Back to School Guide 2022

THE MONTAGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER PRESENTS...

Back to School Guide 2022 CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The

MONTAGE

Jacob Politte Geneva Lee Dakota Pulcher

Managing Editor News Editor Photo Editor

Bruno Grubesic Max Wilson Devynn LeJune Adelaine Tudor

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer

Shannon Philpott-Sanders

Faculty Advisor

Table of Contents WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? Welcome Letter 5 Supplies That Never Get Old 6 Out With The Old, In With The New 7 Map 8-9 How Have Professor Ratings Aged?

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WHAT IS GOING ON?

‘STLCC Transformed’ A Long History of Resources Clubs and Organizations at Meramec How and Where Should I Study

12-13 14 15 16-17

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessaritly the views of St. Louis Community College, the Board of Trustees or the administration.

The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122.

314-984-7655.

One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager.

To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., call (314) 984-7955 or email ssanders147@stlcc.edu

A Transfer Guide Need a Letter of Recommendation?

A Historical Approach To Resumes Job Interview Tips Heading Out After You Make History 2022 Graduation Returns To Chaifetz

WHAT HAPPENED HERE? Meramec Through The Years Pam Garvey Profile Roe v. Wade Overturned Christine Davis Profile STLCC COO Hart Nelson Profile Larson Remanis In His Seat

20-21 21 22 23 24-25 25

28-29 30 31 32 33 34

What Do I Need to Know?

In the midst of a historic year for STLCC and the impending changes that are on the way, it can be easy to be overwhelmed, especially if this is your first time attending classes at STLCC or Meramec.

This section will help you navigate the beginning of your college career if you’re new here, and if you’re not, it will help you continue to navigate yours. On the following pages, you’ll find: • • • •

an overview of supplies you may need for your courses an overview of the technology programs that you’ll have at your disposal an overview of the best professors and instructors to choose from, featuring comments from students who recently took their courses a map of the entire campus, with some of the named buildings entering their final years

February 1971

March 1967 May 1971

Archived photos

A T

M E R A M E C

The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students.

Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **

COURSES

MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 150 MUS 152 MUS 154 MUS 211,212

Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music History of Jazz Music Appreciation Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV History of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Audio Engineering Music Recording with ProTools I Music History I,II

Interested in performing in an ensemble?

All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!

MUS131, 132 and 134 are CORE42 performance courses!

ENSEMBLES

Music 131 – Concert Choir Music 132 – Orchestra Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 138 – Jazz Improvisation All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal.

Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers.

For more information, contact Music at Meramec Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

October 1970

December 1974

December 1968

To all incoming historians, Welcome to the STLCC- Meramec! If you are new to STLCC, please know that you have joined our campus in the midst of a historical milestone of a year. This past April, STLCC celebrated 60 years as an institution. Over the past six decades, many people who have gone on to do great things have passed through this institution, and even this specific campus.

In Section 1, “What Do I Need To Know?” you will find information on the supplies that are needed to get the job done, including the bare physical essentials as well as the vital outlets of technology that are necessary to master. You’ll also find a map of the campus to help you navigate your journey, and an outline of some of the changes that may be coming your way over the course of the next few years. In addition, you’ll also find a roster of stellar professors to help you make the best decisions possible.

In Section 2, “What Is Going On?” some of the courses to take and clubs to join are highlighted, as are some of the sights and locations in the surrounding Kirkwood area. You’ll also find vital information about “STLCC Transformed,” a long-term project that will likely impact you during your time here.

In Section 3, “What Happens Next?” we’ll help prepare you for the end of your Meramec career. Hopefully, it’s been prolific and full of highlights. In this section, you’ll find information on which courses will transfer to other universities, which colleges are best to transfer to, and more information on how to best succeed in greener pastures.

Section 4, “What Happened Here?” revisits some of the biggest news stories of the 2021-2022 school year, including how the college continued to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, an overview of the last year of STLCC sports and also some brand new, never before ran pieces.

The Montage hopes this guide assists you greatly in your journey.

- Jacob Politte, Managing Editor September 1971

October 1976 Archived photos

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Supplies that never get old What do you need to succeed this academic year?

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JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR

n order to succeed in your studies, you need to make sure you have the best quality of materials.

There are a lot of materials that you’ll need to be ready for college life. In order to progress further along in your college career, you’ll need the following to help you achieve your goals both in and out of the classroom. Some of them are more vital than others. Some of them aren’t necessarily requirements (it really depends on the courses that you are taking). However, they will help you greatly along your journey, and some are absolutely essential, regardless of what your courses require.

Below you’ll find a sort of checklist of these items, along with specific details about why you’ll need them and where you can find them.

Pencils, pens, highlighters and paper: These items are always an absolute given. Some professors will type out lecture notes for you to keep, but you might need the paper to take notes in case they don’t, or even just in case they elaborate on the various topics that they discuss. But even if your courses don’t require a lot of notetaking, they’re always handy to have.

You might also need a few highlighters to make sure the most important portions of your notes stick out on paper. All of these items are accessible, and you can find them at almost any department or book store.

Binders: You’ll want to make sure that all of your notes and other vital documents for your courses are well organized.

It may be possible to fit all of your coursework in one binder but if the class requires extensive amounts of note taking or classwork, you might want to have a binder for each course that you take. It’s not uncommon, however, for students to purchase more than one binder for their courses. It really just depends on your personality and how you like things to be organized.

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Like the handwriting tools listed above, you can find binders almost anywhere; many stores sell them. A zip-up, cloth binder is pretty durable and does a better job protecting your materials, but any sort of binder will work.

Textbooks: The truth of the matter is that the textbooks that your instructors assign for your classes may not be used all that much. The amount that they are used just depends on who your instructor is and how they conduct their class.

Despite this, they are a requirement to have, and they can be expensive. Textbooks can be rented from the Meramec Bookstore, or they can be bought outright through this outlet as well. as well. Beware though: not every textbook can be rented. Some, like many of the math and science textbooks, have to be purchased.

For the last few years, many textbooks are becoming formatted in a loose-leaf style, making them impossible to rent. This is because in many cases, the book will come with an online access code.

Prices for both purchase and rentals can vary; it really just depends on the textbook, and what condition it’s in. Failure to return the rented textbook will result in a $25 fee, in addition to the difference between buying and renting the book.

It must also be noted that all orders for textbooks through the campus bookstore now must be done online; the bookstore will ship it to you, or you can pick them up on campus.

If you are looking to purchase textbooks at a cheaper rate, Amazon.com is also a great place to look; they may be used, but they are much more affordable.

Laptop: This item isn’t necessarily a requirement to have, but it will help you immensely in your studies. Most importantly, it will save you from relying too heavily on a library computer, as those can seem like they are in limited supply on some days.

Laptops can be found at various retail outlets, but the Meramec Campus

Bookstore also sells a few different brands.

However, if you don’t wish to purchase one, the college does have a program where one can be loaned to you and eventually be returned or renewed. For more information on that, contact the IT Department.

Flash Drive: This is a rather essential item to have; it helps you to keep your assignments in one place and allows you to work on those assignments in places that aren’t your personal computer. Making sure that the flash drive is properly organized too (by course, subject or excertia) will help immensely. Flash drives can be purchased from many different places, but the Meramec Bookstore does sell Flash Drives that vary in size from 8GB to 32GB, with prices varying from $7.95 to $16.00 before tax. Depending on how much coursework you may have to do, you might want to explore getting a 64GB or even larger.

Bookbag: It’s been said before, and it will be said again: seriously, you’re gonna need something to carry all of this stuff in. Carrying around all of these items in your hands just isn’t very practical. Any sort of brand of book bag will do; the Jansport brand in particular isn’t a bad choice. Ultimately though, the brand isn’t important. It’s about what will make you feel most comfortable. Size is also a factor; you might have a lot of things to carry. Your high school bookbag probably won’t cut it.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for at your local retail outlet of choice, Amazon has fantastic brands at an affordable price.

Out with the old, in with the new

STLCC Swaps Out Blackboard for Canvas, Keeps Banner, Microsoft

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JACOB POLITTE Managing EDITOR

TLCC uses a variety of technology resources in order to make handling all college matters, from schoolwork to signing up for classes, as easy and seamless as possible.

