Sopcich discusses the progress of current budget reductions

By Stephen Cook

President Joe Sopcich has been working toward his goal of reducing the college’s budget by $3 million over the course of the fall semester. Looking ahead to next year, Sopcich hopes to make more progress in the reduction process.

Could you tell me where you are in the process right now? 

The first step was for the cabinet to bring reviews of their areas and try to evaluate those areas and then the second step was the creation of this budget discussion team in which that information was shared, in which they were invited to provide their own, to go back to their areas and collect insights and ideas and recommendations and things like that, which they’ve done. So now the cabinet has all this information and it needs to review it very closely and to see what kinds of ideas and suggestions perhaps can incorporate into the ultimate planning so that’s kind of where we’re at. It was kind of very compressed as we need to execute and get this through and I think we got a little compressed there but because a lot of things are going on and this is all, obviously this is very important to me, but time, we need to be able to meet a schedule and things like that.

Have you just been collecting information at this point? 

Yeah, we really don’t have anything down and we kind of need to start turning that around so we need to come up with some tangible ideas.

Going into next year, do you know when those decisions might start being made? 

There’s a budget calendar and if you look at that budget calendar that will tell you kind of when things fall because all that has to be loaded into the budget and then you get what the budget looks like and the trustees have to approve it. Keep in mind that the sooner we can get that done, the better off we’ll be because the year starts on July 1, so that budget calendar is very important.

Are you on track right now? 

Yeah, we are and then you never know what can come up that kind of throws you off a little bit and potentially can push things back but you just got to keep on going when it comes to the budget, you can’t push it off forever, right? You’ve got to get it done, so that’s the challenge that we have; it’s a tough one, it’s a tough one for every institution and especially this year we’re trying to make some adjustments.

I remember you talked about department evaluations, how do you think that’s been going? Feedback received from people involved? 

Well, it’s been interesting because some of the things that when we do it again, we’ll strive to do a better job of it, we can always do better. We need to look at greater consistency throughout the whole school with regards to some of the metrics, with as far as some of the service areas, some areas do a pretty good job of looking at that, we need to kind of perhaps model ourselves after some of the strong areas that do a good job in that and then other areas, I know on the instruction side they did quite an elaborate collection of information that they put together and that was all very positive. All of this –keeping in mind is just one data point, it’s one piece of the puzzle and just because it says something like that on a spreadsheet doesn’t mean you take it and run with it but it certainly is a good opportunity to kind of focus on those areas and ask questions as ‘Well why is this like this?’ and ‘What can we do to strengthen this or make it better?’

What’s it been like getting those people in the departments involved? 

Well, it starts at the cabinet level and then as we reached out you believe that all the areas have been involved; certainly a lot of areas have been involved as far as putting information together.

It’s actually been very positive I think in the response from the different areas throughout campus and in a very encouraging way, but it’s always challenging to do, it’s always challenging for people. We’re very good at looking at other people’s areas, the challenge is to look at our own and try to perform some analysis on it and I think people are doing that, it’s very encouraging.

From your perspective, how do you think the budget reduction is going? 

Well keep in mind that that is part of a plan a five year plan and it’s a five year plan that’s based on some very rosy projections over the next five years and so hopefully those things will come through. So this little step here, this adjustment, is significant for us and also I don’t think historically we may have never looked at it like this so that is, it’s something you can always look back and say you can always do better, right? I mean you can always do better – if the Chiefs had done a little bit better [at their game] they would have won, so it’s no different from this and that’s part of this process as we’re looking forward to next year on how we can strengthen certain areas with regard to the process itself.

Going into next year, what challenges you are facing? 

When you look around at things – and you should be following the state issues – that’s $20 million [about 17 percent] of our budget. If that gets jeopardized then you really have to start thinking, ‘Ok how are we going to accommodate for that?’, [if] property evaluations don’t grow at 3 percent every year as we projected, what do we do about that? We have 2 percent growth for enrollment every year over the next five years, so that’s a big deal. That’s really the only thing we have control over is that growth in enrollment and so we need to do everything we can to try to make that work because that’s the only area of the revenue side of the budget that we have any real impact in – can’t do much about the property evaluations and as far as what’s happening on the state we can try to defend what we have, but we’re one piece of a much larger puzzle at the state level and so that’s a tough one so we try to hold on to what we have and go from there.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

No, I think that the whole college, hopefully can feel good about how they’ve approached this and the information they’ve put together. I think the faculty has done a very fine job of collecting information and analyzing everything else that’s been out there, I think Dr. Korb is trying to marshal all this information and deal with that, the budget discussion team, which we’ve never had before, so that’s a positive too. So I think there’s a lot of positives and there’s a lot of things we can do better – kind of sounds like Andy Reid doesn’t it?

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

College adjusts policy regarding pets on campus

By Farhin Lilywala

Walking around campus, you may have noticed a few furry friends amongst us. Here’s the secret: they’re not just pets, they are service animals.

In March 2013, an “Animals on Campus Policy” was placed into effect, an official alternative to the once unwritten rule that animals were not allowed indoors on campus without special permission.

After two separate incidents, according to Greg Russell, interim police chief, with employees bringing their pets to the college, the police department, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel and Student Access Services, created this new bylaw. This policy applies to all students, employees and visitors.

“We had to make sure that it was in compliance with the school’s policy,” Russell said.

The clauses of this policy include requirements such as keep your pet on a leash, make sure he/she has all proper vaccinations, and cleaning up after the animal under all circumstances. Also, service animals cannot be left unattended at any time.

“Taking care of the animal or restricting the animal to a certain area would go against the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Russell said. “Therefore, it is something that we would not even entertain.”

The policy also elaborates that animals are not permitted in college buildings, unless the service animal is assisting a disabled individual, accompanied by a qualified handler or trainer, used for authorized research projects or experiments, or part of an academic program.

“In alignment with the recent policy, every dog should be under the control of the handler, especially those dogs that have the predisposition to be aggressive,” said Julie Pitts, program director, International and Immigrant Students, who has a service dog. “My service animal needs to respond to me even while let go for toileting.”

