VOLUME 47 ISSUE 3
AGORA
February 8, 2005
MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Cherry seeks transfer ease Taryn Kapp Editor-in-Chief
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overnor Jennifer Granholm’s goal to double the amount of college graduates in the state within the next ten years may become reality. She appointed Lt. Gov. John Cherry to head the Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth and come up with suggestions to attain this goal.
Sherman, Hamburg to retire
On January 28, Cherry visited Monroe County Community College (MCCC). He spoke to presidents and trustees from community colleges all over Michigan discussing the recommendations that will be given to Granholm. “Those are the things that the community colleges think that we would need to try to reach her goal,” Dave Nixon, MCCC president, said.
The recommendations include increasing K-12 school standards, increasing dual enrollment in high
“If I had to rank those I think the ease of transfer would be the most important to our students. That would
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An admirable goal...would be to work together all across the state to have one agreement with all of the colleges that every credit would transfer automatically. Dr. Dave Nixon, President
schools, and easing the transfer process.
be the greatest advantage to our students,” Nixon said.
Defense and discipline...
see “Transfer,” page 7
EAB bug destroys ash trees Gina Randazzo
Page Editor n the next few years, MCCC’s landscape will change on the main campus and at Whitman. Both campuses are going to lose a total of 225 ash trees that line the driveways, make up the center plaza and cover most of the campus. “We need those trees! 225 trees is a lot for a campus of this size. It will look so bare,” Lisa Patrick, MCCC student, said. The trees must be cut because of an insect known as the emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic beetle that is destroying the ash trees on campus. The EAB attacks only ash trees, and the larvae feed on the inner bark, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. “If the trees are not cut down, they will rot out and eventually become an eyesore,” Robert Pettit, biology teacher, said. The EAB has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, but most of the damage is in southeastern Michigan. The only way to stop the EAB is to destroy the trees where it presides. Until a better solution is discovered, MCCC will pay to get the trees removed. The Foundation is looking into grant opportunities, but none have been found.
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Jackie Pacheco Assistant Editor udith Hamburg, Director of Extension Centers, can remember when she first began her job in 1984, there were only about 200-300 students that attending college at the Whitman Center. Now the official count is 1,021. Vicki Sherman, Director of Lifelong Learning since 1984, can remember when new phone lines were installed at Monroe County Community College (MCCC) and provided all the staff with their own extension. After many years in the job, the administrative staff members are retiring from MCCC this year. According to MCCC president David Nixon, both have done their share of hard work at the college. Sherman played a big role in boosting the popularity of Lifelong Learning. “Vicki is the engine that has driven Lifelong Learning at the college for a number of years and a lot of people look
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see, “Retire,” page 7
Colleges can lobby their ideas to the state legislature to help their situation and try to get it through the legislative process. For example, a college with no four year degree opportunities can try to lobby the idea of bringing those opportunities to the particular college. “An admirable goal for us would be to work together all across the state to have one
Agora photo by Sarah Max
Veronica Vincent and Blake Healy practice self-defense during the tae kwon do class offered through LIfelong Learning.
Search for deans still underway Jeff Berry
Reporter he academic dean position for the humanities/ social sciences division has been vacant since January 3 and the dean of industrial technology position has been vacant as of August 30, 2004.
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The committee in charge of reviewing applications for the vacant dean of humanities/social sciences position has yet to make its recommendation for a possible candidate to the vice president of instruction. The new Dean of Humanities will be in charge of planning,
budgeting, organizing, and administration the humanities program. The dean is responsible for leading and supervising teaching and nonteaching staff members within the division; as well as responsibility for special activities such as; the college
newspaper, choir, band, and drama. According to Vice President of Instruction, Grace Yackee, Monroe County Community College (MCCC) needs not only a strong administrator, but someone who will lead the faculty, is a content
expert in the field they are applying, and who is an expert supervisor and manager. The committee has sorted through applications for the Humanities position and met with their top five choices, but have yet to find the right candidate for the job.
see “Deans,” page 7