Also, as an STLCC student, you are entitled to free usage of all of these programs under your student account. Recently though, some big changes have been made in terms of the technological programs STLCC uses to function.

One faucet that STLCC had used for many years was Blackboard.

Blackboard was where the vast majority of your coursework in each class may have been turned in, and if your class was held online like the majority of classes were during the pandemic, all of your coursework was filtered exclusively through STLCC’s Blackboard shell.

However, at the end of May 2022, STLCC discontinued its usage of Blackboard in favor of the widely used “Canvas” platform.

The introduction of Canvas to the STLCC students and faculty has been in the works for over two years, with Renita Luck telling The Montage this past April that Canvas will be easier to use, have a better integration of teaching and learning tools, and is more reliable and has a more intuitive interface than Blackboard did.

The vast majority of the time, your professor will attach a copy of the course syllabus and the tentative schedule for the course on the course’s Canvas page. Your instructor may also post discussion board topics that are mandatory to respond to; these are especially popular in online

courses. While they’re often not worth that many points, they are important to do, as they may be the only interactions you’ll have with other students involved in the course.

Often, they will have specific provisions attached, like a specific minimum word count, a certain number of students that you’ll have to reply to, and etc.

Recently, STLCC adopted using Microsoft Teams (replacing “Blackboard Collaborate”).

Teams can be used for a variety of reasons,

including by your professors to hold meetings, host classes or even virtual office hours. Zoom is also a popular service to use, and some Professors may also use that program for the same purposes.

Another Microsoft program already in use

by STLCC is your student “Outlook” email account, which was created the moment you signed up to come here. It may be tempting to ignore it, but don’t… vital college information is sent through this particular channel. This includes updates from your Professors about class cancellations or schedule changes.

When it comes to handling other college business, Banner Self Service is a page that

must be visited, but it can be a bit tricky to navigate if you’ve never used it before.

“Banner” is where all of your STLCC information is stored for your convenience.

On Banner, you can sign up for classes, check your grades and your transcripts, and either set up a payment plan to pay for your classes or just pay for them outright.

Banner is used by both students and faculty college-wide. In particular, your official final grades for each semester are uploaded exclusively on Banner; you’ll have to access the site to see how you ultimately did.

When signing up for your future classes, Banner also has an interactive class schedule that helps you search for the classes you’re looking for. You can use this interactive feature to search for the classes by professor, campus, time period, or the type of class (online, independent study, or in-person).

If you’re looking to address how to pay for your classes, especially if you don’t benefit from FASFA aid, Banner is your ultimate destination. On Banner, you can either set up a payment plan that is the best fit for your financial situation, or you can pay for your classes outright.

If you are a paid employee of the college, it’s also where you will go to submit your timesheets for approval, find important tax documents and more.

For more important information on the technology services that STLCC offers, please contact the STLCC IT Help Desk (the district wide offices are conveniently located at Meramec in the second floor hallway connecting Communications North and South) by phone at 314-539-5113. You can also contact them by email at helpdesk@ stlcc.edu, or through their Web Request Portal which can be found at servicedesk. stlcc.edu.

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How Have Professor Ratings Aged?

See how the top professors at Meramec Rate on Rate My Professors JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Collier, Chemistry Rating: 5/5 Review: “Dr. Collier lectures about a lot of material and has a certain way of setting up problems to make them easier to solve.

There is not a lot of homework, so the grade is based on labs, quizzes, and tests.

Be prepared to study as the tests often have questions with multiple parts. Dr. Collier is easily accessible outside of class with office hours.”

Rebecca Winter, English Review: “Professor Winter definitely cares about her students! We got extensions on nearly every paper and did bonding activities. However, this class is mainly graded on papers & writing assignments so you will need to put in the work & get it done on time.”

Steven Collins, History Rating: 5/5 Review: “I love history and this is by far the best history teacher I’ve had in my life. His lectures use a story-toned feel, very hard to be bored. Stays after class for questions, I have frequently talked with him about current events relating to our lecture and he is happy to answer. NO TEXTBOOK AND NO CUMULATIVE FINAL! Show up and you’ll pass.”

Gary Gackstatter, Music Rating: 4.5/5 Review: “Mr. Gackstatter is a professor you will always remember, trust me on that. I took this class thinking it was going to be another boring music class, but oh my, was I wrong. I was able to learn so much more than just music. His passion for music combined with the way he

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teaches makes class so much fun. I definitely recommend taking a class with him!”

Emily Neal, Political Science Rating: 4.8/5 Review: “Professor Neal has a deep love and enthusiasm for Political Science which she pours out as much she is capable of in the time she has to teach you. You could compare her teaching style to drinking straight from a faucet. Manageable compared to drinking from a hose, yet continuous enough to keep you on your toes.”

Teri Graville, Mathematics Rating: 4.5/5 Reviews: “Professor Graville is a darn good professor. I took MATH 161 with her and she is the first teacher/professor EVER to get me to like Math. 30 HW/3 Tests/Group Project for Exam. Show her you are trying and she will no doubt help you out as much as she can. I will recommend her to everyone. Very good professor. Easy A if you pass quizzes and tests!”

Deb Chanasue, Nursing Rating: 4.5/5 Review: “So supportive, caring, and encouraging.

Really knowledgeable.

Always trying to build up your strengths and learn from your weaknesses. Lectures are fantastic - she walks you through the thought process you need in nursing situations. A bit long winded sometimes but she circles back to the point. Really funny. Very clear about what’s testable and not.”

Amy Monson, Accounting Rating: 4.5/5 Review: “I took Professor Monson’s online financial accounting class. Her recorded lectures were great. She was available if I had questions. I would retake her class in a heartbeat. No complaints. I took the 12 week accelerated class and didn’t feel pressured or rushed at all. I had plenty of time to complete all the work each week.

100% recommend!”

What Is Going On? While changes are coming in the near future, it’s important to live in the present. This section will help prepare you for the changes coming to the Meramec campus in the future as a result of the August 2021 passage of ‘Proposition R’ while helping you find the best campus resources to best benefit you now.

On the following pages, you’ll find: • • • •

a detailed overview of ‘STLCC Transformed’ featuring graphics of STLCC’s extensive long-term construction plans for the Meramec campus information about specific campus resources that can benefit you academically and personally a list of all of the clubs and organizations to join on campus a guide for the best places on campus to study, as well as study tips to live by

February 1978

October 1977

January 1978 Archived photos

April 1990

April 1977

‘STLCC Transformed’

Major physical changes are coming to campus over the next few years

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JACOB POLITTE managing EDITOR

n the midst of a landmark year for STLCC, big changes are coming to the Meramec campus and the college as a whole in the coming months. These changes were made possible with funds from the passage of Proposition R, the first tax increase benefitting the college in over 40 years. While many reading this guide will not be on campus to see the full effect of these changes, they are coming, and they

are rather significant.

For the Meramec campus specifically, these changes are mostly cosmetic and very extensive.

Over the next few years, eight buildings on campus will be completely demolished, the majority of which are visible from Big Bend Road. This kind of construction work will be the first known project of such a magnitude since the campus was fully completed in 1972.

The Social Sciences building, the Business Administration building, the Communication South building and

the Library building are among those scheduled to come down. In addition to the demolition of these buildings as well as a few others, Chancellor Jeff Pittman says that other plans include the new construction of greenhouse buildings and outdoor classrooms.

Plans for the work to be done on the Meramec campus were released in April 2021. The long range plan for the Meramec campus, which is still subject to change, reveals that: • The Library building will be demolished to make way for a new Sustainability and

Renderings courtesy of stlcc

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How Will Prop R Funds Be Used?

Funding from Prop. R would be used to update STLCC facilities and programs to help meet the demand for high-tech job training. Approximately $350 million in funds from Prop. R, which is an 8-cent operating rate increase, will be used to renovate and repurpose facilities and update technology to provide real-world learning experiences.

Energy Science building. No location for a future Library was marked in the plans, but there are plans to have some sort of library on campus.

• The Business Administration building will be torn down and rebuilt.

The Social Sciences building will be torn down and a building with an unknown purpose will be built on the grounds.

• The Communications South building will be torn down, but there is no building set to be built in its place. Instead, a plaza will be built on the grounds.

