April 4th Recruitment Event: this is a duty day and the Open House will be from 4-7PM. Faculty will be in their areas and prospective students will be brought to those program areas. Faculty should be prepared to share information on their program, what the industry is like, what the daily routine in the real world is, job outlook, … It was suggested to have someone from your advisory committee present to address career options. It is o’k to have a couple of current students in attendance too for demonstrations and to answer questions.  The central commons will be used for various booths: financial aid, student life, admissions, undecided major area, gen ed and Apple Valley will be housed in the Dakota Room.

True Blue Gala is scheduled for Thursday, April 19th and you should have received a couple of emails regarding purchase of tickets. It will be at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville beginning at 5:30PM; semiformal. Fun stuff will be happening: Lakeville Liquors is running a wine wall; silent auction-if your program contributes an item, the money raised will be placed in your program area’s scholarships! Programs should be extending invitations to advisory committee members and anyone else you are connected with. Also- faculty and alumni of the year, technical advocacy and spirit of DCTC awards will be presented. By the way $55.00 of the cost on a ticket to the event goes toward this fundraising effort. There will be a cash bar.

Position posted: for a Student Learning Assessment Coordinator open to unlimited faculty. 4 credits each semester release time. Dean Larson will be working with whoever is offered the position and can be contacted with questions regarding the posting however applications should be placed with VP Murtaugh.

Absence Policy is still being reviewed. I thought it interesting that out of the faculty that responded 43 stated they have an attendance policy, 5 do not and 6 have one that they consider not real formal. 17 of the 43 that have a policy thought it was working excellently and 14 stated good. Interesting that 20 stated theirs’ was inadequate. Wonder what’s up with the latter; perhaps it isn’t consistently enforced. At this time committee members felt the issue should be left alone or at a minimum if something needs to be written in the college student handbook to state it is up to the program areas/departments.

Apologies for communicating a little late this month; I’ve been busy in my area.