PAC Counselors attend TCCTA Conference

Just got word that PAC Counselors Anthony Pierulla and Yolanda Reyna attended the Texas Community College Teachers Association (TCCTA) Conference in Austin last week. It was TCCTA's 60th Annual Convention that focused on "Shaping the Future: Designing the Plan."

The keynote speaker for the general session was Marc Prensky, an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and designer in the critical areas of education and learning.

There were more than 100 discipline-specific meetings. A couple slated for Counseling and Student Personnel Services were "Help! I Can't Give My Speech! Anxiety Techniques and/or Curricular Alternatives to the Speech Course Requirement" and "From Soldier to Student: Helping Combat Veterans Return to Campus."

"Girl in a Coma" to play at PAC

Preparations are underway to bring the all-female band "Girl in a Coma" to Palo Alto College on Thursday, March 8, in the Student Center, at 11:30 a.m.

According to their website: "The first Girl in a Coma tour was in the summer of 2004. The Girls won over a bevy of new fans throughout the south, the Midwest and alng the west coast. They also turned the heads of tour managers and indie label reps. In January of 2005, the Girls traveled to England to record their first demo with Boz Boorer (guitarist extraordinaire and musical director for Morrissey). The strength of this demo allowed the Girls to embark on two more national tours.

"In addition to playing hundreds of their own headlining shows, Girl in a Coma have opened for Frank Black and the Catholics, theSTART, The Epoxies, The Eyeliners, Boz Boorer and The Bozmen, Manda and the Marbles, The Groovie Ghoulies, The Cruxshadows, Lillix, Smoking Popes and Brassy. In early 2005, the Girls played several dates on the infamous Warped Tour, then set off on another coast-to-coast tour of the United States to hit the stages at legendary venues such as CBGBs in New York City and the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle."

The event, sponsored by the Student Service Fee Advisory Committee, is free and open to the public.

PACfest Entertainment Line-up

Are you ready for a PARTY?!?!?

Preparations are underway for PACfest 2007, an official Fiesta San Antonio event, to be held Thursday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Negotiations with musical acts are in process, and paperwork is being sent for completion to the following paid artists:

SCHEDULED TO APPEAR

11:30 a.m. Retrofit http://www.retrofit.ws/
2:30 p.m. Rick Trevino http://www.ricktrevino.com/
4:30 p.m. Grupo Fantasma http://www.sonicbids.com/grupofantasma
6:30 p.m. Jimmy Gonzalez
Y Mazz http://www.jimmygonzalezyelgrupomazz.com/


This year we are trying something new with TWO stages in the hopes of providing non-stop entertainment all day long!!! Other acts scheduled to appear throughout the day are:
PAC Conjunto
Mariachi Palomino
PAC Jazz ensemble
PAC Dance Program
And a yet-to-be-named student band (or two!)
I will be looking for two bands who would like to perform a 30-minute set for free. I have already received a proposal from one band that plays at weddings and quinceaneras, and would be interested in seeing if there is a student band that would like the second spot. If anyone knows of any student bands willing to play for free, please point them in my direction. An audition will be necessary.

A special thank you to Juan Tejeda and the entire PACfest Committee for the work done so far in planning and putting together the musical line-up. Don’t let up though, there’s still plenty of work ahead!!!

Community College Student Day

Dr. Dan Rodriguez, Director of Student Activities, and John Libby, a coach in the PAC athletic department, are accompany a group of student leaders from Palo Alto College to participate in "Texas Community College Student Day" in Austin today.

Our PAC students will join forces with student leadership representatives from San Antonio College, St. Philip's College, Northeast Lakeview College, and Northwest Vista College. Approximately 90 students from the Alamo Community Colleges will arrive at the steps of the capitol to marry-up with students from community colleges throughout Texas to meet with state senators and representatives to discuss the future of community colleges.

Scheduled to meet with Senator Judith Zaffirini, District 21 are students from Northeast Lakeview College.

Scheduled to meet with Senator Jeff Wentworth, District 25 are students from Northeast Lakeview College and San Antonio College.

Scheduled to meet with Senator Leticia Van de Putte, District 26 are students from Northwest Vista College, San Antoino College, St. Philip's College, and the ACC Main Office.

Scheduled to meet with Senator Carlos Uresti, District 19, are students from Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College and St. Philip's College.

Scheduled to meet with Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, District 116 are representatives from ACC.

Scheduled to meet with Representative Joe Straus III, District 121 are students from Northeast Lakeview College and San Antonio College.

Scheduled to meet with Representative David McQuade Leibowitz, District 117 are students from Northwest Vista College and Palo Alto College.

Scheduled to meet with Representative Robert R. Puente, District 119 are students from Northeast lakeview College and ACC Main Office.

Scheduled to meet with Representative Frank Corte Jr. District 122 are representatives from ACC.

Scheduled to meet with Representative Michael Villarreal, District 123 are students from San Antonio College and the ACC Main Office.

Scheduled to meet with Representative Jose Menendez , District 124 are students from Northwest Vista College.

Alamo Community Colleges

Last night, the Board of Trustees for the Alamo Community College District voted to approve Agenda Item No. 6 which calls for the utilization of the name "Alamo Community Colleges" in place of Alamo Community College District in all advancement efforts and to communicate effective messages to all audiences.

