SCC Vision Online

Featured college videos

Here are a few highlights of what's going on inside and outside of class at SCC.

To see all SCC videos, visit our youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/secciowa

 

Over Spring Break, SCC instructors Ron Perry and Amber Ruskell took a group of students and teachers with them on their annual trip to the Grand Canyon. See how it went.

 

Earlier this spring, SCC honored its first black graduate, Rev. William Amos "Booker" Smith, Sr.. His son Bill shared Rev. Smith's story of inspiration and hope.

 

In January, a group of SCC students visited Des Moines and met with legislators. See their take on the experience.

 

SCC's Film Club produces inspired and original work over the course of the year. Here are a few recent works.

 

New & Neat

The Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC) which includes Southeastern Community College has been awarded a $222,625 grant from Next Generation Learning Challenges, a new initiative focused on identifying and scaling technology-enabled approaches to dramatically improve college readiness and completion, especially for low-income young adults. The ICCOC was selected from a field of more than 600 pre-proposals and 50 finalists.

The award will fund the further development and implementation of communication tools to provide daily at-risk data to faculty, advisors and retention specialists.

SCC was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to promote careers in targeted careers to junior high and high school students throughout the region. The project, slated for launch in August, will highlight local business and industry in the areas of bioscience, information services, and advanced manufacturing idustries.

Sandy Krell-Andre

In May, Chemical Dependency Instructor Sandy Krell-Andre was honored with SCC’s Excellence Award. The Excellence Award is given to the SCC employee who demonstrates the values of SCC and uses his or her talents to promote quality education and exhibit integrity in interactions with staff, students and the broader community that SCC serves.

SCC’s Industrial Maintenance Technology Program, InTech, along with SCC Center for Business will launch a new program in June.  The non-credit curriculum will offer specific training for persons interested in getting an industry production job. Up to three nationally recognized certifications will be available. Financial assistance is available for qualified participants. Contact a member of the CBIZ office to learn more at 319-313-1948.

Ean Freels

SCC’s Director of Financial Aid Ean Freels recently wrote and published a children’s book. Fish Guts is a collection of poetry for the young and the young at heart. Freels has dedicated all proceeds from the book to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Great River Area. To learn more, visit  www.fishgutsbook.com.

Dreamers Wanted. SCC’s new computer animation program takes shape

Students returning to the West Burlington campus this fall will notice an all-new classroom addition on Building 200.

It will be the home of SCC’s newest program, Animation for Television, Film and New Media.

“We’ve been looking since 2006 for a unique program that would set SCC apart from other colleges in the state -- something high-tech and forward-thinking,” says SCC Vice President of Teaching and Learning Phil Thomas. “It needed to not only appeal to local students but also entice others from outside the area to move here specifically to enroll in the program. Animation fits that description.”

From top: New addition under construction, Grasshorse animator converts image to 3D, computer rendered sports car, Graphics Communication instructor Carlene Woodside helps a student.

The program will teach students a broad base of skills required for computer animation. Courses include drawing, story development, 3D modeling, character animation, stop-motion animation, lighting and rendering. Students in the program can earn an A.A.S. degree in just over two years.

Phil adds that there are surprisingly few colleges – and even fewer community colleges – with such an in-depth computer animation program located in the Midwest. Most are clustered in California and Florida and carry a hefty price tag.  SCC’s program now allows students to attend right here instead of move across the country and take out huge student loans.

Thomas explains that community colleges work with existing businesses in the area to create a curriculum that ensures students learn the right skills.

SCC found such a partner in Grasshorse, an animation company that had recently relocated from Hollywood to Winfield, IA.

Yes, Winfield.

Grasshorse owners, brother and sister Stephen Jennings and Kathy Buxton, say while large media companies are clustered in a select few cities, many small specialized shops are opting out of the rat race and relocating to where the living is less stressful and more affordable.

Kathy says that after six years, they had had enough. “We were making a name for ourselves and we wanted to grow as a company. We weren’t going to do that in L.A. Our grandfather operates a farm that’s been in our family for 150 years just a few miles from town. We love it here. Moving to Winfield made sense for us.”

Steven says that he and Kathy started working with SCC because they knew first-hand the need for skilled animators. “The demand for animation work is increasing 35% per year, and it’s not just movies. So much of people’s lives are based on consuming information on different devices. Movies, TV, gaming systems, mobile phones, computers – everything requires animated content. Somebody has to make all that.”