As far as the process to bring a service animal on campus, Russell and Pitts agreed there is no formal procedure or application. However, these animals must meet certain requirements.

The basic campus requirements are outlined by the policy and tested by service animal certification agencies. Once the animal has completed certain activities, the agency will vouch that the public and the owner are safe from the animal.

“Activities include downstay, when a dog must stay still while a person walks over him without being able to see you, and maneuvering on command on all sides of you and around obstacles,” Pitts said.

Although there is not an official manner to keep track of the number of animals in the system, if the college has reasonable doubt that the animal is not a service animal, it may ask the owner if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform.

However, service animals have also been requested by those seeking psychological comfort.

“That doesn’t fall under anything that is within the policy, as these service animals are trained, so that is something that we cannot approve,” Russell said.

According to Russell, the safety of all humans and animals on campus alike is a priority for the Campus Police.

If you see an animal on campus that seems to be mistreated or a danger to others, contact the JCCC Police Department at 913-469-8500 ext. 4111 for emergencies or ext. 4112 for non-emergencies.

Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

College may allow weapons on campus in four years

By Stephen Cook

At the monthly Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 21, trustees voted to unanimously approve a four-year exemption from House Bill 2052 at the college regarding concealed carry of weapons.

The board had voted to approve a resolution on June 20 to temporarily exempt all buildings at the college for a period of six months from the adequate security measure requirements of the new concealed carry legislation that became effective on July 1.

In order to proceed without the exemption, there would be certain expenses to prepare and properly secure the college’s buildings. The building cost estimate for three buildings on campus – the Carlsen Center, the CLB and the ATB was $4.4 million, not including additional staffing. An estimate for the entire campus, as well as off-site locations, is not available at this time.

Trustee Jon Stewart also brought up the point that there was an aspect of how the college’s insurer would respond to concealed carry and potential incidents in the future.

“The deciding factor for me was the fact that we would be uninsured and if there was an incident on this campus, you know what kind of multimillion dollar lawsuits could be brought against us,” Stewart said at the meeting. “If we cannot insure against that I think that’s just too high of a risk for us.”

The cost to prepare all of the buildings on campus under the unfunded mandate would cost the college dozens of millions of dollars, which is multiple mills on taxpayers, according to Trustee Stephanie Sharp.

“The argument will be made to just allow concealed weapons on campus,” Sharp said. “The reality of our campus is that we have 22,000 s t u d e n t s coming and going and how does our police department know who the shooter is – the original shooter, the perpetrator – and who the defender is and how many people get caught in the crosshairs, intentionally punned.”

However, it is not unconstitutional for the college to change the ability to bring weapons on campus, Trustee Greg Musil said.

“Our constitutional rights that people talk about in the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, they’re all limited, none of them are absolute,” Musil said. “This is not a constitutional issue, it’s a policy issue and it’s a political issue.”

Musil said if the college was to change their decision, he would want to know that the campus would be safer than it is now.

“We have 29 people who are trained 40 hours a year as professional certified law enforcement officers to keep us safe,” Musil said. “Our history has been very good, I would rather keep that solid professional law enforcement as our security – it’s never going to be perfect.”

I n t e r im police chief Gregory Russell said, at this point, although campus police is prepared and trained, concealed carry is not a good thing for the college.

“We will continue to do extensive training to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” Russell said.

Sharp also encouraged the audience to contact their state legislators about changing this law.

“It’s our job to serve the public,” she said. “Are we doing that by allowing our students that come here to get an education, our adults who come here to get an education, those who come to our performing arts series, those who come to the museums, are we endangering them?”

Deb Williams, of the Faculty Association said it is important that the campus comes together to be a force for legislative change.

“I think if you ever would have an opportunity to achieve a one college one community one goal is to invite that kind of a communication collectively,” Williams said. “We certainly do not, on behalf of the faculty, I can state definitively that we do not want guns on this campus.”

Also, if concealed carry is hoped to be continued to be limited at the college, the law will have to be changed within the next four years as there’s no provision in the law for a second extension, according to Stewart.

“I think that the writing’s on the wall,” Stewart said. “That eventually, unless the legislation is changed over the next four years and I’m not confident that will happen – we will have concealed carry on the campus in four years.”

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Bookstore retail buyback and textbook rental check-in runs Dec. 4-14 

The college’s bookstore retail buyback and textbook rental check-in dates are Dec. 4-14. Check the bookstore website for daily buyback hours. The last day for textbook rental check-in without penalty is Saturday, Dec. 14.

Model UN team receives awards at conference 

The college’s Model United Nations team received four awards for policy positions papers of Tanzania and Zambia at the 2013 American Model United Nations Conference held in Chicago Nov. 23-26.

The team received a set of awards for each nation that they represented. The awards recognize pre-conference preparation. In order to resolve issues as the Model UN team, these papers are required as they cause the team to negotiate and compromise to create feasible solutions.

New AED installed in Student Center 

Due to traffic flow and feedback, an additional Automated External Defibrillator (AED) life-saving device has been placed at the base of the stairway on the second floor of the Student Center. This AED is ready for use.

In the past two months, 26 people attended CPR/AED training classes on campus and are now trained in both.

If you wish to join your Building Emergency Team, contact Alisa Pacer, emergency preparedness manager at ext. 7622 or apacer@jccc.edu.

United Way update: Final total tops $27,000 

The JCCC United Way workplace campaign ended with 97 employees donating a combined total of $27,009.49

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu. Illustration by Alyssa Jolitz.

College may provide massive online open classes

By Josh Bull

An increase in faculty interest has led the college to consider offering a new form of online education: massive online open classes.

Massive online open classes, or MOOCs, are usually free online courses that, while not worth college credit, can be used to prepare students for credit courses or to market a college to potential students. This is why the college has put together a task force to explore its options with MOOCs.

