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From the President
A Look Ahead
In last week's Verbatim, we took a glance back at the preceding year and an impressive list of achievements and milestones that all became a part of history in 2012. Looking ahead to 2013, there are several ambitious efforts already underway across our three campuses that are targeted for completion by year's end:
- Establishing a number of new campus-wide advisory committees with participation from members of the entire campus community, including the Campus Climate Committee, an Institutional Research Advisory Committee, and the 2020 Strategic Planning Committee;
- Completion of the new Visual Arts Center (formerly Holl Lab) with space for both 2-D and 3-D instruction and faculty offices;
- Relocating and re-purposing the College Bookstore to meet an expanding array of needs for both students and campus employees;
- Launching a pilot study with local instructional content provider EdMap, with hopes to significantly reduce the burdensome cost of college textbooks;
- Offering workforce development training opportunities under the auspices of the new Business Training Center (BTC), a unique partnership between the College and Tri-County Adult Career Center providing customized training solutions to regional businesses and industry;
- Formulating a plan (through the College Foundation) for a multi-year campaign aimed at a variety of improvements to the campus infrastructure;
- Greater application of the College's ERP system Ellucian in the operational areas of contract development, personnel appointments and financial analyses;
- Creating a long-term, sustainable vision for our auxiliary operations at Lake Snowden Regional Park, the Inn at Hocking College, Rhapsody Restaurant, and the new School of Engineering Technology in Logan;
- Publication of a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management Plan that provides greater business intelligence to the College when estimating enrollment trends and analyzing personnel costs;
- Welcoming a new Student Government organization to campus, along with the heightened involvement of students in organizational decision making;
- Exploring new models for strengthening and sustaining our international student population; and,
- Preparing for and hosting a followup institutional accreditation visit from an HLC peer review team in September 2013.
The College is off to a great start in this new year, and our very first spring semester. Please consider assisting on any one or more of these initiatives in the weeks and months ahead!
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Guidelines for Adverse Weather
Although last weekend's weather was unseasonably warm, the traditional January weather is upon us. Please review t he following information about campus closure. Individual employees must make their own decision regarding their safety in traveling to work.
Closing Campus
Hocking College will be open for classes except in cases of extreme danger (such as ice), emergency, or mandated closing by public officials (such as when the water supply is unavailable.) There will be a number of times when the public schools might close while the campus remains open.
As weather conditions may be different for each of our campuses, individual locations of Hocking College may close. Also, the campus may cancel only morning classes and reopen for afternoon and evening classes.
Human Resources
During bad weather, employees can contact the Human Resources Call-Off Line at 740.753.7096. This number will provide daily information to employees in regard to emergency closures for all campus locations and still allow you to leave a voicemail reporting your absence or tardiness if the college is open.
Listed below are the identified Level One Emergency Personnel. Each designated Level One Personnel is responsible for notifying other employees when their services are required during an emergency. Any bargaining unit employees required to work will be compensated in accordance with their specific bargaining unit agreement.
Level One Emergency Personnel
For the information of the Hocking College community, Level One Emergency Personnel are identified in the Emergency Management Guide as the following positions:
- President
- Vice President of Administrative Services
- Vice President of Financial Services
- Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs/Provost
- Chief Technology Officer
- Director of Campus Safety
- Associate Provost
- Director of Residence Life
- Director of Facilities
- Director of Food Services
- Director of Marketing & Public Relations
- Director of Human Resources
- Maintenance Supervisor
- Housekeeping Supervisor
- Custodial Supervisor
Those employees who are designated Level One Emergency Personnel are required to be on campus in the event of emergencies and/or cancellations.
Communication of Closure
Any change of schedule or cancellation of classes will be posted on our website (hocking.edu) and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HockingCollege.Ohio) and announced on these radio or television stations. The stations will be notified by at least 7 a.m. Do not call the college switchboard.
