Chapter 44, which produced significant changes to the State Employees Health Benefit Plan (SEHBP). Benefit changes are effective January 1, 2021.
  • Standardization Project
    • Ms. Carol Appleby, Sr. Human Resources Specialist, Talent Acquisition, has worked with colleagues in the Tutoring Center, EOF, TRIO, and Title III to standardize tutoring position requirements and pay rates. This will limit confusion and the competition for tutor candidates, while allowing sharing of resources across the units employing tutors. The new rates are being recommended for approval at Thursday’s Board meeting.
  • Training and Organizational Development
    • The Training and Organizational Development team continues to adapt training programs to the remote environment. Registration remains steady, and feedback on virtual training opportunities remains positive.
    • Ms. Tracey Donaldson, Associate Director of Human Resources, and Ms. Jacqueline D’Amore, Senior Human Resources Specialist, Talent, presented their request for a robust employee learning management system to the Planning and Budgeting Council on October 28, 2020. A demonstration of Talent Management, a partnership product between Cornerstone and Ellucian, is being scheduled. This product would require the implementation of Ethos, an integration tool.

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 September 17, 2020, through October 22, 2020.

Student Affairs

Advising

  •  The Advising Office will be hosting virtual advising sessions with the goal of preparing students for Spring registration. Students will receive information on advising, student planning, their degree programs, and registration. Several general sessions are planned through November, in addition to major-specific sessions for pre-nursing, business, criminal justice, psychology, social work, engineering, and education.
  • These sessions are in addition to new student information sessions geared to students who will be new to OCC in Spring 2021, as well as a transfer information session hosted by Transfer Coordinator Laura Wills.
  • Multiple training sessions were made available for campus advisors, including proactive advisors, advisors in special programs, faculty, and lecturers. Advisors will have the opportunity to attend sessions on Student Planning, Transfer, Advising Students with a Low GPA, Advising First-Generation College Students, and Accessibility in Remote Advising.
  • Over 120 graduation audits were completed for students enrolled in the Performing Arts Academy in support of their goal of earning an OCC degree while still in high school. Advisors detailed courses remaining for degree completion for juniors and seniors in the PAA and shared this information with the HUB for communication to the high school.

 Career Services

  • The Career Service department will be implementing a new customer relationship platform (CRM) in November called Handshake. This new employment database will provide enhanced networking, management, and reporting tools to better serve our student and alumni needs.
  • As per recently approved Policy #7180, Experiential Learning, new internship forms have been created and will be added on the Career Service web page as fillable documents, which will assist in managing and serving student internship placements.
  • Career Services continues to provide virtual Career Counseling; Online Career Assessments and Review; Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Profile Writing; and Internship and Employment Placements for students and alumni.

