|
Monday Morning |
May 12, 2008
|
|
Four-day course schedule on
tap for the fall |
|
In an attempt to help students cope with the rising cost of living –
especially fuel, the College will offer a four-day course schedule in
the fall 2008 term, said Dr. Scott Elliott, MCC president.
The college had already determined to implement a four-day schedule for
the Summer 2008 term, but Elliott said MCC decided to continue the
format in the fall term as fuel costs have continued to escalate. With
few exceptions, classes will be conducted Monday through Thursday. Many
general education courses will be offered either on a Monday/Wednesday
or Tuesday/Thursday basis.
Elliott said a sprinkling of classes will also be offered on a
Friday-only basis in the event some students desired to limit their
campus commute to once per week.
“We’re trying to be responsive to our students’ needs,” Elliott said.
“Of course, it’s not just the price of gas. Almost any cost related to
transporting goods is on the rise. The price of groceries is another
glaring example. Most of our students commute to campus from around
Lauderdale County and beyond. Therefore, if we can offer a schedule
through which students can spend less on commuting, we feel that’s a
logical and appropriate thing to do.”
The 10th-year MCC president said the new schedule won’t involve cutting
back on faculty and staff hours or the number of courses that will be
available to students. Rather, the college’s hours of operation will
simply be altered in accordance with the new schedule.
“Faculty will still be available to students the same number of hours
per week,” Elliott said. “It’s just that those hours will likely be
spread out more over four days than five days. As far as services to
students, ranging from library hours to tutorial help to counseling to
cafeteria to the Business Office, MCC will not be changing its
accessibility to students. We’re only implementing a change in course
days and times, not a change in support services to students.”
One of the cornerstones of MCC’s curriculum, Elliott noted, is health
occupations. Students come from all over the East Central
Mississippi/West Central Alabama region to enroll in such programs,
ranging from nursing to radiological technology to dental hygiene.
“Fuel costs and other household costs could preclude students from
taking advantage of those great opportunities,” Elliott said. “We don’t
want to see that happen, and we hope changing our schedule will be part
of the solution. MCC is a community college. Having compassion for our
students is inherent in our mission. Our students are not Social
Security numbers. They are our family.”
“I stopped twice this week to fill up my gas tank, and the price of a
gallon of gas went up markedly inside of just one week,” Elliott
continued. “I had to ask myself, if I’m feeling the effects of this
situation and I am blessed with a good-paying job, then what must our
students, many of whom are working minimum wage jobs at this time in
their lives, be feeling? That’s when I determined that MCC had to make a
move on this issue to try and help our students. It has caused some of
our staff members a lot of extra work in changing the schedule at this
point, but they are willing to do it to help our students.”
Students who have already registered for the Fall 2008 term will be
re-registered in a schedule that is as close to their original as
possible, Elliott noted. Pre-registered students will receive their new
schedule in the mail, at which time they will have the opportunity to
adjust their new schedule through MCC’s Eaglenet program, if need be.
Elliott speculated that if other costs continue to rise, such as
utilities, that colleges everywhere will have to consider a four-day
week in all respects. Some already have done so.
“I can see a day coming when colleges might simply have to shut down
Friday through Sunday in the interest of saving dollars across the
board,” he said. “I hope that doesn’t happen because, at that point,
you’d be talking about cutting back on things like library accessibility
and tutorial services. That would be a bad thing, in my view.”
|
|
Boilin’ good time |
|
The College’s Faculty Staff Association will have its annual
Shrimp/Crawfish Boil Tuesday, May 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at
the Workforce building (the former Walmart on Mississippi Highway 19
North).
|
|
On the playbill … |
|
When the MSU Riley Center brings The Coasters, The Marvellettes and the
Platters to its stage Saturday, May 17, take a closer look on stage.
MCC’s own Carey Smith will be playing keyboards with them. It’s not a
new gig; Smith played with the Platters on the road during 1969 and 1970
while at student at Appalachian State University.
“I had a tough decision to make that fall … go back to school or go to
Japan on tour with the Platters,” he said. School won and he’s been in
music education ever since.
Another MCC connection will be on stage as well, Smith said. Brian
Stephens, drummer for the MCC Jazz Band, who now lives in Atlanta and is
playing with many of the big name R&B acts and operating his own
recording studio.
On Thursday, May 22, at noon, the St. Paul Chamber Series will present a
concert of jazz with Carey Smith and Friends. Smith has six (or more)
new compositions to premiere and some wonderful old standards as well.
|
|
PN building dedication |
|
MCC President Dr. Scott Elliott said it best: “Community colleges don’t
operate in vacuums or as islands. Ideally, they partner with other
agencies in this noble effort of improving the quality of life in the
community.”
Community businesses such as Rush Health Systems and organizations such
as Earnest Workers Circle of the International Order of King’s Daughters
and Sons joined with MCC in making the Rush School for Practical Nursing
a reality. The building, which is located across Highway 19, in front of
Ivy Hall, is a 5,500 square feet state-of-the art facility with
classrooms, skills lab, faculty offices, student lounge area.
The new building marks the fourth physical structure donated to MCC by
Rush Health Systems on the MCC campus. In addition, Rush has supported
the college with countless scholarships for students in nursing and
allied health programs, sponsorships of numerous student activities
including athletic tournaments, support of MCC’s athletic training
program and considerable donations to the MCC Foundation, specifically
to support the Tuition Guarantee Program.
Elliott added, “Rush has partnered with other major hospitals in the
area providing specific support that enabled the college to expand its
nursing programs, its Radiological Technology Program and starting a
Surgical Technology Program.”