MOOCs were first offered by universities like Stanford. Common subjects for MOOCs include preparatory courses in subjects like math and English for students to prepare for more difficult credit courses.

MOOCs are usually free, opening the courses for far more students than a normal course. Stanford’s first MOOC in 2011 had over 160,000 students enrolled. And as the course is online, students don’t have to be local to the institution offering the course.

“Open means that registration can be open to anyone,” said Ed Lovitt, Director of Distance Learning. “It can be here in Johnson County or across the world.”

On top of being free, MOOCs offer other advantages.

“There’s no commitment,” said Vincent Miller, Director of Educational Technology Center. “I could go in as a student or as a user and just see what the subject is about and see how its being taught.”

However, MOOCs generally do not count for credit. Some MOOCs reward “badges” for completion, which could conceivably be good for a transcript or resume, while other MOOCs offer paid assessments for credit.

Regardless, the information a MOOC provides is just as diverse as any college course, from preparatory math courses to Ball State University’s “Gender Through Comic Books,” according to Lin Knudson, Dean of Academic Support.

“It could be your typical college class,” Knudson said. “Just like something you’d take here for credit, only they put it into that online format.”

Contact Josh Bull, reporting correspondent, at jbull3@jccc.edu

Criminal damage to property 

Campus police were dispatched to the Student Center on Nov. 9 when property damage was reported. The reporting party stated he discovered the damage done to the north door entrance to Student Center 110. What appeared to be black paint or ink had been squirted or thrown all over the door. The reporting party stated he had entered the door at 9:06 a.m. and there was nothing there; however at approximately 1 p.m., the damage was extensive. The investigation is on-going.

Phone theft 

At 2:13 a.m. on Nov. 17, campus police were dispatched to CC 160 in reference to a cell phone theft. Upon arrival, the victim, a JCCC staff member, stated that the previous night at 9:30 p.m., he plugged his cell phone into the wall to charge. He left the room, leaving his phone in the room. Upon returning at approximately 2 a.m., he discovered his cell phone, case and charging cord were gone. A check was done on the room in case the cell phone had slipped behind furniture or equipment, but was not located. The investigation is on-going.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

JCCC United Way workplace campaign donations top $20,000 mark 

The JCCC United Way workplace campaign began Nov. 4; more than 70 employees donated a combined total of $21,284.61.

College employees that donated may designate part or all of their contribution to one or more United Way agencies, or “write-in” a designation (must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency within 100 miles of the Kansas City area). Payroll deduction does not begin until January 2014.

First-time donors to United Way in the KC area who contributed $1 per week ($52 or more) or returning United Way donors who increased their pledge by $1 per week for this year’s campaign donation will have a chance to win a 2013 Harley Davidson Fat Bob.

Adopt a family through Student 

Senate’s JCCC Gives program 

JCCC Gives, hosted by student senate, is seeking caring individuals, organizations and offices to “adopt” students, faculty and staff in need.

A Giving Tree has been set up in COM 309 and COM 322, and anyone interested in helping can pick the person and gifts he or she would like to donate. The Giving Trees will be available through Thursday, Dec. 5.

For more information, contact Mindy Kinnaman, manager of student life and leadership development, at mkinnam1@jccc.edu or by calling 913-469- 3534.

JCCC Muslim Student Association 

presents Poetic Vision Tour 

The JCCC Muslim Student Association will present the Poetic Vision Tour from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, in GEB 233.

Tickets are $5 for students at the college or $10 for the general public and may be purchased online.

A tour representing music in a unique way, the Poetic Vision Tour firmly believes that darkness is simply the absence of light and thus the best way to diminish the darkness is to fill that space with vibrant, introspective, and spiritual tunes. Performers are Raef, Saad Omar and Ms. Latifah.

Baked goods and appetizers will be sold before the event to enjoy during the performance.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

By Stephen Cook

As the demand for technology related jobs increases, schools and students aren’t keeping up, both in quantity and quality, according to Jeff Melcher, Kansas Senator (R) and CEO of Accutype Medical Services.

Melcher is currently discussing the creation of a new program as a possibility to get students in the area more prepared and qualified to enter jobs in the technology and industrial-related fields. Many local entities would have to cooperate toward this goal.

While in high school, students could apply to be in the program. When accepted, they can then begin taking courses during their junior and senior years of high school that would essentially also count as the freshman and sophomore years at college. Upon graduation from high school, students would then have a high school diploma as well as an associate degree from JCCC.

During those two years in high school, students would also have a corporate sponsor that would pay a $2,000 fee for tuition as well as a paid internship through that company.

Melcher said there is a high number of unfilled technology jobs in Kansas City, and many graduates aren’t very well-prepared to fill those positions.

“It’s just more and more difficult to find qualified talent,” Melcher said. “The problem is that there’re not only enough people with the skill set, but those that do have the skill set really aren’t all that well qualified.”

Chip Cody, chair and full-time professor of electronics has been at the college since 2001 and has seen enrollment in the overall industrial technology programs increase slightly during the recent years.

Cody said he gets both students fresh out of high school as well as non-traditional students that are looking to upgrade their skills for a better job. Some students experience difficulty though.

“We have a fairly high drop rate,” Cody said. “I think they get here and they realize perhaps it’s a little harder than they thought, and it isn’t just the fun stuff of electronics, there’s some math involved and things like that.”

Cody said he has been getting more and more calls from companies coming to him asking him to recommend employees, seeking possible workers.

One of the reasons Cody believes there is a shortage is due to the lack of women in the field.

“Half of our market does not exist,” Cody said. “I would love to have young women more in this program.”

Cody believes that more presence and increased visibility of the college’s programs in high schools would help to bring in more students who are interested in the field.

“I would like to see more promotion,” Cody said. “Get more people understanding all the things we do here.”

Melcher first realized the scope of the issue a couple of years ago while working together with a group of local business leaders during the Google Fiber announcement for Kansas City. Out of the group came a greater realization about the local workforce.