Counseling Center

  • The Counseling Center co-hosted a panel presentation about domestic violence, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention month, in collaboration with community partners St. Francis Counseling Service Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program and Providence House. Representatives from local domestic violence organizations, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, advocates, and OCC Security discussed this important topic.
  • An information campaign was conducted for the Mental Health Canvas course in collaboration with College Relations. There are currently 190 students enrolled in the course, which provides information, resources, and announcements. Next month, the virtual weekly Relax and Recharge series on stress management and mindfulness will resume; this activity is led by Ms. Kelly Petrolis, Student Intervention Specialist.
  • Director of Counseling and Student Development Kate Pandolpho was re-elected to the position of Secretary on the Executive Committee of the Ocean County Mental Health Board. Dr. Pandolpho attended the virtual annual AUCCCD (Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors) conference; she won a scholarship that paid for the registration costs. She participated in the Community College roundtable discussion. Dr. Pandolpho is also a member of the American College Counseling Association’s Community College Committee.
  • The academic intervention program, Restore Your Score, coordinated by Ms. Kelly Petrolis, provides supportive and targeted services to students with academic probation (APROB) sanctions. At census, a total of 88 students (41%) registered for Fall classes, out of the 213 students with APROB sanctions from the Spring 2020 semester. All are enrolled in the Restore Your Score Canvas course. The Counseling staff conducted a multi-contact campaign to reach all enrolled students. Twenty-seven students (31%) have attended at least one appointment with Ms. Petrolis, Restore Your Score counselor, and several have continuing engagement with her. Seminars on three student success topics, time management, stress management, and goal setting, are being conducted throughout the semester. Drop-in hours with Ms. Petrolis are available each week.
  • This semester, an initiative was implemented that focused on providing supportive services to students with academic warning (AWARN) status who are registered for the Fall semester. Of the 333 students with AWARN status, 151 (45%) were registered for Fall classes. These students have received two check-in emails notifying them about academic intervention and counseling supportive services. Ms. Kerry Holzschuh, Case Manager/Mental Health Technician, is coordinating this initiative.
  • The CARE Team has been very busy. For the period July 1 through October 22, 2020, 203 CARE reports have been filed, with 169 reports received since September 1. In comparison, 59 CARE reports were filed for the period July 1 through October 22, 2019. CARE reports were filed for a variety of reasons, including academic concerns (no show/no contact, lack of engagement, failing to submit assignments), information disclosed in CARES Act applications, health issues related to COVID-19, and CARE topics of concern (behavior, mental health concerns, other disclosures). Ms. Susan Ebeling-Witte, Student Intervention Specialist, coordinates and handles most of the responses to the CARE reports. Students are contacted through multiple methods. The counselors help students to problem-solve the issues of concern, and the students often continue to meet with counselors for follow-up sessions.
  • The Supporting Students in Recovery program has been awarded increased funding by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the new program year, beginning October 1, 2020. The reapplication process will soon be completed. This program delivers services through the Campus Recovery Network Canvas course, weekly virtual support meetings, and activities with community partner, Hope Sheds Light. There are 72 participants in the Canvas Campus Recovery Network course, which provides information, resources, discussion boards, and announcements. Ms. Kerry Holzschuh has been managing the activities of the Recovery program, and she began training as a Train the Trainer Peer Recovery Coach. Seven students completed the three-day training to be Certified Peer Recovery Coaches. On October 23, 2020, in collaboration with Hope Sheds Light and the New Jersey Recovery Film Festival, three videos on recovery were viewed with discussion by the producers.
  • The Displaced Homemakers Program has been working with 14 new clients and 49 returning clients. Six clients have become employed, and one client is enrolled in CPE’s Medical Assisting course. Many clients have been participating in computer skills, employment, and career training offered remotely by program consultants Maureen Conlon and Kathy DiMario. The program staff presented to clients at Providence House in a video-conferenced session, and more recruitment activities are planned. Ms. Eileen Burdge, Coordinator of the Community and Displaced Homemakers Program, was appointed Secretary of the statewide Displaced Homemakers Network.

Disability Services

  • The Office of Disability Services continues to provide proactive outreach to students and local high school personnel focusing on accessing reasonable accommodations at OCC. This proactive outreach includes providing technical support and assistance to OCC staff and faculty to ensure equal access for students with disabilities. Collaborative efforts and outreach continue with the Ocean County office of the N.J. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) and local high schools.
  • Disability Services is pleased to announce the arrival of a new accessibility product purchased with CARES Act funds. Blackboard Ally for Canvas is an integrated program that helps check for accessibility issues within Canvas and generate alternative accessible format materials for students. Alternative format materials are not only beneficial for students with disabilities, but they are also helpful for students with different learning styles. A pilot cohort, consisting of representatives from e-Learning, Disability Services, Library, Tutoring Center, Veterans and Military Services, and IT began training on the use of software within Canvas. A timeline will be announced for extending access, training, and support to the entire OCC community in the upcoming months.

Financial Aid

  • The new FAFSA filing cycle began October 1, 2020, for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Opening Pathways to Education Now (OPEN) workshops were cancelled for Fall 2020. In lieu of face-to-face workshops, the Financial Aid Office will be facilitating one-on-one virtual appointments to assist with the completion of FAFSA paperwork and discuss the basic concepts of financial aid for our students and the Ocean County community. Additionally, the Financial Aid 101 presentation will be posted on the OCC website for access by students, parents, and community members. As of October 19, 2020, the Financial Aid Office has received 7,368 FAFSA applications for 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 FAFSA applications total 232.
  • As of September 11, 2020, Ocean County College distributed $2,132,585 in emergency federal aid grants to 1,199 students through CARES Act funds.
  • The Financial Aid Office has partnered with Dynamic Forms to provide a secure e-sign and workflow solution for all financial aid forms. Beginning in September 2020, students are able to complete and e-sign all financial aid forms via their OCC student portal. Students have the convenience of accessing and completing forms 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The workflow process of Dynamic Forms allows the College to collect not only student signatures but also the signatures of parents and/or legal guardians, if dependent.

