August 17, 2004

Calhoun Marks Official Beginning of 2004-2005
Academic Year with Employee In-Service 

Today, Calhoun Community College marked the official beginning of the college's 2004-2005 academic year with its annual In-service program for all employees. During the program, Calhoun President Marilyn Beck reflected on a number of accomplishments during the past year and took a look ahead at the upcoming year. Among the items of note during the last year were the following:

• During the past year, Calhoun submitted a total of 25 grant proposals, resulting in funding of $1,364,760;
• Implemented the Alabama Fatherhood Initiative Program, which has already seen its first successful completers;
• Provided scholarships to recent high school graduates this summer and secured a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to award 40 scholarships per year for the next four years to students majoring in math, science, engineering, computer information systems and advanced technology;
• Adoption of the new "Elements of Student Success" as the college's planning focus;
• Student Orientation program developed and offered for all entering freshmen;
• Adult Basic Education programs in Huntsville and Decatur successfully transitioned to the college;
• Full 8-year re-accreditation of the college's nursing programs and the celebration of the 50 th anniversary of Calhoun's LPN program;
• Full NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) certification for the college's Machine Tool Technology program;
• Had over 800 high school students enrolled in the Dual-Enrollment program;
• Implemented a process to inform every student at the college about the STARS (Statewide Transfer Articulation and Reporting System) program;
• New non-credit certification programs offered in Phlebotomy, Medical Billing and Coding and Pharmacy Tech;
• New degree programs added in Process Technology and Networking Technology; and
• Development of a campus Master Plan that includes renovations/improvements to several buildings as well as planned construction.

Among the items noted by Dr. Beck for the new year were:

• Completion of Phase III (Information and Visualization Center) of Tech Park by September 2005 ($4.75 million, 34,000 sq. ft. building to house CIS, graphics and design program, networking, web design, multi-media and instruction design lab, virtual reality theatre and the college's television station);
• Construction to begin by November 2004 of the college's new Health Technologies Building (building will become the new home for Calhoun's nursing, radiology, EMS and Dental Assisting programs);
• Currently in the design stages for the new Science/Mathematics Classroom building (expected groundbreaking spring 2005);
• Curriculum re-design in the Technologies area to a modular format;
• Creation and offering of additional web-based courses (34 credit courses being offered this fall in such areas as Art, Astronomy, Biology, Business, Chemistry, CIS, English, History, Math, Music, and Political Science); and
• Relocation of all Student Affairs functions to the Chasteen Student Center to create a "One-Stop" Center for students.

During additional comments, Dr. Beck also recognized those employees at the college receiving service awards this year for 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of continuous service. Employees recognized received a special certificate denoting their years of service. Those honored were:

30 YEARS

• Dr. Harry Moore
• Jennetta Hampton
• Cathy Pope

25 YEARS

• Dr. Ben Currin
• Karen Fite
• Mattie Burks
• Hoyt (Buster) Williamson

20 YEARS

• Dr. Jerry Armor
• Jackie Gooch
• Donna Huffman
• Nancy Thomas
• Dr. Nancy Keenum
• Keith Hallmark

15 YEARS

• Janet Kincherlow-Martin
• Natasha George
• Jimmy Cantrell
• Gail Pisani
• Nick Pawluk
• Mary Ellen Garrett
• Debi Garrison

During this morning's program, Shirley Hughes, Calhoun's Director of Human Resources, introduced the college's 30 new employees who had been hired since last year's In-service program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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