Project Voyager Preparing to Launch!

Project Voyager is a major initiative by the Coast Community College District to transform the delivery of administrative services and replace key administrative information systems, Finance, Financial Aid, Human Resources and a student portal, over the next few years. The project team will mark the first milestone as the Finance module will go live on July 1, 2006! As part of the Implementation Phase, Finance Training is being created and scheduled for individual users.

On-going end-user training is in place including a Web-Based Training (WBT) and videos available to District employees at:  http://www.cccd.edu/voyager/training/training.aspx.

As Voyager is implemented, training manuals for all functional areas will be developed.  During the month of June, the trainers will offer end-user training at each campus.

Finance
For employees, the July 1, 2006 go live date will mean that all financial transactions including budget, requisitions, purchase orders, invoices, checks, payroll postings, fixed assets and financial ledgers will now be recorded in Banner.  Employees will be logging in to Banner to process requisitions and inquiries on transactions and balances.  Don’t worry!  PNI will still be available for inquiry after July 1.

The campus trainers will provide live training and registration information will be available soon.  Online training materials will be available on the Web-site for navigation, requisitions, inquiry and reports.

Human Resources
HR’s People Admin software is also going live on July 1 which will allow employees to view applications, apply for promotional opportunities and allow management to see a notice of vacancy all online.  This software will automate the normally paper-intensive process, as well as make the approval cycle more efficient.  This will mutually benefit both applicants as well as employees.

According to HR team lead Geri Wile, “Now we will be able to join the current century and remain very competitive against sister community colleges.  Notifications will get out to people a lot faster and applicants will be able to apply online.”

Shannon O’Connor, also a part of the HR project team said, “This software will really improve the application process and efficiency.  Applicants will now get an email notification regarding their application status.”

For questions regarding the People Admin module, contact Geri Wile at x84793 or Shannon O’Connor at x84713.   

Students
The original go live date for the student module portion was November 2007 in time for student registration beginning in spring 2008.
   
However, according to Kristin Clark, the project team lead for the student module, “The Project Voyager Student Team began database configuration training in March and will continue configuration training through October 2006.  The student module has a new projected go live date set for May 2007.  Students will be able to register online for the summer 2007 session and faculty and students will have access to self-serve features,” said Kristin Clark, director, A&R at OCC.  

For questions regarding the student module, contact Kristin Clark at x25774 or kclark@mail.occ.cccd.edu.  For any questions relating to the catalog and schedule, contact Ann Hickey at x16203 or ahickey@coastline.edu.

EHS Health Information Bulletin

Avian/Bird Flu

Due to recent inquires, the GWC/OCC Student Health Centers and District Environmental Health and Safety office have prepared the following health information bulletin regarding Avian/Bird Flu.

What is Avian Flu?
Avian influenza, or what is commonly known as bird flu, is an infectious disease caused by type A strains of the influenza virus that occurs naturally among wild birds.  At this point, the bird flu has not been transmitted from human to human. 

What is an influenza pandemic?
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population and begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide.  The current bird flu strain has not been categorized as a pandemic threat.

What is the risk of contracting it?
The risk of avian influenza is generally low for most people because the viruses do not usually infect humans.  There have been approximately 200 confirmed cases of human infection reported since 1997—none of which are in the United States. All evidence to date indicates that close contact with dead or sick birds is the principal source of human infection with the virus.

Most cases of avian flu infection in humans are thought to have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. However, there is still a lot to learn about how the different subtypes and strains of avian influenza might affect humans.

What are the symptoms of Avian Flu?
Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human flu-like symptoms like a fever, usually with a temperature higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a cough, sore throat and muscle aches, to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases and other severe complications.

Is there a vaccine?
Because the pandemic strain has not yet emerged, there is no vaccine currently available. Vaccines to protect humans against bird flu viruses currently are under development. Of the hundreds of strains of avian influenza viruses, only four are known to have caused human infections: H5N1, H7N3, H7N7, and H9N2. In addition, research is underway on methods to make large quantities of vaccine more quickly.

How is pandemic flu most likely to arrive in the United States?
Migrating birds, the poultry trade and human travel are all possible ways experts believe could introduce pandemic flu into the United States. Public health officials are monitoring these and other possible mechanisms as priorities for the health of the nation.

How can I protect myself?
In the United States, there have been no cases of avian flu reported.  There is currently research seeking effective antiviral medications that can reduce the severity of an influenza attack.  Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005.

What actions are being taken at CCCD?
The Coast Community College District Environmental Health and Safety department is currently working with the Orange County Emergency Management Organization to develop a pandemic flu program.  This program will include procedures for school preparedness, employee communication, infection control practices and continuity of educational services.  Updates as to the development of this program will be provided in the CCCD monthly newsletter.  If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding this issue, please contact the EHS office at x84728.       

