friday takeout
March 8, 2019
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
- Opportunity Dubuque program offers paths to specialization in advanced manufacturing ... news
- Four students named to Phi Theta Kappa All-Iowa Academic Team ... news
- Respiratory Care program’s simulation labs and clinical experiences prepare students for in-demand employment ... news
- All four Business Professionals of America (BPA) students attending received top honors at the State Leadership Conference! They now qualify for the BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., May 1-5 ... news
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
Northeast Iowa Community College Nursing Programs Earn Accreditation!
The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN-CNEA) has awarded full six-year accreditation to the College's one-year Practical Nursing and two-year Associate Degree Nursing programs! The accreditation for the College's Nursing programs is a sign of excellence in nursing education, and a valuable factor for nursing graduates in seeking employment or advancing their education.
"We are very grateful for the support of the Northeast Iowa Community College Board of Trustees, administration, district health facilities, advisory committees, faculty and students!" Sue Schneider, district-wide dean of nursing, expressed.
Ours is the only community college in the state of Iowa that has both Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs accredited. This accreditation is effective immediately and affects all graduates of either Nursing program, beginning May 2019.
WELLNESS 360 and GREEN CORNER | be well.
Get the Healthy Dinner Inspiration you Need!
Here you have it: the compilation of Heart Health Recipes from our very own employees. Thank you to all staff members who contributed and submitted their favorite recipe that fit a set of guidelines; one that included one healthy fat, at least one fresh veggie, and couldn’t contain highly processed food item. Check out the link of the recipes for dinner inspiration! Warning: you might get hungry!
Be well,
Flannery
Green Corner Feature
By Madeline Wagner, Associate Director of Grants and Contracts
Have you ever really examined how much plastic is in your life? I’ve always considered myself to be pretty eco-conscious: I compost, I recycle, I take tote bags to the grocery store. But last year I realized that I was probably putting some items in my recycling bin that don’t belong and that this could severely hinder my recycling efforts. I learned that because plastic just gets “down-cycled” to lesser quality plastic products there’s a lot of plastics that can’t be recycled. In fact, it’s estimated that only 9 percent of plastics are recycled – and a lot of that ends up in our waters. So I made my 2019 New Year’s Goal: Reduce my plastic consumption.
An informal inventory of plastic in my life shows that the two areas I can most easily impact are groceries and personal care products. A lot of tubes (lotion, makeup, toothpaste) are not recyclable (even though mine have a recycling logo on them!) because most facilities can’t handle the material and they’re hard to clean. In order to not feel overwhelmed, I’m researching and phasing in new products and practices over the course of year.
To date I have:
● Tried a new night cream in a glass jar (but still a plastic top)
● Bought new deodorants and a shampoo bar that come with cardboard packaging
● Bought mascara in a tin with a reusable wand and a bamboo toothbrush
● Opted to wrap leftovers in aluminum foil or bee’s wrap instead of plastic wrap
● Used my shopping totes while shopping at ALL stores – not just groceries!
Steps for later this year include:
● Buy a safety razor to cut down on plastic waste from disposable razor heads
● Freeze fresh vegetables in glass or stainless so I’m not buying frozen veggies in plastic bags
● Try reusable silicone bags instead of Ziplocs for freezing dough and sauce
● Make my own liquid castile soap from bar soap
● Continue replacing personal care products that come in plastic containers with brands that package in cardboard, glass or aluminum
APPETIZER | something for your appetite.
Education Advisory Board report: The 10 Key Drivers of Change in Higher Education
Melanie Ho, executive director of the Education Advisory Board (EAB), described 10 key drivers of change in higher education in a Jan. 21 online article. Her article, How must we evolve to remain relevant to the student of tomorrow? reflects many of the same questions that Northeast Iowa Community College leaders are asking, during changing times that require resiliency and innovation. "How does an institution truly differentiate, when everyone’s strategic plans and marketing materials tout the exact same practices?" Ho writes. "And, perhaps most important, our economies (regional, national, global) are undergoing rapid shifts; how does higher education catch up? " Check out EAB's infographic that displays 10 drivers of change, and the bold visions required of four-year and two-year institutions to impact the ways colleges serve students.
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Jeni Kohlmeyer
Dental Assisting Faculty/Clinical Coordinator | Peosta
What is something you have done that would surprise others who never knew?
After I graduated high school, I went to Des Moines Area Community College and earned an associate's degree in Culinary Arts. I worked as a chef for a few years, but then realized the waitresses made way more money than I did, so I got out of the back of the house. Later, I decided I wanted to get out of the restaurant biz and went back to school to earn my diploma in dental assisting.
What is the favorite part of your job or workday at the College?
I love watching the “ah-ha” moments that students have when they fully grasp a concept that I have taught them. It hits me right in the heart thinking, “Dang! They are really going to be an amazing dental assistant." Another thing I love about the College is the teamwork amongst my colleagues. Everyone here seems like family to me. I love the fact that I can bounce something off anyone, not only in Allied Health, but really any department across campus.
Share a truly “oops” moment.
I share “oops” moments that I have had throughout my career with students all the time. I think it helps them understand that no matter how long you are in your career, you are bound to have some “oops” moments. One of the worst was setting a patient napkin on fire! Don’t worry; the patient wasn’t wearing it at the time!
What is something you love to do that doesn't fit with how others see you?
I love to quilt and sew. My favorite “me time” is in my sewing room with classic rock blaring. I sing at the top of my lungs while I sew. “In my dream world, fabric is free and quilting makes you thin."
What is the funniest prank you ever played on a friend?
Many years ago, I worked in a dental office and we had a drawer where we kept tubes of toothpaste and containers of floss that we would use when we got done with lunch. One day the other assistant and I took a tube of mint gel toothpaste and packed the end of it with mint topical anesthetic . We then placed it back in drawer. The doctor came back from lunch, grabbed the tube and loaded up his brush. As he was brushing, he starts to panic, “Oh, oh ... my mouth ... my mouth is getting numb!” We just lost it! Luckily, he had a pretty decent sense of humor!
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!