friday takeout
September 17, 2021
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
The College and Iowa's Dairy Center hosted the Tri-State Ag and Dairy Expo at Calmar yesterday. Photos and video: US Representative Ashley Hinson attended, along with 450 students from 32 schools from Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota! And Dr. Wee served as a grain bin engulfment rescue victim to demonstrate and promote the life-saving safety training NECAS has developed ... Short Videos 1, 2 and 3.
NICC agriculture student, Christopher Baumgartner, creates promotional video to promote Iowa’s Dairy Center as part of Advanced Precision Farming Software course … link
Next week, the United States and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) will observe National Farm Safety and Health Week! ... news
Sports Shooting team drops season opener in close battle against Kirkwood Community College … news
FACULTY AND STAFF: Stay up-to-date on the College's Strategic Plan and Tracking document in NICC Shared Files!
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
New Skill Building Tool for our Students
Can you pass a short financial literacy test? Most Americans can’t, and for college students who may have limited experience living on their own, making financial decisions and managing loans, financial literacy is a limited but critical skill. The College is now offering GradReady to all students, a personal finance, online tool designed for the student lifecycle. It is a turnkey system with relevant topics, assignments and assessments that can help students boost their financial capability and wellness.
GradReady is neatly organized into five paths: Paying for College, Money Management, Real World Finance, Learning to Learn and Life Skills for Success. Paths 4 and 5 are the bonus paths that offer insider guidance on academic topics, tips and strategies to more easily navigate college level classwork, and help developing savvy life management skills. Students may begin in any one of the paths, but must complete a seven-question pre-assessment at the beginning of each path. Videos are incorporated and generally are about three minutes in length. Post quizzes are 10 questions in length, and students must reach 80 percent on a quiz to earn a badge in a content area. Fifty badges can be earned. Reports are available showing student progress, completion and percentages on pre and post quizzes.
This past summer, our College Experience instructors provided GradReady access to their students and focused on money management resources. Our College Experience instructors continue to explore ways to use GradReady in their courses, and other faculty are encouraged to explore this resource. NICC faculty and staff may create an account using their NICC email address. Faculty who incorporate GradReady into a course can access assessment data. An instructor account can be established on the GradReady results dashboard for any interested NICC faculty.
All Fall 2021 students have access to GradReady and now receiving notification about GradReady through their email and other avenues. Financial Aid will be promoting GradReady to students throughout the fall semester, complete with prizes.
If you have questions about GradReady, drop by the Financial Aid office, send an email to financialaid@nicc.edu or call Student Services ext. 2700. College contacts are Sherry Massman in Calmar and Amanda McDermott in Peosta.
Check out that financial literacy test that most Americans fail.
Check out these Business and Community Solutions Classes!
In the March, June, September and December editions of Friday Takeout, Business and Community Solutions will be sharing great classes and programming.
Wednesday, Oct. 6
6 – 8 a.m.
Crestwood High School, Cresco
If you’ve only been using your electric pressure cooker to make savory meal entrees, you’re missing out on the sweeter side of the Instant Pot.
Saturday, Oct. 9 and 16
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Calmar
Saturday, Oct. 9 and 23
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dubuque
This 55-hour hybrid-format class fulfills the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) requirements to apply for a coaching license, which is required to be legally employed as a coach of any interscholastic athletic activity in Iowa K-12 schools.
How Organization Benefits your Mental Health
Tuesday, Oct. 26
8 – 10 a.m.
Town Clock Business Center, Dubuque
Understand how establishing a schedule will ultimately lessen stress in your everyday life.
We will work together and create your overall basic schedule so you can accomplish necessary day-to-day tasks and factor in overlooked “Me” time!
Asian Cuisine: More than Chinese Take-out
Thursday, Nov. 4
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Steeple Square, Dubuque
Join Angela and Carolyn Linton-Canfield, owners of Life's a Feast, for a night of food, fun, and laughs. They are passionate about healthy food and the real food movement and are anxious to share their knowledge and skills with you.
Emotional Awareness in the Workplace
Tuesday, Nov. 16
9 – 10 a.m.
