College Prep.,North Campus, MDC

College Prep Day 2011

2011-10-11T11:23:00.006-04:00

By Geoffrey Philp

College Prep Day: Exceeding All Expectations
2011-1 Fall Term
College Prep and Beyond: Steps towards Graduating

This year’s convocation theme, Exceeding All Expectations, gave the College Prep Department an opportunity to plan another exciting College Prep Day to assist our students in expanding their academic awareness and challenging them to meet their expectations for success. For 2011-1, the theme for College Prep Day was College Prep and Beyond: Steps towards Graduation whereby we invited participants from the Department of Advisement/Career Services, the Testing Department, and the Single Stop program to be presenters for College Prep Day which was held on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 from 9:00 am - 11:50 am in Room 2209.

The goal of the Advisement and Career Services’ presentation was to increase student awareness and knowledge of academic and advisement services, program and course requirements for graduation. Presentation content included academic and advisement services, S.O.A.P. status, IEPs, degree audits, third time rule for courses, and course withdrawals.

The goal of the Testing Department’s presentation was to increase student awareness and knowledge of the new P.E.R.T. test, new testing requirements, and procedures.

The goal of the Single Stop Program’s presentation was to increase student awareness of its many services, namely, financial counseling, health insurance, legal advice, psychological counseling referrals, and tax preparations.

College Prep Day: Exceeding All Expectations

2011-10-11T05:53:00.001-04:00

2011-1 Fall Term

College Prep and Beyond: Steps towards Graduating

This year’s convocation theme, Exceeding All Expectations, gave the College Prep Department an opportunity to plan another exciting College Prep Day to assist our students in expanding their academic awareness and challenging them to meet their expectations for success. For 2011-1, the theme for College Prep Day was College Prep and Beyond: Steps towards Graduation whereby we invited participants from the Department of Advisement/Career Services, the Testing Department, and the Single Stop program to be presenters for College Prep Day which was held on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 from 9:00 am - 11:50 am in Room 2209.

The goal of the Advisement and Career Services’ presentation was to increase student awareness and knowledge of academic and advisement services, program and course requirements for graduation. Presentation content included academic and advisement services, S.O.A.P. status, IEPs, degree audits, third time rule for courses, and course withdrawals.

The goal of the Testing Department’s presentation was to increase student awareness and knowledge of the new P.E.R.T. test, new testing requirements, and procedures.

The goal of the Single Stop Program’s presentation was to increase student awareness of its many services, namely, financial counseling, health insurance, legal advice, psychological counseling referrals, and tax preparations.

Classroom Observation

2011-09-22T12:11:00.012-04:00

By Dr. Harold Mahabir

Observation writing took on a new meaning for students in Prof. Mahabir's ENC0021 classes. Students were divided in groups of five and six and had to study a handout prepared by the professor on a writing genre. Before embarking on the writing prompt, they had to make a list of 25 terms describing people, places, and things. On Friday, Sept. 2, the groups ventured outside to three main areas at the North Campus. "What you see is what you write,'' the students were instructed. "It was the most interesting thing that I have done in a long time,'' said Cristian Rodriguez. "To do an assignment outside of the classroom gave me new interest in my ENC class,'' said Josetta, one of the group leaders. The groups were given points for the best details, taking notes, and recording sound and movement. The following week, each member was asked to submit an essay on Life and Sounds on the MDC Campus.

Promotions

2011-08-31T20:27:00.042-04:00

Dr. Marina Rodriguez, co-chair of MDC's Learning Outcomes Assessment Team, has been awarded tenure and promoted from assistant professor to associate professor. Dr. Rodriguez, who teaches reading in the College Prep Department, earned her associate's degree from Miami Dade College. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in TESOL from Florida International University, where she also earned a doctorate degree in curriculum instruction with an emphasis in reading.

Professor Sabrina Walters, a writing instructor, has been awarded tenure and promoted from instructor to assistant professor. Prof. Walters earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from Michigan State University. She earned a bachelor's degree in English Education from Nova Southeastern University. Prof. Walters is currently working on a doctorate degree in education at the University of Miami.

Prof. Garman Wins Member of the Year Award

2011-08-31T20:08:00.008-04:00

Prof. Sarah Garman has been named Member of the Year by the United Faculty of Miami Dade College, the union that represents the college's full time faculty. Garman, a long time College Prep reading professor and union leader, also won the award last year. Congrats Prof. Garman!

Congratulations Dr. Noronha-Nimmo

2011-08-31T19:05:00.015-04:00

The latest textbook to hit the MDC North Campus book store shelf, Read Your World, was written by College Prep North Department Professor Alda Noronha-Nimmo. Dr. Nimmo, a reading professor, has assigned the textbook as required reading for her College Prep students. Proceeds from the book will go to a scholarship fund in honor of Dr.Nimmo's father, the late Roque Vincente Felix Noronha.

Journalism Speaker Series Presents Belkys Nerey

2011-08-31T13:17:00.002-04:00

WHAT: MDC Journalism Speaker Series featuring WSVN Channel 7 news anchor Belkys Nerey

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m.

WHERE: MDC North Campus, 11380 NW 27 Ave., Room 2151.

Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest

2011-08-31T13:05:00.003-04:00

The Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest, 2011

Submissions are invited for The Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest, 2011, to be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at the North Campus in Room 2151.
This year’s theme is "Many Backgrounds, Many Stories…One American Spirit"

The poetry contest is open to all MDC students currently enrolled in classes in the College Prep. or English departments.
For more information, please read the Rules for Submission.

First Prize: $100
Second Prize: $50
Third Prize: $25Courtesy of Bedford/St. Martin's, Freeman, Worth Publishers, & Hayden-McNeil

Rules for Submission

1. Contest open only to currently registered MDC students in College Prep. or the English Department.

2. The poem must be original and should reflect the theme of "Many Backgrounds, Many Stories…One American Spirit" The reading time for the poem should be about five minutes.

3. Submit only one poem in the Comments section of the blog: http://hispanicheritagemdcnorth.blogspot.com/ "The Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest 2011."
4. All entries deemed publishable by the adjudicators will be posted on this site. Poems that contain any form of profanity will be deleted. Poems may contain Spanish-language words or phrases, but should be written primarily in English.

5. Students may begin to submit their poems on Wed, Aug 31. Submissions close on Fri, Sept 16.

6. Students will vote electronically for their favorite poems from Mon, Sept 19 to Mon, Oct 3 at 12:00 p.m. In case of a tie, the winner will be decided by the flip of a coin.

7. The winners of the voting will be invited via e-mail to read at the Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest 2011 to be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at the North Campus in Room 2151.

International Poetry Reading Contest

2011-08-31T12:45:00.008-04:00

Calling All Poets!

NOV 1: Deadline for applications. Contact the College Prep Lab for applications

Nov. 10: Reading of poetry where cash prizes will be awarded

The College Prep North International Poetry Reading Contest is accepting applications for the Nov. 10 presentation of poetry by College Prep Students. The contest is open to all College Prep Students who wish to read their selected poetry at the Nov. 10 event. The contest application deadline is Nov. 1. Students must select a poem by an international writer and submit it for the Nov. 10 reading.

First place winners will receive $100; Second place winners will receive $75; Third place winners will receive $50

The International Poetry-Reading Contest
Rules for Students
Dear College Prep Student,
Thank you for your interest in entering the International Poetry-Reading Contest. Please take a few minutes to read the following contest rules:
1.
The contest is open to all College Prep Reading and Writing students.
2.
To enter, first select a poem written by an international poet. You will read this poem in front of an audience. You do not have to memorize the poem.
3.
If you are enrolled in a lab with a poetry component, you must choose a poem that is different from the one you researched with your group.
4.
Once you have selected the poem, send an email to ibarsony@mdc.edu with the following information:
A. Your full name and telephone number.

B. The title of the poem; the author's name and nationality
C. The poem
D. ONE PowerPoint slide with background information about the author and poem. (E.g. the author's nationality, year of birth and death if applicable, when the poem was written, any special circumstances in the poet's life that resulted in this poem, etc.)
The last day to enter the contest by sending this email is November 1st, 2011.
5.
Attend “So You Think You Know Poetry?” Choose from the following dates:
· Tuesday, October 25th at 12:00 PM in room 2209
· Tuesday, October 25th at 5:00 PM in room 2209
· Wednesday, October 26th at 12:00 PM in room 2209
· Wednesday, October 26th at 5:00 PM in room 2209
· Tuesday, November 1st at 12:00 PM in room 2209
· Tuesday, November 1st at 5:00 PM in room 2209
· Wednesday, November 2nd at 12:00 PM in room 2209
· Wednesday, November 2nd at 5:00 PM in room 2209
You have to attend only once, but be prepared. The purpose of these sessions is
A. to help you improve your presentation for the contest
B. to select the six best presentations
6.
If you are selected, you will have a chance to read your chosen poem again in front of the faculty panel and to compete for cash on November 10th! Remember to check your email regularly.
The contest will take place on November 10th, 2011 at 9:50 AM in Room 2151.
Prizes: 1st place: $100; 2nd place: $75; 3rd place: $50
Courtesy of Bedford-St. Martin's
Gift cards and certificates will also be awarded to all finalists.

