SIDER CHATINDECEMBER - JANUARY

2 015 - 2016S O U T H W E S T E R N I L L I N O I S C O L L E G E

35 YEARS OF SWIC-CESS

ideas,” she said, adding that she’s thankful to her entire college family.

KAREN JOBE received a phone call from Bobby Poe while she was working at SIU. He was looking for someone to teach an intro to psychology class at SWIC. She accepted, and also began teaching sociology and anthropology classes.

She’s taught classes in Highland and Cahokia, as well as the Belleville Campus.

She teamed up with Barb Hunter to start the Herstory Committee, which spotlights women each March during Women’s History Month. While she no longer chairs the committee, she’s proud of all it continues to accomplish.

“SWIC is a good place to work, no doubt,” she said. “I’ve always had great colleagues,

the department chairs have always been good to work with and Paul Wreford was a very good mentor. I am a better teacher because of him.”

She’s always looked forward to coming to work. “Liberal arts is a good place to be and I’m surrounded by people who challenge and support each other.” The people at SWIC feel what they’re doing matters, and that they are making a difference in the world. Part of what she loves most about teaching is interacting with the students.

“They bring so much to the classroom. I teach because I love to learn. I learn things in the classroom every day,” she said.

Physical Plant Shift Leader TIM WALKER also is celebrating 35 years at SWIC.

VICKI CHANNERKAREN JOBE TIM WALKER

President’s Holiday Luncheon

Wednesday, Dec. 211:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. • BC MC Café

Be sure to bring a new, unwrapped toy or book to benefit ARAMARK’s Toy Drive for the Violence

Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois!

There’s still time to grab a last-minute gift from the Kids’ Club Book Sale:

Dec. 1-2 • MC First Floor Alcove & Dec. 3-4 • IS Lobby!

VICKI CHANNER had no idea when she started at Belleville Area College as a student in 1978 she’d be here 35 years later, but that’s what happened!

Though she started as a Medical Records Technology student, she switched to Secretarial Science and the rest is history, as they say.

She went from college cheerleader to student worker in the Public Safety department to secretary in Athletics.

“Jay (Harrington) has been my boss until last year when he retired and Coach Juenger took the helm. It’s been a good ride.”

For Channer, SWIC is her home and the people here are her family. “I love the atmosphere. These people are my family, especially all the coaches,” she said. “I tell people I have 156 kids. I love my kids! They keep me fresh.”

Technological changes and the sheer size of the campus have been the biggest changes she’s seen during her career.

“I don’t know that I ever really planned to work here and certainly didn’t plan to make this my life, but I guess God had other

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Preliminary reports from the Higher Learning Commission suggest the college will soon receive a reaffirmation of its accreditation, and we couldn’t be more pleased.

Regional accreditation is critical to the institution as it facilitates the transfer of our credits and allows our students to receive Title IV financial aid and Veteran’s educational benefits. It is also a requirement when applying for numerous federal grants.

Last month, SWIC hosted a five-member peer review team that was on campus to conduct the college’s Comprehensive Quality Review. The CQR is one part of a comprehensive evaluation and determines if an institution meets HLC Criteria for Accreditation.

CQR peer reviewers from other regionally accredited colleges and universities visited the campus to draw information from the institution’s reporting submissions and to confirm data the college has previously reported. The team assigned to SWIC represented colleges in Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri.

During their reviewers’ visit, the team met with faculty, staff, administrators and students. They discussed topics such as academic support services, student learning outcomes assessment, business office operations, academic advising, financial aid and strategic planning. Through these conversations, we were able to go beyond confirmation of data to showcase all the wonderful things we are doing to provide a quality education for our students.

Though not everyone was able to attend the sessions, all of you contributed to the overall success of this evaluation. The things you do every day to help our students learn truly makes a difference and you are to be commended for your efforts.

Thanks to all for your service and congratulations on a job well done. A tip of the cap to our Vice President for Instruction Clay Baitman and Business Division Dean Janet Fontenot, Ph.D., for their tireless efforts in helping us achieve this anticipated quality-recognition outcome.

Pay It Forward,

Georgia Costello, Ph.D.

