MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONNECTION JULY 2011 MCC named Among Top 100 Associate Degree Producers in the Nation MCC FACULTY & STAFF NEWSLETTER WHAT’S INSIDE AROUND CAMPUS EXHIBIT FEATURING LOCAL HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS ON DISPLAY AT MOTT LIBRARY 2ND ANNUAL MCC EMPLOYEE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT COMMUNITY LEADERS HELP CELEBRATE MOTT LIBRARY RE-OPENING Mott Community College has made yet another national listing, demonstrating that the college is achieving notable success in accomplishing its mission for the community. MCC was not only measured against other community colleges but also four-year colleges and universities that issue associate degrees. MCC was ranked in the June 13, 2011 edition of Community College Week's Top 100 Associate Degree Producers, a list that includes both two-year and four-year institutions. MCC ranked 77th nationally among institutions in the "associate degrees – all disciplines" category as well as 67th in the category of associate degree granted to men and women of African American ancestry. The listing includes institutions that have awarded the largest number of associate degrees and certificates based on an analysis examining degrees and certificates awarded in the 2009-10 academic year with data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics. Victor M.H. Borden, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Indiana Bloomington, noted that 2011 has been a tough year for higher education in the article accompanying the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers list, "Bad Times, Good Times: Degree Awards Set Record Despite Rocky Educational Landscape." "This has been a rocky year for higher education in the United States," Borden stated. "States and local communities face the most severe financial constraints that have been experienced since most community colleges opened their doors…all institutions and community colleges in particular, struggle to offer a highly valued service to an increasingly diverse array of students and community partners with increasingly scarce resources." Mott Community College has also been ranked in the top 10%. 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 announced in April that MCC is one of the nation's 120 best community colleges, challenging it to compete for the Prize funds to be announced in December 2011. For more information, visit www.AspenCCPrize.org FABLAB Visit QUOTE OF THE M ONTH "Freedom is a precious thing, and the inalienable birthright of all who travel this earth." --Paul Robeson Pictured from left: MCC’s Tom Crampton, Dr. Richard Shaink and Senator Carl Levin U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (third from left) toured the Mott Community College Digital Fabrication Laboratory, or FABLAB, located in the MCC Regional Technology Center, on a recent visit to the Flint campus. Thomas Crampton, Executive Dean, MCC Regional Technology Initiatives, (from left) is joined by MCC President M. Richard Shaink. The FABLAB at MCC is a hands-on laboratory that provides the technology and modern fabrication tools to let people build their own creations and products for personal or commercial use.The FABLAB allows an individual to essentially take an idea and discover how to turn it into a physical object. A dream-come true for inventors of all ages, the FABLAB is a place where anyone can make just about anything. d Ca m p us Cheryl Bassett, Chief Technology Officer, Information Technology Services, tells us that ITS Manager Margaret Bourcier was elected to serve on the Educational Technology Organization of Michigan (ETOM) Board at the ETOM annual spring retreat. This is a three-year term and her position on the Board will be determined this summer. She was one of five candidates for two open seats. ETOM is a state-wide organization that focuses on distance education and both community college and 4-year universities. "This is a great opportunity for Margaret and for Mott to have a presence around the state in this field," adds Cheryl. "Congratulations to Margaret!" Honors Program Coordinator Brian Ivory lets us know that the MCC Honors Program was awarded a $3,500 venture grant from the Michigan Campus Compact to support the curriculum-based Alternative Break service projects associated with the new Honors Colloquium course: HONS 250: Social Diversity and Civic Engagement. This fall, Brian and10 Honors students will complete two weekends of service in order for students to meet the 45 service hours required for HONS 250. The grant will also support the week-long, Spring Break service trip to be scheduled for Winter Semester. Flint Rotary chose Lennetta Coney, President of the Foundation for MCC, as the winner of the 