The HUB

  • To date, there are 1,024 unique Early College students registered for the Fall 2020 terms.
  • Also, to date, the HUB has enrolled 31.4% of the graduating high school seniors for Fall 2020, which is 7% more than last year. Ten of the area high schools enrolled a greater yield than last year. A total of 1,662 high school graduates are enrolled at OCC for the Fall terms, an increase of 33, which is impressive given that the number of graduates within the county has decreased.
  • The HUB has been working hard to reach out to the first group of Degrees when Due, a program aimed at stop-out students who have some college, in an effort to increase completion within the county.
  • Through the very generous support of the Ocean County College Foundation, 100 Early College students were awarded $250 grants for the first time to assist in the costs of their classes. Also, for the first time, the Foundation assisted in funding a free college class for the Fall Quick Term or Accelerated 6 Term through the J. Citta Scholarship. To date, there are 22 qualified recipients.

Southern Education Center

  • On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, the full Barnegat Township School District Board of Education heard details of a pilot collaboration with Ocean County College entitled P.L.A.N., Promoting Learners to Achieve Now! The goal of this program will be to provide Barnegat High School juniors and seniors the pathway to graduate high school with 24-30 college credits through dual enrollment, embedded classes, and/or Early College courses, primarily focused on courses available at the Southern Education Center.
  • Mr. James Hauenstein, Director of the Southern Education Center, began development of the concept with Dr. Gerald Racioppi, Vice President of Student Affairs, in late Spring; in July, the model was presented to Ms. Leah Purpuri, District Supervisor of Guidance, Barnegat Township School District. Ms. Purpuri saw the value in this opportunity for the Barnegat students and endorsed further development. Subsequently, possible course sections were reviewed and a flexible framework was developed. After receiving support from additional Barnegat school administrators, P.L.A.N. was advanced to the Barnegat Township School District Board of Education; on October 20, 2020, P.L.A.N. was officially endorsed by the Board of Education. Efforts will now continue to develop the necessary informational guidelines and presentations for the students and parents of the Barnegat Township School District with implementation planned to commence in September 2021.
  • The SEC Canvas site continues to be a message board to the more than 1,400 students who are taking or have taken courses identified as SEC-based, although currently in a virtual model. During the six weeks since the start of the Fall semester, messages were posted regarding Tutoring Services, Ocean County College Library Services, EOF, the Advising “New Student” virtual program, and the OCC Foundation “Free Course” scholarship. There have been over 4,000 views. Additional messages for other service and related programs will continue to be announced to provide students with a platform to gain knowledge about the wide array of support available to them.
  • Mr. Jeff Kurz, Student Services and Recruiting Specialist, and Ms. Michele Marcum, Senior Student Services Technician, continue to assist Academic Advising and the HUB, respectively.
  • Finally, in collaboration with Academic Administrators, the SEC Spring 2021 schedule of classes is in final planning stages.

