Save the Date - June Institute

Please join us on Wednesday, June 6, for the 2012 June Institute. Our half-day program is focused on intentionally developing MCC's college culture, and attendees will work with colleagues to build on our NEASC projections and improve campus-wide communication. The information gathered from this year's program will help lay the groundwork for improved communications, and support the work of various task forces and committees in the 2012-13 academic year. Sessions and discussion topics will include communication, academic advising, governance, enrollment management and more. Additional details will be released soon. 

FERPA Facts from the Central Office

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants students three fundamental rights. Students have the right, in general, to:

1. Inspect and review (not obtain copies of - unless inspection is not possible) their "education records"
2. Seek amendment of their "education records"
3. Have limited control regarding who may access their "education records" including who may receive disclosures from their "education records"

FERPA requires schools to publish an Annual Notice that includes a description of FERPA's provisions, including the rights of students, and where complaints may be filed.

FERPA Fact Footnote: You may notice the term "education records" is used and not the term "educational records."  That is because the term "educational records" is limited to records of academic matters and FERPA applies to much more than academic records.

Comments, suggestions, are invited and should be forwarded to Tom Clark, Academic and Student Affairs Associate.  

Important Identity Finder Reminders

By now, all MCC faculty and staff should have run Identity Finder. Here are some important things to know: 

• IT will contact you if you have not scanned your computer or have unhandled results.
• If you have not already scanned your computer, please run a scan as soon as possible. Use mcc as your password.
• Scan every computer that you use including shared computers, classroom teacher's stations, and laptops.
  • The Mac version is not yet available, but will be announced when it is ready for use.
• Scan My Computer and then set up Custom Folders to scan your H:\ drive. Click here if you need assistance setting up Custom Folders.
• If any results are found, handle them inside the Identity Finder application. For example, let Identity Finder shred unneeded data it finds instead of you locating the file outside of Identity Finder to delete it.
  • You must select Ignore, Quarantine, Scrub, or Shred as appropriate for each result.
  • If you have any DCL3 data in email that you move to your dcl3.pst, you must run another Identity Finder scan. Your goal is to have Identity Finder find no results.
• If one or more people have previously logged into your computer who don't need to log in there again, contact the Help Desk for assistance with removing their profiles from your computer.
• Close Identity Finder when you are done. This updates MCC's console.

Learn how to use Identity Finder by viewing documentation and training videos created just for MCC.This site is only available from on-campus computers. Please note,  if you have a large quantity of data on your system, it is possible that Identity Finder will hang. There is no need to panic. Identity Finder can be restarted and can be set to search incrementally. The Help Desk can assist you with this. If you have any questions, please contact the MCC Help Desk at x3456 or via email.  

Academic Support Center 

The Academic Support Center schedules for final exams week are updated and available on the website. Please follow the links for Academic Tutoring, Writing Center, and Walk-In Math Tutoring.

Please note that tutors do not assist students with take-home exams, unless there is written permission from a faculty member to do so. Email Brian Cleary with any questions.  

Get Help Paying for College: Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)The Financial Aid Office is offering guidance to students who need help filling out the FAFSA. Help is available every Tuesday morning in May from 10 AM to 11 AM and on May 15 from 5 PM to 6 PM. To register, contact Audrey Letizia. Click here to see how to apply for financial aid in three steps.

Adult Success Coach

The Adult Success Coach website provides one-to-one coaching and an extensive library of resources to help adult students succeed in college, balance life/school/work, and set goals for the future. Students who complete two appointments with a success coach will automatically be entered to win a giftcard to the bookstore! Contest ends May 15 so schedule your appointments today! For further information, contact Veronica Young, x2720.

Please note that by clicking on the name of each event you will be able to automatically download the event to your calendar or obtain further information. To see this weeks event's calendar, visit the public folders under Events and Calendars - Weekly/Monthly Events.

Spring Arts Festival

May 11, 6:00 PM, Hans Weiss Newspace Gallery and SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium

The Spring Arts Festival features the opening reception for the  Fine Arts Student exhibition and vocal and instrumental performances by Music students. For more information, contact Susan Classen-Sullivan x2693. Admission is free.

Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series

May 17 2012, 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM, GPA Community Commons

Poets Ellen Doré Watson, director of The Poetry Center at Smith College, whose most recent title is Dogged Hearts (Tupelo Press, 2010); and D.M. Gordon, recipient of a 2008 Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship and author of Fourth World (Adastra Press, 2010) at 7 PM. Followed by David Mack, multi-instrumentalist with six CDs to his credit and leader and guitarist of the much-traveled and popular, "Dave Mack Band," will perform a solo blues set. For more information, please visit the series website. The event is free and open to the public.

Breakdancing Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

May 17, 2012, 7:00 PM, SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium
The Hartford Stage Education Department presents Breakdancing Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet. The play is performed by talented high school students from Hartford and combines the original Shakespeare verse with modern music, breakdancing, hip hop and rap to tell the story of Romeo and Juliet. The play is enjoyable for ages 7 through adult. For more information, contact Carleigh Cappetta, x2804. Admission is free.

International Film Series

May 18, 2012, 7:00 PM, SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium

Saving Private Perez (Mexico) - Julian Perez, Mexico's most notorious leader of organized crime, must embark on a mission given to him by the only authority he respects... his mother. Joined by a colorful band of infamous criminals, Julian must risk his life to fulfill his mother's wish and rescue his brother from the war-ridden bowels of the most treacherous land in the world, Iraq. Miguel Rodarte stars. Spanish. 105 mins. For more information, contact Evelyn Angry-Smith, x2874. Admission is free.

Share Your Knowledge!

The Leadership Institute is building the schedule for the upcoming year. We invite you to share an idea or skill that can be offered as a workshop for colleagues.

Here are some things to think about:

• Do you possess knowledge or a skill set that you think colleagues would be interested in learning more about?
• Are you passionate about a certain area that you know would benefit those around you?
• Is there are workshop or topic that you have taught that you would like to share with your colleagues?
• With some guidance and support, could you build your idea into a workshop?

We would love to hear from you today, any idea is a good one! Contact Sandra Rimetz or

Deb Colucci.