2011 Service Above Self Award. Nicknamed the “SASSY Award,” this honors Lennetta’s wide range of community volunteer work. Dale Weighill, Executive Dean, Professional Development & Experiential Learning, thanks the following people for presenting workshops for the Center for Teaching and Learning during June: Fairy Hayes-Scott, Faculty - English - Humanities Division--Self Publishing Cheryl Bassett, Chief Technology Officer - ITS - Information Technology Services--Computer Network Security Margaret Bourcier & Team, Manager, e-Learning, FS And Web Development - ITS e-Learning-- Peer-to-Peer Workshop Angela Reeves, Counselor - Counseling & Student Development-Tools To Create Greater Classroom Effectiveness (Incorporating an Ethnic Perspective) Simone Mishler, AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer - Professional Development--Crochet Basics Lisa Banks, Faculty - Business Division--Scrappin’ Discoveries…by Lisa Banks Tony Caldwell, Faculty - Business Division--Ballroom Dancing (Detroit Style) Paul Jordan, Coordinator / Faculty - Fine Arts & Social Sciences Division--Middle School Attendance, Academic Achievement, and Poverty Status as Correlates of High School Graduation Rates Marc Smith, Manager of Computing Services - ITS Computing Support Services-- Google Apps Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Friends of the Mott Library "Steal a Deal" Silent Auction. Proceeds benefit the Mott Library. The auction, along with a light box lunch, will be held from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door; $5 for MCC students. Tickets go on sale in August. The Friends are accepting items and donations for the Silent Auction now. All members of the Friends can accept donations of goods to be auctioned off (preferably slightly used or new) as well as items for wrapping, including baskets, tissue, cellophane wrap, etc. For more information, call Jennifer Kroninger at 762-0237. Executive Dean of Student Services Delores Deen shares good news from her area. Leslie Slining, manager of our Mott College Arou n Book Store, recently received the P. R. Litzsinger Manager of the Year Award for her exceptional management of our bookstore. This is the highest honor that a Follett Store Manager can receive. The P R. Litzsinger Manager of the Year Award has been given to deserving managers for more than ten years. It is based on outstanding performance in three areas: financial, overall store performance, and living the Follett Values. Suzanne Stegeman, Vice President, Sales and Operations of Follett Higher Education Group, offered the following congratulatory remarks to Leslie in a letter. "This award, Follett's highest, signifies a manager's personal commitment to people, and acknowledges that they consistently maintain a very high operational standard within their store," she notes. "The Litzsinger award acknowledges that the manager is providing a highly positive work environment by creating an inviting and exciting retail store that is dedicated to serving their academic community. 2nd Annual MCC Softball Tournament & Hotdog Roast Congratulations to the Mott Community College Department of Public Safety team, winners of the 2011 MCC Employee Softball Tournament. Games were played at the Whittier School Field, at Kearsley Park and Mott Community College baseball fields on Wednesday, June 29. Co-ed teams battled it out for the coveted trophy, awarded to the Public Safety team, comprised of MCC police and public safety officers, their family members and friends. The players were cheered on by spectators of all ages. Everyone enjoyed free hot dogs, chips, beverages, and ice cream. Last year's champs, Charlie's Angels, plan to come back strong next year. Exhibit Featuring Local Holocaust Survivors on Display at Mott Library An intriguing exhibit providing first-hand accounts from survivors of the Holocaust will be featured at the Mott Community College Library through August 25 during regular library hours. Recounting Memory: Flint-Area Holocaust Survivors & Youth Dialogue with History, located in the lobby of the newly renovated Mott Library. A reception is scheduled from 5 to7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors to the Library will have an opportunity to read stories and view photos of survival on a large scale in this oral history project that brings together area students and Holocaust survivors. Students and faculty of MCC collaborated with local high school students and staff of Jewish Community Services of Flint to capture the stories of Flintarea Holocaust survivors who were immigrants from the former USSR. First-hand accounts of survival during World War II were retold by five community members who had lived through this period as young children, culminating in the exhibit