Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
At the August 17, 2023, Board of Trustees Retreat, Dr. Eileen Garcia, Vice President of e-Learning and Learning Enterprises, and Mr. Kenneth Malagiere, OCC Foundation Executive Director, co-chairs of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, provided an overview of the work done by the committee over the past two years. During that time, a mission statement and goals were developed and subcommittees were established.
At Thursday’s Board meeting, representatives from each of the subcommittees will summarize their work and propose actionable DEI goal activities, projects, and strategies for the institution to work towards collectively. The four subcommittees, which are focused in the areas of Administration and Workforce, Community and External Events, Curriculum and Pedagogy, and Student Clubs and Recruiting, will each bring forward two to three goal activities for consideration. These activities are based on the larger committee’s strategic goal to create opportunities for difficult discussions and reflection on current issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and social justice to become a part of the institutional culture. This presentation will propose actions that can be taken to ensure a more equitable future for Ocean County College.
Presenting for the subcommittees will be:
Administration and Workforce Subcommittee:
- Kayci Clayton, Director of Grants Administration
- Christina Matuszewski, Employee Benefits Coordinator
- Meredith Riddle, Assistant Dean of e-Learning
- Aqsa Sheikh, College Lecturer II, e-Learning
Community and External Events Subcommittee:
- Veronica Guevara-Lovgren, Executive Director of Student Services
- Stan Hales, Director of the Barnegat Bay Partnership
- Dori Londres, Marketing and Communications Writer/Editor
- Lincoln Simmons, College Lecturer II, STEM
Curriculum and Pedagogy Subcommittee:
- Henry Jackson, Executive Director of Academic Success
- Susan O’Connor, Executive Director of Curriculum and Program Development
- Jamie Prioli, Assistant Director of Student Disability Services
- Mark Westmoreland, College Lecturer II, Arts and Humanities
Student Clubs and Recruiting Subcommittee:
- Jennifer Fazio, Director of Student Life
- Sheenah Hartigan, Executive Director of Enrollment Services
- Heather Sciarappa, College Lecturer II, Arts and Humanities
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15 to October 15 each year to celebrate the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of the more than 62 million American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a thirty-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
It is respectfully requested that the Board of Trustees adopt a resolution to proclaim Hispanic Heritage Month at Ocean County College from September 15 to October 15, 2023, to reaffirm the Board’s commitment to the advancement of Hispanic and Latino people and to encourage members of the College community to participate in celebration activities throughout the month.
2023-24 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year
Mr. Joseph Nappi, an Ocean County College graduate, called me to share the news that he was named the 2023-24 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. He expressed his disappointment that the official releases announcing his selection did not note his graduation from OCC in 2002 with an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts.
Mr. Nappi received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Secondary Education from Rowan University, and he has been teaching U.S. History and Holocaust, Genocide, and Modern Humanity at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls for many years.
Throughout his career, Mr. Nappi has won numerous honors, including the Dr. Frank Kaplowitz Human Rights Educator of the Year Award from Kean University in 2017 and the Ida and Jeff Margolis Medallion for Excellence in Multicultural Education from Rowan University in 2005. He was also named Teacher of the Year at Monmouth Regional High School in 2010 and 2023. The U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., granted him the opportunity to serve as a Museum Teacher Fellow since 2019. He collaborated with a national group of educators assembled by PBS to develop lessons for Ken Burns’ documentary, The U.S. and the Holocaust, in 2022 and published a blog post about teaching the Holocaust for the movie’s debut. He has taken more than 600 students to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Mr. Nappi would like to bring attention to the positive impact his time and experience at OCC played in his life; I am anxious follow up with him to determine the best way to do so.
Presidential Inauguration
I am looking forward to my inauguration as President of Ocean County College, which is scheduled for Friday, October 13, 2023. The inauguration ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Health and Human Performance Center, and a luncheon will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Larson Student Center. Additional information will be shared with you.
Academic Affairs
School of Arts and Humanities
Dr. Jennifer Dellner, Professor of English, attended a course in digital storytelling at the Digital Humanities Summer Institute at the University of Victoria, Canada. Dr. Dellner also was invited to serve as an anonymous peer reviewer and completed the review for an article submitted to the journal Dictynna: Revue de poétique latine.
Ms. Bonnie Barrett, alumna from the ASL Interpreter Training Program who is now in her master’s program at Gallaudet University, received a $5,000 grant, along with her team, to develop lessons about linguistics and cognitive science for deaf K-12 schools.
Dr. Madison Peschock, College Lecturer II in English, will be hosting the annual Banned Books Celebration on October 4, 2023.
