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From the President
Salary Review Results in Some Adjustments
The workforce of Hocking College is comprised of positions that fall within several categories: the Hocking College Educational Association (HCEA) Professional bargaining unit; the HCEA Support Staff bargaining unit; the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (OPBA); and those positions considered to be regular non-teaching, non-bargaining unit employees (NBU). In fiscal years FY 2011 and FY 2012, the positions in the non-teaching NBU category did not receive pay increases.
We recently reviewed salary levels for our regular non-teaching NBU positions. As a result of this work, I'm pleased to announce that the following adjustments will be made:
- Twenty-six (26) regular non-teaching NBU employees making an annual salary below $50,000 per year will receive a $1300 increase in base pay over 26 pay periods, as of July 1, 2012 (pro-rated for less than 12 month, 100% employees).
- Also as of July 1, 2012, forty-one (41) regular non-teaching NBU employees, making an annual salary of $50,000 and above per year, will receive an adjustment based on their position comparable to the benchmark salaries set by two organizations that conduct annual salary surveys: the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) and The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA). In reviewing these surveys, we determined that our goal for this group of non-teaching NBU employees would be a baseline salary of at least six percent above the mid range salary levels as identified in the surveys. This benchmark was selected as a conservative yet competitive standard.
Thirty-four (34) regular non-teaching NBU employees making an annual salary of $50,000 and above have met or exceeded the above criterion and will not receive a salary adjustment at this time. Going forward, we will continue to evaluate pay to ensure we remain competitive with these established benchmarks.
Please keep in mind that these adjustments were not based on merit, but strictly as a necessary step as we move toward establishing a compensation plan with ranges of pay for NBU positions. Because an overall analysis of our compensation model has never been conducted, this is an important step in the right direction.
Regular non-teaching NBU employees will be individually notified by their supervisors about the impact of this review on their salary within the next few days.
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 Hocking Participates in National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! The Academy of American Poets encourages us to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops and other events. Hocking College is no exception. The School of Arts & Sciences organizes an open poetry reading every April. In fact, some of you may remember our first, "Hocking's Favorite Poems" reading, when nearly 150 people - administrators, faculty, support staff, and students - came together to hear favorite poems, and the reasons those poems were held so dear!
This year's open reading will take place on Thursday, April 26, 2012 in Oakley 209 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Come to read a poem (your own or someone else's) or simply listen to a few. The event is meant to be open and casual, so people can come and go as they please.
National Poetry Month is a terrific time to use poetry in your classroom, since any and all subjects can be found in poems. Whether you teach forestry, nursing, psychology or art - there is a poem out there that can open up class discussion and inspire students to consider varying perspectives. An excellent resource is Poets.Org from the Academy of American Poets. You can search poets, poetry and essays on a wide variety of subjects.
Aside from Hocking College's open reading here on campus, several COMM faculty will participate in a poetry reading on Sunday, April 22, 2012, which will also serve as a fundraiser for My Sister's Place. The reading, titled "Women on The Line," will be held at ARTs West in Athens at 7 p.m. Hocking College poets Jane Ann Fuller, Deni Naffziger, and Jean Mikhail will be featured readers.
The following poem by William Stafford, Any Morning, reminds us to maintain a balance in our lives and to remember who we really are when no one is looking.
Any Morning
Just lying on the couch and being happy.
Only humming a little, the quiet sound in the head.
Trouble is busy elsewhere at the moment; it has
so much to do in the world.
People who might judge are mostly asleep; they can't
monitor you all the time, and sometimes they forget.
When dawn flows over the hedge you can
get up and act busy.
Little corners like this, pieces of Heaven
left lying around, can be picked up and saved.
People won't even see that you have them,
they are so light and easy to hide.
Later in the day you can act like the others.
You can shake your head. You can frown.
~ William Stafford ~
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 Collegiate Job Fair
Hocking College will host the 2012 Collegiate Job Fair Wednesday, April 11, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Center Multiplex.
The event will allow students to talk to businesses about potential employment opportunities. Students are encouraged to bring an updated resume and be prepared to speak with representatives about their qualifications and interests.
For more information, contact Kraig Curry at 740.753.6106. Students can also visit www.collegecentral.com/hockingcollege/ for more employment information and tips for landing a job.
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 Wear Blue to Work Day
The Athens County Children Services Board invites community members to participate in their Wear Blue to Work Day Wednesday, April 11, to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect.
