FLCC Campus News

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 27, 2007) — Finger Lakes Community College conservation student Taryn Man, of Shortsville, joined James Hewlett, FLCC professor of biology, and Sanford Morris, FLCC adjunct instructor of biology, on a recent expedition to the island of Montserrat to study coral and coral reefs.

The trip advanced the efforts of two organizations, Reef Check and the National Science Foundation’s Research Integrating Molecular and Environmental Science (RIMES) program (www.uml.edu/dept/biology/rimes/). According to its Web site, www.reefcheck.org, Reef Check is an international program developed in 1996 that works with communities, governments, and businesses to monitor, restore, and maintain coral reef health.

Hewlett is the National Coordinator for Reef Check on Montserrat, making him the lead scientist and coordinator for all Reef Check activity on that island.

In 2005, the first Reef Check survey ever conducted on the island was completed with the help of FLCC students. On the latest trip, the reef was re-surveyed and the FLCC team met with local officials to establish a long-term reef monitoring program for the country as they rebuild their economy and infrastructure. According to Hewlett, one of their potential growth areas is ecotourism, and the coral reefs will be a major part of this growth. In addition, as the population center shifts to the north end of the island, it will be important to understand how the development of the area is impacting the reefs. This impact will be determined using the planned long-term monitoring program that will be coordinated through Reef Check, local officials, and teams from FLCC making regular visits to the island to conduct surveys.

Hewlett, Morris, and Man met with a team of researchers and students directed by Dr. Bruce Jackson of Mass Bay Community College and Dr. Robert Taylor of Alabama A&M University. They continued their study of the effect of the eruptions and ongoing activity of the Soufriere Hills volcano on the area’s ecosystem. The teams’ various projects focus on the molecular level, namely, organisms’ adaptive responses to sudden environmental changes resulting from volcanic activity.

The FLCC team made observations on the general health of the coral and looked for early indicators of stress, Hewlett’s primary research interest. Hewlett claims that this research will be useful in determining coral’s response to volcanic activity and in improving the ability of researchers to examine and quantify stress in coral when attempting to predict the impact of human population development in areas beyond Montserrat, such as growth and development in coastal areas.

As Hewlett explains, one of the goals of RIMES is to build a permanent research station in Montserrat. Additionally, this program serves as a mentoring process for undergraduate scholars, creating a baccalaureate-to-doctorate bridge program that helps undergraduates develop their own research as they progress through their studies into research careers in the marine and environmental sciences.

Since its inception in 1971, the FLCC conservation department has produced more than 2,500 graduates, who have found employment across the country in positions ranging from environmental conservation officers, wildlife and fish technicians, aquaculturists, taxidermists, land managers, park rangers, and environmental educators to applied plant science researchers, greenskeepers, plant propagation specialists, and managers and owners of nurseries and greenhouses. They are employed in a variety of positions in the private sector and government agencies such as the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Soil Conservation Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Health, and a variety of state natural resources departments.

The biotechnology degree program at FLCC prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions as biotechnology or biology majors and for entering the job market upon graduation. The program focuses on development in genetic research techniques, genetics laboratory skills, bacteriological methods, electrophoresis, and cell tissue and culture. With faculty guidance, students have the opportunity to participate in research projects, such as the Montserrat project, collecting field samples and processing information in the College laboratory. In addition, FLCC holds an articulation agreement with Rochester Institute of Technology that guarantees qualified students entrance with full junior standing into RIT’s bachelor of science biotechnology program.

For more information on FLCC’s degree programs, contact the Admissions Office at (585) 394-3500, ext. 7278, or visit the College Web site at www.flcc.edu.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 26, 2007) — Finger Lakes Community College offers full-semester credit courses in eight-week “minimesters.” The Spring Minimester II runs from Mar. 26-May 18, 2007. Courses are offered at the Canandaigua campus, the Geneva Campus Center, and the Wayne County Campus Center. Classes are held during the day, in the evening, on Saturdays, and online.

These time-condensed courses offer the same academic quality and total instructional time of the College’s traditional classes but can be completed in the shortened eight-week minimester format. Students can take classes in a variety of subjects such as computer science, English, math, physical education, psychology, and science.

Students must be fully enrolled in courses no later than one week before the start of class. Students are advised to register early as classes fill up fast. For more information, contact the FLCC Registrar’s Office at (585) 394-FLCC, ext. 7622, or at registrar@flcc.edu, or visit www.flcc.edu.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 22, 2007) – Finger Lakes Community College’s Future Student Information Events will be held at the Geneva Campus Center at 6:00 p.m. on March 28, 2007, and at the Wayne County Campus Center at 6:00 p.m. on April 3, 2007. Prospective students will have the opportunity to learn more about the enrollment process, financial aid, support services, and the ADVANCE Fast part-time program for busy adults. Additionally, attendees will be able to learn about the program of their choice and online learning. Information about the various degree and certificate programs will also be available.