School of Business and Social Sciences
The Business Innovation Consortium (BIC) will hold its first meeting of the Fall semester on September 27, 2023. The purpose of the meeting is to recruit and engage students. BIC is “an umbrella organization of Business Clubs (Entrepreneurs, FBLA, HRTM & ACCT), connecting talents and ideas from the best and brightest… we are all Business!” BIC will continue to meet on the last Wednesday of every month throughout the semester.
On September 28, 2023, College Lecturers in Business Chris Bottomley and Ibrahim Moustafa hosted a demonstration in Google Analytics through BIC, which was presented by Mr. Jim Mahlmann from NetCetra, a local marketing firm. This event was micro-targeted to the current nine sections of marketing (approximately 200 students) and led those interested in getting Google certified. Mr. Mahlmann also demonstrated two different types of client engagements and their prospective active users, monthly reports, benchmarking, acquisitions, and behavior patterns. Students had the opportunity to witness the strength of data mining and analysis, which will improve marketers’ return on investments and key performance indicators.
On behalf of the college, Mr. Chris Bottomley and Mr. Ibrahim Moustafa will be executing, for the first time, an honors/certificate program in BUSN 134, Principles of Marketing, through Coursera. Interested students of marketing will sign up in the first week of October.
OCC’s annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony took place on September 11, 2023, at the campus mall flagpole. Planning Committee members, Professor of Social Sciences Lynn Kenneally and College Lecturer II in Political Science Jason Ghibesi worked with Executive Director of College Relations Jan Kirsten and her team to coordinate the event. Following my remarks, guest speakers included College Lecturer II in Criminal Justice Stephen Agresti, College Lecture II in History Robert Marchie, and Dr. Ali Botein Furrevig, Director of the Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education. Dr. Alfred Parchment, OCC student, performed the Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful.
This year’s Constitution Day Commemoration took place on September 18, 2023, and featured a film screening of The Words that Built America. The film, originally presented by HBO, highlights the language of the United States’ founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights, as read by lawmakers, celebrities, and children. The film was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi. This event was sponsored by the Governmental Affairs Institute and the OCC Library and was facilitated by Mr. Jason Ghibesi.
OCC’s annual Voter Registration Drive was held on September 19, 2023. Mr. Jason Ghibesi coordinated the event, in collaboration with the Office of Student Life and the League of Women Voters. Faculty from across the campus volunteered to assist students with the registration process.
School of Nursing
Students returned to campus the week of August 28, 2023, to practice skills in preparation for the Fall semester. All returning students are required to demonstrate competency in skills prior to entering clinical agencies.
The School of Nursing admitted 104 new students into the program for the Fall 2023 semester. There are 323 students enrolled in the program this semester, and 34 clinical instructors provide education for 35 clinical groups within various health care facilities.
Nursing faculty participated in a discussion session focusing on an article published by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which is the national organization that accredits the OCC School of Nursing. The article, titled “Assessment and Evaluation: Nursing Education and ACEN Accreditation,” was discussed at the August 30, 2023, department meeting. Based on this article, the discussion focused on evaluation of student learning outcomes incorporated within the curriculum as a measure to assess the overall Nursing program. The concepts discussed are incorporated into the ACEN accreditation standards.
School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
College Lecturer II in Anatomy, Dr. Mary-Ellen Rada and Interim Assistant Dean of Arts and Humanities Samantha Glassford conducted two Study Abroad courses during the summer post-session semester: The Science of Ireland and Contemporary Literature of Ireland. Twelve students traveled to Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and points in between. Sites included Kilmainham Goal, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, the National Gallery of Ireland, Memorial Park, Dublin Castle, Titanic Exhibition, Cliffs of Moher, Roundstone Music and Crafts, Connemara National Park, The Burren, and Irish National Stud Farm and Gardens.
Participants climbed atop Knowth and climbed inside New Grange, a 5,000-year-old Stone Age passage tomb. Students were immersed in the culture of this beautiful country and spent time with locals. They heard folk music, ate Irish food, learned a few Irish words, and also pet sheep and horses. They even took pictures with Oscar Wilde.
Deep appreciation is expressed to the Ocean County College Foundation for its generous scholarships, without which many students would not be able to attend. All of the students expressed how much this trip changed their lives.
On August 30, 2023, Assistant Dean Carolyn Showalter gave two presentations at the Lecturer Institute and one at the Adjunct Institute. The title of her talk was “On Day 1, Students are Thinking ‘Why am I here?’ – Here is How You Can Connect!” The presentation focused on the covenant Ocean County College has with its students to award an associate degree or certificate when specific criteria are met. Many students enroll at OCC not understanding what must be accomplished in order to earn a two-year degree within two years. This presentation was designed to build a community of instructors who will take the time to explain this covenant to students as well as to explain other important concepts for student success.