• A building, with a purpose to be determined, is set to be built

The remaining funding will go toward updating job training and retraining programs to prepare students with skills needed in critical industries in our region, including healthcare, information technology, financial services, biotechnology and manufacturing.

at the current location of the employee parking lot near the soccer field.

• The Campus Police and Continuing Education buildings along Couch Avenue are set to be demolished, and will not be replaced.

Clark Hall is also set to be demolished as well, with no marked replacement.

Other buildings, like the Student Center, the Theater and Gymnasium are also set for renovations. In addition, various walkways, sidewalks and campus intersections, as well as the campus signage and the campus bus terminal, are set for major facelifts. Renderings of what that may look like were included in the proposal for STLCC Transformed, are also included here.

More information about STLCC Transformed can be found on the project’s webpage, https://stlcc.edu/about/stlcc-transformed/.

phase 1 priority projects

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A Long History of Resources

An overview of some of STLCC Meramec’s assistance offerings JACOB POLITTE managing EDITOR The faculty and staff at Meramec are here to help, no matter how difficult your academic or personal situations may get.

Of course, there are big departments across Meramec designed to assist students, whether it’s financial aid, the library, and excertra. However, there are even more specific resources designed to help students in various ways. Here is an overview of some of those specific resources to check out across campus: The Meramec Campus Writing Center Many of your classes require you to write essays of some sort and in various formats.

If you’re feeling like you have writer’s block, or just need help making your paper the best it can be, the Meramec Writing Center should be your top destination. You can either make appointments for in person help at the Writing Center’s location on the second floor of the library, or you can make appointments online at https://stlcc. mywconline.net/.

The Academic Success and Tutoring Center Located not too far from the Writing Center on the second floor of the library is the Academic Success and Tutoring Center.

Academic success and tutoring center Photos by jacob politte

After you make an appointment in person or online, a tutor will assist you with your coursework, no matter what the subject.

All tutoring is free and you can make an appointment for online tutoring through Navigate or by email at tutoring@stlcc.edu.

For any questions, please call Academic Success & Tutoring at 314-984-7390 or email Sally Kloppe at skloppe@stlcc.edu.

TRIO Located on the second floor of the Student Center next to the Campus Life offices, TRIO Student Support is a part of a group of federal programs that helps students overcome barriers to succeed in their higher education career. These programs are often designed

Writing Center

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to most benefit students who are first generation college students, are Pell Grant eligible, or have a documented disability.

The various services it provides include tutoring, academic advising, personal and academic assistance, and much more.

Student Advocacy and Resource Center Formerly known as the Student Assistance Program, the Student Advocacy and Resource Center is available to assist students in a variety of ways. Located in Clark Hall, this program helps students coordinate transportation, provides free food and helps students apply for and receive other kinds of important benefits.

TRIO Office

How to Get Involved: Clubs at Meramec The Montage Student Newspaper To inquire about joining, contact Shannon Philpott-Sanders at ssanders147@stlcc.edu

Sculpture Club To inquire about joining, contact Joe Chesla at jchesla@stlcc.edu

Music Club To inquire about joining, contact Gerald Myers at gmyers34@stlcc.edu

Socratic Society To inquire about joining, contact Sahar Joakim at sjoakim@stlcc.edu

National Technical Honor Society To inquire about qualifications, contact Yvette Schultz at yschultz1@stlcc.edu

Student Nurses Association To inquire about qualifications, contact Lacee Kaufmann at lkaufmann2@stlcc.edu

Currents Literary Magazine To inquire about joining, contact David Taylor at dtaylor@stlcc.edu

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society To inquire about joining and to find out qualifications, contact Gerald Myers at gmyers34@stlcc.edu

Theatre Club To inquire about joining, contact Michelle Rebollo at mrebollo@stlcc.edu

Honeybee Club Contact Jim Frost at jfrost@stlcc.edu

Poetry Club Contact Pamela Garvey at pgarvey@stlcc.edu

TRIO Student Leadership Board To inquire about joining, contact Bisheng Ahmed at bahmed3@stlcc.edu

Interior Designers of Meramec Ccontact Marica Paljakka-Cargo at tpaljakkacargo@stlcc.edu

Pride Alliance Contact Cindy Clausen at cclausen@stlcc. edu

Veterans Club To inquire about joining, contact George Herrera at gherrera3@stlcc.edu

Meramec Botanical Society Contact Carry Coyne at ccoyne@stlcc.edu

Programming Club Contact June Mercer at jmercer@stlcc.edu

American Chemical Society Contact Tony Frost at tfrost@stlcc.edu Board Game Club Contact Dirk Voss at dvoss@stlcc.edu Clay Club Contact Jim Ibur at jiber@stlcc.edu CRU (Christian Ministry) Contact Richard Pescarino at rpescarino@ stlcc.edu

To get you where you need to go, PTK offers opportunities to help you develop and discover your personal, academic, and professional potential.

We Have an Honors Program at STLCC-Meramec!

Honors offers qualified students a variety of opportunities in and outside the classroom, including honors classes, special projects, workshops, and mentoring. New students can qualify through high school GPA, ACT score, or Accuplacer. Returning students qualify through their college GPA. Once admitted, honors students are never obligated to pursue a minimum amount of honors work each term.

PHI THETA KAPPA - XI LAMBDA CHAPTER INTERNATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY FOR TWO-YEAR COLLEGES Phi Theta Kappa is an international honors society for two-year colleges. It’s mission is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students, as well as to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service, and fellowship programs.

To be eligible to join Phi Theta Kappa - Xi Lambda, Meramec’s local chapter, students must have a GPA of at least 3.5, have taken 12 or more credit hours, and must be enrolled in at least one course currently at Meramec.

IfIfIfyou are interested, contact Chapter Advisor JerryAdvisor Meyers atJerry you are interested, contact Chapter you are interested, contact Chapter Advisor Professor Rich gmyers34@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7638.

Peraud 217 or go to PTK.org for information.

MyersinatCNgmyers34@stlcc.edu ormore 314-984-7638

Curious about the Honors Program and what it might mean for you?

Learn more about the Meramec Honors Program and apply online at http://www.stlcc.edu/mchonors mchonors@stlcc.edu 314-984-7147 Humanities East 101

How Should I study?

The most essential tips to keep you on top of your academic future

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JACOB POLITTE managing EDITOR

tay on track: It’s important to stay sharp in your studies, even if you’ve already obtained a high grade in the class. Make sure to review notes, take a peek at old homework assignments, and even consult the class textbook if necessary (depending on how the professor teaches the course).

But also make sure to focus on the topics you haven’t mastered yet before reviewing the stuff you have. The last thing you want is to run out of time before you can fully understand all of the material.

Be careful who you study with, and where you study at: Sometimes, studying with a friend is not the best option, even if they’re honestly trying to help. Put the exam first; there is always time to socialize later.

Also, pick the right location to study. Find a quiet, calm place to help increase your focus on your studies; studying in busy environments doesn’t always prove to be successful. It may also be helpful to study with some of your classmates, or even form a study group that meets outside of class.

Make flashcards: This tactic could be helpful in many different courses, especially when having to memorize different terms throughout each course. This could be especially helpful when reviewing terms for

history or science courses, but can work for other courses as well.

Eat well and stay hydrated: This is not just an excuse to grab a bite to eat before the exam; eating and drinking beforehand can help you stay focused over the course of the exam period.

Don’t overthink: Multiple choice exams can be tricky, especially because in a lot of cases, your professor is looking for one specific answer. While it’s not always the case, the simplest answer is often the right one. If you have a gut feeling about a particular answer, it could be the correct choice. And if you’re studying your textbook or notes and can’t comprehend, don’t get discouraged. Slow down and breathe, the answer is right in front of you more often than not.

Attend all of your professors’ lectures, and take good notes: That being said, the quality of the notes you take is important. Detailed notes often help the most, but it just depends on how your brain works best. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s ok.

To get the best notes and the most insight on the topics discussed in your course, however, it’s best to go to class, even if you’re learning from home (quite a few STLCC professors are delivering live lectures during their previously scheduled class periods through outlets like Zoom and Microsoft

Teams). Attend those lectures, as awkward as they may be. It may feel easy to not pay attention, but doing so is crucial. If your professor provides lecture notes, read them and study them.

Limit the use of your phone and other distractions.