New Faces

2011-08-25T09:33:00.021-04:00

The College Prep North Department would like to welcome two new additions to the department. Professor Kimberly Carter, a longtime MDC faculty member, and Professor Javier Duenas, a new faculty member, join us this semester.

Read their profiles below:

Professor Kimberly Carter

I live in Coral Springs, Florida. I am married and have one child -- a year old female miniature poodle, Munchie Poo. My educational background consists of a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Florida International University and a master's degree in reading from Nova Southeastern University. I am currently working on a doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership at Nova. I anticipate completion of the program in December 2012. I taught second grade in Miami Dade County Public Schools for four years. Since 2001, I have been a professor here at Miami Dade College. I have taught all levels of College Prep reading at the Kendall, Homestead, and West campuses. I also teach reading for the Virtual College. I love to travel, read, play Taboo and Phase 10, as well as shop for bargains on shoes. I am looking forward to working with and meeting everyone.

By Professor Javier Duenas

My name is Javier Duenas. I am originally from Chicago, but my family moved to Miami in 1988, and I have lived in South Florida ever since. I've worked for MDC for over 16 years now, having been an ESL tutor, lab instructor, and adjunct professor in various departments. Several of my colleagues know me from my previous stint as the College Prep Lab Coordinator at the Hialeah Campus, after which I started working as a part-time lecturer at the University of Miami and a couple of other local colleges and universities. I hold a Master's Degree in Linguistics from Florida International University, and I double-majored in English literature and philosophy as an undergraduate. I am also a musician and an organic gardener, but most importantly, the proud father of two amazing little boys (4 and 5 years old) who have taught me the art of boundless love, joy, curiosity, and inspiration -- a quality I try to hold onto every day. I am truly excited to be a part of the North Campus College Prep Department because I know the quality of our faculty, staff, and administration, and the sincere interest we all take in the success of our students!

Welcome Back!

2011-08-25T08:59:00.018-04:00

I love the sounds and sights a new school year brings. Once again, excitement is in the air with students coming straight out of high school and those returning with a renewed focus on gaining a college degree. Miami Dade College North faculty, staff and students are still reveling from the spring visit by U. S. President Barack Obama. Still, we are anticipating even grater events to come. Already, the College Prep Department has announced its International Poetry Reading Contest. The deadline for entries is Nov.1. An awards ceremony will be held on Nov. 10. Stop by the College Prep Lab in suite 2202 in building 2 for more details. Once again, our department is recruiting student writers for The Writer's Block newsletter, an annual publication that highlights happenings in College Prep. Please stop by room 6127, or call 305-237-1110, if you are interested in joining this North Campus sponsored club. On behalf of the College Prep Department, I would like to again offer a hearty welcome to all of our new students. Please join the blog as a follower to keep up with the happenings in College Prep.

The Winners Are...

2011-04-15T08:26:00.020-04:00

Annual College Prep Essay Contest Awards

1st Place Chavell Ramsaroop

2nd Place Sheila Joan Walker

3rd Place Richard Mason

2010-12-02T10:19:00.007-05:00

By Karen Taghi Zoghi,

Miami Dade College Kendall Campus recently hosted a symposium titled “Technology in the Classroom 2010.” Its purpose was to showcase the latest and greatest in classroom technology and practices. Ildiko Barsony, Karen Taghi Zoghi, and Mark Johnson represented the North Campus College Prep Department in this exciting event. They demonstrated how our department uses new technology in all of our labs. As College resources became ever more restricted, and our student enrollment increased, the need for innovative curricula solutions grew obvious. After reviewing and piloting software from several publishers, College Prep faculty and staff selected two online software programs, CourseCompass and WritingClass, to deliver easily accessible, stimulating tutorials and abundant practices in reading and writing labs, respectively. These have proven to be cost effective lab materials for our students. Complete with embedded Google Calendars, these programs keep students focused on the task at hand throughout the term. In addition to the online software programs, the lab uses print modules with additional tutorials and practices for further in-lab practice. More information about the North Campus College Prep Lab is available at www.mdc.edu/north/collegepreplabs.

College Prep North Gives Food to Hungry

2010-12-02T08:51:00.014-05:00

Students from Prof. Kenny's biology class and Prof. Respass' criminal justice class teamed up to make the annual College Prep Food Drive a great success. Professors Garman and Spence, who organized the food drive to benefit Miami's homeless, delivered more than 2000 cans of food and rice to the Camillus House in downtown Miami in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. "If it had not been for these committed educators and the generosity of our students, this food drive would not have been possible,'' said Geoffrey Philp, chair of the College Prep North department. Professors Garman and Spence said they hope that the effort becomes a tradition. Special thanks to Audrey Hadley and Dawn Marache-Allen, who helped log student contributions and store food during the month long food drive.

Prof. Spence Wins Literary Award

2010-12-01T13:23:00.005-05:00

Prof. Leighton Spence was awarded a silver medal in this year’s Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Literary Competition for his poem, ''A Tallawah Chorus.'' The ceremony, which was held in Kingston, Jamaica in November, was also the kick off to a traveling display of award winning literary works.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

2010-10-09T12:17:00.004-04:00

College Prep is having a Food Drive!
Please contribute by donating
non-perishable items, such as:
*canned soups and stews
*canned beans, fruits, and vegetables
*bags of rice
*new unopened plastic containers of peanut butter
or jelly
* canned meats like tuna, salmon, chicken, or ham
Please bring your non-perishable items to
Rm. 6104 before 4:00 P.m. Nov. 22nd.
The food will be donated to Camillus House.
Camillus House has provided humanitarian services
to the indigent and homeless populations of
Miami-Dade County, Florida for nearly 50 years.
Please contact Prof. Sarah Garman
at 305-237-8145 for more
information.

Dave Barry at North Campus

2010-09-28T13:38:00.002-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS!

2010-09-17T08:32:00.008-04:00

Please join me in congratulating Prof. Sarah Garman who was recently named the 2009-2010 United Faculty of Miami Dade College Member of the Year. Prof. Garman, who has served as a union member for more than a decade, is currently the College Prep North Department union representative. She will also serve as the union’s North Campus Vice President alongside Prof. Lisa Shaw.

Ballet On Campus

2010-09-07T12:29:00.007-04:00

Below is a personal account from a student of last week's International Young Medalist Ballet Performance. The performance was held at the North Campus Lehman Theater.

By Cemania Pierre-Louis

ENC0020 student

The International Ballet performance in my opinion can only be described in one word: breathtaking. Both male and female dancers seemed to enthrall everyone in the audience as they glided gracefully across the stage. At one point, I felt as if the passion being displayed on the stage was poetry from a painter creating vision on a canvas. I was mesmerized by the frame and flexibility of the physique of all the dancers. My thoughts are only filled with mental bliss and enthusiasm. I wish continue to be entertained by the art of ballet.

Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest

2010-08-27T09:42:00.010-04:00

Please click on the above link for full information on the Hispanic Heritage Spoken Word Contest to be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 14 on the North Campus. This year's theme is ''Celebrating Hispanic Heritage, History, and the American Dream.''

Welcome Back!

2010-08-27T09:06:00.017-04:00

Welcome Back to a new and exciting school year! I am so excited about the prospects that the new school year brings. Each fall the College Prep Department sees students fresh from high school and returning students as well. I want to again congratulate all of the spring graduates from the North Campus, especially our former College Prep students. With a new year comes new expectations. I am reflecting today on the graduation speech by former President Bill Clinton. Mr. Clinton centered much of his speech around the flags that were presented at the North Campus graduation that represent the home countries of the students on this campus. If he could replay that segment of the graduation for others around the country, he said he would. With that, I believe we should continue to celebrate our differences and remember that we are setting an example for others to follow. Miami Dade College is educating the masses while keeping its focus on inclusion. Please log in regularly to keep up with the happenings in College Prep. Wishing you all a successful semester. Prof. Walters

BLINK BOOK DISCUSSION

2010-04-21T09:40:00.029-04:00

Blink author Malcolm Gladwell, the son of an English university professor father and a Jamaican therapist mother, was born in London and grew up in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. He studied at the University of Toronto and received his bachelor's degree in history in 1984. He later moved to the United States to become a journalist. He covered business and science at the Washington Post and was a freelance writer at The New Yorker before becoming a full time staff writer. He is also the author of Tipping Point.

Led by Dr. Alda Noronha-Nimmo, College Prep North faculty members this semester examined the intriguing novel Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. The book discussion is part of an ongoing One Book One Department initiative that pulls faculty together for discussions on novels ranging from fiction to biography. Blink, which seems to me to fit in to the self help book category, centers around the theory of rapid cognition -- a snap judgement. In Blink, Gladwell contends that we all possess a special talent that allows us to make the best decisions on a mere hunch, without laboring and studying and experimenting. This sparked some lively debate among faculty members. The reactions varied. But, I am by nature a thinker. That's not to say that I won't make a two second decision when it is called for. To me, Gladwell's theory seems premature. I would need more proof than the 277 pages of anecdotal evidence that he offers in Blink to convince me that split second decisions are as reliable as those made over time and after much thought. One caveat: I do believe that we can all over think at times and make horrible decisions that we regret later. However, I am not certain that intuition can help a person make a solid decision as Gladwell believes. As some of my colleagues said at the book discussion, knowledge seems a more prudent element when making a critical decision.

