Fall Semester 2005

December 14, 2005

1. A successful visit with a Chinese Delegation took place as four administrators from our sister college in Zhaoqing China visited our campuses Dec. 7-9, 2005. They met with students and faculty to discuss study and teaching opportunities at Zhaoqing University. They met with representatives of our Human Resources and Student Affairs staff to learn more about internal processes at ARCC. They visited our Cambridge campus and also visited with city officials to recognize the sister-city relationship between the city of Zhaoqing and the city of Coon Rapids. The visit culminated in the signing of our Memorandum of Understanding.
   
   Thanks to all who participated this visit! The delegation members were impressed and pleased by the ARCC reception and hospitality.
   
   
2. Thanks to the ARCC music ensembles and conductors that performed recently on our campuses! These events are an important part of the ARCC culture as well as a wonderful means of sharing with our larger community.
   
   
3. Dates for no classes and offices closed during the break are 12/26/05 and 1/2/05.
   
   
4. The ARCC Development Day keynote speaker will be Dr. Mark Taylor. His address will be Generation NeXt comes to College: Today's Postmodern Student. Dr. Taylor will also conduct a follow-up session on Post-Modern Teaching.
   
   
5. On Precinct Caucus dates (Tuesday, March 7, 2006), colleges and universities are prohibited from scheduling events, including regularly scheduled classes, after 6:00 p.m. Please keep this date in mind when scheduling other events or non-credit classes.
   
   From a 1/24/02 memo from the Office of General Counsel at MnSCU.
   
   Under Minnesota Statutes § 202A.19, subd. 3 (2000), state colleges and universities are prohibited from scheduling any event, including classes, which will take place after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus:
   
   "No Minnesota state college or university may schedule an event which will take place after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus unless permission to do so has been received from the board of trustees of the Minnesota state colleges and universities.
   
   All parties included as major political parties (Republican, DFL and Reform Parties) will hold their precinct caucuses on March 5, 2002 [Tuesday, March 7, 2006]. By its terms, the statutory prohibition applies to any college-sponsored classes and events, whether or not they are physically located on the campus. While the statute allows the Board of Trustees to exempt certain activities if requested by a college or university, past practice has been not to allow exceptions to the clearly articulated state policy."

HAVE A WONDERFUL, RELAXING HOLIDAY BREAK!

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December 7, 2005

1. Please join us in welcoming our visiting Chinese delegation from Zhaoqing University to our campuses this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to a presentation by the group on their university and possible exchanges on the Coon Rapids Campus Thursday, Dec. 8 in B203 at 1:00 pm. We hope to see many of you there!
   
   
2. Holiday Potluck lunches for faculty and staff. On the Coon Rapids campus, the Educational Services-sponsored Potluck is on Tuesday, December 13, from 11:00 to 1:00 in the Academic Support Center. The Administrative Services-sponsored Potluck will be on December 21 from 11:00-1:00 in the cafeteria. The Cambridge Campus Potluck will be on Friday, Dec. 16 from 11:00-1:30 in the Food Court. This is a wonderful time to gather and visit. Please join us to celebrate the season.
   
   
3. Will Steger coming to the Cambridge Campus.
   Polar explorer, environmental champion and educator Will Steger will offer a multi-media presentation on the Cambridge Campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) on Wednesday, Dec. 14th at 7:00 pm in the Food Court. Steger’s presentation will cover his expeditions and the importance of fighting global warming. As the only person to cross both of the earth’s polar areas by dogsled, Steger has witnessed firsthand the concrete, damaging effects of global warming. His experiences have led him to speak out for the preservation of the Arctic. This presentation is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
   
   
4. Documenting LDA (last date of attendance) has become a very important issue for institutions as this date is used to perform financial aid recalculations. It is a time-consuming process because of the large numbers of students for whom we are required to obtain a LDA. Faculty may report LDA online (instructions).