Dr. Angel Camilo and Dr. Justin Pfeifer, College Lecturers in Biology and History, respectively, have been working with the Barnegat Historical Society on a project. The students from the Makers Club and History Club, together with the advisors of both clubs, will be helping the group digitize the historical documents and artifacts at its museum in Barnegat. The Makers Club will provide equipment and technical support. The History Club will help with document preservation, digitizing, and cataloging.
The OCC Engineering and Industrial/Technical Studies program is scheduling on-site visits for students in STSC 160, Student Success Seminar for Engineering Majors. Some of the locations include the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Infinity Spark Lab, Pre-Cast Day, and the power plant at OCC. Students at Pre-Cast Day will join the National Pre-Cast Concrete Association and manufacturers from across the country as they showcase modern pre-casting and celebrate the industry at Garden State Precast, Inc.
The OCC Engineering Club leadership team met to set its goals for the 2023-24 academic year. Each year, club members work on three key areas: career networking, projects, and community service. Some key highlights of their plan include focus on job placements for students, expansion of engineering projects, the administration of the new U.S. Patent submission award, and a new club-funded scholarship.
Library and Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education
The Library is temporarily located in the Russell Building, with a computer lab, quiet study space, and information and research assistance. Information Literacy sessions will be taught in classrooms or through Webex sessions. Comments, questions, or concerns should be directed to Ms. Donna Rosinski-Kauz, Director of Library Services, at 732-255-0400, extension 2245.
Ms. Catherine Pontoriero, Associate Professor and Technology Applications Librarian, was accepted to the New Jersey State Library’s E-Resources Advisory Committee. The purpose of the committee, which is facilitated by New Jersey State Library Project Specialist for Shared Services Michael Maziekien, will be to evaluate current and potential electronic resources and provide feedback and guidance. A separate committee, to convene in July 2024, will consider this group’s recommendations when creating and evaluating requests for quotations. The committee’s responsibilities will include:
- Appointment through June 2024
- Attendance at quarterly virtual meetings
- Review of usage statistics for current JerseyClicks databases
- Production and collection of surveys to gauge needs and goals of the New Jersey library community
- Recommendations to aid in development of future service contracts
- Research into new and innovative e-resources
- Promotion of educational opportunities to increase database usage
Mr. John Wallace, College Lecturer II and Emerging Technologies and Systems Librarian, was elected to serve a second three-year term on the New Jersey Library Association’s Executive Board as a Member-at-Large.
An interesting OCC Library fact: According to Ms. Jacqueline Reynolds, Interlibrary Loan Specialist, interlibrary loan borrowing increased from FY 2022 to FY 2023 by 49% overall, with a 253% faculty usage increase and a 22% student usage increase.
Dr. Ali Botein-Furrevig, Director of the Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education, attended one-day courses and workshops on topics related to personal and professional interest and scholarship in the fields of Jewish studies, Israel, and Russian/Polish Jewry immigration to New York City in the mid- to late-18th century.
Other activities included:
- Participated in interactive seminar hosted by the Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, Becoming Jewish Americans: Popular Culture and Protest in Yiddish New York.
- Participated in an online seminar and workshop on biblical archeology hosted by Bar Ilan University, Israel, which focused on the relationship between archeology, history, and the Hebrew Bible.
- Attended a lecture and discussion at YIVO Institute in New York City: The Hasidic Revival on the Eve of the Holocaust.
- Attended a discussion with author of Sosua, a Refuge for Jews in the Dominican, Republic at the Jewish Museum in New York City. The book focuses on the growth and evolution of a Jewish community in the Dominican Republic. The 1938 Evian International Conference in France failed in its mission to alleviate the mounting refugee crisis from Jews fleeing Nazi Europe. The only country offering sanctuary was the Dominican Republic.
- Continued research and writing about growing antisemitism and anti-Israel activities on college campuses and if/why Holocaust education fuels antisemitism.
Finance and Administration
Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts
The Grunin Center is excited to begin the Fall 2023 season. Upcoming offerings can be viewed at https://www.grunincenter.org/.
Assistant Director of Marketing and Sales Jessica Zawerczuk reported that the season opened on September 10, 2023, with the first Grunin Presents show with Judy Collins. The show was close to sold out.
House Manager Harriet Wood and Assistant Director of Operations and Production Laura Westmoreland held the annual usher training on September 13, 2023. Over 25 ushers attended the training.
The first artist in the Afternoon Recital Series, Mr. Michael Nobel, played on September 15, 2023.
Executive and Artistic Director Heidi Sheridan attended the Midwest Arts Expo in Indiana for professional development, meeting agents and experiencing artist showcases.
