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Mitchell Columns will not be published on Wednesday, Nov. 26.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.)

Events continue to follow one another in fast succession as the spring moves forward towards graduation. I’m happy to report that the members of the State Board of Community Colleges were very pleased with their meeting on our campus on Thursday and Friday, April 17 and 18. Again, I want to thank everyone on campus who helped with this big undertaking. It took a real team effort to make sure that all the bases were covered for the two days. On Monday, April 21, we hosted the Mitchell Community College Endowment for Excellence spring Board of Directors meeting in Montgomery Student Center. Thanks to the Development team we had over 35 members of that Board present for the meeting. The MCC Music Department presented a short choral program for the Board. On Tuesday, April 22, the Alumni Office hosted a luncheon for scholarship donors and scholarship recipients. Some 80 folks attended the 1st Annual Scholarship Luncheon which was organized by Windy Werts Ivey, our new Alumni Specialist. She is now working on the Alumni Luncheon which is scheduled for Saturday, May 3. On Shakespeare’s birthday, April 23, my office hosted a breakfast for our administrative support staff at Kirkman House. Some 20 folks enjoyed breakfast treats and left with a rose in appreciation for all their work during the year. On Thursday, April 24, I attended the North Carolina Community College Presidents Association meeting at Davidson Community College where I gave a report on the activities of the CIS Steering Committee. Also on that Thursday during community hour, Phi Theta Kappa held it spring induction ceremony in Shearer Hall. Thirty-seven of our best and brightest students were honored. Math instructor Libbie Reeves was the keynote speaker for the occasion. On Friday, April 25, forty-two students presented their entries in the 3rd Annual MCC Research Fair sponsored by the Science Department. This was another outstanding display of student work where each person must synthesize his or her work in an essay and a display board that explains a process or a topic. The subject matter ran from "Acetylsalicylic Acid: Aspirin" to "Trichinella Spiralis." And on Friday evening, the MCC Art Department presented its spring show of student work at a reception at the Iredell Museums gallery in downtown Statesville. As you can see, events follow on the heels of events pretty fast around here. I always feel that April is a rush to our graduations. It’s too bad that we can’t seem to slow time down and enjoy these special days more fully.