The first week of the spring semester is coming to a close and things are already feeling back to normal around here.
I came back from a lunchtime walk yesterday to find a clutch of Surgical Technology students, decked out in their characteristic bright red scrubs, sitting around a table in the lobby quizzing each other on test questions. Now entering their second semester of the rigorous program, all the nervous jitters of the fall have been replaced by an aura of confidence as well as an impressive body of knowledge, evident as class members snapped off the answers, sometimes before the question was even finished.
For me, too, the idle days of Winter Break are hardly a memory as plans for campus events and recruiting efforts bloom in fast motion. It will be a busier semester than ever as we strive to offer students and community members a good reason to spend time with us on the Havasu campus. After all, we kinda like it here and we think everyone else should, too.
About the blogger
- Diana Parker
- I'm in my second year as the College Recruitment Officer, and it's gratifying to see so many of the people I helped get started here in classes and moving toward brighter futures. I'm a true education advocate, having earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Utah. I've also worked in public relations and as a newspaper reporter and a librarian.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The family that studies together...
One of the unique things about a community college like MCC, with its open enrollment policy and high population of "nontraditional" adult students, is that children and parents often wind up being students together.
I talked to a mother today who was a little late in registering and was searching for an open class she could share with her son and daughter. She said she just did better with her kids as "study buddies."
While her children's section of Beginning Algebra was already full, we did find there was still room in the Introduction to Humanities class the kids were taking, and she was amped at the prospect of sharing the interdisciplinary study of art, history and philosophy with them.
Talk about quality time with your kids.
This is not the only case of multi-generational students I've run across, and both kids and parents invariably display a glimmer of pride in each other when they recount their shared college experience.
I talked to a mother today who was a little late in registering and was searching for an open class she could share with her son and daughter. She said she just did better with her kids as "study buddies."
While her children's section of Beginning Algebra was already full, we did find there was still room in the Introduction to Humanities class the kids were taking, and she was amped at the prospect of sharing the interdisciplinary study of art, history and philosophy with them.
Talk about quality time with your kids.
This is not the only case of multi-generational students I've run across, and both kids and parents invariably display a glimmer of pride in each other when they recount their shared college experience.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Seeing the light
We don't let the grass grow under our feet here at MCC. Something always seems to be afoot (excuse the pun) that's intended to make a process better, faster or cheaper.
This week our campus facilities staff has been climbing up and down ladders installing new, more energy efficient ballasts and light bulbs in our ubiquitous fluorescent lighting fixtures.
At first, the change was met with skepticism as office-bound campus workers, like the ground hog that takes its first reluctant look at the sun on Feb. 2, squinted at the strangely bright light emitted by the new bulbs. Comments like, "We're going to need sunglasses in here" were heard in the hallways.
After about two hours of cohabiting with the new lights, we began to realized what we'd been missing -- the ability to see.
The lights, which lend a cheerfully sunny aspect everywhere they shine, will eventually be installed all over campus and ought to make the labors of learning, teaching and working easier for everyone.
On top of that, the lights are expected to save the college up to 60 percent on lighting costs.
It's a beautiful world!
This week our campus facilities staff has been climbing up and down ladders installing new, more energy efficient ballasts and light bulbs in our ubiquitous fluorescent lighting fixtures.
At first, the change was met with skepticism as office-bound campus workers, like the ground hog that takes its first reluctant look at the sun on Feb. 2, squinted at the strangely bright light emitted by the new bulbs. Comments like, "We're going to need sunglasses in here" were heard in the hallways.
After about two hours of cohabiting with the new lights, we began to realized what we'd been missing -- the ability to see.
The lights, which lend a cheerfully sunny aspect everywhere they shine, will eventually be installed all over campus and ought to make the labors of learning, teaching and working easier for everyone.
On top of that, the lights are expected to save the college up to 60 percent on lighting costs.
It's a beautiful world!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Here we go again
Classes don't start for more than two weeks, but students are already roaming the halls here saying they can't wait for school to start again. What is this world coming to?!
Seriously, the Winter Break for students -- which extends from Dec. 4 to Jan. 25 -- is a long period of idleness for people who are in a hurry to learn something new and get on with their productive lives.
Monday morning at quarter to 8, students were bunched around the door of Students Services waiting to get in, and business has ranged from brisk to overflowing ever since. Our academic advisers are booked solid almost all the way to the 25th and slots to take the COMPASS assessment are filling quickly.
Yes, it's great when people are clamoring to get the product you have to offer. It's not so great when students are disappointed because the classes or sections they want are full. That's why our mantra at this time of year sounds like something a car salesman would say: Hurry in for the best deals (i.e. classes) while they last!
Seriously, the Winter Break for students -- which extends from Dec. 4 to Jan. 25 -- is a long period of idleness for people who are in a hurry to learn something new and get on with their productive lives.
Monday morning at quarter to 8, students were bunched around the door of Students Services waiting to get in, and business has ranged from brisk to overflowing ever since. Our academic advisers are booked solid almost all the way to the 25th and slots to take the COMPASS assessment are filling quickly.
Yes, it's great when people are clamoring to get the product you have to offer. It's not so great when students are disappointed because the classes or sections they want are full. That's why our mantra at this time of year sounds like something a car salesman would say: Hurry in for the best deals (i.e. classes) while they last!
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