WINNERS

2010-03-16T08:51:00.026-04:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 11th Annual College Prep Essay Contest!

1st Place Nerea Duran “We All Need to Evolve’’
2nd Place Norberto Morfa “We Come to College to Get Over Our Littlemindedness’’
3rd Place Stephanie David “Littlemindedness Expands to Great Horizons’’

Contest awards ceremony will be held at noon on Wednesday, March, 17 in room 6132.

2010-02-25T10:28:00.002-05:00

Eleventh ANNUAL
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE
NORTH CAMPUS
COLLEGE PREP WRITING CONTEST
Please submit an original composition on the following topic:
Robert Frost said, "We come to college to get over our littlemindedness."
Discuss in relation to your own experiences.
PRIZES INCLUDE:
1ST PLACE --- $200
2ND PLACE --- $100
3RD PLACE --- $50
CONTEST RULES:
1. Requirements for the essay: an original typed, double-spaced four or five
paragraph essay (minimum) written exclusively for this contest.
2. Students must be currently enrolled in a College Prep Reading and/or Writing
course or have been enrolled in a College Prep course in 2009-1.
3. Only one entry per student. Entries will not be returned.
4. Entry must include a cover page with the student’s name, student #,
telephone #, College Prep course, teacher’s name and reference #.
5. All contest entries must be turned into Rm. 6128 by Friday, March 12th at 4:00
pm. Submissions will be carefully checked for plagiarism through turnitin.com.
6. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 17th, 12:15 – 12:45 in Rm.
6132. All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation.
7. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL PROF. WALTERS AT 305-
237-1110.
Sponsored by:
Bedford St. Martins Publishers

2010-02-12T12:48:00.003-05:00

College Prep Day 2010

Theme: Show Me The Money

Presentation: "Paying for College''

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

Time: 9 and 10 a.m.

Room: 2158

HAITI RELIEF

2010-01-21T07:45:00.004-05:00

Relief Efforts for Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Many homes were Destroyed and troubling images are emerging from Haiti.

WE CAN HELP!!

Please donate items such as gauze and bandaids (all types and sizes), first-aid supplies, medical tape, peroxide & betadine, alcohol wipes, flannel blankets, bed sheet and towels.

Student Life offices will accept cash donations and checks. Make checks payable to Miami Dade College. Include "Haiti" in the memo line. Campus bursar Offices will accept checks and credit card donations.

Family Links Website: http:/www.iere.org/familylinks

Campus Drop-Off Locations
North Campus Student Life, Room 4208

Carrie P. Meek E.E.C Student Services, Room 1101

2010-01-19T12:46:00.006-05:00

Writing Contest: Nou led, Nou la

Write a 500 word theme based on the recent earthquake in Haiti and the proverb, “Nou led, Nou la [We are ugly, but be are alive].” Explain what the proverb means to you and/or the Haitian people.
Guidelines

Contest open only to currently registered MDC students. Include your name, student number, and the name of your instructor.
All entries deemed publishable by the adjudicators will be posted on this site.
The writers of the top three entries will be invited to read at Asili Night Haiti Relief on Friday, January 22, 2010 @ 6.00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Room 2147, Miami Dade College, North Campus.
Entries close at midnight January 19, 2010. Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Entries MUST be e-mailed to haiti.relief.mdc@gmail.com with the subject line: Nou led, Nou la.

2010-01-06T11:46:00.009-05:00

The Journalism Speaker Series presents Miami Herald Columnist Dan Le Batard at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28. Le Batard, a Miami native, is a sports columnist and radio talk show host who regularly offers the inside scoop on sports. He will speak in room 2151.

Students Inspired by U.S. Secretary of Civil Rights

2009-12-17T11:23:00.020-05:00

Dr. Leoanard's swearing in in April

By Professor Joann Brown

My Rea 0003/ENC 1101 class had the good fortune to meet Dr. Joe Leonard, assistant secretary of civil rights for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on his visit earlier this semester to the North Campus. Dr. Leonard conversed with students about his challenging background and what he had to overcome to reach his current position. One of his obstacles was dyslexia. His struggle to understand and work through this challenge resonated with students and led to a brief discussion about facing hardships. Just before the meeting ended, Dr. Leonard said he would return to North Campus in December and wished to visit with the students once again. Three of the students who attended the presentation were so motivated by Dr. Leonard's comments that they wrote to him. To their surprise and delight he responded to each of them with a personalized handwritten note.
As promised, Dr. Leonard returned this month and met with some of the students who he had met in the fall. He complimented the students who were present on having braved the rain to again spend time with him. This time he had some questions of his own. He asked each student his or her career aspiration and encouraged them to broaden their perspectives and continue to pursue their dreams. Many of the students expressed an interest in the field of criminal justice. Dr. Leonard suggested that they consider homeland security as an option. He later discussed organizing a trip to Washington D.C. so that the students could get a first-hand look at some of their career options in the nation’s capital.
Dr. Leonard’s visit helped some of the students see that with determination it is possible to achieve their goals. He also gave them a role model, someone who has succeeded when, at times, the odds may have been against him. He gave some of them-as they told me- the push to hang in and keep going and I thank him for unselfishly giving of his energy and time.

TOYS FOR KIDS

2009-12-14T19:27:00.009-05:00

The Spoken Word Debate Team, co-sponsored by instructors from the College Prep and Communications departments, collected dozens of toys last week for needy children. The toys, donated by North Campus faculty, staff and students, were distributed to neighborhood children at Saturday's Children's Holiday festival. College Prep Professor Leighton Spence is one of the sponsors of the club.

SPREAD JOY: DONATE TOYS

2009-12-10T07:48:00.005-05:00

Here is an opportunity to spread the holiday cheer. The Spoken Word Debate Club, which is sponsored by College Prep and the Communications Department, is hosting a toy drive to benefit children in the neighborhood surrounding Miami Dade College North. Please deliver any new, unwrapped toy to room 6104 by December 11 to support this effort. Prof. Leighton Spence is the club sponsor.

2009 Poetry Contest Winners

2009-12-08T08:11:00.004-05:00

2009 REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE

POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
FIRST PLACE: Stevre Losse

SECOND PLACE: Odel Gonzalez

THIRD PLACE: Darius Orjuna

POETRY CONTEST AWARD CEREMONY
DECEMBER 9, 2009
12:30 PM-1:00 PMROOM 6132

FOOD FOR THE HOMELESS

2009-11-24T14:39:00.020-05:00

COLLEGE PREP NORTH FEEDS THE HOMELESS

It started off as a simple conversation between a professor and a student. It ended up being a College Prep North mission: to feed the homeless. "One of my students just came to my office one day and told me what he had been doing on the weekends,'' said Prof. Sarah Garman. The student, Pierre Peterson, and his loosely organized group Haitian Generation 2.0 had been pooling their resources to cook homemade meals for the homeless in downtown Miami for nearly a year. Garman was touched by Peterson's initiative and offered to help. "I said, what do you need,'' Garman recalls. "He said, anything you can give.'' The giving went far beyond anything Garman and Peterson could imagine. Once Garman announced the effort, College Prep students and faculty jumped in to help. The College Prep North office was transformed in to a food bank for about a week with students and staff donating everything from 15 pound bags of rice to canned corn and collard greens. "There was so much food that we had to take it out in two loads,'' Garman said. Today, students collected the donations, loaded the food in a worn, white Honda and carried it away. Members of Haitian Generation 2.0, the newly formed nonprofit, will unpack, cook, and serve the food along Biscayne Boulevard on Thursday.

POETRY CONTEST

2009-11-24T13:05:00.004-05:00

Second College Prep Poetry Contest

This year’s theme: Making a Change through Education

Requirements:
*** Must be a current College Prep Writing or Reading student at MDC north campus
*** Maximum 2 entries per person

Awards: 1st $100
2nd $75
3rd $25

Where: Miami-Dade College North Campus

Entry Deadline Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 by 4:00 p.m. in room 6104

Date of Award Ceremony: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 12:30 pm in room 6132 (invite your family and/or friends)

Contact Questions: Yasmin Moses at yasmin.moses001@mymdc.net
Marlene Cueto at mcueto@mdc.edu

Sponsored by Pearson Publishing Company

FOOD DRIVE

2009-11-12T20:30:00.004-05:00

The College Prep Department is sponsoring a food drive. We are donating the food to Haitian Generation 2.0, which is a nonprofit organization started by MDC students. The group feeds the homeless in downtown Miami. Please bring nonperishable items to room 6102 or 6104 by Nov. 24.

Professor Spence Wins Big

2009-11-03T12:53:00.003-05:00

Professor Leighton Spence won a Dell laptop on Monday in a MDC North Campus United Way of Miami fundraising drawing. Donations to the United Way are being collected through campus departments. The North Campus is also sponsoring a Nov. 18 Miami International Sculpture Walk-A-Thon. The 1.34 mile walk begins at 11 a.m. To register and receive a pledge packet contact campus United Way representatives in the following rooms: 1315, 2258, and 9111. Congrats, Prof. Spence!

EEC Celebrates College Prep Day

2009-10-30T09:53:00.008-04:00

Our North Campus students who take their College Prep classes closer to home and work, at the EEC, also participated in this month's College Prep Day. Students heard from faculty and staff about ways to manage college life.

