Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School is now recruiting for its enhanced criminal justice program that will begin in the 2012-13 school year.

Students will proceed through the program as a cohort, and local criminal justice professionals will teach scenario-based instruction.

“The student will be put in a real-life scenario depending on what aspect of criminal justice is being studied. For example, if it’s criminal investigations, students might be presented with evidence about a burglary. They would have to think like a detective to figure out what steps to take,” said Sgt. Christen Shea, the College’s coordinator of the Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice.

Students at Polk State’s public, charter high schools – Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate in Winter Haven and Polk State Lakeland Collegiate – complete high school requirements while also earning college credit – all at no cost. In the case of the criminal justice program, high school students will earn credits toward their associate degree in criminal justice.

The College is also in the process of developing a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. The proposed new degree must be approved by the State Board of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Polk State’s accrediting agency. Should it receive those approvals, the College is aiming to start the bachelor’s in the fall.

Though Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate has offered criminal justice since the school began in 2006, students were limited in how far they could take the program because they had to be 19 to study at the Polk State Institute of Public Safety’s Law Enforcement Academy. Since then, those limitations have been removed with the development of a criminal justice associate degree. The proposed bachelor’s just opens up even wider opportunities for those interested in the field.

“Before, there was a gap between high school graduation and when they turned 19, but now we don’t have that gap,” said Polk State Chain of Lakes Director Bridget Fetter.

Students in all Polk State collegiate high school programs – including Allied Health, Fine Arts, Information Systems and the general Associate in Arts degree – must complete work-based learning experiences that give them a real-life introduction to their field of interest.

“In the case of Criminal Justice, we will be able to place students with the different law enforcement agencies within Polk County,” Fetter said.

Fetter said the Criminal Justice program is being offered in response to student demand. The Polk County School Board has a criminal justice academy at Kathleen High School in Lakeland, but Fetter said students on the east side of the county were looking for a more convenient option.

Current high school sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply to Polk State’s collegiate high schools beginning in February. Requirements include a minimum 2.5 grade-point average and a passing score on the PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test).

Prospective students are encouraged to attend an information session at any of the following locations and times:

Polk State College Winter Haven Campus, 999 Ave. H N.E.
Student Center (WST) 126
Feb. 2, 7, 23
All at 6:30 p.m.

Polk State College Lakeland Campus, 3425 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland Technology Building (LTB) 1100
Feb. 6, 13, 20
All at 6:30 p.m.

Applications will be available at the information sessions or at the school offices. The application deadline for lottery admissions is March 2.

Those interested in the Criminal Justice program should indicate so on their applications.

For more information, visit www.polk.edu or call Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate at 863-298-6800 or Polk State Lakeland Collegiate at 863-669-2322.

The University of South Florida Polytechnic is accepting applications for the summer 2012 Central Florida Gifted and Talented Institute.  This non-residential day program runs for three consecutive weeks from July 9 to July 27 at USF Poly, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sponsored by USF Polytechnic and the Polk County School District, the Central Florida Gifted & Talented Institute is Polk County’s only summer day program for gifted and talented students. Featuring four separate programs, it offers innovative, challenging curriculum targeted at active learning for gifted students entering 7^th, 8th and 9th grade:

• The Hot 2 Bot Applied Robotics Academy immerses students in information technology and engineering robotic concepts as they build two different types of robots, design programming for these robots, explore simple and complex machines, create remote operation devices, discover robotic career opportunities and learn about the impact of robotics on society.
• Extreme Green Adventure, an exhilarating outdoor exploration program, lets students experience biodiversity in action and discover man’s impact on environmental sustainability. Hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling will provide many opportunities to interact with nature. Experts in the areas of the environment and technology will address a broad range of techniques used to promote sustainability. Students will build a model “Green City” and create public service announcements that promote sustainability through preservation and conservation. The Extreme Green Adventure is designed for students who prefer to step outside the walls of the classroom and into nature.
• CSI: If Evidence Could Talk lets students investigate crimes, gather evidence, analyze data, formulate conclusions and solve mysteries. Chemical analysis, blood typing, fiber and plant analysis, gathering and analyzing geological data are among the types of evidence that will be examined.
• New this year: Dr. Jekyll’s Lab: Survival of the Fictionist. If a mad scientist competed in a reality show, it would be called Dr. Jekyll’s Lab. Young “mad scientists” will explore the arts of filmmaking and fiction in a workshop that combines drama and technology. To survive Dr. Jekyll’s Lab, teams must design a video game and create their own avatars, invent a prototype to save the world from the “Looming Doom,” market it in a student directed infomercial, and finally, rock the runway in the “maddest” model competition ever. Along the way, teams will compete in a series of experiments that would test the survival skills of any mad scientist. Winning teams will earn a special “lab assistant”. This IGOR (Immunity’s Great Obstacle Remover) will be used to enhance the production of their video games, infomercials and prototypes. Experiments include the Search for the Immunity Talisman, Survivor: 2081, Exploding Elixir, Project: Lab Coat and will culminate in the final ceremony with the Monster Mash Bash!

