Attention: Anyone interested in being a part of a focus group regarding the re-development of the Washington State Web site, e-mail Jeri Knowlton, director of marketing and communication, jknowlton@wscc.edu.

The group will provide input regarding the functionality and ease-of-use of the college Web site for all our audiences, students, faculty, staff, prospective students, employers, parents, etc.

An updated, electronic fill-in leave form is now available on the intranet.

CLICK HERE

Washington State presented plans last week to the Marietta Traffic Commission for the construction of a second entrance to the campus.

The plan is to locate the entrance at the intersection of Colegate Drive and Glendale Road. The new entrance would be a two-lane, one-way drive leading into the campus from Glendale Road, with vehicles exiting the grounds via the current Colegate Drive entrance.

According to Charlotte Hatfield, president, the entrance project is a priority.

“This is a priority as we move forward with the planning and design on the health sciences center because we’ll lose much of our current parking when the center is constructed,” Hatfield said.
The entrance would provide more visibility to the college campus, too.

According to Joe Tucker, city engineer, the project may involve moving some utilities located at that intersection.The plan is to construct the entrance in 2008. “It’s possible to get it done, but it depends on how aggressive the college is in getting the design completed and summated to the City Council streets committee,” he said.

The college board of trustees was presented a report this week about the proposed construction of a health sciences building. Building cost estimates are projected to be about $13.5 million. About 34,000 square feet of office and classroom space is being proposed.

The health sciences program currently utilizes about 20,000 square feet of space.
According to Dixie Vaughan, dean of health sciences, the college is considering the addition of new programs such as occupational therapy and surgical technician.

"We are predicting the numbers of students in our programs will stay the same, with only a slight increase in the nursing program."

According to Gail Reynolds, director of development, a feasibility study is expected to be conducted next. This will help college officials determine how much money can be expected to raise through the college’s foundation, grant opportunities and state funding.

Our well meaning Physical Plant Department employees are very eager to help but their good intentions are causing scheduling, assignment and accountability problems within the department.  So, please refrain from asking individual department employees to perform needed maintenance work, room setups, equipment or supplies purchases, etc.

The proper procedure is to request needed setups, etc. with your room reservation request.  Requested maintenance or custodial service MUST be directed through my office via e-mail or ext. 1155.  In my absence, Don Madison on days or Gary Dye  in the evening will help you.        

Your cooperation is essential to insure the type of service you expect.  Thank you.

Bring your lunch to the Community Room on Friday, January 4, at 11:30 and watch the PBS documentary Discounted Dreams: High Hopes and Harsh Realities at America’s Community Colleges. An informal discussion will follow the film.

In Discounted Dreams, veteran correspondent John Merrow explores the American phenomenon of community colleges, institutions that provide an array of classes and job training to 12 million students nationwide. He’ll introduce you to a single mother who wants to be a veterinarian, a young artist who hopes to transfer to a four-year university, a carpenter who needs a new career, and a former gang member trying to turn his life around. All four have pinned their hopes on community college. But will they succeed?

Contact Mark Nutter (mnutter@wscc.edu) for more information about the film or the brown bag lunch.

Official PBS website.

The authorized reimbursement rate for business travel has been increased to $0.505 per mile, effective January 1, 2008.  Our travel guidelines allow for that amount to be paid for approved appropriate travel by personal automobile.  Remember, though, that the preferred method of travel to meetings, conferences, and professional development is by leased vehicle if the trip is 100 miles or more.  Reimbursement will be at $0.25 per mile if you opt to use your own vehicle.  Clinical and practicum travel, teaching at other sites travel, and outreach travel will be reimbursed at the IRS rate of $0.505.

The Travel guidelines and updated travel forms are available on the college intranet. CLICK HERE.

Travel Expense Guidelines - Clarification

Our guidelines allow for the reimbursement of expenses for travel to meetings, conferences, training, and professional development.  This reimbursement might be for your purchase of gas, or for mileage for the use of your vehicle.  The guidelines state that “If the employee opts to use a personal vehicle when it is more appropriate to use a leased vehicle, the College will reimburse mileage at one-half of the IRS rate.”

The preferred method of travel for such business trips is to use the college-leased vehicle.  We’ll then reimburse you for your purchases of gas.  If that vehicle is not available, then a vehicle should be leased from either Enterprise or MKB Leasing.  You reserve the vehicle, do a requisition, and submit your gas receipts for reimbursement.  They will directly bill the college for the lease, so there is nothing out-of-pocket.

If instead you opt to drive your own vehicle, mileage will be paid at the rate of $0.25 per mile.  The IRS rate of $0.505 (beginning January 1) will be paid only if the college-leased vehicle is not available and it is not cost-effective to lease a vehicle.  Generally, any trip exceeding 100 miles (round trip) warrants the use of a leased vehicle.  Otherwise, mileage will be paid at $0.25 per mile.

For your use in considering options, the daily rental of a vehicle is $33.00.  A trip to downtown Columbus is about 240 miles round-trip.  Use of a personal vehicle for a trip to Columbus will be reimbursed at the rate of $0.25 unless there is good reason to not use a leased vehicle.