Sammy's Blog

The Years....

2011-10-19T22:06:00.002-04:00

The years teach much which the days never knew. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Luna Lovegood

2011-07-28T22:51:00.000-04:00

I've never been to this part of the castle. Well, not awake. I sleepwalk, you see. That's why I wear shoes to bed.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle Celebrates Diversity

2011-01-13T21:10:00.003-05:00

First Diversity Day to promote scholarships

Picture of Minister Walton, Pastor Thornton, and Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle

Landesberg-Boyle Transfomed FKCC

2010-05-03T22:29:00.002-04:00

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle was instrumental in transforming FKCC from failing to thriving:

Quote from Edgardo Alvarado-Vazques, Humanities and Foreign Languages

"Dr. Landesberg-Boyle has been instrumental in the success of this college, transforming it form a low enrollment community college and rebranding it as a center for excellence in the Florida Keys. Examples of her success can be seen in our enrollment numbers, improved curriculum and new funding sources outside of state appropriations."

Truth...

2010-04-06T20:56:00.001-04:00

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.

---Winston Churchill

Thoughts..

2010-03-22T21:47:00.000-04:00

Action will remove the doubts that theory cannot solve. ~Tehyi Hsieh

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle Creates a 100K in Savings

2010-03-16T22:46:00.002-04:00

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle saves FKCC $100K a year by getting the staff to turn out the lights!! Can you imagine how much money we can save through simple measures like this applied at home, in our workplace, in our public buildings....

OK, maybe it was a bit more than turning out the lights, but not all that much more. Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle, started through a simple communications to all employees asking for their help in conservation measures, turn out the lights, turn off computers, etc.. The maintenance team incorporated an energy check into their rounds and at the end of the day all student computers were turned off.. Beyond these simple manual measures, timers were incorporated on public TV's and lighting sensors were used in public area's. Over time light bulbs were replaced with more efficient lighting and new energy efficient equipment was phased in. Even the shower were fitted with water conservation shower heads, which were provided for free from the County Water Authority.

None of these changes are hard or expensive, and yet clearly they are effective. Keep up the good work Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle.

Unprecedented Gift to Dive Program

2010-03-10T21:08:00.002-05:00

In 2009 when the recession was at it's peak, Dr Jill Landesberg-Boyle was able to bring an unprecedented $1 million bequest to FKCC from the James E. Lockwood Estate. This gift enabled to college to expand it's diving program into a nationally recognized curriculum rather having to face cut-backs.

FKCC being a community college has a mission for workforce development. This bequest enables FKCC to offer education on underwater welding, hyperbaric medicine, port security, coral reef mapping and coral reef restorations.

Furthermore, there is no doubt that Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle success with bringing this gift to the college, set the college up for further success and funding. The $1 million bequest enabled FKCC to further invest in the diving programing, giving it national recognition and the resources to support larger initiatives.

At the end of 2009 Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle received fantastic news from Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The Federal Appropriation for the IUTS project, that Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle, Bill Chalfant, Dr. Patrick Rice, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were working to bring to FKCC was approved.

An Outstanding Educator and Administrator - Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle

2010-03-02T20:22:00.002-05:00

Quote from Dr. Susanne Woods, Provost Emerita, Wheaton College, MA

I worked with Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle on a couple of projects, and can attest that she is an outstanding educator and administrator, who took our local Florida Keys Community College from sure-failure to substantial success, including rising enrollments and exciting new programs. These latter include a new partnership with the Navy for diving and marine programs, accompanied by a $2 million federal grant.

Branding and a Web Presence

2010-02-22T21:04:00.002-05:00

Students live in the internet age with an expectation of easy access to information through the web. The exceptions in this area continue to rise from adherence to user design conventions, and thoughtful information organization to an exception of a rich multi-media experience.

If a college is to compete for students in this day and age, then your web presence is an important component in that competition. The college's web pretense is typically the students first impression of the college and can certainly break the deal.

When Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle started her presidency at FKCC the website was in need of an update. It did not adhere to current design conventions, but more importantly the information was spread over a number of separate silo's that were bolted together making it hard to find information. It is often said that consistency is quality and with the multiple silo's consistency was hard to find.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle recognized the web as a critical component in re-branding the college and contracted Third Wave Digital to redesign the website. Third Wave Digital delivered an interactive site featuring embedded media presentations such as video tours, interactive maps, and slide shows. The site is cutting edge, well organized, and visually pleasing.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle, was thrilled with the site and said, “Students, Faculty and Staff are blown away by the work Third Wave did and how full of life our web site is now. Everyone is proud to give out their web address because they know when that student, potential student or community member hits the link they can not help themselves but to be as excited about Florida Keys Community College as we are... In the words of one of our students, with this website, we are “unstoppable!” ....Third Wave Digital is a huge part of our new, invigorated life at FKCC and we consider Third Wave a big part of why we are now the fastest growing community college in the Florida system!”

