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From the President
Looking Ahead to 2014
Last week, we looked back with pride on several important milestones and achievements that were met in 2013. This week, I would like to highlight just a few of the significant efforts that lie ahead of us in 2014. Together, these initiatives move us toward finalizing the vision we first articulated years ago, in the college's 2010-2015 Strategic Plan.
 Becoming more strategic with our enrollment. There is a growing awareness on campus that the recruitment and retention of our students is Job #1, and that creating an attractive, friendly and supportive learning environment is essential to our long-term success. No employee here is exempt from this duty, or the honor that comes with it, when helping an individual reach the goal of a college education. This call to action has led us to enlisting the assistance of Noel Levitz, a national leader in enrollment management, and consultation with our academic leadership team has already begun.
Building a stronger sense of community. Several new standing committees, including the Campus Climate Committee, point to our ongoing goal of becoming an institution grounded in a spirit of shared governance, transparency and broad participation. But this goal will not be achieved without able and effective leadership at all levels. That's why I am so pleased with the establishment of the Managerial Council, made up of all campus members who have supervisory responsibilities. Training in leadership, effective performance evaluations, coaching and conflict resolution will be made available throughout the coming months, and will be tailored to respond to employee feedback drawn from a number of sources.
Meeting the workforce development needs of the region. Our mission to the communities we serve does not stop at graduation. Successful businesses, including those seeking to come to this region, understand that their long-term success depends upon the availability of quality training and retooling for their own employees. As an economic engine of this area, the college recognizes the need to be a part of providing ongoing workforce development.
 As you may have already heard, the Inn at Hocking College is at the center of an ongoing effort to create a home for the Business Training Center, a collaborative training partnership between the college and the local Tri County Adult Career Center. Plans include a state-of-the-art conference center, complete with lodging facilities for extended training events, with dining and event management services provided by the staff, students and faculty of our renowned McClenaghan School of Hospitality. Multiple funding strategies are currently being explored, and hopes are high that 2014 will bring with it a successful plan to finally make this dream a reality.
These are just a few of the exciting improvement efforts going on right now as our new spring semester starts to settle in. Please consider how you might be able to contribute your own time and talent to these or other efforts that come to your attention. The college needs your voice at the table to make 2014 a happy and healthy new year!
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 Upcoming Admissions Events
Prospective students will be visiting campus during upcoming Discover Hocking and Hocking Showcase admissions events. The dates are as follows:
Discover Hocking - Monday, February 17, Main Campus, 1:15 p.m.
Admissions asks all departments to participate, as this event is directed at undecided students who may want to explore all of the options at Hocking College.
Hocking Showcase events are more targeted for students who know what field they would like to study. Each department will have a chance to showcase what they have to offer. Showcase events run 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Hospitality: Wednesday, March 19
- Allied Health and Nursing: Thursday, March 20
- Public Safety: Friday, March 21
- Arts, Business and IT: Thursday, March 27
- Engineering: Friday, March 28 (Logan Campus)
- Natural Resources: Friday, April 25, 9 (Lake Snowden)
Thank you for your assistance as we provide prospective students with a chance to experience a Hocking College education!
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 Network and Internet Upgrade Project Planned
The Office of Information Technology is pleased to announce that the college will be upgrading the hardware that provides network and Internet services. The upgrade will consist of replacing all the old Cisco gear with new Juniper equipment.
As part of that upgrade, the college will also install new wireless services throughout the entire main campus. This will increase the number of access points from 77 to 196. This means that the majority of the campus will now have access to wireless services; including Hocking Heights.
The IT Office is still building the project plan, but hope to have it fully implemented by the end of Summer 2014. In the meantime, it's important to keep in mind that as the networking hardware is being replaced, some disruptions in services are to be expected. As much as possible, the IT Office's goal will be to minimize any service disruption by performing some of the work outside normal business hours, such as after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on the weekend. The IT Office will provide the campus community notification in advance about any future network outages.Watch for more about the project and time-frame within the next few months.
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Mathematics Tutoring Center Spring Hours
The Mathematics Tutoring Center provides tutoring for math and math related courses at no charge to Hocking College students. The MTC offers help with math homework, test prep, tutoring by professional and student math tutors and much more.
The MTC is located in JL 363. Open tutoring hours for the spring semester are Monday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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 Accepting Nominations for STARS Awards
The STARS (Student Team and Academic Recognition System) Ceremony for this semester will be held Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Multiplex and will honor achievements from autumn semester. We are now accepting applications for nominations in the following areas:
- Green Award - This will be given to recognize outstanding efforts from last semester in the area of education of sustainable, renewable and environmental issues or the implementation thereof.
- "We are One Hocking" Award - This award will be given to recognize outstanding efforts from last semester in the area Cross-Cultural Education and/or community unification.
- Most Outstanding Contribution to Campus or Community Life - This award will be given to recognize a project which made a positive impact on campus or community life last semester.
Please send nominations by e-mail to Giles Lee by 5 p.m. February 14. Nominations should include the name of the group or person nominated and a description of the project, which includes the date that the project took place. Feel fee to include photos, video, evaluations and references in the nomination e-mail.
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| Marika Lee/The Logan Daily News |
Erickson to Hold Campus, Community Meetings
Campus and community members are invited to join Dr. Ron Erickson, Hocking College President, at weekly "Coffee with the President" gatherings on the Hocking College Main Campus. These events are held in different campus buildings and are a forum to solicit ongoing feedback from the community. The first gathering is Tuesday, January 28, on the first floor of the Natural Resources building.
