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Education forEveryone

COM NewsAugust 2010 Employee Newsletter

Chemistry professor heading to India for year of service to the poor TomJohnsonhasalwaysusedhischemistrylabatCOMtointroducehisstudentstothe“scienceof matter,”butstartingthisfallJohnsonwillbeshowingstudentswhatmattersmosttohimashetakesasabbaticaltohisnativeIndiatoworkwiththepoor.

“Mypassionistohelptheunderprivilegedchildrenandothervillagersintheruralareas,”Johnsonexplained.“Thisincludestakingcareof themanyorphansandpoorchildren,conductingmedicalcampsforthepoorvillagers,feedingthehungry,drillingwells,andadvancingadultliteracy.”

Johnson,whogrewupChristianinSouthernIndia,sawtheplightof thepoorasastudentinnorthernIndia.Hehasbeenperforminghumanitarianworkthereforthepast15years,usinghistimeoff fromteachinginsummersandChristmasholidaystoperformwhatheconsidershiscalling.

“MyfamilyandIareblessedbyGodsowegobackeachyeartomakesurethemoneyweraiseisprovidingthecareandcommunityservicesforthepeoplewhoneeditmost,”Johnsonexplained.“Thesevisitstotheruralareasof WestBengalchallengemyfamilytosacrificesomeof ourcomfortstospendqualitytimeimprovingthelivesof thelessfortunate.”

Johnson’swife,whohas20yearsexperienceinclinicallaboratoryscience,willaccompanyhimandtogethertheyplantocoordinatecommunityservicesandworkwithteacherstoconnectsimplescientificprinciplestoreallifesituations.

TheJohnsonsarealsobringingtheir12-year-olddaughterand10-year-oldsonwiththemonwhatpromisestobeahumanitarianadventureof alifetime.Infact,Johnsonhasalreadysetupawebsite—proffessorforthepoor.com—andplanstosendbackregularYouTubevideoreportsandblogsabouthisworkinthevillagetoencourageCOMstudentsandotherstovaluecommunityservice.

“WhenIreturntoCOMinAugust2011,Iplantopresentmyexperiencetostudentsandemployeesinspecialpresentationsthatwillmotivateeveryonetoengageinlocalcommunityoutreach,”hesaid.“Educatedandpassionatevolunteersareneededineverycommunity.Communityservice,whetherinadistantlandoracrosstownenrichesthelivesof allof us.”

Employee Recognition and Retiree Luncheon

Friday, August, 27, 2010

11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Student Center

Education forEveryone


Houston playwright/actor returns to COM stage SteveGarfinkelwhoplaysHerrSchmidt,theJewishfruitsellerintheCollegeof theMainlandCommunityTheatre’sproductionof Cabaret,isnostrangertothetheaterthoughhehadnotappearedonaCOMstageinmorethan30years.ButtheinterveningyearsallowedtheHoustoniantoflourishasaplaywright,directorandactor.Besidesco-authoringthelong-runningrockmusical“Stomp,”hehaswritten14playsproducedprofessionallyinHouston,NashvilleandDallas,anddirected19playsatMainStreetTheaterinHouston.

Afewyearsago,GarfinkelwascommissionedbyMainStreetTheatertowritethebookfor“PsandQs:TheABCsof Manners”whilefour-timeGrammyAwardnomineeTroutFishinginAmericawascommissionedtowritethemusic.

“Ihadwrittenseveralcommissionedadaptationsof children’sliteratureforMainStreet’sYouthTheaterprogram,andwhentheydecidedtocreatethismusicaltheyapproachedmetowritethebook,eventhoughthiswastobe“createdfromthegroundup”ratherthanasanadaptationof anexistingwork,”Garfinkelexplained.

Thedirectorof “PsandQs”wasMarkAdams,COMCommunityTheatre’sexecutivedirectorwhoalsodirects“Cabaret.”

“Ourcollaborationonthatplaywasagreatexperience,andsinceI’dalwayslikedMark’sworkasadirector,thechancetoauditionfor

theroleof HerrSchultzin“Cabaret”providedanopportunityIcouldn’tresist,”hesaid.

Garfinkelhasbeenactingfor44years,buthadn’tdirectedprofessionallyuntilabout22yearsago.

“IhavewrittensinceIwasakid,althoughmyfirstwritingforthestage,professionally,wasabout27yearsago,”henoted.

