Yes, Vermonters, There is a Santa Claus..es...

JSC'ers Ellen Hill, Wendy Velander, Martha Lance, and Barbara Lougee (forever a JSCer in our hearts) ran in the 5K Santa Run in Burlington, VT on Dec. 4, 2011. Ho ho ho! Thanks to Ellen Hill for the photos.

Pre-race at the Santa Run

Team JSC

Martha Lance, Barb Lougee, Dayna [friend of JSC], Ellen Hill, Wendy Velander, Jamie [friend of JSC]

The Running of the Santas

We Win, Part 2!!! National Division IV Champs!

We Win!!!

Johnson State Women’s Rugby became New England Rugby Football Champions on Saturday November 12, 2011, winning two hard-fought games against Springfield College (26-10) and Saint Anselm College (17-12). Saint Anselm college was the only school to have a win against JSC during the regular season and JSC paid back them in full with a 17-12 win in the final game. Go Badgers!

Crazy Costume Campus Dash

Ghouls and goblins gathered outside of SHAPE on Monday, October 31 to celebrate the typically sugar-fueled holiday with a healthy dash around campus. Thanks to Mike Osborne for the picture.

Rail Jam

JSC students brought in a little pre-season snow to the campus quad for the annual Rail Jam. This year's event required all participants to "rock some pink" in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Peace

Members of the JSC community gathered at the new clock tower on campus to commemorate International Peace Day. Pictured is campus arts coordinator Leila Bandar, striking a gong 30 times to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this event and to signal the start of a minute of silence. Click here for more pictures from this event.

Official State Closure Map

This comes from Bonnie Waninger of the Lamoille County Planning Commission:

“VTrans and Google have collaborated to create a road closure map for Vermont.

You can find the map at the following address:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=207918639007223745572.0004abbcfd13f9b62a59d

This map is the official State closure map.”

From President Murphy

Thanks to all of you for your patience and helpfulness as we work through our Information Technology challenges.  I am tremendously grateful for your positive attitude and willingness to “go with the flow” as systems get back to normal.

I am pleased to announce that substantial progress has been made.  While the portal (MyJSC.jsc.edu) is still not functioning,
JSC email and Internet access have been restored. In addition, for those who are enrolled in Moodle and online classes,
Moodle is now accessible at https://moodle.vsc.edu.  This means that all online classes, including EDP courses, are now in session.

Please be aware that while considerable functionality has been restored — ahead of schedule, thankfully — connectivity may be sporadic at times. This means you may lose connection from time to time. If that happens, please be patient and know that someone is working on the problem.

Again, thanks for your help. We will update you as additional progress is made.

Tuesday Morning Update (8/30/11)

All of us at JSC  understand how difficult and frustrating the system outage is for everyone. All colleges in the Vermont State Colleges system are affected and are working around the clock to remedy the situation. The IT folks made a lot of progress yesterday, so we are hopeful that systems will be restored soon. Access to Moodle is a top priority.  In answer to specific questions: Professors will be flexible and understanding if you cannot attend class, whether online or on campus. > If you are taking classes on campus or at any EDP site and can safely get to campus or that site, you are expected to attend. JSC on-campus students should call the class-cancellation line to make sure your class is being held, however, as some professors are unable to get to campus as well. That number is 800-635-2356, ext. 8. EDP students should contact their class site to confirm their class is being held. > Online classes (including EDP online classes) are delayed until such time as Internet and portal access is restored. Again, we expect that to be SOON. > The "class attendance" requirement for financial-aid recipients will not be enforced during this time. Status updates will be posted on this Facebook page and at our temporary website at www.jsc.edu. Please check these sites regularly for updates. Of course, once Internet ad portal access is restored, we will notify you via email to your JSC email address and announcements on the portal as well. Please know that people are working around the clock to return systems to normal, and progress is being made. During this time we may have intermittent access to email and the portal, but we will notify you only when access is fully restored. Again, thanks to everyone for their patience, understanding and cooperation during this difficult time.

Update on Post-Tropical Storm Irene Internet/Web Issues

Thanks to the cooperation and goodwill of all, we weathered Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene very well at JSC. The College suffered  minimal property damage, and a few downed trees were removed promptly.  We applaud the level of responsible student conduct throughout our hurricane warnings and the ensuing storm. Classes are running, all College facilities are open, and activities are proceeding as planned.

As you know, our current challenge is re-activating our website, portal and external email communications, which went offline when the Vermont State College’s data center in Waterbury was flooded last night (Sunday). At approximately 8:50 p.m., Stanley Hall (where the VSC data center is located) was evacuated and power was shut off.  At this time, access to the portal (myjsc.jsc.edu) is unavailable both from on- and off-campus locations.  Email is available only to and from JSC.EDU email addresses as long as both the sender and recipient computers are physically located on campus.  All access to the internet from JSC also is down at this time.