Veterans and Military Resource Center

  • For the second year in a row, Ocean County College has been named one of the nation’s best colleges for veterans and military students by the Military Times organization in its Best for Vets 2020-2021 rankings. The rankings are based on comprehensive survey analysis of programs and services for veteran and military students and their families. This designation indicates a high level of commitment and investment in serving military and veteran students and recognizes the meaningful opportunities available to improve the lives of veterans and military students.
  • The Center conducted its first web-based series of events for remote attendees, Veterans’ Voices: Lives and Stories Live Stream, and received great feedback. The success of this event suggested that the OCC veterans and military community develop and host its own Veterans’ Spotlight, which would highlight veteran students and alumni and their experiences both on and off the campus.
  • The Center’s second event is We Got Your 6 at 6, which will be a podcast event on Sundays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in collaboration with The People’s Patriot project. It will be hosted by veterans, active duty service members, first responders, and other emergency medical service personnel to share stories, live music, and more. Follow-up information can be found on OCC’s Veterans and Military-Affiliated website: https://www.ocean.edu/veterans-services/.
  • On November 11, 2020, the Veterans and Military Resource Center will be co-hosting its second Veterans Town Hall event with Congressman Andy Kim. This year, the event will be remote with special assistance by the College Relations team, led by TV and Production Manager Ralph Bertini. The show will be recorded on November 9, 2020, and then aired on Channel 21 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., with a live Q&A through Webex, hosted by VMRC Coordinator Ryan Luurtsema.
  • Guest speakers will be Lieutenant Colonel Sarajane (Sally) Stenton, U.S. Air Force Retired; Army Sergeant, current OCC Student Veteran, and Student Veteran Organization President, Maryellen DeLeon; and Naval Petty Officer Justin Cruz. The Webex link will be live from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. at https://meetingsamer16.webex.com/meet/rluurtsema.
  • During November, the VMRC is teaming up with a fellow veteran to create an independent Veteran Financial Benefits Literacy Workshop that will be a pilot program for OCC, which will then be circulated to other higher education institutions. This program will enhance student veteran benefit literacy, considered to be the most sought-after topic currently lacking for today’s discharged service members, per the Student Veterans of America Organization in Washington D.C., which polled over 2,000 veteran students across the United States.
  • The Center and Student Services leadership has been collaborating with Grants Manager Kayci Clayton on submitting a grant proposal to recognize OCC’s VMRC as a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success.
  • This grant is an award of up to $450,000 over a three-year period. It includes program development, outreach and marketing opportunities, enrollment and retention perspectives, tutoring and skill building instruction assistance, and personal development through mentorship and coaching programming.
  • An online Canvas course is being developed that will advocate for resources, mentorship, and coaching while attending OCC, as well as data banks on individual veteran benefits and off-campus resources, such as relatable organizations, non-profits, and scholarships and grants. A soft launch is scheduled for the end of Fall 2020, with a direct launch for Spring 2021 students.
  • In collaboration with Financial Aid and Advising, the Center will be developing online Information Seminars for military-affiliated students that will encompass on- and off-campus resources and guided conversations, based on live Q&A with OCC Center military and veteran liaisons and staff.

e-Learning and Learning Enterprises

  • e-Learning has been busy during this remote period, providing innovation in online learning, student retention, course development, academic integrity, and faculty development.

Student Retention

  • To enhance student retention, Dr. Jack Kelnhofer, e-Learning College Lecturer II, has introduced the online dashboard, AspirEdu’s Dropout Detective, to members of the Athletics Department, Academic Success Department, and Veterans and Military Resource Center. These departments can now utilize this tool to track the progress of students taking fully online courses. Designated advisors from these departments can now access student progress reports and connect with struggling students to offer support.

College-Wide Contributions

  • Ms. Patricia Kunzman, e-Learning College Lecturer II, is assisting as a faculty advisor in OCC’s Business Innovation Club, including participation in the Kickoff Welcome Event for new members on November 13, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. One of her goals this year is to recruit more online business students to the club.
  • Ms. Kunzman is also organizing a virtual Small Business Management and Entrepreneurial Presentation Series for business students. The first presenter will be Mr. Rob Nagel, the founder and owner of the Surf Taco restaurant chain. Mr. Nagel will share his entrepreneurial story and conduct a live Q&A session for students on November 17, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
    On November 20, 2020, Ms. Kunzman will also be presenting Resume Writing and Interview Techniques, a workshop for Business and Hospitality students during the Hospitality Virtual Pathway to Success Program.

Academic Integrity

  • Continuing to promote academic integrity across online courses, Dr. Christine Webster-Hansen, Assistant Dean of e-Learning, has spearheaded OCC’s adoption of Turnitin with Originality, the newest version of OCC’s existing plagiarism-checking software. This new version will identify plagiarism in computer coding for the first time. Moreover, it will provide students with opportunities to upload drafts of their papers to receive feedback from a feature called Draft Coach. This tool will assist students with knowing where and how to properly cite information in their papers. Linguistic forensic evidence and file metadata will also be available to appropriate administrators in their investigation of contract cheating cases.

Proctoring

  • The Instructional Design and Technology team completed the implementation of Honorlock for the Fall 2020 semester. Implementation for the Spring 2021 semester will begin November 5, 2020, for 260 online course sections.