Heco-wroteSTOMPin1969withseveralotherUniversityof Texasstudents.Therockmusical,nottobeconfusedwiththe1990spercussionproductionbythesamename,playedAustin,Houston,Atlantaandeventuallyoff Broadwaybeforeheadingoff toEuropeforasuccessfulsixmonthtour.

ButitwasbackinHoustonwhereGarfinkelhonedhisskillsasaplaywright,actoranddirector,andworkedwithmanylocalactorsanddirectorswhoeventuallyformedthecoregroupof MainStreetTheater.

“Ihaveseentheateronandoff Broadway,andotherplacesandconsidersomeof thetalentinHoustonandtheproductionsdonehereequaltoanythingonecanseeanywhere.”

AndGrafinkelapplaudshisfellow“Cabaret”actors,too.

“Everyoneinvolvedwiththeproduction,fromthecasttothemusicaldirectorandchoreographertotheset,costumeandlightingdesignersandproductionstagemanager,bringsahugeamountof talenttothemixmakingittheoutstandingtheatricalexperiencethatitis.”

ThemusicalrunsthroughAugust8attheCOMCommunityTheatrePerformancesareThursdaysthroughSaturdaysat8p.m.andSundaysat2.30p.m.Forticketinformationcalltheboxofficeatext.345.Ticketscanalsobepurchasedonlineatwww.com.edu/theatre.

“Itcouldn’tpleasememore”—HerrSchmidt(SteveGarfinkel)andFrauleinSchneider(ZonaJaneMeyer)shareatendermomentandapineappleinascenefrom“Cabaret,”nowplayingatCollegeof theMainlandCommunityTheatreinTexasCitythroughAugust8.


PACT program “commended” by state for curriculum, student support TheTexaseducationAgency(TEA)“commended”COM’sPartnersinAlternativeTeachingCertification(PACT)programforitsstrongcurriculum,activeadvisorycommitteeandteachersupport,andforbeingincomplianceinallareasaddressedintheTEAcode.TherecentlyreleasedwrittenreportfollowedaJanuarysitevisitbyTEA.

“TheTEAsitevisitwasextremelysuccessful,”saidPACTdirectorCarlaBoone.

“Itwasaveryproductiveexerciseforourprogramtoexperienceasitallowedustomoreclearlyseeoursuccesses,aswellasareaswherewecouldcontinuetoimprove.TheTEAcommitteevalidatedourbelief thatwehaveastrong,exemplaryteacherpreparationprogram.WewereespeciallythrilledwiththesupportwereceivedfromDr.Elam,thePACTAdvisoryCommitteeandPACTFacultyduringtheauditprocess.”

TheTEAsitevisitwasthefirstfortheprogramsinceitsinitialapprovalinMay2002.Sincethen,thePACTprogramhashad395GalvestonCountyindividualsbecomecertifiedTexaseducators,receivingtheirstandardteachingcertificate.

CongratulationstoCarlaandthePACTstaff foreightgreatyearsof preparingmorequalifiedteacherstoenterGalvestonCountyclassrooms.

Information nights planned for August ThePartnersinAlternativeCertificationforTeachers(PACT)willholdaninformationmeetingMonday,August2at6p.m.atPACTofficeinSuite4atAppomattoxSquare.Thoseholdingabachelor’sdegreewhowishtobecomeprimaryandsecondaryschoolteachersshouldattendthisinformativemeeting.Formoreinformation,callext.610orgotowww.pact4teachers.com.

PTEC Information Night Collegeof theMainlandwillholdaninformationmeetingaboutitsprocesstechnologydegreeprogramTuesday,August10at5:30p.m.inRoomT-1101of theTechnical-VocationalBuilding.Thepurposeof themeetingistodiscusshighpayingcareersinprocesstechnologyandoutstandingemploymentopportunitiesalongtheTexasGulf Coastandelsewhere.Industryandcollegepersonnelwillbeonhandtoanswerquestionsanddescribewhatittakestoworkinanindustrymaking$60,000ayearormore.Formoreinformation,callext.536.

Reminder about hurricane season HaveyouupdatedyourcontactinformationfortheCollege’sHyperalertemergencynotificationsystem?ThesystemwillnotifyallemployeesandstudentswhentheCollegeclosesorreopensduringhurricanesorotheremergencysituations.Employeesshouldgotowww.hyperalert.comandtheuserIDis*******andthepasswordis*******.TheasterisksrepresentyourCOM7-digitIDandyourpassword.Youcanalsogotohttp://www.com.edu/police/hyperalert.cfmformoreinformation.