DECEMBER CALENDAR

1 RBC Employee Giving Luncheon – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Horrell Conference Room

2 President’s Holiday Luncheon – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., BC MC Café

3 BC Employee Giving Luncheon – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., BC MC Garden Room

5 Chamber Singers Candlelight Concert – 7 p.m., St. Luke Roman Catholic Church, Belleville

7 Operation Cookie Drop donations accepted, 8 a.m.-noon, RBC Room 162 and SWGCC Room 447

Jazz Band Performance – 7 p.m., BC MC Theatre

9 Operation Cookie Drop donations accepted, 7:45-9 a.m., BC MC Garden Room, and 8-8:30 a.m., PSOP receptionist desk

Guitar Ensemble Concert – 7 p.m., BC MC Theatre

13 Holiday Concert – 3 p.m., Mascoutah High School Performing Arts Center

14 Jazz Improvisation Class Concert – 7 p.m., BC MC Theatre

19 Exhibition Concludes – David Weinberg: Adrift and Guy Weible: Last Gasp, 4 p.m., The Schmidt; free admission

23 to Jan. 3 2016 Christmas Break (College Closed)

JANUARY CALENDAR

14 Exhibition Opening Reception – Paula Haniszewski: Smile Like You Mean It, Typewriter Tim: Zen and the Art of Typewriter Tim and Function and Ceremony: The Art of Melanesia, 6-8 p.m., The Schmidt; free admission

18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (College Closed)

HONORING OUR FALLEN

The Victims of the Attacks

in Paris, France

In December, the United States flag and the state flag were flown

at half-staff in honor and remembrance of:

DECEMBER-JANUARY

CAMPUS BRIEFS At the November meeting, the SWIC Board of Trustees:

• Accepteda$2,000St.ClementFoundationGranttobenefitthePSOPSenior Companion Program.

• Accepteda$1,000St.ClementFoundationGranttobenefitthePSOPFoster Grandparent Program.

• Approvedthefull-timeappointmentsofFoundationSpecialEventsAdministrative Assistant Shelly Crehan; and Commissioned Public Safety officers Brandon Borkowski and John Cappello.

“Regular Board Meeting Minutes” and “Other Board Minutes” are posted on swic.edu. Click on “About Us” and “Board of Trustees.”

BELLEVILLE CAMPUSDon’t miss your chance to see retired Art Professor Guy Weible’s exhibition, “The Last Gasp,” and David Weinberg’s exhibition, “Adrift.” Both exhibitions conclude at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18. Also, be sure to mark your calendar for the next exhibition – featuring works from the permanent collection and artists Paula Haniszewski and Typewriter Tim – which opens Thursday, Jan. 14. See the calendar for the opening reception details and visit swic.edu/theschmidt for exhibition details.

Spring 2016 Creative Kids classes for children in kindergarten through 5th grade kick off Saturday, Jan. 23 with Oceanic Ritual Masks. Children will learn about the elaborate costuming of the Gende people of Papua New Guinea as they create their own masks. The following Saturday, Jan. 30, they can create their own steampunk art made of unusual glass-like and metal-like items after learning about the funky typewriter and glass sculptures of artist Typewriter Tim. Learn more at swic.edu/theschmidt.

SAM WOLF GRANITE CITY CAMPUSHelp fight cancer by sponsoring a pinwheel in honor or memory of someone special. The campus’ College Activities annual Pinwheel for Cancer fundraiser continues until Tuesday, Feb.2.Sponsoredpinwheels,$5each,will be displayed at the campus Thursday, Feb. 4. Proceeds will support cancer research and awareness. Stop by Room 513 or call ext. 7378 for more information.

FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION – SWIC Foundation Associate Director Rena Thoele, left, and President Georgia Costello, Ph.D., right, recognized Harrisonville Telephone Company and its President and CEO H. R. Gentsch at this year’s Thanks For Giving donor recognition event. Since 1991, HTC has provided morethan$161,000inscholarshipgiftstothecollege,helping143students.Thecompanysupportssix$1,500scholarshipsforcurrenthighschoolgraduatesfromitsservice region.