Town Clock Business Center, Dubuque
Emotional health is a critical component of productive interaction in the workplace. We will provide an overview of what it includes, and briefly touch on boundaries and communication styles.
Tuesday, Nov. 23
8 – 10 a.m.
Town Clock Business Center, Dubuque
The Business Summit gives you the access to experiences and perspectives of hundreds of business professionals facing the same challenges you face while giving you the tools, strategies and best practices to change the way you think as a leader and innovate the strategies you use in your work. DeDe Halfhill will keynote and the event includes a leadership panel discussion.
Microsoft Excel 2019: Level 3 (Online Live on zoom)
Wednesdays, Dec. 1 - 15
Join this online zoom class to create conditional IF, nested IFS functions, and VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP. Create tables and PivotTables, use macros and data management.
APPETIZER | something for your appetite.
Our Own Gisella Aitken-Shadle Honored as Rising Star!
Director of Adult Education and Literacy, Gisella Aitken-Shadle, was celebrated as a Rising Star in Dubuque on Wednesday! Pictured with Dr. Wee and Gisella are, left to right: Erin Powers Daley, Sue Stork, Amy Green, Wendy Mihm-Herold and Kristi Strief.
See the wonderful video produced for the occasion by the BizTimes that includes insights, recognition and praise from Dr. Wee and Wendy Mihm-Herold for Gisella's service, commitment to higher education, advocacy and character.
Speaker David Woods Bartley Returns to Peosta and Calmar (in person!) Sept. 20-21
David Woods Bartley will give a presentation about brain health next Monday, Sept. 20, at the Peosta campus, 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 - 2:15 p.m., in the NECAS building, room AG 1. Bartley will also present at the Calmar campus on Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 10 - 11 a.m. and 1 - 2 p.m. in Wilder Auditorium.
His presentation will share insights about, "the why of suicide and the how of hope." Recent suicides of the famous, the accomplished and the people we see in our neighborhoods point out that much lies behind a forced smile, a distracting joke or a seemingly perfect life. And then, in the aftermath of a suicide attempt, or completion, there is the understandable and agonizing cry of, “Why??!!”
Like most people, David Woods Bartley has seen his fair share of successes and setbacks; from directing a nationally recognized nonprofit to battling a life-threatening illness. But over the last seven years, David has successfully navigated from the isolation of mental "hellness" to the inclusive space of mental wellness.
Join us for this meaningful presentation by David Woods Bartley, TEDx Speaker/International Mental Health Educator, Trainer and Advocate.
GREEN CORNER
Kara and Piper, our Green Iowa AmeriCorps Sustainability Coordinators, will be bringing us regular facts and tips to green your life and make it more sustainable.
Meatless Monday. Did you know that making one hamburger takes over 650 gallons of water? An easy way to lessen your personal carbon footprint is to reduce your meat consumption! This can look different for every family, but an easy way to try out a plant-based diet is to participate in Meatless Monday, a challenge to go plant-based once a week. Looking for inspiration for Monday’s dinner? Check out these recipes from the Meatless Monday Campaign! You can also read about how to interpret your personal water use footprint here!
Author: Piper Wood
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Sally Mallam
Director of Accessibility Services | Calmar Campus
A person who doesn’t know they have greatly impacted my life is ________________________.
Please explain.
I've made it a priority to tell people how much they mean to me and how they have impacted my life.
What is the most unusual job you have had in your life?
For six months during college in Mankato, Minn., I worked in a factory that made Zebco fishing reels. I was usually on an assembly line and I've always wondered how many reels I put together that weren't quite right. The company who owned this was Johnson & Johnson, so during breaks you could order J&J products and there were always donuts there!
Your rap name is “LIL” then the last thing you spent money on. “LIL _______________.”
"LIL Iowa State" . . . I just paid tuition for our youngest!
What is the best parenting tip?
My tip is for children that are in their 20's and up. Try to stay away from giving opinions and just listen, nod and assist when asked.
What fictional place would you like to visit?
"Diagon Alley" from the Harry Potter series. This is the place where all amazing bookshops and other magical goods stores are found in the wizarding world.
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!