SPRING 2015

D i s c o v e r . c s m d . e d u

For Southern Maryland

C O N T E N T S ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015 COLLEGE of SOUTHERN MARYLAND

FE ATURES 4 CSM Commended, Awarded Re-Accreditation

5 CSM Designated as a Military Friendly® School

8 First Choice For Many

ARE AS OF INTEREST 3 Update from the President

4 Excellence at CSM

6 Careers in Demand

8 Cover Story

10 Academic Excellence

12 Preparing for the Future

13 Community Outreach

14 Campus News

15 Foundation & Alumni News

CONTACT USDiscover CSM Magazine is a publication of the College of Southern Maryland. Comments and suggestions are welcome. E-mail askme@csmd.edu or call 301-934-7765.

For more on the stories featured in this Discover CSM Magazine and other stories, visit the online newsroom at www.csmd.edu/News.

Join our online community to learn more about CSM. Find all of our groups at CSM's Social Hub, www.csmd.edu/Social.

Sign up for CSM.TXT and get emergency notifications and selected news delivered to your cell phone and e-mail account. For more information, visit Ready.csmd.edu.

Check out the digital edition of the Discover CSM Magazine at Discover.csmd.edu.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICYThe College of Southern Maryland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or marital status in its programs or activities. The academic support/ADA coordinator, Disability Support Services—La Plata Campus, Learning Resource Center (LR Building), Room 123, 301-934-7614—has been designated to handle inquiries regarding discrimination on the basis of disabilities. The executive director, Institutional Equity and Diversity—La Plata Campus, Campus Center (CC Building), Room 208A, 301-934-7658—has been designated to handle all other inquiries regarding discrimination.

ADA STATEMENTIndividuals with disabilities who require special accommodations in order to participate in the college’s instructional programs should notify the academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614 at least six weeks before the class begins. Requests made after this deadline will be considered on an individual basis and addressed whenever possible.

The First Choice for Southern Maryland, the College of Southern Maryland is impacting our community and working to help our students achieve success.

NEWS ROOM

Destination College Throughout the year at all campuses.

Tri-County Job & Career Fair Tuesday, April 7 For all residents of Southern Maryland

LEGO Robotics Championship CSM Robotics: Junior Division Saturday, April 11 This division uses the LEGO Mindstorm/EV3 Robotics Systems as the competition platform.

Student Success Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference Friday, April 17 For educators

Women + Math Saturday, April 18 For young women 12 years and older

SCIENCE • TECHNOLOGY • ENGINEERING • MATHEMATICS

To discover more, visit www.csmd.edu/STEM2 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

This issue of Discover CSM Magazine features what we do best: helping students achieve their goals. This process begins even before students matriculate at CSM, with ongoing communication with our K-12 partners to ensure students are college-ready and the transition to college is a smooth one. Students enrolled in CSM courses while in high school certainly have a leg-up and you will read about some innovative approaches in this area. We continue to finalize guaranteed transfer and dual admissions agreements because more than half of our students intend to transfer to pursue a baccalaureate degree. The number of guaranteed transfer admission agreements now exceeds 40 and grows by the week. We have recently signed agreements with Frostburg University, Delaware State University and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

We also continue to tailor academic programs that meet the workforce needs of the community. Two of our fastest growing programs are in Information Assurance (better known as Cybersecurity) and Mechatronics (also known as Robotics). Other new programs are in the works. Our facilities also continue to grow to meet the needs of our students and employees.

We are making great strides in helping our students to achieve their goals through the federally-funded Title III grant. These initiatives include an enhanced orientation program, more intensive advising, mentoring programs for at-risk populations, and modifications in how we deliver developmental education. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit, and our accrediting agency provided its stamp of approval by awarding CSM a full 10-year re-accreditation.

Here at CSM, we are all part of the solution, and we work together to help our students achieve success. I am proud of the role the college is playing in transforming lives and making Southern Maryland a great place to live and work.

Bradley M. Gottfried, PhDPresidentCollege of Southern Maryland

College of Southern Maryland Initiatives

AFFORDABILITYKeep tuition and fees affordable and minimize student loans

Continue to increase the number of baccalaureate degree opportunities to students

ACCESSEnsure access to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for nurses in Southern Maryland

Find ways and funds to better address the needs of students with disabilities

ACHIEVEMENTImprove degree completion, persistence and transfer rates

Pacesetter Dr. Brad Gottfried Recognized for LeadershipCSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried

has been named as the Pacesetter of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations for his outstanding commitment to marketing and communications and his personal leadership in the institution’s outreach endeavors.