College Prep Day: Keys to Success

2009-10-26T13:01:00.014-04:00

North Campus College Prep students found answers to their questions about how to navigate a college campus and received tips on how to succeed in the classroom at Wednesday's College Prep Day. A highlight: faculty advice to neophyte college students delivered via wide screen TV.

Miami Book Fair International

2009-10-26T10:36:00.026-04:00

If you have never attended the Miami Book Fair International, you're missing out on a book fair/street festival that rivals the best. I've lived in a number of big cities -- Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago -- and this book fair ranks at the top. There are inexpensive books for the money conscience, young adult literature for teens, and picture books for the youngest reader. My toddler sat mesmerized at a stage play put on by young thespians at last year's book fair in the Children's Alley. But, my favorite part of our local book fair is definitely the An Evening With series, where you get to listen to an author read from his or her latest novel and then ask questions. It's an intimate setting with you and the author (Ok, there are about 50 folks sometimes in the room, but it's still closer than most readers get to the author). Even if you don't consider yourself a "reader'' because you're not carrying around a book with another next to your bed and yet another on the kitchen table, you're still in for a treat. Like the title suggests, it's a fair/festival atmosphere with music and stage shows, too. The list of 120 authors makes my head spin! I can't believe so many people who we all adore because they make us laugh, think and cry will all be in our backyard this week. There is fiction, mystery, biography, poetry. We will get to see people like Elizabeth Alexander, an unknown to many before she delivered her poem -- Praise Song for the Day -- at President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony. Or, Jeannette Walls, whose own story of heartache and pain moved her from the woman behind the racy stories about New York's elite to the woman whose own life of poverty shocked those same rich and famous people. The list of intriguing writers goes on and on: Liz Balmaseda, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Gwen Ifill. Let me also point out that College Prep Chair Geoffrey Philp will be reading from his book -- Who's Your Daddy and Other Stories -- at 2 p.m. on Saturday in room 3410.

Write All About It!

2009-10-20T08:28:00.009-04:00

Today is National Day on Writing in the United States, where people all over the country, professionals, students, and anyone else who wants to pen a piece will be sitting down, writing and submitting their work to a national archive set up by the National Council of Teachers of English. On its website, the NCTE says that the idea stems from the fact that in today's society writing is not left to the those who have studied the art, but for anyone who wants to have a say -- about anything. The idea has seemingly caught on with the U.S. Senate designating Oct. 20 our National Day on Writing. Many schools, including Miami Dade College, are promoting the concept and have asked students and faculty to write and to submit their work to the National Gallery of Writing today http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting/learn. Obviously, I think this is a wonderful idea and one that I hope gains more steam in years to come. So many have found their way to blogs, Twitter, and all types of other social networking sites that it seems as if our dominate form of communication is writing. Oh, and texting has just outpaced any other form of writing. But, I hope people aren't getting confused about writing. Writing is like any other art and the best of them (Toni Morrison is by far my favorite author and writer) pull from the soul. Those that we hold as models massage their craft over days and months and years. Leonard Pitts, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer from the Miami Herald, last week confided that he sometimes has days where it doesn't seem to click. Yes, we're all writing, and that's a good thing. But we also have to know good writing when we see it. By the way, I'll be submitting some original writing and essays written by the top three winners of last spring's 10th Annual College Prep Essay Contest.

MDC North Campus Job Fair

2009-10-16T11:30:00.001-04:00

College Prep Day 2009

2009-10-15T14:34:00.006-04:00

Mark your calendar:

What: College Prep Day

"Keys to Continued College Success''

When: 11 a.m. to noon and 6-7 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 21

Where: Room 2147

Pitts Inspires Crowd

2009-10-15T09:22:00.017-04:00

College Prep North faculty members Robert Mathews, Sabrina Walters and David Merves join Leonard Pitts at the Journalism Speaker Series

Leonard Pitts' gripping speech to aspiring MDC writers Wednesday made me want to pack up my books and head back to the newsroom after a six year hiatus. Pitts is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Miami Herald, although his work runs in more than 250 newspapers (more than 30 million people read his work weekly) across the country because his column is syndicated. I have always admired the way Pitts is able to turn words and flip phrases. When I was a young reporter at the Miami Herald, I sometimes found myself in a rut and couldn't seem to get my words to sing a song. In those times, I would turn to Pitts for inspiration. A self proclaimed music junkie, Pitts started his career at the Herald as a pop music/culture writer in the early 1990s. His writing often resembles the work of a musician because of his style -- he regularly use alliteration -- and the smooth beats that seem to lift from the pages. Besides being a brilliant writer, Pitts is also a humble man. I admire that about him, too. During my days at the Herald, I could walk up to him and simply chat, or spot him at a National Association of Black Journalists convention and strike up a conversation. Each time, he would listen intently. On Wednesday, it was no different. He entertained me as I reminisced about my days at the Miami Herald and about the decline of the newspaper business. You would think someone of his caliber would dismiss casual conversation, but Pitts is a great communicator. Today, Pitts is a social critic and uses his space to discuss politics and pop culture, although he sometimes returns to his music roots. He said his job is "very challenging, entertaining, and sometimes makes me sad because people of differing ideas can't meet in the middle any more. We're at a state in our nation where I don't know where we're going.''

Here is some advice Pitts left for Miami Dade College students:

*"The key is to get someone to pay you for what you like to do''
*"Never be satisfied where you are in your craft''
*"You should be your own toughest critic''
*Pick up a copy of the Writer's Market
*"You should love to write, not like to write,'' if you want to make a living as a writer.

Anniversary Edition of Elements

2009-10-14T21:42:00.014-04:00

For those who missed it, the 50th anniversary edition of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White is on bookshevles. The new black and gold hard cover edition was unveiled in April, but I just received a copy and I'm thrilled! Back in the late 80s it was my bible for how to write and how to write with precision. I've always kept a copy on my bookshelf for those times when I feel as if I need a refresher. No college student should be without a copy, which is why I have asked Pearson publishing to package the mostly reprinted version with all of my textbooks next semester. New to the anniversary edition: a history of the book. In 1957, White -- who wrote the children's classics Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little -- found a style guide written by his former professor, Strunk. Excerpts were published in The New Yorker and the style guide was eventually published as The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White.

Big Read: Love Medicine

2009-10-13T23:10:00.006-04:00

2009 Big Read Celebrates Native Americans

The popular Big Read program, which is annually organized by MDC's Florida Center for the Literary Arts, this year highlights the Native American culture with novelist Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine. The novel explores the lives of two Chippewa families living in North Dakota. About 600 MDC students are reading the novel as part of classroom assignments (Please post and let us know your thoughts on the novel). The national Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.

Leonard Pitts at North Campus

2009-10-10T23:46:00.004-04:00

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-10T21:40:00.006-04:00

The New York Times posted this series of viewpoints on President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. I found the varied viewpoints interesting and enlightening.

October 9, 2009, 5:02 pm — Updated: 7:36 pm -->
What Does a Nobel Do for U.S. Leaders?
By The Editors
The Nobel committee said it awarded the Peace Prize to President Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation.” The surprising news drew mixed reactions around the world, with many applauding the choice and others saying the award seemed premature and based on intentions, not accomplishments.
What does the award mean for Mr. Obama? Will it help or hurt him in domestic politics and in international relations? What impact did the Peace Prize have on the standing of other American leaders who received it, starting with Theodore Roosevelt?
Josef Joffe, editor of Die Zeit
Walter Isaacson, biographer and president, Aspen Institute
Douglas Brinkley, author and history professor
Alonzo L. Hamby, presidential historian
Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for Peace
Walter Russell Mead, Council on Foreign Relations

Caribbean Fest

2009-10-05T12:40:00.015-04:00

EARN SERVICE LEARNING POINTS WHILE CELEBRATING CARIBBEAN CULTURE

Caribbean USA, a charitable organization, is sponsoring the Pirates Invasion -- a festival featuring authentic island food, music, and costumes.
The Oct. 11 festival will take place at Bicentennial Park, in downtown Miami.
Miami Dade College students who participate are eligible for 15 service learning points that can be used toward graduation requirements, said Dr. Janice Pasley, who is helping to organize the event.
Students interested in attending the festival and receiving the service learning points should apply by contacting Dr. Pasely, or event sponsor Dr. Harold Mahabir. They can be reached from 8-8:50 a.m.on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday -- in rooms 1362 and 1366.

College Prep Promotions

2009-09-04T09:49:00.047-04:00

ON THE MOVE

Denton Tulloch, who has been working at Miami Dade College for 23 years, was recently promoted from associate professor to associate professor senior. Prof. Tulloch enrolled at Miami Dade College as a student in 1986 and soon after began tutoring in the College Prep writing department. “One of my instructors recommended me for a job after reading some of my papers,’’ Prof. Tulloch recalls. In 1992, Prof. Tulloch was hired as an associate instructor, a job that required he recruit adjuncts, oversee evening classes and act as an advisor. A year later, he began teaching part time in the College Prep writing department and was eventually hired as a full time faculty member. Because College Prep students are first time college students, Tulloch says he has the chance to make a great impact on their future. “Many of the students are nervous and unsure and I enjoy letting them know that this is a good place to start, said Prof. Tulloch, who earned his associate’s degree from Miami Dade College. “This is a friendly, caring place.’’ Prof. Tulloch now teaches both College Prep reading and writing. He earned both a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in English Education from Nova Southeastern University. He is completing his doctoral dissertation at Curtin University of Technology.

