friday takeout
August 24, 2018
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
Decorah Newspapers publishes Sept. 11 Bond Levy Continuation vote news ... link
This is convenient for you! Peosta campus to host Early Voting Site from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28! ... news
Local services, resources and area employers highlighted at Community Organization and Wellness Fair on Aug. 30 ... news
Augusoft, the company that developed the Lumens software for Business and Community Solutions class registrations, praises Iowa's community colleges, including NICC, for their teamwork, implementation and successful outcomes ... link
Do you remember this guy? Curt Oldfield, Ph.D., former NICC vice president of academic affairs, is now president of Spoon River College in Canton, Ill. This Monday, Curt bravely volunteered to be submerged in a grain bin at Agland FS to demonstrate Dan Neenan's bin rescue tube training ... photo
This week at Convocation, we heard Ashley Pottebaum's story of making a successful, and far more profitable, career change through the College after a job loss. Read more about Ashley's story in the Fall 2018 edition of Career Focus! ...
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
We Want Your Feedback: Mission, Vision and our Strategic Business Plan
As Dr. Wee shared at convocation, we are in the process of creating a strategic business plan. The first part of the process is to review our mission, vision and values because it is important that our FY19 strategic goals align with the future needs of our students and communities. As your senior leadership team, it is our job to set strategy, share our vision and align the direction with our mission. Our proposed mission statement evolved as a grassroots effort. A team of our employees -- Lori Schmitz, Shea Herbst, Katie Burrichter, Kristi Flack, Amy Green, Ashley Konzen, Erin Powers-Daley, Doug Ropa and Kristi Strief -- came together to discuss what makes NICC unique. On behalf of senior leadership, thank you for taking the lead! Access this link to review our mission, vision and values.
We value your feedback! Please send an email to feedback@nicc.edu or attend a town hall at either campus: Sept. 18, at the Wilder Business Center at Calmar; or Sept. 20, in the Peosta campus Conference Center. Both events are from noon – 1 p.m.
Over the next month, the VPs will be sharing mission, vision, values, goals and priorities with their teams. Collectively, we agreed that our people and a financially healthy organization are two top priorities. Two other areas of focus will be our consumers (those who use our services, students and businesses) and organization. We are excited about our future and hope you will be, too. We are RICH!
New Disability Services Handbooks Developed for Faculty, Staff and Students
The Office of Disability Services has published a new Disability Services Faculty Handbook that is available online and in MyCampus for easy access by faculty and staff. This handbook is offered as a source of information and guidance with respect to the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with qualifying disabilities who are enrolled in our course(s). However, this handbook is not intended as a comprehensive resource. Due to the heterogeneous nature of disability, and the diversity of courses offered at the College, it is not possible to anticipate and address every question or concern that may arise. Instead, this handbook is designed to orient the reader to the fundamentals of the accommodation process and offer answers to frequently asked questions.
Disability Services also developed and published a Disability Services Student Handbook. This handbook provides basic information about our services and how they are offered.
If you have questions or concerns not addressed, please contact your Disability Services Coordinators: Anna Stamat at Calmar, ext. 258; or Sandra Beisker at Peosta, ext. 280.
Celebrate #NICCProud Week!
Next week, from Aug. 27 - 31, we welcome back students during NICC Proud Week! This year's celebration highlights service projects, photo contests, picnics and inflatable obstacle courses, wellness events and much more. See the full NICC Proud Week schedule! Please contact Sara Franzen at franzens@nicc.edu with questions about any NICC Proud event. Get involved, have fun and be #NICCProud!
APPETIZERS | just a little something.
Early Voting Site Available at the Peosta Campus on Tuesday, Aug. 28!
The Peosta campus Main Building will have an Early Voting Site for the Sept. 11 Bond Continuation Vote from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28. Please spread the word to students, staff, faculty, friends and neighbors! Important change this year that governs elections in Iowa: During calendar year 2018, voters will be asked to show their ID before voting at the polls. Anyone who does not have the necessary ID will be asked to sign an oath verifying their identity and will be allowed to cast a regular ballot. Valid forms of ID include: an Iowa Driver's License, Iowa Non-Operator's ID, Military ID, U.S. Passport, Tribal ID, Veteran's ID or Voter ID Card. (One of the aforementioned forms of ID will be required to cast a ballot beginning in 2019.)
Looking for information on your local polling site? Check out the updates made to www.nicc.edu/bondlevy! All designated polling sites for the Sept. 11 vote are organized by county in the first drop down menu.
See other informational documents about the Sept. 11 bond levy vote:
My Drive > NICC Shared Files > President > 2018 Bond Levy Renewal
More information about the bond levy campaign is available from Julie Wurtzel at the Calmar campus, wurtzelj@nicc.edu, or Barb O'Hea, at Barb.J.OHea@gmail.com.
You may also send any questions or comments you have to feedback@nicc.edu!
JUST DESSERTS | let's celebrate.
Welcome to Northeast Iowa Community College!
Sarah Beaman is a new AEL Instructor/Coach at Peosta.
Evelyn Buday is a new Psychology Instructor at Peosta
Brian Erickson is a new Food Service Worker at Calmar.
Carol Johnson is a new EMS Liaison at Calmar.
Jennifer Knutson is a new Preschool Coordinator at Peosta.
Katharine Kress is a new Adult Education IET Instructor/Coach at Peosta.
Barbara Liskey is the new Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Allied Health at Peosta.
Lesley Sheridan is a new Assessment Technician at Peosta.
New Appointments
Patricia Alden is the new Learning Center Coordinator at Peosta.
Cheryl Donlon, Mary Ellen Fulton and Carolyn Heying are new Instructional Specialists at Calmar; Jerry Kramer is a new Instructional Specialist at Peosta.
Karen Jubeck is the new Enrollment Advisor at Peosta.
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Sandra Beisker | Coordinator of Disability Services
Peosta Campus
What is something you have done that would surprise others who never knew?
Before I became an English teacher, I ran a B&B in Oregon.
What was the most courageous or adventurous thing you did in your youth?
It wasn't exactly in my "youth,” but since it was 20 years ago, I'm going to count this as my adventurous thing. I jumped out of an airplane. A student video-taped the whole thing for his classroom project, so I can relive the moment whenever I want without ever having to do it again.
What is one thing you know now that you wish you had known as a kid?
You shape your own life by the choices you make.
What childhood experience most impacted your current set of values or your career path?
My parents ran their own business and put in many long hours, sometimes seven days a week. They set an example for me to stick to a task until the work was done. Since they both worked at the business, made meals, and did household chores, I grew up without some of the gender role stereotypes that were more common for my age-peers.
Do you believe that more technology in the classroom or in the world is helping students learn? If yes (or “no, it isn’t”), why?
Technology breaks down barriers to learning, making classrooms more accessible for many people. It's cheap and easy to translate speech to text or enlarge documents or get a copy of lecture notes. Sometimes the only technology you need is an app on your phone. Technology helps students build connections with others who are trying to learn, even if those students are on the other side of the world. And, technology helps teachers collaborate to improve their practice.
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!