NEVER
STOP
LEARNING MCC’s favorite ‘little old lady,’ page 3
Contents 2
Look out world, here they come
on the cover 3
Lifelong learner, local celebrity Nancy Giordano, the ‘little old lady’ from MCC commercials, enjoys life in the limelight at age 91
5
Clicks and class Hybrid couses offer flexibility
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Give a book, take a book Little Free Libraries initiative addresses need in North Omaha
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Parental support Program helps first-generation college students balance school, work and family
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From past to present Buffalo Robe Project inspires student engagement, innovative instruction
special section: sustainability 11
Sun + soil + spoon By bringing solar energy, horticulture and culinary arts together, MCC brings interdisciplinary flair to sustainability
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Grow fish in your garden With aquaponics, fish and plants work together to provide a succulent kitchen garden
15
Q&A with Chef Øystein Solberg
16
MCC named Tree Campus USA
17
The road to BMW High school academy revs up auto technician career
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A career that travels far New associate degree, partnership puts travel career on the map
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Supporting adult education
MCC Foundation 19
Investing in education Almquist seeks to bring community together
20
Picture perfect Foundation funds help aspiring photographer build her business
21
A helping hand for local businesses Honor society offers students’ talents to resource-constrained businesses
Summer 2013
21
Accreditation
“Community” is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College. Contact the editor at 402-457-2414 or marketing@mccneb.edu.
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Location spotlight: South Omaha Campus
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Volume 1, Issue 1
Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Statement—Metropolitan Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability or sexual orientation in admission or access to its programs and activities or in its treatment or hiring of employees.
Look out world, here they come
Graduates celebrate achievements at commencement ceremony
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n May 10, more than 1,800 Metropolitan Community College students graduated with associate degrees or certificates. Among those who walked the stage:
»» Mother and son duo Penny and Tristan Bless who graduated together with culinary arts degrees. They hope to open a catering business together one day. »» Nora Mujica, a 21-year-old from South Omaha who graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Her goal is to become a police officer.
Tweets from commencement night: @taylorzesailor #mccgraduation went smoothly. i didnt trip and my cap stayed on! @CassidyHope14 I’m so proud of my big brother. <3 @aciurej Congrats to the grad! @MCCNEB #commencement #criminaljustice #grad #youdidit
»» Full-time mother and student Danielle Patterson, a Foundation scholarship recipient who became the first person in her family to graduate from college. Next on her list: a bachelor’s degree. Student speaker Edward Suprenant praised MCC for giving him the opportunity to find his passion. He ended with a quote from Howard Thurman:
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and then go do it.” community • www.mccneb.edu • 2
Lifelong learner, local celebrity Nancy Giordano, the ‘little old lady’ from MCC commercials, enjoys life in the limelight at age 91
“B
ecause I never wanna stop learning.”
The most quotable line from MCC’s commercials is even better when you hear it from 91-year-old Nancy Giordano in person. She’s famous for it. “I can’t go anywhere without someone saying, ‘A ren’t you…?’” she said. And then she’ll say The Line. Unless her fans beat her to it. “Everyone chimes in with me,” she said. Giordano, who turns 92 in August, is one of MCC’s oldest and most enthusiastic students. The lifelong Omaha resident started taking Continuing Education classes on computer basics—she wanted to learn about email so she could write to her senator (among others). “I wanted to take fun classes. I’m old!” she said. When MCC tapped her to represent a lifelong learner on TV, Giordano had no idea she would become so well recognized around town. Her family was surprised to see it on TV; they taped it. “They didn’t know it was going to be on over and over again,” she said.
I can’t go anywhere without someone saying, ‘Aren’t you...?’”
These days, her fans stop her at Hy-Vee, the bank, the parking lot. Her many great-nieces and nephews call her a celebrity. Hundreds of people have tweeted about her. She’s even inspired a few online parody videos. She finds it all amusing—and flattering. At 5 feet tall, she is used to being lost in the crowd. Not anymore. “This put me out there.” Giordano continues to take classes at MCC. With so many options in convenient locations, she says, there’s no reason not to dive in. “I think that commercial is very powerful—not because I’m in it, but because it shows there is something for everyone,” she said. “Come with me and learn something.”