Dr Jill Landesberg-Boyle Brought Much Needed Change

2010-02-11T20:25:00.005-05:00

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle was a change agent for FKCC, which was sorely in need change.

Before	After
Vote of no confidence by the faculty in both the past president and the vice president for academic affairs (who applied to be the next president (to begin in 2007) FTE Losing 50 FTE (about 150 students) a year for the past 10 years Recruitment No response to students who inquired about enrolling Nursing Faculty Had resigned in protest Salaries Among the lowest in the state; special “bonuses” that seemed arbitrary and capricious Culture According to a State Task Force: One of obstacles not opportunities Budget More expenses planned than revenues Performance Issues Last in state for retention and graduation (Miami Herald, Summer 2007) Students unable to get classes Faculty office hours being ignored by some unscrupulous faculty members	Vote of confidence from faculty for Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle Enrollment Double that of the average for the state community college system Foundation Gifts more than doubled - Brought in over $2 million dollars from 2007-2009 Federal Appropriation $2.24 Million announced in December 2009 Performance benchmarks Marked improvement in performance benchmarks Student Government Association (SGA) First SGA is inaugurated by the new president Salaries Faculty salaries improved on average 17% in the first year of Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle’s tenure

Before

After

Vote of no confidence by the faculty in both the past president and the vice president for academic affairs (who applied to be the next president (to begin in 2007)

FTE

Losing 50 FTE (about 150 students) a year for the past 10 years

Recruitment

No response to students who inquired about enrolling

Nursing Faculty

Had resigned in protest

Salaries

Among the lowest in the state; special “bonuses” that seemed arbitrary and capricious

Culture

According to a State Task Force: One of obstacles not opportunities

Budget

More expenses planned than revenues

Performance Issues

Last in state for retention and graduation (Miami Herald, Summer 2007)
Students unable to get classes
Faculty office hours being ignored by some unscrupulous faculty members

Vote of confidence from faculty for Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle

Enrollment

Double that of the average for the state community college system

Foundation

Gifts more than doubled - Brought in over $2 million dollars from 2007-2009

Federal Appropriation

$2.24 Million announced in December 2009

Performance benchmarks

Marked improvement in performance benchmarks

Student Government Association (SGA)

First SGA is inaugurated by the new president

Salaries

Faculty salaries improved on average 17% in the first year of Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle’s tenure

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle an Innovator and Visionary

2010-02-07T11:49:00.002-05:00

From Dr. John Kehoe, VP Business, FKCC

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle is an innovator and a visionary. She understands the changing needs of students and the community and has the ability to translate that vision into reality. Her proven track record of this at Florida Keys Community College (FKCC) transformed FKCC from a sleepy institution to a dynamic force for the region and the state. On all levels she has excelled in the state and board mandate she was charged with upon her arrival.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle increased recruitment, attracting students from around the country. Her efforts in working with the faculty to change the schedule to a more student-centered effort was also incredibly successfully, moving the average student credit hours taken from 8 credits per student to over 11 credits per student overnight. Current and future applications are up exponentially.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle also worked with our shared governance system to improve and increase academic programs. Her fundraising efforts doubled the gifts the institution received. With faculty team members, she introduced an agenda for Federal grants, bringing in assistance to provide the needed professional development to support the faculty in this effort. She led Federal appropriation efforts and worked with the State in construction of the first new building on campus in 17 years. Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle beautified the campus and worked with the legislature to enable the construction of the first new student housing on campus. Additionally she led energy saving measures saving the campus tens of thousands of dollars. The new and exciting partnerships she fostered, moved the college into the forefront on several critical initiatves to assist our community and marine industries. All of this within two years time!

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle is a caring, understanding, and exceptional professional with ability and talent who excels in all aspects of higher education. She not only has the knowledge, drive and determination to transform an institution but also has the capability to raise its performance to the next level. A person with such a combination of attributes only comes along only once in a lifetime.

Keys Friends Writes For Dr.Jill Landesberg-Boyle

2010-02-04T23:50:00.003-05:00

Dr.Jill Landesberg-Boyle has been an inspiration to a college that had previously been in decline for a number of years. Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle has not only been a change agent but one who has literally transformed this institution from a sleepy backwater school to one that is in the forefront of new and exciting ventures characterized significantly increases in enrollment, new programs, initiatives, buildings and a federal earmark that has brought this school into the big leagues.

Having known Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle for over 7 years, I can truly attest to the fact that Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle has been the difference between status quo and dynamic achievement in every place she has been. Dr. Landesberg-Boyle has dramatically improved every aspect of our previously struggling institution, and all in the face of a continued state funding decline. If you are looking for someone who is extremely capable in every facet of higher education who can take your institution to the next level, she's the one.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle is very bright, articulate, analytical and caring and will give your institution 200%. Someone like Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle only comes around once in a lifetime, if you are lucky. Don't pass up this opportunity.

