Best of Florida Schools 2004
Web-Only Categories—Page 7

Best Catalog on CD
IRCC Moves from Paper to Plastic
What do records, 8-tracks, and Indian River Community College’s printed catalogs have in common? All three have gone the way of the dinosaur, being ousted by more innovative CD forms. However, unlike old vinyl enthusiasts, users of IRCC’s new CD catalog aren’t nostalgic for the antiquated version. Since its introduction in May 2003, the CD has been a number-one hit.

IRCC staff members recognized that potential students don’t want to wade through hundreds of pages in a printed catalog to find out what courses to take, when to apply, and what’s up with student life. Using the interactive CD catalog, users can learn all of this, plus feel like they’re taking a campus tour from the comfort of their own computer chairs. “It’s also easy to navigate, not 450 pages, and easy to carry,” says Michelle Abaldo, director of institutional advancement.

The user-friendly CD program begins with a three-minute video giving an overview of the college. Then, videos featuring IRCC students introduce topics such as student life, financial aid, and the application process. “With video clips of fellow students, users can see and hear what the college is like and what students have to say,” Abaldo says. “It gives a much better feel for the college.” Students can also follow links to the course catalog and the IRCC web site to search for additional information.

IRCC’s cutting-edge catalog isn’t simply more modern; CDs are also much cheaper and easier for the college to mail. “With the overwhelming positive response, IRCC hopes to move completely from the print version to the CD format in the future,” Abaldo says. —AMC

Contact Abaldo at mabaldo@ircc.edu.

Best Supporting Program
Within Their Reach
Many financially disadvantaged adults think tuition costs are climbing so high that a college education is completely out of their reach. Others believe that education beyond the high school level just isn’t for them. But with the inclusion of a U.S. Department of Education (ED) program called Educational Opportunity Center at Miami Dade College-InterAmerican Campus, many college hopefuls are finally realizing their higher education dreams.

With the EOC program’s free education, career, and college financial aid counseling, participants can enter any higher learning institution of their choice. This unique service provides disadvantaged students with both options and assistance. “We meet them in community agencies throughout Dade County and convince them we can assist them, and they quickly sign up for our services,” says Dr. Franklin Valcin, EOC executive director at the InterAmerican Campus. “It then takes us very little time to finalize the processes of admission, registration, and financial aid assistance.”

ED funded the program after MDC-InterAmerican officials submitted a grant proposal. In its first year, participation grew beyond the federal government’s minimum quota of 1,000 clients by 157. “Not all of them were ready for college, but about 400 EOC program participants were in college as a result of our performance,” Valcin says.

In the future, Valcin hopes to secure some additional benefits for the program, like transportation and food vouchers, which will help clients facing other life challenges and constraints to learning. “Most of our students agree that the road to schools might have been indefinitely closed to them had it not been for the EOC program,” he says. “The InterAmerican Campus is proud to house this program and works closely with the EOC team to help them meet the challenges of assisting under-prepared students.” —AMC

Contact Valcin at fvalcin@mdcc.edu.

Most Caring Campus
Santa Fe Ships off to Soldiers
Santa Fe in Spanish translates to “Saint Faith,” and the students of Santa Fe Community College are living up to their name as they spread faith and joy to fellow students who are serving in the U.S. military in the Middle East. The school sponsored two separate care package campaigns in the spring and fall semesters to show their support of their fellow students who were called for duty.

Members of the school's Collegiate Veterans organization wanted to support their fellow classmates and military colleagues. Collection boxes in high traffic areas of the school reaped a harvest of items, and basketball fans contributed to the collection at home games. The packages not only included items like reading materials, small games, batteries, and toiletries, but also included personal notes and best wishes from the SFCC community.

The school garnered corporate sponsorships from Barnes & Noble bookstores, and food service vendor Canteen.

The technicians at SFCC’s teaching zoo had a more personal reason than patriotism to help gather materials for the care packages—one of the tech’s fiancé is currently on active duty in the Middle East. “She said that she thought it was so important that we remember our service people and that the little things from home mean so much, “ says Fanny Navarro, zoo education specialist and advisor for Zoociety. “She thought it was great that Santa Fe realized this and was taking an active part.”

Dan Rodkin, coordinator for the Center for Student Leadership and activities coordinator, says that he received numerous e-mails and responses from the care package recipients expressing their gratitude and happiness.

“A couple of the students have maintained an ongoing dialogue with us, making us aware of the situation over there,” Rodkin says. “They're always thanking us for our continued support.” —LF

Contact Rodkin at 352-395-5912.

Best Summer Television Institute
SCC to Air in 3…2…1…Action!
The scene is set: a group of gifted high school students gather at Seminole Community College on a bright summer day. “Lights, camera, action!” Scene one of the Summer Television Institute is about to begin.

Since 1989, SCC has given high school students the chance to help create a made-for-television film product, receiving digital video technology and journalism training. The 20 participating students create and tape a screenplay, which is then broadcast in the fall on Seminole Educational Television, the local public-access TV station.

“It’s all hands-on,” says Patrick Fitzgerald, honors professor of philosophy and the television program manager. “They learn everything from camera operation and editing to creating the finished product.”

And these films are winners. Films created by the students won numerous competitions in the past, and Gate City, a film tracing the history of nearby Sanford, elicited a significant viewer response.

“We’ve subsequently sold about 200 copies of that to people who just called in wanting a copy,” Fitzgerald says.

Students often choose the film subject, which is usually a public service production such as historical and educational segments. Plans for the upcoming summer session include a health related segment for the Seminole County Health Society, the local health department.

“It’s a governmental agency, and they want to establish some kind of regular episodic series on health promotion, and we’re going to use this to launch that,” Fitzgerald says.

Students who participate in the program have seriously considered entering the world of film and television professionally. One student was accepted at the Florida State Film School because of a winning program created in the Summer Television Institute and went on to earn a graduate degree in film and television, even becoming an adjunct professor for SCC.

“They get a whole lot out of just being a part of something that goes on television,” Fitzgerald says. —MDJ

Contact Fitzgerald at fitzgerp@scc-fl.edu.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved