Jolena Grande, CFSP, A.S., B.S., M.F.S., M.S.


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Professor Jolena Grande

Mortuary Science | Health Science

Email: jgrande@cypresscollege.edu

Phone: (714) 484-7000 Ext: 45023

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30-8:30 a.m.; and via email

Location: Mortuary Science Department Technical Education 3, Suite 215G


About Professor Grande

Jolena Grande, a certified funeral service practitioner and California-licensed funeral director, embalmer, cemetery manager, and crematory manager, began her funeral service career in 1989 working for a large mortuary/cemetery combination operation in Southern California. With more than 25 years of professional practice, she shares her insights and experiences in an enjoyable and often humorous way with students seeking a career path as a funeral service practitioner.

Jolena believes that the Mortuary Science Program at Cypress College is a life-changing experience for those students who are interested in making a difference in their own lives as well as in the lives of others. Although an intensive and rigorous academic endeavor, the program thoroughly prepares men and women for employment in the funeral service industry as embalmers, funeral directors, cemeterians, cremationists, and preneed salespeople.

Recommended Course

MORT 165 C Funeral Service Management I

Funeral Service Management I is designed for the mortuary science student, the course is a vocationally oriented survey of funeral service management as it applies to funeral home operations, mortuary management, and financial decision-making. Information presented covers financial statements and their analysis, worksheets, journalizing, receivables, payables, deferrals, and accruals. Inventory costing models, depreciation models, and funeral service payroll accounts are also included.

Resources

  • American Board of Funeral Service Education – the national accrediting agency of funeral service education programs in the United States; responsible for developing curriculum, awarding scholarships, and systematic review of program effectiveness
  • International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards– the international association of licensing boards, bureaus, and commissions, responsible for developing and administering the National Board Examination for Funeral Directors and Embalmers; also used as a repository of disciplinary actions against United States licensed/regulated funeral service practitioners
  • California Department of Consumer Affairs, Cemetery and Funeral Bureau – Although the state of California does not have a State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau is responsible for licensing, regulating, and disciplining funeral service practitioners, cemeterians, and cremationists, as well as inspecting funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories.

Classes

MORT 165 C Funeral Service Management I

Catalog Description

Designed for the mortuary science student, the course is a vocationally-oriented survey of funeral service management as it applies to funeral home operations, mortuary management, and financial decision-making. Information presented covers financial statements and their analysis, worksheets, journalizing, receivables, payables, deferrals, and accruals. Inventory costing models, depreciation models, and funeral service payroll accounts are also included.

Required Course Resources

Textbook (at bookstore)

  • Heintz, James A. and Parry, Robert W., Jr. College Accounting, 22nd edition, Chapters 1-15 package, with study guide and working papers
  • Available in digital format from Cengage Brain

Handouts (provided by instructor on Canvas course site)

Other materials as necessary located at the library or on the internet (Canvas course site)

Canvas Web-Enhancement

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM , but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program

MORT 265 C Funeral Service Management II

Catalog Description

The course is a continuation of MORT 165 designed to introduce the mortuary science student to the basic principles of management as they apply to the practice of the funeral profession; to the financial aspects of funeral business operation, concepts of financial management and the use of financial information in decision-making relative to cost analysis and control, pricing, inventory and in assessing the firm’s performance; and credit policies and practices. Emphasis is placed on general management technique and theory as it relates to funeral service practice, and specific areas of funeral service practice and the managerial guidelines for those areas. Basic principles of merchandising, methods of pricing, display, presentation, and control of funeral merchandise as it applies to the funeral profession are also discussed. Additionally, the role and function of an effective manager with emphasis placed on the management functions of planning, organizing, motivating, directing, and controlling, and how to purchase a small business are also covered.

Required Course Resources

Textbooks (at bookstore)

  • Heintz, James A. and Parry, Robert W., Jr. College Accounting, 22nd edition, Chapters 1-15 (2017). ISBN: 9780324382495
  • Klicker, Ralph L. Funeral Directing and Funeral Service Management (2008). ISBN: 9780964796744

Course Outline (at bookstore and on Canvas course site)

Handouts (provided by instructor on Canvas course site)

Other materials as necessary located at the library or on the internet (Canvas course site)

Canvas Web-Enhancement

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM , but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program

MORT 275 C Mortuary Law I

Catalog Description

This course designed for the Mortuary Science student, surveys the American legal system, its development, and the major bodies of law as they relate to the legal environment in which the funeral business operates. The legal aspects of funeral service contracts, funeral service sales, and the use of commercial paper are also considered. This course will also look at the professional ethics used by funeral service providers as it relates to the legal aspects of the funeral home establishment.

Required Course Resources

Textbooks (at bookstore)

  • Ashcroft, J. D., & Ashcroft, J.E. (2014). Law for business, 19th ed. Cincinnati, OH: West Educational Publishing. ISBN: 1133587615 with CengageNOW access code
  • Available in digital format from Cengage Brain
  • Legal dictionary (recommended).

