Middlesex County College

Division of Science, Mathematics

and Health Technologies

This academic year, 2005-2006, marked a period of passages and progress for the Division of Science, Mathematics and Health Technologies. The new administration of Dr. Joann LaPerla-Morales, MCC President, and Dr. Karen Hays, MCC Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, heralded in a new outlook and direction for the College, focused on stabilizing the full-time faculty ranks, increasing student enrollment and supporting the financial basis of the College. To recognize the growth in science, mathematics and health technologies programs and to replace retiring faculty members, the Division was granted ten tenured-track faculty lines to seek new instructors committed to the community college mission and ideals. Replacements were definitely needed for the retirements of long-standing faculty members including:

* Ms. Carol Avelsgaard, Mathematics Department
* Dr. Harvey Braverman, Mathematics Department
* Dr. Dominic Macchia, Chemistry and Physics Department
* Ms. Doris Morgan, Biology Department
* Ms. Millicent Nicholas, Radiography Department
* Ms. Georgina Vastola, Mathematics Department

The Division also experienced a transition in administration with Professor Margaret Przygoda’s return to faculty after 10 years of stellar leadership as Biology Department Chair and the selection by the department of Dr. George Allen as the new chair. Kudos to Ms. Przygoda and the entire Biology Department for years of technology innovation and superb biology teaching service to the College. Ms. Przygoda was duly recognized by a national organization, called the Chair Academy, with a 2006 International Exemplary Leader Award for her outstanding guidance of the Biology Department over these past years.

A significant nursing program transition is presently in the works at the College, as the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) has decided to relinquish its partnerships in undergraduate nursing, both at the associate and baccalaureate levels. Thus, the Joint UMDNJ-MCC Nursing Program will gradually phase out, and this year the last cohort of 40 nursing students was admitted for the Fall 2006 semester. In the meantime, MCC will be entering a new partnership with the Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) to continue the Associate Degree in Nursing Program from Fall 2007 onward. RBMC is no stranger to MCC, as we presently host their students in general elective and science courses under the Charles E. Gregory School banner. Much work is in order to coordinate the new partnership in terms of nursing curriculum, student procedures and policies, and arrangement of facilities, as the main nursing instruction chores will now be handled by RBMC. A deep and abiding gratitude goes to the former and present UMDNJ nursing faculty, staff and administration for all these solid years of dedicated nursing instruction and clinical experiences. Over these many years, the average Nursing Board Certification for the Registered Nursing (RN) License averaged 95%. A superb model of commitment to our nursing students over the years is exemplified by retiring nursing faculty, Ms. Sandy Kregeloh, who dedicated over 30 years to the former MCC Nursing Program and to the existing, but soon to end, Joint UMDNJ-MCC Nursing Program. Many good memories will linger as the UMDNJ-MCC Nursing partnership phases out.

With one passage occurring, another renewal took place. The Dental Hygiene Department successfully proceeded to re-accreditation from the American Dental Association (ADA) beginning with a site visitation by the ADA team in December 2005. As a result of the review of the self-study report and the site visitation, the ADA team rendered a positive preliminary report with only two minor citations and one major commendation for the dedication and focus of the dental hygiene faculty. Final accreditation review will be forthcoming at the Commission of Dental Accreditation meeting in July 2006. Congratulations to the entire Dental Hygiene Department.

Significant milestones were achieved by the following divisional faculty members in terms of promotions and sabbatical leaves recently approved by the Board of Trustees for the coming year:

Promotions:

The students in the division continue to receive generous support for their studies through scholarships encouraging them towards scholastic excellence and the completion of their academic and career goals. This year over $200,000 of scholarship support was provided by the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, and many other individual benefactors, such as Rose Channing-Danzis, Sam Landis, the Siperstein family, and the JFK Medical Center Auxiliary. For example, approximately 100 divisional students pursuing health-related majors were granted over $115,000 from the Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies. The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation donated $50,000 to assist about 30 students in the Nursing and Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Treatment programs. Students in the division also benefited from the STARS Program, established by the State, for tuition support for the top 20% of graduates from local school districts.