BirthdaysMichele Betancourt Faculty, Social Behavioral Science ................................8/2

Joann McNeill Administrative Assistant, Media Services .....................8/2

Janet Wortman Director of Distance Education.....................................8/6

Ronald Collins Maintenance Technician...............................................8/7

Jennifer Williams Administrative Assistant, Teacher Education ................8/7

Regina Castro Coordinator of Publications, Marketing .......................8/8

Qing Li Faculty, Social Behavioral Science ................................8/8

Donna Bohmfalk Faculty, Nursing ..........................................................8/11

Frank Barbuto Administrative Assistant, Adult Education .................8/13

Jerry Bryant Faculty, Physical Education.........................................8/14

Cynthia Kater Database Disability Support, SSS ...............................8/14

Byron Williams Grounds Worker .........................................................8/14

Martha Willis Professional Trainer, Prof Development Academy .......8/15

Leslie Richardson Faculty, Science/Math .................................................8/15

Kristi White Instructional Designer, Continuing Education ............8/16

Ricky Ertell Counselor, Nursing .....................................................8/17

John Kiefer Faculty, Performing and Visual Arts ............................8/18

Vernon Ewell Police Officer ..............................................................8/19

Chandra Iwasaki Web Support Specialist, Distance Education ..............8/19

Roger Stallings Faculty, Humanities ....................................................8/19

Dianna Munson Faculty, Nursing ..........................................................8/20

Terry White Faculty, Humanities ....................................................8/20

JaMargaret Lowry Faculty, Nursing ..........................................................8/21

Rose Shirey Faculty, Academic Success ..........................................8/21

Maryann Urick Director of Recreation, Student Life ...........................8/22

Susan Meadows Administrative Assistant, Public Service Careers ........8/23

Denise Parrish Buyer, Purchasing .......................................................8/23

Aurea Carrera Faculty, Nursing ..........................................................8/24

Marvel Jackson Systems Analyst, Information Tech Services ...............8/24

Christina Poston Records Specialist, Admissions ...................................8/24

Jeannette Slaughter Administrative Assistant, Physical Education .............8/24

Ellen Chicon Faculty, Cosmetology .................................................8/25

Margaret Cussen Instructional Designer, Distance Education ................8/27

Tracy Orr Faculty, Science/Math .................................................8/27

Jameeka Williams Advisor, Public Service Careers...................................8/27

Arlinda Billington Faculty, Nursing ..........................................................8/29

Judy Pryor Administrative Assistant, Foundation .........................8/30

Charles Dwyer Technical Writer, National Science Foundation ...........8/31

CB Wilborne Bookstore Manager ...................................................8/31

Get Ready, Set, Bid ... Online Auction set for September TheHispanicHeritageScholarshipCommitteeispreparingforanotheronlineauctionthatwillbegininSeptember.Therewillbeartwork,ceramics,Oaxacaitems,jewelryandmuchmore.If youwouldliketodonate,pleasecontactGinaCastroatgcastro@com.eduformoreinformation.AllproceedswillgotowardtheHispanicHeritageScholarshipfund.


Years of Service List If anyonehasalreadyreceivedanawardtopleasenotifyHRinadditiontonotifyingHRif yournameshouldbeonthelist