The Center hosted the Ocean County Fire Academy Graduation on September 18, 2023.
In collaboration with the OCC Foundation, the first Blauvelt Lecture Series speaker, Mr. Robert Pondiscio, is speaking in the Grunin Center on September 28, 2023.
Assistant Director of Education and Community Engagement Jaclyn Wood reports that the Center received a Mid-Atlantic Arts Performing Arts Global Exchange grant in the amount of $3,750 for CelloGayageum, a Korean instrumental musical group that will be performing at the Grunin Center in February.
Eight senior groups have booked for the Menopause the Musical show in October, stating “We want to laugh!”
The Robert J. Novins Planetarium
Associate Director Cara Muscio reports that ticket sales increased for the summer public shows by 1,200 as compared to summer 2022.
Ms. Cara Muscio and Planetarium Technician Kevin Molnar attended the Digistar Users Conference during late August where they learned many new techniques and ideas for using the Planetarium’s software and equipment.
The Planetarium offered two showings of A Galaxy Near You: Exoplanets and the Worlds of Star Wars on August 26, 2023, to very engaged crowds.
In addition to all of its regular sky and star talks and laser shows, the next special event in the Planetarium is the Astronomical World of Harry Potter on September 26, 2023, with two showings.
Grants Administration
New America’s Advisory Committee for Community College Workforce Transformation and Implementation Cohort
Ocean County College has been selected to participate as a member of New America’s Community College Workforce Transformation and Implementation Cohort from September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024. This initiative aims to support community colleges that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to workforce development and are leading the way in implementing transformational strategies.
As a member of the cohort, OCC will have the opportunity to work alongside other leading community colleges nationwide to advance innovation and best practices for workforce development excellence by addressing access and success in programs leading to strong employment outcomes. Through a networked learning process and technical assistance, the cohort will work with national experts and one another to make institutional changes that lead to concrete improvements in enrollment, persistence, and employment outcomes for workforce students.
Security
In accordance with New Jersey Public Law 2015, Chapter 220, and College Policy #2332, Reporting of On-Campus and Fire Events, attached is the monthly statistics report of crimes, fires, and other emergencies on campus for the reporting period of August 19, 2023, through September 22, 2023.
Student Affairs
Advising
Advise CRM Instructor Alerts
Usage of Instructor Alerts has been expanded for Fall 2023. The alerts are now available to 170 instructors, up from 70 in Academic Year 2022-23. All instructors utilizing alerts this Fall semester now have access to the alerts in Advise CRM.
Training for use of Instructor Alerts (Faculty CX) was conducted the weeks of September 4 and September 11, 2023, by Advising and Enrollment and Retention Services. Additionally, training for use of Instructor Alerts is available on NeoEd on the OCC website, which can be completed at the instructor’s convenience.
Instructor Alerts allow instructors to report students with attendance issues, lack of participation, missed assignments, and low assessments. These alerts prompt real-time outreach from the Success Coaches, under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Mohr, Director of Enrollment and Retention.
In Spring 2023, a total of 1,042 alerts were raised by instructors, resulting in over 700 outreach calls from Success Coaches. Success Coaches discuss various topics with students, such as time management, procrastination issues, study skills and habits, usage of Canvas, the importance of attendance and participation, and connection to Campus resources.
Athletics
The Fall season is in full swing in Viking country:
OCC’s men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, cross country, and esports teams have all begun play, with both men’s and women’s soccer teams nationally ranked and the volleyball team currently boasting the Garden State Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week, freshman Claudia Cosme.
Cross country has been adding runners to the roster for both the men’s and women’s teams; both look to finish strong in NJCAA standings.
The esports program is just a couple of matches underway and is a perennial championship contender, having won twice in four years.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of the athletics programs. We encourage you to attend the games.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center has a new service, funded by the State of New Jersey, which expands tele-mental health services to the entire OCC student community. Partnering with Uwill, services will be provided to students no matter where they are located. Counseling services are still available to students in person and remotely by Center counselors at both the Toms River and the Manahawkin locations.
The Counseling Center is delighted to announce that Ms. Carmen Mora, Coordinator of the Displaced Homemakers Program, has been appointed to the Ocean County Commission on the Status of Women and is serving as Treasurer of the Displaced Homemakers Network of New Jersey.
Dr. Kate Pandolpho, Director of the Counseling Center, is serving on the First-Year/First-Generation working group; and Ms. Darra Stack, Student Intervention Specialist, is a member of the Middle States Standard VII Stakeholders Group.
In recognition of September as Suicide Awareness Month, the Counseling Center hosted “In Their Shoes” on September 14, 2023. This event is presented by Attitudes in Reverse, a statewide suicide prevention organization with the goal of raising awareness and connecting individuals and communities with resources to prevent suicide.