   Reporting LDA through the online process will:

• Protect ARCC from liability of potential financial aid overpayments.
• Allow faculty to record LDA within the online grading functionality rather than respond to email requests from the Financial Aid Office after the term has been completed.
• Improve data integrity by supporting a consistent approach to collecting LDA.
• Store and maintain LDA records for multiple research purposes.

Janine Forrer, Registrar, will include a reminder in the Class Roster and Grade Reporting Information and Instructions on the web.

5. E-curriculum grant proposal deadline is December 16, 2005
   Information is available at:
   N:\ARCC Public\FY04-09 Strategic Plan\Program Development
   The College will give preference to proposals that enhance course offerings within the AA degree; other innovative proposals will also be considered.
   
   
6. Sabbatical Leave Requests for 2006-2007 are due to Pat Johns by December 12, 2005. Faculty members are encouraged to obtain feedback on sabbatical proposals from their Dean prior to the submission deadline.

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November 30, 2005

1. E-curriculum grant proposal deadline is December 16, 2005
   Information is available at:
   N:\ARCC Public\FY04-09 Strategic Plan\Program Development
   
   The College will give preference to proposals that enhance course offerings within the AA degree; other innovative proposals will also be considered.
   
   
2. Sabbatical Leave Requests for 2006-2007 are due to Pat Johns by December 12, 2005. Faculty members are still encouraged to obtain feedback on sabbatical proposals from their Dean prior to
   the submission deadline.
   
   
3. January AASC meeting: Proposals are due to Karen Orr by January 6, 2006 for January 23, 2006 AASC Meeting.
   
   
4. Upcoming music concerts include:
   Dec. 1 7:30 Band Concert (Coon Rapids)
   Dec. 2 7:30 Choir Concert (Cambridge)
   Dec. 4 2:00 Lake Wobegone Brass Band (Coon Rapids)
   Dec. 6 7:30 Choir Concert (Coon Rapids)
   
   
5. World AIDS Day is on Thursday, December 1. The following activities have been planned:

Guest Speaker: Kevin Welsh, HIV AIDS Educator, American Red Cross
Tuesday, December 6, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
B203

Movie: Longtime Companion
Wednesday, December 7, 10:00 a.m.
Student Center Lounge

6. Thanks to all who are participating in the HLC Critic's Circles. This is an important way to be involved in the self-study process.
   Interested but not yet participating? Contact Kim Lynch.

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November 16, 2005

1. E-curriculum grant proposal information is available at:
   N:\ARCC Public\FY04-09 Strategic Plan\Program Development
   Again, the college will give preference to proposals that enhance course offerings within the AA degree; other innovative proposals will also be considered.
   
   
2. Please take a few minutes to look at the new "Ask Us" function available by clicking the icon on the ARCC website. This is beginning as an on-line advising tool and has potential for other applications throughout the college in the future. This is the result of a funded SIP grant.
   
   
3. The last date to withdraw from Fall semester-long courses is Tuesday, November 22. After this date, the grade the student is earning/has earned will be the official grade of record on the transcript.
   
   A withdraw appears on the student's transcript as a W. It carries no grade point value, but may impact his/her academic standing as a W is not considered a successfully earned grade/credit. For more information, review the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
   
   The college does not automatically assign a W if the student stops attending, but does not officially withdraw. It is his/her responsibility to withdraw if no longer attending or if the preference is to withdraw rather than receive an F or other undesirable grade.
   
   If the student is a non-PSEO student who does not have an academic hold or a business office hold on his/her record, that student is able to withdraw online.
   
   If the student is a PSEO student or a student with an academic hold or a business office hold, that student will need to withdraw in person at the Records and Registration Office on either campus. Withdraw requests are not considered via phone or fax.
   
   NOTE: Rather than asking students whether or not they are PSEO students, refer them to both procedures.
   
   
4. If a student attending the Coon Rapids campus or both the Coon Rapids and the Cambridge campuses has a final exam conflict, there is a specific time built into our exam schedule to allow resolution of the conflict for the student. The time is 4:10-6:10p.m. Friday Dec. 16. The Final Exam Schedule is listed on page 45 of the fall schedule booklet.
   
