If your instructor rocks, make sure you vote so their efforts are recognized

Voting is NOW open! Is your instructor dedicated to teaching? An inspiration to students? Committed to excellence? If so, elect your awesome instructor to be the next Instructor of the Year. HURRY – voting closes on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at midnight.

Log on here to submit your vote.

Instructors are eligible if they:

• are currently a full-time DCTC instuctor
• have completed three consecutive years of full-time teaching
• have not been awarded Instructor of the Year in the previous five years

Once your vote has been submitted, finalists will receive a rank. Top finalists (up to 10) will proceed to the next stage where they will write an essay and participate in a personal interview. At the end of the process, the finalist with the highest cumulative score will be designated as this year’s Instructor of the Year.

To vote, you will need:

Blue Knights Men’s Basketball team play Kirkwood Community College

Date: Saturday, Feb. 9

Time: 4 P.M.

Location: Salvation Army

Join us this Saturday for DCTC’s Basketball Game. Pepsi will be sponsoring the event. There will be free giveaways for all fans in attendance.

DCTC students will have a chance to win prizes by participating in the halftime game. Following the halftime game there will be a drawing for cash prizes.

Come to support the DCTC Blue Knights and for your chance to win!

Remaining DCTC Blue Knight Basketball Games

• Feb 14, 2013 | North Dakota State College of Science | 8:00 pm | Wahpeton, ND
• Feb 16, 2013 | Gogebic Community College | 1:00 pm | Home – The Salvation Army
• Feb 19, 2013 | University of St. Thomas (JV) | 7:00 pm | Home – The Salvation Army
• Feb 23, 2013 | Metro All Stars | 2:00 pm | Home – The Salvation Army
• Feb 27, 2013 | Regional Tournament Gogebic Community College | 7:00 pm | Ironwood, MI

For more information, visit GoBlueKnights.com

NEH and ALA award 25-book set

The Dakota County Technical College Library is one of 840 libraries and state humanities councils across the country selected to receive the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The program aims to familiarize public audiences in the United States with the people, places, history, faith and cultures of Muslims living in our nation and around the world.

Reference Librarian Barbara Tuttle

Reference Librarian Barbara Tuttle took the lead for the college in applying for the Bookshelf. She noted that she received support from a number of faculty who welcomed the chance to include Bookshelf materials in their course curricula, including Wes Jorde, Anna Verhoye and Denise Strenger. The college also received support from two organizations, CAIR-Minnesota, a state branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the Islamic Resource Group, an educational outreach organization dedicated to building bridges between Muslims and people of other faiths.

“Our college and library wish to thank Lori Saroya, co-founder and executive director of CAIR-MN, and Zafar Siddiqui, Minnesota director of the Islamic Resource Group, for partnering with us on our Muslim Journeys application,” Tuttle said.

Tuttle added that the college will hold one public program as a condition of the award. “We are leaning toward a showing of Koran by Heart, an HBO documentary about Muslim children coming of age while competing during a global Qur’an recitation contest. We would like to have a scholar or expert introduce the film and lead a discussion after the showing. We also envision having a panel of Muslim students from DCTC who could speak about their experiences and provide additional background.”

Muslim Journeys Bookshelf titles (organized by theme):

American Stories:

• A Quiet Revolution by Leila Ahmed
• Prince Among Slaves by Terry Alford
• The Columbia Sourcebook of Muslims in the United States, edited by Edward E. Curtis IV
• Acts of Faith by Eboo Patel
• The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman’s Journey to Love and Islam by G. Willow Wilson

Connected Histories:

• The House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance by Jim Al-Khalili
• In an Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh
• When Asia Was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks Who Created the “Riches of the East” by Stewart Gordon
• Leo Africanus by Amin Maalouf, translated by Peter Sluglett
• The Ornament of the World by Maria Rosa Menocal

Literary Reflections

• Minaret by Leila Aboulela
• The Arabian Nights (anonymous), edited by Muhsin Mahdi, translated by Husain Haddawy
• The Conference of the Birds by Farid al-Din Attar, translated by Dick Davis and Afkham Darbandi
• Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi
• Snow by Orhan Pamuk, translated by Maureen Freely

Pathways of Faith

• Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan A. C. Brown
• The Story of the Qur’an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life by Ingrid Mattson
• The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam by F. E. Peters
• The Art of Hajj by Venetia Porter
• Rumi: Poet and Mystic, edited and translated by Reynold A. Nicholson

Points of View

• In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar
• Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi
• Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
• House of Stone by Anthony Shadid
• Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie

Art Architecture and Film

• The Art of Hajj by Venetia Porter
• Islamic Arts by Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair
• Islamic Art Spots (short films designed, written, and presented by D. Fairchild Ruggles, and produced by Twin Cities Public Television)
• Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World (2011)
• Prince Among Slaves (2007)
• Koran by Heart (2011)

The books and films comprising the Bookshelf were selected with the advice librarians and cultural programming experts, as well as distinguished scholars in the fields of anthropology, world history, religious studies, interfaith dialogue, the history of art and architecture, world literature, Middle East studies, Southeast Asian studies, African studies, and Islamic studies.

The Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys is a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the American Library Association. Major support for the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf was provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additional support for the arts and media components was provided by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

DCTC Library Mission Statement

Our Library will provide informational resources to the students, faculty, and staff at DCTC and assist the users in locating and using these resources. Our goal is not only to support classroom instruction but also provide information and resources for students to complete assignments, and foster the development of the lifelong skill of using Library tools to satisfy future information needs.