40 years

TillieHenson 09/01/69

JeromeAnderson 07/01/70

WilliamSpillar 08/24/70

30 Years

RitaMiller 09/05/79

CarolynSharer 08/04/80

25 Years

MelvinWilliams 08/12/85

20 Years

NicholasCanton 06/01/89

MatthewClausen 08/01/89

M.Ravandi 09/01/89

RichardNowak 09/01/89

JewellMobley 09/15/89

ReginaCastro 01/03/90

DorothyJones 06/01/90

15 Years

EllenChicon 09/01/94

DolorisDutton 10/17/94

JacquelineAndres 12/12/94

JudithHudson 05/01/95

JanisCutaia 08/01/95

ChristineBrown 08/14/95

KathyeBergin 08/21/95

PeteRygaard 08/26/95

PaulBoyd 08/26/95

10 Years

CarlaBoone 08/23/99

RafaelNaranjo 08/23/99

TerryWhite 08/23/99

SherylWright 09/01/99

ElaineBaker 09/01/99

CourtneyMoore 11/01/99

BonnieHoy-Myers 11/01/99

DonnaAllen 11/01/99

LisaTempler 12/01/99

ThomasJohnson 01/03/00

JanetWortman 01/18/00

PhyllisBatten 02/29/00

StevenSewell 05/30/00

AnneKettler 06/01/00

HortenciaGarza 07/05/00

BlancaComeaux 07/24/00

JamesCobb 08/21/00

5 Years

MelissaCollins 05/10/04

SabrinaVincent 05/18/04

ElodiaSalazar 06/01/04

AnitaGarcia 07/06/04

LeanneDownton 07/06/04

ScottTurnbough 07/19/04

MelissaJudson 07/26/04

BernardSmiley 08/23/04

DavidAnderson 08/23/04

GeorgeBowes 08/23/04

TyishkaMcDavid 08/23/04

ElizabethHammett 08/23/04

CarlaAnderson 08/23/04

MarianneFriedell 08/23/04

LuisSabido 09/01/04

JaMargaretLowry 09/17/04

KatherineFriedrich 09/27/04

JerryeGrady 10/11/04

JimmiSelman 11/22/04

KarenEarl 01/01/05

MartinPerez 01/03/05

ElidaMatthews 01/03/05

CynthiaKater 01/03/05

KirkMcVey 01/10/05

CrystalCollins 01/10/05

PamelaMillsap 01/10/05

KarenElliott 01/10/05

SylviaChapa 02/01/05

MarthaCrain 03/01/05

CoryOliver 03/01/05

CindyGallaway 03/29/05

ArnettaHenderson 04/01/05

LeticiaWilson 04/01/05

KathleneRobles 04/04/05

MonicaO’Neal 04/25/05

MarnieSchutz 05/01/05

JoannMcNeill 06/01/05

TheresaJones 07/25/05

JamesTabor 08/22/05

BridgetWalton 08/22/05

RetireesAguirre,Juanita

Anderson,Hollis

Anderson,Jerome

Arcidiacono,Nunzio

Blizzard,Margaret

Bryant,JB

Casper,Carol

Cothern,Debbie

Dutton,Doloris

Ewell,Vernon

Fiesel,August

Gordy,Sharon

Gust-Thomason,Suzzanne

Hanson,Harry

Hassinger,Janet

Hayward,Galen

Higgins,James

Huerta,Guillermo

Jones,Hilda

Jones,Rita

Magee,Kay

Marshall,Mona

McGary,LaVeta

Miller,Rita

Moran,Cathy

Neinas,Eva

Nowak,Rich

Rac,David

Rodriguez,Rebecca

Smith,Larry

Spillar,William

Templer,James

Tolden,Earl

Urick,Maryann

Vodovar,Marilyn

Washington,Arlinda

Whistler,Alice

Wilcox,Anne


Employee Engagement Survey Coming Soon InSeptembertheUniversityof HoustonwillbeconductinganEmployeeEngagementSurveyforCollegeof theMainland.Thisisyouropportunitytoshareyouviewsandopinionsaboutthecollegeandyourjob.Thesurveyiscompletelyconfidentialandwillhelpusdevelopcommunicationmethodsandtrainingprogramsforemployees.If youhaveanyquestionspleasecontactKathyFriedrichatext.150orLanaPigaoatext.434.

What are audit services? AuditservicesassistCollegeTrusteesandmanagementtoeffectivelyperformtheirresponsibilitiesasdecisionmakersthroughauditrecommendationstoimprovetheeffectivenessof riskmanagementandinternalcontrols.Auditservicesareindependentandobjective,astheinternalauditorreportsdirectlytotheAuditCommitteeof theBoardof TrusteesandcomplywithprofessionalstandardsfromtheInstituteof InternalAuditors.

CollegepolicyCDC(REGULATION)requiresauditservicestoassistmanagementinareasof reviewingoperatingcontrols,assuringcompliancetocollegepolicies,safeguardingassets,assuringthereliabilityof managementdata,appraisingservicesperformed,andrecommendingoperationalimprovements.AuditservicesarescheduledinanAnnualAuditPlanapprovedbytheBoardof Trusteesandresultprimarilyfromariskassessmentreviewwithmanagement.Otherauditservicesduringtheplanyearincludeunscheduledmanagementrequestsandinvestigationsof suspectedactivity.

Todiscusshowauditservicesmayaddvaluetoyourbusinessoperation,pleasecontacttheinternalauditor,FrankScheidleratext.695.