designed by MCC Graphic Design Professor Mara Jevera Fulmer. The exhibit features material gathered from the interviews of area survivors, as well as reflective responses of the students, historical images and information. "The educational focus of this project demonstrates the rich opportunities for collaboration between MCC faculty and students and local organizations and high schools," Fulmer said. "Flint-area high school seniors and MCC Design and Media students were engaged in conducting the interviews and hearing the stories of survival, hope, and overcoming racial and ethnic persecution, topics that still resonate loudly in today's world." The exhibit is funded in part by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint with additional support from Mott Community College. The exhibit will remain installed at the MCC Library through August 25, 2011 with plans to travel to other locations as they become available. For library hours, please call (810) 762-0400 or visit the website at library.mcc.edu. For more information or to learn more about hosting this exhibit, contact Mara Jevera Fulmer at (810) 232-3431 or email at mara.fulmer@mcc.edu. Community Leaders Help Celebrate the Grand ReOpening of Mott Library Flint Mayor Dayne Walling was among several dignitaries on hand to celebrate the re-opening of the newly-renovated Mott Library on Thursday, June 23. Dr. Shaink led the Mayor on a tour highlighting a host of state-of-the-art enhancements of the building, preceding a ceremony with refreshments served in the Event Center. "We're so proud of what Mott Community College is doing for this community; we're all very proud of this institution, and this facility is amazing." Walling said. "This is just one of the great projects being completed in this great city, and the momentum is spreading." Attendees were given cards that were punched at the various points of interest to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle and gift card. Also on hand at the re-opening celebration were former Lt. Gov. John Cherry, Genesee County Board Commissioner Deb Cherry, Sen. John Gleason, MCC Board chair Lenore Croudy, and Trustees Pamela Faris, Sally Shaheen Joseph and Andy Everman. Renovations include work completed on the third floor of the library creating new spaces for the Testing Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning. Two labs were installed on the third floor, one for staff and faculty training and one that faculty can book for their courses. The second floor of the library was renovated to create a library instruction room, a presentation practice room, increased study carrels and also to sound-proof the existing group study rooms. The Honors Program office was relocated to this space as well. An addition was built on to the lobby area of the Event Center and break out rooms were created to enhance the functionality of the meeting space. On the first floor, benefactor Charles Stewart Mott's study was refur- bished to appear as it did during the 1950s. The first floor computer lab was redesigned to accommodate teaching in small groups. Both the presentation practice room on the second floor and the first floor computer lab have the same equipment as found in the smart classrooms across campus. New shelving and a new reference desk were installed to improve function, open up sight lines, and to harmonize with the new design. "The library renovation truly makes this building a center for learning for all in our community," said Dr. Amy Fugate, Vice President for Academic Affairs. "As part of our mission of continuous quality improvement and lifelong learning, having space for professional development for our faculty and staff, allows us to provide training to keep them at top skill levels. This in turn allows them to share those same skills with our students. Whether or not test taking can be pleasant is debatable, but our new Testing Center environment does its part to decrease test anxiety." PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Flint, MI Permit NO 51 1401 East Court Street Flint, Michigan 48503-2089 JULY 2011 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday For more calendar items visit www.events.mcc.edu 5 6 Upward Bound 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Prahl College Center Upward Bound 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Prahl College Center 12 13 4 11 City Wide (ARI) Training 9:00-11:00 am RTC 2301 18 19 PRIDE Training 6:00-9:00 p.m. RTC 1109 25 26 7 Saturday 1 2 3 8 9 10 14 16 17 24 15 GSA Club Meeting 2:30-4:00 p.m. Genesee Room 21 22 23 28 29 30 Upward Bound 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Prahl College Center 27 Sunday GSA Club Meeting 2:30-4:00 p.m. Genesee Room Youth Quest 1:00-1:30 p.m. RTC 1005 20 Friday