The T-Bird Times is a digital newsletter, which is published on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month by the Office of Student Life & Leadership. If you'd like to have your event or announcement included, please click this button to be directed to a Google Form. 

*Attention Faculty* Please add the T-Bird Times to your Canvas Navigation Menu!

You can now OPT-IN to have a link to the T-Bird Times added in your Canvas Navigation menu! Please consider opting-in for all your FALL 2023 classes so your students have easy access to T-Bird Times and all of this important information. For instructions on how to enable this link, please click here or contact the CTL at ctl@mesacc.edu.  Thank you!

Competition guidelines:

1.) The food drive officially starts October 2, 2023 - clubs and departments can join at any time between then and collection day on October 13, 2023

2.) Departments will monitor and count their own donations - Honor/Honesty code

3.) Club and department winners willbe determined by the number of items donated

4.) Bulk items should be counted by the number of items in the box/case - for example, a 4-pack of tuna is counted as 4 items.

Thank you and good luck to all!!


Mesa Market Food Drive 

ASMCC Student Government and the MCC Care Team are sponsoring a food drive competition with student clubs and college departments to help stock the Mesa Market at both MCC campuses. Our pantry shelves are in need of non-perishable food and hygiene products. Help us out!

All items can be dropped off on Friday, October 13 between 10 am-1 pm

For a list of items most needed, visit this link.  Contact Adam Soto if your club or department will be participating in the contest. You can also donate on your own, not as part of a department/club. All donations are appreciated! 

Veteran Services Benefit and Resources Event

Oct 10 | 9:30 am-11:30 am | LB 145 (SoDo campus)

MCC Venerans Services will be hosting the Arizona Department of Veteran Affairs and other partners who will be on site to provide important information about Veteran related resources.

MCC Math Club Meeting

Electronic Technology Meets Guitar

Tuesday, Oct 10 | 3:00-4:00 pm in TC 308 (SoDo campus)

Did you know MCC has a class where you can build your own custom guitar? Attend the next Math Club meeting to learn more about this ROCKIN' class! Electronics professor Rino Mazzucco will give Math Club a special tour of the MCC guitar building lab and fill us in about some exciting careers in electronics. 

Check out www.mccmathclub.org for more info on the Math Club!

From Crisis to Control: Money & Emergency Funds

Oct 10 | 1-2 pm | LB 145 (SoDo)

Oct 11 | 4-5 pm | Via Zoom

MCC's Financial Literacy Team will be providing a workshop for students: "From Crisis to Control: Money & Emergency Funds." During this interactive workshop, students will experience money management with a game and learn the importance of an emergency fund, as well as methods to build an emergency fund. There is an in person option, as well as a live online option. 

Arboretum Volunteer Day

Oct 13 | 9 am-11 am | SoDo campus

The MCC Arboretum depends on volunteers to help keep it beautiful. This month, we'll be creating new permanent plant labels to install around campus. This will help students and visitors identify the species of plants in the Arboretum.

No experience is required. Tools andgloves will be provided. If we get a large number of volunteers, we may also do some work outside. If you're interested in outdoor work, dress for the weather, wear a hat and sunscreen, and bring plenty of water.

The Arboretum is an approved Service Learning partner, so this is a great option for students in need of volunteer hours.

We'll meet at the Clock Tower in front of the Kirk Student Center. If you arrive late, proceed to the south side of the TC 50 building.

Please RSVP using this form if you'd like to help out! Check out our Events page to view other upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Upcoming Community and Civic Engagement Events

Topic: Mental Illness Education: It's Time to Talk

Please join us for a candid conversation about experiencing and recognizing mental illness and effectively intervening before or during crisis. Presenter: Kate Mohler and Craig Jacobsen 

Oct 11 | 12-1 pm | Online-Click here for Zoom link 

For presentation details, visit this link

Topic: Equity for All Arizonans

Join us as we discuss how to promote equity in Arizona using A Town Hall format of guided consensus-finding. Presenter:  Brian Dille 

