BlueWave News

August 2022

We are looking forward to Convocation 2022. Please join us at FSCJ South Campus Gymnasium on Thursday, August 25 for the kickoff to our academic year. Breakfast will be served from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and the official program will begin at 9:45 a.m. This is your opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, hear the latest updates from across the College and get your chance to win raffle prizes.

We hope to see you there!

Governor DeSantis Awards $6.5 Million for Civics Academies

Governor DeSantis visited FSCJ for a press conference on July 19 to announce a $6.5 million Career Pathways for Public Service Initiative. The grant will support FSCJ, Polk State College and Broward College in developing a national model for preparing students for public service and careers in local or state government. Beginning in ninth grade, students will be able to attend Civics Academies which will allow them to learn about the importance of public trust, government efficiency and the values of our state and nation.

Join Team FSCJ for Heart Walk 2022

FSCJ is once again participating in the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Walk, which will be held on Saturday, September 10. All faculty and staff are invited to participate. You can either join a team or start a new one. Faculty and staff who register to walk by August 23 will receive a FREE FSCJ Heart Walk t-shirt (design pictured above).

Can't join us? That's ok. You can still make a donation and help us raise money for life-saving research and work toward our $25,000 Collegewide goal.

Open Door Grant

In partnership with the Florida Department of Education, FSCJ is excited to offer qualified students up to $3,000 for selected high-demand, non-credit programs that lead to industry certification through the Open Door Grant program. This program was established to help close the needs gap for skilled training and workers, provide more financial assistance to students and increase the interest in high-demand career training and technical education for current and future workers.

Programs include Certified Nursing Assistant, Electrical and Automotive, Public Safety Telecommunicator and more. For a full list of programs and application steps, click the green button below.

Science Symposium: Call for Presenters

FSCJ Root2STEM Science Symposium invites presenters to submit abstracts for the Fifth Annual Science Symposium, which will be held on Friday, October 14, online and in person at the Advanced Technology Center. Workshops, demonstrations and poster presentations will be on-site, while speakers may be live-remote. Short, pre-recorded videos are welcome to be hosted on the Symposium website.

Presenters who can share creative teaching topics and methodologies, laboratory activities or field studies are encouraged to participate.  Any science-related topic is welcome.

The deadline for abstract submission is September 16 at 5 p.m. Email Nancy Mullins, nmullins@fscj.edu, or Heather Wilson, hwilson@fscj.edu, with questions.

The gym at South Campus and the athletic complex at North Campus got a mini-facelift recently! Thanks to Campus Operations, the athletic department was able to enhance both spaces with new FSCJ Athletics graphics. You will see the newly installed graphics in the gym during Convocation but b e sure to stop by North Campus athletics complex to see those too.

The volleyball season opens soon. Check the schedule and make plans to join us to support our athletes.

The Vision Education & Rehabilitation Center (VERC) continues to offer Mobility Boot Camp. These specialized training opportunities are designed to help those with blindness or visual impairments gain independence in the home, workplace and community.

Participants recently spent some time with FSCJ Professor Paul Soar to learn about the automated Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) bus system. They worked together to identify routes, learned how to obtain assistance if needed and were introduced to the features of the JTA hub-Star Card machines, informational signs, bus stops, bus transfers, UMO, Token Transit and the RideJTA apps. They even had the opportunity to take a ride on our Olli autonomous vehicle.

Thank you all so much for your help with our recent Summer Open House at the Deerwood Center on July 30. We had more than 600 future students and their families attend this great outreach event. With a focus on assisting future graduates and their families gain information about FSCJ, attendees were able to speak to faculty and staff in more than 40 areas of study as well as find out how to get involved on campus with student clubs and organizations.

Professor of Communication and Media & Digital Media Isaac Brown prompted his students to answer the question, "What is Jacksonville today?" Some of their photos were selected by Jacksonville Today Journalist and Photographer Will Brown to be featured on jaxtoday.org.

FSCJ.edu Redesign Update

Work on the all-new FSCJ.edu is well underway. A draft testing site will be available for Collegewide review later this month. The Web Team will continue to finalize content and design while the internal audience reviews the testing version and provides final input. The full launch is still on target for Fall Term 2022.