This is the hardest thing for many students to do. We live in a world where we are attached at the hip to our phones, and that’s become especially prevalent since the rise of COVID-19. But in order to succeed at learning, you have to minimize those distractions. It’s impossible to completely erase them, and it’d be foolish to pretend otherwise. If you can’t focus on your coursework, though, you’re in trouble.

Stick to a schedule One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is time management skills. Setting up scheduled times to get coursework accomplished is a good idea. Procrastination is more often than not the biggest enemy of any college student.

Don’t be afraid to take a break.

College is a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of work, period. It’s definitely OK to step away from the computer screen after a period of time. Go on a walk, read a book, or take a nap. Do whatever activity is healthy in order to decompress. College is stressful, and it’s ok to relax when you’re working hard.

ADVERTISE IN THE MONTAGE Fall Publication Dates Sept. 8, 2022 Oct. 6, 2022 Nov. 3, 2022 Dec. 8, 2022

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The 7 Best Places to Study at Meramec JACOB POLITTE managing EDITOR More often than not, people like to pick a specific place to hang out and work on their coursework or just study. The Meramec campus is larger than it may appear on the outside, and it has a ton of areas where students can kick back, relax, and get work completed.

The tables along the window on the second floor of the library are fairly secluded, and the whole second floor of the library is fairly quiet as well. Phones should be kept on silent, and thus more work can be done uninterrupted by virtually anything.

To find this location, head up the library stairs, make a left and keep heading straight.

It is near the location of the Writing Center.

The second floor of the Business Administration building has an area midway down the hallway with two small cubicle like desks where students can work. For the most part, while this area hosts classes, it is mostly quiet.

On the second floor of Science South, there is a rather large common area filled with tables, vending machines and a whiteboard to help work out problems. This area may be more populated than the others that are listed, but it has everything students need to feel comfortable.

Just below that second floor is the common area of the Lecture Halls. While this area can also be heavily populated, like the area in Science South, there are a lot of different amenities that make the area very attractive for studying. Many tables and

Student Center, Cafeteria west

comfortable seating is present throughout this area, and there are two vending machines that are present at the base of the stairs leading to the second floor.

The Humanities building has plenty of study space. The first floor of Humanities East has plenty of comfortable seating immediately outside the theater, and if you don’t mind it, you can often hear the sounds of music if classes are going on.

Upstairs on the second floor of Humanities West, there is a bigger and very quiet area with tables and chairs, and often this area isn’t very populated, either.

Lastly, the atrium outside of the Campus Store is large and full of tables for students to relax and study in. This area may sometimes be closed for events, but more often than not, it is open and accessible to students.

Library, 2nd floor

Business Administration, 2nd floor

Science South

Humanities east

Lecture Hall

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YOU CAN DO IT HERE

At Webster University, transfer students are a vital part of our campus and student life.

About 50% of Webster University’s undergraduate students join our community with transfer credit from accredited institutions and military training.

We offer guaranteed admission for students with an associate degree from a community college. Our transfer scholarships make earning a degree from an independent university affordable. We understand the needs of transfer students and are here to support your success.

For more information visit: webster.edu/transfer Webster University has been offering online degrees since 1999.

Recognized for excellence in the development and support of dynamic and innovative transfer pathways for community college transfer students by Phi Theta Kappa for the 6th consecutive year.

What Happens Next?

While some of you are just arriving at STLCC-Meramec, some of you may be preparing to exit the college for a university or for the workforce. Before you go, it’s important to make sure that all of your bases are covered, as you won’t want to get tripped up and delayed on your journey forward.

On the following pages, you’ll find: • • • •

January 1987

a list of requirements for graduation and a list of degrees and certificate programs that STLCC offers the ultimate guide for transferring to another in-state university how to ask for a letter of recommendation how to build a professional resume

Archived photos

October 1987

December 1991 S e p t.

a p r i l

1 9 9 3

1 9 9 4

May 1987

A Transfer Guide That Lasts the Test of Time Take a Historical Approach to Transferring From Meramec bruno grubesic staff

A

s you prepare to take the next step in your life there’s an important question to ask yourself, what’s next? Well, one option is to further your education at a four year university. But first: a couple important reminders.

1 - Important general deadlines. Most students know the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) priority deadline is February 1st, but in case you forgot or were unaware: The priority deadline for FAFSA is February 1st for the fall semester of that year! Meaning if you are planning on transferring to a new university in the fall of 2023, fill out FAFSA by February 1st of 2023. If you didn’t make the deadline, still

fill out the application as soon as you can!

One important thing to note: FAFSA will ask you to put down every school you’re looking to attend, make sure you do! This notifies the school that you’re interested in attending and provides you with information on what help you can get according to which school you attend.

2 - Some schools also have a deadline for applications to be considered for admission or certain scholarships. Most schools’, including Missouri State University’s and Southeast Missouri State University’s

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(SEMO’s), deadlines for acceptance for the summer and fall semester is June 1st.

Missouri State’s Deadline for a spring semester transfer is December 1st, while SEMO’s is November 1st. These deadlines vary by school and can change across state lines, so be proactive in figuring out when you need to fill these applications out by! Again, like FAFSA if you miss these deadlines, it won’t hurt to try to get them in as soon as possible.

3 - Other important deadlines include application deadlines for competitive programs, i.e. nursing, music, etc. Look up deadlines for these things at all the schools you’re applying to as soon as possible and make sure you’re ready once those dates come around!

Regardless of where you’re going or what you’re studying, earlier is always better! Get ahead of your deadlines to avoid getting bit.

-------------------------------------------------Now, onto the second part of the guide: transferring.

The first thing to consider is what you want to study. Many universities such as Missouri State and Mizzou have scholarships for transfer students that can be used for six semesters, so an extra year of exploration isn’t completely unruled. Look back at your time at STLCC, consider what you like doing and what you’ve excelled at, and try find the best intersection of the two.

Earlier, I said to look at your prospective schools’ programs’ deadlines, but not everybody knows where they’re going next.

What’s most important is touring as many schools as you can to get a feel for their cultures, and which schools best suit your academic needs.

Once you’ve found a school, or a handful of schools, you like, apply to them! One part that students get caught up on is transcript delivery. To send your STLCC transcript out to another university, go to https://tsorder. studentclearinghouse.org/school/welcome and fill out the form to send your transcripts to every place you’ve applied.

If you have any questions, email registrar@stlcc.edu for help. Make sure to send your transcript from STLCC to every place you’ve applied, and make sure if you have credits at another university that you send those transcripts to every place you’re applying as well.

Don’t assume every school has your major, and don’t assume the experience is the same across every university. If nothing in Missouri works for you, maybe consider some other state. Most students find themselves in Missouri following STLCC. If you know what you want to study, look up required classes and four year plans of your degree program across different schools and see what the requirements are across different places.

Finally once you’ve applied to all of the schools you’ve wanted to and you’ve made sure to include them in your FAFSA application, it’s time to make the big decision!

Keep in mind: How long do you want to/can you stay at university? Transferring to schools out of state poses a difficulty with this since Missouri’s Core 42 classes are only guaranteed to transfer throughout Missouri, not other states.

In addition, remember to look up what your courses transfer as to your new university and make sure you can be on track to graduate within the amount of time you were hoping to do so in. Most schools have websites to help you figure out which classes you’ve taken/will take will transfer to

Need a Letter of Recommendation?

History shows that good manners go a long way

G

geneva lee news editor

rades, cover letters, and resumes are not all that’s needed for jobs and college transfers—employers and schools need someone to vouch for you as a student. A letter of recommendation gives a fuller picture of a student, their character, personality, and humanity. But how do you get a recommendation letter?

STEP 1 Build relationships with professors. It can be intimidating to talk to professors, but they became teachers to educate and mentor students, and they want to advocate for you. Participating in class, talking to the professor after class, and going into office hours to ask for help on an assignment, guidance in your education or career, asking them about their career or advice are all ways to start talking. It might feel awkward at first, but professors genuinely do want to mentor students. It’s important to reach out to multiple professors in case you need multiple recommendations.

STEP 2 Schedule a meeting with a professor well in advance. When you need your rec

letter, you can ask a professor to meet one on one during office hours or for a coffee on campus.

Giving a professor four to six weeks of notice should be enough time for them to write the letter.