Johnson State College is taking the following actions:

·         Our www.jsc.edu website is being re-routed to a temporary site that provides basic information and a way for us to post updates for the public until our Internet presence is fully restored. If you are using campus computers or Ethernet connections on campus, you may continue to access our regular site using www.jsc.vsc.edu.  This on-campus direct link allows you to access the majority of features of the system.

·         The VSC is working closely with Moodle Rooms to provide us with an alternative means of accessing our Course Management System so that students taking online courses may continue uninterrupted.  As soon as this solution is in place, we will notify you of the access method. 

·         The VSC also is working on an alternate means of providing Internet access from the JSC campus.  We will keep you apprised.

·         In addition, we will be making greater use of our Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/JohnsonStateCollege, to share information until this situation is resolved.

As a reminder, adjustments to class schedules will be posted on the class-cancellation telephone line.  You may access this feature by dialing 802-635-2356, then 8.

Despite the storm and the aftermath we are now dealing with, we are off to a good start at JSC. We welcomed 365 new JSC students to campus (including 290 entering first-year students) plus another 125 new students to our off-campus External Degree Program, and we had a wonderful first week. We are looking forward to a productive and enriching year as we move forward.

Thank you for your patience as we work through these issues.

Pardon Our Dust

Change is afoot all over campus. Check out some recent photos of upgrades and renovations at JSC this summer.

JSC in the News: Of Students Current, Incoming, and Outgoing

6.19.11 "Volunteer of the Week: Kelly Jackson" Junior Kelly Jackson's work with the Special Olympics is recognized in the Burlington Free Press.


6.18.11 "I Now Pronounce You Graduated" Academic Dean Dan Regan muses on the importance of getting it right when it comes to pronouncing names at commencement in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

6.16.11 "Young Immigrants Celebrate Success at King Center" The Burlington Free Press covers the celebration organized by incoming JSC first-year student Yessi Gar-ElNabi for international students who graduated high school this year in Burlington.

JSC in the News: JSC and Harvard Neck-and-Neck!

6.13.11 "The State Legislature's College Connection," Free Press blog "Nought 101," looks at the 10 institutions most attended by current Vermont legislators. (Spoiler: JSC and Harvard are neck-and-neck at 8!)

JSC in the News: Recent Stories

5.26.11 "Russian Girl Finds Life Can Be a Dream" JSC honors student Nina Teed is profiled by the Stowe Reporter.

5.24.11 "Under the Dome" Rich Westman talks about winning the JSC Distinguished Alumni award for 2011 in the News and Citizen. (Links to pdf)

5.19.11 "We Must Invest in College Success" JSC Director of Academic Support Services discusses recent cutback to TRIO in a Burlington Free Press "My Turn" column.

5.17.11 "Jobs and Buying Local" In The Burlington Free Press, JSC Professor and VT State Senator Bill Doyle discusses his views on the relationship between jobs and keeping your dollars in the area.

5.5.11 "A Few Quibbles About College Report" JSC Professor Tyrone Shaw debates a few points made by Burgess' article.

4.21.11 "Budget Squeezes Johnson State" JSC alum Nathan Burgess covers budget developments at JSC in the Stowe Reporter.

Summer Renovations Are Heating Up

Rain or shine, JSC Physical Plant crews as well as outside contractors are working on a number of projects to make the campus work -- and look -- better. More images will be added to this album on the JSC flickr site.

Here is a list of some of the work being done or slated for the summer of 2011, courtesy of Sharron Scott, JSC Dean of Administration.

Bentley Hall Renovation
The fourth and final phase of the Bentley Hall Renovation project begins on May 16.  This final phase includes the removal of the central “convenience” stairs located on the first and second floors of the building, the creation of a seminar room, common areas on two floors, fully renovated and modernized teaching labs, expanded and modernized research labs and additional restrooms on the first floor.  Beginning Monday, May 16 only construction workers and those escorted by our contractor EF Wall will be allowed in the building.  To accommodate this renovation, faculty have relocated research projects to UVM for the summer and we’re using People’s Academy for summer lab courses.  The building will reopen with the fall semester.


VAC Renovation and Addition
Last renovated in 1991, the Visual Arts Center (VAC) has outgrown its existing facilities.  This project remedies that problem by adding 4500 square feet of new space and renovating the remaining 9500 square feet.  Studios will be larger and new features will be added to the building including a black box studio, BFA studio, commons, drawing studio and Art History classroom.  In addition to the new spaces the building’s heating and ventilating systems will be completely overhauled making the space far more pleasant!  Construction begins on May 23 and is expected to end on December 25.  During construction, the Fine Arts program will be relocated to the first floor of McClelland Hall (drawing, painting, photography, printmaking) and to the facility currently used by Laraway (sculpture, ceramics).


Server Room Air Conditioning and Airflow Improvements
Heating, ventilation and cooling improvements are required to keep our network infrastructure safe and sound.  Beginning Wednesday, May 18, the Server Room located in the Library and Learning Center will be receiving a modest renovation.  During this time, LLC 217 (Academic Computer Center) will be closed and students will be redirected to the 24-hour Study Room on the first floor of the LLC.  Two network outages are required to effect this change.  The first is scheduled for Monday, May 16 from 6-9 PM while the second is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 4 from 8-11 AM.