SOUP PROGRAM – One in three college students is food insecure, according to the American Public Health Association. In conjunction with National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week Nov. 14-22, the Foundation teamed with ARAMARK to collect donations benefitting the SWIC Soup Program at registers in the Belleville Campus Café and Starbucks. The Soup Program donation boxes will be back at their stations Dec. 1-5 to coincide with Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1. Stop by and pay them a visit! Dean of Success Programs Deb Alford, left, and faculty member Tami Hughes, who helped start the program, check out the donation box at Starbucks.

SWIC OFFICER – Police Academy Director Van Muschler, right, presents Public Safety Officer Kyle M. Wilson with his graduation certificate for completing Police Academy Session 128.

FALL WRITER’S WORKSHOP – Teacher and poet Gillian Parrish visited the East St. Louis Community College Center recently to conduct a writer’s workshop. Parrish, third from right, was joined by students and ESLCCC Site Supervisor Rick Gregory, second from left, and Assistant Professor English Treasure Redmond, second from right.

DASHING ALL THE WAY – Physical Plant Custodian Tommy Thompson, right, receives his medal at the Kashmir Dash 5K Run/Walk from Head Baseball Coach Neil Fiala. The Athletics fundraiser was held at the Belleville Campus and attracted students, employees and members of the community.

STEM Scholarship Grant Will Help Math and Science Students The future of technology might be found in the minds of SWIC students.

To help, SWIC has received a more than $600,000NationalScienceFoundationS-STEM grant for scholarships that will go to science, technology, engineering and math students.

“This will be focused on advancing STEM graduation rates for underrepresented student populations,” said Math and Sciences Dean Steve Holman.

The scholarship will pay for tuition and fees, plus living and transportation expenses. Fourteen to 24 scholarships will be awarded each year between fall 2016 and 2020. A projected 120 students could benefit.

Details on the application process will be available in spring 2016.

For more information, contact the Math and Sciences Division at ext. 7451.

Got something

to talk about?

Email kathryn.dahlmann@swic.edu

Assistant Professor of English Treasure Shields Redmond recently published a book of poems, "chop: a collection of kwansabas for fannie lou hamer." The book is available for purchase at Left Bank books in St. Louis and at Argus House Press.SOMETHING

TO TALK ABOUT

Employee Giving 2016

The SWIC Foundation sends you warmest wishes and an invitation to the 2016 Employee Giving Campaign luncheons. Whether you’re a current or new donor to the campaign, take a beach break! If you’ve made a donation, we’d like an opportunity to thank you in person. If you’d like to make a contribution, you can see one of us at your campus luncheon and let us know what beach-themed icon you’d like added alongside Kashmir on your campus’ display.

EMPLOYEE GIVING CAMPAIGN LUNCHEONSSee You At The Beach:

RBC – Tuesday, Dec. 1 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Horrell Conference Room

BC – Thursday, Dec. 3 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. MC Garden Room

Together, we can help students learn!

•StudentScholarships

•FacultyandStaffEnhancementGrants

•HungryStudents(SoupProgram)

•InitiativesforStudent-Athletes

See how you’ve made a difference and find links to EGC forms:swic.edu/foundation/employee-giving

GIVING TUESDAY – Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us. Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, is here. SWIC joins the national movement backed by a common purpose: supporting generosity

and giving back. Check out the college’s Giving Tuesday message.

GIVING TREE – In the spirit of giving, the Business Division faculty and staff have created a Christmas tree entirely of canned goods, which they have collected throughout November. The food will be donated to the Swansea Food Pantry before the holiday.

Now Dasher, Now Dancer! – Santa’s Reindeer (Kids’ Club kids) get some help from Kashmir as they lead the crowd in carols during the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. The event, held at the Belleville Campus, kicked off the College Activities Toy Drive for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois and celebrated the start of the holiday season.

ART DU JOUR – This daylong event gave area high school students a chance to test their artistic skills and learn new techniques. The final event of the day was an awards ceremony. The first place winners were: front row, from left, Youjin Jung of Christ Our Savior High School, Megan Thompson and Cora Trask, both of Red Bud High School, Therese Beabout of Gibault High School; second row, Dylan Linders of Steeleville High School, Hannah Wetzel of Red Bud High School, Morgan Wiegand and Lauren Schmidt, both of Gibault High School.