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to learn more.

Facilities Updates

The Facilities Team has been hard at work, updating and upgrading spaces across the College. Check out some highlights below:

Recently completed projects

Projects in progress

Ongoing Collegewide:

Cecil Center:

Deerwood Center:

Downtown Campus:

Kent Campus:

Nassau Center:

North Campus:

South Campus:

Faculty and Staff Accomplishments

Congratulations to Professor of Nursing Dr. Carol Jenkins Neil. She was selected for two prestigious awards by the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). Dr. Neil received the 2022 Trailblazer Award in honor of her exemplary leadership and innovation in nursing education, practice, research, advocacy and community engagements. She also received the NBDA Daisy Health Equity Chapter President Leadership Award in recognition of extraordinary leadership to advance the mission and vision of NBNA by addressing health equity while meeting the needs of the community.

Congratulations to the following employees for completing FSCJ Certificate programs!

Diversity at FSCJ Certificate

Technology Certificate

Communications Certificate

August's Administrative & Professional Collaborative (APC) spotlight shines on Dean of Workforce Education Dr. Greg Wurth. He works with local industries and non-profits to develop workforce educational solutions to meet the needs of the expanding First Coast economy. In this role, he has provided leadership, vision and direction to the Continuing Workforce Education (CWE) Department. During this time, CWE has seen an expansion in courses offered, students enrolled and served, student employment and connections with internal and external stakeholders.

Ten Stepping Stones students and team members quickly came together to help with an urgent need in the community. HabiJax called for volunteers to help a family displaced from the Russia-Ukraine war. One family sought refuge here in Jacksonville but had to leave their temporary residence with short notice. HabiJax and volunteers worked over two days to get a new home ready for this family to move into. Projects included painting, landscaping and cleaning.

Students in the IDS 1107 class participated in a service-learning project to recognize World Sickle Cell Day. They helped hand out information to attendees and had the opportunity to learn about sickle cell anemia as well as medical and community resources and the family programs that are in place to support those in the Jacksonville area who are living with the disease.

The community-wide event helped bring greater awareness and support to individuals living with sickle cell anemia and to honor those who help to advance the cause in support of individuals and families affected by this disease.

Review the highlights of the August 9, 2022, meeting of the FSCJ District Board of Trustees:

You can find more information on the Board of Trustees meeting on our website .

Who's New

This list includes those individuals who are filling the newly appointed Faculty full-time positions, full-time A&P positions and full-time Career Employee positions.

Faculty Full-Time

A&P Full-Time

Career Full-Time

Who's Retiring?

The following employees have recently retired, or will soon be retiring, from FSCJ:

FSCJ's faculty, staff, students, programs and leadership are often highlighted by local and regional media outlets - online, on air and in print. Read articles featuring important updates and activities happening within the College by clicking here .

Upcoming Events

Test your knowledge. To ensure all faculty and staff have an opportunity to submit answers, the quiz winners will be selected at random from entries with all questions answered correctly. You have until 6 p.m. on the day the newsletter is distributed to email your answers to bluewavenews@fscj.edu. The three winners will receive a BlueWave prize pack! Please note: Previous quiz winners, while eligible to submit answers, are not eligible for additional prizes for six months.

1) What is the deadline for Science Symposium abstract submission?

    a. August 25, 5 p.m.

    b. September 16, 5 p.m.

    c. September 10, 5 p.m.

    d. October 14, 5 p.m.

2) Stepping Stones students and team members recently supported what local organization ?

    a. HabiJax

    b. Jacksonville Humane Society

    c. First Coast Heart Walk

    d. Hunger Fight

3) What time will the Convocation program begin?

    a. 8:30 a.m.

    b. 8:45 a.m.

    c. 9:30 a.m.

    d. 9:45 a.m.

4) About how many future students and families attended the Summer Open House event?

    a. 250

    b. M ore than 600

    c. 300

    d. 100

5) What will you receive if you register to participate in the Heart Walk with FSCJ by August 23?

    a. Shoes

    b. Water Bottle

    c. T-shirt

    d. Prize Pack

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