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Tweets around town @Jake_Gunia4 When ever people ask me why I went to Metro, I always say, “I came because I never wanna stop learning.”
Watch the commercial on YouTube
@Wut_The_HALE That old lady in the commercial.. I CAME BECAUSE I NEVER WANNA STOP LEARNING. you go old lady. @miss_carlyrose The metro commercial where the old lady says “because I never wanna stop learning” gets me everytime #toofunny @mactothefuture1 I swear I’m going to be that old lady on the Metro commercial..”I NEVER WANNA STOP LEARNING.” @madddie_elaine “I came because I never wanna stop learning” said by the most adorable little old lady in that college commercial
Continuing Education Inspired by Nancy? Take a class at www.mccneb.edu/ce
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Clicks and class
Hybrid courses offer students a blend of flexibility and face-to-face time
U
nlike most four-year universities, the average MCC student isn’t a straight-from-high-school, dorm-dwelling 18- to 22-year-old. The average MCC student is older—about 28—, and she’s balancing a lot of life demands: work, school, family and relationships. She comes to MCC looking for flexibility, so she can juggle all the important facets of her life.
MCC has long offered online courses, but hybrid courses represent a newer format for delivering flexible, high-quality education. “Advances in technology are changing the way students engage,” said Tom Pensabene, dean of Information Technology and e-learning. “A hybrid class takes advantage of technology and students’ needs.”
Enter the hybrid course. Hybrid courses blend face-to-face, on-campus class time with web-based education. Instead of two or three times a week, students come to campus just once a week for class. At home, they complete readings, assignments and online discussion whenever it works best in their schedule.
MCC offers dozens of hybrid classes in areas from the trades to general education. The exact schedule and structure varies. In Automotive Technology hybrid classes, the blended format frees up more time for lab work and hands-on practice. For history instructor Joy Schulz, the hybrid format means she can go deeper into topics during her World Civilization class.
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Frequently asked questions What is a hybrid class? Hybrid courses meet both on-campus and online. Think of them as traditional face-to-face classes where some of the on-campus classes are replaced with online assignments.
“Having students do work outside the class means I can use the on-campus class time better,” Schulz said. “By being in a classroom once a week, I’m able to direct the class and the key concepts they need to take away from the reading.” For the busy MCC student, a hybrid course can make a complicated schedule easier. Students get more done while spending less time on campus. They save time and money by commuting to campus less. And they have one more educational tool to reach their goals—without sacrificing other areas of life.
Why take a hybrid class? »» flexibility and convenience »» 24/7 access to online class materials, discussion and assignments »» more focused class discussion with faculty and peers »» save money on fuel (it’s better for the environment, too!) What program courses are available? Accounting, Automotive Technology, Biology, Education, English, Entrepreneurship, Health Information Management Systems, History, Health Information Technology, Human Relations, Humanities, Information Technology, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Speech, Utility Line Technician and more options to come
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Give a book, take a book Little Free Libraries initiative addresses need in North Omaha
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ive a book, take a book. It’s as simple as that. AmeriCorps VISTA members at MCC are championing efforts to promote literacy through placing mini-libraries in North Omaha’s Long School neighborhood. Little Free Libraries are small wooden boxes stocked with books for children and adults that can be shared with others for free. Community members can thumb through the titles any time—no library card required. Library locations include the bus stop at the Fort Omaha Campus, 5300 N. 30th St.; The Union for Contemporary Art, 2417 Burdette St.; and Carver Bank, 2416 Lake St. Sydney McConnell-Durkin, AmeriCorps VISTA member in MCC’s Re-Engage Omaha program, was instrumental in the initiative, which aims to build a sense of community and increase access to resources in this part of Omaha. A “novel” concept, Little Free Libraries was created by a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization. The mini-libraries are managed by a steward who initiates the setup of the box and maintains it. For more information, visit www.littlefreelibrary.org.
