October 2018
IN THIS ISSUE
Upcoming Event
69th AFC Annual Meeting and Conference
Spotlights
Help Make a Difference in the Lives of Our College Students, Faculty and Staff Who Were Impacted By Hurricane Michael

Palm Beach State College Launches New Information Security Website

Polk State College, NASA Partnership to Send Student Work to Space 
Message from Chancellor Madeline Pumariega
The month of October marked the 15th year of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month - a collaboration between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources needed to stay safer and more secure online. According to a 2018 report by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity , Florida is third in the nation for cybercrime incidents, victims and losses in FBI-reported incidents. In the years to come with technology advancements and the convergence of the Internet of Things, cybersecurity will remain a top concern, demanding a more skilled workforce to protect Florida's enterprises.

The demand for a cybersecurity workforce is exceeding current levels of supply, with a shortage of skills posing the greatest threat to cybersecurity. The Florida College System (FCS) is primed to meet the challenge of producing talent by training and re-skilling Floridians to become the next generation of the cybersecurity workforce. In fact, for the last academic year, more than 6,300 students enrolled and more than 1,500 students completed cybersecurity programs. Daytona State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Indian River State College and Valencia College are National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education designated institutions, signifying their commitment to developing cybersecurity workers. 

The Florida Job 2030 report identified the top occupations that are impacted by disruption - jobs related to data analytics and cybersecurity specifically are on the rise. The report also specified that cybersecurity skills and knowledge are also needed for other professions - such as auditors - as a result of evolving workplace needs. These cybersecurity jobs will be a critical component of the 1.7 million new jobs that need to be added by 2030 to meet statewide demand. I am confident our FCS institutions will continue to ensure that business and industry cybersecurity workforce needs are met by producing talent through high-value program offerings, ensuring Florida has a safe and secure future. 

With great appreciation,


Madeline Pumariega 
Chancellor

Florida College System Hurricane Michael Relief and Recovery Efforts 
Earlier this month, Hurricane Michael came ashore on Florida's Panhandle, devastating those in its path. Florida's colleges continue mobilizing their expertise, capabilities and community resources to assist with the relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the storm. Our colleges throughout the state not only play a critical role in our communities through serving as economic engines, but also as beacons of hope and light, which was so evidently displayed through numerous hurricane relief and recovery efforts coordinated by Florida College System (FCS) institutions. FCS graduates from across the state selflessly dedicated their time before, during and after the storm, leaving their homes, families, jobs and studies to support our state. They served as first responders that carried out search and rescue efforts, National Guard members that were deployed to help with recovery efforts, linemen, hospital workers, telecommunications professionals, and more.

Chipola College and Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) sustained the greatest impact. In response, the FCS launched an initiative, FCS Cares, to help make a difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff in the Panhandle who suffered devastating damage. Funds collected will be used for those impacted gain access to emergency funds that can help them rebuild their lives. The FCS, alongside numerous Florida institutions, also coordinated a supply drive in an effort to assist additional students, faculty and staff at impacted institutions. Tallahassee Community College (TCC), also impacted by the storm, is offering resources and support for students, faculty and staff who have storm-related needs. Division of Florida Colleges staff provided relief to the counties that were most affected by donating food pantry items and coordinating with Belfor to help determine the recovery and mitigation efforts to be able to resume operations.

Northwest Florida State College (NWF State College) sheltered more than 200 evacuees who were seeking refuge from the storm and also served as an overnight shelter for more than 150 first responders who traveled from Mississippi and Louisiana to aid in storm relief. The NWF State College baseball team head coach Doug Martin coordinated a trip to Panama City with a local church to assist with cleanup efforts in Panama City. The baseball team tossed tree limbs and debris from yards, as well as assisted inside homes.

The Florida College System Foundation, in partnership with Helios Education Foundation, is provi ding grant funds totaling $25,000 through the Helios Education Link Program (HELP) to be used as emergency funds for students at Chipola College, GCSC and TCC who need short-term resources such as food, gas and other related resources. Students who were impacted may request up to $500. 

Chipola College resumed classes October 22 but is still addressing issues related to internet connectivity, phone lines and other issues associated with natural disasters. GCSC will reopen November 5, including the Panama City Campus, North Bay Campus and Gulf/Franklin Campus. GCSC's Tyndall Education Center remains closed until further notice. The priority is to ensure colleges are ready for students, faculty and staff to return safely and identify their needs to help them move forward.