Instructors have extensive experience in the content and associated skills and represent middle school, high school, and university expertise. Students enjoy weekly field trips appropriate to the curriculum. On July 26, the Exhibition of Excellence features a robotic competition and lets students showcase their final creations to family, friends and community members.
A limited number of spots are available. For more information, including an online application, visit http://www.poly.usf.edu/gt/ or contact Kathy Sebeny (863) 667-7059 or ksebeny@poly.usf.edu.

The school year is halfway over, which also means it’s report card time – something many parents and students dread. But they shouldn’t, says Carol Sherron of the Lakeland Huntington Learning Center. “Every parent would love to see a report card full of As and glowing remarks about their child’s love of learning and work ethic, but remind yourself that the report card is a valuable tool,” says Sherron. “Think of it as an opportunity to help your child, to address and overcome any issues together.”

What should parents look for when reviewing the report card? Sherron suggests evaluating your child’s report card for these five things:

1. Study skills - “What does your child’s report card indicate about his or her ability to focus, take initiative and manage his or her time?” says Sherron. Developing good study skills is an important part of becoming an effective student. That involves staying organized at home and at school, keeping track of assignments and projects, and learning to prioritize.

2. Good effort - Being involved in homework will give you a good sense of your child’s effort level, but pay attention to marks and comments on the report card that address this, too. Talk with the teacher about it. Trying hard is important, but if your child’s grades don’t reflect his or her effort, there may be a deeper problem.

3. Red flags - Red flags are warning signs of potential issues. “We suggest looking beyond the grades, because your child’s attitude about and commitment to learning are just as important,” says Sherron. Do the teacher’s remarks indicate your child is unmotivated or has difficulty listening and staying focused? Does he or she talk too much in class or avoid school work?

4. Behavioral issues - Is your child’s teacher reporting indifference or apathy on your child’s part? Or is he or she acting out? “Often, struggling students feel worthless and stupid,” says Sherron. “When your child is beyond frustration, beyond trying or caring, his or her behavior may worsen – especially at school.”

5. Strengths - “Often, there’s so much focus on the bad parts of the report card that we forget to pay attention to the areas where students excel,” Sherron says. “One of the best ways to build children’s self-esteem is to help them find the thing that makes them feel successful. Remember to notice and celebrate your child’s strengths.”

For more information about Huntington Learning Center, contact Carol Sherron, Huntington Learning Center of Lakeland at (863) 858-3600.

Polk State College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program has achieved initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, a distinction that will give its graduates a competitive edge as they enter the labor market.

The accreditation means graduates of the Polk State program are immediately eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography examination, a benchmark increasingly used by employers. Students of non-CAAHEP-accredited programs must typically work for a year or more, gaining on-the-job experience that prepares them for the ARDMS test, said Merrybeth Etherton, diagnostic medical sonography program director.

“ARDMS registration is the gold standard in sonography,” she said.

The CAAHEP accreditation process took six to eight months and included a site visit to the Airside Center, where the sonography program is housed, and interviews with Polk State students and faculty. Because Polk State followed ARDMS recommendations and guidelines from the start, no major changes to the program were required, Etherton said.

“We are so proud and excited. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it,” Etherton said, adding that Beth Luckett, radiography program director, initiated the accreditation process before Etherton took over the sonography program in June.

