Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Practical Nursing program receives $15,000 for medication dispensing system
More than $1.2 million in new equipment was awarded to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) to support education and training in occupations urgently requiring larger workforces. This funding was made possible by state appropriation and matching funds from businesses around the state.
Caroline Wood, DCTC student, practices medicine dispensing on the PYXIS MedStation 4000.
“The new equipment will help us to deliver the best training in high-demand fields such as machine technology, engineering, automotive technology, healthcare, information technology and the sciences,” said MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone.
Dakota County Technical College received $15,000 of the state funds for the Practical Nursing program to purchase an automated medicine dispensing system, the PYXIS MedStation 4000.
“Our students are so excited to use this system because they know this is the way medicines are dispensed in acute care settings at local hospitals where they typically work,” said William Vanstralen, an instructor in the Practical Nursing program. “Students can now be trained on this technology in a real, hands-on learning environment and feel confident using this system during their clinical experiences.”
The PYXIS MedStation 4000 uses computer access and requires nurses to log in with a user name and password. According to Debra MacDonald, dean of allied health and director of nursing at DCTC, this method of dispensing medication decreases many potential errors by recording the withdrawn medication and allowing nurses to only remove prescribed medication for the patients they are assigned.
DCTC is one of the few colleges in the metro area that uses this new technology. “We are thrilled to lead the way with the PYXIS MedStation 4000 medication dispensing system,” said MacDonald. “This cutting-edge technology enhances our overall program and is a huge benefit to our students.”
For more information about Practical Nursing at DCTC, contact:
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Homecoming on campus, DCTC style
Dakota County Technical College is bringing homecoming to campus for the first time. This Saturday, Sept. 22, DCTC is hosting Blue 42: A Community Gathering and Celebration of Our College. Join us between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Ames Field on DCTC’s main campus in Rosemount, Minn. (map)
Homecoming is an annual tradition at universities, colleges and high schools, dating back to 1911. Alumni are invited back, community and former residents come together, and students attend a football game and watch a parade with the school’s marching band. And, of course, who can forget the homecoming king and queen?
Just like the tradition we all know, DCTC is bringing everyone together, from first-time visitors to longtime college supporters. Blue 42 events kick off with a 4.2-mile fun run/walk to support student scholarships. At the same time, visitors are welcome to enjoy free family fun with batting cages, face painting, and a meet and greet with former Minnesota Twins pitcher, Kevin Tapani. BUZN 102.9’s FISH is the morning’s music entertainment. Next on the lineup are the Spatter Sisters at noon. Expect a lively performance to get the audience moving and shaking! Free food will be provided to top off the festivities.
Stay for the grand opening of Ames Field, one of the finest two-year college baseball facilities in the nation. To celebrate, the Blue Knights men’s baseball team is hosting a fall-ball game against the Western Technical College Cavaliers with free admission and giveaways.
Visit www.dctc.edu/go/blue42 for more information and to register for the Blue 4.2-mile Fun Run/Walk.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Blue Knights men’s soccer vs. ICCC Tritons during 2011-12 season.
DCTC athletes are off to a remarkable start
The Blue Knights men’s soccer team reached a milestone last week, earning a spot on the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division 1 Top 25 poll. This marks the first time the team has achieved a ranking in the poll. Their only two losses this year have been to the Tritons of Iowa Central Community College, who are currently undefeated and ranked 20 on NJCAA’s D1 poll.
When asked about the honor, Head Soccer Coach Cam Stoltz remarked, “We have always been respected and are proud to be recognized for our hard work.” The team consists of 20 freshman and five returning sophomores. “We have built our team to be a regional power and national contender. It comes down to playing at the highest level consistently,” said Stoltz.
Men’s soccer, with an overall record of 5–2, return to Ames Soccer Complex on Sept. 18, against the Wood Ducks of Century College. They have a challenging schedule coming their way, with a match on Saturday against the #2 nationally ranked and seven-time national champion, the Roughriders of Yavapai College in Arizona. “This will be an exciting season with a bright future,” added Stoltz.
