Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Headlines:

• Hair We Go...

• Black History Month...and Beyond

• HCC Adopts a Vision Statement

• Bolivian Students Wow HCC with Musical Performance

• HCC Foundation Offers More than $100,000 in Scholarships

Hair We Go...

Dr. Lisa Wyatt Ganson

The Waiting to Excel Club is looking for a few good heads of hair.

For the second year running, the club is recruiting volunteers to donate 10 or more inches of hair to Wigs for Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children who have lost their hair through illnesses such as cancer. Last year, 33 ponytails were collected from HCC, all of them made into wigs for needy youngsters. This year, the group hopes to collect more than 500 inches of hair from 50 HCC volunteers.

Though she measures her hair in millimeters, not inches, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lisa Wyatt Ganson found a unique way to contribute to Wigs for Kids.

The neatly coifed administrator has agreed to forego the stylist’s scissors until May 2007, collecting pledges for each inch of hair growth. All of the proceeds will go toward Waiting to Excel’s Wigs for Kids campaign. Joining Ganson in her unique “grow-a-thon” is Colleen Cameron, secretary to the president.

Pledge forms for both women are available in Donahue 139 and Donahue 166, the office of Waiting to Excel advisor Dorothy Blair. You may also donate directly to the cause by sending a check (made out to HCC) with “Wigs for Kids” in the memo portion. If you would like to donate your hair, please call Dorothy Blair at (413) 552-2064.

For most of us, foregoing the barber is no big deal. Not so, Ganson, who has meticulously tailored her elegant tresses for 40 years.

“The last time I had long hair I was 6 years old,” said Ganson. “I’m asking all of my friends to lend me whatever sorts of hair goo they have in their drawers. I have no idea how to handle long hair.”

Ganson may not get styling tips from Doreen Larson, but she will get some moral support. Larson, the vice president for student affairs, has vowed to shave her head if Ganson makes it until May, 2007.

Black History Month and Beyond

Members of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. in a stepping performance.

February is Black History Month, but HCC will be celebrating all the way into March. On February 15, the college radio station WCCH will host a battle of the D.J.’s at 11:30 a.m., followed by live hip-hop music performances at noon. On February 17, a contingent of HCC students will travel to Mt. Wachusett Community College to hear noted activist and author Timothy Wise deliver a talk,” Beyond Diversity: Fighting Racism in the Age of Backlash” (see calendar). On February 22, a troupe of 60 school children from Springfield’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Inc. will celebrate the life of the late civil rights leader Rosa Parks through drama, music, and song. That performance will take place in the Forum at 11 a.m.

And, during the first week of March, HCC alumnus Adrian Conde will bring a troupe of University of Massachusetts students to campus for a performance of Stepping.

You don’t want to miss Stepping. As the photos show, it is high-energy and infectious. It also has a history that is unique to the African-American experience.

According to Brian Williams, founding director of Step Afrika!, Stepping has its roots in the Gumboot Dance which was first created by South African miners in the late 1800s. That dance focuses on precise foot movements, hand clapping, rhythms and sounds that resemble “the rhythms and sounds created by young black men and women stepping across America,” Williams said.

Stepping was adopted by African-American fraternities and sororities in the early 1900s as a way to show organizational unity and fellowship. Each fraternity has a distinct style of stepping, but nearly all of the styles encompass a mixture of traditional African moves. Although moves can be done to music, original stepping never involved music, and is considered more historically accurate.

In recent years, the art form has evolved to become increasingly intricate, demanding higher levels of performance and acrobatics. Stepping has also been adopted by various other groups, including Latinos, according to Elizabeth Fine, author of "Soul Stepping: African-American Step Shows."

“A lot of people enjoy it. It leaves you feeling energized,” Fine writes. “It’s not just for blacks, but for everybody.”

This will be the second time that the Martin Luther King Community Center has sent a delegation of school children to help HCC celebrate diversity, and, if Youth Director Orlander Worthy has his way, it will not be the last.

“As part of our mission at MLKCC we strive to nurture the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual development of local families, youth and adults,” said Worthy. “We want to enhance the quality and vibrancy of the life through the delivery of educational, social, cultural, health and human services to members of the Greater Springfield. With this in mind we are happy to return to HCC and share our history and culture as we continue to educate our youth and communities about the contributions made to society by African Americans.”

A native of North Carolina, Worthy has dedicated his career to educating African-American and Latino youth, encouraging them to remember that their strength comes not only from within but from a long heritage of men and women who went before them. Worthy was recently recognized by Springfield’s Key Players Project, which named him a Key Player Ambassador in honor of his work with children.