If you are interested in participating, please see Anita Weisenbach in the President's Office at JL146 to pick-up a "Wear Blue to Work" day button.
In 2011, Athens County Children Services received 1,375 reports of child abuse and neglect. The agency has chosen to host an event as a part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, to raise community awareness and hopefully lower this figure.
You can also "Like"Athens County Children Services on Facebook and share the Wear Blue to Work Day event with friends and colleagues.
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Alumni Featured in Photo Exhibition
Amy Sheppard, 2002 Business Management graduate, had her photographs on display and for sale recently during the Third Sunday Art Series at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Lexington.
Sheppard, who lives in New Lexington, has enjoyed taking photos most of her life. She bought her first digital camera about seven years ago, and it was then she started taking her hobby more seriously.
Photos capture a moment in life, Sheppard said. "A photo is a piece of history - pretty amazing when you think about it."
For more information about the exhibition, see the Zanesville Times Recorder article.
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The DAAP Team won the 2011 Innovation of the Year Award for Hocking College.
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Innovation of the Year Deadline Extended
Each year, the League for Innovation in the Community College honors outstanding innovations that have been recognized by member institutions as "Innovations of the Year." These innovations represent capstone achievements, and the continuing renewal of the spirit of innovation and experimentation upon which the League was founded.
The Innovation of the Year Award is designed to recognize college staff members who have designed and implemented a significant innovation. One winner from each member college will be accepted and each individual college chooses its winning innovation. All areas of Hocking College: instructors (including part-time), administrators, professional and support personnel are encouraged to submit applications as individuals or in groups.
Applicants must submit a brief (1000 characters or less) description of the innovation including how it meets at least three of the following criteria: quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness, replication, creativity and timeliness.
The application deadline has been extended to April 16. Submit to the Hocking College Innovation of the Year Committee c/o Laura Kreider, Oakley 204. For more information, contact Laura Kreider at 740.753.7038.
Last year's winning innovation came from the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program (DAAP) Team. For more information about previous winners, please visit the League for Innovation website.
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 Grad Hosts Barn Conference Seminar
Hocking College and Ohio University grad David Snider from Somerset, Ohio will present, "Agricultural Juggernaut: The Jeffersonian Agrarian Vision meets the Best Damned Farm Ground on God's Footstool."
Snider works as a modern agricultural structure designer/builder. He is a past president and trustee of the Perry County Historical Society.
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 Wild Weekend Discovery Series
On Saturday, April 7, participants will take a closer look at the atmosphere. Those attending should come prepared for the rain, because the sessions will be outside exploring the weather. Two one-hour sessions will be held, at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Space is limited to 15 seats per session.
On Saturday, April 14, the Wild Weekend Discovery Series will feature a special anti-littering program in observance of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup event that starts at 9 a.m.
Conservation Education Specialist Sarah Forrest is calling on all kids and parents to come and enjoy a two-hour session that starts at 9:15 a.m. and includes a short talk and a craft to take home. Weather permitting, attendees will complete a beautification project. This program will be safe for all ages, but preschool through fifth grade is recommended.
Pre-register for either program by calling 740.753.0101. Follow the Wayne National Forest on Twitter: @waynenationalfs
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Mission
Hocking College provides a unique, innovative, and quality education in a supportive experience- based learning environment, preparing students for employment and transfer education opportunities, while teaching the value of lifelong learning, promoting diversity and developing citizens who are engaged in their local and global communities.
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Buck Co-Authors Book
| Congratulations to Roger Buck, Director of Counseling Services, who recently wrote one chapter and co-authored a second in a book titled, Trauma Counseling: Theories and Interventions. The book, published by Springer Publishing, will be marketed nationally to colleges and universities.
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| Thanks for Assistance with IPEDS Reporting
The National Center of Education Statistics recently submitted a note of appreciation for Hocking College's early response, three weeks ahead of the due date, in submitting the required International Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) reporting.
"Because IPEDS is a very large data collection involving a large number of institutions, completing the surveys and locking them early during the collection period is extremely helpful. Providing IPEDS data is a major undertaking, and we want you to know that we truly appreciate the timely response," the note reads.
Kudos to the team effort of John Chappelear, Tammy Eing, Bill Hill, Jan Six and Sheree Cunningham, who devote significant amounts of time in producing and filing these reports.
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