Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

May 15, 2007
Location: Flanagan Campus
Time of Meeting: 8:00am

In Attendance: Susan Agresta, Charlie Alexandre, Marcia Bliss, Margaret Clifton, Bill Cummings, Michael Cunningham, Lynne Dunphy, Marilyn Horan, Diane LaBrie, Nancy Lancaster, Jeanette Matrone, Maureen McGarry, Michael Paruta, Ruth Ricciarelli, Jay Spitulnik, Ray Thurber, Paula Viau, Bill White

Absent: John Aflague, Margaret Austin, Rebecca Burke, Sherri Carello, Linda Damon, Cheryl Dellafratte, Diane D’Errico, Joanne Dooley, Carmela Falco, Dorothy Garman, Kathleen Gazzola, Lois Ginsberg, Jose Gonzalez, Hugh Hall, Nancy Houle, Cheryl Jollie, Carol Lamoureux, Shelley MacDonald, Maureen Maigret, Helene Martin, Marie Martone, Pam McCue, Yvette Mendez, Lela Morgan, Patricia O’Donnell, Paulette Osterman, Dana Palka, Stephen Paull, Donna Policastro, Joseph Polisena, Barbara Riley, Jean Marie Rocha, Kim Rouillier-Creely, Al Santos, Barbara Seagrave, Marilynne Soscia, Ruth Sullivan, Jane Williams

Meeting Called to order by Jeanette Matrone at 8:15am.

TOPIC	DISCUSSION	OUTCOME
1. Minutes of last meeting (May 15, 2007)		Approved
2. Request for additions to the agenda.		No new items were added.
3. Report from Jeanette Matrone, Grant Program Manager A. The 7th quarterly report	Jeanette reviewed the progress of the grant during the 7th quarter. Jeanette reported that SNAP added 98 students (plus 25 for the fall semester) to meet the grant's expansion goals. Marcia Bliss addressed the issue of faculty capacity building. Jeanette explained that grant objectives indicate that number of graduates must increase by 10% and that the grant has exceeded this objective. Jeanette reported that the grant's budget modifications have been approved by the Department of Labor and Training.
3B. Workforce Innovations Conference	Regarding future grants, Jeanette said that, at this conference, it was said that network initiatives must be in place prior to seeking grant funding. Dean McGarry added that CCRI is in full support of this concept. Jeanette gave a brief overview of a new grant she was aware of that would be a good follow-up to the current grant. She expressed to those present what commitments would be needed in order to apply for a new grant. Nancy Lancaster discussed a Veteran's Administration proposal that focuses on paying for teachers. She said she would share the outcomes when they are available to her.
4. Report from Maureen McGarry, Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences	Dean McGarry reported that there were approximately 450 nursing students registered for the fall semester. She added that there is a critical need for coverage; nine adjunct faculty positions need to be filled. She implored those present from Lifespan, Care New England and other Health Care Organizations for assistance with this critical shortage.
5. SNAP	Jeanette asked for volunteers who would email her a paragraph describing an example of a success story regarding SNAP. Margaret Clifton announced that out of the 98 SNAP students, 3 of them withdrew, 11 students failed the academic portion of 1010, 4 failed clinical and 1 failed math. A discussion began regarding a perceived sense of entitlement from the students. Dean McGarry reported that Magna Publications will be having a teleconference on student behavior. Jeanette said that this subject would fall under faculty development in the grant and asked the Dean to forward any information to her.
6. Literacy issues	Jeanette asked if there was a need for faculty development of any kind, including dealing with literacy issues. No one expressed a need for help from the grant.
7. Best Practice Event	Jeanette explained that Massachusetts works with waivers (individuals who want to be clinical faculty apply for waivers of the MSN). They have been successful with this method. Jeanette proposed getting together an ad hoc group to work on a best practice event. She asked for volunteers to form an ad hoc group. Volunteers are Marilyn Horan, Maureen McGarry, Pam McCue (to be asked), and Lynn Dunphy.
8. Meeting schedule	The upcoming meetings are scheduled as follows. All are at 8:00 am; all are in the Rear Faculty Dining Room on the Flanagan campus: October 30, 2007 December 18, 2007
9. Save the Date	Jay Spitulnik (LifeSpan) and Mike Paruta (Woman & Infants Hospital) announced a follow up meeting to last year's Work Force Summit. It will be held at Butler Hospital on November 15, 2007 and will address, among other issues, the aging workforce.
10. Adjournment	The meeting adjourned at 9:30 am.

Minutes Taken by Susan Agresta.

*PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view - Download here