“Dr. Gottfried’s leadership has resulted in many beneficial partnership opportunities, from articulations with four-year institutions, to collaborations

with local and national agencies, to increased advocacy with local, state, and federal elected officials,” CSM Board of Trustees Vice Chair Dorothea Holt Smith wrote in her nomination letter.

The College of Southern Maryland is striving to address issues of AFFORDABILITY, ACHIEVEMENT and ACCESS to higher education to improve the lives of the Southern Maryland community and to foster continued economic growth for the entire region.Celebrating the signing of

three partnership agreements between CSM and St. Mary's College of Maryland, are, from left, CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried, CSM graduates and St. Mary's transfer students Holly Gonzalez and James "J.R." Rhine Jr.

CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried accepts his Pacesetter Award at the NCMPR District I conference alongside Foundation Directors Alland Leandre, and Robert T. Quattlebaum, Foundation Chair Christine Rush, Foundation Director Barry Walrath, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Dorothea Holt Smith, and staff members.

bit.ly/1Komoax

Discover.csmd.edu 3

UPDATE FROM THE PRESIDENT

CSM Commended, Awarded Re-Accreditation

The College of Southern Maryland has been awarded a 10-year re-accreditation with commendation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The reaccreditation process began with a two-year self-study that was reviewed by peer education institutions during on-site evaluations and interviews with faculty, staff and students.

The commission used 14 standards for evaluation, including assessment of student learning, educational offerings, mission and goals, planning and resource allocation, leadership and governance, and student support and retention. The evaluation team found that CSM meets or exceeds all of the Characteristics of Excellence and following the application phase, the commission commended CSM for the quality of the self-study process.

www.csmd.edu/MiddleStates.

CSM Staff Share Their Expertise

Cami Cooley Tony Jernigan Janice Love

CSM Staff Named to Learning Assessment GroupCami Cooley, lead academic planning and assessment

coordinator, has been selected president for the Maryland Community College Learning Assessment Group (MCCLAG), one of the first of its kind in the nation. The group provides a forum for learning outcomes assessment leaders to share ideas and best practices from their respective schools. “The information and support that MCCLAG provides has been, and continues to be, indispensable,” Cooley said. bit.ly/1AAePxz

CSM Vice President Leads Business OfficersVice President of Financial and Administrative Services

Tony Jernigan has been selected as president of the Maryland Association of Community College Business Officers (MACCBO). He has served previously as the association’s vice president and secretary-treasurer. “MACCBO is the conduit for business officers and related business professionals across the state to share best practices, innovative processes, analysis, trends and benchmarks, and serves as a collective source of advice and counsel to presidents and boards. Maryland community colleges are recognized throughout the United States as leaders in post-secondary education,” Jernigan said. bit.ly/18Ukq6p

Love Earns Mail Communications RecognitionWhile attending the 34th Annual Conference for

MAILCOM, the world's largest education organization for mail communications, Mail, Distribution and Fulfillment Services Coordinator Janice Love received the Master Certification in Mail Communications (MCOM) certification and the Certified Mail & Distribution System Manager (CMDSM) certification. MCOM is awarded to mail industry professionals who have earned 10 certificates at MAILCOM. CMDSM certification is awarded by Mail Systems Management Association (MSMA). Since 1989 there are approximately 300 mail managers who have earned their CMDSM credentials and only 25 industry professionals who have earned MCOM.bit.ly/1LbKy8K

Bishop Brings Global Perspective to Classroom

CSM business faculty member Rex Bishop’s path as an educator began as a 16-year-old camp counselor and eventually led to becoming a professor at CSM. During his 28-year career he has fostered partnerships across the globe, providing him with opportunities to share glimpses of foreign business practices with his students.

One such example he shared during a global economics class was a visit to a restaurant in Switzerland when he was told he was welcome to coffee, but there would be no meals served to customers while staff ate dinner together, “I saw [the workers] all back there together, interacting and talking. At 6 p.m., they all started working again. I thought, what a great team-building exercise they had there.”

Presenting the example in a global economics class, Bishop said, “At first the students think it's wrong, Then they realize it might even be better.”

bit.ly/1vw2PMt

4 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

E XCELLENCE AT CSM

Advocating for CSM's Service Men and Women

CSM student and Navy veteran Bill Buffington, of White Plains, was among 125 students chosen from 1,500 applicants to attend the Student Veterans Association (SVA) Leadership Institute, to learn best practices and operational concepts to aid in strengthening local chapters.

“The big take-away from the conference is that the transitioning process requires patience and understanding on all fronts, and most importantly between faculty and vets,” said Buffington, who is the vice president of CSM’s Veterans Organization.

CSM Designated as a Military Friendly® SchoolCollege Serves More Than 830 Military Students, Dependents Each Year

The College of Southern Maryland has been designated as a 2015 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media. The designation is awarded to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation.