   
5. Upcoming music concerts include:
   Dec. 1 7:30 Band Concert (Coon Rapids)
   Dec. 2 7:30 Choir Concert (Cambridge)
   Dec. 4 2:00 Lake Wobegon Brass Band (Coon Rapids)
   Dec. 6 7:30 Choir Concert (Coon Rapids)
   
   
6. KUDOS to all involved in the Fall Theatre production on the Coon Rapids campus! It was a wonderful production!
   
   
7. Student-reservists being called to active duty during the term.
   
   Consistent with MnSCU Board Policy 5.12, a student who is a member of any branch of the U.S. military reserves who is unable to complete a course or courses due to active duty call-up shall be provided one of the following options.
   1. A student may petition to drop the course and receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees. A financial aid recipient who chooses this option is required to repay 100% of grants and loans (not work study) disbursed for the term.
      Requires an Exception to Policy petition and a copy of the Call to Active Duty notice.
   2. With instructor approval, the student may be given an incomplete even in the event less than 75% of the coursework has been completed.
      Requires an Agreement of Incomplete form and a copy of the Call to Active Duty notice.
   3. If in the instructor’s judgment, a student has completed sufficient coursework to earn a grade of C or better, the instructor may assign credit (final grade) for completion of a course.
      Requires a copy of the Call to Active Duty notice.
   4. A student who finds the first three options unsuitable, may withdraw from the course.
      In the event the withdraw deadline has passed, requires an Exception to Policy petition and a copy of the Call to Active Duty notice.

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November 9, 2005

1. E-curriculum grant proposal information is available at:
   N:\ARCC Public\FY04-09 Strategic Plan\Program Development
   
   Again, the college will give preference to proposals that enhance course offerings within the AA degree; other innovative proposals will also be considered.
   
   
2. The last date to withdraw from Fall semester-long courses is Tuesday, November 22. After this date, the grade the student is earning/has earned will be the official grade of record on the transcript.
   
   A withdraw appears on the student's transcript as a W. It carries no grade point value, but may impact his/her academic standing as a W is not considered a successfully earned grade/credit. For more information, review the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
   
   The college does not automatically assign a W if the student stops attending, but does not officially withdraw. It is his/her responsibility to withdraw if no longer attending or if the preference is to withdraw rather than receive an F or other undesirable grade.
   
   If the student is a non-PSEO student who does not have an academic hold or a business office hold on his/her record, that student is able to withdraw online.
   
   If the student is a PSEO student or a student with an academic hold or a business office hold, that student will need to withdraw in person at the Records and Registration Office on either campus. Withdraw requests are not considered via phone or fax.
   
   NOTE: Rather than asking students whether or not they are PSEO students, refer them to both procedures.
   
   
3. "Thank you" in advance to the 40 people from both campuses who volunteered to review and discuss drafts of our HLC self study in our Critics Circles. If you would still like to be involved but have not yet volunteered for one of the five criteria, please review the schedule and email Kim Lynch with your preference.
   
   
4. Please join us in welcoming Caroline Fahrney to Anoka Ramsey. Caroline has accepted a half-time research analyst position that is being funded by the Perkin's program. She will be supporting our research efforts related to career programs. Caroline has a M.S. in Education from the University of Kentucky where she is a doctoral candidate in Educational Psychology. She has experience as a researcher and has also taught psychology at Parkland College in Kentucky.
   
   
5. Chemical Health week activities
   Monday, November 14
   Guest Speaker-Detective Mike Helman, Anoka-Hennepin Drug Task Force
   11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m. & 12:00 noon-12:50 p.m., H254

   Tuesday, November 15
   Video: Methamphetamines: The Hard Facts
   10:30 a.m., Student Center Lounge
   
   Wednesday, November 16 (Wear Red Day)
   Video: Meth: Shadow Across America
   10:30 a.m., Student Center Lounge
   
   Thursday, November 17
   Phi Theta Kappa--Great American Smoke-Out

   Contact Joyce Traczk for further information. Feel free to pick up information at the Chemical Health Week display by the BN Bulge.