According to the agenda item, the purpose is to clearly convey the rich history and vitality of our colleges within the Alamo Community College District. In other words, some people have not made the distinction that Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, St. Philp's College, Northwest Vista College, and Northeast Lakeview College are a family of colleges that operate under the banner of "Alamo Community College District" or as it stands now, the "Alamo Community Colleges."

International-sized Soccer Field on Campus

By now I'm sure you have seen the construction going on north of the Ozuna Learning Research Center--that's the Veterinary Technology Building in its earliest form! And I'm sure you have seen the fencing and the trailers on the south side of Ozuna--that's all in preparation for the Convocation Center.

Now there's a third construction site on campus--work has now started on our long-awaited professional, international-sized soccer field! Groundbreaking for the field was held in October, but due to some delays, work was postponed for four months. But now, ground has finally broken and the field is taking shape!

Counseling Chair attends National Conference

PAC's Chair of Counseling attended the National Conference on Civic Engagement in Austin sponsored by Texas Campus Compact and the University of Texas at Austin. the conference, entitled "Creating Agents for Change: Improving Communities Through Faculty and Student Leadership" focused on the collective understadning of civic responsibility through collaborative partnerships, and the role of civic responsibility for community and political leaders, educators, and students.

Automation Technology Update

Recently, Frank Quijano, Chair of the Industrial Automation Technology Department, and the ACCD Manufacturing team, toured the Alabama Industrial Training Center, the Honda Plant, and Central Alabama Community College. Alabama has been in the forefront of automotive manufacturing training and are presently providing training for five automotive manufacturing companies in their local region.

Business Chair tapes Interview

Last Friday, Elsa Anaya, PAC's Chair of Business, taped an episode of "Inside the ACCD" for future broadcast on Channel 98, the Education Access Channel for the City of San Antonio. The 15-minute program focused on degrees and certificates available in the Business Department, which can lead to higher pay and employment advancement opportunities.

Scholarship Support Services

Happy Valentines Day!

Have you all heard about the Scholarship Support Services at Palo Alto College headed by Carmen Velasquez? Here are some of the things the office has done in the past week:

Submitted 2 Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship applications and 4 Hispanic Scholarship Fund applications.

Nominated 3 students to receive the Michael Sanchez Memorial Scholarship, 1 student to receive the Ryan Smith Memorial Scholarship, and 1 student to recieve the Juanita Colon Scholarship.

Made 3 scholarship presentations to students in Dr. Zambrano's SDEV 0170 classes.

Met with 25 students on a walk-in basis requesting scholarship information.

TLA Legislative Day 2007

Last week, PAC librarians participated in Texas Library Association Legislative Day 2007 in Austin and received updates on key TLA legislative issues. They also met with legislators or their aides to discuss support of TexShare Database. TexShare enables all participating libraries to offer a broad range of databases in order to serve the information needs of their constituents.

Executive Research Team

Palo Alto College has formed an Executive Research Team (ERT) composed of the President, Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, Academic Deans, and the Dean and Director of Institutional Effectiveness. The ERT will utilize data to examine the effectiveness of instruction and support services. This new initiative will also be helpful in the evaluation of interventions aimed at improving student success indicators.

Celebrate Diversity

PAC's Disability Support Services is coordinating with community agencies and organizations on an event entitled "Celebrate Diversity" in recognition of Disability Awareness Day March 7. DSS's goal is to foster education and understanding of those with disabilities by presenting information and services avaiilable through organizations in the surrounding community. The event will be held in the Student Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PAC sets Campaign Record

PAC Family--

Thank You y mil gracias!!!

Your generous support
of the
2006 ACCD Employees Annual Charitable Campaign
went beyond expectations and was
RECORD SETTING!

$20,581

The extended campaign will officially end next week!


--Gloria Hilario and Vincent Bosquez PAC Campaign Co-Chairs

Commencement Ceremony May 11

It’s that time of year again; Time to start thinking about PAC Commencement 2007!!!

This year our Commencement Ceremony will be on Friday, May 11 at Freeman Coliseum beginning at 7 p.m.

PAC Groundbreaking Ceremony

PAC held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning to celebrate the start of construction for its new Convocation Center and Veterinary Technology Building. In attendance were Board Members, members of the PAC CIP Committee, ACCD Citizens’ Advisory Committee, faculty, staff, students, administrators and community leaders.

PAC "Celebrates Diversity" March 7

Just received word that PAC’s Disability Support Services is coordinating with community agencies and organizations on an event entitled “Celebrate Diversity” in recognition of Disability Awareness Day March 7. DSS’s goal is to foster education and understanding of those with disabilities by presenting information and services available through organizations in the surrounding community. The event will be held in the Student Center Annex from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Baldrige National Quality Award

Alamo Community Colleges leadership will receive a presentation on how Richland College, the only community college ever to receive the coveted Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, has used the Baldrige model for continuous improvement. The day-long presentation is scheduled for tomorrow in the St. Philip's College Heritage Room, at 8:30 a.m.

Richland College is also the only accredited institution of higher education in Texas to receive the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, presented by the Governor of Texas. Scheduled to present at Friday's meeting are Dr. Stephen K. Mittelstet, President of Richland College; Fonda Vera, Dean of Planning and Research for Institutional Effectiveness; and Dr. Kathryn K. Eggleston, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Economic Development.