Radio
Nelsonville: WAIS 770 AM, WAIS 89.1 FM, WSEO 107.7 FM
Athens: WATH 970 AM, WXTQ 105.5 FM, WOUB 91.3 FM
Logan: WLGN 98.3 FM, WLGN 1510 AM
Lancaster: WHOK 95.5 FM, WLVQ 96 FM
Chillicothe: WBEX 93.3 FM, WBEX 1490 AM, WCOR 90.1 FM
Columbus: WNCI 97.9 FM, WCOL 92.3 FM, WBWR 105.7 FM, WTVN 610 AM, WYTS 1230 AM, WBNS 97.1 FM, WBNS 1460 AM
New Lexington: WWJM 105.9 FM
Jackson: WKOV 96.7 FM, WCJO 97.7 FM, WYRO 98.7 FM, WYPC 1330 AM
Parkersburg: WXIL 95.1 FM
Zanesville: WHIZ 92.7 FM, WHIZ 1240 AM
Television
Columbus: Fox 28, WBNS TV 10, WSYX TV 6, WCMH TV 4
Zanesville: WHIZ
Athens: WOUB
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 Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Hocking College student government has planned activities to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy. The official holiday, in which the college is closed, takes place next Monday, January 21. Please join students and the campus community in observing the following commemorations: Unity Gardens Candlelight Vigil, Friday, January 18, 6 - 7 p.m. - Meet in the Student Center Lobby and be a part of a candlelight procession into the Unity Gardens where we will take a moment to reflect on violence in schools in the spirit of keeping the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. alive. MLK Pizza and Poetry, Tuesday, January 22 from 12 - 1 p.m. - Come to the Student Center Conference Room C to enjoy pizza and poetry that deals with the issues Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his life fighting for. All are welcome to attend this event. |
 | | Outdoor Pursuits Surf Trip 2012 |
Outdoor Pursuits Complete Second Annual Surf Trip
Outdoor Pursuits ventured to New Symrna Beach, Florida on December 15-22, 2012 to catch some waves and soak up the sun. The group of 11 camped out for a week in Tomoko State Park, enjoying each other's company and improving their skills on the water. Shane West, Outdoor Pursuits Coordinator, and Ryan Scott, Co-Leader of the trip, led the adventure.
The group divided their time in the water, allowing new surfers to take lessons and learn safety precautions. Their time there provided them with warm weather and water, allowing them to fully enjoy the surf and sand.
"It was beautiful to watch the spray come off the waves and soak you as you paddled for them. Another really cool element was the dolphins. They were everywhere in the water jumping out of the waves and riding them," Ryan Scott said in a blog about the trip.
Throughout the week, the group continued to improve their skills and enjoy Floridian life. They took some time away from the beach to enjoy beach caf� cuisines and to dominate the mini golf course. All in all, the trip was a success. Outdoor Pursuits looks forward to the next adventure and advises everyone to watch for upcoming dates for their next trip.
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 Alumni Spotlight
Hocking College Alum Working for FEMA
Hocking College alumnus Eli Antons has always been passionate about helping people. This is one of the main reasons he decided to become a firefighter and EMT. Antons received his Fire and Emergency Services degree in 1997 from Hocking College and now works in the Regional Planning Branch of FEMA in Washington D.C.
FEMA's mission is basic when it comes to protecting citizens: prepare for the emergency, protect people against the emergency, respond appropriately to the emergency and recover from the hazards. "My background as one of the responders gives the mission of FEMA a unique importance to me personally," Antons said.
Antons' role in the Regional Planning Branch of FEMA is to ensure all 10 U.S. FEMA regions have plans for natural and manmade disasters. Before he became an employee of FEMA, he was a firefighter and paramedic in Marietta, Ohio. While working as a firefighter, he was placed on the Helicopter Rescue Team. During an extremely stressful mission, Antons was forced to recollect the skills he obtained during his training at Hocking. His team was part of a mission that rescued a woman from the top of a camper in Wayne National Forest. He was given a Citizens Award of Valor for his part in the rescue.
After this accomplishment, he moved on to Fort Meade, Maryland in 2005 where he took another job as a firefighter and EMT. In 2008, he was hired as the Fire Inspector for the US Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. where his responsibilities spanned to include remote offices in Maryland and Colorado as well. His role evolved over the years and as his responsibilities and duties expanded, he became known as the Safety and Fire Protection Specialist.