"As one of the largest veteran-serving colleges or universities within Maryland, CSM is proud to serve more than 830 military students and their dependents each year and to assist them in reaching their academic and career goals," said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried.

The college is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, so that eligible veterans, servicepersons and certain dependents of veterans can receive VA educational benefits for credit certificate and associate’s degree programs as well as some Workforce Development programs.

The college has designed first-year seminars and courses specifically for veterans, taught by a veteran, to help newly separated or transitioning veterans prepare for and adjust to the college experience. CSM’s outreach includes an active student veterans’ organization and the college supports community partnerships and events. CSM also offers a 15 percent discount on tuition for individual fitness and pool memberships for veterans.

bit.ly/1CB86nZ

Presidential Scholars Program Benefits High-Achieving Calvert County Students

The Presidential Scholars Program provides a rigorous program of study for high-achieving students. The challenging curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, community service, and career preparation, leading to a General Studies Associate of Arts degree that can be tailored to the student's interests and goals. Graduates of the CSM program will have opportunities for guaranteed transfer to more than 40 universities as well as transfer scholarships to both private and public institutions.

BENEFITS:• Challenging academic curriculum

• Personalized attention

• Mentoring opportunities

• Small class sizes

• Scholarship support

• Guaranteed transfer admission

STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO:• Study abroad

• Engage in internships and research projects

• Attend monthly luncheons with speakers as well as other activities specifically for scholars students

• Participate in the National Honors Society

Deadlines and application criteria are at www.csmd.edu/PresidentialScholars

bit.ly/1AAk1BB and bit.ly/18UnjUE

Discover.csmd.edu 5

Shifting Gears from Military to Civilian CareersTransitioning from military to

civilian life allowed Tavares Jefferson to move from a focus on protecting his country to a focus on protecting

his family. By building on the skills and qualifications he gained in training with the Army, then at CSM’s Center for Transportation Training, Jefferson, 32, of Chaptico, is positioning himself for greater employment opportunities, higher paying jobs and a better life for his children. “My main emphasis is on my kids. I have so much support from my friends and family because they see me bettering myself,” said Jefferson.

Jefferson is among many veterans who have chosen to pursue a commercial driver’s license (CDL) following military service. One factor veterans cite when choosing CSM for CDL training is that the

program is approved by the Veterans Administration for the use of veterans benefits through the GI Bill.

“Almost 95 percent of our students graduate from the program and approximately 75 percent remain employed in the transportation industry,” said Lead CDL Instructor Eric “Mac” McCollum.

“Without trucks moving products and materials around the country, the economy would come to a screeching halt in about three days. That makes the trucking industry pretty important to our country,” said Jefferson.

CSM, (ISC)²® Initiative Bridges Cybersecurity Workforce Gap

To meet the growing need for information security professionals, the College of Southern Maryland has joined an international initiative with (ISC)²® to establish a joint framework for industry-academic cooperation to bridge the workforce gap between the increasing demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals and the amount of skilled professionals entering the industry.

Through the college’s membership in the (ISC)² Global Academic Program (GAP), students and professionals are able to gain the knowledge, skills and industry certification needed to enter the high-demand, high-paying cybersecurity workforce.

“In the world that we're in—information assurance and information security—the external threat is evolving rapidly,” said CSM Instructor John Warsinske, who teaches information assurance and information security courses.

“CSM relies very heavily on the local community to provide instructors—adjunct professors or certification

trainers—who are current in their various disciplines, whether that's information security or any of the fields that provide certification as well as regular curriculum instruction,” he said. For information about CSM’s current offerings or to register, visit www.csmd.edu/WorkforceDevelopment/InformationTechnology.html.

$826,160 GrantCSM was awarded a multi-year grant that will focus on career training with local employers in the cybersecurity field.

bit.ly/1ELPTou and bit.ly/16MW3Xy

bit.ly/1C0VrVS

CSM Instructor John Warsinske with Continuing Education student Marci St. Germain

6 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

CAREERS IN DEMAND

CSM Medical Lab Tech Program Earns National AccreditationA fun day for Sunny Schemery is

one that includes looking at bacteria under a microscope.

The fun she’s having as a Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) student at the College of Southern Maryland is providing Schemery, 22, of Leonardtown, with the skills she needs for a high-demand healthcare career.

Projections from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the job outlook for medical and clinical lab technologists and technicians is expected to increase by 22 percent between 2012 and 2022 to meet the need for an estimated 70,600 new jobs.

To meet the growing demand, CSM is offering a MLT associate’s degree program that has earned accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency

for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). CSM’s two-year program, including one summer session, prepares a student to work as a member of a diagnostic healthcare team that performs routine and automated procedures under the supervision of a medical technologist or pathologist.