Leighton Spence was promoted to assistant professor and awarded tenure. A ten year Miami Dade College veteran, Prof. Spence began his career as a writing tutor. Over the years, Prof. Spence has made his mark at a number of MDC’s eight campuses, including the Homestead campus, where he was an instructional assistant and a budget administrator. He also worked as an associate instructor at the InterAmerican campus. Today, he is a reading professor in the College Prep North department. Prof. Spence greets his students by introducing them to authors that inspire. "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here,'' is the line I take the greatest inspiration from,'' Prof. Spence said. Outside of the classroom, he acts as an advisor for the College Prep Chess Club and a campus debate team. “I believe my students must find their own truth,’’ Prof. Spence said. “Education should be a journey of discovery.’’

READY, SET, GO!

2009-09-01T12:29:00.017-04:00

COLLEGE PREP LAB INSTRUCTORS JOIN IN ANNUAL MERCEDES- BENZ CORPORATE RUN

More than 17,000 runners and walkers took to the streets of downtown Miami for the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run to benefit Leukemia. Among them: two College Prep North lab instructors.

Ildiko Barsony and Karen Taghi zoghi joined about 175 MDC employees in the annual run/walk. Proceeds from the run benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. All of the MDC participants received a complimentary gift and dinner in Bayfront Park after the race. Pietro Bonacossa of the MDC Foundation was the first runner from MDC to complete the 5K course with a time of 19:09.

College Prep North Research Highlighted at California Conference

2009-08-24T13:27:00.026-04:00

Prof. Denton Tulloch recently joined about 25,000 educational researchers from the United States and abroad at the American Educational Research Association conference in San Diego, California, where he presented findings from his study that examines how environment affects student attitudes toward a course.

The project, "Determinants and Effects of the Learning Environment Among Students of Development Instruction at a Two Year College,'' looks at how various aspects of a learning community determines how a student perceives the course. Prof. Tulloch's research found:

* Females enjoyed their classes significantly more than their male counterparts

*Students 25 years old and older reported that they enjoyed their classes more than younger students

*There were no significant differences in attitudes about a course between African American students and students from other groups.

*Students who had a positive perception of their classroom learning environment actually enjoyed the course more

College Prep North students participated in the research project that included 226 males and 318 females. Four hundred thirty five of the students were younger than 25. Two hundred eighty of the study participants were African American and 264 were from other ethnic backgrounds.

PROF. GARMAN WINS AWARD

2009-07-09T12:01:00.014-04:00

Congratulations to Prof. Sarah Garman, who teaches College Prep Reading, for winning a Best Practices Award and being recognized for her efforts in developing “Math and Reading Creating Synergy,” a project that Garman worked on with Professor Alice Wong. Prof. Wong teaches College Prep Math. The two MDC professors used newspapers and civic engagement to help their students relate class assignments to real life experiences. Newspaper articles were used to create math problems and reading comprehension questions. Students also used news articles to better understand social issues and to study civic responsibility. After looking at what other college students around the country were doing to help their communities, the MDC students embarked on a Habitat for Humanity project of their own. Prof. Garman has been recognized for her work in the classroom in the past. The Synergy project earned her a coveted Golden Apple grant two years ago. Garman also received the college's Endowed Chair award.

Music Inspires Essay Contest Winners

2009-04-07T21:02:00.020-04:00

Tenth Annual Essay Contest Awards Ceremony

Rhythm was key in this year's College Prep Essay Contest that challenged students to write about the genre of music that inspires them. Students were asked to write about how the music that they enjoy the most reflects their personality. About two dozen students responded with pieces describing music from rap to rock. But, three entries stood out, and those students won cash prizes. Rosa Santana's, "My Music Sets My Tone,'' won her the top prize of $200. Second place winner Nelson Rodriguez won $100, and third place winner Daniel Olmo was awarded $50. The students received their prizes and award certificates at an April 1 awards ceremony in the College Prep North department. Department Chair Mr. Philp congratulated the students along with North campus faculty, staff and students. The awards program was organized by Prof. Sabrina Walters. The annual contest is sponsored by Bedford/St. Martin's, W.H. Freeman, Worth Publishers.

You win!

2009-04-06T22:05:00.006-04:00

Congrats! Winners of the 2009 College Prep Lab Survey Drawing:

Oscar Robles

Bens Mocombe

Klaus Vernene

Lab Director Mark Johnson pulls names during the drawing along with an unidentified student.

Conference Day Offers Up Fresh Ideas

2009-04-06T21:30:00.014-04:00

COLLEGE PREP FACULTY

CONFERENCE DAY 2009

WRITING CONTEST -- WIN CASH PRIZES!

2009-03-03T08:55:00.004-05:00

TENTH ANNUAL
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE
NORTH CAMPUS
COLLEGE PREP WRITING CONTEST

Please submit an original composition on the following topic:
If music reflects the mood of an age, what does your music say about you?

PRIZES INCLUDE:

1ST PLACE --- $200
2ND PLACE --- $100
3RD PLACE --- $50

CONTEST RULES:

1. Requirements for the essay: an original typed, double-spaced four or five paragraph essay (minimum) written exclusively for this contest.

2. Students must be currently enrolled in a College Prep Reading and/or Writing course or have been enrolled in a College Prep course in 2008-1.

3. Only one entry per student. Entries will not be returned.

4. Entry must include a cover page with the student’s name, student #, telephone #, College Prep course, teacher’s name and reference #.

5. All contest entries must be turned into Rm. 6128 by THURSDAY, March 19th at 4:00 pm. Submissions will be carefully checked for plagiarism through turnitin.com.

6. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, APRIL 1ST, 12:15 – 12:45 in Rm. 6132. All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation.

7. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL PROF. WALTERS AT 305-237-1110.

Sponsored by:Bedford St. Martins Publishers

CP Students Win Poetry Contest

2009-02-05T20:31:00.016-05:00

Congrats to CP students Rachel Marshall, Jerome Nelson, and Hilairison Petit for their winning poetry contest entries, which were recently showcased at an awards ceremony in the College Prep department. The students received cash prizes from Pearson Publishing company, which sponsored the College Prep poetry contest. Each of the three winners recited their work and were presented with award certificates by Prof. Marlene Cueto, who organized the contest.

More photos and the winning poetry entries can be found at Reflections Magazine at:

http://www.reflectionsonlinemagazine.blogspot.com/

First Place Winner: Rachel Marshall -- winning entry -- Am I?

Second Place Winner: Jerome Nelson -- winning entry -- Set Free by Poetry

Third Place Winner: Hilairison Petit-Frere -- winning entry -- Get Up!

Farewell Ms. Alexander

2009-01-07T12:42:00.018-05:00

The CP department recently celebrated longtime CP Lab instructor Maester Alexander's retirement with a surprise luncheon. Ms. Alexander, who many affectionately call “Ms. A,’’ has been a fixture in the CP Lab since arriving in October 1998. Most of her 10 years at MDC were spent in the College Prep Lab as a reading and writing instructor. She also worked for many years as a GED instructor. “I saw a lot during my time,’’ Ms. Alexander said. “We went from being tutors on the first floor of the library in one big room to being instructors in individual classrooms.’’ Before coming to MDC, Ms. Alexander spent 10 years as a GED instructor for Miami Dade Public Schools.

2008: Year End Review

2009-01-06T20:13:00.019-05:00

Even with the end of the year final exam preparations, CP North faculty and students still found time for activities outside of the classroom. From getting out the vote campaigns, to chess club tournaments, to book readings by the lake our faculty and students were busy in the last days of 2008. Here is a glimpse at some of the activities CP North faculty and students participated in:

Dr. Nimmo's CP reading classes
presented book reviews at a picnic on December 4 by the North Campus lake as part of a class project. Students discussed their novels and took questions from their classmates about the plot and other developments.

Dr. Nimmo also organized The Culture of Death seminar that featured several faculty members from the North campus who spoke to students about different burial rituals. The workshop was sponsored by the International Education/ Global Education Committee. The panel of professors, which included Prof. Joseph McNair, Dr. Sheri Goldstein and Kim Royal, highlighted the way in which Jews, Muslims and people from different parts of Africa prepare for funerals and bury their dead.

Profs. Joann Brown, Sarah Garman, and Rob Mathews presented their Spotlight on Research results before dozens via satellite. The service learning research project results were broadcast across the college's eight campuses.

We'll never forget November 2008 and the

College's Amendment 8 push. College Prep writing student Antonio Stukes is joined by his mother and uncle, Cheryl and Terry Tabb, outside a polling booth in Carol City. Prof. Lois Smith and Mr. Philp pose with the family after they cast votes in favor of Amendment 8, a measure that received overwhelming support in Miami Dade County but failed state wide.

Prof. Leighton Spence challenges one of his chess club students in a final match that marked the club's end of the year celebration.

