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Mitchell Columns will not be published on Wednesday, Nov. 26.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

Finding Your Passion
Everyone needs to discover something to be passionate about. I don’t mean the kind of passion that you see on "Desperate Housewives" or "Days of Our Lives." I am talking about the kind of passion that drives us every day and helps fulfill our lives. Some passions are obvious while some are not. Looking at me you might be able to tell I am passionate about food. I am not passionate about exercise. If you looked in my closet, you could tell I am passionate about shoes but I am not passionate about hats. Were you to see me with my son or husband, I hope you could tell that I am passionate about my family. One of the things about which I am most passionate is that every child has the chance for a good education. More and more companies are requiring that all employees have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. In addition to that, many more require at least some education after high school. In North Carolina, for every 100 ninth grade students, 60 will graduate from high school four years later. Of those graduates, 41 will immediately enter college but only 29 will still be enrolled in their second year. Of those still enrolled only 19 students graduate with either an associate’s degree within three years or a bachelor’s degree within six years. In the fall of 2004, the Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership (CCTL) opened its doors. In the fall of 2008 these students will begin their "senior" year. We will also be admitting our largest freshman class with 56 new students. There were 124 applications for this fall’s freshman class. A new initiative opening this fall will be the Iredell-Statesville Visual and Performing Arts Early College located on the campus of Statesville High School. Currently, 30 students have applied for this arts-focused high school program that will allow them the opportunity to finish high school and complete two years of college credit within five years. Our hope is that many of these students will use that time to complete an associate in fine arts. These two exciting initiatives are giving students an opportunity to become passionate about learning. How about you? What are you passionate about?