Professional Development for Faculty

  • In an effort to promote the continued innovation of online education, e-Learning will be hosting weekly professional development sessions. Topics will include everything from how to access library resources to how to create TikTok videos to engage students. Mr. Eric Daniels, Educational Technologist, has organized sessions with guest presenters from faculty, the Library, e-Learning staff, and various vendors.
  • Dr. Christine Webster-Hansen is hosting an e-Learning Roundtable for adjuncts on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. The purpose of these meetings is to provide online instructors with networking opportunities and the chance to discuss “best online teaching practices.” At September’s roundtable, the group discussed ways of facilitating an online “learning community”; and in October, methods for engaging students in online discussions were shared. Dr. Brandi Granett, English adjunct faculty member, was a guest speaker, presenting her use of screen-capture software to teach and grade work in discussion boards. In addition, for ten to fifteen minutes of each roundtable, Mr. Eric Daniels hosts a segment called “Tech Tips from Eric” to provide insights into uses for various instructional technologies and Canvas features. Soon, Dr. Howaida Wahby-Eraky, Assistant Dean of International
  • Programs, will co-host roundtables, keeping in mind the needs of instructors in Egyptian sections.

Course Design

  • Spring 2021 distance learning course development continues by the Instructional Design and Technology team and the courses are to be completed by November 2, 2020. Planning for Fall 2021 development is in progress and will be finalized next month. Ms. Rachel Doss-Block and Ms. Vivian Lynn, Dean of e-Learning, are currently reviewing the proposed courses that need revision to determine, by priority status, the courses that will be moving forward on the next development schedule.

Hands-On Labs

  • Instructional Design and Technology continues to work with STEM Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the redevelopment of distance learning science courses utilizing Hand-On Labs (HOL) to reduce the cost of lab kits for students. This requires working with SMEs to design virtual labs or assignments that meet the learning outcomes without using lab kit components. The following four courses will be redeveloped for Spring 2021:
    •  BIOL-232, Microbiology
    • PHYS-171, Physics I
    • CHEM-181, General Chemistry I
    • CHEM-182, General Chemistry II
  • Thanks to Ms. Dana Newton, College Lecturer II, students in Microbiology will be utilizing the same textbook, but the previous HOL kit will be replaced with McGraw-Hill Virtual Labs. The current cost per student is $730, which includes the textbook (first day), microscope, and at-home lab kit. With the proposed changes, the Virtual Lab and Textbook (first day) would cost only $80 per student, a savings of $650 per student for one course. With an average yearly enrollment of 260 Microbiology students, the total savings to students would be $169,000.
  • Similarly, Dr. Eugene De Silva, College Lecturer II, is redeveloping Physics I and II by providing students with access to a free textbook through open educational resources. In addition, he is replacing lab kits with simulated labs to save hundreds of dollars for students.
  • Additionally, General Chemistry I and II will still be utilizing HOL, but labs have been restructured and reviewed to ensure that only necessary lab components are included to reduce the cost for students.

Academic Affairs/Workforce Development Projects

  • The two Part-Time Instructional Designers assisting with Academic Affairs projects are currently working with three designated face-to-face faculty members in designing and developing a Face-to-Face Master Course Shell that can be used for Face-to-Face and Hybrid instructors. The shell is being developed to allow courses to have a similar look and user experience for students. The Instructional Designers had their first official meeting with the SMEs the week of October 26, 2020.
  • Additionally, the Instructional Designers will be assisting with the 3+1 Ocean County College/Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Partnership. Ms. Doss-Block is currently working with the Associate Dean of Social Sciences at SNHU to obtain access to the two courses that will be hosted and taught by OCC instructors on OCC’s LMS, Canvas. Once access is provided, the Instructional Designers will begin to build a course shell in OCC’s LMS.
  • In moving forward to develop online course offerings for Workforce Development, the Part-Time Instructional Designer assigned to oversee this project has been working closely with Ms. Kaitlin Everett, Director of Continuing Education, Workforce Development, to determine the courses that will be developed for online purposes. The tentative list includes:
    • Veterinary Assistant
    • Pharmacy Technician
    • Alternate Route to Teaching
    • Career Exploration
    • Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
    • Medical Assistant
    • Principles of Management
    • Coding
  • In addition to course development, SMEs will go through required training on the expectations of an SME, as well as how to develop effective content for online purposes.

Personnel

  • Instructional Design and Technology has recently gained two new team members. Ms. Carly Kutsup and Ms. Lauren Burbank were hired as Full-Time Instructional Design Specialists.