Oct 18   12-1 pm | Online-Click here for Zoom link 

For presentation details, visit this link

EngageMe Workshop: The Art of Drag

Date: Friday, October 13th, 2023
Start Time: 12:00 PM | End Time: 2:00 PM
Location: LB-145 (Southern/Dobson)
Host: David Boyles
Bio: David Boyles (pronouns: he/they) teaches writing and rhetoric at Arizona State University, where they also developed the Discovery Seminar course, “Speaking OUT: LGBTQ+ Youth in Pop Culture and Politics.” They are co-founder and president of Drag Story Hour Arizona and were honored for their contributions to the Phoenix LGBTQ+ community with the 2022 Phoenix Pride John Bircumshaw Community Spirit Award. They are also the author of the recently published Young Adult novel Life is a Banquet.
Purpose: A performance of exaggerated gender expression intended to highlight the performative aspect of gender --has never been more popular or controversial than it is today. In this two-part program, David Boyles, ASU Professor and Drag Story Hour Arizona President, will discuss the history of drag. Professor Boyles will present a brief history of the art form of drag performance, told through the stories of a dozen of the most important figures in drag history, from William Dorsey Swann, who was born into slavery and went onto become America's first known drag queen, to Jose Sarria, the San Francisco drag performer who became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to ever run for public office and founded the Imperial Court, the largest LGBTQ+ charitable organization in the world

Co-Curricular Type: Academic Involvement

Upcoming Theater and Performing Arts Events

The Play That Goes Wrong

Oct 6-14| MCC Performing Arts Center

Oct 6-7, 12-13 at 7:30 pm, Oct 7 and 14th at 2 pm

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit this link. 


Concert Choir and Jazz Ensemble

Oct 11 | 7:30 pm | MCC Performing Arts Center

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit this link. 

Desert Echoes Flute Concert

Oct 13 | 7:30 pm | MCC Performing Arts Center

For more information, please visit this link. 


STUDENT SUCCESS WORKSHOPS

The Foundations for Student Success is offering student success workshops during the fall semester. Workshops are free and are conducted both online and in person. These sessions are open to all students. For more information, please visit this site.  Learn how to be a successful online student, how to manage stress, and how to feel like you deserve to be a college student!

Topic: Flip Your Math Mindset

10/17/23 | 12:30 | S/D: Thunderbird Think Tank

10/20/23| 10:00 am | Online: Click Here

Be a Money Goal Getter: Setting SMART Financial Goals

Oct 17 | 1:00-2:00 pm | LB 145 (SoDo campus)

This workshop will help students set SMART financial short-term and long-term goals, as well as provide ideas for meeting those goals. This will also be held via ZOOM on Wednesday, Oct 17 from 4:00-5:00 pm at this link

MCC Student Support Foundation 

Oct 18 | 3:30-4:30 pm | Student Lounge (KSC 36S at SoDo)

Are you interested in social work? Want to learn how to work in a team? Do you want to give back to your fellow students? Do you need service hours?

If you answered YES to any of those questions, you should check out the Student Support Foundation! The purpose of SSF is to empower new leaders in philanthropy by providing financial assistance to students.  For more info, visit this link. 

We Care Wednesday

Wednesday, Oct 18  | 10:00 am-12:00 pm | Red Mountain Campus

The next We Care Wednesday fresh food distribution is taking place at the RED MOUNTAIN campus on Wednesday, Oct 18. It will take place from 10 am-12 pm in the Circle Driveway outside of Desert Willow. This is free and open to the public! *Food available while supplies last.

This is a drive-through distribution, but walk-up service is also available.

The next We Care Wednesday at Southern/Dobson will be on Nov 1 in the Navajo Room.

Christella's Testimonial

Oct 19 | 8:00-9:15 am |PV 114 (Red Mountain)

To honor those scholars and intellectuals who have survived domestic situations, MCC welcomes Christella Rivera, a2016 alumnus. She will share her personal testimonial of triumph over tragedy, life over death, a survivor and a thriver as she basks in her heavenly glory. She will be interviewed by Professor Rod Golden from Cultural Sciences, Sociology, and African America Studies.

This is free and open to any interested in hearing Christella's motivating story. 

Red Mountain Campus Clean Up

Oct 19 | 9 am-11 am and 1-3 pm | Red Mountain campus

Volunteers are needed to help us clean up the Red Mountain campus! We'll be cleaning up trash on campus and in our parking lots, and on the trail surrounding campus. These clean up efforts will be in preparation for our community Halloween event and Veterans Day run happening soon. 

Check in at the table by the Mesquite stairs and get your equipment. Please be sure to wear close toed shoes and long pants to protect yourself from the sharp things in the desert!

