MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONNECTION
MAY 2011
MCC Ranked as One of Nation's
Top Community Colleges
MCC
FACULTY
& STAFF
NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S
INSIDE
AROUND CAMPUS
MCC DEAN
RECEIVES AWARD
MCC, OAKLAND
UNIVERSITY
ANNOUNCE
PARTNERSHIP
BALLENGER
LECTURE FEATURED
EMMY-AWARD
WINNING ACTOR
ANNUAL MOTT,
MOTOWN & MORE
DATE SET
QUOTE OF
THE M ONTH
"Great things are done by a series of
small things brought together. "
--Vincent van Gogh
In its first step to identify the nation's best community colleges and award $1 million in prize
money, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has ranked Mott Community College as
one of the nation's 120 best community colleges, challenging it to compete for the prize funds (to
be announced in December 2011) by insisting on high standards for learning, college completion
without delay, and serving as a training ground for jobs that pay competitive wages. The full list of
eligible institutions can be found at www.AspenCCPrize.org.
Citing the urgent need to focus on the value and potential of community colleges, Aspen
Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner stated, "We must set the bar
much higher than we have in the past. To achieve excellent student outcomes, we need to highlight
our country's success stories and learn from them so that we can keep reaching higher. Recognizing
community colleges like Mott Community College sends a message to others that aspire to excellence, while encouraging Mott Community College to apply for the nation's top community college
prize. As a country, now more than ever, we need all community colleges to graduate more students
with the knowledge and degrees they need to be successful in the workforce."
Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, attended the Aspen
Institute's announcement event on April 25. The Aspen Prize was announced at the White House
Community College Summit hosted by President Obama and Dr. Biden in October, 2010. At that
time, the President noted how critical community colleges are to the millions of youth and adult
learners who enroll in America's nearly 1,200 community colleges every year.
Dr. Biden, a lifelong educator who continues to teach English at Northern Virginia Community
College, noted that "The country is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of community
colleges in educating our way to a stronger America. I am inspired by all of today's community
college students—the workers who have returned to school to improve their job prospects, the
mothers who juggle jobs and childcare while preparing for new careers, and those who work
diligently while at community college, preparing to transfer to a four-year institution."
MCC and 119 other community colleges will be winnowed to eight-to-ten finalists in
September based on how much students learn, how many complete their programs on time, and
how well students do in the job market after graduating. MCC is now eligible to submit an
application containing detailed data on these criteria. Mott Community College must demonstrate
that it delivers exceptional student results, uses data to drive decisions, and uses that information to
continually improve over time.
Aspen will conduct site visits to each of the ten finalists in the fall. And, based on the
evidence, the Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner and two to three runners-up, to be announced in December.
The Aspen Prize is funded by the Joyce Foundation, the Lumina Foundation for Education, the
Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. The Aspen College
Excellence Program aims to identify and replicate campus-wide practices that significantly
improve college student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,
projects targeting a new generation of college leaders, and other initiatives, the College Excellence
Program works to improve colleges' understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students,
especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses.
For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
Around Campus
Rebecca Garske, Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, presented at the World Forum on
Early Care and Education in Honolulu, Hawaii May 2-6 on "Empowering Parents as Advocates." She presented with representatives from
Israel, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda.
David Panzlau, Respiratory Therapy Program Director, tells us
that the Rapid Unresponsive Team from MCC captured the Sputum
Bowl trophy at this years' MSRC seminar held in Dearborn. The team
comprised of current professors David Panzlau, Kathryn Gurin and
program graduates Vickee Drouillard and Shari Markel beat out a
team from University of Michigan Hospital in the finals. "This quiz
bowl for Respiratory Therapy combines education with entertainment
evidenced by the wacky team names and by the trophy being an
actual spittoon (spit not included)," adds David. "MCC also set a
record for the number of participating teams in the student division
with a total of six. The top finishing student team from Mott was
named the SOB's (medical abbreviation for shortness of breath). This
first year team was represented by Sara Palmer, Tristen Foskett and
Tiffany Whittaker. The winning practitioner team will compete in
the National Sputum Bowl to be held in Tampa, Florida on Nov. 7.
History instructor Aaron Gulyas chaired a panel at the 2011 Popular Culture Association and American Culture Association joint conference held April 19-23, dedicated to "Doctor Who and Torchwood:
History & Humanity" and presented a paper entitled "'History sometimes gives us a terrible shock': Uses of the Past in Doctor Who, 19631989."