On September 27, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, a Veterans Suicide Prevention event took place at the Larson Student Center in collaboration with OCC’s Veterans and Military Resources Center, the Veterans Administration, and the Addictions Studies program; the event featured keynote speaker Ricky Johnson, therapy dogs, SAVE gatekeeper training with a focus on veterans, a discussion on lethal-means reduction, and a variety of wellness activities.
September is also Alcohol Awareness Month. Its importance was recognized by featuring the inspirational “Recovery Speaks” on September 19, 2023, in collaboration with OCC’s Recovery Program community partner, Hope Sheds Light.
The Counseling Center, in collaboration with Disability Services, presented wellness activities for students during the first week of classes. Staff provided information on supportive services on campus and assisted students in acclimating to the new semester. Ms. Darra Stack presented information about Counseling Center activities to classes at OCC Manahawkin and has also been meeting students for counseling appointments there.
Dr. Kate Pandolpho and Ms. Katie Hueth, Prevention Education Coordinator, in collaboration with Ms. Jamie Prioli, Assistant Director of Student Disability Services, presented “Beyond the Golden Rule” at the Lecturer and Adjunct Institutes. Dr. Kate Pandolpho also presented “CARE Reporting” at the Adjunct Institute.
Ms. Darra Stack and Ms. Kelly Petrolis, Student Intervention Specialist, presented at the Student Government Leadership meeting about the services, programs, and activities of the Counseling Center. They are also collaborating with the student clubs on team building.
Ms. Kelly Petrolis, Ms. Darra Stack and Ms. Stefanie Caton, Case Manager/Mental Health Technician, are collaborating with Student Life to recognize World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2023, and National Coming Out Day, in collaboration with the Pride Club, on October 11, 2023.
Ms. Kelly Petrolis is presenting seminars for the Student Support Services students each month; she led a mindfulness workshop this month. In response to themes frequently discussed in counseling sessions, the Center has developed “Cycle Breakers,” a monthly book club focusing on themes of family relationships, generational trauma, and personal values. The first meeting took place on September 12, 2023.
The Displaced Homemakers Program is currently working with 117 clients, 17 new clients and 100 ongoing clients. Four clients were hired into full-time jobs; both had worked closely with Program Coordinator Carmen Mora. Education and training are important activities for clients on their journey to self-sufficiency. There are currently 6 clients enrolled in OCC degree programs, 3 in WPE programs, 1 in OCVTS, 2 in home health aide training; additionally, 2 are enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs.
The CARE Team has handled 63 CARE reports for the period July 1, 2023, through September18, 2023. Additional sessions of CARE Reporting are being scheduled, and the Center is available to conduct training for departments and divisions.
Enrollment Services (HUB)
Enrollment Services Advisors Melissa Sporer and Haley Abruzzese are dropping off Welcome Back baskets to all Ocean County high school guidance offices. This year’s baskets were filled with helpful items to assist counselors “survive” the new school year, including mini notebooks, coffee and tea, hand sanitizer, Chapstick, granola bars and trail mix, hand lotions, OCC stress balls, as well as pertinent information for the upcoming academic year.
The Enrollment Services team kicked off the Fall season with early Pathways presentations at Pt. Pleasant Borough and Manchester high schools. The team also completed Early College presentations on self-registration at Toms River East, Jackson Memorial, Jackson Liberty, Toms River North, and Central Regional high schools.
Dr. Sheenah Hartigan, Executive Director, along with Ms. Elaine Schardien, Assistant Director of Academic Success, and Ms. Patti Gianotti, College Lecturer II in Addiction Studies, participated in an informational session at Pinelands Regional High School on the Community School for adults. Non-traditional students will be given an opportunity to take either Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Cybersecurity, or Education courses.
Ms. Melissa Sporer, Ms. Haley Abruzzese, and Ms. Cheyenne Woods, Part-Time Enrollment Services Technician, participated in back-to-school nights at area high schools, including Pt. Pleasant Beach, Pt. Pleasant Borough, and Manchester Township. The team spoke with parents about the advantages and opportunities available at Ocean County College for students during their high school tenure and beyond graduation.
OCC was invited to participate in a tabling event at Monmouth Medical Center in Lakewood, New Jersey. Through this fair, staff at Monmouth Medical Center were able to learn more about wellness-based resources as well as reskilling or upskilling available at OCC.
The HUB completed 1,841 transactions in the month of August, typically the busiest month of the year. Due to all of the volunteers across campus collaborating to assist students, the team was able to keep the in-person service wait time down to just below three minutes.