Thunderbird Athletics

Support the MCC Thunderbird Athletes at one of their upcoming HOME games

The Clothesline Project

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Be sure to take some time to check out the shirts on display around the Red Mountain Cienega Circle during the week of October 23-27. The shirts on display honor and pay respect to victims and survivors of domestic violence. They are created by students in Professor Rod Golden's Sociology classes at Red Mountain. 

Scholarships Available!

One application, hundreds of scholarships! 

Apply online at mcccdf.org/scholarship. 

The Spring 2024 Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation General Scholarship Application is now open and accepting applications! Submit one General Scholarship Application and be eligible for hundreds of scholarship opportunities. The application deadline is October 31, 2023. 

Save the Date: Red Mountain Halloween Extravaganza

Tuesday, October 31 | 5:30-8:30 pm | Red Mountain campus

Calling all ghosts and goblins, princesses and super heroes--plan to join us on Halloween night while we host a free, fun, and safe night of Trick-or-Treating for our local community. 

The Red Mountain campus has been hosting the Halloween Extravaganza since 2011, drawing crowds of 2500 people in 2018 and 2019. We are excited to be bringing the event back after a few years off during the pandemic. We need YOUR HELP! Please consider donating a bag (or two) of candy to the Student Life office at either campus to be used at the various themed tables. You can also sign up to host a themed Trick-or-Treat booth or volunteer at this link. Get your department, class, or your student club together,-- pick your theme and come up with decorations and an activity. It's a fun night and a great way to give back to our community. Please contact Erica Horihan (480-654-7759) with questions or for more information. 

Click this LINK for the event flyer. 

Follow the Student Life Instagram for your chance to win Thorsday prizes! @mccthunderbirds


What is THORSDAY?

Wear your favorite Thunderbird gear every Thorsday, greet your friends with "Happy Thorsday," and find your own ways to celebrate your Thunderbird pride.  Do you have your Thorsday shirt? Stop by Student Life!

ONGOING PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND EVENTS

MESA MARKET

FOOD & HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR STUDENTS

The Mesa Market is a food and hygiene pantry for MCC students. Any student is eligible to visit the Mesa Market for food and hygiene products for free. 

Click this link for a Mesa Market flyer to share with others.

Southern and Dobson Campus

The Mesa Market at Southern/Dobson campus is located in KSC 35S.  Open Monday-Thursday from 9 am-5 pm and Friday from 10 am-2 pm.

Red Mountain Campus

The Mesa Market at Red Mountain is located in Palo Verde 111. Open Monday-Thursday from 9 am-5 pm, and is closed on Fridays.

We are always grateful for donations to the Mesa Market! Feel free to drop off your donations to the Mesa Market at either campus. 

Amazon Wish List for SOUTHERN/DOBSON DONATIONS

Amazon Wish List for RED MOUNTAIN DONATIONS

We Care Wednesday

We Care Wednesday is a food distribution that takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at the Southern/Dobson campus and the third Wednesday of every month at the Red Mountain campus. The distribution happens from 10 am-12 pm* or until supplies run out. The food distributions are open to all students and community members in need of food assistance:

Southern/Dobson : Nov 1, Dec 6

Red Mountain : Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 20

Clubs are an extremely valuable part of a student's experience at MCC. If you are interested in getting involved in a student club, please stay tuned for opportunities to meet our clubs, and consider starting (or reactivating) a new club! We are also seeking club advisors to help support a variety of MCC clubs. Any faculty or staff that are interested in this opportunity are encouraged to reach out to a member of the Student Life team. 

The Club Hub will have an updated list of student clubs (as we learn which clubs will be active this year) as well as important paperwork, forms, and a list of club connections to various Fields of Interest. 

Banner image for the MCC Club Hub website

Click here to visit the MCC Club Hub!

Get Involved and Get Connected!

Caring Connections Fall 2023

Week 7: The Power of No

Student Message:

Congratulations! You’re closing in on the first half of the semester; take stock in your accomplishments and your “bandwidth” to take on extra tasks. It’s okay to say, “No, I can’t at this time” to focus on your goals. Check out this video of acclaimed writer and producer Shonda Rhimes on how to say No. FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is real, but instead of thinking of a “no” as never, think of it as “not right now.” Keep a list of things you want to do in the future and use it to help you prioritize what you want to say “yes” to in the future.

Two things you want to say “yes” to right now are securing financial support for the spring or summer semesters and reviewing the resources available at mesacc.edu/get-help.

There are lots of great fall activities and events to say “yes” to as well! Be sure to check out the latest edition of the T-Bird Times.

