friday takeout
August 20, 2021
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
NICC, the Trustees and Dubuque Chamber of Commerce celebrated completed Town Clock Business Center renovations this week! ... photos
Learn about the College's One-on-One Business Services, professional training options and new On-Demand courses in this month's issue of Business Insight ... link
National publication STEM Magazine highlights new Noyce Grant awarded to Upper Iowa University, in collaboration with NICC, to establish pipeline of qualified STEM teachers for the state of Iowa ... link
FACULTY AND STAFF: Stay up-to-date on the College's Strategic Plan and Tracking document in NICC Shared Files!
TRUSTEE TAKEAWAYS
Editor's note: Trustee Takeaways is a new section that will appear in each Friday Takeout issue following the Board of Trustees regular meeting, which is held the third Monday every month. The section will share with the College community important actions taken by the Trustees.
Trustees Appoint Presidential Search Committee
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
Check out the New Look of Virtual Orientation for Students!
New Student Orientation at Northeast Iowa Community College provides students with a two-part orientation experience.
The virtual component allows students to work independently whenever and wherever they are to prepare for the upcoming journey. Students learn about campus technology, the learning environment and resources and services available to ensure they have a successful start at Northeast Iowa Community College. We encourage faculty and staff to remind students if they have not completed their virtual orientation to do so.
Students were invited in August to complete the campus component. The campus component allows students to explore campus and complete their checklist before the start of classes. Advisors, financial aid, student life and other staff were on hand to provide help and answer questions to ensure students get off to a good start.
See the updated Virtual Orientation for yourself. To log in, click on "Create New Staff Account."
APPETIZER | something for your appetite.
Congratulations to All Colleagues on their Milestone Achievements!
Professional Awards and Recognition
Kent Boyer
“Best Dissertation of 2020 Award” from the School of Arts and Humanities at University of Texas at Dallas
Shannon Brenner
Achieved Instructional Designer Certification
Erin Powers Daley
Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership, Iowa State University
Denise English
Achieved Instructional Designer Certification
Verrick Foust
AAS Degree, NICC
Deans List, PTK and The National Honor Society
Lindsay Johansen
M.S.N., Walden University
MaryKay Kellogg-Strong
Iowa Region Horizon Award – Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Advisor of the Year Award for the State of Iowa PTK Chapters
Kelly Kramer
B.S. in Business Management, Western Governor’s University
Jodi Kremer
Elected as the Educational Opportunity Association
Iowa TRIO Chapter President
Chosen to attend the Council for Opportunities in Education’s Executive Leadership Institute hosted by Yale University
Connie Kuennen
President of the Iowa Community College Human Resources Affinity Group
Amy Manning
M.S.N., American Sentinel
Nichole McKenzie
B.S.N., Upper Iowa University
Top 100 Iowa Nurses Award
Jordan O’Connell
Achieved Instructional Designer Certification
Rebecca Rausch
M.S.N., Winona State University
Doug Ropa
Editing Certificate, University of Chicago
Professional Awards and Recognition
Julie Uhlenhake
Leadership Institute for a New Century (LINC) 2020
Gisella Aitken-Shadle
Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium (CLIC) 2020
Kelly Kramer
Leadership Institute for a New Century (LINC) 2021
Bruce Bearinger and Erica Nosbisch
Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium (CLIC) 2021
2021 Certificate Program
Michelle Buddenberg
Randi Burns
Flannery Cerbin-Bohach
Kathryn Feuerhelm
Kelli Holthaus
Dawn Jurgensen
Nicole McAulay
Janet Smith
Cindy Virta
Michael White
2021 Capstone Program
Kyra Bellrichard
Sarah Haugen
Melissa Hvitved
Bailey Kloft
Jessica Reis
Lexi Wagner
Excellence in Education
Iowa Association of Community College
Trustees (IACCT) Nominees 2020
Kyle Collins
Associate Dean of Online and Blended Learning
Iowa Outstanding Administrator/Manager Award Winner
Carla Heathcote
Computer Science Instructor | Peosta Campus
Iowa Outstanding Faculty Member Award Winner
Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold
Vice President Business and Community Solutions
Outstanding Diversity/Equity
Iowa Association of Community College
Trustees (IACCT) Nominees 2021
Dan Neenan
NECAS, Safety and Transportation Director
Iowa Outstanding Administrator
Jake Krapfl
Communications Instructor
Iowa Outstanding Faculty Member Award
Outstanding Diversity/Equity Team Winners
Gisella Aitken-Shadle, Sheila Becker, Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold,
Dr. Kathy Nacos-Burds, Dr. Erin Powers-Daley and Kristi Strief
GREEN CORNER
Kara and Nick, our Green Iowa AmeriCorps Sustainability Coordinators, will be bringing us regular facts and tips to green your life and make it more sustainable.
Net Zero by 2030. The U.N. just released its latest climate report this past week and it is sobering, to say the least. U.N. Secretary - General Antonio Guterres described the report as a "code red for humanity." The landmark report warned that the world is facing further climate disruptions for decades, if not centuries, to come and that humans are "unequivocally" to blame.* The silver lining of this dark cloud is that if we are the cause, then we can also attempt to fix the damage we have done. Our great hope is that these tips and suggestions will help spur you to make a small change, which can become a sea change when everyone joins in. Saying no to one plastic bottle, buying one piece of local food or turning off one light might not seem like a lot, but multiplied by your family, your friends, your workplace, your community, your state, your country and your world, it adds up to a powerful force. We need not look very far to see a wonderful example of this. When US Dairy announced new environmental stewardship goals and made a pledge to become Net Zero by 2050, our very own Dairy and Agricultural Foundation said they would go Net Zero by 2030 so they can be an example and resource for area farmers. Despite the gravity of the latest predictions, it is our individual and collective actions that can undo what we have done and save our planet.
*Source: Reuters
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Josh Langas
Audio Visual Network Technician | Town Clock Business Center, Dubuque
What lie were you told as a kid? (e.g., if you swallow a watermelon seed, one will grow in your stomach)
If you sit to close to the TV, you will go blind. I liked, and continue to do so, watching TV shows and playing video games as a kid. I think my parents said that to get me out of the house. Needless to say, I am not blind.
What fashion trend do you regret?
Looking back at pictures, I regret the JNCO jean craze when I was a teenager. Baggy jeans with pockets so deep you can’t find your wallet are not sensical at my current age.
What is the most irrational fear or phobia that you have?
Bees. I appreciate that they keep the world turning, but I tend to overreact a bit when they are near. I like to pretend that I’m allergic to them.
Share something or an experience that has changed your worldview.
I was in the Air Force for four years. The overseas experiences and interactions with people have really shaped my worldview. I am forever grateful to call the United States home.
Would you rather meet your ancestors or your descendants? Please explain.
I would rather meet my ancestors. History is one of my favorite topics and I would love to know more about the brave journey my great grandpa took from Rhodes, Greece all the way to Dubuque, Iowa.
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!