Writing Students Get Lesson in History

2008-12-09T13:37:00.010-05:00

Prof. Cherie Cannon's 002, 0020, and 0021 classes went to the play 1776 at the Miracle Theater on October 31. As part of their assingment to get credit for going to the performance, they had to write sentences, paragraphs, or essays (depending upon their level in the ENC program) on the play. Additionally, extended writing assignments included commentary on how this play taught them about American history, and encouraged them to become, or feel , engaged in this year's political process. The students also created a blog page through gmail where they could post comments and critiques, giving them a sense of engagement and communication through writing with other students who also attended the production. The attached slide show is the beginning of a complete multi-media presentation that the students in Prof. Cannon's paired ENC 20/ 21 class from the EEC arranged. Additionally, we are already planning on attending two other performances next semester: the Complete Works of William Shakespeare in 97 Minutes to be presented in January at the Arsht Center; and Les Miserablels to be presented in March at the Miracle.Theater. These performances will be open to former as welll as current students at the time of the productions.
Additionally, we are already planning on attending two other performances next semester; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare in 97 Minutes to be presented in January at the Arsht Center; and Les Miserablels to be presented in March at the Miracle.Theater. These performances will be open to former as welll as current students at the time of the productions.

By Cherie Cannon

2008-11-18T10:55:00.004-05:00

Congrats to acclaimed writer and College Prep North Department Chair Mr. Geoffrey Philp, who is the recipient of two distinguished literary awards! Mr. Philp, the author of Grandpa Sydney’s Anancy Stories, is the recipient of the Outstanding Writer award from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). He also won a gold medal for his poem, Isaac’s Sacrifice, and a silver medal for the short story, Bobby Binjani and the Rolling Calf in a different national competition. Mr. Philp received his award on Nov. 5 at The National Creative Writing Competition Awards Ceremony & Exhibition Opening 2008 -- at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica. He is the author of Benjamin, My Son, Uncle Obadiah and the Alien, numerous poetry works, and a children's book -- Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories. His next collection of short stories, Who's Your Daddy? And Other Stories will be published by Peepal Tree Press in May 2009.

CP Lab Hosts European Show and Tell-The Culture and Crafts of Europe

2008-11-18T10:02:00.007-05:00

North Campus Celebrates International Education Month in November. On Tuesday, November 11, our students at the College Prep Department took a glimpse at the rich cultural heritage of some European nations with the help of the crafts and personal narratives the presenters shared.

First, Caroline Ibanez delighted the audience with the fascinating story of “Nessie,” the monster of Loch Ness in Scotland. Her presentation included photos of the loch (Scottish Gaelic for “lake”) and the castle of Urquhart. Since Nessie decided not to turn up while Caroline was visiting, she was not able to bring a picture of the monster to the presentation. She did, however, share some outstanding images of the castle and the lake as well as provide some intriguing details about the origins and possible explanations of the myth of the Loch Ness monster.

Nessie may be a figment of imagination, but the main character of the next presentation was very real though not less mysterious than Nessie herself. Monica Tochez entertained the audience with stories from the life of the real Dracula, Vlad Tepes, the Impaler, son of Vlad Dracul. A totalitarian ruler in the 15th century Transylvania, Romania, Vlad Tepes was merciless to those who went against him. During those turbulent times when Europe was fighting the Ottoman Empire, the real Dracula was well-liked among the poor under his rule.

The next destination of this virtual journey was Ukraine. From Nataliya Novytskaya’s presentation, the audience learned about the Ukrainian traditions that surround a beautifully woven towel called “rushnik”. These hand-made towels are used at every step of the way in people’s lives from baptisms to funerals and are inherited from generation to generation. Nataliya showed us the rushnik her grandmother had given her.

Svetlana Jermolajeva also had some hand-made woven crafts from her native country. From her, the audience learned that headwear was traditionally more than just a fashion statement in Lithuania. Young Lithuanian men had to know that if a young lady did not wear the colorful woven “karuna” (crown), signaling her unmarried status, they had no business talking to her. At the end of her speech, Svetlana had to conduct an impromptu language class as students in the audience showed special interest in learning how to greet people in Lithuanian.

To wrap up the hour-long presentation, I showed off some embroidered doilies and a skillfully woven bottle that praised the talent of Hungarian masters. Due to the exciting performances of the presenters, the invaluable assistance of Ms. Nancy Fagel, Ms. Maritza Duran, and Mr. Efrem Scott, and the cooperation and involvement of our College Prep students in the audience, the event was a great success. Presenters and curious-minded attendees equally enjoyed this cultural exchange that had undoubtedly left everyone with an unerasable knowledge about these far-away, remarkable cultures.

By Ildiko Barsony
Associate Instructor, Event Host

CP Faculty Research in Spotlight

2008-11-05T14:42:00.009-05:00

Study: Students Eager to Help Community

College Prep-North professors were among the first to participate in MDC’s Spotlight on Research series, a project that highlights classroom research by the college’s faculty. The panel discussion, which was broadcast live Wednesday via Polycom from the North campus, included College Prep North faculty members: Joann Brown, Sarah Garman, and Robert Mathews. About 50 MDC faculty members participated via satellite from the North campus and six others -- Wolfson, Kendall, Medical, InterAmerican, Hialeah and Homestead.
The College Prep study analyzed the effect community service has on a students’ grades. While the research found no real evidence of increased academic achievement among students who performed community service, authors of the study pointed out that many of the students who participated in the project showed greater compassion towards others and a more keen connection to their community.
“Their sense of civic responsibility went up and their self esteem went up tremendously,’’ said professor Joann Brown. Because most students had a positive community service experience, some of them decided to major in education, Brown said.
As part of the 2007 project, students enrolled in selected College Prep reading and writing courses were required to tutor elementary students as part of a community service component. The MDC Students tutored children in area public schools and at various local community agencies.
The study compared two sets of students enrolled in reading and writing courses: those in a course with the community service requirement and those who had no community service requirement. The passing rate of students in a traditional course with no community service component was nearly 70 percent, while students with the added community service project had a passing rate of only 60 percent. The authors argued that students involved in community service had a heavier work load than those not required to serve in the community as part of their coursework.
The project was conducted in conjunction with the Student Life Skills department. It was sponsored by the college’s Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) team. Other panelists included: Dr. Joann Bashford, Provost for Institutional Research, and professors Valerie De Angelis, Ginny Peterson-Tennant, and Josh Young. Beverly Moore-Garcia, Provost for Faculty Initiatives, attended the live broadcast from the North campus. Professor Denton Tulloch’s students also participated in the study. These CASTL members acted as hosts for the seven campuses: Lourdes Espana, Michaela Tomova, Renee Kilpatrick, Dr. Billy Jones, Isabel Rodriguez-Dehmer, Dr. Mohammad Shakil, and Michelle Riley.

Student Voter Meets Meek

2008-11-05T14:03:00.003-05:00

It took cajoling from MDC instructors for Tadaya Johnson, the College Prep North lab student assistant, to decide to cast her ballot for president. “I didn’t want to vote because of the long lines,’’ said Johnson, 22, a nursing major. “But, Mark Johnson said to just vote, no matter who I vote for.’’ Tadaya Johnson, a first time voter, became more involved in the political process than most. When Johnson showed up at the polls during early voting with her 3-year-old daughter, Brianna, the two were greeted by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Florida), who was stomping in his North Dade district. “I told him that I’m a virgin voter,’’ said Johnson, a Jamaican native who earned her right to vote in May after becoming a United States citizen. “It felt great meeting someone like that, because I always see him on TV, and I’ve never met a star,’’ Johnson said. “I know my daughter doesn’t understand it all now, but I’m going to tell her everything when she gets older. And, of course, I’ll save the pictures!”

Professor Rodriguez-Dehmer Nabs Two Honors

2008-10-28T09:50:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Professor Isabel Rodriguez-Dehmer for winning the prestigious National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) award for excellence in teaching.

Professor Rodriguez-Dehmer, a faculty member in the College Prep reading department, has also been nominated for the Carnegie Foundation's Professor of the Year award. She currently serves as an Endowed Chair.

The NISOD annually recognizes college faculty from around the country who have gone above and beyond to accommodate students and their needs. "Since its beginning, the (NISOD) has emphasized the importance of teaching excellence in open-door settings. Our conferences, workshops, and publications endeavor to reinforce the primacy of teaching and to celebrate instructors and programs that make good on the promise of the open door,'' a statement on the organization's website says.

College Prep Professors Present Research

2008-10-28T09:14:00.003-04:00

SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29, 200812:00 to 1:30pm Via polycom

Come out and support your colleagues at our first MDC research/scholarship symposium

The Spotlight on Research series will present classroom-based research projects conducted by MDC faculty. Each presentation will include a description of the specific project's research design, purpose, results and the application of its findings to teaching and learning. In addition, faculty members will share their personal insights as to conducting and using classroom-based research initiatives designed to improve student learning.
Topic: Miami Dade College Service-Learning Research Project
Participants: Joann Bashford, Joann Brown, Valerie De Angelis, Sarah Garman, Robert Mathews, Ginny Peterson-Tennant, Josh Young

Jineth Diaz Speaks from the Heart

2008-10-27T14:51:00.004-04:00

By Jineth Diaz Morillo
College Prep Reading Student/Fall 2008

Where did it do?

