FROM THE PRESIDENT
PHSC campuses are full of activity and excitement as we kick off our 2017-18 academic year and the College’ s 45 th anniversary. PHSC’ s brand new Bobcat mascot has been unleashed, new programs are up and running and the enthusiasm expressed by our faculty, staff and students is contagious. I am proud of the College’ s dramatic growth and many accomplishments in four and a half decades and I believe that 2017-18 will be another banner year for PHSC.
Like all organizations, PHSC has benefited from careful planning. The College’ s 2020 Strategic Plan, crafted by administrators in 2012-14, served as a blueprint to facilitate the success of students and the community. Since the original plan was drafted, milestones reached include the establishment of the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, the introduction of two bachelor’ s degrees, the expansion of several associate degree programs, the development of innovative award-winning Student Affairs’ retention and completion initiatives, and the re-assessment of the College’ s vision and mission statement.
As I begin my third year as PHSC president, PHSC continues to refine plans and update goals, making significant progress in integral areas of the College’ s development. Student pilots are already logging flight hours in our professional pilot program, which just launched this fall, with other aviation programs ready to take off. Our new cybersecurity program is also an exciting new addition to our curriculum. The ever-popular Associate in Arts degree is gaining even more momentum with the introduction of FUSE, a program that directly connects students to specific degree paths at the University of South Florida. Our dual enrollment program grew by nearly 25 percent since last fall, demand for bachelor’ s degrees is growing and the college continuously drafts new programs with the school districts including pathways for the performing arts high school in Pasco County.
A Faculty Professional Development Institute was established, programs like the fire science and Educator Preparation Institute have been re-established with impressive results, graduation rates are climbing, and faculty, staff and students are more diverse than anytime in PHSC history. As we develop stackable STEM programs, continue to build articulation agreements with other colleges and universities, and attract record Foundation assets and distribute more scholarships, PHSC has been recognized as one of the most cost efficient colleges in the nation and was honored with the Governor’ s Leadership Award for making the greatest gains in the state’ s performance measures. PHSC’ s many goals and strategies underscore the administration’ s efforts that have made PHSC a maturing“ student ready” institution.
Our dedicated district board of trustees, generous donors, distinguished alums, hardworking administrators, faculty, staff, and students form a vibrant collegiate community that fuels the success of our district and impacts the lives of many future generations. Whatever your role, thank you for being a member of the PHSC family
Best wishes,
Timothy L. Beard. Ph. D. PHSC President
4 PHSC Perspective
SEPTEMBER 2017
PASCO-HERNANDO STATE COLLEGE
President Timothy L. Beard, Ph. D.
PHSC District Board of Trustees Chair Rao Musunuru, M. D. Vice Chair Robin Schneider Members Morris R. Porton Edward C. Blommel Marilyn Pearson-Adams Ardian Zika Jeffrey Harrington, Ph. D. Alvaro Hernandez
PHSC Foundation Board of Directors OFFICERS Chair Skip Miller Vice-Chair Greg Lenners Secretary Kenneth R. Burdzinski Treasurer Ronald J. May, CFP ® EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE( Members at-large) Daniel Abou-Jaoude Andrew Barnes Thomas E. Barnette Rao Musunuru, M. D. R. Seth Mann, Esq., CPA, CFP ® Monica Mills Donald K. Vierling, M. D. BOARD MEMBERS C. Russell Adams James“ Jimmy” D. Adcock Michele Baker A. Patricia Barwick, Esq. Barbara-Jo Bell, Esq. Eric G. Brethen Michael Bruno Ronnie L. Deese Parnell Dickinson Joel H. Goldberg D. M. D. Gus Guadagnino Burton Harres, Ph. D. Sean E. Hengesbach, Esq. Steven Hickman Quinn Miller Ronald E. Oakley George Psetas Frank J. Rygiel Walter“ Buddy” E. Selph James W. Smith Leonard B. Sossamon Antonina“ Nina” Vaznelis, Esq. Seth Weightman HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Robert A. Barnett Edward C. Blommel Marc W. Bowman The Honorable Wayne Cobb Wayne R. Coulter James H. Kimbrough, Sr. Niles H. Kinnunen, Jr., D. D. S. Ronald G. Thornton Richard C. Williams, Jr. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR William J. Shustowski Jr., Ph. D.