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Mitchell Columns will not be published on Wednesday, Nov. 26.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

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF FILE OF THE CURRENT PAPER EDITION

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.)

What an exciting time to be a community college professional! Charles Dickens’ opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities comes to mind: "They were the best of times. They were the worst of times." Never have North Carolinians needed the services of community colleges more than they do now, and rarely have we had to operate under the budget uncertainties that we currently face. Dr. Scott Ralls became the 7th President of the North Carolina Community College System on April 1, 2008. Dr. Ralls is very passionate about the mission of the North Carolina Community College System: providing education, training and retraining for the workforce, supporting economic development and providing services to communities and individuals which improve the quality of life. In fact, in Dr. Rall’s comments and writings he uses the word "urgency" often. In what might seem to be a stark contrast to this feeling of urgency and forward thinking, he also often references quotes from two of the founding fathers of the North Carolina Community College System. "…We must take people where they are and carry them as far as they can go…" from Dallas Herring’s 1964 speech is one quote he uses often. Governor Terry Sanford’s 1963 State of the State Address that proposed the North Carolina Community College System is another favorite. "You will hear some whisperings abroad saying that we have done enough, have moved well and far and rapidly, and so it is time now to slow down, rest, and catch our breath. These whispers come from the fearful and those who have always opposed the accomplishments from which they would now rest. This cannot be and is not the spirit of North Carolina. Much remains to be done, to provide better educational opportunities for the competition our children will surely face, to encourage broader economic development so everybody will have a better chance to make a better living. Now is the time to move forward. Now is no time to loaf along." The urgency in Governor Sanford’s 1964 remarks remains in 2008.