Funds collected from the FCS Cares initiative and the financial support from Helios Education Foundation will help colleges provide resources that are desperately needed as students continue their educational journeys and faculty and staff return to campus to dedicate their time and effort to supporting students. Together with the strength, passion and resilience of communities throughout the state, the impacted institutions will get through the storm recovery and rebuild stronger than before.
Library Intervention Model for Information Literacy   
With the number of students who turn to the internet for information, it is important to provide assistance that helps students know the difference between accurate and false information shared online. Often, students may struggle with identifying factual and valid research due to the lack of understanding of information concepts. With the purpose of better educating students with research and citation knowledge, Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) deployed the Library Intervention Model (LIM) to all sections of ENC 1101 College Composition I. Through this model, personal librarians are embedded in the College's learning management system and assist students both on campus and online directly with research help, citations, information literacy concepts, and technology concerns.

The program involves three required sessions with a librarian and a fourth optional session, which are termed interventions, and each intervention focuses on important aspects of information literacy as described by the Association of College and Research Libraries framework. The library interventions are spaced throughout the semester into 3-week increments and coincide with a week in the curriculum where the expertise of librarians would be most useful to students. Librarians who are embedded in each section of ENC1101 College Composition I instruct students by examining annotated bibliographies, research papers and other assignments to correct issues with citation and formatting that are common across all sections.

The outcome of this model has proven effective. Utilizing embedded course reflections and surveys, LSSC Libraries discovered that 85.7 percent of students specifically mentioned at least one positive aspect of the LIM in their responses. The most discussed elements of the LIM were citation, interactions with the librarian and use of the databases for research. The LIM helps accelerate a student to college-ready status for information literacy, improves citation usage, improves research skills and increases a college student's English course success, which improves retention and college completion rates.
In an effort to support job growth opportunities in Florida and ensure students are being taught the skills needed to meet workforce demands through programs offered by Florida's colleges, Governor Rick Scott announced eight awards by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for $28.6 million in funding from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, which improves public infrastructure and enhances workforce training in Florida. Two Florida College System institutions, Indian River State College (IRSC) and South Florida State College (SFSC), were included as part of the eight awards recently announced.

"The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund supports job growth through projects that allow communities to meet the changing infrastructure and workforce needs for their regions, encouraging business to invest and expand in Florida, which means more opportunities for Florida families," said Governor Scott. "More than $113 million has already been awarded to promote strong economic development in 41 communities across our state, and we are excited to continue to grow Florida's economy."

IRSC was awarded $1,530,000 to address the workforce gap in the marine and aeronautical manufacturing sectors, two significant employers and agents of economic development for Florida's Treasure Coast, by implementing successful training models and providing students with on-the-job training that aligns with the current supply and demand of jobs. This award will allow IRSC to expand its nationally recognized model of workforce training and industry partnerships into a new IRSC Aviation and Marine Training Program (AMP). The program will enable IRSC to train up to 140 workers each year, preparing them for careers with average starting salaries of $44,000 a year - $11,000 over the current average regional salary. In conjunction with programs such as the new AMP, the planned construction of the Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing Center will additionally increase instructional space, technology and lab space to expand the workforce and create a continuous flow of skilled workers in the region.

"Indian River State College has a proven track record of directly responding to workforce needs, particularly in rapidly evolving industries such as aviation and marine manufacturing," said Dr. Edwin Massey, president of IRSC. "We greatly appreciate this support from Governor Scott and the Department of Economic Opportunity as it will help grow local industry and most importantly, expand a talent pipeline of skilled workers, helping hundreds of students qualify for high-wage employment."

SFSC was awarded $2,296,895 to support the development of jobs in three areas: (1) an expansion of an advanced manufacturing curriculum where students will pursue courses designed for mechanists and industrial maintenance; (2) the creation of a construction institute aimed at providing programs in basic building trades and residential construction; and (3) a program for veterans and transitioning military personnel to be trained as electronic warfare technicians to fill a need for Florida's defense-based industries. SFSC will offer a stackable credential in advanced manufacturing building upon the competencies needed for immediate employment in the manufacturing fueled as entry-level technicians through front-line supervisors. If a student wishes, the program culminates in an associate degree, but has multiple entry and exit points throughout the course sequence, allowing students to "fast track" their education to meet their immediate needs while preserving the opportunity for them to return at a later date to continue their education and increase their earning potential. Through SFSC's basic construction trades program, students can become educated on the construction trades in short-term, affordable segments for immediate entry into the field of building construction, allowing participants to quickly enter/return to the job market with skills in areas such as basic constructing techniques, roofing, plumbing and pipefitting, electrical wiring and masonry. Through the College's electronic warfare education and training program, Florida's footprint in the homeland security, defense and aviation and aerospace sectors has a potential to grow. e-Defense allows for the attainment of a specialized e-Defense certification, which will prepare traditional students or transitioning military personnel for employment opportunities within these areas.