“What we discovered is all that of these companies had a similar problem and that was they couldn’t find the talent that they needed and the numbers to be able to grow their companies,” Melcher said.

Having always been interested in education, Melcher wanted to figure out a way to do something about the problem.

Ultimately, this program will also allow for greater earnings, according to Melcher, since they will already have two more years of experience under their belts. After graduating from high school, students could either jump right into the workforce or decide to attend a university, such as the local KU Edwards Campus, to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Working with local institutions would allow students to get all of their education locally, allowing them to live at home and work as they please, according to Melcher.

“That’s a lot of coordination,” college president Joe Sopcich said. “But at the end of the day it’s worth it for the student who can benefit from that quick progression of going to school, getting credit, and getting a job.”

Melcher believes one of the reasons young people aren’t excited about math and science is because they had a poor learning experience during their K – 12 years. A way to help solve this is to ensure there are better educators in those fields, rewarding those that are most effective – more funding won’t improve the situation, according to Melcher.

Additionally, Melcher believes there is a misunderstanding of the importance of the field.

“I don’t think the general public realizes, number one, how many technology jobs are out there and secondly, I think they kind of mis-characterize those as being the guys with the thick glasses and ponytails that nobody wants to talk to,” Melcher said. “You’re going to find that these are really sharp people, they’re fun people, they’re not just the guys that you slide a pizza under the door and you never talk to.”

Since these individuals are in “extraordinarily high demand,” that drives compensation up, and it’s not unusual to find workers making over $100,000 a year within the first several years of employment, according to Melcher.

The timeline for the program isn’t currently developed, as many different parties and entities must be on board before the project can move forward, he said. High schools, community colleges, universities as well as state governing bodies will have to work together and discover what barriers there might be and what legislative changes might need to be made.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight,” Melcher said. “But what I hope to be is the catalyst to keep this thing moving, because it’s real easy to have great ideas that just fall by the wayside; that happens far too often. We’ve got to have people that are driving the process to keep it moving forward.”

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

By Farhin Lilywala

With enrollment now open for all students, graduation is a topic that is on the minds of many students.

In order to graduate from the college, a student must meet a certain set of requirements.

“There are catalog requirements and standard requirements for graduation that all students that wish to graduate need to meet,” said Leslie Quinn, college registrar. “Although, I do believe that students sometimes leave without completing them, because they do not really understand that it is very meaningful to have an associate degree in your pocket so that if you need to go out and get a job along the way to completing your final goal, you at least have that as a backup.”

Many students agree that completing their two years at the college, graduating, and then transferring is the best possible solution for them.

“I want to go to KU for its teaching program after graduating with my associate’s degree from JuCo,” said Skylar Cushenbery, student. “I want to complete my two years here because it is cheaper, and it is a good jumping off point.”

In terms of how to complete those two years, the standard requirements are the same for all, but the catalog requirements depend on your major.

For the standard, as listed on the college’s website, an associate degree calls for 15 credit hours earned at the college. For an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, a student must complete an approved cultural diversity course. For certificates, a student must complete a minimum of 50 percent of the required course work at the college. Graduates must also have earned both a 2.0 grade point average at the college and have a cumulative 2.0 or better on all completed course work. Last, students must have been enrolled at the college within two years of the semester in which they wish to graduate, one of the requirements, according to Quinn, that allows more leniency in the guidelines than other colleges.

In order to determine the specific catalog requirements, the rules are as follows: students who are continuously enrolled at JCCC will maintain their catalog of record. However, students who miss two consecutive regular semesters (excluding summers) will follow the catalog in effect at the time of re-entry. Also, when the college discontinues a degree or certificate program, students who have already declared their intent to graduate in the program will be allowed a limited amount of time to complete the requirements as long as continuous enrollment is maintained.

Additional students may not declare a major that has been discontinued.

The college has an Educational Affairs committee to choose these requirements, comprised of faculty representatives from cross-sections across campus, who control the courses and curriculum.

However, it has been debated whether these regulations are too strictly enforced upon students for them to receive their degrees or certificates.

“I plan on transferring to another school for dental hygiene, probably UMKC,” said Jane Heinen, student. “It’s harder to meet the requirements here than at UMKC; it’s more difficult to get into the program here.”

Nevertheless, the college believes its strict standards make the final diploma or certificate worth something.

“The committee and faculty believe that a college degree or certificate is something very meaningful, and it’s intended to represent that we are authenticating that you, as a student, have learned this body of knowledge,” Quinn said. “So it is very important that we be very rigorous in those standards and make sure that our certificates and degrees that students can earn really mean something. And that is why we are very careful about monitoring and overseeing the courses and curriculum through that faculty-led committee because the degrees should be a reflection of what we, the faculty, believe students need to learn in order to earn that credential.”

For more information about graduation, visit http://www.jccc.edu/records/ graduation/index.html.

Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, at flilywal@jccc.edu.

By: Farhin Lilywala

Epicenter is an annual environmental conference in its third year, developed with the purpose for students to learn and express their opinions and concerns about the environment.

This convention was founded in 2010 as a part of a grant the Center for Sustainability received. During the first year, the conference focused on entrepreneurship and leadership. However, for the past two years, the theme revolved around jobs and how to intertwine passion and hobbies with environmental sustainability.

This year, Epicenter was held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the Regnier Center. The conference highlighted how students in higher education have been involved in such efforts as a sustainable restaurant internship, school-wide recycling and biodiesel initiatives. It also highlighted people that have just started with embracing their eco-friendly initiative or started over.

“Seeing it as not only a great way to provide our students with some information about what sustainability is, how it’s being implemented at the campus, how they can implement it in their own lives, especially, as you can see from the focus this year, with their studies or their careers, but it also allows JCCC to be this central hub, hence the name, Epicenter, for student sustainability leadership in the area,” said Kim Criner, event organizer.