Advance reservations are required one week prior to the date of choice and may be made online at www.flcc.edu/admissions or by contacting the Office of Admissions at (585) 394-FLCC, ext. 7278.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 20, 2007) – Carol S. Urbaitis, dean of student services and enrollment management at Finger Lakes Community College, has been appointed by State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John R. Ryan to the Chancellor’s Advisory Group on Leadership Development. The Advisory Group has been formed to examine and discuss the broad range of issues related to leadership and succession within the SUNY system. The Group will also evaluate on-going initiatives and recommend additional ways to assist SUNY campuses in developing current and future leaders.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has challenged higher education to address the issue of leadership, stating “unless campus leaders do more to identify and nurture new talent, higher education will face a leadership crisis in the coming decades as the baby-boom generation of college administrators retire and the pool of potential replacements shrinks.”

According to Chancellor Ryan, “as the largest university system in the U.S., with nearly 3,000 senior leadership positions, this is both a concern and an opportunity for SUNY. Over the next ten years, 50 to 75 percent of these positions will need to be filled, providing opportunities for SUNY employees with leadership aspirations and potential.”

Urbaitis, of Canandaigua, has worked at the College since 1991 previously holding the positions of assistant dean of student services and coordinator of advisement and assessment. Prior to working at FLCC, Urbaitis served as coordinator for educational programs, acting assistant dean, and adjunct instructor at Baruch College/CUNY, New York City.

Urbaitis serves in a variety of leadership roles, such as co-chair of the SUNY Chancellor’s University-Wide Committee on Campus Safety, vice president of the Council of SUNY Community Colleges Chief Student Affairs Officers, and president of the FLCC Association, Inc. Additionally, she served as chairperson of the executive board of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Board of Directors of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the ATHENA Steering Committee.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 15, 2007) — Finger Lakes Community College nursing students are sponsoring a poster presentation on human sexuality on Thursday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the area adjacent to the cafeteria on the second floor of the College, 4355 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua. The event is free and open to the community.

Groups of nursing students work with each other and with faculty advisors to develop posters addressing topics ranging from midlife changes to nontraditional lifestyles. This project assists students in integrating teaching, research, and communication skills in working with others. “An important nursing responsibility and major focus of heath care is disease prevention,” said Nancy Clarkson, FLCC professor of nursing and chair of the nursing department. “Today’s nurse must be ready to assist others in developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles.”

Student-developed brochures that summarize the covered health topics will be available. These brochures are free of charge and include Internet and community resources on each topic.

For more information about the poster presentation, contact the FLCC nursing department at (585) 394-FLCC, ext. 7345.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 8, 2007) – Finger Lakes Community College, through the Global Awareness Series, presents “An Evening of African Dance and Drums” on Thursday, February 15 at 7 p.m. The event will take place in Stage 13, located on the second floor of the Canandaigua campus, 4355 Lakeshore Drive. A sampling of West African foods will be available for tasting at 8 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.

The program will feature “Wacheva African Dance and Drums,” a group founded by Biboti Ouikahilo in 1994. Ouikahilo, originally from the Ivory Coast, leads his troupe in the traditions of dance and drumming from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea, Mali and Ghana.

For more information, contact the Director of International Education, Joshua Heller, at 394-3500, ext. 7335, or hellerjw@flcc.edu.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2007) — Finger Lakes Community College recently became affiliated with the National Society of Leadership and Success, or Sigma Alpha Pi. The Finger Lakes chapter of Sigma Alpha Pi inducted 21 students at the end of the fall semester. These students have completed all of their membership requirements. There are 135 FLCC students participating in the society overall. Inductees included the following (names follow hometowns):

Canandaigua: Amy McGowan, Donna McWilliams, Nicole Waugh, Gerad Woolley
Fairport: Whitney Short
Palmyra: Marco Hamelinck, Tanya Hamelinck
Penn Yan: Laura Black
Phelps: Robert Stobie
Rochester: Tara Caporiccio, Stanley Clark, Elishma Farquharson
Seneca Falls: Rob Adams
Sodus: Andrew Freeman
Stanley: Eric Yeager
Victor: Donna Taylor
Waterloo: Cassandra Daeffler, Yan Feng, Jessica Ridley
Wayland: Kellie Mark
Williamson: Susan Briggs

Student leaders for the spring include:

President, Eric Yeager
Vice President for Communications, Laura Black
Vice President for Volunteerism/Socials, Mindy Privitera of Clyde, NY
Director of Volunteerism, Jessica Ridley
Communications and Recruitment Director, Eric Williams of Rushville, NY
Secretary, Christina Pisarek of Canandaigua, NY

The National Society of Leadership and Success was created by a nationwide effort of professional motivational speakers. The Society’s aim is to help students become confident individuals and leaders. To complete membership requirements, students must attend three or more videoconferences and success networking team meetings over the course of the year, as well as attend a three-hour leadership training day.