Monday, September 10, 2012
RHS teachers get a taste of two-year college life
If you were on campus Aug. 30, you may have noticed a few large groups of people touring the Dakota County Technical College facilities. To best advise their students, teachers from Rosemount High School wanted to see what their two-year college-bound students experience. Nathan Hansen from the Rosemount Town Pages tells us the full story:
RHS administrators hope getting familiar with Dakota County Technical College will help teachers advise students
High school teachers often serve as guides to students trying to make sense of their post-graduation options, and at Rosemount High School teachers are getting a clearer idea of what life after high school might look like for students who are not headed for a four-year college.
On Aug. 30, RHS teachers traveled as a group to Dakota County Technical College to explore the programs available at their post-secondary neighbor to the east. The idea, assistant principal Kim Budde said, was to give teachers a better idea what is available at DCTC so teachers are better able to advise their students.
“We are really good as educators at coaching our kids through a four-year experience because we did that,” said Budde, who arranged the tour. “Some people were surprised to see what programs are at DCTC.”
Erin Edlund, DCTC’s director of institutional advancement, is used to that kind of surprise. She talks to people regularly who still think of DCTC as a vocational school even though it has been part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system for more than a decade. DCTC has several sports programs and some students have gone on to compete in NCAA programs. It has a nanotechnology program and some two-year degrees that can lead to jobs that pay $75,000 or more right out of school.
“For some people, specific training and right into the world of work is a better option for them,” Budde said. “I just really want to identify post-seconday options for our kids and have a good sense of what is there.”
RHS teachers split up by subject area and took campus tours that focused on their particular areas of expertise, but each of the groups got to see the entire campus.
Edlund was happy to have the visitors see what DCTC has available, and the teachers were excited to get acquainted with a new resource just down the road.
Budde said the visit might have spawned some partnerships that go beyond advising students.
“It was a great day,” Budde said. “People are still stopping me in the hall today talking about how exciting it was to go get out and learn more about their campus.”
This is not the end of Rosemount teachers’ explorations of post-secondary options. Budde has already scheduled a visit to Inver Hills Community College in February, and she is considering at least one more.
To learn more about visiting DCTC, contact:
- Barbara Seleski
Administrative Assistant to Director of Institutional Advancement
651-423-8777
Monday, September 10, 2012
Team competing for first time at NJCAA DII level
Dakota County Technical College fastpitch softball announced the team’s 2013 recruiting class, which will compete for the first time at the NJCAA Division II level. This year also marks the first season the Blue Knights will be competing in the North Dakota Conference. Being in a conference not only helps with scheduling games, it also provides an opportunity to recognize players for exceptional athletic and academic achievements.
“Our first year of recruiting has been terrific,” said Tom Cross, head fastpitch softball coach at DCTC. He noted that the new recruits bring great talent in a wide variety of positions. “I look forward to fielding a competitive team in our first year at DII,” Cross added.
2013 Blue Knights Women’s Fastpitch Softball Lineup
- Alyssa Kaiswatum of Regina, Saskatchewan — Pitcher / First Baseman
- Amanda Orrell of Santa Maria, Calif. — First Baseman / Outfielder
- Bethani Athey of Elk River, Minn. — Catcher / Third Baseman
- Brooklynn Searles of Farmington, Minn. — Outfielder
- Cassie LaValle of St. Paul, Minn. — Outfielder
- Clarissa Bryant of Eagan, Minn. — Infielder
- Janna Hall of Greenbush, Minn. — Outfielder
- Jordan Tuma of New Prague, Minn. — Catcher
- Katie Donohue of St. Paul, Minn. — Pitcher
- Kendall Palfi of Lakeville, Minn. — Pitcher
- Robyn Rohr of Lakeville, Minn. — Infielder / Catcher
- Nikki Tiedeman of Richfield, Minn. — Utility
- Maria Kehrer of Lakeville, Minn. — Infielder
- Kayla Frandrup of Lakeville, Minn. — Utility
The team’s first official game is in spring 2013 (date to be determined). Check Blue Knights fastpitch softball full schedule for updates.
For more information about Blue Knights athletics, visit goblueknights.com.
Interested in joining the team? For more information about Blue Knights fastpitch softball, contact:
- Tom Cross
Head Fastpitch Softball Coach
651-423-8677
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