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Parental support Program helps first-generation college students balance school, work and family
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ynthia Stubblefield always knew she was capable of getting a degree. But after high school, life took a different path. She had children and started working, and though she took a few classes here and there, achieving that degree eluded her. “All through my journey, I’ve always thought about college,” she said. She wanted to be an example to her children.“I felt like now was the right time.” Through MCC’s Parent Involvement Program, Stubblefield and other low-income, first-generation college students with children receive financial and social support to go back to school. The program funds foundation classes for each parent and sets up a group meeting twice a month. The meetings connect parents to talk about the challenges of going to school and raising successful children. Ultimately, the program hopes that college-educated parents will lead the way for their children to go to college, too. “When parents know the college process, they are better able to give their children support,” said Elmer Crumbley, program coordinator. Stubblefield plans to graduate in 2014 with a business degree. She hopes to transfer to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. With college experience now under her belt, her message to her daughter about the importance of higher education is hitting home. “To push her to go to college, I needed to be here,” she said.
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From past to present Buffalo Robe Project inspires student engagement, innovative instruction
Researched, designed and created by MCC students, this unique tapestry served as a study on the traditional means of documenting history among several Native American Plains tribes. Winter counts—pictorial calendars of a community’s history—represent a rich tradition of oral history and storytelling among Native American tribes such as the Lakota. “This is a practice that’s hundreds of years old,” Tamayo said. “Explaining this method to students that are usually hooked up to technology—it was extremely fascinating.”
I
t all began with a buffalo hide—a gift from Lakota artist and scholar Steve Tamayo. But the blank braintanned canvas soon became a work of art and model for innovative instruction. More than 100 small pictographs dot its surface. Like its Native American predecessors, this visual calendar tells a story, recording significant events.
With the help of a mini-grant from the MCC Foundation’s Inspiring Innovation fund, Tamayo’s gift became the stimulus of a multi-disciplinary effort giving students hands-on experience in local history, art history, sociology and design. The National Council of Instructional Administrators recognized the innovative project as the winner of the 2012 Exemplary Initiatives Competition in the teaching and learning strategies category.
Some images are readily apparent—a sketch of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr., the MCC logo, a Nebraska state outline—while for others, the meaning is more elusive.
Susan Trinkle, art history instructor, credits the Buffalo Robe Project as a catalyst that challenged the traditional delivery of art education. Her research at the Smithsonian coupled with Tamayo’s participation as a guest artist allowed for richer course content. The result: unparalleled classroom engagement.
Watch a video on the project at www.youtube.com/mccnebraska
“They were there the days they didn’t have class; they were there after class ended,” Trinkle said. “It was really amazing to see students want to continue to do the work and want to continue learning.”
This is a practice that is hundreds of years old.” community • www.mccneb.edu • 10
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S su pecial stainabilit section
SUN + SOIL + SPOON By bringing solar energy, horticulture and culinary arts together, MCC brings interdisciplinary flair to sustainability
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top by the Fort Omaha Campus in the next few months, and you’ll notice a few nontraditional campus residents. Bees are busily producing honey. Soon, rabbits, squab and backyard chickens will live next to a greenhouse that’s supported by solar energy. Inside the solar lab nearby, a fish farm grows microgreens—a culinary favorite. These projects are part of an ongoing effort to create shared living lab spaces for solar energy, horticulture and culinary arts students. It’s a mutually beneficially partnership: The installation of solar panels enhances the ability of culinary arts and horticulture students to bring food from farm to table. Sustainability topics—like small market farming, renewable resources and natural systems—are embedded in the curriculum. “What makes this unique is that students and faculty from multiple disciplines have a work area to explore new technologies and ideas with real-world practice,” said Daniel Lawse, MCC’s sustainability coordinator.