STEP 3 Explain why you need the rec letter. After greeting your professor and exchanging pleasantries, tell them that you are applying for a job, program, or transfer, and what you’re hoping to do in this new venture.

STEP 4 Ask. Make a straightforward ask: “I’ve really loved being in your class, and I think you’d be able to give a good representation of who I am as a student. Would you consider writing a letter of recommendation for me?”

STEP 6 Check in. If it has been a few weeks, and they haven’t confirmed that the letter has been sent, you should send a follow up email. If there are only two weeks before it’s due, I would send a check-in. If there is only one week left, you should send a more urgent email.

STEP 5 Let them respond. Your professor will almost certainly accept your request. If they do not, it’s okay—you can ask another professor or employer. And if you have built relationships with multiple professors, you can use them as backups.

STEP 7 Thank them. A handwritten note, with a box of tea and chocolate bar, is a go-to thank you. You can drop it off at their office.

students also prefer to live off campus, if you do make sure you schedule tours of rental housing around the area sooner than later since spaces fill up quickly! While the final couple weeks of school can be very stressful, it’s best to look for off campus housing before the summer starts, or within the first couple of weeks.

Availability is never guaranteed but it’s much more reliable the earlier your figure it out. Finally, remember to keep sending out transcripts as you progress through STLCC

to keep your schools updated and to keep any scholarships you’ve earned/earn new ones!

If any part of this guide leaves you with questions left, what’s best is to contact your school’s offices and ask for help directly.

A special thanks to Bart Tibbs, Missouri State University’s Assistant Director of Admissions, Amber Summer, SEMO’s Transfer Admissions Counselor, and Zakery Tierney, UMSL’s Transfer Specialist for their help in producing this guide.

STEP 8 Let them know what happens! Keep your professor updated, and keep in touch with them.

continued from p. 20 your new school, and what they’ll transfer.

Which schools are best for your program?

Consider what schools have better reputations for your program or what you liked from your various tours.

Where will you fit in the best? It’s important to branch out and make connections at your university, so pick somewhere with a culture you can get behind!

After you’ve decided, remember to submit your deposit, accept your admission, and apply for housing as soon as possible! Some

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A Historical Approach to Resumes Sometimes a proven approach works geneva lee news EDITOR A resume is the introduction of your hiring and transfer process: It touches on the big points of what you’ve done in school, your jobs, and what those experiences entailed.

It’s important to make sure that your resume presents this information and advertises your accomplishments as best as possible. Here are some tips: Put your name at the top, centered as a header. Make sure your email and phone number are prominent. You don’t need to include an address, unless the job has a preference for people nearby, and you want to show that you’re near.

Put the most recent and relevant experiences first. It’s better to highlight a current job at a doctor’s office if seeking a biology degree than a previous job at a pet store, for example, though you should include both.

Under each experience, write a few bullet points detailing your work and responsibilities.

Do not write full sentences. E.g.: “Tutors students in ACT and SAT English and Reading” “Creates worksheets and curriculum plans” Last but not least, there are resume workshops on campus that can provide hands-on help and guidance.

Contact Career Development Services at https://stlcc.edu/ student-support/careerdevelopment/.

22

STUDENT NAME CONTACT INFORMATION:

WORK EXPERIENCE

PHONE: xxxxxxx EMAIL: xxxx

The Montage Newspaper | Online Editor August 2018 – Present

PROFILE I am hardworking and detailoriented, and I am looking for an opportunity that aligns with my personal career goals in a dynamic, team-based environment. I enjoy solving problems, helping others, and collaborating.

As an editor of a monthly media publication, I am passionate about journalism, have strong writing skills, communicate well with others and I am calm under pressure due to the deadlineoriented nature of the industry.

I am a team player and I am confident that I can be a true asset in the next phase of my career.

PERSONAL INTERESTS • • • • •

Writing Reading Television Kickboxing Walking my dogs

• • • • •

Operate/maintain the newspaper’s website using WordPress.

Regularly make important editorial decisions in regards to content and design.

Oversee the design process, including editing the print edition using Adobe InDesign.

Write, edit and publish articles for all sections of the website and also the print edition.

Received eight awards in various categories (news writing, editorial writing, design, and more) for exceptional journalism from the Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) between 2018 and 2021.

Pro Tips: Divide your resume into a few sections: Education, Professional Experience, Leadership & Community Activities (essentially, clubs and volunteer work), Skills (like fluency in a non-English language or coding skills), and Educational Focus (a list of some key classes). These are like subheaders, and use all-capital letters and underlining.

Under each section, write your experience in bold and list your role and hours spent in that role, if it’s a work of volunteer experience. Make sure to note how long you were in that role.

E.g.: Kaplan Tutoring, Tutor (20 hours/week) Dec. 2018-present.

SKILLS Proficient in the following programs: • • • • • •

Microsoft Word Microsoft PowerPoint Micorsoft Excel Microsoft Publisher Adobe InDesign WordPress

EDUCATION St. Louis Community College- Meramec June 2018 – Present • •

Dean’s List, Fall 2020 Semester.

Primarily taking Communications and Criminal Justice courses to fulfill current goal of an Associate’s Degree in Communications with a minor in Criminal Justice.

REFERENCES XXXXXX

job interview tips What has Worked For 60 Years? geneva lee news EDITOR

Q: Why do you want to work here?

Job interviews can be intimidating, but there is good news— employers recycle a lot of the same questions, and this allows you to prepare for any interview. Here are a couple questions that might get thrown your way:

Q: What is your biggest weakness?

This is a question that is asking about a shortcoming you’d like to work on and have already taken steps to improve upon. It is not asking about something that will directly harm your work performance, like being chronically late, or a chance to gloat, like saying that you are a workaholic or get too into your work.

Find a weakness you can speak honestly to about having, but working to improve upon.

The weakness that I discuss is that I have a hard time saying no and often pack my schedule; however, I have been spacing out my meetings and been better about delegating projects when I have already taken on a lot.

Q: What will you bring to the team?

This is a chance for you to highlight specific skills that will be important to your role, as well as your character as a person. You can mention soft skills (reliability, organization, diligence, passion), hard skills (ability to code in Java, use NGP/VAN databases, Clio, accounting, etc.), and person skills (your friendships with coworkers, friendliness, etc.).

You can also mention a fun and unique skill, like beekeeping, trivia skills, or karaoke.

Do your research. Find specificities to the company that you can say attracted you. You can say that you use their products, that you know people who work there who have said good things about working there, that you believe in their mission. That they are the organization with the biggest impact in their field, that you want to help others, or that you have a genuine passion for the work. Find your reason and inspiration for working there and share it!

Q: Where do you want to grow?

Do not say, “I want to grow in all areas.”

Pick an individual topic in this role, such as learning how to manage a team, getting more efficient at building events, learning to work across different divisions within an organization.

Q: What questions do you have for me?

For this, prepare questions in advance to have in mind. Don’t ask questions that can be solved with a simple search of their website. I always recommend asking what attracted the interviewer to the organization and why the enjoy working there. And you can ask what they think are the most important qualities are for the role.

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Heading Out After You Make History: Knowing the available degree programs at Meramec JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR

A

s detailed in section 2 of this Back to School Guide, meeting with an academic advisor at the start of your educational career helps you to determine you path. However, if you are not interested in transferring and want a specialized program, STLCC offers plenty of options.

The college offers five associate degrees, the certificate of proficiency and the certificate of specialization. Degrees can be completed in two years of full-time attendance.

Certificates usually can be completed in one or two semesters. Here is a list of degrees that STLCC offers for students.

The associate in arts degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to another college and work toward a bachelor’s degree.

The associate of arts in teaching degree is designed for students who plan to transfer

to another college and work toward a bachelor’s degree in teacher education.

The associate in fine arts degree is offered jointly with the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is designed for students who plan to transfer to UM-St. Louis and earn a bachelor of fine arts degree.

The associate in applied science degree helps students develop practical and theoretical skills that prepare them for entry-level jobs.

The associate in science degree is designed to transfer to a particular institution in a specialized area.

The certificate of proficiency is for persons whose intended job does not require an associate degree. It also is for persons who wish to gain additional information/skills in a particular subject area.

The certificate of specialization is for persons who desire information/skills in a specific area, usually related to a current job.

Who is Required to Visit Advising?