Graduates can apply to take the

American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification exam to obtain national certification as a medical lab technician. To date, CSM graduates have earned a 100 percent pass rate for ASCP certification and a 100 percent employment rate.

Job Prospects Good for CSM Pharmacy Technician Program Graduates

As a career U.S. Marine Corps spouse, Katherine Pope, 21, knew she would be moving around a lot and needed a vocation that would be in demand nationally and would not require re-certification with each transfer to a new state. She also wanted a career that would help her pay

tuition through to a doctorate in pharmacy degree.

Pope found that career and the training she needed for certification in CSM's Pharmacy Technician program. When pharmacy technician students complete the requirements for academic certification they have also

completed requirements for registration through the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician. With board approval for CSM’s pharmacy technician program there is no post-graduation testing required and graduates are immediately employable in healthcare facilities and retail pharmacies in Maryland.

A separate Pharmacy Technician Career Starters program, which is non-credit, is an exam preparation course, according to Health Sciences Chair Dr. Laura Polk. “Upon successful

completion of the two courses and 16-hour clinical experience, and the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, a student is eligible to work anywhere in the country,” Polk said. “Our hope is that once students complete the credit program and begin working in Maryland, they will return for additional training and sit for the national certification exam which will allow them to compete for jobs in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.”

bit.ly/1D5n6ZV

98% pass rateCSM students taking the National Nurse Aide Assessment, the highest pass rate in the state for colleges graduating 100 or more students in a year.

100% pass rate2012 National Nurse Aide Assessment completing their Geriatric Nursing Assistance program

bit.ly/1DMQvXo

Sunny Schemery, left, and Diana Asumang

From left, Aneisha Asberry, Katherine Pope and Jai Sullivan

Mayurkumar Patel

Discover.csmd.edu 7

While 80 percent of current high school students believe obtaining a college degree is important to having a career, a large majority of those, nearly 75 percent responded in recent studies that they are adverse to acquiring student debt and worry they won’t be able to afford college.

“A college degree doesn’t have to equate to student loan debt,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “Students can have a great collegiate experience by starting at a community college and transferring to a school they may not have been able to afford or have been academically ready for, from high school.”

CSM is all about helping students plan their next step, according to CSM Senior Coordinator for Transfer Services and Articulation James Spence. With more than 40 formal articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities as well as hundreds of schools that accept CSM credits, students can travel from Southern Maryland to all corners of the U.S. and beyond.

“CSM is continually looking for articulation partnerships that make the transfer process easier and more seamless,” said Spence and he urges CSM freshmen to visit the advising office after their first semester to make sure they understand transfer requirements.

“One of the benefits of attending a community college for the first two years is the enormous savings—up to $29,000 in some cases—over starting at a four-year college or university. By alleviating some of the guesswork, ‘Will I be accepted?’ and ‘Will these classes transfer?’ students can concentrate on schoolwork and completion,” said Spence.

For Henry E. Lackey Valedictorian George Jenkins III

“One of the benefits of attending a community college for the first two years is the enormous savings—up to $29,000 in some cases—over starting at a four-year college or university.”

—James Spence, CSM Senior Coordinator for Transfer Services

8 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

COVER STORY

Valedictorian Selects CSM as His No. 1 Choice

While his Henry E. Lackey High School classmates were stressing over college applications, essays and decisions, George Jenkins III, Class of 2014 valedictorian, was enjoying his senior year of high school, confident that he had a path to graduation from one of the top engineering schools in the country by choosing to begin his academics at CSM.

“Choosing CSM to begin college made so much sense. It was close to home so I didn’t need to pay for housing, the class sizes were small compared to most universities and the scholarship I earned is covering all of my expenses.”

Jenkins, of La Plata, plans to complete his associate's degree in engineering through CSM’s STEM Scholars Program then transfer and receive his bachelor’s degree at University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering through the Southern Maryland Co-op Partnership Program in Engineering. Through the college’s STEM Scholars Program, Jenkins is receiving $5,000 toward full-time tuition of $3,450 as well as mentoring opportunities with professionals in his field of study electrical engineering and he will have a seamless transition to UMD as long as he meets guaranteed articulation agreement requirements.

He was not Lackey’s only top student to pick CSM; four of the top six of Lackey’s 2014 graduating class chose to start their academic pursuits at CSM. “Many of my classmates had already decided to attend CSM,” Jenkins said.

Guaranteed Transfer“Students who get their start at CSM can go on to

transfer to highly regarded schools across the United States, including within Maryland such as University of Maryland (UMD), University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) and walk away with the same degree as students who entered those schools as freshmen,” Spence said. More than 1,700 CSM students transferred to 215 different colleges and universities in 45 states and the District of Columbia in the last year. Destinations include Maryland universities and other highly regarded schools across the nation.