“Performing at HCC allows our youth and the HCC community to acknowledge and appreciation contributions made by African Americans. Another important aspect is that HCC cares enough to invite us. The invitation says HCC cares about the future of Springfield youth. It is a chance for the kids to experience—some for the first time—what college is like,” said Worthy.

HCC Adopts a Vision Statement

On January 24, representatives from Educational Marketing Group, Inc. presented HCC’s institutional vision statement to the Board of Trustees. That statement represents the culmination of months of collaboration and market research with HCC staff, faculty, students and prospective students. Many of you are familiar with the draft, which was widely circulated before it was approved by college leadership in early January. The statement seeks to define HCC’s strengths, unique characteristics, vision, and desired outcomes for our most important audiences. For those of you who have not seen it, please take a minute to read it now:

HCC Vision Statement

Holyoke Community College is the premier Massachusetts community college, providing the best start at the best value for students from an increasingly diverse community with rapidly evolving needs. Our enthusiastic, highly-qualified faculty engage students in innovative and creative learning. Students thrive in our vibrant, accessible, and welcoming campus community because we provide them with a comprehensive academic and personal support system. We challenge ourselves to identify and provide relevant and responsive solutions for the needs of organizations and individuals in the Valley and beyond. Our students are exceptionally prepared for success in today’s changing world.

While the vision statement captures the essence of HCC, it is not advertising copy. The vision statement is designed to inform what we do and what we say in our marketplace.

Along with a vision statement, EMG helped us to develop a brand promise: “exceptional preparation for success.” This statement broadly embraces everything that we do at HCC – from preparing students for a four-year degree to helping a business re-tool its employees’ skills. There are four themes or “brand drivers” which underpin this promise: 1) university-caliber education; 2) innovative, creative instruction; 3) comprehensive individual support; and 4) engaged and responsive community partner.

Another area slated for change is the college’s tagline “Rich in Opportunity” which does not quite align with the brand promise. The college will work with EMG to establish a new marketing slogan to capture the essence of “exceptional preparation for success” in a more creative way. This should be accomplished by mid-February.

In the coming weeks, each unit of the college will be asked how it supports one or more of the brand drivers and to give evidence points for the same. Evidence may be statistics, examples, anecdotes, and/or testimonials. The marketing and public relations staff will collect, compile, and synthesize these into key messages that can be used in marketing materials, public presentations, and public speaking opportunities. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions they wish to share—in advance of our coming to you—please contact Anne Sroka (413) 552-2259;email: askroka@hcc.mass.edu.

Bolivian Students Wow HCC with Musical Performance

They came to the United States to learn about this country’s culture, but when the delegation of 15 Bolivian students visited HCC for a second time on Jan. 24, they were the ones doing the teaching.

For two hours the students performed a series of dances – the Morenada, La Chacarera, and La Llamerada among others – each, depicting various themes from their homeland. Their colorful costumes, hand-made instruments and lively dancing communicated volumes about the beauty of Bolivian culture.

In the Morenada, dancers depicted an oft-overlooked aspect of Bolivian history: the colonial-era arrival of black slaves from Angola and Guinea. In La Chacarera, the dancers played out the sexual tension that exists between men and women. In La Llamerada, two dancers gave a spirited tribute to the llama, an animal that has been celebrated in Bolivian art for more than 40 centuries.

All of the students spoke Spanish, but the Bolivian delegation was by no means homogeneous. Fully 62 percent of the population of Bolivia comes from one of many indigenous ethnic groups. Included in the student delegation were men and women from the Quecha, Aymara, Chaqueño, Mojeno, and Chiquitano peoples.

After they left HCC, the group traveled to Arizona before returning to Bolivia.

HCC Foundation Offering More Than $100,000 in Scholarships

If you, or someone you know, need help paying for college, don’t forget to ask the HCC Foundation. The foundation has more than 90 scholarships, worth more than $100,000, available to students with a wide variety of needs. The deadline for applying is March 29. Applications are available in Donahue 101 beginning February 1.

Think you don’t qualify for a scholarship? Think again.
According to Erica Broman, vice president for institutional development, there are scholarships to meet almost every student profile: part-time students, straight-A students, women transferring to four-year schools, nursing students, students from particular cities or towns, even students who are struggling academically.

“We have some donors who didn’t do so well in high school and when they came here, something clicked,” said Broman. “They wanted scholarship money to be available for others who might be struggling.”

A full list of the possibilities will be available in Donahue 101 on Feb. 1. Check it out. And if you need help with the scholarship essays, don’t forget to stop by the Writing Center for help. The center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Campus Briefs

HCC Alum Willie "Chill Will" Williams Heats Up campus

"Chill Will" Willie Williams

Pianist Willie “Chill Will” Williams and his partner Dr. Pepper welcomed students to the spring semester with an hour-long set of Motown favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s during student activity period, Wednesday January 25.

