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| Mark Your Calendar |
April 13-17
Student Appreciation Week
April 13
Scholarship Reception / Donor Recognition - 5:30 pm HH (by invitation)
April 15
Counselor Update, G45/46
April 16
Open Enrollment Meeting, G45/46, 3-4:30 pm
April 17
Student Awards Luncheon - noon HH (by invitation)
April 21 & 23
7th Graders touring campus
April 21
Women's Leadership Forum, G107, 11 am
Wellness Webinar, various times
April 22-23
Interior Design Showcase, HH, 9 am - 5 pm
April 23
Interior Design Showcase Gala, HH, 7 pm
April 24
PTK Induction Ceremony, TBD, 6:30 pm
April 25
Earthday, 9 am - 3 pm, Campus Parking Lot
May 4-7
Finals Week
May 8
Commencement, Mansfield Theatre, 2 pm | |
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| News from MSU - Great Falls
Your Community College!
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Monday, April 13, 2009 |
| Greetings!
Open Enrollment for Montana State University employees benefits will be starting soon. There will be meetings on campus to review options.
Great Falls: April 16, 3:00 - 4:30 pm in G45/46
Bozeman: April 22, 12:30 - 2:00pm & 3:00 - 4:30pm in the SUB Ballroom D
Representatives from OCHE, Allegiance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, New West, Delta Dental, and Flex Connect will be in attendance to give a presentation on our plan and to answer any questions you may have. Please look for enrollment packets and workbooks in your mailbox on Monday. If you have any questions, please contact either Lisa Albert or Mary Kay Bonilla.
Open Enrollment will end Tuesday, May 12.
Lisa Albert, Human Resources |
CPBAC Discussion Forum
Since the campus has approved the new Mission, Vision, and Values statement, it is time to turn our attention to strategic planning. Dean Schaffer would like to have campus-wide input on the strategic plan. To aid this process, a CPBAC discussion board has been created. The discussion board will allow for an ongoing discussion as well as a record of the conversation. The URL for the board is: http://cpbac.msugf.net
On the discussion board, there are two questions Dean Schaffer would like you to answer. You can either register, which means your user name will be displayed with your comments, or you can comment anonymously.
Questions:
1. What are the major initiatives or priorities the College should focus its efforts and resources on in the coming years?
2. Why (back your statements through data or other justification)?
When answering the questions keep a couple of things in mind: the new vision, mission, and value statements and the direction the campus is moving.
Dean Schaffer is looking forward to your answers/comments on the questions, and the discussion they provoke. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Heather Palermo or Ken Wardinsky. | |
Brian Cayko is new Faculty Advisor for Phi Theta Kappa
Submitted by Courtney Johsnrud
The Beta Eta Omicron chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the two-year honor society at MSU-Great Falls College of Technology is pleased to announce that Brian Cayko as the new faculty advisor. Brian brings with him a strong commitment to two-year education and life-long learning. He joins current advisor Courtney Johnsrud along with Craig Rardon, President, Savannah Anderson, Vice President, Carol Berg, Secretary, Robyn Schwecke, Treasurer, and Shawna Orr, Publicity Officer. The chapter is also excited to report that 75 outstanding students have enrolled in PTK in the 2008-2009 academic year. Students will be officially inducted at the Induction Ceremony to be held on April 24, 2009 at 6:30 pm. |
Adjunct Junction
Jennifer Pospisil teaches Drawing 1. She earned a Bachelors in Graphic Design from Montana State University Bozeman and teaching certificate in art and a Masters in Education from the University of Great Falls. She currently teaches 7th Grade Art at East Middle school. She is also the Art Coordinator for the Great Falls Public Schools. Currently, she teaches part time for Montana State Northern and an online summer class for high school students. She is a board member for Paris Gibson Square Museum and other organizations around the city. She is the Vice President for the Montana Arts Education Association.