There are now a number of animation and production companies peppered across Iowa that do just that – all in need of skilled animators.

Phil explains that the program is designed to give students a solid understanding of the entire animation process. Students will perform a lot of work in teams so that they learn not just how the software works but also creative collaboration, group problem solving and project management.

  Computer animators are in demand...

It takes 50 animators over eight weeks to convert an existing 2-hour, 2D movie into a 3D movie.

Over 5 million games are downloaded each day by iPhone and iPad users alone.

Many industries employ 3D animators to simulate medical procedures, test product prototypes, and improve workstation ergonomics.

“So many people show us a bunch of fancy doodles and expect a job as a computer animator. It doesn’t work that way. Animation is very labor-intensive with a lot of detailed steps. While artistic creativity is important, you also need to know trigonometry and specialized software and teamwork,” notes Kathy.

Stephen says that animation is like building a car from scratch.

“It would take one person years, but imagine if you had 100 people working on it. That’s 100 brains coming up with all sorts of ideas about how to make it. Some of those ideas will work, others won’t. With that much trial and error, they’re going to learn what works at an infinitely faster pace than the guy doing it all by himself. And their car will be 100 times better. Animation is the same thing.  Good animators learn by doing things over and over and tackling problems from different angles each time.”

The person chosen to lead the charge as the animation program’s instructor is Ben Rosales.

“Ben has worked in the animation business for years and has a number of movies and other projects to his credit. He was most recently an animation instructor in Houston, TX. I think he’s going to bring a lot of energy and excitement to the program. Students are going to love him,” adds Thomas.

The program will be housed in a new three classroom addition on the West Burlington campus. One room will be a state-of-the-art computer animation lab, another will be used for a special stop-motion studio. The third classroom will become the new home of SCC’s popular Graphics Communications program.

The addition was funded by Accelerated Career Education (ACE) dollars provided by the State of Iowa.

The classrooms will be outfitted with the same equipment, hardware and software used by professional animators. Investment in the classroom addition and all associated technology will exceed $1 million.

“To teach students the skills they need to succeed as animators, we aren’t cutting corners. This program is going to be top-notch,” Phil notes.

Enrollment will be capped at 20 students for the first year.

Persons interested in learning more about SCC’s Animation for Television, Film and New Media Program should contact SCC Enrollment Services at 319-208-5010.

Visit the Grasshorse website.

 

Beautiful Space for Beautiful Art

This spring, people passing by the art gallery in the Welcome Center on SCC’s West Burlington campus witnessed a transformation. Over the course of two weeks, the gallery was completely renovated.
SCC West Burlington Student Activities Coordinator Susan Reid says the project was a long time coming.

Artist and SCC alum Serena Stevens discusses her work during a recent show in SCC’s newly renovated gallery.

“It was a great display space but it needed updating. Some of the lights didn’t work, the walls were in bad shape, and the carpet needed replaced.”

Susan explains that the Student Board keeps a wish list and funds a handful of projects every year according to need and available dollars.

“The suggestion to renovate the gallery made it to the list back in 2008 but we knew that it would take a little time before we could save up enough money to do it.”
In early 2010, members of the SCC Art Collectors Club recommended that the space be renovated. By that time the Student Board had saved enough money to move forward with the project.

So Susan assembled SCC’s Executive Director for Institutional Advancement Becky Rump and West Burlington art instructors Cathy Gordon and John Bybee.

SCC’s Student Board committed $10,000 to the project and grants were secured from the Burlington Area Fine Arts League and the SCC Alumni Association for additional monies.

View photos of artist showings and other events on SCC's flickr page.

The gallery received all-new friendly wall coverings and flooring, new lighting and electrical, and a system for hanging art pieces without the use of nails.

It was ready just in time to host a showing by SCC art student alum Serena Stevens in March.
The team couldn’t be more pleased with the final product.

“It’s now a real nice place to showcase art. It’s bright and airy and welcoming – I love it,” attests Cathy.

Upcoming showings:
June: Tim Kowalczyk - Ceramics
July: Jared Whittenmyer - Drawings
September: John Carlson - Paint
October: Brent Houzenga - Mixed Media

For a complete list of showings, contact John Bybee at jbybee@scciowa.edu or 319-208-5216.