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Animals add another sustainability-minded component. For the first time this fall, students can take a small animal husbandry class in the expanded Horticulture, Land Systems and Management program. The class gives students the tools to raise honey bees, chickens, rabbits or squab (better known as young pigeons) that are in-demand by chefs who seek fresh, locally sourced ingredients. “It’s exciting to see our academic and physical footprint expand to better serve our students and the community,” said Kris Engler, horticulture instructor.
Learn more Bring sustainability home with Everyday Extraordinaire: Grow classes from MCC’s horticulture faculty. Classes are designed for non-professionals but teach the same time-tested techniques used by experts. Topics change every quarter. This summer, check out: Aquaponics: Fish, Vegetables and You Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m.–noon. Fort Omaha Campus $50 Microgreens: Little Greens, Big Flavor Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m.–noon Fort Omaha Campus $50 Register at www.mccneb.edu/ce
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Grow fish in your garden
With aquaponics, fish and plants work together to provide a succulent kitchen garden
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t’s common knowledge that fertilizers help you grow your garden. But did you know fish can help you grow vegetables, greens and herbs naturally? With an aquaponics system, in addition to growing succulent peas, your garden can also provide you with a healthy seafood entrée.
What’s an aquaponics system? Combining aquaculture (raising aquatic animals for food) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil), aquaponics utilizes nutrient-rich water, produced from fish, to grow thriving plants. Plants and fish work together to create one symbiotic, recirculating system. By the use of their gills, fish provide two important ingredients to plants: ammonia and nitrate. But one of the most important items in this process is beneficial bacteria. In MCC’s Continuing Education class—Aquaponics: Fish, Vegetables and You—instructor Mike Kaminski teaches students how to raise fish and grow gardens at home utilizing bacterial cycles to convert fish waste into plant nutrients. “You can grow year-round, and it doesn’t take much space,” Kaminski said. “These systems produce quickly, and there are no weeds and no bending over. Plus, it can be done organically, and there are virtually no pest problems.”
Understanding aquaponics In aquaculture, nitrate accumulates in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish over time. Conversely, in an aquaponics system, waste from fish creates an important bacterial colony that provides nutrients to plants that are taken up and filtered from the water. After the plants cleanse the water, it gets re-circulated back to the fish. Worms are the secret ingredient. They help keep the system clean while adding even more nutrients.
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Worms are the secret ingredient.” Positive impact on the environment Aquaponics conserves water, uses no pesticides and could be the key to a more sustainable future. Systems use approximately 2 percent of the water that a conventionally irrigated farm requires for the same vegetable production. Systems vary in design and size, from small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units.
Let’s talk fish Both edible and non-edible fish can be raised using aquaponics, but freshwater fish such as tilapia are the most common. Catfish, bluegill, perch and even ornamentals such as koi and goldfish are other options.
What can grow in an aquaponics garden? lettuce chard collards cabbage beets chives
leeks peas watercress strawberries herbs fennel and more
fish
fish produce waste
the aquaponics cycle microbes and worms
microbes and worms convert waste to fertilizer for plants
plants filter water that returns to fish
plants
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Q&A with Chef Øystein Solberg The ‘Local Flavor’ personality brings local cooking to Omaha kitchens
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orwegian chef-instructor Øystein Solberg loves tomatoes. Especially home-grown, just-picked-andjuicy summer tomatoes from MCC’s student bistro garden. Chef Solberg brings these ingredients and other regional goodies into Omaha homes and kitchens on MCC’s cooking show, “Local Flavor.” Lamb, braised short ribs, chocolate cake—Solberg’s dishes are sure to make your mouth water. Bonus points if they include tomatoes.
How about “Einstein”? That certainly works.
What does the “local” mean in “Local Flavor”? We try and utilize as many local ingredients as possible for each show. A lot of the ideas for the show are based on what Sharyn and Charlie [video producers] want to eat. Then we water-cooler it around, making the components educational and accomplishable for home cooks.
What are you most excited about this summer? Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes. I love tomatoes!
