Best of Florida Schools 2005
General Categories—Page 3

Best Digital Media Program
IRCC Powers Digital Age
We all searched for Nemo, laughed at Donkey, and rooted for the Incredibles, enthralled by the wonders of digital animation. The computer geeks have staged a coup, and the digital media program at Indian River Community College is aiding the overthrow.

In January 2004, the digital revolution reached IRCC’s campus in the form of a brand-new digital-media facility, the Wolf High-Technology Center. IRCC provides a full digital-video editing suite so that students can create, shoot, and edit short movies. Animators craft characters for games and videos while others work on Web page development and streaming media. With up-to-the-minute technology at their fingertips, IRCC aims for its students to be fully prepared for technology careers.

“IRCC is actively involved in preparing residents throughout Florida’s Treasure Coast for high-tech careers,” says Michelle Abaldo, director of institutional advancement. “Advanced technology is a major emphasis of the college to develop highly skilled employees who can meet the needs of 21^st  Century business and industry.”

Advanced is hardly the word—expert is more like it. Students in the program have developed an animated architectural fly-through of IRCC buildings that are under construction, complete with 3-D animation and green-screen special effects. They also created a 3-D animation of the Rodeo Arena at the new St. Lucie Fairgrounds before it was built. Students say that all of the real-world experience is a huge benefit.

“It’s really letting me be more creative and teaching me some hands-on experience. I don’t know if I could get that at a larger university,” says Michael Forbus, a student in the program. “The excitement and the level of learning is infectious. I think that is a huge plus when you’re trying to learn something.”

There are more than 900 students enrolled in the program, and an even bigger facility, Kight Center for Emerging Technologies, is in the works. At the Kight Center, students will be instructed in robotics, and laser and photonic technology. At this rate, a total conquest is eminent. Watch out world—IRCC students are on their way! —MM

For more information, contact info@ircc.edu.

Best Student Service
Something to Smile About
Most people dread going to the dentist—everything from the sound of the drill to receiving the bill. But by providing high-quality dental services at reasonable prices, hygienists-in-training at South Florida Community College give their patients something to smile about. “We even have someone who drives from Lakeland to have scaling done for $20,” says Misty Austin, second-year student.

Three days a week during specified hours, a student welcomes patients in the SFCC Dental Education Center’s reception area and helps them book appointments. Clinic services include adult teeth-cleaning for $15 to $20, children’s teeth-cleaning for $10, full-mouth series X-rays for $20, bite-wing X-rays for $5 to $10, and protective sealants for children for $5. “The clinics give the students experience with patients,” says Rebecca Sroda, director of dental education. “The student performs the procedure, then the instructor checks the work. The patient isn’t completed until the job is perfect.”

SFCC developed its two-year dental hygiene and 11-month dental assisting programs in response to requests by dentists in Highlands, Hardee, Polk, and Desoto counties. Dental hygiene students begin working with faculty and patients in the clinic during the second semester of their first year in the program, and currently, 12 first-year students and 12 second-year students help staff the clinic. So far, the public response has been very positive.

“The dental community and the public have been totally supportive of the clinics,” Stroda says. “The dental community has shown support by donating supplies and teaching faculty in-services. The public makes appointments for services, spreads the word about the clinic, and provides us with feedback.”

 Besides getting to brush up on their skills, students take advantage of the chance to work in a professional space. The Dental Education Center, which formally opened in January 2003, was designed much like a dentist’s office. The clinic contains two radiographic rooms and 12 dental chairs that overlook peaceful Lake Glenada. During a procedure, patients can distract themselves by looking at simulated panther tracks embedded in the ceiling—a design element that pays homage to SFCC’s Florida panther mascot. Or they can gaze out the floor-length windows, hoping to spot an alligator at the lake.

The clinic serves approximately 144 patients a month. Through press releases, flyers, and word of mouth, students and administrators hope to increase those numbers. Discussions also are underway to develop relationships with local health care organizations and retirement communities. “We started out getting family and friends to come,” says Nicole Hay, second-year student. “One of our patients heard about the clinic from a friend.”

Even when the students break for lunch, they’re focused on promoting their work. “We usually go in groups to places like Taco Bell and just start talking to people about the dental clinic,” Hay says. “We’re very mouthy.”  —DJB

Contact Assistant Director of Community Relations Deborah Bell at belld@southflorida.edu.

Best Orientation Theme
Saint Leo Smells Fishy
Oh college orientation—it’s almost like the world is slowly ending in two long days. You’re surrounded by strange new people, forced to play atrocious ice-breakers, and you taste your first bite of college food. And then the worst part. They already want you to know your schedule, your major, future career goals, how many kids you want, and the future value of your home—and you don’t even know what you want for lunch.

It’s all okay, though, at Saint Leo University. Here they’ve taken this hellish experience and turned it into a fun, exciting dive into college living. They’ve even capped it off with a trip to Disney-MGM Studios.

This past year, Saint Leo used the popularity of the movie Finding Nemo and turned it into the theme of their orientation, Finding Leo. Keeping with the theme, orientation leaders were trained with the FISH! Philosophy, a program that teaches organizations how to create a more engaging and exciting workplace through films and books. The philosophy is comprised of four components that leaders live by: play, make their day, choose your attitude, and be there. “Using the FISH! Philosophy assisted in bringing the orientation leaders together,” says Eric Vaughn, assistant director for career services. “But it also assisted in ensuring that the students and guests had a wonderful time.”

The orientation had the usual activities like academic testing and advising, but they paired these educational sessions with fun activities. The students got the opportunity to do a ropes course, partake in a casino night, and play Who Wants to be a Leonaire? Oh, and has it been mentioned yet, that they also went to MGM Studios?

“For many students, this was their favorite part of orientation,” Vaughn says. “The best part for me in the park was seeing large groups of new students hanging out and being excited together.” All students were provided tickets to MGM as part of their orientation fee. More than 250 students and staff participated in this event.

If all of this wasn’t enough, students also received fish-themed water bottles, pens, and bandanas. It’s no surprise that freshmen walked away from this orientation optimistic. “The students have a very positive reaction to the entire orientation program,” Vaughn says. “New students who participate in the Saint Leo University orientation program see first-hand how much fun everyone has among the university community.”—JW

Contact Vaughn at eric.vaughn@saintleo.edu.

Best Interview System
Making a Virtual Impression
At the University of South Florida, students get a second chance to make a first impression on employers thanks to the Virtual Video Interview system. The USF Career Center is the first school in the nation to offer this new virtual service.

“Using the VVIS is simple,” says Dr. Drema Howard, director of the Career Center. The interview is conducted in front of a computer. A virtual interviewer asks questions, and a camera attached to the computer tapes the responses. The tape is then housed on a secure Web site. Students receive a URL link that they can place on their electronic resumes.

“Typically, video conferencing is expensive, takes place in real-time, and requires advance scheduling,” Howard says. However, digital interviewing is inexpensive, provides students with a chance to polish their interview answers before employers see them, and allows the employer to view the interview at his or her convenience. In fact, they can watch the interview at any time and from any location in the world with Internet access.

This type of interview is used in the early part of the pre-screening process and isn’t meant to take the place of a face-to-face interview. Employers continue to conduct the final decision-making interview in person. “But attaching a virtual video interview to the electronic resume gives students that extra ‘marketing edge,’” Howard says. The Virtual Video Interview is a patent-pending system developed by Interview USA, a company based in Sarasota. –DH

Contact Howard at dhoward@admin.usf.edu.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved