2020-03-10 education and workforce development committee ... · 3/10/2020 · the sea-phages...

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Education and Workforce Development Committee

Meeting

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

4:00 p.m.

Ann Richards Administration Building, Board Room

Pecan Campus McAllen, Texas

In the Making!

South Texas College

Board of Trustees Education and Workforce Development Committee Ann Richards Administration Building, Board Room

Pecan Campus, McAllen, Texas Tuesday, March 10, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

AGENDA

“At anytime during the course of this meeting, the Board of Trustees may retire to Executive Session under Texas Government Code 551.071(2) to confer with its legal counsel on any subject matter on this agenda in which the duty of the attorney to the Board of Trustees under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. Further, at anytime during the course of this meeting, the Board of Trustees may retire to Executive Session to deliberate on any subject slated for discussion at this meeting, as may be permitted under one or more of the exceptions to the Open Meetings Act set forth in Title 5, Subtitle A, Chapter 551, Subchapter D of the Texas Government Code.”

I. Approval of Minutes for Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Committee Meeting ........... 3 - 7

II. Presentation on South Texas College STEM Connection Newsletter ................. 8 - 13

III. Presentation on South Texas College SEA-PHAGES Program ........................ 14 - 21

Education and Workforce Development Motions March 10, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m. Page 1, Revised 03/05/2020 @ 4:47 PM

Approval of Minutes for Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Committee Meeting

The Minutes for the Education and Workforce Development Committee meeting of Tuesday, February 11, 2020 are presented for Committee approval.

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Education and Workforce Development Minutes February 11, 2020 @ 3:30 p.m. Page 1, Revised 03/02/2020 @ 4:22 PM

E.W.D. Committee Minutes 02-11-2020

South Texas College Board of Trustees

Education and Workforce Development Committee Ann Richards Administration Building, Board Room

Pecan Campus, McAllen, Texas Tuesday, February 11, 2020 @ 3:30 p.m.

MINUTES

The Education and Workforce Development Committee Meeting was held on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in the Ann Richards Administration Building Board Room at the Pecan Campus in McAllen, Texas. The meeting commenced at 3:35 p.m. with Mrs. Victoria Cantú presiding at the start of the meeting, and Dr. Alejo Salinas, Jr. presiding upon his arrival. Members present: Dr. Alejo Salinas, Jr., Mrs. Victoria Cantú, and Mr. Gary Gurwitz Other Trustees present: None Members absent: None Also present: Dr. Shirley A. Reed, Dr. David Plummer, Dr. Anahid Petrosian, Mr. Matthew Hebbard, Dr. Rebecca De Leon, Ms. Lori Trevino, Mrs. April Castaneda, Ms. Maricruz Hinojosa, Mr. William Collins, and Mr. Andrew Fish

Approval of Minutes for Tuesday, January 14, 2020 Committee Meeting

Upon a motion by Mr. Gary Gurwitz and a second by Mrs. Victoria Cantú, the Minutes for the Education and Workforce Development Committee meeting of Tuesday, January 14, 2020 are presented for Committee approval.

Review of Upcoming South Texas College Summer Camps Dr. Rebecca De Leon, Dean for Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships, presented on the upcoming South Texas College Summer Camps under development for the Summer 2020 season. Preparation for Summer 2019 On February 19, 2019, Dr. De Leon presented on a number of Summer Camps provided by:

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• Academic and Workforce Departments; • Continuing Professional & Workforce Education; and, • Industry Training and Economic Development

Dr. De Leon presented a marketing booklet, which had been distributed to partnering school districts throughout the College’s communities, and spoke about these programs with the Committee. At that time, the Committee noted some confusion in determining which programs were provided exclusively for a partnering district, and which were generally open to the public. Conclusion of Summer 2019 On August 13, 2019, Dr. De Leon was joined by Dr. Carlos Margo, Associate Dean for Industrial Training and Economic Development, to update the Committee on the successful and varied camps presented throughout the summer season. Dr. De Leon and Dr. Margo also reviewed their lessons learned, and discussed their plans for continued improvements, more diverse offerings, and increased public participation for the following year. South Texas College Summer Camps - 2020 Under Dr. David Plummer’s leadership, administration developed even more and varied camps to offer for Summer 2020, and implemented a new web-based marketing strategy. This year’s offerings included 24 camps in June and July, covering topics including:

• Art • Music • Science & Engineering • Technology • Continuing Education • Recreational Activities

Camps would be offered for participants for select age ranges, serving learners as young as 2 years old, and with activities for students through 17 years old. Dr. Plummer and Dr. Rebeca De Leon discussed the new marketing strategy, the website portal, and the wide variety of camps available to school districts and the general public in Summer 2020. This information was presented for the Committee’s review, and no action was necessary.