MCC Theater Instructor Dan Gerics directs Flint City Theatre's
MacBeth, starring several MCC students on May 19, 20, 21, 26, 27,
28, 8 pm at Buckham Gallery. Tickets: $10.
Doug Hoppa, former Associate Dean of the Fine Arts Division
and current adjunct professor in Art, will be performing his music at
the Fenton Winery and Brewery in Fenton on Saturday, May 21, from
8-11 pm. His duo,"TOO MUCH FUN!" will be entertaining the audience with cover tunes by The Rolling Stones, CCR, The Beatles,
Johnny Cash, Dylan and others. Visit www.FentonWinery.com for
more information.
Lisa Murawa, Assistant Professor of Accounting, lets us know
that ACCT 220 (Governmental and Non-Profit Accounting) students
recently participated in a MACPA project. The MACPA is a sponsor
for the 20th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure on May 21,
2011 in Detroit. As a service project, the ACCT 220 class decorated
50 pink ribbons that will be placed along the path of the race.
Here's news from Humanities Dean Patricia Bergh: English Prof.
Fairy Hayes-Scott presented a paper at the 2011Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Annual Convention in
Atlanta in April. Her presentation, titled, "Keeping Online Composition Students Plugged In & Pulsating Within & Beyond the Community College Space: Predictors & Pedagogy," was included in the
session, "Reconfiguring Student Experiences in Online Writing
Classes." Dr. Hayes-Scott's presentation was based upon her new
book, "Community College English Composition Online Students:
Keeping Them Plugged In." This new publication was the product of
her Winter 2010 sabbatical project, and made its debut at the conference.
Earlier this spring, English Prof. Christy Rishoi attended a national e-learning conference in Tampa, Fla. The conference was spon-
sored by the Instructional Technology Council. Dr. Rishoi announced
a forthcoming article that will appear in the Bulgarian journal, Sociological Problems. The special issue topic is "Witness and Archive:
Contexts of Microhistory." Dr. Rishoi’s article, "Scapegoating Caddy,
Scapegoating Ourselves," is an analysis of Caddy Compson in
William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury.
On March 28, Johnny Linn, adjunct instructor in Speech Communications, was invited to offer a presentation regarding "The Transgender Community" in HREL 151: Interpersonal/Multicutural
Communication class.
On April 14 and 15, a group of English and Reading instructors
attended the Michigan Developmental Education Consortium conference held at Macomb Community College. Those from Humanities
who attended included: Julie Steffey, Michele Dunnum, Paula Weston, Heather Sisto, William Reich, Freida Urquhart, Janis Block,
Parmis Johnson, William Rathburg, and Dean Patricia Bergh.
Paula Weston conducted a session called, "Service Learning in the
Developmental Writing Classroom: An Initial Experience."
Counselor/Prof. Angela Reeves presented a workshop entitled:
"Creating Greater Classroom Effectiveness & Incorporating an Ethnic
Perspective" for the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. at the
Flint Public Library on Saturday, April 16. This workshop identified
strategies to effectively present material to those students who often
are not responding to traditional teaching methods and consequently
do not persist or do well in the classroom. "The Process Communication Model is a tool that can assist teachers in identifying techniques to
more effectively teach the instructional content," she adds. "The workshop was very well received by area teachers."
Retired MCC Prof. Frank Friedman, founder of the Kidney
Cancer Educational Support Group that meets monthly at Flint's
Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute, was featured in an article that appeared in the Kalamazoo Gazette in April. A graduate of Kalamazoo
Central High School more than 50 years ago, the article recognized
Friedman for his campaign to educate the public about kidney cancer.
He is connected to numerous organizations and medical facilities that
work with kidney cancer patients. He uses a variety of media to
spread his message about kidney cancer. Prof. Friedman's passion with
the subject began six years ago when his only child, Sammy, died at
age 38 from kidney cancer. It came on suddenly and by the time
Sammy was diagnosed correctly, the cancer had spread to both his kidneys. He died shortly after. At the time, Friedman, could not find any
local support groups to help him and his wife through the coping
process. So he started one. He pays out of his own pocket costs associated with his outreach, including mailings and refreshments at the support group meetings. Prof. Friedman often speaks about the latest news
in kidney cancer group meetings. All meetings are open to the public.
Friedman also steers people to other support organizations and keeps
himself informed by subscribing to Google Alerts and following published information about cancer victims around the country.
On behalf of the Evelyn Londrigan Family, Paul and Desiree Londrigan would like to thank all the MCC employees who sent a card, an
email, a donation to your favorite charity in her memory, stopped by
the funeral home or attended her funeral. We appreciate you and your
expressions of sympathy.