Every month the gallery hosts showings of artwork by students, alumni, local artists and artists with ties to Iowa.

To join the SCC Art Collectors Club or to donate to the permanent art collection, contact Becky Rump at brump@scciowa.edu or 319-208-5065.

Breakin’ a Leg, SCC Style: Spring theater productions place students in the limelight

This spring, two exciting theatrical productions showcased a number of budding student performers in SCC’s performing arts programs.

In March, West Burlington students staged a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Under the supervision of West Burlington music instructor Leigh Pirtle and the direction of SCC alum and Music Department veteran Brandon Howard, the show featured a cast and crew of over two dozen.
Multiple set changes, Chinese to English subtitles, and dancing desks in this country-girl-moves-to-the-big-city tale made for three memorable performances at Burlington’s James Madison Middle School theater.

Leigh hired Brandon as a Music Department lab assistant so that he could serve as director.
She commends him on his directorial debut. “We had a bigger cast, more elaborate sets and more dancing than previous shows. It was a very ambitious endeavor with lots of moving parts. He did an excellent job.”

In April, Keokuk students performed the original comedy, Dirty Deeds.  Written by new SCC drama instructor Jodi Cook, it was the first-ever production held on the Keokuk campus.

Jodi says the event was no small feat. “Since this was the first play ever performed on South Campus, it was a learning experience for everyone involved.”

The show featured an unscrupulous apothecary, a mad king and his dysfunctional court — all intertwined with a healthy dose of royal intrigue.

Jodi wasn’t quite sure how audiences would respond to her original production. “Not everyone gets my humor, and so I was humbled by the reactions of the audience.”

The performance was the final project of her drama class. With only seven students enrolled, the group relied heavily on fellow Drama Club members, volunteers, SCC staff, and the community for their help and support.

Jodi says that while difficult, the experience was rewarding. “Considering our limited budget and logistical challenges, they pulled it off smashingly. I’m extremely proud.”

The show played to a packed house of over 100.

“Since this was our first show, we originally hoped for 50 attendees but the response was overwhelming. We actually ran out of tickets a few days before the performance. That thrilled everyone involved,” Jodi adds.

As testament to the level of commitment and talent of this year’s actors, four students plan to pursue degrees in music and theater after graduating SCC.

SCC Dean of Arts and Sciences Tim Ahern praises the hard work and dedication of students and staff of both productions. “We are doing a great job advancing the arts here at SCC.  There is a pool of talent in our area seeking an opportunity to share.”

Bravo!

 

 

View more:

Dirty Deeds photos

Dirty Deeds performance

 

Thoroughly Modern Millie photos

Featured college videos

See what's going on in class and on campus on SCC's very own Youtube channel. Below are a few highlights.

Students in two of SCC's Biology instructors explored the great outdoors examining various flora and fauna -- including a few snakes.

Not Just a Walk in the Woods

 

 

SCC West Burlington Welding student Kyle Carpenter was quite ambition for his final class project.

Not Your Average Project

   

 

To view all of SCC's videos, visit our youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/secciowa

 

 

 

Drab to fab! New Art Collectors Club adds color, prestige to campus buildings

Wander through the halls on campus and you’ll likely notice a change. Thanks to the work of a handful of dedicated volunteers, the long, nondescript, institutional hallways are slowly coming to life with personality and color. SCC’s new Art Collectors Club has begun gathering artwork from    artists and private collections and displaying the works throughout the College’s campuses and centers. Now the College is quickly becoming a repository for artworks.

The idea for the creation of a club dedicated to securing artwork came out of a brainstorming session in 2008 to identify college improvement projects. SCC President Beverly Simone and SCC Executive Director for Institutional Advancement Becky Rump decided to measure public interest in the creation of an Art Collectors Club. So Rump contacted a handful of local art aficionados.

Still Life with Pewter Plate
Len Gridley

Fragments from Nowhere
Ulfert Wilke

“I was ecstatic that once I shared our idea, most of the people I contacted agreed to join the club,” recounts Rump.

The group met formally for the first time in December of that year and have made steady progress ever since.

The very first member to officially join the club is long-time art collector and preservationist Bob McCannon of Burlington. McCannon’s accomplishments make him uniquely qualified to lead such a club. In addition to having been in antiques and fine furniture, his efforts to help establish the Historic Preservation Commission in Burlington and the University of Iowa Foundation Len Gridley Everett scholarship for talented UI art students will serve him well in this new endeavor.