Antons credits his success to his education at Hocking College. With his degree in Fire and Emergency Services, he learned the skills he needed to succeed. He distinctly remembers the professors being devoted to their students and to him. The skills he learned from these professors are the ones that remain helpful to him when he's working a job.
"Some of the greatest impacts were when we went to the Columbus Fire Academy for live burn, search and rescue training. These training days honed my skills and confidence," he commented.
Although time may pass and people move on with their lives, they will always remember the people and places that shape them into who they are. Hocking College not only prepared Antons for his future, it gave him fond memories to look back on with a smile.
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OSU Hosts Building Healthy Academic Communities
The Ohio State University College of Nursing is holding an inaugural summit on April 22-23 to share information about health practices in academia.
Topics that will be covered range from policy and benefits development; strategic planning; leadership; and constituent engagement to the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative wellness activities. The Ohio State University wants to emphasize that Ohio is one of the leaders in creating healthy academic communities.
For more information, or to register for the summit, visit the Healthy Academics website.
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 Start-Up Weekend Athens
Calling all designers, developers, entrepreneurs and creatives! If you are interested in learning how to start up a business of your own, Start-Up Weekend Athens might be for you. Ohio University is hosting the event on January 25-27. This weekend will allow you the opportunity to create your own company, network with like-minded individuals and receive help from successful mentors.
You will begin your weekend on Friday night in Baker Center pitching the idea for your business. The following Saturday you will travel to Ohio University's Innovation Center to test your idea, develop a business model and create a basic prototype. On Sunday, you will be given the opportunity to pitch your company idea and research to a panel of potential investors and statewide entrepreneurs.
General admission is $99, but students can attend for $49 by using the promotional code STUDENT when registering. They will only accept the first 65 applicants. Secure your spot by visiting http://athensoh.startupweekend.org/.
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Business Card Process Changed
Effective immediately, anyone requesting business cards should order them through Anita Weisenbach, JL147, ext. 7037 by completing and returning the Business Card Order form on the intranet. Requisitions for OU Printing Services for the business cards are no longer required, but an account number and signatures will be required on the Business Card Order form. Please contact Anita with any questions.
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School of Hospitality Offers Spring Sem ester Lunch Menu
The School of Hospitality will be open for their winter practical schedule at the Starbrick Bistro at the Inn starting January 15. They will be open Tuesday - Friday throughout the semester, from 12 - 2 p.m. Aside from the new core menu, weekly specials will be offered. Meals are $7 (cash only please) inclusive, and special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request. Check your e-mail for lunch menus. |
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Newsletter Provides Health and Professional Guidance
"IMPACT on Wellness," a newsletter sponsored by IMPACT Solutions, provides employees and employers with advice on how to improve their health. The newsletter also gives tips on professional behavior in different situations and advertises each month's webinar.
The IMPACT Solutions Employee Assistance Program (EAP), available to all Hocking College employees, provides help with personal problems and other concerns. Issues addressed are broad, including concerns about a troubled family member, financial fears, stress at work and home, or alcohol and drug problems.
See the attached PDF for the January 2013 issue of "IMPACT on Wellness." For more information on IMPACT Solutions, visit their website. |
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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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 | | Brandon Mitchell |
"Annual Manual" Features Hocking GeoEnvironmental Program
Great job to the GeoEnvironmental Science program, which was recently featured in The Athens News "Annual Manual."
Hocking's GeoEnvironmental Science program is preparing students to enter the energy industry. Much of the curriculum in the GeoEnvironmental program is centered on soil and water testing. The program primarily trains technicians for employment with environmental consulting companies.
The program is very unique in its technical application process with the students. The training provided here could be used in the quickly expanding shale-gas production activities. The shale-gas industry needs environmental consultants to provide expertise in areas such as baseline or pre-drilling water assessment, ecological studies, site assessment, regulatory support, water treatment disposal and discharge evaluations, water resource development assessment, pad construction, storm water slope stability and site restoration management.
Graduates from Hocking are already playing a role in the industry; alum Brandon Mitchell works for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as an oil and gas inspector. Many opportunities are available in consulting firms and government agencies for field and lab technicians. The program at Hocking certainly fits the preparation standards for such positions.
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