Not sure if you are required to meet with an academic advisor? Acording to STLCC, the following students must schedule an appointment before registering for classes: • Dual Enrollment Students • Students receiving financial aid • Students applying to a selective-admission

program • Students on academic probation • Students who do not have the appropriate prerequisite for a specific course Visit stlcc.edu/advising to schedule an appointment.

How Can an Advisor Help?

Obviously, academic advisors at STLCC help you to choose classes during your academic career, but you can expect much more at Meramec.

Also known as Student Succss Advisors, you can expect the following when scheduling an appointment.

• Major and Career Exploration • Goal Setting

24

• Course Selection • Transfer Advising • Referrals to support areas such as Academic Success & Tutoring and Student Advocacy and Resource Center.

An aacdemic advisor can also refer you to Career Development for career planning.

The Meramec campus offers degree seeking programs in: • Accounting • Child and Family Development • Criminal Justice • Engineering Science • General Fine Arts • General STEM and Transfer Studies • Graphic Communications • Horticulture • Human Services • Interior Design • Legal Studies for the Paralegal • Nursing • Photography • Software Developer • Teaching

The Meramec campus offers Certificates of Completion, Proficiency or Specialization in: • Accounting • Addictions Study • Animal Welfare • Computer Accounting Technology • Computer Applications • Database Developer • Digital Media • Horticulture • IT Help Desk/End User Support • Kitchen and Bath Design • Legal Studies for the Paralegal • Web Developer

The Ultimate Grad Checklist Before you go, make sure that the job is completely done

I

n order to graduate from Meramec and STLCC as a whole, you will have to go through a checklist for completion. Here is what is required for any Associate Degree from the college.

• Status as a degree-seeking student.

• Satisfactory completion of one of the programs listed in this catalog.

• Completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours. Fifteen credit hours of transferable credit applicable to the declared associate degree intended for graduation must be completed at St. Louis Community College.

• A maximum of nine credit hours in special problems courses may apply as unspecified electives toward the associate degree. Special Problems courses may not be applied as electives defined by disciplines such as “science-mathematics elective” or “humanities-communications elective.”

• A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher. Credits from previouslyattended colleges are not computed in your GPA average.

• Students entering college for the very first time and who intend to complete an

associate’s degree must now successfully complete a civics examination.

Students who have completed dual credit courses must complete this examination.

Students who participated in Early College or other dual enrollment programs, transfer students, and previously enrolled students are exempt from this requirement.

• College policy requires students who apply for a degree to participate in an appropriate outcomes assessment prior to degree being awarded.

• Missouri Requirement

To meet the missouri requirement, you must take one of the following courses:

2022 graduation returns to chaifetz arena For the first time since Spring 2019, STLCC held an in-person commencement ceremony on May 21 at 7 p.m. at Chaifetz Arena, on the campus of St. Louis University.

More than 2,400 students qualified to earn associate degrees or certificates. That’s quite a contrast to STLCC’s first graduating class in 1965 when 67 students earned associate degrees. In the early days, the College’s first programs were nursing, data processing, culinary arts and automotive technology. Today, STLCC has 15 college

transfer options and more than 80 career programs.

This year’s student speaker for commencement was Alyssa M. Gaddis, STLCC-Meramec, who graduated with an associate degree in general transfer studies.

Gaddis, president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapter at Meramec, plans to study accounting at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

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The Montage

We know words. We have the best words.

What Happened Here?

A LOOK BACK AT THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR Change is on the way, but changes have been occurring long before ‘STLCC Transformed’ came into the picture.

STLCC has experienced a wave of new administrators in new positions, and STLCC has had a busy year of news.

In this section, you’ll find an overview of some of the biggest news stories of the 2021-2022 school year, as well as new pieces exclusive to this issue. On the following pages, you’ll find: • • •

Archived photos

a historical timeline of STLCC and the Meramec campus through the last 60 years brand new interview with Professor John Messmer regarding the overturning of ‘Roe v. Wade’ in-depth profiles of STLCC Chief Operating Officer Nart Nelson, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Christine Davis, Board of Trustees member Craig Larson and English professor Pamela Garvey

Meramec Through the Years Take a Tour of the History of the Campus 1869 St. Joseph’s College opens on the site of the present day Meramec campus.

The school, a small and private Catholic college, operates until the early 1960’s.

1962

The creation of the Junior College District of St. Louis-St. Louis County is approved by the public via a vote.

1963 The name of the campus (Meramec Community College) is approved by the Board Of Trustees.

At the time, the campus was notably smaller.

2021

2020 The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forces colleges across the country, including STLCC to suspend inperson classes and switch to an remote, online format.

JACOB POLITTE managing EDITOR

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STLCC Proposition R is put on the voting ballot and passed.

It is a tax rate increase, the first such increase for STLCC in nearly four decades. The $350 million from Prop R will help to fund construction projects college wide, including extensive demolition and reconstruction of various buildings on the Meramec Campus, mostly along Big Bend Road. The upcoming project is the first known construction to take place on the Meramec campus since 1972.

1964

1972

The first issue of The Montage is published.

Construction work on the Meramec Campus is completed.

2021

A large number of students return to on-campus classes for the first time since March 2020. The Campus Bookstore also moves most of its product to the old Cafeteria space; STLCC’s contract with Chartwells had expired during the pandemic and was not renewed.

1976 The Junior College District is renamed St. Louis Community College. The Meramec campus is officially renamed St. Louis Community CollegeMeramec.

2022 The renovated Lecture Halls reopen for classes.

STLCC Celebrates 60 Years.

1988 George HW Bush visits the Meramec campus during his campaign for the Presidency of the United States; he would end up being elected and served as President until January 1993.

2011 STLCC consolidates its sports teams district wide for budgetary reasons.

2012

2013

Student Blythe Grupe is attacked in the women’s restroom of the Comm. South building. The suspect, Javon Mallory, was The relatively apprehended safe Meramec before being campus is left arrested. shaken after Widespread a massive criticism is brawl erupts directed at between the STLCC as many Communications students and South and staff were not Business immediately Administration made aware of buildings. Three the incident. students are Two weeks arrested and five later, Campus are suspended.

President George Wasson resigns,

2015

Jeff Pittman is named as STLCC Chancellor.

2019 Dr. Felicca Moore Davis becomes the President of the Meramec campus, a title she holds to this day.

“Super Tuesday is key-Missouri is important,” Bush told The Montage.

“If we can get a crowd like this one, I know I’ll win.”

-Excerpt from “Bush stumps, pumps hands” by Managing Editor Jeanne Tracy in the Feb. 29, 1988 issue of The Montage.

Follow Meramec’s history with each issue of The Montage at www. meramecmontage.com

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English professor explores her passion for lit and language A behind-the-scenes look at Pam Garvey max wilson staff

M

eramec professor Pamela Garvey didn’t always know she’d be teaching literature and composition to college

students.

“I went to college as an undergraduate and had no idea what I would do, and I loved a lot of things. But what I really loved was to read literature, and I loved literature and language,” she said.

Garvey decided to major in English with a minor in Spanish. “In both cases, I focused on literature,” Garvey said.

After graduation, Garvey worked in insurance. “I hated it. I liked the salary; I hated the job. It was very soulless. And I’m not criticizing people who do it, it just wasn’t me.”

Garvey quit and got a job at a bookstore. “I got in trouble all the time for reading books at work, which I thought was funny, because it was a bookstore,” Garvey said.

After getting in touch with some professors, an English professor recommended Garvey go to graduate school to study English.

“A few months later, I ran into my favorite

FEAR is a collection of poetry written by Meramec Professor Pamela Garvey.

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Spanish professor,” Garvey said. The professor told Garvey she’d seen some information about getting a PhD in Spanish literature at Georgetown university.

“If I had talked to her [the Spanish professor] before I talked to my English professors, I would have done that [the Spanish literature PhD]…I loved both. I really loved both.”

Not wanting to take on any more debt, Garvey knew she’d have to get a full scholarship.

“When you get these assistantships and fellowships in graduate school, you either teach or you tutor or you do some kind of editing work with academic journals, and that’s what I really wanted to do,” Garvey said. “But they had me tutor, and that was my entry into the classroom.”

After getting an MFA, Garvey did freelance work. “[I did] All sorts of weird kinds of jobs, from corporate to science writing.” Garvey also taught part time, and says while the freelance work paid well, it didn’t feel “like I was having an impact on the world.”

