News Editor- Jana McBride |
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| Volume 26, Issue #1 |
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September 8, 1999
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News Editor- Jana McBride |
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| Volume 26, Issue #1 |
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September 8, 1999
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| NIACC MOVES UP DROP DATE... Article by Amy Hackbart, editor |
| As the new academic year begins,
students should be aware of a change in the drop date policy at NIACC.
According to Larry Mozack, registrar at NIACC, the new policy differs greatly from previous years, where students could drop classes as late as two weeks before the end of the term. “We took a look at last year’s policy and the policies of other colleges and decided that ours was pretty liberal,” Mozack said. “Since most students know how their grades are at midterm, we decided to change the drop date to the Friday of midterm in the 15 week semester or midpoint in other courses.” That date would be Friday, October 22 this semester for a semester long class. Mozack said that, compared to other Iowa colleges, NIACC’s former policy was one of the most liberal in the state. “While our old policy was one of the most liberal, our new policy falls somewhere in the middle of drop dates in the state,” Mozack said. “With some colleges having later drop dates and some having earlier ones, we see our new policy as a fair one.” Mozack said that students shouldn’t have a problem with the new policy. “I would hope that the students’ reactions would be positive,” Mozack said. “In developing the policy, we thought in terms of what is fair to students and they should appreciate that.” According to Brian Horgen, a sophomore, the new policy might not be as fair as NIACC administrators believe it to be. “I don’t think that the new policy is fair because students can still bring up their grades after midterm with better test grades and extra credit,” Horgen said. “You don’t exactly know what you’re getting for grades at midterm, but you know better down the road.” For those students who worry that the new dropdate will affect the refund dates for classes, Mozack said that there will be no change. “The new policy won’t affect the refund of classes because the new drop date is after the refund date,” Mozack said. |
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| HONORS PROGRAM INITIATED... Article by Neal Hirota, for the LOGOS |
| Qualified freshmen students for this
fall term at NIACC have an unprecedented opportunity to enroll in an Honors
Program.
The idea of having an Honors Program at NIACC grew out of interest by faculty and administration, according to Richard Schinnow, Honors Program Committee chair. There are two principal reasons for implementing an Honors Program at NIACC, according to Schinnow. The first reason is that it is part of NIACC’s strategic planning initiative to strengthen the academic reputation of the College. “NIACC has had, and does have, a strong academic reputation,” Schinnow said. “We feel that an Honors Program will enhance that.” The second reason for having an Honors Program is to help in recruiting students, according to Schinnow. The NIACC Honors Program Proposal states that other reasons are to retain academically-talented students, to provide challenges for academically-talented students within established courses, and to provide enriched cultural and intellectual experiences. “We hope participation in an honors program at NIACC will be an enriching experience for the student, both academically and culturally,” Schinnow said. Benefits to students, according to the Honors Program Proposal, include Honors designation, opportunities for involvement in challenging course work, intellectual stimulation, priority registration, enhanced scholarship eligibility, extracurricular involvement and a closer relationship with faculty. “There are plenty of distractions for college students away from academics,” Schinnow said. “So, it might be good for capable and serious students to have peers that they can associate with where the mutual interest is academics. We hope that honors students might be able to establish relationships with instructors which might be more on the level of peers.” There are several criteria for selecting program participants. According to the Honors Program Proposal, students will be invited to participate in the Honors Program if they have an ACT score of at least 24, complete an application identifying their leadership qualities and meet at least one of the following criteria: • Trustees Scholarship recipient; or • President’s Scholarship recipient; or • Finish in the upper 10 percent of their graduating class; or • Possess a high school grade point average of 3.5 or higher. “Obviously, we expect these students to be serious students,” Schinnow said. “The honors designation will recognize their commitment to education, and we’re hoping that the program will support that commitment.” According to Schinnow, last year the Honors Program would have had 155 students within both classes of the student enrollment qualify on ACT scores alone. “Our target group for the fall is 20 students,” Schinnow said. “We just want to be realistic. These students, like other students, have obligations. We’re hoping that we’re going to find students who are enthusiastic about the program.” In order to qualify for honors graduation, a student in the program must maintain certain standards and complete several requirements within the context of an existing course, according to Schinnow. Students accepted into the Honors Program will have to complete five honors contracts, one service learning experience or one enrichment experience per academic year. The program is open to all eligible degree-seeking students. “We feel that enough faculty are interested from enough of the various departments and courses on the campus to give us good representation,” Schinnow said. As of late August, approximately 30 students had accepted the invitation to participate in the program, according to Schinnow |
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| SECOND APARTMENT TAKES SHAPE ... Article by Amy Hackbart, editor |
| Beginning sometime during the 1999-2000
school year, some NIACC students will have the opportunity to live in a
new apartment building located next to the current apartment building on
campus.
According to Jerry Dunbar, NIACC athletic director and housing director, the new apartment complex will be available to students sometime during the 1999-2000 school year. “Right now we’re trying to be conservative with the time that the apartments will be finished,” Dunbar said. “We’re shooting for the start of the second semester.” Dunbar said that the apartments will be very nice and should offer students a free style of living. “There will be six apartments in the new complex with four students in each apartment,” Dunbar said. “Each apartment will have a kitchen and two bathrooms, making living in the apartments a sort of ‘cadillac’ living.” Although the new apartment complex will be located near the dorms, Dunbar said that the rates for living in the apartments will differ from the dorm rates. “Rates at the new apartments will be higher, but they will also be a lot nicer than the dorms,” Dunbar said. “Students living in the apartments will have the option of eating in the apartments or on their own.” According to Dunbar, applications to live in the new apartment complex will be taken in the future, but applicants must meet certain requirements to live in the apartments. “Four compatible students who have good GPA’s, good citizenship, and take care of property will be chosen for each apartment,” Dunbar said. Dunbar indicated that the apartments may only be available to sophomores, but that the decision may be re-examined in the future. |
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| BUETTNER SELECTED FOR AACC BOARD... Article by Amy Hackbart, editor |
| As president of NIACC, Dr. David
Buettner has received various honors, but perhaps one of his most prestigious
honors was received last March.
In March of 1998, Buettner was named to the board of the American Association of Community Colleges, an association that sets policies for the nation’s community colleges. According to Buettner, the board consists of 24 community college presidents that must submit nominations to be considered for the board. “The board consists of 32 people, with 24 elected presidents and eight other members from formal groups such as Congress,” Buettner said. “Each member is on the board for three years and they work to set policy and establish legislative programs for the nation’s community colleges.” Buettner said that, after receiving his nomination, the board notified him of his acceptance in March and he formally became a member of the board in April. “Nominations are sent in by college presidents and voted on ballots by the board every year,” Buettner said. “I got a phone call in March notifying me that I was selected for the board and was formally seated as a member in April at the national convention in Nashville, Tennessee.” As a new member of the AACC Board of Directors, Buettner said that his initial job is to observe the other members. “I’m sort of a beginner, so I will probably just watch what the other board members do for awhile,” Buettner said. “Even though I’m a beginner, I do have some ideas to contribute to the four yearly board meetings.” |
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