McCannon says that it didn’t take much to persuade him to join the club.  “I’ve always been interested in SCC. As an institution dedicated to higher learning, it’s a very appropriate place to display artwork for students and visitors to see. If I can lend my time and experience to help make that a reality, I’m all for it.”

Other founding members include Joanne Dailey Bauer, Debbie Bessine, Mary Brockman, Barbara Grimmer, Barbara McRoberts, Robert Middaugh, Becky Rump, Mary Saxton, Beverly Simone, Angie Sodey, Lisa Walsh, retired SCC Art instructor John Weyl and current Art instructors, John Bybee, Cathleen Gordon and Suzanne Messer.

McCannon continues that SCC’s buildings and hallways are a gallery just waiting to happen. With long hallways and open spaces, there’s ample wall space to display artwork.

“I’d been to campus for different events over the years and the walls were- let’s just say they were very uninteresting,” McCannon jokes.

McCannon said that everyone benefits from being in creative environment, especially students.
“Art inspires. The colors, shape and designs inspire people to think differently, to explore, to create. Art encourages learning and development in all of us,” he notes.

Rump adds that SCC was not completely devoid of artwork over the years. “There were a few nice pieces scattered across the college but until recently we had no plan to actively develop an organized, cataloged collection.”

Birth of the American Farmer, Jams Walker Henry

The club is seeking donations of original or signed prints of paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, pottery, and other display pieces.

“Our goal now is to feature original or signed prints by artists who are SCC alumni, who are from our region, or who have ties to Iowa. That is a must, but we can be flexible in our definition,” explains Rump. Pieces submitted for consideration must meet certain criteria before being accepted.

To date, most of the pieces have come from area residents and artists. Some pieces are on permanent loan, while others have been gifted to SCC.

Rump adds that the club is also recruiting members and soliciting donations. Annual membership dues are a modest $100 and help fund future purchases as well as arts programming. Persons who join by June 30, 2011 will be recognized as Charter Members and invited to a special event.

McCannon says that as SCC’s collection grows in size and notoriety, it will be easier for the club to solicit pieces from artists and collectors. “Working artists want to sell their pieces. Being able to have their work featured in various public collections alongside other recognized artists adds to their name recognition. It’s a win-win.”

Hillside Barn with Clouds, Gordon Kellenberger

He adds that soliciting pieces from private collectors becomes easier as prospective donors see the quality of existing works and catalog of featured artists. “It just takes a few nice pieces to get the ball rolling, and we’ve definitely got the ball rolling.”

Recent grants from the Burlington Fine Arts League and the Cullen Family Foundation through US Bank will enable the club to purchase art and acquire special cataloguing software.

The club has secured some impressive pieces from recognized artists in its short life. The current collection features pieces by Shirley Bliven, Robert Burrus, Len Gridley Everett, David Garrison, Jerry Granaman, James Walker Henry, May Hohlen, Martha Johnstone, Gordon Kellenberger, Kent Kelly, Julian Menke, Neil Peterie, Lillian Rubin, James T. Russell, Edna Schmidt, Bonny Thayer, Timothy Van Ginkel, Jane Thode Walsh, Joan Walsh, and Ulfert Wilke, and by talented student artists as well.

Nerium, Tim Van Ginkel; Late Summer Hay Bales, Barbara Grimmer

McCannon is impressed how SCC’s current art instructors are able to stand on the shoulders of instructors from the past who paved the way. “It’s great to see how active they are in the community and how they’re involved with their students’ development as artists.”

The club plans to host fundraising receptions on SCC’s campuses in 2011 that will also incorporate art tours.

Persons interested in joining the Art Collectors’ Club or donating pieces are encouraged to contact Becky Rump at 319-208-5065 or brump@scciowa.edu.

To view the rest of SCC's art collection, visit our flickr page

New & Neat Fall 2010

This summer, SCC was reaccredited by the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Nursing. SCC earned high marks with no corrective actions required. Reaccreditation ensures that SCC adheres to high standards and maintains quality programs.
 SCC is partnering with the University of Iowa to explore creating a 2 + 2 certificate in sustainability that will enable SCC students who transfer to University of Iowa to earn a certificate in sustainability.
SCC was recently awarded a State Energy Sector Partnership grant in the amount of $208,104. Through this three-year grant, short-term training will be available in a variety of green sectors including energy efficient construction and energy assessment. The program will target at risk youth, low income and unemployed persons, Veterans and ex-offenders.