– Culinary Arts and Food Management faculty and students served as judges for the Annual Downtown Belleville Gingerbread Contest. From left, students Kathleen Allen and Cayenne Tischer, Instructor Chef Jessie Bostick and Coordinator Leisa Brockman pose in front of the SWIC Pick award winner in the children’s 6th- to 12th-grade category, “Gingerbread People Learning in the Primary Center.” Brockman and students selected a winner from the children’s category to encourage interest in the culinary arts among young people.

The SWIC entry, “Toy Story: Andy’s Room,” won third place in the master’s category.

SWIC GINGERBREAD

It’s time for Operation Cookie Drop!

Homemade cookies and gift cards will be collected and shared with troops at Scott Air Force Base who are unable to be with their families over the holidays.

Campus drop-off days are scheduled for the second week in December. Visit swic.edu/operation-cookie for more information, including other ways to give, such as gift cards, cash donations or cookies from Eckert’s.

TREATS FOR THE TROOPS

VETS HIRING EVENT – Veterans & Career Services recently held its annual Veterans Hiring Event at the Belleville Campus. More than 100 employers attended the event open to veterans and other job seekers.

DIVERSITY CHAT – A panel of veterans gathered at the Belleville Campus during veteran’s week to answer questions about their life in – and out – of the military. East St. Louis Vet Center Readjustment Counseling Technician Tim Ogier, right, moderated the panel consisting of staff and students. Panel members included, from left, Veterans Educational Benefits Specialist Hazel Allen; Veterans and Career Services Coordinator Bonnie Heuer; veteran-students Scott Odam and Andrew Crum; VetSuccess On Campus Counselor Armando DeLaGarza; and Disability and Access Center Testing, Data and Records Manager Jenny Wieland.

– PSOP recently held a Veterans Day recognition event to honor all veterans who serve as volunteers through PSOP. More than 30 veterans attended the event. They received commemorative pins, brought in photos from their service days and shared stories and anecdotes from their days in the service. Speaking at the podium is Toni Muhammad, the new director for the RSVP and Foster Grandparent programs. Next to her is RSVP Advisory Council Chair Jennifer Gomric-Minton.

SWIC has been named one of the nation’s top educational institutions for veterans by Military Times magazine in their annual Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 2-year schools poll. The college, one of only 175 2-year, 4-year, online and nontraditional schools nationwide to be included, has made the list of top 25 2-year institutions for the third consecutive year. In addition, SWIC has been named a 2016 Military Friendly School® by Victory Media, the leading media group for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. SWIC has been placed in the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to serve America’s military service members, veterans and dependents as students and to ensure their success on campus.

The Veterans & Career Services is taking part in the Green Light a Vet movement. Helping to “shine a

light” on America’s Veterans. To learn more about the project, visit

greenlightavet.com.

SWIC CELEBRATES VETERANS WEEK

HONORING OUR VETS

STUDENT EARNS LASER FOR IMM PROGRAM Industrial Maintenance Mechanics student Ashley Robinson of Wood River wrote an essay that won her a scholarship and earned SWIC a free state-of-the-art laser shaft alignment system.

The national VibrAlign’s Realigning America scholarship program awards scholarships each quarter to students who submit the best essays about learning machinery maintenance.

Robinson’s essay about her experience atSWICearnedhera$500scholarshipand a Fixturlaser Laser Kit alignment system for the IMM program.

VibrAlign manufactures equipment for machinery alignment and vibration control and serves industries from oil and gas facilities to defense contractors to paper makers.

RAD TIME – The Radiologic Technology program held its annual RadTech Day at the Belleville Campus to build a sense of camaraderie between Radiologic Technology students. The event gave students a chance to socialize, get free food and play board games together.

Student Spotlight

Sam Wolf Granite City Campus College Activities Board members delivered more than 200 winter clothing items they collected during the November 8+8 Hour Challenge to the Salvation Army.

STUDENTS GIVE BACK

The students also delivered Thanksgiving cards and treats to the residents of The Fountains – Assisted Living Home.