Chris Rush, director of regional operations with Rush Health Systems,
said, “from its beginnings, Rush has valued and promoted the education
of nurses.” He noted the organization’s partnership with the college
began in 1963 with the establishment of a joint practical nursing
program between Rush and MCC.
The Earnest Workers Circle of the International Order of King’s
Daughters and Son also played a major role in bringing the facility to
life. The group donated $250,000, and the lab, Earnest Workers Circle
Skills Lab in the Rush Practical Nursing building pays tribute to the
organization and its members. “It’s a living memorial,” said Tillie
Mattox, outgoing president of Earnest Workers. Another member, Andi
Adams, agreed. “It’s a beautiful building. We’re all excited. It’s a
legacy that keeps on giving.”
“We’re so proud of Rush and the community college and everybody who
helped with this,” Adams said.
Another gift the circle donated: Stained glass windows that now adorn
the entrance way.
The building will also house the potential to expand the number of
students admitted into the program, thus helping to ease the critical
shortage of nurses needed in the state and the country.
|
|
You’re invited |
|
The administration, faculty and staff of Meridian Community College
invite you to a retirement reception honoring Mary Evans, Andrea
Haddock, Betty Henry, Vivian Naylor, Elliott Street and Gayle Watson.
The event is set for Wednesday, May 14, at 1:30 p.m. in the Dulaney Room
of Webb Hall.
|
|
MCC Weekly Schedule
12-MAY-08 To 18-MAY-08 |
|
Monday
Blackboard Meeting 0800 AM - 1200 PM, Todd Library CASTEEL
Sara Lee Management Training 0800 AM - 0500 PM, Webb Hall DULANEY
Sara Lee Management Training 0800 AM - 0500 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Dept. Human Services 0900 AM - 0400 PM, G.V. Sonny Montgomery BANQTRM
Correctional Officer Training 0500 PM - 0930 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Tuesday
MSU Ext. Childcare Workshop 0600 AM - 0900 AM, Health Center 240
Lean (101) Seminar 0800 AM - 0400 PM, Webb Hall DULANEY
Faculty/Staff Shrimp Boil 1130 AM - 0130 PM, Work Force Building
Division Chair Meeting 0200 PM - 0330 PM, Reed Hall 135
Correctional Officer Training 0500 PM - 0930 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Wednesday
Retirement Ceremony 1100 AM - 0500 PM, Webb Hall DULANEY
Retirement Ceremony 1100 AM - 0500 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Blackboard Initiative 0200 PM - 0330 PM, Ivy Hall 121
Correctional Officer Training 0500 PM - 0930 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Thursday
MSU Ext. Childcare Workshop 0600 AM - 0900 AM, Health Center 240
EMDC Board Meeting 0800 AM - 0200 PM, Webb Hall DULANEY
Upbeat Strings 0400 PM - 0800 PM, Ivy Hall 162
Correctional Officer Training 0500 PM - 0930 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Friday
Tech Prep Principal 0830 AM - 0100 PM, Todd Library CASTEEL
Blackboard Initiative 0900 AM - 1000 AM, Ivy Hall 121
Correctional Officer Training 0500 PM - 0930 PM, Webb Hall GSR
Saturday
CNE Testing 0700 AM - 0600 PM, Health Center 240
CNE Testing 0700 AM - 0600 PM, Health Center 251
CNE Testing 0700 AM - 0600 PM, Health Center 400
Church Conference 0100 PM - 0500 PM, Magnolia Hall
Mississippi Guitar Planning Meeting 0200 PM - 0400 PM, Chapel
Mississippi Guitar Planning Meeting 0200 PM - 0400 PM, Chapel Activity
Room
CE Classes
Monday
Intro to Word 0900 AM - 1000 AM Webb Hall 128
Learnmate 0500 PM - 1000 PM G.V. Sonny Montgomery
Introduction to Computers 0530 PM - 0730 PM Webb Hall 128
Electrician Apprenticeship I 0600 PM - 1000 PM Reed Hall 104
Electrician Apprenticeship II 0600 PM - 1000 PM Annex A 101
Electrician Apprenticeship III 0600 PM - 1000 PM Reed Hall 109
Tuesday
Learnmate 0500 PM - 1000 PM G.V. Sonny Montgomery
Electrician Apprenticeship IV 0600 PM - 1000 PM Reed Hall 109
Electrician Apprenticeship V 0600 PM - 1000 PM Reed Hall 104
Wednesday
Intro to Word 0900 AM - 1000 AM Webb Hall 128
Learnmate 0500 PM - 1000 PM G.V. Sonny Montgomery
Prin Air Conditioning II-Pt II 0600 PM - 0900 PM Reed Hall 100
Thursday
Gourmet Dinner Club 0500 PM - 0800 PM Off Campus
Learnmate 0500 PM - 1000 PM G.V. Sonny Montgomery
Gourmet Club - Single 0600 PM - 0800 PM Off Campus
I V Therapy 0600 PM - 1000 PM Health Center 424
Friday
Learnmate 0500 PM - 1000 PM G.V. Sonny Montgomery
Happy Birthday…
Bennett, Calvin MAY-13
Webb, Zana MAY-13
Bridges, Brandon MAY-14
Loyd, Walter MAY-17
Englen, Jerry MAY-17
Smith, Carey MAY-19
Powe, Krystal MAY-19
Larkin, Susie MAY-24
Swink, Angela MAY-24
Young, Sandra MAY-27
Boles, Robert MAY-29
Fox, Robin MAY-29
Tolbert, Mary MAY-30
Allen, Hilary MAY-31
|
|
Monday
Morning Online Archive |