Julie Glasgow

SCC Institutional Advancement Office secretary Julie Glasgow was honored as the Outstanding Support Specialist by the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees.

Deanne Enderle

Enrollment Services secretary Deanne Enderle was recognized by the Keokuk Business and Professional Women as a 2010 “Woman of Achievement.”

Dean of Transitional Studies Dr. Teresa Garcia

Dr. Teresa Garcia was named the new Dean of Transitional Studies. Garcia will provide oversight and leadership of SCC’s student developmental resources including adult basic education/GED, corrections education, the SuCCess Center, the TRIO program and SCC’s two learning centers. Dr. Garcia is the current director of SCC’s SuCCess Centers.

Dean of Assessment/Keokuk Campus Dr. Ben C. DeSpain

Dr. Ben C. DeSpain was appointed Dean of Assessment/Keokuk Campus. Dr. DeSpain will take a leadership role in assessment of student learning and lead the development of a comprehensive College-wide assessment plan. Additionally, he will manage the day-to-day operations of the Keokuk campus. He has written books on the professorate and servant leadership, and has extensive experience in assessment and accreditation efforts.

Going Abroad for Peace New peace studies class to visit Costa Rica next fall

Conflict Resolution Instructor Sandy Krell-Andre.

Next summer, SCC students will have the chance to participate in a study abroad opportunity in Costa Rica thanks to SCC instructor Sandy Krell-Andre.
The class, entitled Historical, Social and Political Implications of Peace in Costa Rica, is part of a new program offered through Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) and La Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT) in Costa Rica.
Krell-Andre, who teaches chemical dependency and conflict resolution, says that the idea for the class came out of a conference she attended in 2009. 
“I was having dinner with instructors from other colleges and we started talking about how we could utilize CCID to create a program that focuses on conflict resolution and peace studies,” says Krell-Andre.
The mission of CCID is to provide opportunities for building global relationships that promote economic development through student exchange.
“It can be hard for community colleges to offer extensive study abroad programs. There are a lot of moving parts involved that smaller colleges aren’t equipped to manage. Through CCID, we can make this program available,” explains Krell-Andre.
After over a year of planning, the class has finally become a reality.
Students will learn about the history and culture of Costa Rica, its decision to disband its military, and the economic, political, security, and environmental implications of this decision. They will visit the United Nations University for Peace, Earth University, and governmental ministries. Guest lecturers include former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Oscar Ariaz Sanchez.
Krell-Andre says that while many colleges offer study abroad programs, cultural learning is rarely the primary focus. “Students can visit a college in France, but they may not really be learning about French culture. This class will truly facilitate international studies.”
She continues that this could be the start of a more robust program. “We’re hoping that our experience with this course will help us initiate more international study opportunities.”

To learn more about the class, contact Sandy Krell-Andre at 319-208-5218 or skrell-andre@scciowa.edu.

For more information on CCID, visit their website: http://www.ccidinc.org/

 

Title III Launches New Read Right New program will help students improve reading for college success

On December 1, SCC’s Title III team in conjunction with IowaWorks launched a new pilot program called Read Right. The Read Right program helps individuals improve their reading skills for success in college-level classes.

Read Right is specifically designed to help struggling readers of all ages and abilities as well as English as a second language (ESL) students quickly overcome reading and language deficiencies.
Adult students typically advance at the rate of one reading level for every 10 hours of participation according to the Read Right website.

Donna Logan

“We’re very excited about the how Read Right will help our students make a successful transition from GED or ESL classes to college level classes,” notes Title III Writing Specialist Donna Logan.

Logan continues that not only do students boost their reading levels, they also improve their rates of persistence and retention. “It’s been proven that persistence and retention rates increased by 20-30% for students who participated in the Read Right program versus students who did not participate. That means that more students who start college and take advantage of Read Right can improve their chances of completing college successfully.”

Logan says that plans are in the works to offer the pilot program again during the spring semester. It is open to anyone to participate. She encourages anyone interested in the program to contact SCC.

To learn more about the Read Right program, contact Donna Logan at 319-208-5294 or dlogan@scciowa.edu, or Kris Wahlers at 319-208-5106 or kwahlers@scciowa.edu.