SWIC35 YEARS OF SERVICE

VICKI CHANNER KAREN JOBE TIM WALKER

30 YEARS OF SERVICE

MARSHA KUROWSKI

25 YEARS OF SERVICE

MICHAEL HARTER

CAROL ECKERT

LINDA BOYCE BARBARA DALEY

JEAN DEITZ SANDY DONJON

JOYCE RAYDAVID PAETHBONNIE HEUER MICHAEL LIEFER

TOM LOVIN JULIE MUERTZ

RICK SPENCER DEBORAH TEMPLE

DONNA WATSON

Tammara Alves

Robert Aubuchon

Latrice Brimmage

Lynette Calamease

Roberta Calvin

Daniel Cholevik

Marc Ellington

Don Fizer

Janet Fontenot

Donna Forsyth

Mark Green

Tracy Haggins

Stanley Hatfield

Vicki Jung

Julie Keim

Winnie Kenney

William Lion

Patrick May

William May

Robert McCarty

Laura McKinney

Robert Ott

Charlean Paige

Jacquelyn Petty

Jennifer Ray

Michael Schneider

Lynne Schwartzhoff

Diana Rockwell Shank

George Smith III

Pamela Stacey

Lindaann Stork

Deborah Timko

Teresa Valleroy

Roger Waeckerle

Jamie Windler

Mark Wiser

15 Years of Service

20 Years of Service

Dennis P. Baricevic

Laurie Ann Mueller Bevirt

James E. Braden

Joan Christine Burke

Justin D. Cann

Michelle Elizabeth Catalano

Cheri Ann Cowell

Paula S. Creek

Darren J. Fults

Clarence J. Gayden

Ashley Nicole Gisher

James F. Gunter

Adrienne M. Haas

Montriett M. Harris

Ronald Ryan Henderson

David W. Hornacek Jr.

Keith E. Howard III

Terry Joseph Huber

Renee Catherine Jansen

Crystal Spirkoff Jesenick

Emily Clare Kelly-Padden

Ramon C. Kelly

Kurtis Lane Kimbro

Karl Martin Kindt

Rebecca Lynn Kriegel

Patricia S. Luehmann

Robert J. Lutz

Louis J. Marino

Gretchen Lynn Mattern

Lawrence McCoy Jr.

Tracy Elizabeth Merritt

Michael J. Mojzis

Arthur Muro

Ginger Lee Nagel

Tully C. Parker

Jared W. Piel

Paul S. Rongey Jr.

William Henry Shumway

Stacy A. Singh

Micah Shaw Summers

Jessica B. Talleur

Robert Harrison Thomason

Kimberly Ann Towers

Stephanie Reynolds Vallo

Randy L. Vasquez

Lawrence R. Warren Jr.

Jennifer Lain Wiegers

Rebecca Rose Wolf

Imad Yousif

Robin Anderson

Theodore Beatty

Carla Bills

Dawn Blum

David Braswell III

Mary Brisk

Ruthie Brown

Pamela Bywater

Francine Chapman

Francis Dietl

Darnell Dixon

Peggy Forrest

Gary Gardner

Jodi Gardner

Elizabeth Gendler

Marilyn Glaus

Andrew Gleeson

Mary Grant

Nila Grogan

Eric Harris

Christopher Helmholt

Edward Hilton

Eric Hogue

Michael Imes

Gregory Ingold

Arthur Jacobs

Harold Johnson

Kimberly Keel

Rhonda Kern

Lois LaFleur

Mark Lanterman

Robert Lohman

Gail Long

Lavetta Malone

Jaime Manche

Steven Moiles

James Morgan

Alla Moss

Chad Musgrave

Derek Parker

Sara Parmeley

Jerald Paul

Robert Ridlon

Jill Schmidt

Catina Scott

Jennifer Selden

Charmel Smith

Marla Smith

Wendy Smith

Stehn Soderman

Kyle Stumbaugh

Jennifer Van Wyk

William Wasson

5 Years of Service

10 Years of Service

CHARLES HANNON

TERRY JONES

ROCKY LOGSTON