After moving to St. Louis for her exhusband’s job, she taught at Washington University for two years before getting a job at Meramec.

“I set a goal for myself that I had five years to get a permanent tenure track position, or I would go into another field,” she said. “I got my job at Meramec and I’ve been here ever since, and I have no regrets. It is infinitely more meaningful and purposeful than what I was doing before.”

Garvey said teaching at Meramec is especially meaningful because “we get a lot of first generation college students, we get a lot of students who have a lot of different things going on in their lives…which can at any point pull them away from school and what school has to offer them.”

She also said she enjoys the opportunity to

submitted photo share poetry.

“If you ask me, who do I want to share poetry with? I want to share it with people who might not find it if they didn’t come to Meramec. I want to share it with people who are hungry for it. I want to share it with people who say, ‘Oh my God, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,’” she said.

She said she also enjoys inspiring students. “I want to see students walk into a poetry writing class, and walk out and feel proud of something that they didn’t even know they could write,” she said. “My job is one of empowering other people. By giving them access to language, and literature, and tools that can open up more doors than I’m even aware of.”

Outside of school, Garvey is passionate about “my kid, of course, and parenting.

I’m passionate about travel and cultures, in particular Spain and Latin America.” Garvey described herself as a ‘health food fanatic’ and said she loves to cook. “I love cooking curries. Indian food is my favorite.”

After the pandemic, when Garvey feels comfortable, she wants to go back to the theater.

“Some of my favorite theaters from around the country have done things through Zoom. And I’ve watched it, and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s not the same. I want to be in my seat watching it,” she said.

“UNPRECEDENTED”

Professor John Messmer discusses the overturning of ROE V. WADE

T

JACOB POLITTE Managing EDITOR

he landmark Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health, which overturned 1973’s Roe v Wade and which ended nation-wide abortion rights left the nation reeling after it was announced on the morning of June 24, 2022.

Later that same day, Meramec Political Science Professor John Messmer spoke to The Montage about the ramifications of the Supreme Court ruling, as well as how the last 50 years have been leading to this moment.

Politics, Precedent, and The Court Messmer said our justice system is based upon ‘English Common Law’ that above other approaches towards law, respects precedent.

“That doesn’t mean that precedent doesn’t change,” he said. “That we don’t reinterpret things.”

Messmer says that there are dozens of examples of reinterpretations in American history, citing Brown v Board of Education as an example. “There is reinterpretation of what is considered a right, especially [of] a power of government.”

However, Messmer says that what the Supreme Court did on June 24 may be unprecedented.

“When it comes to a reinterpretation of what is considered a fundamental, personal right among American citizens [...] for the last month, I have been searching for another example of where a fundamental, personal right was provided by the court, interpreted by the court (Messmer says this is the leading judicial authority in the nation) and then taken away by the court. I can’t think of another example of that.”

He continues, “I’m sure serious constitutional scholars can find something.

But nothing that is considered so fundamental, so personal, so absolute as the right to privacy [...] specifically a woman’s right to privacy and to terminate her pregnancy. Nothing that I can think of that was taken away by the Supreme Court.”

Messmer said that the Brown v. Board Of

Education decision couldn’t necessarily be compared to the Dobbs decision. “[People have to] realize what the Brown case did.

That reserved an earlier Court decision, the Plessy decision. But what that changed was a power of government.”

He continued, “That’s a big difference than what Roe v. Wade did. And that was provide interpreting [for] a fundamental right to an abortion, based upon a fundamental right to privacy. For that to now be taken away [...] I can’t think of another example of that.”

“It always seems to be in the forward gear,” he said. “This is definitely a backward [gear].

We’re going to have women that have less rights than their grandmothers.”

Messmer mentioned that the public may hear criticism toward Democrats for not codifying the Roe decision into law over the last five decades.

“Just because Congress can pass something doesn’t mean it’s Constitutional,” he said.

“There is a question of if codifying abortion is within Congress’ powers.”

He continued, “That’s something you’re going to hear a lot of people say: that’s the way to bring back this right. But what Republicans have made clear is that they’re not going to allow this [codifying] vote in the Senate. And the Senate requires a supermajority because of the crazy use of the filibuster.”

Messmer says that the court has always been political and, to a degree, partisan.

“Philosophical differences pop up all the time,” Messmer said. “The reason it’s more of a question now, and the reason someone is more likely to ask [if the court is more political/partisan] is because our political differences have never been more stark.

We’ve never been more polarized.”

He continued, “There’s always been partisanship, there’s always been ideological differences in the Supreme Court. It is heightened now, but only as a function of the fact that politics is more polarized than ever. The differences between members of Congress are more different than ever. And therefore, the differences between two juris’ on the Supreme Court that should have a common, very educated understanding of

the constitution can come to such incredibly different conclusions.”

Clarence Thomas One comment of particular interest, and inspired widespread panic online, concerns Justice Clarence Thomas’ opinion as documented in the final ruling.

Thomas wrote, “In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is “demonstrably erroneous,” we have a duty to “correct the error” established in those precedents.”

Messmer said of Thomas’ remarks, “There’s a part of me that says ‘No, the general public doesn’t have anything to worry about.’ Though that is a very extremist view, it was part of a concurring opinion, so it didn’t represent the majority of the majority.”

“But,” he continued, “it should not be ignored. And I guarantee that those who are very upset with this decision that want to see the expansion or the return of abortion rights… they’re gonna pounce on that.

They’re gonna point to the fact that this represents a significant ideological, different approach towards the Constitution.

He continued, “Clarence Thomas isn’t holding back. And though he represents a minority of that majority opinion, no one, I think, has the right to tell anyone that they shouldn’t be worried [about his comments].

It represents a fundamental change in the approach toward the Constitution. A change we haven’t seen in 100 years.”

What happens now?

Down the road, Messmer said, abortion rights have the possibility of being restored via an interpretation by a Supreme Court with different members. That case would have to go through the same process that Roe v Wade did and be subject to review by a Court with different dynamics.

“Theoretically,” he said, “this all could just happen again.”

An extended verison of this interview can be viewed on meramecmontage.com.

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Vice Chancellor Strives for Work/Life Balance STLCC welcomed Dr. Christine Davis during the Pandemic geneva lee news EDITOR

D

r.

Christine Davis, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs is in charge of student development, involvement and achievement: Essentially, her job is to make the college experience a good one for all STLCC students.

Davis said she has always known she wanted a career in education and in service.

“As an immigrant who came here for a better life, education was drilled into my head as a ticket to a better life … I wanted to be a teacher [and] in the helping profession,” she said. When Davis herself went to college she “fell in love … and wanted to tell the story of higher education.”

After attending undergraduate school, Davis earned her master’s degree in adult and community education and obtained her PhD in education leadership. She worked in higher education for almost 20 years before coming to STLCC. Davis said she was drawn to STLCC because she “really felt like STLCC really cares about the students, and they wanted to take a direction where the students are at the center of their work [to] make things better [and] improve the student experience.”

Davis joined the college on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. The pandemic created a huge challenge for the STLCC community, and balancing safety, education and overall student well-being was a daunting undertaking, she said.

“We realized that our student population is being disproportionately impacted, [and] we really just stepped up to the plate and responded,” said Davis.

She said that STLCC used CARES relief money from the federal government to try to mitigate the difficulties of the pandemic for students: For example, the school allowed students who withdrew in the Spring 2020 to come back and retake their courses at no additional cost. Davis said she and her coworkers asked, “How can we

32

make this easier, how can we lift this burden from students?”

Building upon this work, Davis’s vision is to impact retention above everything. “I want to work with the team to improve our services to the students, whether that’s to add services or improve what we’re doing to improve completion,” she said.

“Too many of our students leave without completing. We have an obligation when a student enrolls to help them succeed.”

Davis said to achieve this, “Students require handholding and support. It’s important, I think, that they feel a sense of belonging, that they’re important.”

“If I had my magic wand … if resources were limitless, I would want a hundred students assigned to an academic advisor … right now, our ratios are higher than that,” she said.

The role of advisors who report to Davis encompasses more than just course scheduling. “They are responsible for intrusive advising, support and making sure that they stay on track and get to completing … this would be one way to say how important they are to us.” She emphasizes, “You’re not just a number.”