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October 26, 2005

1. Priority registration begins on November 14, 2005.
   Open registration begins on November 21, 2005.
   
   
2. Sabbaticals: Faculty members are encouraged to obtain feedback on sabbatical proposals from their Dean. To ensure a timely response, please submit a draft to your Dean by November 14, 2005.
   
   
3. Documenting LDA (last date of attendance): This has become a very important issue for institutions as this date is used to perform financial aid recalculations. It is a time-consuming process because of the large numbers of students for whom we are required to obtain a LDA. Faculty may report LDA online.
   
   Reporting LDA through the online process will:
   • Protect ARCC from liability of potential financial aid overpayments.
   • Allow faculty to record LDA within the online grading functionality rather than respond to email requests from the Financial Aid Office after the term has been completed.
   • Improve data integrity by supporting a consistent approach to collecting LDA.
   • Store and maintain LDA records for multiple research purposes.
   
   Towards the end of each semester Karla Seymour will send a reminder email to faculty to enter LDA for all F and NC grades they are going to assign.
   
   
4. College Open House evenings: Thanks to all faculty, staff, and administration who participated in Open House evenings on both the Cambridge and the Coon Rapids campuses! Your personal interactions with potential students and their family members are the most effective ways of communicating what ARCC has to offer our communities.
   
   
5. Online curriculum proposals: Watch for a separate email concerning online curriculum proposals for this year. Preference will be given to proposals to enhance ARCC offerings within the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. Proposals will be due December 15, 2005.
   
   
6. Reminder: Veterans' Day is observed as an ARCC holiday on Friday, November 11, 2005.

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October 26, 2005

1. 2006-2007 Sabbaticals: Faculty members are encouraged to obtain feedback on sabbatical proposals from their Dean. To ensure a timely response, please submit a draft to your Dean by November 14, 2005.
2. There are over 150 CVs completed in the ARCC template. THANK YOU! The college's template found at https://www.anokaramsey.edu/it/cvitaes
   This is an essential part of our data-gathering processes for the self-study and the Higher Learning Commission visit in the Fall of 2006. Questions? Talk with your Division coordinator/facilitator.
3. Posting office hours: A reminder to faculty members to post office hours to let students know that you are available for appointments.
4. Spring textbook orders: The deadline for Spring 2006 is October 28, 2005.
5. Goals of the HLC Self-Study:
   Anoka-Ramsey Community College employees and especially the HLC Steering Committee and those actively involved in the re-accreditation process will:
   • contribute our talents to telling the unique, important story of Anoka-Ramsey Community College as a dynamic institution committed to high standards and expectations
   • reaffirm the college’s mission, vision, and strategic goals
   • evaluate the quality, integrity, and value of college services in relation to the success of the undergraduate student experience
   • highlight the college’s design for planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement
   • affirm the college’s initiative to build a “culture of assessment”
   • bolster communication bridges throughout the college
   • encourage a stronger sense of unity between campuses
   • honor the efforts of college employees in response to previous self-studies and recognize that even unsuccessful efforts inform and enrich the learning environment
   • chart a course for sustaining and improving processes which contribute to the quality and integrity of the undergraduate experience and showcase our best efforts

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October 12, 2005

1. All faculty are invited and encouraged to participate in the Academic Alert Program and early intervention support system designed to enhance student success and retention. The program identifies students who are performing less than "C" level work and/or who have excessive absences. An alert letter is sent out notifying them that they are at risk of failing and strongly encouraging them to seek more support from faculty, tutoring, counseling, mentoring and other services. Disregard if you have already participated in the Alert Program during the first round.