In her spare time, when she is not running her own two children to activities and volunteer work, she works on her own art. She has had several pieces of art on display this year at various locations around the city and state. |
| New (but known) Tenure Faculty Hired
Lynn Ward has been hired in the tenure-track position of Director of Health Information Technology. Lynn started working for MSU - Great Falls in 2006 as the HIT instructor. She also has taught for Cental Maine Community College, Andover College, and Stephens College. Prior to working for MSU - Great Falls, Lynn worked in a Health Information Management. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management. Currently, Lynn is pursuing a graduate degree in Healthcare Administration through Saint Joseph's College. |
Changes in Income Tax Withholding
Submitted by Kathy Haggart New withholding tables may reduce the amount of income tax withheld from your wages, effective with the first payday in April 2009. The new tables, prescribed by the Department of the Treasury, reflect the Making Work Pay credit and other changes resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
You do not have to submit a Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, to get the automatic withholding change. However, if you do not want to have your withholding reduced (because, for example, you have more than one job or you are married and your combined income places you in a higher tax bracket), you may want to file a new Form W-4 with the Payroll Office as soon as possible. April 14 will be the deadline for submitting changes for the April 24th paycheck. Form W-4 for 2009 is available electronically on the College website or hard copy in the Payroll Office.
You may claim fewer withholding allowances on line 5 or request additional amounts to be withheld on line 6. If you decide to change your Form W-4, please clarify for the MSU-Great Falls Payroll Office whether the new form pertains only to your federal withholding or if you want the same set up for state withholding also. You may access Banner Web, then Employee Services and Tax Forms to see your current setting for Federal Withholding.
For additional help, contact your personal accountant or get IRS Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding? Or visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov and use the "Withholding Calculator." |
Interior Design Showcase
It is time for the Interior Design Showcase! This year's theime is Green and it is April 22 - 23 from 9 am to 5 pm in Heritage Hall. On Thursday, April 23 at 7 pm there will be a Showcase Gala. There will be juried awards in 11 categories ranging from Excellence in Sample Board Creation to Excellence in AutoCAD. Students who received their Associate of Kitchen and Bath Design certification and other scholarships/awards will be honored at the Gala.
As part of the showcase, the Interior Design Club is sponsoring a silent auction. Bidding will be open on Wednesday, Aprill 22. Proceeds of the acution will assist interior design club members in attending seminars around the region.
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Wellness Webinar
There is a free webinar on April 21 from 1 to 2 pm and 3 to 4 pm (EST) entitled It's Easy Being Green: Little Steps - Big Impact. Saving our planet for future generations is more important than ever. Learn how to get started, and how those seemingly small things really do make a difference now and in the future. To register go to www.montana.edu/wellness. Select "TLC" and scroll down the page to Events. |
Arbor Day Tree
MSU - Great Falls will be the first campus in Montana to receive an "Arbor Day Tree." During, the Earth Day/E-Waste Activities on April 25, the College will be planting a maple tree dontated by the DNRC in Helena. All we need to do is dig the hole for the new tree. At this time, the exact location of the tree has not been decided. |
Workshops Provide Faculty Access to Job Placement Information
Submitted by Courtney Johsnrud
Career Services has had a busy spring conducting workshops for faculty focusing on job placement and career information. The workshops for full-time and adjunct faculty, sponsored by the Perkins Grant, have focused on important issues including Preparing for a Job Fair, Career Advising, Being a Reference for Students, Referring Students for Jobs, Teaching Job Seekers to Think Like Entrepreneurs, and Articulation.
Faculty have been able to attend both on campus and online via Adobe Connect. According to Lynn Ward, Program Director and faculty in the HIT and HICS programs, "As a distance faculty, the ability to come to campus for faculty training is not always feasible. These types of workshops are now being held in Adobe Connect. This gives distance faculty the opportunity to attend workshops and training that would otherwise be unavailable. The workshops I have attended this way have been outstanding, and I have learned a great deal. I am very appreciative that this type of training is now being extended to distance faculty."