Looking by the window
Staring at the future
Looked to see wisdom
Leaving me
Many without reason
Came to the conclusion
Wisdom is not wisdom
Now what is left if not
Only a swift remembrance
Of what could have been or not
The most precious memory,
Banished 'cause of does
Who threw it away?
Looking by the window
Yesterday was again
Playing with the future
Trying to impress,
The lovely wisdom,
Wisdom of today
Everyone around seems
Careless but those are the
Ones wisdom takes revenge
Sorrow by the fact
Not only by opinion,
I could see wisdom
A child in prison
Set it free now!
Do not let it demise
Wisdom is the only gift from God to me
Benevolent wisdom, I desire thee
Please come, come back to me!

MEET THE PREZ

2008-10-06T19:30:00.013-04:00

CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE

Miami Dade College students and faculty lined the glistening North Campus Lake as they waited to taste the spicy chicken and rice--arroz con pollo--being prepared right in front of them. Pulsating sounds from the Barbara Goldman High School marching band added an extra dash of flavor to Thursday’s Latin themed Student Appreciation/Meet the President celebration. Among those attending the event: College Prep faculty and students. North Campus President, Dr. Jose A. Vicente, greeted the crowd in a traditional crisp, white, guayabera. “We are delighted so many have come to celebrate in only a taste of the richness of Hispanic heritage," said Dr. Vicente.

***

College Prep Podcast

2008-09-30T15:31:00.006-04:00

PODCAST DEBUTS IN COLLEGE PREP LAB

Forget sitting through a boring lecture, just pull out your iPod and listen to your lesson while strolling the campus. College Prep students can now view their lab orientation through Podcast! Beginning this term (Fall 1-2008), students in REA 0003 and ENC 0021 are able to listen to lab orientation through Podcast. Instructors traditionally presented the orientation through a lecture. Students can now hear the booming voice of lab director Mark Johnson as he walks them through the policies and procedures of the lab, including independent study requirements, lab hours and the course syllabus. Students can download the Podcast from the Miami Dade College iTunes website -- www.mdc.edu/itunes -- or watch it on computers in the College Prep computer lab, in building 2.

The Entrepreneurial Education Center Carrie P. Meek Readers and Writers Club

2007-12-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

The Entrepreneurial Education Center (EEC) Carrie P. Meek Readers and Writers Club visited the main library, in downtown Miami, on Thursday, November 29^th, to participate in their Annual Book Sale event. Faculty and students, including Dr. Janice Pasely’s entire College Prep 0002 and 0003 reading class, boarded the 77 bus and traveled from the Meek Center directly to the event. Also in attendance was author Hugh Donoe, whose book, Amidst the View. was recently added to the library’s collection.

Theo Karantsalis, Assistant Library Director, conducted a tour of the main library and introduced students to librarians in different departments.

“I teach my students to not measure life by the amount of breaths they take, but by the things that take their breath away. And this trip took their breath away,” says Dr. Pasely.

The club is sponsored by Dr. Pasely and co-sponsored by Theo Karantsalis, Assistant Library Director, and Dorothy Williams, Library Tech III. (Photos by Theo Karantsalis).

Check Out the Fall 2007 Student Success Series

2007-09-21T08:09:00.000-04:00

Retention and Transition Services

5 Steps Towards Academic Success

2007-05-29T10:20:00.000-04:00

Success Quest Passport
5 Steps Towards Academic Success

Being a student is a full-time commitment even when you are attending part-time. Many of you are juggling being parents, keeping relationships intact, going to work, finding time to play and coming to classes. Our faculty appreciates what you are doing and we want to help you in every way that we can.

Here is a mini-list that you can look at every now and then, so that you can keep focused on your work, studies, and families.

1. Meet with an Academic Advisor

a) Plan a course of study for every semester

b) Progress Report #1. Plan face-to-face meetings with your professors to discuss course requirements and review syllabus in detail

2. Classroom Matters

a) Make sure all your assignments are done and meet in study groups. Make friends with a “study buddy.”

b) Face-to-face meetings with your professor(s) to review course progress (satisfactory / unsatisfactory)

3. It’s All About You!

An education is not just about classes--it's about your total development as a citizen in our democracy. Participate in activities inside and outside the classroom that will enhance your abilities in the following areas:

a) Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills: Read a novel and attend book readings by writers at the Miami International Book Fair.

b) Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data: How much are you earning on your current job? How much do you owe on credit cards? How long will it take you to pay your current debts? How much do you need to earn to keep up with the cost of living?

c) Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning: Figure out ways that you could improve your skills at work, write them down, and present them to your supervisor.

d) Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information: Go to the library and research something about which you are passionate. Keep learning as much as you can about the subject.

e) Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives: Go to the library and use search engines to discover the global and historical issues surrounding the issues that you care about or you find interesting. For example, tropical hurricanes in the Caribbean often bring with them dust from the Sahara.

f) Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities: Ask yourself, how could my neighborhood or school be improved? Use data and research to write a proposal.

g) Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society: Write a letter to an editor of a newspaper or your congressman about something that you think isn’t fair. Use data to prove your point.

h) Use computer and emerging technologies effectively: Use search engines to find data to support your arguments.

i) Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities: Stop for a moment and look around the campus at the various pieces of artwork. Ask yourself, how do they make me feel? Write about this in a journal.

j) Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment. How do you feel about global warming? Find data, research and find the truth. Send an e-mail to an editor or your representative in Congress.

4. Money Matters

a) Keep financial aid records up-to-date

b) Re-apply for financial aid for following term. Don’t forget to plan for the Summer semester. Review your application with an advisor.

c) Career center check-up

d) Consultation with career planning advisor

5. Register for the Next Semester

a) Complete registration for next semester

We wish you all the best!

***

Thank you, Chimene Garrison, for this invaluable guide.

Top Ten Things Every College Prep Student Should Know

2007-03-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

1. How do I apply for financial aid? Are there deadlines?

To apply for Federal Financial Aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application can be completed using the paper/pencil method or online. Free copies of the application are available at the Financial Aid Office, high schools (Cap Advisors) and at public libraries. The online application and additional information are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov . The deadline to apply for Financial Aid is June 30th of each year. However, the earlier students apply the more money they are likely to get. February is the month to start.

Where can I get more information on financial aid?

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Federal Student Aid Programs at 1-800-433-3243 or visit the North Campus Financial Aid Office in Room 1119.

2. What is SOAP?

The “Standards of Academic Progress” or SOAP establishes a formal process through which Miami Dade College can identify and provide assistance to students who experience academic difficulty.

When academic progress has not been satisfactory, the standards will require the students to limit the number of credits for which they register, and the College will provide special academic assistance.

There are four major categories of the SOAP standards: Academic Warning, Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, and Academic Dismissal.

Where can I get more information about SOAP?

Contact your campus Director of Retention and Transition Services or the Director of Advisement. In addition, students can meet with an academic advisor in Room 1103 to discuss the SOAP guidelines. SOAP issues related to earned credits may best be addressed by the department of Financial Aid.

3. What is an Individual Education Plan?

The Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a map outlining the projected courses per semester a student would need to take and complete in order to earn their degree requirements at MDC. It will also highlight the required electives the school they want to transfer to requires. Students are urged to talk with an advisor to develop an IEP.

Where can I get more information about an IEP?

Students may meet with their academic advisor in Room 1103 to develop an Individual Educational Plan.

4. Is there a limit on how many College Prep classes I can take?

Students are allowed to repeat any single College Prep class two times. However, if they have to take a course a third time, they have to pay full instructional cost, which is approximately $900 a class.

Where can I get more information about class limits?

Students can meet with an academic advisor in room 1103 for further information.

5. If I’m having problems with my classes or I’m thinking about quitting, who can I talk with?

Students are advised to speak with their professors and/or department chairs to discuss problems. It is also advised that students talk with an academic advisor. If the student has connected with other staff and has established a level of trust, they are encouraged to talk with that person as well.

6. What’s a degree audit and why is it important?

The degree audit is a tool used for advising purposes. It begins with the student’s personal information, selected program of study, testing, analysis, and standards of progress. The degree audit also notes benchmarks so that the student may track completions and progress.

Where can I get more information on degree audits?

Students may request a degree audit in Room 1105 or Room 1103. A degree audit may also be obtained from the College web site.

7. What is the MDC Student Employment & Internship Opportunities Online?

The MDC Employment & Internship Opportunities Online Site is the one stop online site for students, alumni, and employers. Students and alumni can post their resumes and search for jobs and internships online.

Where can I get more information about employment?

For assistance online, please visit our web site. This program allows Career Services to track all aspects of the job and internship seeking/posting process, including entering, expiring, and extending posting deadlines, de-activating jobs. Employers can easily post a job and/or internship listing and search for student and alumni employees on the web, free of charge.

Please visit your North Campus Career Service office in Building 1 Room 1164 (305) 237-1044 to get additional assistance in your job search effort

8. If I’m having problems with registration, with whom may I speak?

Students are always welcome in Academic Advisement, and they can always inquire about registration problems and seek further assistance. The advisement advisor may also be of assistance in many cases.

9. Where can I go to get help finding a job and writing a resume?

To find jobs using myMDC account, go to the MDC Employment & Internship Opportunities Online Site. To get help in writing a resume, visit the North Campus Career Services Office in Building 1 Room 1164 or call (305) 237 - 1044 to speak to Career Services Specialist, attend one of the scheduled resume writing workshops, or visit our web site for additional resume assistance.