The 2013 conference featured several speakers such as Summer Rayne Oakes, eco-model entrepreneur, faculty and students from KU Biodiesel Initiative, Eric Nelson, crew leader for KU Recycling, Emily Reno, JCCC student, Lynate Pettengill, Citizens Climate Lobby, Yvette Hirang, former JCCC sustainable restaurant intern, and Mike Ryan, JCCC Campus Farm manager.

Oakes combined environmental science with fashion modeling, by co-founding an online, sustainable materials marketplace, Source4Style, writing “Style Naturally,” and designing optics and shades. The KU Biodiesel Initiative explained the importance of students in preserving the environment through producing biodiesel from used cooking oil generated on campus.

Nelson highlighted that access to green jobs is becoming even more available as society continues to stress one’s awareness about our environment. Moreover, he explained that the availability of green jobs is not limited to working on a farm or wind turbine, the scope is much broader than that. Reno and Pettengill brought climate control into the spectrum of the variety of issues needing to be dealt with in environmentally sustainability.

One of the most discussed parts of the conference was the lunch. The buffet lunch featured produce grown on the campus farm, prepared and served by the culinary department. It was a formal buffet and only emphasized the message that the speakers were attempting to convey; environmental sustainability can be brought into any aspect of one’s life.

After lunch, Hirang demonstrated through her own experience of transitioning from marketing to the culinary arts that a person could truly combine passions such as cooking and being eco-friendly. Ryan finished the presentation of speakers with discussing how the concept of sustainable agriculture affects society through a detailed overview of the college’s campus farm and its purpose in the community.

At one point in the day, more than 100 people attended Epicenter 2013.

Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, at flilywal@jccc.edu.

Inappropriate sexual conduct 

Campus Police were dispatched to the commons building on Oct. 22, when a student reported a lewd behavior incident that occurred in the restaurant, Down Under. The reporting student stated she was sitting in the dining area when her attention was drawn to the suspect who was acting strange while staring at a blank wall. The victim said she observed the suspect pull his sweatpants up and look down into his crotch area several times. She said he then reached in with his hands and began touching himself inappropriately. The suspect said he was not aware anyone was watching him and he was embarrassed by the incident. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court soon.

MacBook theft 

On Oct. 28, two laptops were reported stolen from the JCCC Bookstore. The reporting party stated that at approximately 11:04 a.m., the bookstore received an order for four MacBook Pros and all four were secured in the electronics storage room. The reporting party then stated he became aware that two laptops were missing at approximately 5 p.m. None of the laptops were located. The investigation continues.

IPod theft 

Campus Police received information on Oct. 30 about an Apple iPod (valued at $200) that was stolen from the Food Court. The victim states he was playing chess, while his iPod was charging at 3 p.m. He left to get food and when he returned at approximately 3:30, the iPod was missing. The investigation is still currently open.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

Nov. 7 poetry reading kicks off Veterans Week events at JCCC 

Bill Bauer and H.C. Palmer , Vietnam veterans, will read their poetry and discuss writing’s role in their post-war lives in “A Call to Words: Veterans and Why They Write” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Hudson Auditorium in the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. A reception will follow the reading in Café Tempo in the museum. It is open to the public at no charge.

Fiesta Nov. 14 raises funds for 

Latino students 

Enjoy a feast and raise funds for Latino students at the collge’s Latino Fiesta from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in COM 155 (the dining room behind javajazz@jccc.) The event includes Zumba demonstration classes, food and Latin American music. Tickets are $5 each and are available in COM 306 or at the door the day of the event.

For more information, call 913-469-7680.

Graphic Design Club presents pop-up card workshop Nov. 9 

Learn how to make pop-up cards at a workshop sponsored by the Graphic Design Club from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in LIB 313.

The materials fee is $10, and space is limited to 20, so participants should register in advance on Shop JCCC. All proceeds from this event will be used toward the graphic design Graduating Recruitment Showcase. Afternoon snacks and refreshments will be provided.

If you have questions or would like further information, email jcccgraphicdesignclub@gmail.com.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

By Jessica Skaggs

A presidential initiative under former President Dr. Terry Calaway, became policy for the 2014 spring semester. However normal procedure was not followed, sparking campus-wide response. All students are expected to demonstrate their ability to read with either the achievement of a reading co-requisite or the completion of other options that satisfy the requirement, as listed on the college website.

NEED TO KNOW

In an effort to help students be adequately prepared for college level work, JCCC requires students to demonstrate “college reading readiness.” Starting in the spring of 2014, students will begin to see “college reading readiness” listed as a pre- or co-requisite for many courses. Students may satisfy this requirement with one or more of the following:

• Successful completion of Reading Skills Improvement (RDG 126). Current enrollment in RDG 126 will also meet the requirement.

• Successful completion of Composition I (ENGL 121)

• COMPASS test score of 80 or higher in reading

• ACT sub score of 19 or higher in reading

• COMPASS-ESL (English as a Second Language) test score of 95 or higher

Information courtesy of the college website.

Dave Davis-Faculty Senator

As of Oct. 16, “It’s not about debating the merits of whether or not it’s a good idea that students can read, that’s ridiculous. We all think it’s a good idea students should read. The question is, was this done in a way that people directly involved can contribute? Did it follow the processes established for the entire existence of this college? And the answer to both of those questions is no.

In all fairness there were a few faculty [members] that were a part of this process, mostly reading teachers, understandably, but […] when you’re affecting every single class on campus, it’s not enough just to have one or two faculty members.

Next semester Ed Affairs, Faculty Senate, other faculty driven organizations will get their hands on this, and I imagine at the very least, individual departments will be given the option to opt out, that this will be like a default. If you don’t say anything, it’s a prerequisite, but if you don’t want it to be you can opt out. Anything less than that would be simply insulting.”

Faculty Senate

As of Oct. 15, “The Faculty Senate supports the Educational Affairs Committee in its statement that any course prerequisites added without the procedural practices in place, including the formal review and approval by division curriculum committees and the Educational Affairs Committee, be immediately removed from the course catalogue and the spring 2014 course schedule.”