FIPSE Basic Needs Grant Manager Jim Campbell attended a return-to-class event with Ocean, Inc., staff members. There were 75 staff members present, and Mr. Campbell was given the opportunity to discuss program offerings and answer questions on reskilling and upskilling.
For the Fall semester, Ben Hudnall Memorial Trust enrollment is up 66% in credits over last Fall 2022. There are 72 unique students enrolled for a total of 358 credits. An amendment was recently proposed to add Google IT to its catalog, as well.
Office of Disability Services
The Office of Disability Services continues to provide accommodation and support services to eligible students under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As of September 18, 2023, staff provided 32 consultations to OCC faculty, lecturers, and staff. Staff provided 126 consultations with current and prospective students and family/support members.
On September 6, 2023, Disability Services started weekly “Walk-In-Wednesday” sessions for students. These weekly events are held in Russell Building, Room 126, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as well as select weeks at the Manahawkin campus. The sessions are limited to brief consultations and campus/community resource referrals. Students can check the OCC app for a full listing of upcoming events. No appointment is required.
To kick-off the Fall semester, Disability Services co-hosted several Wellness Break events at the main and Manahawkin campuses. Students were provided with information regarding eligibility for services, guidance for requesting accommodations, and healthy snacks. Representatives from the Counseling Center, Career Services, and the Veterans and Military Resources Center also joined to support the students and provide additional outreach.
Staff hosted a monthly informational table in collaboration with the Veterans and Military Resources Center. Visitors were provided with department brochures and resources, and prospective students were introduced to a general overview of services, including eligibility.
On September 21, 2023, staff attended a workshop hosted by Microsoft titled “Microsoft Inclusive Design: Cognitive Exclusion.” The accessible technology series was sponsored by the ADA National Network and reviewed how inclusive design is a methodology that is born out of digital environments and enables the range of human diversity.
Ocean County College Manahawkin
Recent OCC Manahawkin Canvas Announcements included student events taking place at the facility, various college-wide opportunities, and notices about departments visiting OCC Manahawkin. The office personnel who visited were from Disability Services, EOF, Athletics, Career Services, the Library, Transfer Services, Counseling, Student Support, Veterans and Military Resources Center, and Student Life. Additionally, representatives from both Kean Ocean and Stockton University are scheduling dates and opportunities to connect with OCC Manahawkin students this Fall.
Happenings and Events
The OCC Manahawkin team welcomed students back Wednesday, September 6, 2023, with Academic Advisors Jeff Kurz, Toni Ann DiPasquale, and Jenna McAteer and Director Brian Schillaci personally greeting students as they arrived for their classes. Students were welcomed with OCC planners, pens, and highlighters. Following a successful first week, students were welcomed back during the second week with a bagel breakfast as a thank you for the great start.
The OCC Manahawkin Student Advising staff continues to assist handling the advisingoffice@ocean.edu email inbox. The team did a terrific job during the very busy first few days of the semester responding to virtual appointments, walk-in visits, and phone inquiries. The staff continues to review enrollment trends and previous course offerings to finalize the Spring 2023 master schedule.
Kean classes have been reestablished at the OCC Manahawkin location, with three courses being offered this Fall semester. This opportunity builds on our great relationship with Kean University, provides OCC with an additional revenue source, and, most importantly, continues to provide educational opportunities in the southern part of Ocean County.
The OCC Manahawkin Director continues discussions with members of the Barnegat High School counseling and administration teams regarding the possibility of student visits to OCC Manahawkin during the upcoming academic year. These visits will follow a similar framework to what Lacey Township High School students experienced at OCC Manahawkin during Spring 2023. The tentative plan is to host 12th graders this Fall, followed by 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in Spring 2024. These visits will continue to promote awareness about OCC Manahawkin, while giving students in Southern Ocean County a look at their options when choosing to attend Ocean County College.
Student Life
New Student Orientation
In partnership with the Success Team, Student Life hosted six new student orientation sessions in August. Students and family members learned about the many resources available to them at OCC, heard about tips to be successful students, and enjoyed in-depth tours of the campus. The orientations were a great opportunity for new students to feel more connected to the campus before they started classes. They also provided several OCC student leaders the chance to engage with incoming students and to practice their leadership skills.
Helping Hands New Location and Open House
The Helping Hands Food Pantry has relocated to the Russell Building, Room 125. Already the number of students stopping by the pantry has increased compared to the start of past semesters. Helping Hands held an Open House on Thursday, September 21, 2023, that featured subs from Wawa and other tasty treats, prizes, and information on the efforts being made to help promote a hunger-free campus community.
Club Leader Breakfast, Fall Welcome, and Club Fair
Club advisors and student leaders from the more than 40 active clubs on campus enjoyed a breakfast meeting on Thursday, August 24, 2023. This annual meeting continues to be a fantastic way for club leaders to connect before the start of the new school year. Members of the Student Life staff reviewed procedures and provided new information that will ensure that clubs have successful meetings and events.