   To participate:

   1. Make a copy of your 10th day class list from the web. Highlight the students who should receive the letter. Prepare this in hard copy form.
   2. Include your name, class discipline, course number, section number, the student’s name, and student ID number.
   3. Send the list to Melanie Davis (CR) or Crystal Nelson (CC) by Monday, October 24, 4:30 pm.
   4. Questions, please contact Melanie Davis (ext. 1326) or Andrea Roberge (ext. 1107) [CR] or Crystal Nelson (433-1817) or DeeDee Peaslee (433-1829) [CC] by phone or email.
      
      
2. Spring registration dates:
   • Monday, Nov. 14 - Returning students with 35 or more earned credits
   • Tuesday, Nov. 15 - Returning students with 15 or more earned credits
   • Wednesday, Nov. 16 - Returning students with 1 or more earned credits
   • Thursday, Nov. 17 - Currently enrolled students with 0 credits earned or recently admitted students who have completed assessment testing and orientation.
   • Monday, Nov. 21 - Open registration for all students
     NOTE: credit priority registration is total number of completed credits through Summer 2005.
     
     

3. Library faculty members are available and willing to tailor library instruction to your particular class's research needs. Although the most extensive Information Literacy instruction happens in Eng 1121, they will be delighted to provide instruction for specific research projects in other classes such as Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, etc. Please let them know as early as possible when you would like to bring your class, and give assignment details so that they can be prepared with specific sources and materials (Pathfinders) to meet your research needs. Please contact Bonnie, Gina, Barbara, or Al.
   
   
4. The Academic Support Center will host “Game Day in the ASC” (educational games) starting Friday, October 14th from 2:00 - 4:00. All students and faculty are invited to participate. There are games on file but ASC staff welcome your own manipulatives/skill building tools. Please call Jan Pomeroy, Interim Coordinator of the ASC, if you have ideas or questions - 433-1468.
   
   
5. The videoconference titled Creating Organizational Change Through Dialogue: Tools to Address the Shifting Realities in the American Workplace had a good turnout of almost 50 student, faculty and staff members last Thursday, October 6th. The feedback received by Keith Brooks indicated that there should be an opportunity for attendees to participate in the dialogue to express ideas and concerns to clarify comments that are being made by the panelists. Also, the skits performed throughout the numerous segments were realistic and deserved some reflection as well. There will be programs in the future that will allow this kind of exchange with hopes of bringing our college community together in an appreciation of the talents and traditions of all people.
   
   
6. Thank You to faculty who urged or required students to initialize their student email account through MetNet and others who supported this effort. We currently have 4780 registered students (@ 67%) who have initialized their account. It's important to remember that we have not pushed this same expectation to our concurrent students (@ 7.7% of pop) or our students who are involved in the SCSU or SCTC programs (another 7.7%). In light of this, the 67% rate is something to be proud of as most institutions report a much smaller percentage of college issued email address use during the early implementation stages.
   
   In addition to the faculty to student messages, the college has broadcast a number of messages to students, including 1) Disseminating the Campus Crime and Security Report, 2) Requesting updates for missing demographic data, 3) Reminding students nearing graduation about the impending graduation application deadline, 4) Notifying students of upcoming spring registration opportunities, etc. Anyone wishing to broadcast a similar message may contact Karen Kraft.

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October 5, 2005

1. Please encourage your students to participate in Academic Success Workshops coordinated by TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) on the CR campus. They are open to all students. Students may obtain information by calling (763)-433-1170 or visiting the Career Center. Upcoming workshops include:
   • Test-taking Tips by Wanda Purdie - Thursday, October 6, 12:00-1:00 PM, SC123
     Knowing how to prepare and how to take a test can be every bit as important as mastering the material the test covers. Attend to enter test-taking with confidence!
   • Applying for Scholarships by Wanda Purdie - Wednesday, October 12, 11:00 AM -12:00 PM, SC123
     Learn about which scholarships are still available through the Anoka-Ramsey Foundation in this informative workshop. Students will learn what to include in your application as well as some helpful hints for their essays.