Reading Department

As of Oct. 22, “The real question here is ‘what is best for helping students achieve success?’ We wholeheartedly agree that the reading pre-req initiative was not properly rolled out. We do have issues with policy making within the college. However, we would ask everyone to take a step back, take a deep breath, and consider the ramifications of rescinding the policy. It is true that it did not go through Ed Affairs, but that does not invalidate the professionalism and research of the many faculty across campus who worked diligently on this initiative from the beginning discussions in the Underprepared Student Committee to the work on the AQIP action plans to Achieving the Dream to the Dev Ed Symposium to the Dev Ed General Committee.”

Steve Hansen- Chair, Educational Affairs

As of Oct. 21, “My personal opinion is that, [if] you’re going to be admitted to college, you need to bring some documentation to show that you’re ready to take the courses and to be involved in assessment. [Reading Readiness] is not like a regular pre-requisite. Andy [Anderson] has charged Ed Affairs to come up with a plan regarding reading readiness […] to be ready by Feb. 14th. It would have been nice if the whole thing could have been redone, but I don’t think that there was any intent, I think everybody all the faculty and administration have done a very professional job of evaluating it, and if they could’ve rescinded it for the spring, I think they would’ve done it.”

Computer Services

As of Oct. 22 “This has been a major undertaking from both a policy perspective and systems perspective. We appreciate all the efforts from each of the areas to prepare for start of spring enrollment.”

Judy Korb-EVP, Instruction & Operations

As of Oct. 18, “I think it [productive communication among faculty] has been very good, there has been a lot of discussion. I think there’s been other communication that is really good, which it gets to the issue of process, whether or not process was followed, and it wasn’t, we should have taken it through Ed Affairs, but I think the discussion […] will lead us to a more productive place. To me, the productive place is collaborative decision making. Obviously, I think Ed Affairs needs to play a big part in how the communication moves forward. We’re at a place now where we had to make a decision, and so the decision was to make this a co-requisite instead of a pre-requisite, but we need to finalize the decision now. I think Ed Affairs needs to help us define where we go now with the discussion to make sure that we take this back through what would be an appropriate channel.”

Educational Affairs

Committee As of Oct. 9, Educational Affairs moved, “that any course prerequisites added without the procedural practices in place, including the formal review and approval by Division Curriculum Committees and the Educational Affairs Committee, be immediately removed from the course catalogue and the spring 2014 course schedule.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

By Farhin Lilywala

Each month, every establishment, without fail, receives one bill above all others: the electricity bill. The college is no exception.

It is expected the college spends a good chunk of money on energy, as when you walk into any room on campus, the lights are bright and shining. In 2008, Michael Rae, project manager for sustainability, says the college had a study done to make sure that everything energy related was up to standard, and it highlighted many areas of improvement for the college.

“The college asked the board for a certain amount of money and they allotted us $700,000 to go towards energy efficiency measures,” Rae said.

It took the college and the energy efficiency team about two years to implement most of the changes suggested by the study, such as new and better motors for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC), which is the biggest energy user on campus. The second major change implemented was with lighting upgrades, the second biggest energy user on campus, switching from a bigger V12 to a smaller V8 light bulb. The other major change was reducing plug load, which is anything plugged into an outlet.

Due to the changes made, the college is now saving several thousands of dollars, according to Ryan Wing, senior sustainability analyst.

“Out of the $700,000 the board appropriated for energy efficiency, $565,000 went to energy measures,” Wing said. “These measures now save the college over $100,000 per year. In about five years, with rising energy rates, the college will be paid back. The other $135,000 went to water efficiency, which has a 12- year payback, just because water is so cheap around here.”

The energy efficiency team is currently working on an energy dashboard, whose infrastructure and user interface, according to Wing, was built by a team of three students from the capstone course, that requires them to learn independently about a technology they know nothing about. In order for this dashboard to have a full effect, a meter will be placed on each building on campus which will then monitor how much energy is being used.

“That still needs some tweaking,” Wing said. “So we are working with campus information services to get the data points all properly connected so the data can be viewed live. Energy will then be viewed in real time.”

Questions remain: did these measures work? And will they be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars?

“Last fiscal year,so that is last July to this past June, the college spent more than $2.5 million on electricity,” Wing said. “The college has actually done a pretty good job of increasing energy efficiency, but because of the rising rates, the bill continues to increase. In 2008, we paid $2 million, so it has gone up about $550,000, and in 2005, the bill was $1.4 million.”

The amount that the college pays for each kilowatt has increased as well, according to Rae.   “We were paying five cents per kilowatt, and now we are paying about 8.4 [cents per] kilowatts,” Rae said.

Although Julia Lamartina, student and worker at Encore! Espresso, believes the system could be improved, she hasn’t seen the situation as a problem.

“It gets pretty cold behind the counter, and higher floors seem to be cooler, but I’ve been pretty comfortable this year,” Lamartina said.

The energy efficiency team is now working on recalibrating HVAC units to get them working the way they are supposed to be working.

The team is also working on a new project that will severely help the cause of energy efficiency.

“The program that will attack energy efficiency is still being developed,” Rae said. “So we can’t exactly divulge anything about that because it is still under development and we are currently waiting for approval.”

Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu. 

By Katelyn Larson

Supporting students in the spectrum

In the fall of 2004, less than 10 students on the spectrum attended the college. Now, nine years later, over 60 students on the spectrum do; and those are just the ones who have requested accommodations.

This year, the college hosted a conference about autism, titled “Beyond the Diagnosis: Autism Across the Lifespan,” on Oct. 18 and 19. The sixth annual conference aimed to help answer questions that parents, teachers and health professionals might have about working with students and children with autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is any of various disorders, such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome, commonly manifested in early childhood and characterized by impaired social or communication skills, repetitive behaviors or a restricted range of interests.

With the extensive services for spectrum students the college has, it is no wonder the population of spectrum students requesting accommodations has increased.

Some of the strategies for success the college implements are educational information for staff and faculty, in-service training, new faculty orientations and department specific information sessions.