Do the math without the stress EnrollinMathforLiberalArts(MATH-1332-221CL),asurveyclassthatcoversavarietyof topicsfornon-mathmajors.Notonlydoesitsatisfythedegreerequirementforanassociateof arts,butitcanalsosatisfythemathrequirementfortheseworkforceprograms:

AAS–BusinessAdministration/EmphasisinAccounting AAS–EmphasisinManagementAAS–EmphasisinMarketing AAS–GraphicArts/WebDesignAAS–NetSysTech/InterWebAdm AAS–NetSysTech/MSNetAdminAAS–NetSysTech/OpenSource

ClassesmeetTuesdaysandThursdaysfrom7:30to8:50p.m.

Math for Liberal Arts takes a lot of the stress out of College Algebra.

TalktoanadvisortodayorcallExt.244fordetails.

August continuing education classes HaveyouusedyourFREEsummerclassyet?Considertakingoneof theseCEclassesattheCOMLearningCenterinLeagueCity:

Intermediate Photoshop

TuesdaysandThursdays

6:30to9p.m.August3-August12

Introductory PowerPoint

TuesdaysandThursdays

6:30to8:45p.m.

August3-12

Floral design strictly bridal

Mondays

6:30to9:30p.m.

August9-30

Forinformationaboutanyof theseclasses,call281-332-1800.


Set the Record StraightWeseemtobeabletowelcomenewchildrenandgrandchildrentoourfamily.

Whathappenedtolettingtheemployeesknowif someonehasleftorisleavingthecollegefamilyforwhateverreason-retirement,perhapsleavingforabetterpositionsomewhereelse?Itwouldbenicetosaygoodbyeandwishthemwell,insteadof hearingitthroughthegrapevine.Ithinkalotof employeesarewonderingthesamething.

I like the idea. For those who wish to participate, with their permission, we will send out a notice.

WhenanemployeelogsintoWebAdvisor,whyistherenoinformationshowingunderthecategoriesof “Viewmy

employmentactionhistory”and“PayAdvices”?WillDatateleverbesetuptoshowthisinformation?Also,under“PositionSummary”Datatelshowsstartdateof employment,etc.Itseemstomethatapositionsummarywouldgivemoreinformationthanthat.Whynot?

Starting in September Pay Advices will be available.

WhydosomepeoplehavetheirnamesonnameplatesinTVBandothersdonot?Thereisnoonetemplateandseveralstyles.Studentsnotice.

Marketing will be creating a request form for all door plates. They will be generated once a month (like name

tags and business cards). This will bring consistency to the campus.

WhenwilltheorganizationchartfortheVPof Instruction/ExecVPof Instructionbesharedwithstaff?

I plan on sharing this and other important information at convocation.

Therehavebeenseveraldeadandseveredbrancheshangingfromtreesontheesplanadeforalmostoneweek.Whotrimsthosetrees—thecityorCOM?Thatkindof

cluttersendsamessymessagetofolksarrivingoncampusfromthatdirection.Cansomeoneaskthecitytoremovethem?

This has been handled.

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If youhaveaquestionyouwouldlikePresidentElamtoanswer,pleasesubmityourquestiontoyourcouncilpresident.

ThereisapositionlistedonthechartthatstatesVacant(Interim)ITDirectorApplications/Financial.Isthisanewpositionorisitoccupied?

This position is filled.

WerarelyhaveanystudentscallorstopbyourofficeonFridaysduringthesummersemester.Wouldyoueverconsiderchangingtheworkweekinthesummertobe

closedonFridayslikealmostalltheothercommunitycollegesinthearea?

If the right conditions present themselves, I will consider it. However many offices that do see students on a regular

basis on Friday and with Weekend College kicking off in the fall, we anticipate weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) being busy.

HowaboutaTownHalltypemeetingeverytwoweeksopenstoalloncampuswithquestions?Thepresidentwouldtakeonallissuesfacetofacewithfaculty,students,

administratorsetc.Thiswouldhelpbemoretransparenttothestaff.

This is a good idea. I would like to start with once a month and see what kind of interest unfolds.

SinceBoardpolicyDDA(Local)regardingcontractpersonnelstatesthatreappointmentwillbeplacedontheBoardagendainAprilandDMAB(LOCAL)statesthat

90calendarnoticewillbegivenif contractisnotrenewed,doesthatmeanthatif wehavenotbeentoldthatwearenotrenewedthenwecanassumethatweare?Seepoliciesattached.

All employees impacted were notified according to policy. The reappointment list was submitted to the Board during

their April board meeting. So your assumptions are correct.

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