10. Where do I go to get help choosing a major and what kind of help will I get? Where can I get more information?

To get help in choosing a major, access "Making a Major Decision" under the Explore section on the Career Services website . You will also learn about MDC programs that matches their interest profile, and academic and career interests. The North Campus Career Services Office also urges you to stop by Building 1 Room 1164 to meet with a Career Specialist or call (305) 237 - 1044 to schedule an appointment that fits your schedule.

College Prep. & Community

2007-02-21T11:51:00.000-05:00

Professors Sarah Garman and Alice Wong took their Mat 0020/REA 0002 Learning Community to Habitat for Humanity on Feb. 21^st,2007. The Learning Community’s curriculum, called Math and Reading: Creating Synergy, is comprised of interdisciplinary units that use current newspaper articles as the foundation on which real-world, level-specific math problems and reading comprehension questions are developed. Timely news readings that address a host of social issues give students exposure to real world concerns and real world applications of math. The premise is that when students see a correlation between what they are learning in class and the real world, they see a purpose for their learning. Additionally, the topics on which the units are based were chosen to foster a sense of civic and even global responsibility. Having the students volunteer at Habitat for Humanity was the perfect way to achieve this goal.

In the class unit on civic responsibility, students read articles about the benefits of service-learning and on how college students around the country were contributing. The class also wrote about things they could do on their own to help in their community, and they charted the statistical data on the positive influence of service on high school and college students. Before the class went to Habitat, they were given an orientation and then were asked to list ways they would use math and reading at the site. At the site, students used their listening and reading skills to learn to put shingles on a roof and their math skills to measure and cut the shingles. Students will be asked to do reflection on their experience and their contributions. The other five areas of focus for the interdisciplinary units are: budgeting and debt, the environment, education, minority issues, and health.

By Sarah Garman

For more photos, please follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51858402@N00/sets/72157594548510746/show/

***

22 Tips for High Self-Esteem

2007-02-15T15:26:00.000-05:00

“No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself, how confident you are, how accomplished you feel. It reflects whether a person loves, accepts, and believes in who they are. For some of us, however, it can go up and down. One day you might feel really on top of everything, great about yourself, unafraid to try anything. And the next day, you’re just as likely to feel completely at the bottom, unsure of yourself, afraid to say or do anything.

Building high self-esteem is a process, not something you can develop overnight. And this isn’t necessarily easy. Yet, every single person has the capacity of high self-esteem. The question is, are you ready to make a commitment to increase your self-esteem?

If your answer is yes, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Stop comparing yourself with other people.

Human beings can amplify or reduce their value by contrasting themselves either positively or negatively with others. But if you play the comparison game, you’ll run into too many “opponents” you can’t defeat. There will always be some people who have more than you and some who have less. So stop comparing!

Dollars for College

2007-02-09T09:51:00.000-05:00

Miami Dade College is dedicated to providing assistance to students and their families in locating additional sources to finance their higher education. There are numerous scholarships available for qualified students at MDC.

The Financial Aid Department is currently providing several opportunities for students to get money to cover tuition. There are many scholarships that may be of interest to our students and the deadlines are fast approaching.

The Athalie Range Memorial Scholarship (Deadline 2/15/07)
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (3/20/07)
Haitian-American Scholarship Fund ( Deadline 4/15/07)
Ethics in Business Scholarship ( Deadline 4/1/07)

To apply, you must complete the MDC online application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or visit our Financial Aid Department in Room 1119-04 .

For more information, please follow this link: http://www.mdc.edu/scholarships/

***

African-American Read-In

2007-02-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Professors Lois Smith and Isabel Rodriguez- Dehmer for yesterday’s African American Read-In which they carefully shepherded from an initial idea of a gathering of 300 students to a learning experience for over 3,000,000 world wide via the Internet and live video stream.

The program, which was moderated by Professor Preston Allen , featured readings from The Color Purple by local dignitaries who also offered observations that ranged from the personal to insightful literary and social commentary on this American classic.

Our students from College Prep. should also be commended for their help with ushering the overflow crowd. They handled the job superbly even though some, at first, were taken aback by the offer to serve the College. “We’re not honor students,” one of them said, but Professor Smith reminded her that she should never lose sight of the fact that the entire event was for her benefit—and a reminder to all of us in the department of our commitment, not only to the cognitive, but also the affective domains. For if we can succeed in raising our students’ self-esteem, we may also succeed in opening them up to a learning experience such as the African American Read-In.

Of course, the program could not have come about had it not been for the help of our students, staff, faculty, deans, and our president, Jose Vicente.

Again, congratulations and we look forward to more events like these in the future.

College Prep. Workshops

2007-01-30T17:01:00.000-05:00

On Jan. 30^th, five College Prep. classes attended a Retention and Recruitment workshop. A representative from advisement, Rosario Gomez, a representative from Financial Aid, Gener Romeo, and a representative from Career Services, Stephen Gilmore presented information about their specific departments. The students also met the Director of Financial Aid, Chimene Garrison.

The presenters discussed topics such as how Career Services could help the students get jobs on and off campus, when they should apply for financial aid, and how many times students can repeat a course. The students were enthusiastic about the knowledge they gained and promised to get over to Financial Aid and Advisement early in the semester so that they could meet with the advisors at length. The workshop was very successful, and we hope to continue them every semester.

Contributed by Sarah Garman.

***

FACE Essay Writing Contest

2006-09-15T13:25:00.000-04:00

For more information, please call 305-237-1234

Meet Our New Reading Instructor: Leighton Spence

2006-09-12T09:38:00.000-04:00

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, at a time when the island was still a part of the British Empire. I attended Camperdown High School, where I realized that while I had the curiosity of a scientist, and the discipline of a writer. I migrated to the United States in 1981 and attended Bronx Community College. Then, I majored in changing majors. Other than my lack of aptitude for science, the fact that my peers teased me for being the only male in nursing made me march across the campus to change my major. Over the next two years, I changed my major so very often, the registrar knew me on a first name basis. After many years of trial and error, I graduated with an associate degree in business administration.

Then, my days of fun and protest came to an end. I was employed fulltime as a security dispatcher and attended Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. At the university, I developed my love for collecting books as I roamed the neighborhood between classes. After changing my major (again) from finance to social science, I finally graduated from LIU. While working as a dispatcher, I had the good fortune of meeting my most tolerant wife. My daughter and I now have a saying, “Whatever Lucy says, Lucy says.” So within months of getting married in 1990, we packed up the few decent pieces of furniture and headed for Tallahassee, Florida, because “Lucy says.”

With more of a sense of adventure than rationality, we arrived in a city we had never visited. Then the surprises started coming “fast and furious.” The first news that came was that I was going to be a dad. And the second epiphany was that the full time job market in Tallahassee was not good. I quit my part-time jobs tutoring at FSU and Lively Vocational Technical School and with even fewer belongings and a bigger family headed south to Miami.

One of the first jobs I applied for was at MDC. I had applied to be an instructional assistant in the college prep lab in Homestead. When I saw the position, I thought that the Homestead Campus was in some small community a few miles from North Miami. Five years, two cars, and a van later, I realized that 50 miles each way in rush hour was not going to work. Before leaving MDC in 1997, I had held positions as an instructional assistant, budget administrator, and adjunct faculty. I went to Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and worked as an academic adviser for about five years. During that time, I obtained my master’s degree in reading. Not feeling the challenge of my position anymore, I left NSU and went to teach reading at William H. Turner Technical Arts High School. My time there was one of the most remarkable years of my life. My love, however, was in adult education. Before long, I realized that the caring and mentoring that I believe my high school students need and deserve are things that college students need no less. So, here I am.

Lest We Forget: September 11, 2001

2006-09-11T14:53:00.000-04:00

In Memoriam

Welcome Back!

2006-09-06T11:20:00.000-04:00

As we begin a new academic year, you will notice that we’ve made several changes to our class offerings and labs. We have done this to serve our students. We look forward to seeing you in our classes and labs, and if you have any problems, please do not hesitate to call me @ 305-237-1267 or email me, ephilp@mdc.edu.

Better yet, why not drop in why not drop in to see me in Room 6105? My door is always open.

Yours truly,
Geoffrey Philp, Chairperson,
College Preparatory Department, North Campus.

New Issue of Reflections

2006-08-31T14:51:00.000-04:00

Professor Marlene Cueto has put together another marvelous issue of Reflections.

Here is the link: http://faculty.mdc.edu/mcueto/REFjuly06.htm

Enjoy!

Peace,
Geoffrey Philp,Chairperson, College Prep Department, Miami Dade College, North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Avenue, Miami, FL 33167-3495 Phone: 305-237-1267 Email: ephilp@mdc.edu

The mission of the College Prep Department is to equip our students with the necessary communication skills to become successful students and lifelong contributors to our community.

Miami Dade College
Miami
College

College Prep. Day

2006-07-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

Our first annual “College Prep. Day” was successfully launched on July 15, 2006. We invited a small number of students to see the changes that we have made in the department based on the feedback we received from them through our surveys and questionnaires.

The Fall semester promises to be an exciting time in the life of our department, and we plan to have many more activities like this in the future. For example, on Saturday, July 22, we will be part of the Africando celebrations in the Lehman Theater.

See you there!

For more pictures of the event, please follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51858402@N00/sets/72157594202158986/show/