How do you pronounce your first name? It’s kind of hard to explain without any reference point. The first letter is not in the English alphabet, so it makes for a funky name.
How easy is it for home cooks with, ahem, minimal experience to go local? It’s very easy indeed. With farmers markets and the Nebraska Food Cooperative, getting your hands on some stellar products is as easy as ever.
Go local
TV: Watch Chef Solberg’s recipes on The Knowledge Network of Greater Omaha (Cox Channel 109)
Online: “Local Flavor” is on YouTube at www.youtube.com/mccnebraska 15 • community • www.mccneb.edu
MCC named Tree Campus USA
M
CC announced in March its first-time designation as a Tree Campus USA.
A national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, Tree Campus USA honors colleges for promoting healthy trees through effective forest management and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. There are more than 800 trees at the Fort Omaha Campus, some more than 90 years old. The arrangement of tree planting around the parade ground dates back to the 1890s. Trees along campus roads create formal corridors, and accent trees throughout the grounds contribute beauty and reinforce the campus image. MCC has long observed Arbor Day and Earth Day, but campus celebrations this year were a bit more momentous. The April 25 festivities included a Tree Campus USA proclamation, an arboretum walking tour, a tree scavenger hunt and a showing of the documentary “Green Fire.” “The Tree Campus USA recognition showcases the efforts of staff and students to create and maintain a beautiful campus at Fort Omaha, one of the city’s hidden gems,” said President Randy Schmailzl. community • www.mccneb.edu • 16
Name: Andrew Cuva Degree: Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Technology through MCC’s AYES high school Career Academy
The road to BMW High school academy revs up auto technician career
Employment: Markel BMW, Certified BMW Master Technician
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ike many young boys, Andrew Cuva was interested in cars growing up. He watched his dad work on cars and would often get the chance to help out. By high school, he was taking all the automotive classes he could. That’s when he heard about the Automotive Youth Educational Systems program at MCC. AYES is one of 15 Career Academy programs MCC offers to high school juniors and seniors, giving them the opportunity to explore various career fields and get a head start on college. After AYES, Cuva earned his A.A.S. in Automotive Technology and was accepted into BMW’s Service Technician Education Program in Phoenix. He is now employed at Markel BMW in Omaha where he works on everything from complex diagnostics to oil changes and heavy mechanical work. One day, he hopes to open up his own custom performance shop.
Talk about your educational path from high school to MCC. When I was in high school at Ralston, I took all the auto classes. In those classes, I learned more and heard about high school programs at MCC that I could receive credits for. So I looked into MCC and found the AYES program available for high school students. How did MCC prepare you for the BMW training program and a career? MCC and the AYES program played a large role in my educational training, which helped in getting into BMW’s [training program]. It taught me all the skills I needed before taking more advanced courses. The smaller classes, hands-on work and direct teaching from instructors were perfect in preparing me for BMW’s program. What would you tell other young people interested in the AYES program? The AYES program is definitely worth the time to go through. If you’re unsure if it’s right for you, it’s the right program to help you decide whether you want to be a technician. It is a very thorough and helpful program to get you jumpstarted into other automotive programs. For more information on MCC’s Career Academy programs, go to www.mccneb.edu/secondary and click on Career Academy.
MCC Career Academies MCC offers 15 Career Academy programs for Nebraska high school students. Students earn college credits to put toward a degree and explore career pathways. 17 • community • www.mccneb.edu
A career that travels far A New associate degree, partnership put travel career on the map new corporate partnership will help meet a nationwide demand for qualified professionals in the travel industry.
In collaboration with Travel and Transport, the fifthlargest travel management company in the country, MCC is offering a new associate degree with a focus on corporate travel management. The program, which aims to train more than 30 professionals annually, includes a Travel Academy through the Omaha-based company and coursework at MCC, comprised of general education and degree requirements. Online and classroom courses offered by Travel and Transport include more than 290 instructional hours on topics that introduce the student to the travel industry, including soft skills, geography, reservation processes and operation. MCC views the partnership and new degree as part of an overarching effort to engage employers and meet their workforce needs.