“The accreditation puts the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Polk State on the map.”

Etherton said the accreditation puts Polk State ahead of a national trend. Insurance companies are increasingly requiring all medical imaging professionals to pass registration examinations. In response, employers now often require job candidates to either have passed the test or be eligible to take it when hired.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is one of several outstanding Health Sciences programs at Polk State College. Other programs under Polk State’s Health Sciences umbrella include radiography, physical therapist assistant, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, respiratory care, emergency medical services and cardiovascular technology. These programs attract students from throughout Central Florida. Health Sciences students regularly outperform their peers in the state and nation on required licensing exams.

Polk State’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program was launched in 2007. The limited-access program will graduate its third class later this month. Through partnerships with major hospitals and clinics in Polk County, students in the program gain valuable real-life training. The program’s graduates have gone on to work at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Bond Clinic, Winter Haven Hospital, Watson Clinic, Bartow Regional Medical Center and Highlands Regional Medical Center.

Students at the University of South Florida Polytechnic are gaining a competitive edge in today’s tight job market with the recent transition of the Career Resource Center into the Talent Management Center.

Opened under its new designation in June, the new center still provides many of the typical career-seeking services but now offers a broader range of professional development services and makes a priority of connecting with students early in their college tenure.

The goal of the expansion is to engage students in not only thinking about their careers early but also in taking active steps in assessing their career choices and job options.

“To do this, the center helps students build their work experience and fine-tune their resumes, portfolios, and cover letters so when they graduate they are more than just a few steps ahead of the other applicants,” said Sonja Hayes, who runs the new Talent Management Center.

“Today’s job market is competitive and the new Talent Management Center helps give Poly students an added advantage to getting hired,” said Hayes, whose title in the revamped center is talent agent, a label that reflects the proactive approach to help students succeed in their professional and career development.

“In addition to a degree, today’s applicants should already have job experience, even straight out of college,” she said. “That’s where our services can help our graduates the most because those internships not only build job experience but also help students build career networks. Not many universities are offering a service to this extent yet. USF Polytechnic is ahead of a fairly new trend to expand career centers to better serve students.”

Sometimes found on the employment and human resources side of universities, such as Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins, the term talent management for career services for students is not so common. The concept of talent management stretches the current practice of making job hunting only a virtual experience, in which jobseekers go online to large hubs of job openings to find work, submit applications, and post resumes.

“The pendulum is swinging back to more assisted searches, in tandem with a range of support information and experience-building opportunities to strengthen each applicant,” Hayes said.

The Talent Management Center is part of USF Polytechnic’s Office of Experiential and Applied Learning and works in tandem with an outreach team, which focuses on identifying openings and opportunities for course projects and internships, among other services.  Hayes places most students in existing internships. But if she can’t match a student to an internship from the pool of existing openings, the outreach team steps in and extends the reach beyond businesses already partnering with USF Poly to find an opportunity that matches the student’s career direction.

Among its many services, the center provides challenging mock interviews and experiential learning opportunities. In essence, Hayes acts as a liaison for students, helping them prepare for the workplace with resume building, job search training, interviewing, and professionalism skills.

In addition to helping students who have already determined careers, the Talent Management Center also takes an active approach in helping those who are still unsure.

“Just because you know your major does not mean you’re sure about a career,” Hayes said. “But we cover all the bases, whether you know what you want to do or not.”

Probably the most beneficial service for those looking for direction is the assessment program. Somewhere between an aptitude test and a personality test, the online tool helps students define their goals, preferences, working styles and skills.

“The assessment is a great starting point for anyone who doesn’t have a clear course for a career,” she said.

Hayes, who joined USF Polytechnic in October, has worked in career and student services for eight years, seven of which were in law-focused career centers, most recently at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport.

Her initial efforts in the Talent Management Center include developing student assessments to help plan future programming and services and tracking outcomes by following graduates to determine if the services were effective in helping them not only get hired but also through their careers.

“We encourage every Polytechnic student, whether or not they’ve decided on a career, to make use of our services,” Hayes said. “Instead of waiting for senior year to start looking for a job, students are guided from day one so they’ll graduate ready to enter a job in their chosen field.”

To contact the Talent Management Center, call (863) 667-7063.