Western Connecticut State University will bring a series of medicine workshops to campus starting in January and in anticipation of this year's visit from the Dalai Lama. Dr. Rabten has practiced Tibetan medicine for more than 25 years in Tibet, India and the United States. He is co-founder of the Tibetan Home of Hope and the Tibetan Technology Institute. He frequently lectures on Tibetan medicine and is currently writing a book on the topic.  

The Institute of Holistic Health Studies at WCSU in collaboration with Dr. Tashi Rabten of the Tibetan Medical Association will present five workshops throughout the spring semester on the university's Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury.

The workshops are free and open to the public and will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Room 102 of Warner Hall on the following dates:

• January 31, 2012: "History, the Mind-Body Connection and Tibetan Culture"
• February 28, 2012: "Theory, Part I, rlung/Wind - the Breath of Life"
• March 13, 2012: "Theory, Part II, mKhris-pa/Bile - the Temperature of Life"
• March 27, 2012: "Theory, Part III, Bad-kan/phlegm - The Fluid of Life"
• April 10, 2012: "The Spiritual Connection"

Center for Teaching Pathways Workshops 

The Center for Teaching is offering two Pathways workshops this spring:

• Classroom Assessment Techniques, at Tunxis Community College on March 2.
• Infusing Active Learning into the Classroom, at Three Rivers Community College on April 20.

If you are interested, click here for more information.

In conjunction with Manchester Community College's celebration of African American History Month, the Hans Weiss Newspace Gallery is presenting works by renowned artists Chotsani E. Dean and Howard el-Yasin. They will be on exhibit from February 2 through March 12. For additional information, contact Susan Classen-Sullivan at x2693. Admission is free.

Faculty and Community College Professionals engaged in outside employment shall notify the President of this activity (via the Report of Outside Employment) and return to the Human Resource Office no later than February 10, 2012.

Outside employment is work for which compensation is received. As indicated on the form, it will be placed in your professional file upon return. Also, after you have submitted this information, if any change occurs, please notify this office in writing as soon as possible.You do not need to complete the form if you are not engaged in any outside employment activities.

Make Way for the "Millenials" Part III

 By Kelly Huffman, MS, LPC, CEAP

EAP Counselor, Middlesex Hospital EAP

Family is important to the Millenials. They feel close to their parents and communicate with them frequently through texting and Facebook; college students typically check in with their parents 10 times per week. For better or for worse, parents of Millenials often viewed children as the center of the family. Perhaps this "active parenting" has contributed to the Millenials' confidence and sense of security. Millenials also are greatly influenced by their parents. They trust their parents' judgment and value their input when they make decisions about important aspects of their lives.

Millenials who were born in the early 80's are now becoming parents themselves. Like their parents, there are signs that they will be a very family-oriented generation. Being a good parent is a high priority for them, and they will most likely be attentive and involved parents. They will make full use of technology to help them juggle their demands. They are more likely use on-line support for parenting advice. Millenials will favor work settings that support work/family balance and allow for flexibility.

An Interview with a 16 year old Millenial

I decided it might be fun to interview a real, live Millenial to see if his/her views are in line with what I have discovered about this generation.

Q: What is the most important issue facing our country today?

A: The economy.

Q: How do you feel about family?

A: I think family is important. It gives a person support and a sense of belonging. I don't think people should be alone. Sometimes parents can be annoying though.

Q: How about friendship?

A: I think friends are almost as important as family. They are like a family to help support you. They shape your personality and affect your decisions, viewpoints and the direction you take. In the long run they are more influential than family.

Q: What are your thoughts about work?

A: I think work is a good experience. It teaches you a lot of things: patience, tolerance, teamwork, responsibility, and how to follow rules. I don't like favoritism at work. I think everyone should try to work with everyone else. It shouldn't be that "just because I'm the boss, I can do whatever I want." Bosses should learn from their employees and vice versa.

Q: What about education?

A: I like that there is a bigger push for better education. It's good that we are teaching kids things at a younger age. Education opens up opportunities. But it's getting a little too competitive at times. Competition should not be the entire focus.

Q: How do you feel about technology?

A: I love it. You can get information faster so you can do something about things more quickly. Technology can make people smarter. In the future we can use things like IPADs in the medical field, which will decrease paper use and will be good for the environment.

Q: Other comments?

A: I think we all want equality in education, the economy, religion, etc. While groups of friends are more diverse, people still have stereotypes and make assumptions. I wish we didn't have stereotypes but they are still there.

** Speaking of stereotypes, this series makes general statements about Millenials based on my review of numerous different sources. It is not meant to say that all Millenials fit these descriptions or points of view.

Summary

My study of Millenials is complete. What should we make of this generation of overscheduled, overprotected, overachievers? This generation who, if they don't find good jobs soon, will have bank accounts that are seriously overdrawn? I don't think we need to worry too much. This generation is confident and optimistic. According to the Pew research, while less than one-third of those with jobs earn enough to lead the kind of life that they want, 88% are confident that they will one day. Even though this generation has seen natural disasters, terrorism, corporate corruption, war, and a prolonged recession, they still believe they will find something "over the rainbow." Maybe Millenials do have something to teach the rest of us.