A graduate from HCC, Williams currently attends Westfield College where he majors in psychology with a minor in music.

“I love music,” he said. “ When I first came to HCC, I could only play gospel by ear. HCC taught me that music was more than playing the piano. It was about understanding what I play. Today, I not only read music, but play a variety of jazz, R&B and Motown.”

A resident of Springfield, Williams, 50, came to HCC after working as a prevention specialist and mediator for the Springfield School Department. He said his lack of a formal education led to his dismissal.

“The kids really could use more black male role models,” said Williams. “I attended HCC because of its programs and support systems. As a legally blind individual, I found HCC is accessible to my needs. I return to HCC every chance I get because it is like coming home to family. HCC helped me get where I am today.”

Sponsors Still Needed for the Upward Bound Banquet

As many of you know, the Upward Bound program will celebrate its 10-year anniversary at a gala banquet February 19 at Chez Josef in Agawam. Over the years, Upward Bound has helped dozens of Holyoke and Chicopee teens succeed in college and beyond. Tickets to this event are $45 each and will be available through the Upward Bound office, Frost 122, until February 10.

We would like to see as many students at this celebration as possible. To do that, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor the attendance of an Upward Bound student and/or a parent. The HCC Foundation has already sponsored 12 people. Other individuals have sponsored five. Acting Upward Bound Program Manager Zandrina Atherley says that the program will be able to sell tickets and sponsorships until February 10.

HCC's Orlando Isaza to Receive Challenge & Change Award in May

Orlando Isaza

The Amherst-based Men’s Resource Center for Change has tapped Orlando Isaza, HCC’s special assistant to the president for community affairs, to receive its Challenge & Change award. Isaza will receive the award in recognition for his career-long commitment to integrating social justice and social service. He is one of three individuals who will be honored when the Men’s Resource Center holds its 10th annual Challenge & Change celebration at the Log Cabin Restaurant on May 7.

Also honored that night will be Raul Matta, recipient of the Ozzy Kate Memorial Youth Award and Felice Yeskel, co-director of Class Action.

Established in 1982, the Men's Resource Center for Change (MRC) is an advocacy organization that seeks to redefine masculinity, adopting a definition which embraces collaboration over competition and connection over isolation. The organization has offices in Springfield and Amherst.

Tutor for Young Boys Needed

The Community Service Learning Program is looking for students who would like to get involved in Homework House, a mentoring program that targets at-risk Holyoke boys in grades five to eight. Volunteers will tutor the youths in basic school subjects and serve as life mentors.

Sponsored in part by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, this program will begin February 6 at the Immaculate Conception Parish House, 54 North Summer St., Holyoke. Interested students and faculty should contact Jen Dolan at (413) 552-2714.

Nominations Requested for the Elaine Marieb Award

Do you know a faculty member who has done an outstanding job in the classroom?

We thought so.

It’s time for you to nominate that person for the Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence. Applications will be available in Donahue 101 beginning February 1. They are due back by February 17. Announcement of the recipient will be made during the HCC Professional Development Day, May 23.

As many of you know already, this award celebrates a faculty member who has inspired students and colleagues to do their best. Any full-time faculty member who has worked for the college for at least five years is eligible for consideration.

The HCC Foundation will reward that person with a $4,200 grant, which they can use to enhance classroom learning. Past recipients have used this for professional enrichment conferences, new computers, equipment or books.

Anyone who has participated in this process before knows that it’s as much fun nominating our colleagues as it is learning who the winner is.

Latino Mural Project Kicks Off

On February 14, members of the Latino Mural Project will officially kick off their efforts to create an artistic tribute to Latino culture in Holyoke. Composed of 10 HCC student mentors and 10 Latino youth from Holyoke, the group will meet at the Holyoke Children’s Museum twice a week from now until May. In May, the group will install a colorful 8-by-40-foot mural on the HCC campus.

There is still limited space available in this group if you would like to help create the mural.You do not have to be artistically inclined and it is not necessary for you to be Latino, though Latino students will be given preference. Eligible students may also get academic credit.

For more information, call Jen Dolan at (413) 552-2714.

Professional Development Day Focuses on New Requirements

Professional Development Day 2006

During HCC’s Professional Development Day, January 18, the college community reviewed recommendations to add five new areas to the college’s general education requirements. The proposal, which was developed by the HCC General Education Committee, can be downloaded by clicking below.
Proposal by HCC General Education Committee

According to General Education Committee Chairman Susan Mackler, the proposal must be formally approved by the Academic Standards Committee, the Professional Association Senate, and HCC President William F. Messner before it can be implemented. The former committee meets on April 5, the latter, on May 3.