To check out the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys, please visit the DCTC Library or contact:

• DCTC Library
  651-423-8366
• Michael Kirby
  Head Librarian
  651-423-8406
• Barbara Tuttle
  Reference & Instruction Librarian
  651-423-8345
• Barbara Schuldt
  Cataloging & ILL Technician
  651-423-8598
• Danielle Hoveland
  Circulation Technician
  651-423-8654

Instructor exemplifies best knowledge and experience in green industry

Jeff Kleinboehl | Landscape Horticulture Instructor

An instructor in the Landscape Horticulture program at Dakota County Technical College, Jeff Kleinboehl recently completed the necessary qualifications to be recertified through the Certified Professional program administered by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, or MNLA. Kleinboehl had to pass a comprehensive examination administered by the MNLA and the University of Minnesota. The examination consists of plant identification, landscape planning, sales and marketing procedures, general knowledge of horticulture and practical application skills.

To fulfill recertification requirements, Kleinboehl had to attend a series of continuing education classes and participate in industry improvement activities. Recertification requirements encourage green industry professionals to remain informed about the latest research and trends in the nursery and landscape trades. The recertification process is required every three years. The designation ensures that business patrons of MNLA Certified Professionals benefit from the best knowledge and experience in the green industry.

About the MNLA

The Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association is a statewide trade association with more than 1,000 members. Association members include nurseries, garden centers, landscape designers, landscape contractors, irrigation contractors, professional gardening services, tree care specialists, commercial flower growers, and turf and landscape management professionals from throughout Minnesota and neighboring states. MNLA represents and provides service to its member businesses through educational programs, conventions and trade shows, marketing activities and public policy initiatives.

About Landscape Horticulture at DCTC

Reflecting the amazing multiplicity found in the all-important world of horticultural, this green-standard program provides the technical and business skills needed to succeed as a professional in the landscaping industry. First-year students learn the fundamental science and technical skills related to all fields of landscape horticulture. Second-year students may elect to specialize in one of three interest areas:

• Landscape Design and Sales
• Landscape Construction
• Greenhouse Production

About the new Sustainable Food Systems Certificate

The new Sustainable Food Systems certificate offers a practical, hands-on learning experience in the eco-smart, evolving and advantageous practice of small-scale and urban agriculture. Students will learn how to grow, harvest and market sustainably grown produce in metropolitan environments. This certificate program is custom-made for people with a rich interest in growing healthy and nutritious foods based on organic, sustainable methods. You will get outdoors and engage your mind and body while learning the best ways to grow and sell the best food possible. The certificate will be offered for the first time starting fall semester 2013.

College will provide specialized training through a $216,376 MJSP grant

(left to right) MPC CEO and President David Kutoff, DCTC President Ron Thomas, MJSP Director Paul Moe

MPC, a Minneapolis based IT Asset Lifecycle Management company, has partnered with Dakota County Technical College on a two-year training initiative. DCTC will provide technical skills training to 149 MPC employees over two years thanks to a $216,376 Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Grant.

“As MPC grows their business of refurbishing and recycling electronics, we are excited to provide specific technical training to their employees,” said Patrick McQuillan, DCTC’s dean of continuing education and customized training. “DCTC’s Customized Training division is well-suited to meet the training needs of the state’s workforce. We are pleased to be working with the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership in this important training endeavor.”

Headquartered in Mendota Heights, MPC has been helping businesses with responsible IT Asset Disposition since 1983. In 2011, the company began evolving their business model to focus on full IT Asset Lifecycle Management , which includes services like onsite data sanitization, onsite data destruction, technology refurbishing services and IT asset remarketing.

With the grant, DCTC will conduct training in the following areas:

• Operator Machine Training
• Demanufacturing Techniques
• Recycling Techniques
• Parts Recovery Techniques
• Hazardous Materials Identification and Disposal
• Beg. Computer Diagnostic Software Training
• Int. Computer Diagnostic Software Training
• Beg. Computer Hardware Testing
• Int. Computer Hardware Testing
• Beg. Computer Rebuild and Refurbish
• Int. Computer Rebuild and Refurbish
• Welding
• Soldering
• Process Improvement Strategies
• Mobile Training Technology
• Machine Guarding and Safety
• Train the Trainer
• Online Training Content Creation
• Computer Skills
• Lean Processes

MPC CEO and President David Kutoff

David Kutoff, MPC CEO and president, is looking forward to seeing the positive results the training will bring. “We are very excited about MPC receiving this grant through the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership program,” Kutoff said. “We will not only be improving our team’s skills, but will also be able to expand the professional services we provide our customers. We are grateful for the support of DCTC and their commitment to the quality of business in Dakota County.”

About MPC

MPC is an innovative IT Asset Lifecycle Management (ITLM) business setting the standard for secure and certified services that ensure customers maximize the value they receive from technology throughout the entire lifecycle, from acquisition to disposition. Founded in 1983, MPC proudly holds R2, e-Stewards, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and NAID AAA certifications. For more information, visit www.mpc-e.com.

About DCTC

DCTC’s Customized Training staff members are experienced in grant administration. Over the past 20 years, DCTC has received and executed tens of millions of dollars in local, state and federal grants to support workforce development in Minnesota. Since 2000, Dakota County Technical College has partnered with more than 60 Minnesota businesses administering more than $12 million in MJSP training grants.

Dakota County Technical College’s Customized Training division specializes in offering training and consulting services in the following areas: Business & Management, Computers & Technology, Health Care, Manufacturing & Trades, Transportation & Safety. DCTC guides companies through comprehensive training and development programs that bridge all work types and positions—enabling employers to provide a cross-company/cross-department focus and message, with the flexibility of using multiple formats.

For more information about Continuing Education & Customized Training at DCTC, contact:

• Patrick McQuillan
  Dean of CT and Continuing Education
  651-423-8318