2. What do our students say about how well we engage them academically? At College Hour this Wednesday, Oct. 5, Jim Biederman will lead a discussion about the results of the student engagement survey conducted last spring. Please join the conversation at 2pm in B245.
   
   
3. CTL Seminar on Course Redesign
   In collaboration with the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT), the Center for Teaching and Learning has announced a grant competition, Designed for Learning. This project will result in five grants, all focused on the complete redesign of a course to solve documented issues related to student access, performance and/or retention.
   
   CTL's Weekend Seminar on Friday, October 14, Designed for Learning: Redesigning Multi-Section Introductory Courses, must be attended by at least one member of any team expecting to participate in this grant competition. The seminar will be useful for anyone interested in redesigning courses to take advantage of interactive technologies and increase the active learning components of a course.
   
   Carolyn Jarmon, the senior associate at NCAT, will lead participants through a set of activities and discussions illustrating lessons learned from successful redesigns at colleges and universities throughout the country. Please visit the following URL for complete information about this seminar and to register: http://www.ctl.mnscu.edu/programs/special-initiatives/dfl/
   
   
4. ARCC Cambridge Campus Open House will be Tuesday, October 18th from 6:00-7:30pm in the Campus Center Food Court. A brief presentation will take place at 6:15, after which faculty and staff will be available to answer questions and give tours. If you are able to volunteer for that evening, please see Cindi Gilbert.
   
   
5. Last reminder: the MultiCultural Development Center sponsored forum on Creating Organizational Change Through Dialogue: Tools to Address the Shifting Realities in the American Workplace will be Thursday, Oct. 6th, from 10am-12p in the Riverview Room. Feel free to encourage your students to attend and connect the topic to your classes during next month or this semester.

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September 29, 2005

1. The deadline for submitting October AASC proposals is October 3. Submit proposals to Karen Orr in Educational Services.
   
   
2. TAC (Technology Advisory Committee) requests for instructional software, DVDs, and videos are due October 3,2005. TAC requests should be approved by your division and signed by your dean or supervisor. The request form is located in N:\ARCC Public\TAC. Included are instructions for completing/sending the request form. Questions? Call Eric Staupe or Darin Nelson.
   
   
3. National Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile achieved independence on September 16 and September 18 respectively. Hispanic heritage has been officially celebrated in the U.S. since September 17, 1968, when the Senate and House of Representatives passed a joint resolution designating “National Hispanic Heritage Week. Twenty years later, a law was passed extending the observance to an entire month (September 15 through October 15).
   
   Stop in the cafeteria to see the Hispanic Poster Series which salutes Hispanic individuals, past and present, who have contributed in their own unique ways to world culture. Also see the Book Display, just inside the door of the library. Become familiar with the rich vein of Hispanic traditions, art, and writing from inside and beyond our national borders.
   
   
4. The Multicultural Development Center sponsored forum on Creating Organizational Change Through Dialogue: Tools to Address the Shifting Realities in the American Workplace will be Thursday, Oct. 6th, from 10am-12pm in the Riverview Room. You are invited to 1) bring your class to listen and view; 2) connect the topic to class for that week or somewhere in the month; and/or 3) provide some credit for students who attend.
   
   
5. National Depression Screening Day is on Thursday, October 6, Mercy Hospital and Anoka-Ramsey Community College are offering free, confidential, mental health screenings for a range of four common mood and anxiety disorders: Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorders, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The goal of this program is to help students in need, and raise public awareness that mood and anxiety disorders are common and often undetected disorders for which there are many effective treatments. Screening will take place in the lower Student Center from 12 - 4.
   
   
6. The Coon Rapid Campus Foundation fundraiser Prairie Home Delights is Thursday evening, September 29th. Join with our special guests including college staff from the early days (1965-75) for a special evening. The evening includes our Jazz Ensemble, hors d'oeuvres and desserts from area restaurants, Tom McCarthy as MC, and silent and live auction items. All proceeds will be used for student scholarships.