College Hill Sidewalk Rerouting
The upper portion of the College Hill sidewalk is quite steep.  Students, faculty and staff find that section uncomfortable to walk in good weather and very slippery during bad weather.  The college has therefore decided to reroute the upper section of the sidewalk to make it less steep by following the line of the road.  A minor change to the sidewalk on the east side of Martinetti will be made to meet the new end point of the College Hill sidewalk.  During construction, walkers will need to either walk on the grass up the hill, or up College Hill.  Depending on availability of our contractor (recent flooding has caused many disruptions in schedules) we anticipate that this project will begin on May 23.


Lower Pond Safety Improvements
The Lower Pond was formed by the creation of a dam.  Periodically this dam needs to be improved to meet safety regulations, and this is one of those years.  On Monday, May 16 the college will begin the process of draining the pond of its water.  We anticipate that this will take about 4-5 days to completely drain.  Once drained, a more thorough inspection will be conducted and final plans will be made to complete the needed improvements.  It is expected that the Lower Pond will be unavailable for approximately two months and we expect it to be ready for use again by the start of the fall semester.

 
Stearns Retaining Wall Repairs/Replacements
The large retaining wall on the south (Arthur) side of Stearns Hall will be replaced this summer.  Test borings will be conducted during the week of May 16 to determine the exact size and condition of the structure with construction to follow approximately 2-3 weeks later.  During construction the college will have access to the sidewalk between Arthur and Stearns and there will be periods of noise while the structure is removed and a new retaining wall installed.


Financial Aid Renovation
Improvements to the Financial Aid Office – including the creation of new reception space and private office for Tim Russo will begin around May 30.  Financial Aid works with students on extremely confidential matters.  With this renovation the department will be better able to maintain the confidentiality of student records and information. 


Martinetti Heat Piping Renovation (Phase I)
Martinetti Hall is the second-oldest campus building and its heating systems are showing their age with “hot spots” and “cold spots” throughout the building in the winter.  This first phase of the project will begin the replacement of pipes serving the buildings with the eventual goal being individual room/zone controls.  Contractors will need to access each room in the building to install piping above the ceilings.  This work should be brief in each location.  Specific dates for this project have not yet been finalized. 

Governors' Symposium

Senior Matthew Burgess organized a symposium on a life of public service with a student panel and two former VT governors, Jim Douglas and Madeleine Kunin, on April 27.

Martinetti Snowmen

Martinetti Snowmen
Originally uploaded by Johnson State College

They heard that JSC had one of the highest life expectancy rates for snowpeople in the northeast.

1.21.11: JSC Undergrad Artists at the Chaffee Center

"Vermont Undergraduates at the Chaffee in Rutland" The Vermont Art Zine blog features an image of JSC student artist Tara Goreau's painting, "The Swine Flew," in a recent post. The painting will be on exhibit at The Chaffee Art Center along with work from other full-time students enrolled in Vermont colleges.

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1.31.11: Movers and Shapers

"Movers and Shapers" JSC business management student Jill Marsano is mentioned in this Free Press column.

3.2.11: Sean Clute in Digital Performance

"A Multitasking Couple Create Dance and Digital-Art Performance in Vermont" Seven Days talks to Assistant Professor Sean Clute and his partner Pauline Jennings about their recent move to Vermont and upcoming performance in Montpelier.

1.27.11: 2011 Polar Splash

 The Big Chill: People Plunge into Lake Elmore for a Good Cause The Stowe Reporter puts JSC student Axel Handy front and center on its story about the 2011 Polar Splash.

2.21.11: Gina Mireault

"Why Toddlers Throw Temper Tantrums" CNN.com features Professor Gina Mireault as an expert on the topic of young children's meltdowns.

2.3.11: Marc Awodey in Dibden Wings Gallery

"Marc Awodey in Dibden Wings Gallery" Read more about Marc Awodey's exhibit, which hangs in the Dibden Wings Gallery through August 2011 in the Vermont Art Zine blog.

Find Yourself...Where?

JSC Admissions Counselor Julie Noyes took this photo on a recent trip to England.

1.31.11: Entrepreneurship Week

Vermont Set to Mark Entrepreneurship Week" The Free Press provides an overview of Vermont's marking of this national celebration of entrepreneurship. JSC is one of the sponsors of Team Vermont.

1.19.11: Library's Edwards Seeks to Replace Rep. Nease

"Johnson Sends Replacement Names for Rep" The News and Citizen highlights three candidates from the Johnson/Eden area to replace outgoing representative Floyd Nease. Among the candidates is Jo Anne Edwards, JSC access services librarian.

1.11.11: JSC Dance Program Collaboration

 "Dancing with Horses" -- Learn about a unique dance program collaboration between the Equus Project, The Center for America's First Horse, and JSC.