“This new individualized partnership between Travel and Transport and MCC represents a strategic approach, providing candidates with the specific skills needed to succeed in this workplace,” said Tom Pensabene, dean of Information Technology and e-learning.
Students who successfully complete the program are guaranteed an interview with Travel and Transport and, if hired, are eligible for up to $3,600 in tuition reimbursement. Travel Academy classes begin in June 2013.
Visit www.travelandtransport.com for more information.
Supporting adult education GED bill enhances learning opportunities for adults More than 113,000 adults in Nebraska lack a high school diploma. The Diploma of High School Equivalency Assistance Act (LB 366), introduced by State Sen. Tanya Cook, will give community colleges and agencies the funding they need to provide the services to help these individuals achieve a GED, the equivalent of a high school diploma. LB 366 provides assistance to institutions that offer high school equivalency (GED) programs. The bill comes amid federal changes slated for 2014 that mandate a shift from pencil-and-paper to online-only GED testing. This requires a significant upgrade of equipment and software needed to offer GED services and exams. Additionally, after 2014, the GED will be more rigorous and costly for test-takers.
Studies show that workers who lack a high school diploma or equivalency have fewer employment opportunities and lower wage potential. LB 366 provides $1.5 million over two years to state agencies, school districts or community colleges that offer high school equivalency training and testing. Institutions will be compensated for each student who takes a class and passes the GED exam, as well as for students who walk in to take the exam. Approval of the bill would allow MCC to enhance services to the more than 42,000 adults in the Omaha area who lack a high school diploma. MCC is the only GED testing site in the metro area, serving 6,600 GED students in the last year and a half.
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Q&A: INVESTING IN EDUCATION
Almquist seeks to bring community together to support students
J
ackie Almquist is the new director of development at the MCC Foundation. The position lets Almquist share her passion for education—and make a difference in students’ lives. Talk about your new role. As director of development, my job is to develop relationships and enlist advocates to invest in our students and our community. MCC has many investment opportunities for individuals, corporations and foundations to enhance our programs and give the gift of education to students who otherwise may not be able to go to school. How do donors make a difference? I see the mission of the College as a three-legged stool. We provide geographic, emotional and financial accessibility. We’re in your neighborhood—or online. We have small class sizes and instructors who care. And we’re affordable, with opportunities for financial assistance. Through the Foundation, donors help the College live and breathe this mission. Donors help students fulfill their dreams.
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How can community members support MCC? There are a variety of ways to invest in our students. Donors can work with us to support scholarships, capital projects, programs or faculty. Because we’re a 501c3 nonprofit, donations are tax-deductible.
MCC Foundation Last year, the Foundation awarded 284 scholarships to students. To find out more, visit www.mccneb.edu/foundation.
Picture perfect
Foundation funds help aspiring photographer build her business
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ver since her grandmother gave her a camera as a young girl, Lisa Bell has loved snapping photos. Thanks to the MCC Foundation, this Gretna mother now has the support to take her photos from a part-time hobby into a career. Bell received funding from the Foundation’s Blue Sky Fund to help launch her small business, Memories by Lisa Ann. In front of a panel of judges, the MCC photography student presented her proposal to register her business, create business cards and build a website.
Bell’s return to school started with her daughter’s senior pictures. Buoyed by the positive response she got from others about her photos, she enrolled in MCC’s Photography program at Elkhorn Valley Campus. She plans to graduate from MCC in 2014, and in five years, she hopes to make her business a full-time career. “No matter how old you are, you can always attend school and accomplish your goal,” she said. “I wanted to see this through so that my goal of becoming a photographer and attending college is met.”
BLUE SKY
FUND
“If it wasn’t for the Blue Sky Fund, I would still be just taking pictures instead of being incorporated as a business,” she said.