The college also has what is known as the TIPS program. TIPS is a transition program, currently in its ninth year, for learning disabled high school seniors during their spring semesters.

“It was the easiest transition I’ve ever experienced,” said Josh Edwards, a student with Asperger’s.

According to Holly Dressler, chair/ Access advisor, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reach out to students with the support of high schools. It prepares the students for change and teaches them to focus on their strengths and how to battle problems using them.

“So many of the time these students are told what their weaknesses are, since day one,” Dressler said.

A few of the many accommodations and services the college provides for the students include note takers, tutoring, preferential seating, mid-semester progress reports and weekly meetings with an advisor.

In addition to the support they receive at school, according to Dressler, it’s important to not stop that support from home.

Some of the benefits of community college for students on the spectrum are its proximity to home, small class sizes and usually less busy work

load.

“With JCCC I get to experience college the same as everyone else,” said Edwards. “In high school, you know what’s expected of you. In college, no matter who you are, your success is completely up to you.”

The college also has an Autism Spectrum Support Club, a cooperative program with the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training. The club welcomes students and mentors from both the college and KU.

“I feel more accepted than I did in high school,” said Edwards of the club. “I’ve finally found more than one or two people who understand me.”

In addition to the TIPS program and the Autism Spectrum Support Club, the college shows its support for students on the spectrum by hosting the annual Kansas Autism Conference, which this year, according to Mary Jean Billingsley, program director, had a turnout of more than 200 people with some coming all the way from places such as Canada and Florida.

For more information on Access Services or the Autism Spectrum Support Club contact Holly Dressler at dressler@jccc.edu or Karen Miller at kjmiller@jccc.edu.

Contact Katelyn Larson, reporting correspondent at klarso27@jccc.edu. 

Academic Excellence Challenge team wins first tournament of the season 

The college’s undefeated Academic Excellence Challenge team added another win to its record at the fall preliminary tournament. Participating members include Kurt Partridge, Trevor Crookston, Jared Mullis, Rhiannon Pearson and Elliot Rodgers.

At the end of the day, the team finished with a 5-0 record, tying for first place with Cowley Community College, scoring approximately 428 points per round.

Partridge, team captain, was the overall leader in points with 400 total points, about 80 points per round.

Student Senate presents Trick-or- Treat for Kids Oct. 25 

Student Senate presents the fourth annual Trick-or-Treat for Kids. The event will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 in COM 319 and 322. This year’s event will feature food and plenty of activities, including a costume contest, mask making and storytelling.

For more information, contact Mindy Kinnaman at mkinnam1@jccc. edu, ext. 3534 or visit COM 309.

Wildlife expert shares experiences Nov. 10 

Wild Kingdom ambassador from Mutual of Omaha, Peter Gros will share his love for wildlife and wilderness in Yardley Hall at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.

As a wildlife expert, Gros will share his experiences and allow the audience to come with him to a few of his wild travel experiences with video clips and bloopers.

Tickets are $30 or $20 for adults and $15 or $10 for youth. They can be purchased through the college box office at 913-469-4445 or online at jccc.edu/ TheSeries.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu 

By Lindsay Sax

Americans have racked up almost one trillion dollars in student loan debt. The rate at which students are defaulting on loans continues to grow every year, but there are options available to keep students out of trouble.

Options exist at the college to avoid taking out loans, or if financial aid does not cover the entire cost of tuition. There is a three installment payment plan offered through the bursar’s office. There are consequences to not paying tuition on time.

“You can’t add classes, you would have to come in person or call to drop classes and you can’t get transcripts,” said Gayle Callahan, director, Bursar’s Operations. “It keeps you from adding classes for this semester or future semesters until that’s paid in full.”

If payment plans are not an option, students may take out loans, but payment problems happen. In 2011, 10 percent of all borrowers defaulted on their student loans. The national average for a two to three year public college was 15 percent, according to the Department of Education. The college’s rate was 10.3 percent.

Loans are considered in default when payments are 270 days late. The consequences for defaulting on loans can range from bad credit scores to having to immediately pay the loan. American Student Assistance (ASA) says that in the first five years after making payments, 41 percent of borrowers will be delinquent on payments, and that more than half of the students at two year colleges are delinquent on payments or already defaulted on their loans.

There are income based repayment plans available to borrowers struggling to make payments. These plans include income-contingent repayment, income-based repayment, public service loan forgiveness and pay as you earn. Currently 1.6 million borrowers are enrolled in these plans.

“No one knows how many people are eligible, since we don’t have data on borrowers’ income,” said Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Access and Success, in an article in the New York Times. “But we do think there are many more people who could benefit.”

Starting this month, the Department of Education will be contacting borrowers who are struggling to repay their loans via e-mail about options available to them, according to the New York Times. The department says about 600,000 borrowers defaulted on loans last year, and many of them could have avoided that if they knew about the options available to them.

“We think there are lots of people who could benefit from our income-based repayment programs but haven’t signed up, and we want to get to them before they default,” said Arne Duncan, education secretary, in the New York Times. “The challenge is getting the word out.”

The department is trying to make enrolling in programs easier for borrowers by putting the application online and by easily being able to import tax return information.

For students enrolled in the payment plan, the last payment is due Oct. 15.

For information about changing payments go to http://www.direct.ed.gov/ or http://www.jccc.edu/bursar/index.html for information about credit class payment plans.

Contact Lindsay Sax, copy editor, at lsax@jccc.edu

By Lindsay Sax

The college’s Brown & Gold club was forced to make changes due to budget issues this past semester.

Brown & Gold previously offered free credit classes to members, but on Sept. 26 the Board of Trustees approved a cost of $16 per credit hour and a merger with an outside organization, Coming of Age/Shepherd’s Center Central (SCC).

“[There’s] lots of energy, people calling the office about the partnership, people seemed pleased, Brown & Gold members are satisfied the club will stay intact,” said Cheryl Brown Henderson, SCC program director. “They like being part of college history. People feel kinship, a loyalty.”