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September 21, 2005

1. Program Review: The following programs will be reviewed during this academic year - Nursing (Ann Holland); Biomedical Technician, Technologist, Clinical Research Professional (Rosie Mortensen); Business, Generalist, Marketing and Management, Office Technology, Computer Applications, Administrative Management, and Retail Management (Cynthia Weishapple). First meetings of faculty to organize the program review process will be scheduled for later this month or early October. These program review efforts promote excellence in our educational planning and curricular improvements and support quality in our reporting efforts to the Office of the Chancellor and the Higher Learning Commission.
   
   
2. National Depression Screening Day is on Thursday, October 6, Mercy Hospital and Anoka-Ramsey Community College are offering free, confidential, mental health screenings for a range of four common mood and anxiety disorders: Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorders, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The goal of this program is to help students in need, and raise public awareness that mood and anxiety disorders are common and often undetected disorders for which there are many effective treatments. Screening will take place in the lower Student Center from 12 - 4.
   
   
3. The time is drawing near for the Multicultural Development Center sponsored forum on Creating Organizational Change Through Dialogue: Tools to Address the Shifting Realities in the American Workplace. This will be Thursday, Oct. 6th, from 10am-12pm in the Riverview Room. You are invited to 1) bring your class to listen and view; 2) connect the topic to class for that week or somewhere in the month; and/or 3) provide some credit for students who attend.
   
   
4. Academic Alert: Students should be provided with frequent information about their academic progress in their courses. Please refer students making less than satisfactory progress to the Academic Alert program by providing the names of students and the class in which they are enrolled to Crystal Nelson (CC) or Valerie Knight (CR) by September 24, 2005 for the second round of alerts.
   
   
5. Sabbatical Reports: Reports from sabbatical recipients during the 2004-05 academic year are due "one month from the beginning of the semester following the leave" (page 1, first paragraph of the Sabbatical document template.) Since Fall Semester 2005 classes began on August 22, 2005, reports are due in the office of the President on Thursday, September 22, 2005.

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September 13, 2005

1. Academic Alert: Students should be provided with frequent information about their academic progress in their courses. Please refer students making less than satisfactory progress to the Academic Alert program by providing the names of students, the class in which they are enrolled, and the students' ID numbers to Crystal Nelson (CC) or Melanie Davis (CR) by September 19th for the first round. The second round names are due 10/24/05. Please select the round that best meets the needs of your class.
   
   
2. Please remember that your classes should meet on the date and during the times published in the class schedule. Students rely on this information when organizing other commitments in their lives.
   
   
3. The MnSCU System has organized a response to students who have had their studies interrupted by Hurricane Katrina as well as an FAQ sheet to assist MnSCU employees and students who are unclear about what can be done under MnSCU auspices to provide assistance. More information will be provided later this week.
   
   
4. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is pleased to promote the first annual Constitution Day on September 16 commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution. All faculty, staff, administrators and students are invited to view a video-cast debate, entitled "Free Speech in the Digital Age", hosted by National Public Radio’s Margot Adler. The debate will focus on censorship in libraries, of textbooks, and on the Internet. The program will examine the reasons for both safeguarding and limiting speech, including protection of minors and community safety, ensuring a free marketplace of ideas, and guaranteeing democratic institutions. Following the one-hour debate, Catherine Bean will moderate a 30-minute discussion on the CR campus.
   When: Friday, September 16 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
   Where: Performing Art Center

Thanks for viewing. Comments are welcome!

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September 7, 2005

1. Please give a warm welcome Yuping Zeng from China. Feel free to stop by her office in H213.
   
   
2. Documenting LDA (last date of attendance) has become a very important issue for institutions as this date is used to perform financial aid recalculations. It is a time-consuming process because of the large numbers of students for whom we are required to obtain a LDA. Faculty may report LDA online (instructions).
   
   Reporting LDA through the online process will:
   • Protect ARCC from liability of potential financial aid overpayments.
   • Allow faculty to record LDA within the online grading functionality rather than respond to email requests from the Financial Aid Office after the term has been completed.
   • Improve data integrity by supporting a consistent approach to collecting LDA.
   • Store and maintain LDA records for multiple research purposes.