This attention to students extends beyond the classroom to her home. Davis balances her scholastic duties with raising her 14-yearold daughter and ensuring her academic success. On top of starting her new job in a pandemic, Davis had to “Make sure, being a mom, that her [daughter’s] high school experience was a positive one, despite being virtual in a new school, as she prepares to go to college in a few years. That was probably

photo courtesy of stlcc the biggest challenge, wanting to make an impact at the college, but also making sure she was okay with that transition as well.”

Davis said the values that guide her in this work are “integrity” and “hard work.”

“If I say I’m going to do something, [I] do it. I have high expectations of myself, so I have high expectations of our staff and our students because I know they can do it, and I want them to do it,” she said. It is through this integrity and “putting in the hours” that Davis pushes onward in her work on behalf of students.

When she is not at STLCC, Davis said she loves to visit St. Louis parks. “I like to get out whenever I can and hike and walk. There’s some amazing spaces in our surrounding area for us to enjoy,” she said.

Though her time outside may be limited, she said “I’m loving the different seasons, though I know that may wear off as I stay here longer … there are days in February where I’m like, ‘What is happening?! Can I even go outside?!”

Nelson looking to help ‘transform’ STLCC STLCC’s new Chief Operating Officer looks ahead to the future max wilson staff How does an administration keep up with all the day to day operations of a college, especially one with multiple campuses? In January 2022, a new role was designed: Chief Operations Officer (COO). Former STLCC Associate Vice Chancellor of the Workforce Solutions Group Hart Nelson was chosen for the role. The Montage talked to Nelson about what his job entails, his background, his concerns and hopes for the college, and about why St. Louis remains one of his favorite cities.

Nelson majored in mass communications and political science as an undergraduate student. He worked as a sports reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Let’s just say that [sports] was not my strong suit. I wasn’t the most athletic person at the time,” Nelson said. He covered high school and college sports, going to games and getting to talk to the coaches, figuring out which student athlete to profile that week. “That’s what was really cool,” Nelson said.

However, Nelson soon learned that journalism “was not going to pay the bills.”

So he got a job at IBM, and then worked with the US Foreign Service as a diplomat.

His first assignment was in Prague.

“That will always have a special place for me,” he said. “It’s a beautiful city.”

Nelson can trace his interest in diplomacy back to his youth: he went to high school in Berlin, Germany, and he even saw the Berlin Wall come down. He describes the experiences as “very important in how I see the world. Seeing that diplomacy and soft power can actually change the world.. it was not the World War Three that we had all worried about. It was a peaceful transition of power… and now you have a united Germany that is doing very well,” said Nelson.

When Nelson was assigned to the Dominican Republic, his wife went back to St. Louis to visit with friends. She got a “serendipitous” job offer, and ended up moving back to St. Louis to start the job.

Nelson moved to join her and his family after his assignment ended.

Nelson has lived abroad in a variety of countries and cities, including: London, England; Washington, D.C.; New York; California; Prague; Miami; the Dominican Republic–and he still lists St. Louis as one of his favorite cities.

St. Louis is “a great place for a family,” Nelson said. He noted that St. Louis is small enough that an average person can feel involved, but large enough that there’s many activities going on. “You can do the Muny, you can go to Forest Park,” he said.

Nelson says he doesn’t understand when St. Louis natives complain about the traffic.

“I’ve lived in Los Angeles, I’ve lived in London. [Traffic in St. Louis] is not bad.”

As far as weather goes Nelson said he enjoys the fact that St. Louis experiences four distinct seasons. “Sometimes you get all [four seasons] in the same week,” he said.

Before he began his role as COO, Nelson worked as the associate vice chancellor of Workforce Solutions Group. There, he was the head of “economic and workforce development.”

He also “managed continuing professional development and personal enrichment education,” including “initiatives that reflected the needs of local, regional and national employers.”

As part of his role as COO, Nelson said that a typical day can range from managing a broken water main at one campus, to hiring IT cybersecurity specialists.

Acknowledging that the role of COO is new to the college, Nelson says that some people might wonder what the need is for a COO. “The reason I see is because of the massive effort that is going to be STLCC transformed.

This is the first time in decades that the college is going to be able to build a lot of buildings all at once and really change what St. Louis Community College looks like,” Nelson said.

Colleges and universities all across the country are having to decide if they should have a more liberal arts education or more career focused. Nelson said that both are important. He brought up the new buildings

at the Forest Park campus, where students are studying a variety of healthcare fields, as an example of how STLCC is emphasizing technical education.

However, Nelson isn’t ready to get rid of the liberal arts courses. “Just because you’re in a CTE program, you’re going to be taking these other courses.. it’s required. It’s part of getting a degree; it broadens your view.”

Nelson said that even if a student is studying to be a nurse, he hopes the student will get the opportunity to take a political science class. “Maybe it gets you politically active, maybe it [helps you] decide this is not for me,” he said.

Nelson said that even in workforce preparation, there will be opportunities for “people to become well rounded individuals and educated. That has to be something the college continues.”

One of the reasons students choose to go to community college is because it’s often more affordable than a traditional four year school. That is “incredibly important,” says Nelson. “It’s a great education, and, especially with CORE 42, you’re able to bring those credits at any state institution, and you’re going to be paying a fourth or a third of the price that you would elsewhere.”

One of Nelson’s goals is to connect students with local employers. “I think the role [of COO] was designed for a heavy focus on the engineering and the design and the facilities and construction [and] also to look for opportunities for project management,” said Nelson.

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Larson Remains in His Seat

Another term Begins for Larson with the Board of Trustees bruno grubesic staff

A

s STLCC’s Director of Trustees Craig Larson ran unopposed in his reelection on April 5, it’s important for the community to know the man and his job.

Larson has been working with the STLCC Board of Trustees since his retirement from K-12 education in 2010. He was born and raised in Kansas City, holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in teaching from University of Kansas and has had experience in teaching and education.

He made the big move to St. Louis after landing a job in the Parkway School District from an interview on his university’s campus.

Larson has held several different positions in education, including teaching in both middle and high school, being a high school principal, assistant superintendent of some schools, and the superintendent of the Rockwood School District for seven years before journeying over to STLCC. In his time outside of STLCC, he’s found hobbies in golfing and gardening with his wife when the weather is nice out. “I’m a lifelong learner,” he said. He’s taken time to

learn golfing, and said, “I’ve enjoyed taking lessons and trying to […] play well enough to not totally disappoint myself.”

In his time working as an administrator in public school districts, he hasn’t had much time to himself, but lately he’s been able to explore some hobbies. He also manages a rose garden with his wife, which they started around the time he retired from teaching in public K-12 school districts.

“It’s not something you have to work constantly at, but you do have to be methodical about it,” he says. Larson and his wife also love to travel and are heading to Romania this May. While Larson is hesitant to say “stressful” is the right term for his job, he says there are times when it does apply. Trying to manage the college requires making big decisions in some scenarios.

“The real stress is when you have to make tough decisions […] the community college unfortunately has lost a lot of enrollment.”

Larson also is a supporter of the dual enrolment process in the college, where high school students can take classes at the college to get credits out of the way before they even graduate, which he describes as a “life changer” and a great way for the college to achieve its goals.

photo courtesy of stlcc He describes STLCC’s market as the “nontraditional student,” such as students continuing education after dropping out of college, or older students who never went and want to try now.

“The role of the board is to help secure leadership that takes the college in the right direction going forward and support that leadership, hold that leadership accountable, but also try to help the college be successful in its mission of changing lives,” said Larson.

Meet Your STLCC Trustees The seven STLCC Board of Trustrees, including Craig Larson, represent seven subdistricts. Each Trustee has been elected by district residents.

All BOT meetings are open to the public.

Meeting agendas and meeting minutes can be found at https://stlcc. edu/about/leadership/ board-of-trustees/.

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Kevin M. Martin, Ed.D., Chair Subdistrict 1 (term expires 2028)

Rodney Gee State Appointee (term expires 2028)

Doris A. Graham, Ph.D. Subdistrict 1 (term expires 2024)

Mary Luebke Subdistrict 4 (term expires 2026)

Anne Adams Marshall Subdistrict 3 (term expires 2025)

Pam Ross Subdistrict 2 (term expires 2023)

The

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