"We are enormously grateful to Governor Scott for supporting Florida's Heartland Region with this grant award," said Dr. Thomas Leitzel, president of SFSC. "The Job Growth Grant Fund award to South Florida State College will make a meaningful impact by supporting educational programs designed to put people to work in infrastructure support jobs that will contribute to positive economic growth and development."
   
The Florida College System (FCS) offers degrees and certificates in the field of cybersecurity, including programs such as Information Technology (IT) Security, Database and E-Commerce Security, and Network Security. In recent years, both the number of student enrollments and completions have increased in these high-value programs that prepare students for a career in cybersecurity. From 2015-16 to 2017-18, enrollments in cybersecurity programs increased from 4,647 to 6,386, an increase of approximately 37 percent (or over 1,700 enrollments). During the same time period, completions in cybersecurity programs increased from 1,423 in 2015-16 to 1,553 in 2017-18, an increase of over nine percent.
 
FCS students have the ability to complete these programs in pursuit of either a career and technical certificate, an advanced technical certificate, a college credit certificate, an associate in science, or a bachelor's degree. The overwhelming majority of FCS students enrolled in these programs are pursuing either a college credit certificate or an associate in science degree. Graduates of the Associate in Science in IT Security who are employed full-time earn, on average, an annualized wage of $46,688. Additionally, students who graduate with a Network Security College Credit Certificate and are employed full-time earn, on average, an annualized wage of $42,024.
Ian Carter - Tallahassee Community College

Since becoming a student at Tallahassee Community College (TCC), Ian Carter has demonstrated persistence and determination as he pursues his degree in computer and information science. Despite being involved in numerous organizations both on and off campus, Carter effectively manages his time and offers to assist his instructors and classmates as well. Recently, Ian was chosen to be featured in a video highlighting his experience in the College's Math Champions Program. Employees at TCC were so impressed with the video that they featured him again in a national presentation on the program.

Carter is a student with great ambition, an important tool to achieving success. Beginning his coursework in developmental math, Carter was never discouraged about the hard work he would need to put forth in order to pursue his degree. Currently, Carter is enrolled in Calculus I and is a member of TCC's STEM program. As a recipient of the STEM Star scholarship program, Carter has been very involved in workshops showcasing computer programming, such as python, robotics and 3-D printers. In an effort to recognize his academic achievement, Carter was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, which provides students with opportunities to grow as scholars and leaders. In addition, Carter was selected to be a Math Champion student tutor, a peer-to-peer tutoring program at TCC. He has made the president's and dean's list and currently holds a 3.50 GPA. Carter is expected to graduate with his degree fall 2018.
Faculty and Administrators: Nominate a Student to be the Chancellor's Clark Maxwell Scholar Student of the Month
In honor of the late Chancellor Clark Maxwell Jr., each month a student is selected to represent the Florida College System. Nominations for the Student of the Month are accepted on a rolling basis. If you know a student who demonstrates exemplary leadership skills, academic success, and/or commitment to community service through their involvement in the Florida College System, nominate them today!
Reimagining Student Services as Student Success 
In an effort to provide a student-centered environment for success, Northwest Florida State College (NWF State College) designed a modern one-stop concept, Raider Central, where students can receive all services in one location to minimize the challenge of having to navigate multiple departments across campus. NWF State College remodeled the existing facility with the intention of improving the student experience when seeking services or assistance and relocated most mid/senior level administration into the same location. As part of the restructure, departments' functions were split apart and the separate functions formed into new departments.

The physical space was redesigned with input from administration, staff and students. A retail-focused model was chosen with wide-open spaces, a concierge desk for a more personalized check-in and a "quick service" area to resolve simple issues. Students have access to a seating area that includes a video wall that serves as a centerpiece in that space and showcases the College's numerous opportunities. Funds were used to invest in technology including new laptop computer/docking stations for all employees, new telephone and live chat software, and new recruiting communication software.

The facility officially opened its doors in early October. On November 29, NWF State College will be hosting a ribbon cutting for the new Raider Central at 2 p.m.
Thank You to the Florida Lottery for Continuous Support in Helping Students 
Pursue Postsecondary Educational and Career Goals