   Towards the end of each semester Karla Seymour will also send a reminder email to faculty to enter LDA for all F and NC grades they are going to assign.

3. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is pleased to promote the first annual Constitution Day on September 16 commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution. All faculty, staff, administrators and students are invited to view a video-cast debate, entitled "Free Speech in the Digital Age", hosted by National Public Radio’s Margot Adler. The debate will focus on censorship in libraries, of textbooks, and on the Internet. The program will examine the reasons for both safeguarding and limiting speech, including protection of minors and community safety, ensuring a free marketplace of ideas, and guaranteeing democratic institutions. Following the one-hour debate, our very own Catherine Bean will moderate a 30-minute discussion on the CR campus.
   When: Friday, September 16 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
   Where: Performing Art Center

4. Late class ADDs

   At this point in the term, no classes may be added unless the class is a "late start" class that has not yet begun.

   The student may file an Exception to Policy form if the student meets one of the following criteria:

   1. The student has EXTENUATING circumstances (as determined by the appropriate dean).
   2. The petition requests the correction of a college error.
   3. The class being requested to add has not yet completed the 2nd week of class sessions
      
      
5. If you missed the picnic activities earlier today on the CR campus, feel free to stop by the Business/Nursing Bulge for a continuation from 5:30-6:30.

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August 31, 2005

1. Be sure to check your class lists for accuracy on the 10th day of the semester. That day is Friday, September 2nd. If there is a student sitting in on your class who is not on your class list, either send the student to the Records Office or to one of the counselors or advisors for assistance. These students should NOT be allowed to remain in your class.
   
   
2. Students who decide not to continue in your classes have two options. If the decision is made within the official "Drop" period, which ended this semester on August 26th, there is no record of enrollment. If the student decides not to continue after that point, a "W" is placed on the student's record. This notation may affect the student's completion ratio which, along with GPA, affects his/her Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status. If a student does not make satisfactory academic progress, probation or dismissal are consequences.
   
   
3. Please complete your CV on the college's template found at https://www.anokaramsey.edu/it/cvitaes by September 30th! This is an essential part of our data-gathering processes for the self-study and the Higher Learning Commission visit in the Fall of 2006. From the CVs, we will be able to create a summary that constitutes a profile of our faculty in terms of degree attainment, teaching experience, creative and scholarly activities, and engagement in the campus and external community. Questions? Talk with your Division coordinator/facilitator!
   
   
4. Email has now become, by ARCC policy (http://www.anokaramsey.edu/about/policies/2a1.cfm ) the official form of communication with students. Please continue to encourage your students to activate their email accounts. You might try giving an assignment that requires an email response for your courses. This system will be successful once students are aware and begin using their MetNet accounts!
   
   
5. The self-study for the Higher Learning Commission visit in the Fall of 2006 is being written after a year of evidence-gathering on the part of the Steering Committee and Criterion Sub-Committees. NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP! Sign up for an HLC "Critics Circle" - you can email Kim Lynch directly with your interest and/or your questions.

HAVE A GREAT LONG WEEKEND!! (Perhaps eat "things on sticks" at the State Fair!)

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August 25, 2005

1. Continue to check your class lists. If you have someone in class who is not on your class list, ask that person to meet with a Records Office staff member.
   
   
2. The last day of the 5-day drop/add period for Fall is Friday, August 26th. Any withdrawals after that date will result in a "W" on the students' records.
   
   
3. Consider signing up for an HLC "Critics Circle" - you can email Kim Lynch directly with your interest and/or your questions.
   
   
4. Any curriculum proposals for the first AASC meeting are due to Karen Orr by September 1st.
   
   
5. Please complete your CV. This is an essential part of our data-gathering processes for the self-study and the Higher Learning Commission visit in the Fall of 2006. Questions? Talk with your Division coordinator/facilitator.

Our best as you start this new year!

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