International Education

Ocean County College, Ain Shams University, and Kean University Partnership

  • As of October 26, 2020, 33 students are registered for Cohort 5. The new students are enrolled in an asynchronous orientation course created by Dr. Howaida Wahby Eraky, under the supervision of Dr. Maysa Hayward, Associate Vice President of International Programs. The students received a guidebook that included all the information they need about OCC, online classes and the program in general.
  • All new students applied through the new customized online application created by Ms. Sheenah Hartigan, Executive Director of Enrollment Services, and Ms. Leslie Price, Enrollment Communications Administrator. Those enrolled have been placed in their classes with the assistance and frequent cooperation and communication among Ms. Enjee Auda, Students Service Coordinator in Egypt; Ms. Karen Light, Associate Registrar; Ms. Mary Lancaster, Controller; and Ms. Price. Cohort 5 will start on November 1, 2020, in the Accelerated 6 Term.
  • Ms. Rehab Abdelkhalek, Office Coordinator in Egypt, assisted Cohort 3 students in completing Kean University’s application through a virtual meeting attended by Dr. Hayward, Dr. Wahby Eraky, and Ms. Auda.
  • Dr. Howaida Wahby Eraky worked with Ms. Jacqueline D’Amore in Human Resources, to provide the Ocean Way Training to OCC’s employees in Egypt, Ms. Enjee Auda and Ms. Rehab Abdelkhalek. Dr. Wahby Eraky carried out the training to both employees on Monday and Wednesday, October 19 and 21, 2020.

Alexandria University

  • Dr. Hayward, Dr. Wahby Eraky, and Dr. Magda Madbouly, Alexandria University Program Coordinator, met virtually to discuss procedures of operation. The Alexandria University program is scheduled to be launched in February 2021.

Potential Partnership with Badr University

  • Dr. Hayward was approached by Dr. Amr Al Atrabi, Vice President of Badr University and former Dean of the School Business at Ain Shams University, to resume the discussion initiated last year about the possible partnership between OCC and Badr University.

Special Programs

  • The Special Programs are still under review by the curriculum committees in Egypt. Dr. Essam El-Kordi, who is now the President of Al Alamein National University, is pursuing the approvals needed for the Special Programs.

OCC and New Jersey City University in Egypt

  • The contract draft is under revision by the three parties’ lawyers.

Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ BYLAWS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OPERATION

  • Board Meetings Public Comments/Conduct #1365 BYLAW The Board recognizes the dignity, worth, and free speech rights of each member of the community and the importance of public comment/discourse at Board meetings. Public comments will be invited in advance of meetings and by the Board Chair during meetings. It is expected that each member of the community will treat other members with dignity and respect. The Board Chair reserves the right to impose reasonable restraints on the number, length, and frequency of comments as well as to interrupt and terminate comments deemed inappropriate or disrespectful. The Board embraces, supports, and defends free speech, and it encourages the open exchange of ideas. It is not the intention of the Board to interfere with, impede, frustrate, or subvert any individual’s constitutional or statutory rights. Rather, it is the intent of the Board to promote and foster an atmosphere and environment where civil discourse takes place. Adopted:

Required Reporting Statistics

Board of Trustees Meeting
November 5, 2020

The following has been prepared for presentation to the Ocean County College Board of Trustees, for its regular meeting. This report consists of all offenses defined as reportable crimes under the federal Jeanne Clery Act, fires, and other emergencies, which occurred on campus during the reporting period between September 17 through October 22, 2020.

1. A count and classification of all criminal incidents (defined as reportable crimes under the federal Jeanne Clery Act) which occurred on campus and which were recorded by campus security, campus security authority (CSA) or local police departments.

Date Crime Summary Status
Occurred: Reported: *** NOTHING TO REPORT ***
Occurred: Reported:

2. A list of campus alerts, threats, or emergencies which occurred on campus.

Date Alert/Threat Summary Status
9/28

Assist other agency – Missing Person

TRPD reported a missing 19 yo male who they located safe on campus. No OCC security assistance requested.

Closed – TRPD

3. A count and classification of all fire incidents which occurred on campus and which were recorded by campus security and local fire departments.

Date Fire Incident Summary Status
N/A None

Respectfully Submitted,

John A. Lopez – Director of Security

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