Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mitchell Columns will not be published on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The final issue of 2008 will be published on Dec. 10.

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Scholarships

Academic Calendar

Board Briefs

QEP Quips

MCC Inclement Weather Policy

Archive

November 20 through December 3

Michael Brooks—20th

Lamont Kinney—22nd

Audra Houpe—29th

Motivating Students Series
Negative feedback can lead to a negative class atmosphere. Be specific when giving negative feedback and tie comments to a specific task or performance—not to a specific student. Cushion negative comments with positive compliments about aspects of the task that students did well and be sensitive to "offhanded" remarks that might engender feelings of inadequacy. Often students want to know the "answer"—"what was it I should have said or done to make it right?" Avoid pleas from students for the "right answer" which can rob them of the opportunity to think and problem-solve for themselves. Ask for suggestions of possible approaches to the problem, suggest sources, and encourage them to build on existing skills. Always praise students for small, independent steps. —Submitted by Employee Development (11.19.08)

College CLOSED
November 26 through 28

First ARP Church
(Rehearsal, Dec. 6 @ 3 p.m.)

This past Friday I had the opportunity to spend almost three hours with our President-Elect of the North Carolina Community College System, Dr. Scott Rawls. Some of you probably know Dr. Rawls from his service at the System office some years ago as Vice-President for Economic Development Programs or his more recent tenure as President of Craven Community College. He will be leaving Craven Community College at the end of April to take on the duties as President of the North Carolina Community College System as President Martin Lancaster enters retirement. Dr. Rawls is 43 years old and has a lovely wife and two young boys under the age of 12. It is apparent that he will bring a perspective from his generation to the job of leading North Carolina’s 58 community colleges and the system office into the 21st century. I have known Dr. Rawls for better than ten years and I have always found him to be a very affable young man who deeply cares about the role of the community college in developing the human capital of North Carolina. I feel sure that as President of the System he will bring leadership that focuses on advancing the mission of each of our colleges. He has a wealth of practical experience on a campus and at the system office that he will bring to the job. During our meeting last Friday, I found him open to hearing from others about what the new system president should focus on and what goals we should set for the future. Dr. Rawls clearly understands the realities of the political process and critical needs of the state. I believe we will have a strong advocate for our individual colleges and for our system as a whole who can articulate the realities of what our colleges are all about and help us develop a strong vision for the future.