In a nutshell, the proposal seeks to add five areas, or core competencies, to student graduation requirements. Those areas are:

• effective communication
• quantitative reasoning
• knowledge of, and respect for, diversity
• information literacy
• critical thinking

“These are really the sorts of things we all think about when we think about why one goes to college,” said Mackler, who has been working on this project for around six years. “We want to empower our students to be able to think for themselves.”

Mackler said members of the HCC community are invited to discuss the implementation of these concepts during a series of open discussions that will take place this spring in Frost 309. Those discussions will take place as follows:

• February 28, 2:30 - 4 p.m.(critical thinking)
• March 20, 2:30 - 4 p.m. (effective communication)
• April 11, 2:30 - 4 p.m. (information literacy)
• May 8, 2:30 - 4 p.m. (diversity)
• June 1, 10 - 11:30 a.m. (quantitative reasoning)

Student Athletes Flex Muscles

The men’s and women’s basketball seasons have not yet ended, but, already, some impressive numbers are coming in from both teams, according to Thomas Stewart, manager of athletics and recreation.

Ludlow freshman Zach Miller is now ranked 12th among community college athletes in New England, averaging 17 points per game. He is rated at 2nd in New England for rebounding, averaging 12 rebounds per game.

Easthampton sophomore Dominique Finkley is now rated 12th in New England for scoring, averaging 12 points per game. Finkley is rated 5th for rebounding, averaging 12.6 rebounds per game. In the fall of 2005, Finkley was named to the All-New England team for women’s soccer.

West Springfield freshman Amanda Colburn is rated 7th in New England for assists, averaging 3.7 assists per game.

Stewart said the men’s season will end on February 11. The women’s basketball season will stretch all the way to the first week in March, when HCC will host the New England finals.

HCC Welcomes the Spring Semester with Registration Express

Registration Express

On January 14 and 17, HCC faculty and staff rolled out the red carpet for new and returning students with Registration Express, a convenient one-stop registration event. Balloons, refreshments, and even one-day passes to the David Bartley Athletic Center made these events as fun as they were convenient. The January 14 event featured live radio broadcast from WHYN radio.

Notices

Blended Solutions for Business Series Announces New Dates

The Center for Business and Professional Development has recently changed the dates for some of its upcoming Blended Solutions for Business classes. Registration is still open for all classes.

The Blended Solutions series includes six separate seminars, each focused on integrating different computer-based skills into the workplace. The classes will range from 3 to 7 hours. To sign up, or to get more information, call the center at (413) 552-2742 or visit www.TheCenter-HCC.org.

• Time Management with MicroSoft Outlook has been changed from Febuary 3 to Wednesday, April 5.

• Presentation Skills with MicroSoft PowerPoint has been changed from February 10 and 17 to March 21 and 28.

The rest of the series remains as previously posted:
Mar. 1 & 8 - Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel
April 3 & 10 - CRM and Sales Skills using CRM Software
April 7 & 14 - Data Mining using Access
April 21 & 28 - Boosting Your Web Presence using Dreamweaver

Nursing Refresher Course is Still Open

The Center for Business & Professional Development is still accepting applications for its Nursing Refresher course to be held weekends, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from March 4 to May 20.

The deadline for registering for this course is February 22.

This course is designed for currently licensed RN’s who have been out of the field or who want to update their medical surgical skills so they can work in acute care. The curriculum will include 36 hours of classroom time and 68-hour clinical rotations.

The course fee is $1,599. Payment plans are available. For more information or to receive an application, call Maria Vargas at (413) 552-2122. You may also visit the center’s website at www.TheCenter-HCC.org.

On the Lighter Side

Learn a new skill, or explore a new hobby in one of over 100 non-credit courses at HCC. There’s still time to sign up for spring semester courses in art, business, finances, food and drink, health and fitness, history, home and garden, languages, legal, leisure, personal growth, and test preparation.

Classes meet between one and 10 times, on weekdays, weeknights, and Saturdays; many cost less well less than $100.

For a full list of non-credit courses, visit www.hcc.edu and click on the “Spring 2006 Course Bulletin” button or call (413) 552-2000 or 2324. To enroll, via a convenient 24-hour telephone service, call (413) 538-5815 or 5817.

Upcoming Campus Events:

Student Activities and Events:
Contact Vivian Ostrowski (413) 552-2418; vostrowski@hcc.mass.edu for more information.