With such scholarship support and faculty-staff guidance and encouragement, many students excelled in scholastic endeavors and activities. In Fall 2005, 105 students achieved the Dean’s List, while 39 received Letters of Commendation (high scholastic achievement including developmental courses). In Spring 2006, 125 students attained the Dean’s List, while 47 received Letters of Commendation. As an example of student achievement at the departmental level, 83% of the 24 Dental Hygiene seniors graduated with honors with an average GPA of 3.45. The highlight of the year was the selection of dental hygienist Priya Kannusamy to deliver the student address at the May 2006 Commencement ceremonies. She achieved the highest GPA in the Dental Hygiene program while dealing with great personal and family challenges. Her touching and moving commencement address was an inspiring and powerful message to her fellow students. This year’s Dental Hygiene seniors achieved over 96% passing rate on their National Board examination. Likewise in the nursing area, over 97% of the graduates passed the NCLEX Board Certification Examination.

In the Radiography Education Department, Joan McCaffrey achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA and the Frank M. Chambers Award for Academic Achievement at the May Graduation ceremonies. Callan Ho (Class of 2006) achieved 2nd place in the Student X-Ray Bowl during the annual NJSRT meeting in Atlantic City. Donna Dombrowski received the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Clinical Excellence Award. In the science area, three Biology students, Karolina Jurkiewicz, Evelyn Negreros, and Rita Ochengo, successfully completed the Research in Biology Course (BIO 240) at Rutgers, Rider and Princeton Universities. Their seminar presentations were excellent and spoke well of the strong research experiences afforded by our connections to New Jersey research universities. In fact, this summer two students, Zobia Dar and Karolina Jurkiewicz, received summer research fellowships of $3,200 by the Center for Bio-Inorganic Chemistry (CEBIC) at Princeton University to continue their laboratory research experiments. Nicholas Friia, a Chemistry Transfer student, received the Jeffrey Hochbaum Memorial Scholarship to pursue a career in Pharmacy. At the Divisional Awards ceremony, Ramla Jamali received the Renato Romano Award for the highest GPA in the Science Transfer Programs. In the mathematics area, a team of three students (Peter Martini, Stephanie Osinski and Tian Lu Xue) placed third in the Mid Atlantic Region of the national AMATYC Math League Competition, while Hadi Halim earned the Problem of the Week Award. Our very own divisional administrative assistant, Stephanie DeSantis, also achieved academic success, graduating with highest honors at the May 2006 ceremonies. She had previously received The Outstanding Student Award in Office Administration, donated by the Office Administration Department Faculty, at the Division of Business, Computer Science and Engineering Technologies Excellence Awards celebration in April.

The faculty, staff and administrators of the division continue to undertake research, outreach and grant-related activities. The NSF Project in Environmental Sustainability, lead by Dr. Reginald Luke as Principal Investigator, completed four webquest modules on the Highlands Watershed, the Meadowlands and the Xanadu Project, Renewable Energy Sources in New Jersey, and Sustainable Communities in the State. These modules were piloted in the classroom and were unveiled and disseminated at the Sustainability Summit at Princeton University on March 31, 2006. Dr. Diane Trainor (Chemistry and Physics Chair) organized the Highlands Watershed team and Professor Barbara Bogner (Biology) assisted in the Meadowlands and the Xanadu module development, under the creative title of “Xanadu or Xanadu Don’t.” Dr. Gail Becker (Chemistry and Physics) was able to pilot the Renewable Energy module in her environmental science classes and give important feedback on the content and impact of that sustainability module. Work on disseminating the four webquest modules will continue next year with presentations at national conferences and plans to implement the modules in the curriculum at local New Jersey institutions.

Professor Barbara Bogner (Biology) and Dr. Janet Lansinger (Chemistry and Physics) served as faculty mentors for eight student peer leaders in the Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) project in Anatomy and Physiology I and General Chemistry, respectively. Preliminary results show significant retention in these courses and overall improved performances for the PLTL sections, notably, more students achieving passing grades and greater student support and classroom camaraderie. Ms. Bogner has received continued support from a grant from the Retail Services Corporation to extend the PLTL project into the Fall 2006.