Dr Jill Landesberg-Boyle Demonstrated Success

2010-02-01T22:53:00.003-05:00

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle's career includes a long record of demonstrated success in increasingly responsible higher education positions. Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle began early on as an undergraduate resident assistant, which led to a position as a residence life professional. She then moved to Los Angeles upon graduating from my doctoral studies and eventually moved from a director to a dean position. Ultimately, Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle advanced into a vice presidency and, now, a presidency. Throughout the years, She have instructed numerous classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. These classes include Organizational Behavior and Leadership for MBA students, freshmen seminars, leadership courses, honors classes, and numerous multicultural classes within the graduate and undergraduate programs within the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Early in Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle's' career, she was approached to design and serve as founding advisor for an honors residential program. That program, the University of Massachusetts Residential Honors program, has grown and flourished. This experience convinced Dr. Landesberg-Boyle that colleges can and should offer transcendent opportunities leading to tangible student learning outcomes. In step with that vision, Dr. Landesberg-Boyle designed and fostered service-learning and student leadership programs to help students become vested in their educational experience and improve completion rates. While vice president for student affairs at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle worked on a model retention program featured in National On-Campus Report. That work attracted site visits from other institutions, such as Kent State University, seeking to replicate the program.

In Support of Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle

2010-01-30T10:20:00.007-05:00

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle moved FKCC from a sleepy forgotten college, to an invigorated, vibrant, thriving college.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle brought in the largest private donation for FKCC of $1 million dollars.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle brought in the first Federal Earmark, in which FKCC will share in 2.24 million dollar.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle did not stop their, she worked with the sheriffs department so the school could receive confiscated items and brought in other countless smaller donations.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle instituted conservation programs saving the college $100K a year.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle raised enrollment by 20% making FKCC the fasted growing college in the Florida state system.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle formed partnerships that enable the college to offer 4 year degrees.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle formed partnerships with the business community providing solid workforce training initiatives.
Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle participated in countless community service program including help for at risk girls, community fundraising, and green initiatives.

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle and FKCC Dive Program

2010-01-29T00:32:00.003-05:00

Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle has taken a hidden gem at FKCC and exposed it for it's brilliance. The dive program at FKCC and had an infusion of money, new partnerships with the Navy, and expanded world class staff. Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle recognized this hidden gem at FKCC as one of the most unique and compelling components that FKCC could offer. The dive program has an incredible asset in Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle.

Jill Landeberg-Boyle and Hodges

2010-01-21T19:51:00.003-05:00

Through the leadership of Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle, Hodges University has an agreement with FKCC that will allow any associate degree student to go directly to a Bachelor’s program, providing they have fulfilled the credit requirements.

“When I met with the local Chamber yesterday and told them about this articulation agreement, they started applauding,” said Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle, President of FKCC.

In a reference to the accelerated degree completion program,
"It’s going to make a huge difference.” said, Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle.

Software Development

2010-01-14T21:40:00.004-05:00

I used to think it was strange to hear people compare software development to building a house, but over time I've found my self constantly using analogies to construction to help people understand what software development is and what is involved in developing applications.

The average layperson has a hard time understanding what is software development/programming/applications development is. The reality is that there are many different types of applications development with extremely complex and specialized skills. Not unlike construction and architecture, which has many different applications from housing, bridges, to sky scrapers and cruse ship construction. In all of these applications are the specialties we all know of, from electrical and pluming to the more obscure like concrete specialist. Some skills/specialties are higher paid than others. For example the architect team on a project is highly paid in comparison to the dry wall crew.

While all this seems like a rather simple comparison, the point is that applications development is an extremely diverse landscape and a software development project can be very similar to a construction project.

I'll continue to blog about this with more specific examples...

Opinion Story of the Year and Jill Landesberg-Boyle

2010-01-13T21:34:00.003-05:00

I found this article on education in Key West very interesting and at the same time horrifying. Here Rhonda Linseman-Saunders talks about how a teacher that beat a student faced no repercussion. About a finance directory that blew the whistle on embezzlement got fired and about how Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle was railroaded because she demoted the then mayor McPherson's brother. The major used his influence to get his sister on the board. The major was not reelected, but the damage was already done.

Let it Snow?

2010-01-06T19:47:00.004-05:00

Not!!! It's early in the winter season, but I'm already done with it...and ready for spring. I've got to be careful with the attitude, however, or Mother Nature may just continue to pile it on...

Anyhow, been keeping pretty busy workin', catchin up on Lost, Season 5...to get ready for the 6th and final season. Still haven't seen Avatar. While I don't do well with 3-D movies, nausea-wise, I'm led to believe that's the only way to see Avatar.

Update - Saw Avatar, it was fantastic.