Wednesday, February 1, 11 a.m., Forum
New Hampshire filmmaker Thomas Jackson will be on hand to screen his new work “Worlds Apart: 9-11 First Responders Against War.” Join us for this gripping film and an intimate discussion with the filmmaker. Sponsored in part by the American Friends Service Committee.

Wednesday, February 1, 11 a.m., café
Club Fair – Representatives from the more than 50 student-run clubs will be on hand to show you what, besides studying, you can do this semester. Steel drum performer Alwinne Mentos will also be on hand to keep things grooving.

Wednesday February 1, 11 a.m., café
The Waiting to Excel club will sell tickets to its fund raising raffle. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. The drawing will be February 14 at 1:15 p.m. Proceeds benefit the club. Prizes include:

• A hand-made “Bear-ly Valentine Duet” ceramic piece
• A Valentine floral bouquet, courtesy of Mark Henry Florist
• An Irish blessing “shamrock” plate
• A plush teddy bear with an assortment of beauty gifts
• A ceramic “Peter, Paul & Penny Penguin” lamp

February 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dining hall, G building
Winter’s bad weather has diminished blood donations to the American Red Cross. You can help reverse that trend by donating. Walk-ins are welcome but you can also schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-448-3543.

You may be eligible to give blood if:
• You are at least 17 years old
• You weigh at least 110 pounds
• You are in good general health
• You haven’t given blood in the last 56 days

February 4, 2 to 10 p.m., the Forum
The Japanese Anime Club will host an Anime Film Festival in the Forum, on Saturday February 4, from 2 to 10 p.m. Suggested donations for admission are $2 per film or $7 for the entire day. All proceeds will go toward Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. There will be a snack bar, prizes, a “name that song” contest and a Cosplay contest. The festival will feature anime-themed movies throughout the day. The schedule is as follows:

2 p.m. My Neighbor Totoro
4 p.m. Princess Mononoke
6 p.m. Nausicaa
8 p.m. Perfect Blue

February 17, 11:30 a.m., Mt. Wachusett Community College
Timothy Wise, a noted author and activist, will give a talk about race relations entitled “Beyond Diversity: Fighting Racism in the Age of Backlash” on Friday, February 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Wachussett Community College in Gardner. Anyone who would like to arrange transportation to this free event may call Vivian Ostrowski student activities coordinator, at (413) 552-2418.

Wise has spoken to over 80,000 people in 47 states, and on over 350 college campuses, including Harvard, Stanford, and the Law Schools at Yale and Columbia. He has trained corporate, government, and law enforcement officials on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions, and has served as a consultant for plaintiff’s attorneys in federal discrimination cases in New York and Washington State.

Sunday, February 19, 5 p.m., Chez Josef, Agawam
The HCC Upward Bound program will mark its 10th anniversary by honoring three of its biggest supporters. Congressman John Olver, Dr.Elaine Ironfield and Dr. Laura Coelen will be the guests of honor at this banquet, which will also feature a visit by Dr. Sonia Correa Pope, Upward Bound’s first director.

 

HCC's Taber Gallery
Contact Amy Johnquest (413) 552-2614; ajohnquest@hcc.mass.edu for more information.

The campus is invited to view ”Storyboard” an exhibit of 150 paintings and drawings by Dean Nimmer, on display at the Taber Art Gallery January 23 to February 16. You may come meet with Nimmer during an opening reception, February 1, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Taber Gallery is located in the Donahue building of HCC, 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke. The gallery will be open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

HCC Connection is published every other Tuesday (or thereabouts) and is distributed to the campus community, and friends of the college, and local media.

To be added to our email distribution list, please email: Kimberly Wilson, kwilson@hcc.mass.edu
To submit campus event information for inclusion in HCC Connection, email Natalia Munoz, nmunoz@hcc.mass.eduwith details including date, time, location, cost if any, open to public or not, web links (if appropriate) and contact information (name, phone number, and email). Deadline: end of day Friday before publication.

Natalia Munoz
Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Holyoke Community College
Phone: (413) 552-2183 Fax: (413) 552-2479
cell: (413) 348-8515 (emergency)
nmunoz@hcc.mass.edunmunoz@hcc.mass.edu
Holyoke Community College is the Commonwealth’s oldest community college, serving almost 9,000 students annually in 82 associate degree options and 42 certificate programs, and over 4,000 in noncredit and workforce development courses. The college has the highest transfer rate of any community college statewide, holding articulation agreements with 27 colleges and universities. Recognized for its Honors Program, distance learning curriculum, learning communities, and service to students, HCC anticipates opening its state of-the-art Kittredge Business Center in Spring 2006.