Two additional Workshops will be offered: Teaching Students to Create an Employer needs Job-Search Strategy on Thursday, April 16 and a repeat of the Articulation workshop on Monday, April 20. Both workshops are from 12:00-1:00 and lunch, sponsored through the Perkins Grant, will be served. Please RSVP to Courtney Johnsrud if you would like to attend either of the workshops. |
Women's Leadership: Gain Recognition with Powerful Presenation Skills
You are invited! Tuesday, April 21 at 11:00 am in Room G107 - the Outreach / College Relations Conference Room. Whether it's standing on a podium, presenting in a meeting, or simply communicating information to a single person - presentations TERRIFY us. For women in today's workplace - strong presentation skills provide you with the credibility you deserve. Please join us for this 60-minute audio conference where you will discover how to:
* Gain complete control over the audience's reaction to your presentation.
* Deliver your information in a more conversational (believable) manner.
* Practice and Prepare with the art of "Familiarity brings confidence".
* Acquire techniques to lower adrenaline and reduce physiological reactions.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
How To Get Into The Head(s) Of Your Audience
o Tips & tricks on defining your target audience.
o How to discover what the audience is expecting from your presentation.
o How to check your agenda for overkill or missing information.
Know Your Material: From Your Heart & Mind, Instead Of A Piece Of Paper
o How to select the most pertinent points & reduce the "bore".
o How to use audio and video taping to see yourself as others do.
o How to foresee & prepare for anticipated problems & questions.
Simple Techniques To Calm Yourself from the Inside
o Get the "Superstar Tips" on "Hemisphere Switch".
o 3 tools to deal with difficult audience members.
o How to STAY or Stop thinking about Yourself.
Live question and answer session - Have your specific Women's Leadership questions answered. Presenter, Pamela Jett, is an internationally recognized presenter and author on developing leadership skills and improving workplace relationships. Ms. Jett has worked with clientele ranging from the high-tech sector and manufacturing to women's groups and government agencies. She is the developer of several learning programs including "Communicate with Confidence: A Woman's Guide" and "Mind Your Own Business: A Career Management System." Her programs take participants beyond theory to hands-on application for immediate results
There will be a charge, not to exceed $20 per person, depending on attendance (it may be less). Questions? Contact Linda McNeill at 454-3217.
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D2L Professional Development Sessions
Submitted by Ryan Schrenk
If you are interested in getting up to speed on D2L, then check out http://distance.msugf.edu/Instructor_Resources/SpringandSummer2009_D2LPDSchedule_Jan6.pdf for dates, times and locations. You can work on this slowly over the semester or do a cram session in May. The next training,New Tools and Engaging Students, is on April 14 from 6-8 pm in B126. The session is repeated on Friday, April 17 from 2-4 pm in B134. If you would like to attend any of the sessions, please RSVP to Karen Vosen at 771-4440 or kvosen@msugf.edu. You can also stop by the Distance Learning office to sign up.
A couple of special notes on the sessions:
1. Online live and archived Adobe Connect sessions will be held for each one.
2. There is limited seating in the computer labs, so please RSVP.
3. Certificates of completion for all six sessions will be printed for any participant who takes part in the complete series. |
New Online Career Management Program Coming this Summer!
Submitted by Courtney Johnsrud
I am very excited to announce that beginning in July 2009, students will be able to access employment postings and apply for jobs online 24 hours a day. This will enable the Career Services office to easily run full-time employment, internships, alumni employment and more from one web-based system. Students will be able to easily register, search jobs, send online inquiries, and manage multiple resumes, cover letters, and other employment related documents. The Career Services office will be able to manage employment functions including student and employer registration, resume referrals, document management, placement tracking, job posting and management, resume books and alumni mentoring. Finally, employers can post and monitor job openings, access student resumes, and receive applications online.
This program is free and easy for students and employers. It is currently used at other Montana University System schools including MSU Billings, Montana Tech of The UM, and is currently being implemented at UM Helena COT. Implementation of the program will begin on April 16 and the tentative launch date is set for July 1, 2009. The implementation team consists of Courtney Johnsrud, Heather Palermo, Pam Buckheit, and Dana Freshly. | |
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