Beehive Blog – October 15, 2021

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Check out the following links for important RCTC information:

Scholarships Available
Learning Center
Outstanding Educator
Study Tips
Shhhhh… RCTC Meditation Room



OVER 200 STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS

The RCTC Foundation offers a variety of scholarships to incoming, returning, and graduating students. All scholarships offered through the RCTC Foundation are made possible by generous donors supporting the effort to provide scholarship and program support to students who might not otherwise have the resources to pursue higher education. Most RCTC students juggle multiple responsibilities — balancing work, family and career preparation.  Especially in difficult times, a scholarship can make all the difference.

Many students leave RCTC less in debt, thanks to a Foundation scholarship!

  • More than 200 students receive scholarships each year.
  • Most scholarship awards start at $500 and range as high as $5,000 with $1,000 being the most common award.
  • You will receive a higher score on your application if you follow the directions and have written, thoughtful and articulate statements or essays.

The online scholarship application portal will be open for the 2020-21 academic year from January 6 – February 14, 2020.

For additional information, please contact the RCTC Foundation Office at foundation@rctc.edu or 507-281-7771 – Heintz Center, Room H1301.

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LEARNING CENTER OPEN OVER MEA

The Learning Center will be open for modified hours over MEA – October 17 and 18. Tutor availability varies by discipline. Fall MEA Tutor Schedule

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NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR TODAY!

Do you know instructors who demonstrate extra effort in classes, exemplary service to RCTC or Rochester and have a great attitude?  If so, please consider nominating them for “RCTC Outstanding Educator.”

 Criteria:

  • Teaching strategies and materials
  • Content expertise and professional growth
  • Service to students, institution, profession
  • Standards for assessment of student learning and performance
  • Models RCTC values

 Guiding Principles:
Nominations can be made by any student, faculty, staff or administrator and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on November 2, 2018. No self-nominations and/or solicited nominations are permissible. Winners will be announced the second week of January, 2019. Please direct any questions you have to any of the committee members.

 Committee members:
Faculty:  Randal Renken, Kimberly Rowley, Brendan Shea, Jaime Tjossem

Student:  Cora Casper

Administration:  Michelle Pyfferoen

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STUDY TIPS

We all have the ability to concentrate – sometimes. Think of the times when you were “lost” in something you enjoy: a sport, playing music, a good game, a movie. Total concentration.

 But at other times,

  • Your mind wanders from one thing to another
  • Your worries distract you
  • Outside distractions take you away before you know it
  • The material is boring, difficult, and/or not interesting to you.

You can prepare yourself to succeed in your studies by developing and appreciating the following habits:

  • Take responsibility for yourself
    • Recognize that in order to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time, and your resources
  • Center yourself around your values and principles
    • Don’t let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important
  • Put first things first
    • Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don’t let others, or other interests, distract you from your goals
    • Avoid your cell phone or telephone
  • Discover your key productivity periods and places
    • Morning, afternoon, or evening?
    • Find spaces where you can be the most focused and productive. Prioritize these for your most difficult study challenges
  • First understand others, then attempt to be understood
    • When you have an issue with an instructor (a questionable grade, an assignment deadline, etc.) put yourself in the instructor’s place.
    • Now ask yourself how you can best make your argument given his/her situation
  • Look for better solutions to problems
    • For example, if you don’t understand the course material, don’t just re-read it. Try making flashcards and take them with you wherever you go. When you have free time…study them!
    • Try something else! Consult with the professor, a tutor, an academic advisor, a classmate, a study group, or the Learning Center
  • Focus
    • Before you begin studying, take a few minutes to summarize a few objectives, gather what you will need, and think of a general strategy of accomplishment
  • Take notes as you study
    • Write notes in the margins of your notebook/textbook, etc.
    • Read captions, footnotes, graphs, charts, maps, pictures, etc.  They are often on exams or quizzes
    • Answer study questions at the end of chapters
    • Know the vocabulary
    • Summarize the material in the chapter
    • Draw pictures, charts, diagrams, and highlight with various colors if it will help you remember the material
    • Refer to your syllabus
  • Change topics
    • Change the subject you study every one to two hours for variety
  • Vary your study activities
    • Alternate reading with more active learning exercises
    • If you have a lot of reading, try the SQ3R method
    • Ask yourself how you could increase your activity level while studying. Perhaps a group will be best? Creating study questions?
    • Ask your teacher for alternative strategies for learning. The more active your learning, the better.
  • Take regular, scheduled breaks that fit you
    • Do something different from what you’ve been doing (e.g., walk around if you’ve been sitting), and in a different area
  • Consider yourself in a win-win situation
    • When you contribute your best to a class, you, your fellow students, and even your teacher will benefit. Your grade can then be one additional check on your performance

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SHHHH…. RCTC QUIET ROOM

Did you know that RCTC has set aside a room for quiet meditation?  It is located in Memorial Hall (MH212).  Students are invited to use the Quiet Room whenever they’d like according to the following guidelines:

  • This space is intended for meditation or quiet reflection.
  • Respect that this is a quiet space. Please take conversation, music, game playing, electronics and any noisemakers to other locations on campus.
  • This is a cell phone and electronics free zone.
  • Bring in what you need but leave nothing behind.
  • Please keep this area clear and free of messages. There are appropriate message boards for your use located on campus.
  • Study space is available in the library. Please do not study in the Quiet Room.
  • So that all may have access to the Quiet Room, please limit your visit to no more than 30 minutes at a time.
  • General capacity should be limited to ten (10) individuals
  • Please respect each individual who uses this space.
  • Please communicate any questions or concerns via the comment cards.

If you haven’t already visited the Quiet Room, come check it out.

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Upcoming Events

Thursday, October 14, 2021, Student Senate Meeting

Tuesday, October 19, 2021, U of MN-Rochester Visit and Upper Iowa University Visit

Thursday, October 28, 2021, Student Senate Meeting

Tuesday, November 2, 2021, Meditation in the Compassion Corner

Tuesday, November 9, 2021, U of MN-Rochester Visit and U of WI-La Crosse Visit

Thursday, November 18, 2021, Student Senate Meeting

Tuesday, November 30, 2021, U of MN-Rochester Visit

Thursday, December 2, 2021, Student Senate Meeting

Tuesday, December 7, U of MN-Rochester Visit, Meditation in the Compassion Corner

Thursday, December 16, 2021, Student Senate Meeting