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Presentation on South Texas College Educational Pathways for Law Enforcement Professionals

Ms. Maricruz Hinojosa, Coordinator of College Connections, presented on the educational pathways that South Texas College has established to serve law enforcement professionals, as well as the recruitment efforts marketing the programs toward local and federal agencies. On April 24, 2019, South Texas College signed a training partnership agreement with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) and the United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). Under this agreement, the College has identified specific training programs offered by FLETC and USCBP, and has aligned them to educational pathways at the College. Similarly, the College identified course equivalency guidelines for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certified Peace Officers, which recognizes specific training competencies that are part of the Peace Officer certification courses taught at Police Academies throughout Texas. These equivalency guidelines allow the College to recognize prior training and give agents appropriate college credit for their experience and knowledge, as they work toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. The College has developed a specific website to quickly deliver important information to potential students from the law enforcement sector. Online marketing efforts, such as targeted YouTube and Facebook advertisements, lead law enforcement officers to a Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence landing page dedicated to giving them information on pathways specifically for law enforcement. Finally, Ms. Hinojosa has attended a number of local events catering toward local and federal law enforcement, has hosted special events, and has visited them at their own stations. Ms. Hinojosa reported on outreach efforts, the results thus far, and future opportunities to widen the scope of their outreach. This information was presented for the Committee’s review, and no action was necessary.

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Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the Education Workforce Development Committee Meeting of the South Texas College Board of Trustees adjourned at 4:26 p.m. I certify that the foregoing are the true and correct Minutes of the February 11, 2020 Education and Workforce Development Committee of the South Texas College Board of Trustees. __________________ Dr. Alejo Salinas, Jr. Presiding

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Presentation on South Texas College STEM Connection Newsletter Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Dean for Math, Science, and Bachelor Programs, and Mrs. Sandra Espinoza, Biology Instructor, will present on South Texas College’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Connection Newsletter. Initially conceived in 2019, the STEM Connection Newsletter will promote STEM programs each Fall and Spring semester, showcasing current activities and highlighting recent success stories for current students, alumni, and faculty. It will be available digitally on the College’s website as well as in printed editions. Dr. Esmaeili and Mrs. Espinoza are proud to present the Fall 2019 STEM Connection Newsletter, which is included under separate cover. This edition includes a highlight on the SEA-PHAGES program, student and alumni profiles, and a faculty spotlight. Administration seeks feedback from the Committee, and looks forward to leveraging this and future editions of STEM Connection Newsletter to market the College’s programs and recruit students into the STEM fields. This information is presented for the Committee’s review, and no action is necessary.

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SouthTexasCollegeSTEMConnectionNewsletter

PresentationforEducationandWorkforceDevelopmentCommitteeMeeting

Tuesday,March10,2020

Presenters: Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Dean for Math, Science & Bachelor ProgramsMrs. Sandra Espinoza, Biology Instructor

Background Established

Idea for the publication was conceived in 2019 and the intent is to publish an issue each Fall and Spring semester

Purpose

Promote STEM programs

Showcase a current STEM activity or project

Highlight success stories Current STEM Students STEM Alumni STEM Faculty

Distribution Digital version on webpage Printed copies in high student-traffic areas

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FeaturedinNewsletter Message from the Dean

Calendar of Events 2019-2020

STC Students in Nationwide Research Program

Student Spotlight

Alumni Highlight

Faculty Feature“The STEM Connection Newsletter will serve as an ongoing communication publication between the Division and students seeking careers in STEM related areas.”

~ Dr. Ali EsmaeiliDean for Math, Science& Bachelor Programs

NationwideResearchProgram

STC offering authentic and valuable undergraduate research opportunities through SEA-PHAGES

Designed to foster scientific inquiry and discovery

Cohort of 19 students

RECENT News since publication

STC student isolated a NEW Microbacterium Actinobacteriophage

“As a faculty member of a two-year biology program, participating in a nationwide effort that can contribute to the body of knowledge used to treat antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases is an extraordinary opportunitybeyond our wildest dreams.”

Dr. Mehrzad Mahmoudian-Geller, Biology Instructorand SEA-PHAGES Team Member

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STCStudentsOntheRoadtoSTEMSuccess

Berenice PadillaWork Study of the Year Physics Department

Jazmin Hernandez Inspired by a Water Crisis Engineering Department

Jose Mata Preparing for a Career in Medicine Biology Department

AlumniHighlight

Stephanie Silva Graduated from STC – Fall 2015

Associate of Science in Biology

Transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville

Majored in Animal Science

Graduated with Honors – Fall 2018

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Accepted into Texas A&M College of Veterinary

Medicine

Plans to pursue a Ph.D.“I love STC so much because it prepared me for my bachelor’s

work at TAMU-K.”

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FacultySpotlightDr.ThomasNdolo

Dr. Thomas NdoloAssistant Professor of Biology

Exemplary Service and Leadershipwith a Focus on Student Success

Doctorate of Philosophy in Comparative Pathology University of California, Davis

Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biochemistry University of Nairobi

Active in writing NSF grants Principal Investigator for an NSF-STEM Scholarship Grant

$650,000 over five years to support 40 low income students majoring in STEM disciplines

Pivotal role in application and submission to the HHMISEA-PHAGES grant program First institution in South Texas to join this program One of two Texas schools invited to participate this year

STEMConnectionOntheWeb

https://news.southtexascollege.edu/stem

Upcoming Events

STEM News

STEM Spotlights

Students

Faculty

Alumni

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Thankyouforyoursupport!