SAVE THE DATE: Red Mountain Halloween Extravaganza | 10/31/23, 5:30-8:30 pm

This is a community trick-or-treat event that happens on Halloween night, and it is a chance for the families in our community to have a safe, fun place for their kids to trick-or-treat...and it provides us a great opportunity to open up our beautiful campus to our neighbors! In the last few years we held the event, we saw crowds of around 2500 people!

What we need from the community:

More for You:

Optional Lesson

Week 8: Growth Mindset 

Student Message

Have you ever felt paralyzed because you don’t know how to start a paper, solve a math problem, or respond to an exam question? Most of us have felt this way, and even had nightmares about completing a stressful activity.

Research shows our brain activity increases when we make mistakes and grapple with what went wrong and how we can recalibrate to achieve different outcomes in the future. Our potential outcomes soar the highest when we address the mistake with a growth mindset, when we celebrate our imperfections, saying, “I didn’t get it right this time,” or “I cannot do this YET. BUT I will keep trying!”

A great way to enhance your growth mindset is to plan for the future and seek out support.

Make an appointment with a tutor (virtual or in person), schedule a research consultation with a librarian, talk with your instructor (before class, after class, or visit during office hours), connect with a classmate, visit mesacc.edu/get-help, or access resources available in your Canvas courses.

Participate in a Foundations for Student Success workshop: Flip your Math Mindset (10/17, 10/20).

Spring 2024 Priority Registration is now available, with over 2,700 classes to choose from. Spring classes start January 13, 2024. Check the class schedule to find the class, days, and times that are ideal for you. Open Registration for all begins October 9.

Stay up to date on the latest events going on around campus with the T-bird Times Newsletter, published the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month by MCC’s Office of Student Life and Leadership.

Optional Lesson

Week 9: Achieving Goals

Student Message

Have you heard the phrase, “You don’t know what you don’t know?” Roughly 80% of students change their majors at least once during their college experience. Changing course isn’t bad; it’s necessary to ensure you maintain your momentum and are true to your goal. MCC’s Career Services provides FREE assistance to help you make clear decisions about your future.

Unsure what career to pursue? Career Coach is an easy-to-use FREE tool designed to help you identify careers matching your interests. You can browse potential career options, take a career assessment, and help improve your resume.

Attend the next FREE student success workshop - Flip Your Math Mindset, in person on Tuesday, Oct. 17 12:30 pm (Thunderbird) Think Tank or online on Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 am.

We’re here to help you achieve your educational goals! Visit mesacc.edu/get-help to review the vast resources available to all MCC Thunderbirds.

Optional Lesson

Career Corner-MCC Career Services

Working Wednesday : On-Campus Recruitment

Wednesdays: 11:00 am-2:00 pm | Navajo Room, Student Lounge, or Clocktower Lawn

MCC Career Services Department will be hosting Working Wednesdays throughout the fall semester. Each week, we will welcome employers on campus to table and speak with interested students about the job opportunities available within their organization. This year, we are hosting General Working Wednesday events (30 Employers) and Field of Interest (15 Employers) Working Wednesday events.  For more info, visit this link

Professional Development Workshops

Tuesdays during the Fall Semester-VIRTUAL at this link

Join MCC Career Services for virtual professional development workshops in topics such as Resume Writing, Cover Letter Writing, Interviewing, and Branding Yourself. For more information, visit this website. 

MCC Fitness Center Memberships

Start the new semester STRONG! Did you know you can sign up for a membership to the MCC Fitness Centers? They provide membership access to students, employees, and the community, and a membership gives you access to both the Southern and Dobson and the Red Mountain campus fitness centers.  Membership includes cardio and strength training equipment, fitness tools/accessories, access to drop in group fitness classes, personal training consultation and 1 complementary session, knowledgeable staff, day use lockers, clean facilities, and no crowds!

Also available: Community Ed memberships, PED 101/PED 115 classes for credit and a variety of fitness classes. Visit the Fitness Center website for a schedule and more information.

For more information on Student Life, visit our website

STUDENT LIFE & LEADERSHIP

Student Life is here to help you GET ENGAGED and GET CONNECTED at MCC. 

Getting involved makes a HUGE difference in your MCC experience. Check out Student Life for more information on these opportunities. Visit us in KSC 35S at the SoDo campus or in Mesquite 210 at Red Mountain, or check out our Virtual Student Life Center for more information.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. The Maricopa County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.