Watch Lisa’s testimonial at www.youtube.com/mccnebraska
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A helping hand to local businesses Honor society offers students’ talents to resource-constrained businesses MCC’s Kappa Beta Delta business honor society is reaching out to local businesses and organizations to help meet their needs. The Kappa Beta Delta Service-Learning Leadership project seeks to strengthen partnerships between the College and the community by connecting Kappa Beta Delta students with businesses who need an extra hand. “In the post-recession period, businesses are resourceconstrained—both financial and human resources,” said David Wilhelm, business management instructor and Kappa Beta Delta advisor. “There may be projects they have not been able to complete or even start due to those constraints. This is a great way to leverage our students’ talent to help.” Each year, about 25 MCC students with top grades are inducted in the international honor society. The project aims to promote the society’s mission of service while strengthening students’ skills as future business professionals.
“The goal is to get MCC students practical, hands-on experience—not just the textbook experience—so that when they exit MCC and are sitting in an interview, the student can immediately reference the things they have learned and practiced as a student,” Wilhelm said. Kappa Beta Delta invites businesses and organizations to propose projects of any size or scope for students to complete. The talented, high-achieving students can help with any projects that give them the ability to demonstrate leadership, organization, problem-solving and communications skills. For more information, contact DWilhelm@mccneb.edu. Businesses and organizations can fill out an online application at www.mccneb.edu/kbd/leadershipdevelopment.asp.
Higher Learning Commission grants MCC 10-year reaccreditation MCC has received another 10 years of accreditation, the maximum length possible, after a comprehensive evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The 69-page final report details MCC’s satisfactory compliance with five criteria for accreditation set forth by the HLC: (1) mission; (2) integrity: ethical and responsible conduct; (3) teaching and learning; quality, resources and support; (4) teaching and learning: evaluation and improvement; and (5) resources, planning and institutional effectiveness. MCC submitted a report in February detailing the institution’s compliance with each standard. To 21 • community • www.mccneb.edu
demonstrate continuous institutional improvement, MCC also showcased several of its ongoing projects: Adjunct Faculty Institute, the Gateway to College program, e-advising and developmental math modules. A team of evaluators also visited MCC on March 18. “The overall results from the reaccreditation process are outstanding,” said Randy Schmailzl, president of MCC. “I am proud of the MCC community for working as a team and striving to improve and invent the many new ways we are educating our students.” Evaluation teams have visited MCC seven other times in its accreditation history. The next comprehensive review is set for 2022–23.
Location spotlight: South Omaha Campus I One of Omaha’s ‘hidden gems,’ campus’ historic roots run deep
nside the Connector Building at South Omaha Campus, the South Omaha People marker honors the history of those who began journeying to “The Magic City” in 1883. Hallway photos document the stockyards and meat-packing center that once formed a major part of this community’s livelihood. Along Edward Babe Gomez Boulevard sidewalk, dozens of markers describe the historic site, now home to MCC’s largest campus.
Omaha by Design recently named the South Omaha Campus and markers one of Omaha’s hidden gems. While the campus is a treasure trove of history, it is also chockfull of the latest technology and 21st-century training. The buildings may have changed over time, but the community remains as vibrant as ever.
Since 1975, MCC has been present at 27th and Q streets. Nebraska State Legislator Eugene T. Mahoney had an active interest in the revitalization of South Omaha in the former packing plant area and helped MCC acquire funding to open the Mahoney Building in 1978. The Industrial Training Center followed in 1979; in 2007, the gleaming Connector Building added classrooms and Student Services to connect the two facilities.
South Omaha Campus 27th and Q streets Highlights: »» “Homage to the Welder,” sculpture by Les Bruning »» South Omaha People marker, Connector Building »» Historic South Omaha photos, campus hallways »» Historic markers, along Edward Babe Gomez Boulevard community • www.mccneb.edu • 22
Stay informed. Connect with your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Community.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; www.mccneb.edu/community @mccneb
Need a helping hand in your organization? MCC business honor students are here to help. Details on page 21.