In addition, Student Life sponsored Welcome Week outside the Student Center during the first days of the Fall semester. During this annual event, new student handbooks were distributed, directions and snacks were given to students, and warm greetings were extended to welcome the students back to campus. The semester Club Fairs were held on Tuesday, September 19, and Wednesday, September 20, 2023. The club fairs prove to be a great way for students to connect with the various clubs and give them the opportunity to meet others on campus with shared interests.
Veterans and Military Resources Center
In its efforts to increase knowledge about programs and services, the Veterans and Military Resources Center (VMRC) has had 65 student interactions by mail, phone, or in person as well as 107 internal and external stakeholder contacts during the past month.
The VMRC hosted Special Forces Army Ranger Nick Lavery as guest speaker for the 9/11 ceremony. CW2 Lavery shared his story of resiliency with approximately 80 people in attendance. He also provided autographed copies of his book, Objective Secured, and stayed after the speaking engagement to connect with OCC students.
The Center partnered with Disability Services for a wellness event.
On September 12, 2023, the VMRC partnered with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to bring Mr. David Lionheart, founder of Play for Your Freedom, to the base to screen the documentary, The Walking Wounded. After the screening and Q&A, Mr. Lionheart hosted a variety of team building events and resource tables, and VMRC staff were on hand to provide support and answer questions. Both Assistant Director Christina Hernandez and Executive Director of Student Services Veronica Guevara-Lovgren were present.
Veterans Week is November 6 to 12, 2023. The Center is working with Bridging the Gap, a veteran-focused employment organization, to host a career fair in November. Bridging the Gap will bring employers from a range of career fields to conduct “speed interviews” with attendees. This event will be focused towards OCC’s veterans and military-affiliated population for the first hour and then will be opened to the greater Ocean County community. Additionally, during Veterans Week, the Center hopes to hold a military- and veterans-specific resource fair.
At least two VA work-study students will be working with the Center this Fall.
e-Learning and Learning Enterprises
Professional Development
General Meeting Fall 2023
On August 29, 2023, the e-Learning Department hosted its Fall virtual General Meeting for all e-Learning faculty and lecturers. Nearly 70 individuals participated in the meeting titled “Lighting Up Online Students One Fuse at a Time.” The meeting and breakout sessions were centered around strategies to enhance the online student learning experience and provided faculty and lecturers with the ongoing support they need to assist with student success.
The main meeting featured e-Learning’s new online student tutoring partner, Brainfuse, a personalized online tutoring service and resource provider for the College for various academic disciplines.
A Brainfuse representative provided a comprehensive tour of the software’s features, including how students initiate live tutoring sessions, book appointments, submit documents for review in the Brainfuse Writing Lab, and review recorded sessions. This presentation was the first of three training sessions the department provided. Following the Brainfuse presentation, participants could select from two breakout sessions.
Over 30 faculty and lecturers attended Breakout session #1, titled “Is It Cake, Too?” which featured a brief survey for online faculty to express their views on artificial intelligence (AI). This survey provided insight into the overall sentiment of participants toward AI. A deeper discussion followed on the issue of fraudulent students, and the session also explored how AI can help identify and prevent academic dishonesty. A demonstration of Turnitin’s capabilities in detecting AI-generated content and maintaining academic integrity was provided, along with a discussion on AI’s impact on Turnitin’s reporting features in Canvas. Faculty were guided to the e-BreakRoom to seek additional information about AI training available in NeoEd.
Breakout session #2, titled “Getting to Know Our Resources (What’s at your Fingertips),” attracted 25 participants. It focused on equipping faculty and students with the various resources to support them. The session discussed the many resources available, such as the updated e-Learning website, a hub of information on course material, resources for academic support, the Simple Syllabus tool, and the Success Guide for students. Information was also provided about the help and support centers available to faculty and students, all geared to facilitate academic achievement, personal development, and elevating the learning experience found at Ocean County College.
Brainfuse Training
The e-Learning Department continued the Brainfuse training for faculty and administrators by offering additional sessions about this new online tutoring service. On September 7, 2023, with Brainfuse representation, the e-Learning Department offered a “lunch and learn” midday, followed by an evening session, with nearly 20 combined attending the two sessions. The training sessions have been recorded and are available via the e-BreakRoom and on the Student Resources page on the OCC website.
Brainfuse Launch
Brainfuse tutoring services and resources were available to all online students on September 1, 2023. As of September 15, 2023, 25 students had accessed the service for 35 live sessions for 11 hours of tutoring assistance and have utilized the Writing Lab component for two writing submissions. Brainfuse has supported students enrolled in courses within the schools of STEM (predominately), Arts and Humanities, and Business and Social Sciences. Each online student is allocated three tutoring hours per semester.