Outstanding Employees of the Year
MCC's 4th Annual Employee Appreciation Event was held on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.
Congratulations to Marc Smith, Network/UNIX Specialist and Sociology Professor
Brenda Zicha. They were announced as Outstanding Employees of the Year during the
event.
MCC Business Division
Dean Receives Award
MCC Business Division Dean Robert Loth has received the Exemplary Leadership Award from the 2011 Chair Academy. The Chair
Academy, an organization dedicated to advancing academic and administrative leadership training worldwide, announced this year's 2011
Idahlynn Karre Exemplary Leader Award Winners at the Chair Academy's 20th Annual International Leadership Conference held in Dallas,
Texas in March. This award represents a leader, or team of leaders, in
post-secondary institutions worldwide who have modeled best practices to advance academic and administrative leadership development.
What makes this award so special is that each leader was nominated by
someone within their college. There can be no higher honor than being
recognized by your colleagues.
Comments included in Dean Loth's nomination include: "As
Dean of Business, Dr. Robert Loth, exhibits leadership and vision. He
led a faculty process to gain accreditation by ACBSP. He championed
Cosmetology faculty's desire to create an Esthetician program. Faced
with an Accounting department vacated by retirements and suffering
from low enrollments, he hired and empowered new faculty to turn it
around. Taking "Strengths" back to his division, he inspired the redesign of Business and Cosmetology curriculum to incorporate
Strengthsquest, reaching 1,800+ students annually."
The Academy for Leadership and Development offers opportunities to acquire and understand major research and theoretical developments in leadership. Participants have opportunities to develop
proficiency in selecting, integrating, and applying appropriate concepts
from social and behavioral science and adult education in formulating
and implementing approaches to leadership problems and issues. The
Academy provides a systems approach to transformational leadership.
The program is dedicated to long-term change. In addition, The Academy training is built upon a foundation of leadership research, theory,
skills, and best practices. Training occurs over time with measured outcomes. Leaders are mentored and coached during the Academy by experienced Academy coaches and networked with mentors on their
campuses and colleagues from their leadership class. On-going personal and electronic conversations keep leaders connected to each
other, their campuses, experienced leaders, and the Academy.
MCC, Oakland University
Announce Partnership
OU President Gary Reisse and Dr. Shaink
Mott Community College and Oakland University have teamed up
to make it easier for students to obtain a four-year degree.
OU and MCC have formed a partnership for a joint admission,
concurrent enrollment program that will provide an innovative higher
education option for students in the region. The partnership, called
Mott2O, was unveiled on April 8, at the MCC Event Center.
Mott2O becomes part of a community college partnership program
that is unique in Michigan, because it allows students to attend classes
at Oakland and MCC at the same time, and allows students to combine
credits to maximize financial aid eligibility. For more
information on Mott2O, visit oakland.edu/mott2o.
Ballenger Lecture Featured
Emmy-Award Winning Actor
Tony Shalhoub
Ceremony
From left: Susan Bolhouse, Tony Shalhoub, Lenore Croudy
and Bill Ballenger in the Applewood Café
Tony Shalhoub, whose television work includes the role of
obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk in the long-running USA
Television Network series Monk, was the featured speaker for MCC's
Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series on Friday, April 8, 2011.
Annual Mott, Motown &
More Set for May 13
Rafael Turner is sworn in as MCC's newest member of the MCC Board
of Trustees by Judge Nathaniel Perry while his father, Terry Turner, holds
the family Bible.
Please mark your calendars for the 5th Annual Mott, Motown &
More show that is scheduled for 7 pm, Friday May 13 in the Mott Memorial Building Auditorium, featuring lip sync performances by a host
of MCC staff and Flint area community members. Tickets are $25 per
person with proceeds to benefit the MCC Alumni Scholarship Assistance Fund. For more information, call (810) 762-0425.
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
Flint, MI
Permit NO 51
1401 East Court Street
Flint, Michigan 48503-2089
MAY 2011
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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For more calendar items visit www.events.mcc.edu
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Fundamentals of
Starting a Business
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Lapeer Extension Ctr.
Board of Trustees Meeting
7:30 pm • RTC 1301
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13
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Mott, Motown & More
7:00 pm
MMB Auditorium
Healing Hands
Walk Run
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
Fridays at Applewood
9:00-10:00 a.m.
RTC 1301
Crim Kick Off
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
Michigan Natural Resources Commission
8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
RTC 1107
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Crim Kick Off
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
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