Resources for more information:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html -- World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/dcdcindex.htm -- CA Department of Health Services, Division of Communicable Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm -- Centers for Disease Control
http://www.ochealthinfo.com/epi/af/. – Orange County Health Care Agency

Coming and Going - HR News

The District would like to welcome these new employees to their positions:

Chaiyakal, Jennifer L., OCC, Instructor, Early Childhood Education Chambliss, Tasha F., GWC, Instructor, Cosmetology Hardwick, Noranda M., OCC, Account Clerk Intermediate Harris, Rayne N., GWC, Instructor, English Hunt, Greshaun D., GWC, Special Events Coordinator/Receiving Patel, Bhavna B., OCC, Accounting Technician Sta Ana, Christine, OCC, Banner Special Projects Assistant

Congratulations and best wishes on your retirement to the following employees:

Hartunian, Ursula M., OCC, Secretary Ursula Hartunian has been with the Coast Community College District for 28 years.  She began working in 1978 with Orange Coast College’s Registration team and the District secretarial pool.  Her tenure with the District began in 1981 with Coastline in Areas 5 and 3.  She moved to the Financial Aid Office at OCC in 1986 and worked there for seventeen years.  Student Services has been her favorite home for the past three years.  She will be sorely missed by the students and staff who have been working with her in the ASOCC and Dean of Students Offices.  All her campus friends wish her a healthy, happy retirement enjoying her family, four grandsons, quilting and gardening.

Lenanton, John, OCC, Instructor, Horticulture

A native of England and a Royal Air Force veteran, John H. Lenanton earned a diploma in horticulture from Culham College, Oxfordshire, England.  He was head of the horticulture department at Regis School in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton Staffordshire from 1959 through 1968.  John immigrated to the U.S. in 1968 and completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees in ornamental horticulture at the University of California at Davis.  He joined Orange Coast College’s faculty in 1970 as an instructor in ornamental horticulture and botany.  John taught the 30-part, semester-long telecourse, “The Home Gardener,” produced by the Coast Community College District in the late 1970s.  The program has aired throughout the nation.  He has also made a laser disc, a home video and an interactive compact disc all on gardening.  John has visited the botanic gardens, nurseries and research institutions in the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Burma, Ceylon, Madagascar, South America, South Africa, Central America, Florida and California.  He taught botany and ecology classes on two occasions in the late 1980s and early 1990s in OCC’s semester in Costa Rica program.  He took OCC students on field excursions to the country’s unique ecological areas, including tropical rain forests, tropical cloud forests, tropical sandy beaches and tropical dry forests.  Dozens of his former Orange Coast College students are now pursuing careers in the nursery industry.  In 1997, John was honored at the 87th convention of the California Association of Nurserymen.  He was presented with the Bert Kallman Educator Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding horticulture teacher.  The award is presented to educators who have demonstrated the ability to inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in the nursery industry.  For decades, John headed OCC’s highly successful Christmas poinsettia sale and the spring plant sales.  The proceeds generated tens of thousands of dollars for OCC’s Ornamental Horticulture Department.  His late wife, Jacqueline, earned her Ph.D. in French from UC Irvine and taught French classes at OCC for many years.  Together, John and Jackie traveled extensively throughout the world.  John still frequently visits Jackie’s family in Brittany.

Myers, Julie L., OCC, Community Services Registration Technician II

Julie Myers is retiring after eight years of serving students and staff at OCC's School of Sailing and Seamanship. Julie has a long history with the District, beginning with assisting OCC registration office in the 1970's. She worked part time for the District in the 1990's before joining media services at GWC's library in 1995.  Julie's job title at the Sailing Program is Registration Technician II.  In reality, Julie runs our front counter, taking calls, greeting everyone who walks in, answering a million questions a day. (In between, she manages to register about 4,000 people a year in classes and seminars!)  Julie has done a tremendous job representing the sailing program, OCC, and the District to thousands of students and members of the public. We are going to miss Julie's fun, smart, warm presence in our office, and wish her the very best.  

Neth, Janet B., OCC, Director of Personnel Services

Jan Neth, Director, Personnel Services at Orange Coast College, is retiring after twenty-seven years with the District.  Jan began her career in Human Resources at the District site, working there for seven years before moving to OCC in the fall of 1986.  Jan has been responsible for both the Classified and Certificated payroll functions on campus, as well as overseeing the campus search committee processes.  Jan may also be recognized as “the voice of Orange Coast College” on many of the campus auto attendants.  Jan and husband, Tom, plan to relocate this summer to southwestern Utah, where they will be building a home on their property near the Cedar City area.  They will continue to indulge their passion for nature photography and hiking the canyon country of southeastern Utah in search of Indian petroglyphs and pictographs.  Happy trails, Jan! 

Rangitsch, James S., GWC, Maintenance Skilled
 
Jim has been a long time employee of Golden West College for over 33 years. During that time, Jim has worked in Grounds, Custodial, and Maintenance, serving each department with enthusiasm and a great attitude.  Jim brought a work ethic with him everyday that matched and surpassed most employees.  He will be missed.  In his retirement, Jim will be pursuing his passion for the outdoors and continuing to construct his getaway home in Utah.  We wish Jim the very best in his future endeavors.