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Presentation on South Texas College SEA-PHAGES Program Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Dean for Math, Science, and Bachelor Programs, and Dr. Maria Cervantes, Biology Program Chair, will present on South Texas College’s participation in the nationwide SEA-PHAGES research program, which provides STC students with active research experiences in the classroom. SEA-PHAGE is an acronym for: Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics & Evolutionary Science. Administered by the University of Pittsburgh and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Division, the SEA-PHAGES program was designed to increase interest and retention in biological sciences by providing hands-on research experience. South Texas College is the only institution of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley, and one of only 14 institutions state-wide, to gain admission to this program. 19 dual enrollment students from nine local high schools are participating, supported by faculty and staff at South Texas College. SEA-PHAGES Program Description The program is structured as a two-semester sequence, including discovery-based research, education on advanced laboratory techniques, and the opportunity for students to publish their work and present at conferences. The research begins with students sampling soil to locate and identify phages present. A “phage” is a virus that destroys cells, generally. A “bacteriophage” is a virus that specifically attacks bacterial cells. The process of isolating phages in the sample, and then the genetic analysis to identify the specific phage and compare it to the database of known phages, is quite complex. Identifying bacteriophages is a potentially valuable medical process, as they may prove useful in fighting infectious diseases that are showing increasing resistance to traditional antibiotics. This is an incredible opportunity for undergraduate students generally, and South Texas College’s dual credit students are performing extremely well. A New Discovery! On January 21, 2020, South Texas College was notified that dual credit student Daniela De la Garza had successfully identified a previously unknown phage. As the discoverer, she was allowed to name the organism, which is now known as the phage “DelaGarza” in honor of her father.

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Opportunities for Faculty In addition to the students’ experiences, STC faculty are also provided professional development opportunities, including participation at the 11th Annual Science Education Alliance Symposium and participation in related workshops. Dr. Esmaeili and Dr. Cervantes will speak with the Committee about this program, its impact on students, and the fantastic achievement by Ms. De la Garza in her discovery of a previously unidentified organism. This information is presented for the Committee’s review, and no action is necessary.

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SEA-PHAGESNationwide Research Program

Providing Students with Active Research Opportunities in the Classroom

Presentation forEducation and Workforce Development Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Presenters:Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Dean for Math, Science & Bachelor Programs

Dr. Maria Y. Cervantes, Biology Program Chair

Overview

Background

Purpose & Description

Program Participation

Professional Development

Student Participants & Success

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Background

Nationwide Research Program Administered by

University of Pittsburgh Howard Hughes Medical Institute's

Science Education Division

SEA-PHAGES

Science

Education

Alliance

Phage

Hunters

Advancing

Genomics &

Evolutionary

Science

Purpose Increase interest and retention in biological sciences Provide authentic, valuable research experience

Description Two-semester (Fall and Spring) discovery-based research

program Research is embedded into course content Active learning that nurtures critical thinking skills Opportunity to publish and present work at conferences

Students Develop:

Advanced lab techniques

Hands-on research skills

Sense of ownership

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Program Participation

STC is the only higher education institution in the Rio Grande Valley to gain admission to this prestigious program

14 institutions from Texas have been admitted to the program

STC Participants

1 Designated Faculty

3 Trained Support Faculty

2 Lab Specialists

19 Dual EnrollmentMedical Science Academy Students

Professional Development for Faculty

Summer 2019 11th Annual Science Education Alliance Symposium

Network with over 100 participating institutions and learn of ongoing research in the field

Phage Discovery Workshops Learn pedagogy and how to embed research component into the

Fall Semester course Learn techniques of bacteriophage isolation and characterization

Fall 2019 Bioinformatics Workshop

Learn how to embed data analysis in the Spring Semester course Learn how to assist students with publication of research

The program provides professional development opportunities to participating colleges.

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Student Participants

Students participating in the SEA-PHAGES program are Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy juniors from the following high schools:

Johnny Economedes HS La Joya HS Mission Collegiate HS PSJA Memorial ECHS Sharyland Advanced Academic Academy Sharyland HS Sharyland Pioneer HS South Texas ISD World Scholars Valley View HS

Students Learned How to…

Isolate and purify bacteriophages from soil samples

Submit findings to online database

Characterize genomes

Develop publications based on findings

Present data and findings at conferences

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NEW Discovery

January 21, 2020 – STC was notified that a NEW Microbacterium (phage) was found

The student that submitted the sample was able to name the phage she discovered

She named the phage DelaGarza in honor of her father

Daniella De la Garza, age 16Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy Student

Isolated a NEW Microbacterium Actinobacteriophage

Phage – a virus that destroys cellsBacteriophage – a virus that attacks bacteria

PROGRAM FEATURED IN…

The Monitor ~ 12/31/2019 STC News STEM Connection Newsletter

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Thank You for Your Support!

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2020-03-10 education and workforce development committee ... · 3/10/2020 · the sea-phages...

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