As the commencement speaker at one of CSM's recent graduations, Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), told CSM graduates and guests that while preparing his keynote address he checked the progress of students who transferred from CSM to UMBC. He learned that all had done well in their first year with 60 percent earning at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Through the University of Maryland's Transfer Advantage Program with community colleges, qualified students at CSM are guaranteed admission at the College Park Campus.

As a CSM General Studies student, Eva Gonzalez of Fort Washington is eager to take advantage of the program. Gonzalez will pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to ultimately combine her love of dance with her desire to help children and adolescents.

“This agreement will further help students afford college and not have to sweat over transferring college credits. To have this guaranteed partnership between these colleges makes this bridge seem more like a waterslide, because I feel like I am effortlessly gliding into yet another great school,” said CSM alumni James “J.R.” Rhine Jr. of California.

Holly Gonzalez, of La Plata and an alumna of CSM, transferred to majoring in sociology with a minor in Spanish. "I like the small class environment of both colleges, which made the transition a lot easier because at both schools, the teachers take the time to answer your questions and are a valuable resource."

To learn more about CSM's growing number of guaranteed transfer agreements and scholarships, visit www.csmd.edu/Academics/guaranteedtransfer.html.

bit.ly/16prnua

“Choosing CSM to begin college made so much

sense. It was close to home so I didn’t need to pay for

housing, the class sizes were small compared to

most universities and the scholarship I earned is

covering all of my expenses.”

George Jenkins III, CSM Student, Henry E. Lackey High School Class of 2014 valedictorian

Did You Know?Nationally, 69 percent of 2013 graduates had accumulated an average of more than $28,000 in student loan debt. Source: U.S. News and World Report

Discover.csmd.edu 9

High School Juniors, Seniors Save up to 50 Percent on CSM TuitionBecky McCord,

17, of Waldorf, is happy to divide her time between two very different worlds: high school and college. At North Point High School, McCord is enjoying the excitement of being a senior while taking three advanced placement (AP) courses and at the College of Southern Maryland she is enjoying the challenges of being a college freshman while taking two courses at the La Plata Campus.

With the goal to pursue a bachelor’s degree in international business marketing at Virginia Tech University, McCord feels she is “way ahead” of

many students because transferring her CSM courses, combined with course credit for high school AP classes, will allow her to enroll at near sophomore status, she said.

Through the Dual Enrollment Program, CSM gives area high school juniors and seniors a head start on college at a saving of up to 50 percent.

National studies show that dual

enrolled students are better prepared academically for college and achieve a higher GPA when they attend full time.

Lydia Stanley, 17, of Owings is a homeschool student and the third in her family to enter CSM’s dual enrollment program. “I enjoy coming to CSM where the professors encourage you to do your best and where I can pursue my own interests,” she said.

Accessing College Courses from High School ClassroomsPilot Program with La Plata High School Successful

Associate Professor of Language and Literature Dave Robinson stood at the front of a classroom at the College of Southern Maryland La Plata Campus, lecturing to a handful of students who were in the room with him. But on large screens in front of him were another 17 students, taking notes on the lecture from a classroom at La Plata High School (LPHS), about five miles away.

As CSM seeks innovative ways for college courses to be more accessible for more students, and dually enrolled high school students in this instance, technology makes that mission a little easier—as well as more complex—every day.

Robinson’s lecture is a pilot program, Access CSM, between CSM and LPHS, which enables high school students to take a college-level course without leaving their high school. Subsequently, they are earning college credit even before they graduate high school, bringing them one step closer to a college degree.

CSM Admissions Director Brian Hammond said the

program took about a year to set up and was prompted by the request of LPHS Principal Evelyn Arnold. The primary need for the class—other than student interest—was ensuring that both schools had the technology to execute it.

This first fall class, LAN-1080 Popular Culture, followed by SOC-2010 Technology and Society offered in the spring, make up the pilot program for CSM; Hammond hopes the interest spreads to other schools.

“My goal is to have Access CSM at all Charles County high schools,” Hammond said.

Becky McCord Lydia Stanley

High school juniors and seniors interested in CSM’s dual enrollment program for the fall semester have until

July 15 to apply.

bit.ly/16N0WzH

bit.ly/1xA9eAf and bit.ly/1vY8L0V

Associate Professor Dave Robinson teaching a Popular Culture class

10 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

ACADEMIC E XCELLENCE

True Grit, Student Works To Graduate, Honor MentorCSM Disability Services Helps Students Overcome Obstacles

Jamie Cusick of Hughesville, born with a genetic neuro-muscular disorder called Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), has seen her mobility, sight and hearing deteriorate over the years, but not her determination. She uses a wheelchair and is guided through her academic studies by her parents, CSM Disability Support Services Associate Director Glennis Daniels-Bacchus and a team of support staff including scribes, faculty and at times external resources such as Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB).