Campus "Coffee with the President" gatherings are also scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at the Logan Campus and the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Perry Campus. Community events are being held weekly in Nelsonville at Fullbrooks Cafe and monthly in Athens at Court Street Coffee.
"With a strong and solidified leadership team in place, I now have more opportunity to reach out to the greater communities we serve. I am hoping that civic leaders, business owner, educators, and other community members will join us and share their ideas on how Hocking College can be even more responsive to the needs of this region," Erickson said. All campus and community members are invited to attend.
Read about the first Logan Campus event in the Logan Daily News.
Upcoming Main Campus Locations:
- January 28, 2014 - NR First Floor
- February 7, 2014 - JL Dining Hall
- February 14, 2014 - Oakley 210
- February 18, 2014 - Student Center Lobby
- February 25, 2014 - Shaw Lab
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 Scholarship Deadline Quickly Approaching
To apply, please direct students to use the Online Scholarship Application, which can be accessed through the "Pay For College" area of the Hocking College website. Click on the Scholarships subheading to find additional information and a direct link to the 2014-2015 scholarship application.
Students who are selected to receive scholarships will be notified in March.
If you need additional information regarding completion of the Online Scholarship Application, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid Services at 740.753.7061.
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Capella University Grant Opportunities
Capella University has a number of new grant offerings to start the year for faculty, staff and recent graduates who want to grow their skills and knowledge in 2014.
Bachelor's Completion Grant
Finish the degree you started. For new students with transfer credits who start in January, February or March, Capella is pleased to announce the opportunity to save up to 37 percent off of the completion of your bachelor's degree with a $6,000 grant.
MagnetŪ Hospital Grant
With a commitment to nursing excellence, Capella University is pleased to announce a $3,000 grant opportunity for employees of MagnetŪ hospitals or employees of Capella alliance partners who enroll in a BSN, MSN, DNP, MHA, or DHA program and meet all eligibility requirements.
2014 Master's in Education Grant
Capella University is pleased to announce a $3,000 grant opportunity for new learners who enroll in the Master of Science in Education program for January, February or March and meet all eligibility requirements.
2014 Master's in Information Systems and Technology Management Grant
Capella University is pleased to announce a $4,000 grant opportunity for new students who enroll in an MS ISTM program for January, February or March and meet all eligibility requirements.
2014 MBA Grant
Capella University is pleased to announce a $3,000 grant opportunity for new learners who enroll in an MBA program for January or February and meet eligibility requirements.
Visit Capella.edu/hocking to apply for these grant opportunities and learn more about your benefits.
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 February Lunch and Learn
On Wednesday, February 12, Hocking College will be hosting "Get it Together: Organize Your Financial Records," a free lunch and learn seminar presented by the Ohio University Credit Union. The seminar will include ways to keep your financial documents organized, what records you need to keep, and how long you need to keep them. All staff are invited to attend, and a free lunch will be provided. You do not need to be a member of the credit union to participate in the lunch and learn. Get more information about the seminar here. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Linda Deeds by noon on Wednesday, February 5, and include any special dietary restrictions you may have. |
 Electronic W-2 Forms are Now Available
Electronic W-2 forms are now available through WebAdvisor. Faculty, staff and student employees who previously opted in to receive their W-2 electronically can access their W-2 in the "Employee" section of WebAdvisor by clicking "W-2 Statements" under "Employee Profile."
Employees who did not previously opt-in for electronic delivery can still do so. In WebAdvisor, click on "W-2 Electronic Consent" under "Employee Profile" and select the first option which is the electronic consent. Then click on "W-2 Statements" and view the W-2.
If no electronic consent is given, a printed form will be mailed to the home address on file.
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Hocking College Career Fair Set
Tell your students! The 2014 comprehensive Hocking College Career Fair will be held Monday, March 3, 2014 in the Student Center Mulitplex from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. All students, especially those in their final term, and alumni are welcome to attend. Faculty should encourage student attendance and, if possible, consider utilizing class time to ensure the students' benefit. All of the details can be found here. Job seekers do not need to pre-reigster. All candidates should dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes to distribute to employers. Contact Stacy Strauss with any questions.
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 Micheal Wood Graduates from MBA Program
Michael Wood, 1992 Hocking Alumni, decided to further his knowledge and recently graduated from an MBA program in Charleston, South Carolina for international business.
Wood graduated Hocking with an AAS in Drafting and Design. He has been in various places within the last 20 years; he is currently a business operations specialist with Boeing.
When choosing an MBA program, Wood said, "I wanted a program that offers access to world-class education and an opportunity to collaborate with business leaders and interact with peers who had diverse experiences and backgrounds."
Wood also stated how "Hocking College was the beginning of an incredible journey for me!"
To read more about why Wood chose Moore as his school of choice for an MBA, visit GlobalTradeMag.com.
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Mission
Hocking College provides a unique, innovative, and quality education in a supportive experience- based learning environment, preparing students for employment and transfer education opportunities, while teaching the value of lifelong learning, promoting diversity and developing citizens who are engaged in their local and global communities.
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Annual Manual RecognitionKudos to Ann Judy, adjunct art instructor, and Libby Villavicencio, Executive Director of the Hocking College Foundation, on being named "Athens County's Influencers" in the 2014 edition of the Annual Manual! The Athens News publication chose 14 individuals and couples who are changing the face of Athens County. We agree that these two women help make this area a better place! To see the 2014 Annual Manual, visit The Athens News website. ________________ Poetry Featured on HuffPostKudos to instructor Kristine Williams! Her poem "Jack, Again" was recently featured on Huffington Post's Featured Fifty Poetry blog. Read Kristine's poem here. |
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