Brown & Gold was formed in the late 1980s for Johnson County residents 55 and older. The $10 membership got members education and cultural benefits at the college, discounted noncredit classes, and tickets to cultural events.

The merge with SCC will continue to offer opportunities for travel and day trips to area attractions for members. Brown Henderson says SCC has been in business for 41 years empowering midlife and older adults, and that SCC can benefit Johnson County adults, who have the largest growth of people 55 and older in the greater Kansas City area.

“The trips planned and run by members of Brown & Gold were the main attraction for membership,” former Brown & Gold board of directors member Ron Platt said. “They also seemed to annoy the college officials but no one knew why. You would think the college would want as many friends as it could get. Johnson County seniors are, after all, the main financial supporters of the college.”

The new Brown & Gold, beginning spring semester 2014, will be open to all Johnson County residents 60 years and older. Members will continue to sign up on the specified date each semester, but the cost will now be $16 per credit hour. The $16 is to cover the cost of student fees which are built into tuition.

The Board of Trustees was given the problem of creating a way to keep the Brown & Gold club afloat. Trustee David Lindstrom, treasurer, said they needed to find a way to balance the budget without impacting the quality of programs. The process is an adjustment for members, according to Lindstrom.

“Benefits that people get used to, and then something is taken away; it’s an adjustment.” Lindstrom said. “Frankly, we could have done a better job communicating.”

Platt, who has used the club to take 45 hours of classes, says he was essentially fired from the position due to the changes, and they were given no reason.

“That would be similar to disbanding the Student Senate or the officers of any campus club, that are officials elected by their members,” Platt said. “No rational reason was ever given.”

New perks according to a letter mailed to Brown & Gold members include “direct access to SCC’s personnel and programs, including free “Explore Your Future” and “Capturing the Energy and Expertise of People 50+” workshops; free Medicare/Social Security/supplemental insurance consulting; a free caregiver support line, informational classes and training; free home-sharing program access; and free guidance about volunteer and community service opportunities. You’ll also fi nd special opportunities through Johnson County Parks and Recreation 50 Plus programs and activities.”

“I would argue the presence of Brown & Gold students is positive for the college,” Platt said. “We are generally serious about learning, and not much bother, and bring a lifetime of experience to each class. It sets the example that learning is a lifelong activity.”

Enrollment for the Brown & Gold club for spring 2014 semester begins Jan. 10.

Contact Lindsay Sax, copy editor, at lsax@jccc.edu.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND BATTERY 

Campus Police were dispatched to the Carlsen Center on Sept. 30 when a student reported an assault. The victim stated that while walking to his car, the suspect started screaming and pushing him. The suspect claimed the victim was the cause for his eviction. The victim stated the suspect used to be his friend but started to harass him over the last year. The suspect threw a water bottle at the victim and missed. With another accomplice, the suspect punched the victim in the head; after which, they got into a vehicle and left. The victim did not sustain any visible harm and did not seek medical treatment. The investigation continues.

IPAD THEFT 

On Oct. 4, a college-owned iPad was reported stolen from OCB 157D to Campus Police. The device, valued at about $600, was in a packaged box and was left on a desk with the office door open at about 2:15 p.m. Upon returning at about 4:00 p.m., the iPad was missing. The victim attempted to ask others with adjoining offices to discover the location of the device, with no avail. The investigation continues.

INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL CONDUCT 

Campus Police arrived in the Carlsen Center to receive information about a lewd behavior incident that occurred in the Billington Library Building. The reporting college faculty member stated he was about to step on to an elevator when he discovered a male and female engaged in sexual intercourse. The faculty member then instructed them to follow him. Upon nearing the second floor of the Carlsen Center, the couple ran down the stairs. Their names are not known, but they are assumed to be students at the college.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

PARTNERSHIP WITH STOP HUNGER NOW RESULTS IN SHIPPING OVER 14,000 PACKAGED MEALS OVERSEAS 

The college’s first food packaging event in partnership with Stop Hunger Now shipped over 14,000 meals with the help of over 65 volunteers. This event was held to raise awareness about the international and local problem of hunger. A total of $3,500 was collected, with an additional $700 going to the college food pantry.

Volunteers came from various areas within the college, including nursing, nutrition, PTK, Intervarsity, International Club, Model UN, Student Sustainability Committee, academic support, counseling, Science Division, grants office, computer services, and ESL/EAP as well as several other members from both the campus and community.

ANNUAL BOOK SALE RAISES MORE THAN $2,000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS 

The annual book sale held in COM raised $2,246.35 for scholarships. This is the largest amount raised by the college in the history of the book sale. It’s also the first time that approximately $1,000 will be donated to each of the two scholarships.

After taxes, $2,070.36 is being donated to the JCCC Foundation in the name of the Gene Jack Scholarship, which pays homage to an original faculty member, and the Jana Pinker Scholarship, honoring the daughter of a two long-time faculty members.

MENON IS PRESENTER AT NOON AT THE NERMAN DISCUSSION SERIES OCT. 11 

Noon at the Nerman’s speaker this week is Jennifer Menon, associate science professor. Presenting Friday, Oct. 11 at 12 p.m. The topic will be “Skipping Skeletons” painted by Allison Schulnik. This discussion will take place in the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

Noon at the Nerman is a weekly program that discusses works of art that are on display at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and on campus. The program is free and open to anyone.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

Robert Drummond was selected to fill the opening on the Board of Trustees at a special meeting on Oct. 1. The vacancy was created when Melody Rayl resigned from the board at the end of July.

Drummond is currently the President/CEO of KidsTLC, a local organization that provides shelter and services for neglected or abused children. He previously served on the college’s Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2013.

For more information about Trustee Drummond, be sure to pick up issue 4 on Oct. 10 or visit CampusLedger.com.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

The following applicants were approved to be interviewed:

Karin Brownlee

Robert Drummond

Michael Lally

Steven Wolf

The final decision will be made Tuesday, Oct. 1 in a special meeting.