Cusick is not alone in her desire to accomplish a higher education goal. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, for the 2007-08 academic year, nearly 11 percent of undergraduates enrolled in postsecondary institutions were classified as students with disabilities.

CSM’s Disability Support Services assists more than 200 students each semester by providing resources to navigate the education arena. Some of the services provided include sign language interpreters, scribes, assistive technology training and use, and qualified readers for students who are eligible.

Children's Learning Center EXCELSSt. Charles Children’s Learning Center Earns Level 1 Rating from MSDE

The St. Charles Children’s Learning Center (CLC) at CSM has earned a Maryland EXCELS Level 1 rating by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Maryland EXCELS is the state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System that awards ratings to child care and public prekindergarten programs that meet increasingly higher standards in key areas that are identified nationally as contributing to high quality childcare.

“Achieving the EXCELS accreditation is one more validation point that CSM has one of the best children's learning centers in the

state,” said CSM Vice President of Advancement Michelle Goodwin. “Our center would not be here without the more than 100 generous supporters, especially the St. Charles Companies, who helped raise the money through the CSM Foundation 10 years ago to build our center at CSM.”

STEM Scholars Program, A Smart ChoiceSyria Wesley, 31, of Waldorf, was

taking college classes when she could while working full time at a grocery store pharmacy to support herself. For years she took classes at the College of Southern Maryland that she thought would help her at work, never dreaming that she could climb to the highest level in her field.

That was then. Now, she is part of the entering class of the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy. “I thought becoming a pharmacist was out of reach for me until a co-worker— a pharmacist—asked me why I wasn’t pursuing a degree,” said Wesley.

Wesley learned of the STEM Scholars Program funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help her pay for college. In addition to scholarships providing funding for up to $5,000 per year based on financial need, recipients receive support services to increase retention and

assistance to graduates in transitioning to further education or employment.

“The scholarship allowed me to go to school full time instead of a class here or there while working full time,” said Wesley. “I used to have to prioritize between work and study—the scholarship allowed me to commit more time to study.”

During the 2013-14 academic year, 30 scholarships totaling $150,000 were awarded. Along with Wesley, Reema Domadia, 19, of Waldorf, was one of the scholarship recipients.

While at North Point High School, Domadia entered the dual enrollment program at CSM. Following graduation, she transitioned to CSM full time and had more than 50 credits when she transferred to the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering in the fall.

bit.ly/1DmpwDU

bit.ly/1yQzJDe

bit.ly/1zop6vb

CSM Board of Trustees Chair Michael L. Middleton visits the St. Charles Children's Learning Center.

Discover.csmd.edu 11

Mentoring to Improve Graduation RatesJoshua Massey, 20, of Waldorf comes from a family who

knows about academic success; his mother and grandmother have degrees from North Carolina A&T State College. Massey considered attending their alma mater but chose Morgan State College in Maryland instead. The adjustment from a high school learning structure with daily support to a college structure was a challenge and Massey chose to regroup at a college closer to home—CSM.

Massey learned about a new male leadership and mentoring initiative, the Men of Excellence Mentoring Program, and signed up in his first semester. After just a few months of weekly meetings, panel discussions with successful professionals and connecting with an upperclassman mentor, Massey is feeling good about his ability to succeed as an electrical engineering student.

“Sometimes, all students need is reassurance,” said CSM Pre-Engineering Coordinator Shadei Jones. “Josh is one of the most hardworking, respectable, well-read students that I have encountered. His commitment to excellence is refreshing. Josh has taught me many things and being his mentor is a pleasure.”

The program uses a cohort-based model designed to accept students annually and to work with them to ensure they persist each semester until they transfer or graduate from CSM with an associate degree, certificate or letter of recognition.

“The college has taken a proactive approach toward championing behind student success efforts aimed at eliminating the achievement gap and thereby improving graduation rates among students who are most at risk for non-completion due to a number of factors,” said Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity Makeba Clay.

Educational Talent Search Success“The Educational Talent Search (ETS) program is dedicated to ensuring that students here in Charles County, to include middle and high school students, veterans, and high school dropouts, are given the tools to succeed in a postsecondary institution of their choice. Through a year-long program that includes regular meetings, we provide the road map for them to chart their success,” said ETS Director Timothy R. Fenner.

bit.ly/1ELUvuP

Grammy Award Winner Trumpets Advice“If [your piece] is inside your head like a marble rolling

around, it will come out that way,” CSM Jazz Fest guest artist Bobby Shew, right, advised a local high school's jazz band.

