June 19, 2014
Former COD Student Researches the World’s Oceans
Ready for Action
A participant in the recent Home Day Hosted by College
of DuPage’s Homeland Security Education Center dons
equipment to enter the HEC’s smoke room that contains
an “apartment” configuration with moveable walls for EMS
and fire rescue simulations. More than 100 fire service
leaders attended this year’s Home Day, which featured
presentations by Illinois Fire Service personnel and
displays by fire equipment manufacturers. Participants
also had the opportunity to try new equipment in COD’s
state-of-the-art HEC, which in addition to the smoke room,
has a full-scale indoor street scene for force-on-force
exercises; a full-size ambulance; and an outdoor scaling
and rappelling tower. Click here for more photos.
COD Student Releases
Song ‘Never Forgotten’
COD student Alexa Lee
Torres recently unveiled
her new single "Never
Forgotten" during a
performance at an event
hosted by the From the
Barrio Foundation. Torres became involved with the
Foundation after being asked by the organization to
perform at its Parents for Peace and Justice Fundraiser, an
event held to assist mothers of the victims of gang and gun
violence in Chicago. "They didn't specify that they wanted
me to perform an original song, but I felt compelled by the
importance of this issue to do so," Torres said. "In writing
'Never Forgotten,' I tried to understand what these mothers
of children killed by gang violence felt and how I would
want my loved one to be remembered. The song was
written specifically for these mothers but it is also for the
millions of others out there who have lost someone dear to
them." Torres performs at local venues and is in the
recording studio working on an EP that she plans to
release within the next few months. Last January, she
auditioned for NBC's hit TV show "The Voice." Read More
Former COD student Ellen Briggs, a recipient of a prestigious
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research
Fellowship, has been completing worldwide oceanic research on
the R/V Palmer (pictured above).The NSF grant, which is worth
more than $30,000 per year over three years, is helping Briggs
complete her thesis project that involves developing a sensor that
measures total alkalinity and pH in the ocean. Briggs credits the
dedication of her professors at COD, particularly the mentoring of
Chemistry Professor Richard Jarman, Ph.D., with providing the
inspiration and support to propel her further into her studies. “I
didn’t really know much about chemistry, but I was fortunate to
have taken general chemistry with Dr. Jarman,” Briggs said. “He
is primarily responsible for inspiring me to pursue advanced
education in the sciences and for providing all of the resources to
excel at such an early level.” Click here for more photos.
Read More
Field and Experiential Learning Coordinator Nicole Spizzirri and
the Global Education team provided the above photo of their
end-of-year banquet for the 2013-2014 Community College
Initiative Program (CCIP) students. Seven of the 16 students
who participated in this year-long experience earned certificates,
most of them with honors. Click here for a complete list of
student participants and a photo of the grads.
Wheat Café
Kudos to…the Learning Commons team, who
hosted an Open House last week to inform students
and staff about the many services offered by the
Learning Commons. More than 100 people attended
the event, which included a “Lemons to Lemonade”
theme and treats, as well as a visit by the College’s
Chappy mascot.
More Kudos to…English instructor Mardelle Fortier,
Ph.D., who presented at an international, interdisciplinary
conference, “One Planet – One Humanity, Communications
For and Against” at Benedictine University from May 29 to
31. Fortier's presentation, "Storytelling: Voices of Global
Humanity," represented the field of creative writing. The
conference, which featured international scholars, focused
on the media and environmental, human rights and climate
change issues.
More Kudos to…Speech Professor Steve Schroeder who
was elected by the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter of Advisors to
serve as Division III Secretary. The Association of Chapter
Advisors (ACA) officers serve as liaisons between their
fellow advisors and Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters staff.
Click here to read more.
More Kudos to…Earth Science instructor
Rick Polad who recently released his
third Spencer Manning mystery, “Harbor
Nights.” In addition to teaching and writing,
Polad also volunteers with the Coast Guard
and plays trumpet with the DuPage
Community Jazz Ensemble. Click here to
read an article in the Daily Herald about
Polad’s latest book. Read More
More Kudos to…Tony Chen, Felix Davis, Gene Wagner
and Justin Wagner who were recently recognized by the
Cisco Academy as Advanced and Expert Level Cisco
instructors for their impressive accomplishments to the
Cisco Networking Academy program. This award
recognizes their achievements as one of the top 25
percent instructors globally.
IT Reminder…faculty and staff have access to Kivuto EAcademy site for all Microsoft Office 2013 purchases. Use
your cod.edu email to register. Office Professional Plus (also
known as Office 2013) is available for $9.95 for both Mac
(Office 2011) and PC versions. Visit cod.e-academy.com to
place your order.
New Proton Therapy
Advanced Certificate
Program College of DuPage
is the first educational
institution in Illinois to offer a
new Proton Therapy
Advanced Certificate program
that will provide training in an
emerging technology.
Recently approved by the Illinois Community College Board and
starting this fall, the certificate will help students gain the expertise
to perform radiation therapy using proton sub-atomic particles.
"This is an emerging technology, and the new Proton Therapy
Advanced Certificate puts College of DuPage on the forefront of
providing this important education," said Jeff Papp, Professor and
Director of the Radiation Therapy program. "Over the next decade,
we will see a huge need for skilled proton therapists, both locally
and nationally." Read More
MAC Starlight Lakeside Pavillion Summer Stage Series
The McAninch Arts Center will host a series of concerts, plays films
and music in its new outdoor Lakeside Pavillion this summer.
Please visit www.atthemac.org for more information and tickets.
June ‘Images’ Program
“Images,” College of DuPage’s monthly one-half hour television
show produced by Multimedia Services, features in its June edition
segments on the College’s 47th Annual Commencement
Ceremony, Jack Kent Cooke Scholar Christian O’Kelley and the
2014 Overall Outstanding Faculty member Lubna Haque.
Click here to watch!
Annual Tulip Bulb Give-Away
The annual tulip bulb give-away is
scheduled for Monday, June 23,
at 7 a.m. in College Lot 6 at the
corner of College and Lambert
roads near the CMC. First come,
first served – they go FAST!
Online New Employee Orientation for PT Employees
The TLC offers an online version of New Employee Orientation for
part-time employees and student workers. To register, email the
TLC and include your name, your Colleague ID#, and specify if you
are faculty or staff. Once you register, you will receive an email
from the TLC with further instruction. Please allow 24 hours for
your registration request to be processed.
Purchasing Dates
For an item to be recommended for purchasing approval to the
Board of Trustees at the Sept. 25, 2014, Board meeting, all
specifications, rationales, requisitions and IT equipment reviews
must be in Purchasing by Thursday, July 17, 2014. Please
click here for a list of all deadlines through the June 25, 2015,
Board of Trustees meeting.
Job Opportunities
To view and apply for any posted internal job opportunity, go to:
https://cod.hiretouch.com. Job opportunities will be posted to the
external web page after they have been posted on the COD Portal
for seven days. For questions, please call ext. 2639.
Employment Information Lines
(630) 942-2460 – For a listing of faculty, classified and
administrative positions. (630) 942-2639 – For detailed information
and to schedule skills testing for clerical positions. Apply at
www.cod.edu/hr.