2012 President's Report to the Community
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2012 PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY Messages from the President and Vice President for Business and Finance In The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, the legendary 1960s pop artist notes, “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” For the past five years, Oakton faculty, staff, and administrators have shared the common purpose of effecting meaningful changes on campus to advance the goals and objectives of Change Matters, the College’s strategic plan for 2008–2012. I could not be more proud of the many achievements that position us well to move into the next five years. As 2012 comes to a close, Oakton can boast about the learning that transforms lives and the teaching and support that make that kind of learning possible. Indeed Change Matters provided the blueprint for equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need not just for their first or next job, but for lives of meaningful work and continued learning. This year’s Report to the Community documents the many initiatives that enriched and engaged our students inside and outside the classroom—from paying tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, to celebrating Earth Day with dozens of activities that reminded us about the commitment to “be green.” In addition, the College broke ground for the 93,000-square-foot Science and Health Careers Center that will transform learning and underscore Oakton’s well-deserved reputation as an anchor and indispensable resource for residents in northern Cook County. Oakton also embarked on a vital partnership with Roosevelt University that will offer an extra incentive for students to finish their bachelor’s degree at one of Chicago’s most respected institutions of higher education. As the pages of this document show, serving students well requires all of us—regardless of our roles or titles—to share in the essential work that encourages, enables, inspires, and supports student success. Doing that work requires us all to embrace change. As George Bernard Shaw reminds us, “Progress is impossible without change.” Margaret B. Lee, President Oakton’s Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, provides a snapshot of the College’s financial performance and major initiatives as well as an overview of trends in the local economy. Above all, the report represents Oakton’s commitment to inform members of the community about the College’s finances. The financial information contained in this report derives from the 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), prepared in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This report does not replace the CAFR, but includes important details relevant to the College’s fiscal condition. Audited by Sikich, the CAFR received an unqualified opinion. As you review our Financial Statement beginning on page 20, I invite you to share any questions, concerns, or recommendations. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the College’s finances, a copy of the CAFR and additional financial information are available at www.oakton.edu/cafr. Carl F. Costanza, Vice President for Business and Finance 1 GOAL Academic Excellence OBJECTIVE We will uphold the preeminence of academic excellence as the engine that drives decision-making at Oakton. Teaching Excellence Hollace Graff (above), professor and chair of philosophy, and Shelley Cohen, instructor of psychology, received the 2012 Ray Hartstein Awards for Outstanding Professional Excellence in Teaching. Named for the founding member of the College’s Board of Trustees, the annual award honors one full-time and one part-time faculty member. Following a review by the Student Government Association, the Oakton Educational Foundation’s Grants Committee selects the winners. Jewish Studies The Department of Historical and Policy Studies launched a new 18-credit-hour interdisciplinary Jewish Studies Concentration. The curriculum, only offered at one other community college in the country, includes two core courses—Introduction to Jewish Studies and Holocaust Studies—with electives in art, global issues, Hebrew, history, and literature. The Jewish Studies Concentration also sponsors a lecture series, symposia, presentations, and film screenings—free and open to the community. Faculty Honors Oakton faculty members garnered a number of prestigious honors. John D’Anca, professor of student development and psychology, received a Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA), and Don Jacobson, instructor of history, traveled across New Mexico as part of the highly competitive National Endowment for the Humanities workshop, “Georgia O’Keeffe: Santa Fe, Abiquiú, and the New Mexico Landscape.” The Illinois CPA Society selected Leslie Van Wolvelear, associate professor of accounting, as 2012 Outstanding Educator for two-year colleges in Illinois. In the English Department, Professor Madhuri Deshmukh attended Kenyon College’s Review Writers Workshop in Ohio, and Professor Carol Bustamante and Assistant Professor Lori Oster participated in Appalachian State University’s exclusive four-week Kellogg Institute for the Training and Certification of Developmental Educators. Kellogg, located in Boone, North Carolina, offers the nation’s longest- running advanced training program for developmental educators and learning skills specialists. Senator Durbin on Campus In October 2011, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (right) met with a group of Oakton employees to reaffirm his commitment to community colleges in light of the competition from for-profit colleges—many of them non-accredited. The Senator highlighted the advantages of Illinois’ 48 community colleges, which offer affordable, accessible educational options for residents. 2 Nursing Program Reaccreditation The National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) reaccredited Oakton’s nursing program through 2019—the maximum allowable time period. The year-long reaccredi- tation process began with an extensive self-analysis of the program’s administra- tive capacity, faculty and staff, students, curriculum, resources, and outcomes. A site visit by the NLNAC team included meetings with faculty, administrators, students, and clinical site staff—and provided opportunities for public feedback. Students Shine Christina Wheeler, who graduated from Oakton in 2012, was one of 60 students nationwide to receive a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. More than 780 nominees vied for the scholarships, which provide up to $30,000 annually to complete a four-year degree. Last fall, Wheeler began her studies at Iowa State University in biological/pre-medical illustration. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, named students Jason Freeman and Jennifer Koval to the 2012 All-Illinois Academic Team, a division of the All-USA Team for community colleges. STEM Conference Climate Change: Impact and Opportunities, Oakton’s 2011 Conference for Promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathe- matics), attracted faculty from area colleges and high schools to brainstorm some “out of the box” thinking. While math and statistics do play a role in predicting climate change, keynoter Deborah Hughes Hallett (right), math professor at the University of Arizona and adjunct professor of public policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, noted that multiple disciplines must be brought to bear on global warming challenges. Participants explored how to train the next generation of climate change experts by weaving geography, history, mathematics, and science into a comprehensive curriculum. Skyway Stars Oakton students grabbed the brass ring in three competitions sponsored by the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference. Jeannine Hills-Perkins’ New York State and North to South won first place in the Writer’s Competition poetry category, and Kalin Luy Ken and Oscar Yaguian received Awards of Excellence for their ceramic projects in the juried 2012 Skyway Art Competition. John Kowols and Hardik Prajapati earned third place in the Math/Physics/Technology Category of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Poster Competition for their display, “Microclimate Analysis of the Oakton Community College Campus.” Automotive Technology Career Pathway Collaborating with local high schools and industry representatives, Oakton developed a career pathway for students interested in automotive technology. Used by high school counselors, as well as College faculty and academic advisors, the tool guides students from high school through a four-year degree, listing appropriate courses along the way—from ninth-grade Algebra I to college-level Advanced Solid Modeling CAD. Oakton also offers automotive technology programs of study customized for in-district public high schools, highlighting specific courses that facilitate a smooth transition to Oakton. Blue Ribbon Repeat The College’s Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) Chapter continued its winning streak at the AITP National Collegiate Conference in San Antonio, Texas last March. Students Robyn Alexander, Scott Andrews, Patrick Keenan, and Elena Papastefan received first place in the Web design competition that challenged teams to build a site for a nonprofit organization. Oakton’s entry for the Lombard Junior Women’s Club finished ahead of 15 other competitors (five of them two-year colleges) from around the nation. Focus on Frankenstein