With fingers playing an imaginary instrument and arms waving, the Grammy Award winning trumpeter gave pointers that he said took him a lifetime to learn. Shew challenged students to play from memory. “If you memorize it, you own it. If it is on paper, the paper owns it,” he said.

bit.ly/1FeDsid

www.csmd.edu/EducationalTalentSearch

“It has been hard for my family to afford tuition for me and my twin sister at the same time. The scholarship has helped me pursue my degree without having to acquire student loan debt or having to work full time.”

Carly PennyCSM Business MajorScholarship Recipient

12 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

Sprucing up Leonardtown Library GroundsCollege of Southern Maryland Leonardtown Campus

staff, from left, Testing Center Manager Jacqueline Dyson, Enrollment Advisor Latasha Baker, Student Life Coordinator Jennifer Van Cory, Student Services Senior Executive Director Regina Bowman-Goldring, Prospective Student Officer Kyle Medlock and Student Assistant Kelly Boswell participated in the United Way of St. Mary’s County Day of Caring by sprucing up the grounds of the Leonardtown Library. The project is a community effort coordinated by the United Way of St. Mary's County whereby teams volunteer to assist community agencies with projects that may otherwise go undone.

Regional Agencies Attend Joint Training

Emergency planners and first-responders from the region gathered with College of Southern Maryland administrators, Public Safety and Preparedness Department staff and planning team members at CSM’s Prince Frederick Campus last fall to discuss how Southern Maryland can provide coordinated, prompt and reliable response to incidents that could strike our region.

Presented in partnership with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Active Learning and Exercising Branch, the group is also planning a full-scale, multi-agency, multi-county drill for this fall.

Mass Casualty Incident Drills Future First Responders

CSM’s Emergency Medical Services(EMS) faculty team, working with first responders and agencies from throughout Southern Maryland, help to prepare their students by putting them through the paces in mass casualty incident(MCI) drills. “The simulated drill gives paramedic students the opportunity to practice their skills in treating multiple patients and interacting with local agencies,” said CSM EMS Program Coordinator and Associate Professor John Gosford.

“When we came up to the scene my heart was racing. It didn’t take long to get into a rhythm. I felt very prepared. We tried to follow the protocol for MCIs which is to do the greatest good for the greatest number of patients with the

resources we have,” said EMS student Meagan McCurry, of Sunderland.

CSM’s EMS program recently earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, a national accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Taking the Challenge for Nursing ProfessorCollege of Southern Maryland faculty, staff, nursing

students and alums were up for the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ along with family and friends of 30-year CSM nursing professor Sue Behmke. Behmke was diagnosed with ALS in 2013. “It means a lot to me that people are willing to throw a bucket of ice water on themselves. I think that anything that brings notoriety to the disease is important,” said Behmke.

bit.ly/1C54yrn bit.ly/1C54Cak

bit.ly/1KnRUaw and bit.ly/1v57jDP

Meagan McCurry

Discover.csmd.edu 13

COMMUNIT Y OUTRE ACH

7-11 P.M.

Think warm weather, poolside drinks, flip flops, beach music, and fun. Save the Date for Splash for Scholarships, a beach-inspired

evening of fun that celebrates the 5th Anniversary of our Wellness and Aquatics Center at the Leonardtown

Campus with all proceeds supporting CSM student scholarships.

No black ties or ball gowns allowed! Just wear your best beach attire, your finest flip flops, and bring your

best shag moves as we kick back for a fun-filled night, all for a great cause –

our students!

COLLEGE of SOUTHERN MARYLAND FOUNDATION

CSM Trustees Approve Plan for Regional Campus

Design is underway for the first facility for the College of Southern Maryland's new Regional Campus to be located on 74 acres in Hughesville. The first phase will be the construction of a Center for Trades and Energy Training, which has outgrown its currently leased 18,000-square-foot facility in Waldorf.

To meet the growing needs of students and these programs, the college is planning a 31,404-square-foot facility at the Regional Campus, with future space to expand. It is anticipated that the facility will be completed by Fall 2016. The Regional Campus will provide offerings and programs to serve the entire region in a more cost-effective and convenient way.

The master plan, as designed and presented by Grimm + Parker Architects, is devised to create a sense of community and includes five phases of growth. To learn more about courses leading to careers in Construction/Trades and Energy, visit www.csmd.edu/About/Centers/TradesEnergyTraining

All proceeds will benefit CSM Student Scholarships through the CSM Foundation.

Tickets ($50 each) and

sponsorships can be purchased

online at www.csmd.edu/

Foundation or by calling

301-934-7647.