Dr. Virender Kanwal and Dr. Lucia Tillotson, both of the Biology Department, received prestigious grants from the Princeton University Center for Bio-Inorganic Chemistry (CEBIC) to pursue 8 weeks of summer scientific research experiments. Also from the Biology Department, Dr. Olubayi Olubayi and Dr. Uma Narayanan presented DNA Technology workshops for high school teachers in May and will be conducting two-week workshops in this technology for high school students this summer. Dr. Tillotson also presented a workshop on “The Mystery of the Crooked Cell.”

Dr. Diane Trainor, Chemistry and Physics Department Chair, continues to serve as a member of the National Visiting Committee for the Advancement of Process Technology (CAPT). CAPT is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and is dedicated to promoting two-year programs that prepare students for employment as process technicians in the chemical, refining, and pharmaceutical industries. CAPT and the Greater New Jersey Process Technology Alliance have been very supportive of the local process technology curriculum and activities. This past year, the Chemistry and Physics Department was the recipient of generous support form both Exxon/Mobil and ConocoPhillips for equipment and scholarships for students in the Process Technology Program.

On a more international scientific level, Dr. Trainor and Professor Erin Christensen (Biology Department) had the wonderful opportunity to represent MCC at an exchange faculty visitation to Lausatz University in Senftenberg, Germany, during the March 2006 Spring Break. This cross Atlantic relationship was established through a grant developed by Dr. Virgil Blanco, in his role as a Fulbright Scholar studying European politics and systems. During the visit Dr. Trainor was able to share information about our NSF sustainability education efforts in New Jersey and Professor Christensen discussed recent development in biotechnology at MCC. A return visitation by Lausatz University faculty and administrators is anticipated in September 2006.

Professor Josephine Lamela (Chemistry and Physics) has continued work on TechXploration, a NSF sponsored program, to promote scientific and technical careers for teenage female students. Professor Lamela is also co-chairing the Periodic Review Steering Committee and the Assessment Committee for the Middle States Re-accreditation Process. Members of the Chemistry and Physics Department graciously participated in the New Jersey State Science Olympiad Finals as experiment organizers and monitors, held at MCC on March 14, 2006. Divisional faculty also generously devoted their time and technical skills to present at the various events sponsored by the MCC Office of School Relations for local district teachers and their students, including MathPlus workshops, Creative Classroom demonstrations and Technology Day professional development offerings.

Project ESTEEMS (ESTablishing Educational Excellence in Mathematics and Science) completed its first summer institutes and continued activities in Geometry (at MCC) and in the Physics of Light (at Rutgers University) last year. Ms. Darlene Yoseloff, Director of the MCC Office of School Relations, Dr. Maria DeLucia, Mathematic Department Chair, and Dean Reginald Luke have been intensely involved in the planning and conducting of ESTEEMS teacher training and classroom observation activities. The second year of ESTEEMS commenced with another cohort of middle school teachers, this time studying Algebra in the Mathematics Institute at MCC and Earth Science at the Science session at Rutgers. Dr. Luke has also been involved in the evaluation and assessment portion of the program. Plans are in the works for a third year of grant support from the New Jersey Department of Education.

In the Psychosocial Rehabilitation area, Nora Barrett, Department Chairperson of the Joint UMDNJ-MCC program, was re-elected to the Governing Board of the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. She also received a five-year grant from the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration to fund scholarships for PSR students at the AS and BS levels. Amy Spagnolo, faculty member in the PSR Department, also secured a grant through the UMDNJ Academic Information Technology Advisory Committee for a project entitled, “Innovative Strategies to Meet the Health Care Needs of People with Psychiatric Disabilities.” Ms. Spagnolo coauthored an article for the American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation entitled, “Enhancing Individual Placement and Support: Promoting Job Tenure by Integrating Natural Supports and Supported Education.” In the same journal Ms. Barrett authored the article, “Establishing a Consortium of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Educators.”

On behalf of the Nursing Program, Dr. Dawn Kozlowski, Assistant Dean for the Joint UMDNJ-MCC Nursing Program, received a $90,000 Nursing Camp grant from the Commission of Higher Education to develop a mentoring-tutoring enrichment program for associate degree nursing students at MCC. Activities include pre-nursing experience seminars, tutoring and mentoring in the nursing area and a continual review of nursing content to meet the learning styles needs of nursing students. Dr. Kozlowski and Ms. Janice Aloi, ASN Nursing faculty, have both achieved Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) status this past year.

