More programs, initiatives on tap at PHSC, provost says By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco-Hernando State College — which recently has been recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for its return on educational investment — continues to add new programs and initiatives. That was the message that Dr. Stan Giannet, the college’s provost, delivered to a crowd at a recent Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Golden Corral. The state college received notification from the Department of Education last month that it was one of the top schools for affordability in bachelor’s degree programs. And, earlier this year,WalletHub, a national economic magazine, ranked PHSC among the top three community colleges in the nation for return on educational investment, out of more than 800 candidate schools.The WalletHub study took into account student learning outcomes plus the cost. “We’re a major state power in higher education,” said Giannet, who has been at PHSC for more than 27 years. Giannet, also PHSC’s vice president of academic affairs, said the college has “exceeded every metric” from employability, to test score passage rates in workforce
KEVIN WEISS
Pasco-Hernando State College provost Dr. Stan Giannet was the featured guest speaker at the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce July 5 monthly breakfast meeting at Golden Corral. He discussed some of the new programs and initiatives the state college has in the works.
programs — suggesting over 95 percent of PHSC students who graduate with associate of science degrees or receive technical certificates find employment in their chosen career field. “There’s nothing worse for a college to do than to have a degree program where
students invest money, invest time, get out in the workforce and (find) they’re not employable in the industry or the career of their choice.We don’t have that,” he said. The state college provides training for more than 30 careers in business, health, industry and technology, and public service through new bachelor’s degree,Associate in Science degree and certificate programs. And, while he’s proud of the institution’s growth and achievements over time, the college has much more on tap, Giannet said. The state college has more than 15,000 students and 500 faculty and staff members across its five full-service campuses in Brooksville, Dade City, New Port Richey, Spring Hill and Wesley Chapel. Giannet told the crowd:“We have a lot of things in the pipeline.” The state college is building a $15.5 million performing arts instructional center, expected to be complete by Aug. 2020. The facility will be built on a 5.5-acre tract of land donated by Pasco County Schools on the campus of Cypress Creek Middle High School, off Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.
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The state college plans to develop an Associate’s of Science degree in digital design and graphic multi-media technologies, and, Associates of Arts degrees in dance, music, and theatre. Several accompanying technical certificate programs also will be offered through the arts center. The arts center will be shared with Pasco County Schools, and will be a venue for various community events. “It’s going to be fantastic,” Giannet said. The college also is working on other degree offerings, he said. The college offers two four-year degree programs currently, and is working to identify a third, Giannet said.The current four-year
degrees, introduced in 2014, are for a bachelor of science in nursing and a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management.The college also is working with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to develop an A.S. degree in crime scene technology and forensics. That program will likely be offered at the Dade City campus, with clinical training opportunities at the Adam Kennedy Forensics Field “body farm” on the grounds of the Pasco Sheriff’s detention facility in Land O’ Lakes, The college also is gearing up for several contract and corporate workforce training programs that are set to come online. Among them are a 911 training program for the Hernando Sheriff’s Office; a child protection services leadership program for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office; a medical scribe exclusive online training program; and, a childhood education certification program for the Pasco and Hernando school districts. Elsewhere, PHSC is expanding its welding technology program to the west side of the county. The welding program has been offered on the Dade City campus. Now, Giannet said night classes will be available Marchman Technical College in New Port Richey, thanks to a developmental partnership between the college and Pasco County Schools. That expansion is much needed due to an increased demand for certified welders and lack of programming the county’s west side, the provost said. “We have a huge waiting list for welding on this (east) side of the county,” Giannet said. Our welders, when they graduate from our college, they’re snatched up by the industry. “It’s a win-win situation for our community,” he added. Giannet also talked about the college’s new aviation program, which debuted last year. The college offers four aviation-related associate degree programs — professional pilot technology, aviation administration, aviation maintenance administration, and unmanned vehicle systems. Several PHSC students have already become certified pilots — including a female pilot in what is “a traditionally male-dominated industry,” Giannet noted. He expects the program skyrocket in the coming years. “Aviation is going to be the hottest industry in the nation, with the impending shortage and retirement of all these aviation professionals...so we’re really excited for that program,” the provost said. The college is next looking to create more aviation partnership, with facilities such as the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. It already has an existing partnership with American Aviation Flight Academy, at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport, he said.
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Members of the GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club, from left, Jenny Sharpless, Haadhaq Lawrence and Raequel Tomsich, participate in the Women Build at Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County.
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July 11, 2018
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The GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club is a part of the Greater Federation of Woman’s Clubs, Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs. The club has been instrumental in setting up libraries in schools, advocating for legislature regarding families and the community, and encouraging change at a local level. Members also can participate in community service projects. For example, last year, several members signed up as guardians and accompanied veterans from World War II,Vietnam and the Korean War on a trip to Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C., as part of Honor Flight of West Central Florida. Club members also traveled to Aruba and joined 64 ladies representing GFWC Junior Woman’s Clubs from around the United States to assist the Woman’s Club of Aruba with several projects. Members have also spent time mentoring young ladies of the Pasco Girl Power program at Lacoochee Elementary. Some of the club’s other projects include: TPD Rich House, Sunrise of Pasco, Meals on Wheels of Tampa, Trinity Café,
March for Babies Walk, and “Share the Love” and “Reverse Trick or Treat” at The Legacy of Highwoods Preserve. Haadhaq Lawrence, incoming president, announced her theme for the 2018-2019 year — Change Agents: Utilizing the power to make a difference with skills, confidence, power, courage and relationships. Lawrence explained, in a release,“Being a change agent takes you and me and our efforts to change the world we live in. Each individual... has made an impact on the lives of so many people and our goal for this coming club year is to recruit more change agents to aid in our mission.” The New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club has been awarded the highest honor a Junior Club in Florida can receive — the Mary Clark Award, for the most outstanding club in the state.This is the fourth time the club has received this award. While the club takes a brief break over the summer, the GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club will be accepting new members this fall. The group meets from August through May, on the second Monday of each month, at the New Tampa Regional Public Library. For membership information, visit GFWCNewTampaJuniors.org, or email juniors@GFWCNewTampaJuniors.org.