COME AND ENJOY

• Music and Dancing

• Seashore-Inspired Cuisine and Umbrella Drinks

• Beach-Themed Silent Auction Featuring Vacation Getaways

• Poolside Games

• CSM Strongman Competition

• And More!

LEEDing the WayCSM’s Prince Frederick Campus Building B is the first of

CSM’s facilities to earn Silver Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification program which recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

“LEED is transforming the way we think about how buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe,” said CSM Vice President and Dean of the Prince Frederick Campus Dr. Richard Fleming, who served as project lead for the construction. “LEED certified buildings save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy.”

Building B is one of two LEED-certified buildings in Calvert County and the first publicly funded green building in Southern Maryland. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Building B has green roofs, computer-controlled HVAC and electrical systems, and was constructed using recycled materials.

For information on Prince Frederick’s Building B, visit bit.ly/16sF1h7.

Master Plan Design for Regional Campus

14 ISSUE 8, SPRING 2015

CAMPUS NE WS

FOUNDAT ION & ALUMNI NE WS

Stay Connected. The CSM Alumni & Friends Connection is dedicated to helping our alumni and former students stay in touch by providing networking, career opportunities, campus events, and volunteering opportunities. It is now easier than ever to stay in touch and network with fellow alumni, friends and partners of the college! Visit us at www.csmd.edu/Foundation/Alumni and share your story and opportunities with others at CSM Alumni and Friends.

CSM Alumna Ashley Wolfe Returns as Head Volleyball CoachCSM’s Lady Hawks welcome volleyball head coach Ashley Wolfe back to the same college where

as a player she earned All-American Honorable Mention from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). “To have a coach who knows the community college system as well as Ashley is an asset. She understands what it takes to be a successful student-athlete—the balancing act of classes and games—because she did it herself,” said CSM Athletics Coordinator Nick Williams.

Wolfe graduated from Patuxent High School, earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from CSM and a bachelor’s degree in security management at Webber International University, Florida. She works for the Navy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

Make An IMPACT. Invest Today. Transform Tomorrow.

For nearly 60 years, CSM has worked to educate, train, innovate and serve generations of students from all walks of life. That is the enduring vision and mission of CSM: to transform lives and the community.

The CSM Foundation is about to embark on a campaign to raise $10 million to transform the future through scholarships for access and success; excellence in programs, facilities and

technology; and, innovation entrepreneurship and partnerships with the community. With this successful campaign, the college can do more to ensure access, affordability and achievement for all. This is an opportunity to transform the community and impact its students and their families.

Leaving a Legacy; Honoring Loved OnesA wing of the new Community

Education Building on the La Plata Campus is named “The Proctor Family Wing in Honor of Steve and Carolyn Proctor,” in recognition of the bequest of $250,000 to the CSM Foundation by Gregory S. Proctor Jr. and Dianne Proctor as a tribute to his parents, for whom education was a priority.

“It’s an honor for Dianne and me to be able to honor my parents in this way. Education has always been a big deal to them and they have had an impact on many generations of students,” said Proctor Jr. “CSM provides both an excellent academic and social education, and for many folks in our community CSM is their only option to achieve a college education. Our hope is that first-generation college students

will benefit most from this.”

Also newly dedicated, the Neale Chaney Slater Lecture Hall is named in memory of the son of CSM Alumnus and Foundation Director Austin “Joe” Slater Jr. in recognition of the $100,000 planned gift to the CSM Foundation that provides scholarships for future generations. The Neale Chaney Slater Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 as a tribute to Neale, who had attended CSM as a student in the Fire Safety program and was a Maryland State Police Cadet. He is fondly remembered by many as an exemplary leader and top student.

“Following the tragic loss of our exceptional child, the CSM Foundation has helped bring meaning to us and continuing value to others through much-needed scholarships to worthy students,” said Joe Slater.

Head Volleyball Coach Ashley Wolfe

bit.ly/1DHRrM7

Proctor Family Wing in Honor of Steve and Carolyn Proctor

Neale Chaney Slater

Discover.csmd.edu 15

La Plata CampusPO Box 910La Plata, MD 20646-0910

D i s c o v e r . c s m d . e d u

SPRING OPEN HOUSESC O L L E G E o f S O U T H E R N M A R Y L A N D

Attend a Spring Open House where you will be able to: • Meet the faculty and ask questions about the various

programs of study• Learn more about Financial Aid and Scholarships• Receive information and learn about guaranteed transfer

agreements and partnerships• Talk to current CSM students• Learn about athletics and other CSM clubs and organizations

RSVP at www.csmd.edu/Admissions

April 14 | 5 - 7 p.m.Prince Frederick Campus

April 15 | 5 - 7 p.m.La Plata Campus

April 16 | 5 - 7 p.m.Leonardtown Campus