New Adjunct Orientation – Comfort Zone
e-Learning continues to invest in the online adjunct faculty onboarding process with the launch of the new Comfort Zone initiative. This initiative provides invaluable support to new online adjunct faculty members. Fifteen new adjuncts attended the two sessions on September 7 and 12, 2023.
e-Learning’s Comfort Zone program trains and develops adjunct faculty with the essential tools for teaching and delivering interactive course content. These sessions include fostering comfort and competency with the online course preparation, introducing the faculty and lecturers to the e-Learning team mentors, and addressing any queries related to course material and requirements.
September 2023 Adjunct Roundtable
The September 2023 Adjunct Roundtable virtual professional development event, titled “Meals and Memories,” was held on September 21, 2023. Dr. Meredith Riddle, Assistant Dean of e-Learning, and Mr. Neil Mastroianni, Associate Director of Educational Technology, led the event that focused on effective time management for online faculty. Enthusiasm for the new academic year was rekindled among the 35 who attended as they shared discussions over their (virtual) dinners.
The event underscored the importance of establishing effective time management techniques at the beginning of the semester, which can have a lasting impact throughout the academic year. The workshop was facilitated by experienced online faculty, offering practical insights and pointers that could be readily applied in teaching practices.
“Meals and Memories” was a valuable installment in the ongoing series of monthly Adjunct Roundtables. These monthly meetings, scheduled on the third Thursday of every month, offer an informal space where adjunct faculty members can stay current with the latest developments in professional development and engage in meaningful networking. As reported in post-professional development surveys, this endeavor addresses faculty’s interest in networking with their colleagues.
Turnitin
OCC has been using Turnitin software to detect plagiarism and will continue to utilize the features of the AI detection tool included in Turnitin Feedback Studio with Originality. During the 2023 Spring semester, Turnitin released this new AI detection tool. Turnitin is a key component of OCC’s maintenance of academic integrity and is used to detect plagiarism in the work submitted by students.
The e-Learning Department has been collaborating with Academic Affairs to schedule training for faculty to learn and understand the Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software and the AI component of the software application. The projected date for the training is Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The virtual one-hour training session will cover the task of using plagiarism tools to distinguish authentic student work from work created with generative AI. Part of the training will show faculty how to use and interpret the results of this new detection tool. Also, the training will show staff how to use Turnitin directly within the Canvas grade book and SpeedGrader and explain how to use the similarity reports generated by Turnitin. The session will be recorded and made available for faculty unable to attend the live session.
Student Course Evaluations
The 2023 Summer Student Course Evaluations, conducted through Watermark, have concluded. e-Learning deploys the survey to students enrolled in the Accelerated 3, ten-week, and Accelerated 4 terms each summer. To increase the student response rate, e-Learning piloted changes to the survey availability this summer.
Most recently, the 2023 Accelerated 4 term survey concluded with an overall response rate of 51.59%. The survey was deployed to 769 unique students enrolled in 46 sections. Of the students who participated in the evaluation, 35% stated this was their first online course, and 92% responded they would enroll in another online course in the future.
Overall, for the summer term, the survey received 1,802 submissions, and the response rate for the summer was 54%, the highest cumulative term response rate to date.
Personnel
On September 20, 2023, Dr. Eugene de Silva, College Lecturer II in Physics, presented at the OCC Open Textbook Collaborative Faculty Showcase affiliated with the New Jersey Higher Education OER (Open Educational Resources) Project. Dr. de Silva was awarded six grants to write OER textbooks for Organic Chemistry I and II, Physics (calculus-based) I and II, and Physics (non-calculus). This initiative supports the e-Learning Department’s efforts to provide students with an affordable education by reducing the cost of publisher content in online courses.
International Programs
During her last visit to Egypt, Dr. Maysa Hayward, Associate Vice President of International Programs, held several meetings with various Egyptian university presidents, deans, program coordinators, marketing teams, and incoming students. The meetings were accompanied by face-to-face and virtual orientations explaining the logistics of the consortium programs. Moreover, Dr. Hayward held four open houses to explain programs to students at Alamein International University, New Mansoura University, and Badr University in Cairo.
Meanwhile, the international team continues to work with the American university affiliates delivering the senior year of the consortium programs, including Rutgers University Camden, William Paterson, and the University of Maryland Global Campus, to finalize the service agreements, operational plans, course mapping, and sequences.
The team is following up with Egyptian universities on student recruitment efforts, including reaching out to international students outside of Egypt who apply to Egyptian universities.