Course Outline (on Canvas course site)

Handouts (provided by instructor on Canvas course site)

Other materials as necessary located at the library or on the internet (Canvas course site)

Distance Education Requirements

Online and hybrid courses at Cypress College use the Canvas online course system. To access your Canvas course site you will need to have internet access and a valid email account. On campus computers for online and hybrid student use are available in the Learning Resource Center in the first floor of the L/LRC building.

  1. Hardware & Software Requirements

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM , but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program

Distance Education Tips For Student Success In Web-Based Courses

Adapted from Tech Ed Online

  1. Familiarize yourself with the course requirements
  2. Spend time looking over the course syllabus and other important course materials. Make sure you understand the course objectives, the scope of the material you will cover, and when assignments are due.
  3. Create a study schedule and stick to it
  4. You are the director of your own learning experience. Try to set aside a study time each day when your mind is fresh and you will not be interrupted. As an online learner you don’t have to attend traditional classes, but you do have to do work on a regular schedule to succeed.
  5. Identify your motivators
  6. What makes you complete a task? What are the rewards you expect to achieve? Whatever it takes, you need to identify the strategies that will keep you on track until you achieve your goals. Although your instructor will be there to help you every step of the way, your success is really up to you.
  7. Establish good study skills
  8. Take notes. Ask yourself questions. Go over the material more than once. Best of all, pretend that you will have to teach someone else to apply the concepts and skills you are learning. Master what you would need to know to accomplish that goal.
  9. Remember that study includes many different tasks. When instructors talk about the need to study, they mean you should read review material, complete all homework, and review class notes, text assignments and supplementary material on a regular schedule.
  10. Ask for help when you need it
  11. Your instructor is there to help you, but since you are the director of your learning experience, you will need to initiate the contact.

Distance Education FAQs

Canvas Access Information

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM , but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program

MORT 285 C Mortuary Law II

Catalog Description

This course is a continuation of MORT 275 C, designed to introduce the mortuary science student to sources of law, legal status of the dead human body, duty of burial, right to control funeral arrangements, final disposition, and liability for funeral expenses; torts involving the dead human body and the funeral director; wills, estate, and probate proceedings; cemeteries and related issues; state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to funeral service; as well as the legal aspects of being a licensed funeral director/mortician.

Required Course Resources

Textbook (at bookstore)

  • Gilligan, T. S., & Stueve, T. F. H.. (2011). Mortuary law (11th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: The Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education.
  • Ashcroft, J.E. (2017). Law for business (19th ed.) Cincinnati, OH: West Educational Publishing.
  • Legal dictionary (recommended)

MORT 285 Funeral Service Law Outline (at bookstore and on Canvas course site)

MORT 275/285 Court Cases (at bookstore, Orange County Law Library, or online)

MORT 285 Statutes, Rules and Regulations (at bookstore or online)

Handouts (provided by instructor on Canvas course site)

Other materials as necessary located at the library or on the internet (Canvas course site)

Canvas Web-Enhancement

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM, but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program

MORT 297 C Mortuary Computer Applications

Catalog Description

The course is designed to provide the mortuary science student with an overview of considerations relevant to the operation of the funeral home as a small business through the use of hands-on experience with appropriate mortuary science computer software, as well as the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule.

Required Course Resources

Textbook (at bookstore)

  • Klicker, Ralph L. Funeral Directing and Funeral Service Management, Thanos Institute, Buffalo, NY(2008). ISBN: 978-0-96479675-1

Course Outline (at bookstore and on Canvas course site)

Handouts (provided by instructor on Canvas course site)

Other materials as necessary located at the library or on the internet (Canvas course site)

Canvas Web-Enhancement

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM , but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program

MORT 100 C Orientation to Funeral Service

Catalog Description

This course is designed to acquaint the mortuary science student with general information on the practice of the funeral profession. Topics covered include: notification of death, transfer of remains, the arrangement conference, prefunded/preplanned funerals, shipment of remains, cremation, and aftercare, as well as the basic principles of merchandising as it applies to the funeral profession, construction and features of caskets, outer burial containers, and other funeral related products; and methods of display and presentation. In addition, the progression of associations and education within funeral service will be discussed.

Required Course Resources

Textbooks (at bookstore)

  • Habenstein, Robert W. and Lamers, William M. The History of American Funeral Directing, 8th revised edition, National Funeral Directors Association, Brookfield, WI (2014). Available from the Resource Store at www.nfda.org
  • Klicker, Ralph L. Funeral Directing and Funeral Service Management, Thanos Institute, Buffalo, NY(2008).

Course Outline (at bookstore and on Canvas course site)

Handouts (provided by instructor on Canvas course site)

Other materials as necessary located at the library or on the internet (Canvas course site)

Canvas Web-Enhancement

To access Canvas you will need:

  • PC running Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista
  • MAC running Macintosh OS 9.x or OS X
  • At least 512 MB RAM , but more may be required for multiple applications or videos used in some courses
  • Internet connection via modem of 56k bps or faster
  • Recommended web browser: Firefox 2.0, 3.0 Internet Explorer 7 is supported; Internet Explorer 8 must be used in the compatibility mode
  • Word processing program