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ranger Serving San Antonio College since 1926
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Volume 90 Issue 16 • April 11, 2016
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Ethnic studies build pride not revolt, teacher says Page 8
Late VP’s duties split among 4 President expects to fill position by Sept. 1. By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@student.alamo.edu
With the recent death of David Mrizek, vice president of college services, this college must now begin a search for a replacement and make
plans in the interim. President Robert Vela has decided to forego naming an interim vice president of college services and distributed Mrizek’s responsibilities among himself and three administrators in the interim as a search for a replacement begins. Vela will be responsible for bud-
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get, facilities, EcoCentro, Scobee Education Center and operations of the office of vice president of college services. Dr. Lisa Alcorta, interim vice president of student success, will be responsible for construction, grants and emergency management. Dr. Jothany Blackwood, vice presi-
dent of academic success, will be responsible for information technology and facilities management. Dr. Kristine Clark, chief of integrated planning and performance excellence, will be responsible for instructional effectiveness and research. Clark, who was originally sup-
posed to leave her position at the end of the semester and have her responsibilities shifted to Blackwood, has agreed to stay on through the summer as this college goes through its transition to its next vice president of college services. Prior to Mrizek’s death, all of his
See VP, Page 7
Tuition rate increase put on hold for now
SGA parliamentarian, members criticize the quality of dining services
64 dance courses to be deleted under appeal By R. Eguia
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Dance departments across the state have synchronized forces because 64 courses are scheduled for deletion at the end of this semester. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has published its spring 2016 Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual with 345 courses scheduled for deletion at the end of this semester. The manual is the official list of approved courses for general academic transfer to public universities that may be offered for state funding by public community and technical colleges in Texas. George Ann Simpson, coordinator for the dance program at this college, said she worked with many other dance departments across the state to begin the appeal process for the deletions. Some of the dance courses scheduled for deletion satisfy part of the 18 hours required for an associate degree in dance at this college. “Every dance instructor in the dance department at this college was going to lose at least one class if we did not petition for those classes to remain,” Simpson said. Read the full story at www.theranger.org.
In sync Fine arts sophomore Federico Gonzalez-Vidal, president of the Asian Pop Society; biology freshman Miguel Espinoza; pre-pharmacy sophomore Quintin Longoria; and linguistics freshman Sara Felix dance synchronized at the Maid and Butler Cafe April 6 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Vincent Reyna
Dual credit task force nears end
Pledges $60k record
Fiscal services department provides insight on funding background.
By Tim Hernandez
By R. Eguia
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Recommendations generated by the dual credit task force over the course of six meetings are being synthesized into an inclusive blueprint that will be presented to high school superintendents then the chancellor for further review and funding considerations. The academic success team for this district organized the task force when House Bill 505 removed the coordinating board’s authority to regulate dual credit programs. Standards will be generated by independent community colleges across the state. High school dual credit teachers, liaisons, principals and superintendents from 15 school districts in the college district’s service area shared experiences with dual credit staff from this district to provide insight on the needs of the expanding program. Educate Texas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening public and higher education system, facilitated six meetings with task force that investigated access, advising, rigor and most recently, resources. On March 31, the task force concentrated on dual credit resources, both academic and fiscal. “Once we have determined what this program is going to need to provide quality instruction and be successful, we are going to have to figure out how to pay for it. Government mandates do not come with funding,” Jo Carol Fabianke, vice chancellor of academic success, said. The end of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation
by this district’s fiscal services department explaining how dual credit has been funded in the past and why it needs to be reformed. Pamela K. Ansboury, associate vice chancellor of finance and fiscal services, said dual credit has traditionally been paid for by contact hour funding. The chief budget officer for this district, Shayne West, explained why the state Legislature funding for this district has significantly declined from almost 80 percent of the budget to its current 25 percent when the Legislature switched from formula funding to the current threepronged approach. The Legislature grants $1 million to every community college system in the state and then districts receive funding they earn through student success points and contact hour funding. Student success points satisfy 10 percent of funding while contact hour funding accounts for 90 percent. West illustrated the student success point model, which gives points to student accomplishments. The district receives one student success point when a student earns the first college credit in math, reading and writing or completes 15 credit hours or 30 credit hours. The district receives two student success points when an associate degree is earned and 2.5 points when a STEM degree is earned. The district decided to not charge dual credit students in 1989 when dual credit was first offered because legislative funding made up almost 80 percent of the budget, Fabianke said. Now legislative funding contributes about 25 percent
See DUAL CREDIT, Page 7
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
With more than $60,000, this year’s annual pledge drive in support of campus radio station KSYM 90.1 reached a record high. The annual pledge drive, which ended Sunday, is the 23rd in the station’s 50 years. While the final tally is yet to be determined, the KSYM staff is excited about the results. KSYM’s Program Director James “Hot Mustard” Velten said the annual goal has been $50,000 and this year’s donations have been exceptional. “The staff and all the volunteers work more during the week of pledge drive because we all understand the importance of college radio,” Velten said. Pledged donations can be brought to the KSYM studio Monday through Thursday in Room 201 of Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building. The KSYM studio hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday morning, the station was visited by President Robert
Vela, and former president Robert Ziegler, both of whom were guests on Velten’s show, “The Sauce,” and made donations to the radio station. Funds from the pledge drive will be used to pay expenses, such as music licensing fees and equipment for the station. For more information, call 210486-1373.