Orange County Celebrates Community College Month

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OCC P.E. and Athletics Professor, Leon Skeie, Receives Faculty Member of Year Award

Tony Altobelli is OCC's New Sports Information Director

OCC P.E. and Athletics Professor, Leon Skeie, Receives Faculty Member of Year Award

Orange Coast College professor of physical education and athletics, Leon G. Skeie, was nominated for the 2005-06 Faculty Member of the Year Award by an OCC student, Suzette McDonald. The election was held last November on campus and was selected for the award by his peers. Skeie is the 16th OCC faculty member to win the teaching award. It’s become a campus tradition for the college’s honored professor to deliver a short campus lecture following the spring awards ceremony. The professor is asked to describe his or her teaching philosophy or academic expertise. Skeie will also be the featured speaker at OCC’s 58th commencement ceremony, set for Thursday evening, May 25, at the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa. “I am humbled, overwhelmed and deeply honored to have been given this award,” Skeie said when he was introduced to the audience of more than 300 in

Tony Altobelli is OCC's New Sports Information Director

Tony Altobelli, a veteran sportswriter and editor, is Orange Coast College’s new sports information director. Altobelli, 35, began his assignment Monday (May 1). He replaces Eric Montgomery, who left the post last December to become sports information director at Concordia University in Irvine. Altobelli is responsible for marketing and promoting Orange Coast College’s 24 men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic teams. He will maintain the college’s athletic website, and will produce all OCC athletic publicity materials. He’ll serve as the campus’ sports media contact and official statistician. “Tony is a young man with impressive credentials,” said OCC athletic director, Barbara Bond. “He’s had a wealth of experience as a sportswriter, and is an Orange Coast College product himself. Our coaches are very impressed with him.”

“Sports has been a passion in my life, and that feeling has only gotten stronger as time has gone by,” Altobelli said. “I am thrilled to be the new sports information director at Orange Coast College. The opportunity to return to where it all started for me is particularly exciting. This is a dream come true.”

Altobelli grew up in Newport Beach. He graduated from Newport Harbor High School, and attended OCC for three years. He was sports editor of the Orange Coast student newspaper, Coast Report. Altobelli studied under Coast Report advisor, the late Tom Murphine, former managing editor of the Orange Coast Daily Pilot.

“Tom had a huge impact on my life,” Altobelli says. “He taught me how to walk that fine line between the ‘professional’ side and the ‘fun’ side of sports journalism. He also taught me how to not only perform well under deadline pressure, but how to guide others and help them through pressure-filled situations.”

While an OCC student, Altobelli served as official scorekeeper, public address announcer and scoreboard operator for the UC Irvine baseball team for three seasons.

He attended Fresno State University for two years. While a student there, Altobelli served as the sports information director for the baseball team. He was the official scorekeeper, P.A. announcer and scoreboard operator.

Works by Retiring Faculty Member, Ken Slosberg, on Display Through May 22 in Photo Gallery

An exhibition of work by retiring Orange Coast College photography professor, Ken Slosberg, is on display through May 22 in the Photo Gallery. The exhibit is titled “In Retrospect.” The gallery, located on the second floor of the college’s Arts Center, is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. A special reception will be held for Slosberg on Monday, May 15, from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery. The public is invited to attend. The exhibition contains 50 photographic works by Slosberg. The OCC professor will retire in June after spending 32 years on the faculty.

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Academic Senate Names Teacher of the Year

Academic Senate Names Teacher of the Year

The Academic Senate Faculty Recognition Committee has recently completed reading student, faculty, and staff nominations for the 2006 Coastline Teacher of the Year.  This year’s recipients are:

• 2006 Teacher of the Year—Randall Warwick, Science
• 2006 Part Time Excellence Award—Tracy Teregis, Special Programs and Services

Randall Warwick has just completed his application for the Orange County Community College Teacher of the Year for 2007. This award is sponsored by the Orange County Department of Education and will be selected and announced in May.

Randall and Tracy both will be acknowledged at the Academic Senate Luncheon on May 16th at the Garden Grove Center and at the Coastline Community College Graduation Ceremony on May 21st, Garden Grove High School.

New AACC Board Chair Announced

Dr. Ding-Jo Currie was elected as Chair-Elect for Board of Directors of American Association Community Colleges (AACC). AACC is the national organization that represents all community colleges in the United States. She will serve her term as Chair during 2007-2008. This is the most prestigious position in the community college system where more than 1200 member CEO’s around the country cast their votes for Board membership. Dr. Currie was elected to the Board in 2003 and served in leadership roles as Commission Chair, Committee Chair and a member of the Executive Committee.  It is not surprising that she would be elected by her fellow Board members to serve as their Chair-Elect next year. This honor brings Coastline Community College and the Coast Community College District to the highest level of national prominence. “I look forward to working with the AACC Board along with the 1200+ member

Let’s congratulate Dr. Currie for this honor and Coastline for going to the top of national charts along with this opportunity.

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Helen J. Brown Elected Outstanding Member of the Year

In addition, Helen J. Brown is also a longtime member of Leisure World Clubs and the Patrons.  Both organizations provide opportunities for hundreds of students to volunteer in the community.  

As a Patron, Helen J. Brown has established herself as a devoted member of action known for her personal commitment to student success.  She and her husband, George E. Brown, Coast Community College District Broad of Trustees member, have established a scholarship for a GWC nursing student.

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