Mr. Albert Snopek, Radiography Education Department Chair, completed the 5th edition of “Fundamentals of Special Radiographic Procedures.” He presently serves as a member of the Competency Based Clinical Education Task Force for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Ms. Kim Krapels, Radiography Education Department faculty member, coordinated the Emma Wolf Memorial Student Bee Competition at the Annual NJSRT Convention. She also chaired the NJ Educators in Radiologic Imaging scholarship committee.

Important community service events this year included the third annual “Give Kids a Smile” day (February 3, 2006) in which approximately 120 children, ages 12 years and under, received dental examinations, fillings, sealants, X-rays, prophies, fluoride treatments and education, about $80,000 work of services all free of charge. Through the generous effort of the entire Dental Hygiene Department, volunteer dentists, hygienists and assistants, and with the sponsorship of the American Dental Association and the NJ Dental Association, this community outreach project impacted the dental care of so many kids who generally lack access to such care.

The first annual “Jeff’s Bike-a-Thon for Health Sciences Education” took place on September 18, 2006. The event raised $2,000 for the Professor Jeffrey Hochbaum Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Divisional Council continues to be ably led in a second year of leadership by Dr. Anthony Matagrano (Mathematics) as Chair, Dr. Virender Kanwal (Biology) as Vice Chair, Ms. Ellen Dikun (Radiography) as Secretary, and Ms. Kim Krapels (Radiography) as Treasurer/Caterer. Besides handling curriculum review for divisional coursework and programs, the council also sponsors faculty-student gatherings and presentations on current topics of interest. This year the division heard about Avian Flu from Dr. Sherry Wolpert, Epidemiologist from the Middlesex County Health Department.

This year the Division made notable equipment purchases through Minor Capital and Perkins Vocational Education allocations. The Biology Department used funds to replace older biology models, and it is anticipated that the computers in various biology laboratories will be replaced. The Dental Hygiene Department secured 48 mobile cabinets, 4 radiography chairs and a new automatic film processor. Also planned are purchases of a panoramic phantom head manikin, a digital radiography system, a new intraoral camera and four cavitron ultrasonic scalers. The Chemistry and Physics Department received a labline (safety) refrigerator, Passport Chemistry Entry Bundle (equipment needed to support software on laptops used in chemistry), student grating spectrometers, resonance apparatus and 12 computers in the Physics labs. The Medical Laboratory Technology Department obtained external hard drives to store Kodachrome image scans to better assist students in the visualization of various human cells. The Radiography Education Department continued the reconstruction of the X-ray rooms in L’Hommedieu Hall, in expectation of obtaining a second digital radiography set to replace the present unrepairable equipment.

Looking forward to next year, the Division faces many challenges that it is eager to encounter and handle. Foremost is the planning and preparation for an orderly transition in the Nursing Program as the College changes partners from UMDNJ to Raritan Bay Medical Center. Issues with curriculum, personnel, support services, facilities and equipment are presently being tackled by several committees. It is anticipated that a class of 70 students will be admitted to the new Nursing Program in Fall 2007. Program growths in the other health related programs in the division will also be monitored and encouraged, as more and more students discover meaningful careers in healthcare and medicine. New health related areas, such as Dental Assisting, MRI and Nuclear Medicine, loom as distinct possibilities.

New curriculum and technologies for the science and mathematics programs will also be a divisional priority as the division intends to remain progressive to a changing world and receptive to the varying academic and employment needs of its students. One example of a promising program is Chemical Process Technology, as the stresses and strains of energy development, consumption and conservation cannot be avoided in this day and age. The study of renewable energy sources, especially in New Jersey, cannot be overlooked in light of undeniable evidence of global warming. And the need for environmental sustainability has been ably highlighted by the divisional-led NSF-funded Sustainable Education Webquest Project. Delivering relevant and timely curriculum to our students in the most enthusiastic and compelling manner continues to be the overriding mission of our division.