Sue Judd's work on the complex testing and trouble shooting of Datatel systems during the semester conversion earned her the first Part-Time Employee of the Month Award.
One of our key events to celebrate our 50th anniversary will be Columbus State Day, when we invite the community to come see what we do best— educate! But first we need your help. 
March 7, 2013
Advocate for international students commended
Amy Burrell has worked more than 25 years advocating for the thousands of international students at Columbus State.
Her dedicated work in that role earned her the March Staff Employee of the Month award, given by Dr. Harrison at his monthly First Wednesday meeting.
The college enrolls students of more than 100 different nationalities, and according to Burrell’s supervisor Misty Mahefkey, “Amy goes above and beyond to help those students become acclimated to not only Columbus State, but to the United States.”
“Amy is quite knowledgeable about international higher education and you can tell it’s her passion,” says Mahefkey. “In addition to her typical duties advising students, she has organized many events to help enrich their experience at Columbus State, such as the International Thanksgiving Dinner, international student orientation, and special tax seminars for international students.”
“Amy worked diligently on the college’s recertification with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” says Jennifer Williams, specialist in the department. Williams was one person who nominated Burrell for the SEOM award. “International Enrollment Services went from five employees to only two for a period of six months. Amy multi-tasked tirelessly and was never too busy or inaccessible to the students or to me,” Williams says.
“Amy is an absolute expert in a field that requires constant attention to immigration policy. She works with our international students from before they apply, to after their graduation. Her level of dedication is to be admired!”
For the first time, the Columbus State home page is showcasing outstanding faculty as well as inspiring student and graduate stories.
The first set of faculty profiles shows women in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields, starting with Adele Wright, Ph.D., of Mechanical Engineering. The series was arranged by Kim Brazwell, manager of Diversity Initiatives, in honor of Women’s History Month.
The faculty features will enable the college to show not only unique stories, but also emphasize that Columbus State faculty bring advanced degrees and decades of real-world knowledge into the classroom. Our instructors are a powerful answer to the “junior college” stereotype we sometimes encounter as we tell the Columbus State story.
“We're featuring faculty, in addition to students and graduates, on the home page to show prospective students and parents the high quality of the faculty at Columbus State. It's one way to assure them that they'll get an outstanding education here,” says Will Kopp, VP of Marketing & Communications.
A number of other profiles are in the works, including some of our Distinguished Teaching Award winners. If you want to suggest an outstanding professor or an outstanding student, contact Tony Goins in Marketing & Communications.
“Columbus State Day” to Be Key Event for idUS 2013
IdUS is Columbus’ yearly celebration of creativity and innovation, and we’re thrilled to announce that Columbus State Day—when we’ll invite community members of all ages to join us for educational activities, demonstrations, workshops, and 45-minute self-contained classes— will be the main idUS event for Saturday, October 12.
We’re getting some great proposals and ideas for Columbus State Day from faculty and staff, and we wanted to share a few and encourage you to keep them coming through Spring Break at http://ow.ly/hEwiN
A sample of proposals:
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Ever wanted to learn another language? Fun interactive games are a great way to introduce yourself to German or Spanish. (Modern Languages)
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Learn to create amazing paintings—and keep your hands paint-free! (Digital Design and Graphics)
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How do first responders help at the scene of an accident? EMS and Fire Science Technologies have proposed a compelling demonstration.
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Even the most innovative teams can get stuck, but fun, creative problem-solving activities can help. (Business Management)
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Your kitchen is a learning lab for young children, particularly when families learn how to cook together. (Early Childhood Development)
We’re still seeking ideas as well, so if you have a great one for another department, you can also use the form link above to submit those. A few we particularly like so far:
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Building Successful Teacher-Parent Relationships (Early Childhood Education)
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Caring for Your Elderly Loved One: Tips & Resources ( Nursing)
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Health Tips to Lengthen the Life of Your Pet (Veterinary Technology)
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Signing with Babies and Toddlers (Interpreter Education program)
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Entrepreneurship for Beginners (Business Management/ Small Business Development Center)
“Operation Feed” starts March 11 on campus
The Mid-Ohio Food Bank’s annual food drive, Operation Feed, is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Businesses, schools, government agencies, and civic groups from across our community join forces to help with this worthwhile endeavor. At Columbus State, we will provide several ways to donate to Operation Feed.
You can drop off the most-needed food items such as canned pasta meals, canned fruits, tuna, vegetables, meat, soup and peanut butter in an Operation Feed donation box. The boxes will be distributed on the Columbus Campus and Regional Learning Centers beginning Monday, March 11.
Monetary donations are very much needed. Did you know that each dollar donated provides three meals? And with Operation Feed, 100 percent of each campaign contribution goes directly to providing food to those who need it. You can donate by payroll deduction by sending the form on the intranet to Barb Smith-Allen.
You can also donate directly to Mid-Ohio Food Bank online through the Operation Feed Virtual Food Drive. After selecting your donation level, you check out and indicate “CSCC” on the company menu.
Columbus State’s Operation Feed drive will run through April 30. If you have questions you may contact Barb Smith-Allen, Sue Thomas, or Betty Richardson. Please be generous and support Operation Feed!
Save the date for the New Professionals ERG meetings
Are you a new employee of the college? Are you a seasoned employee of the college who has recently changed roles or careers? Are you exploring the path of entrepreneurship? If any of these situations apply to you, you’re a perfect fit for the New Professionals Employee Resource Group (ERG)! Save these dates and stop by one of the remaining meetings this semester.
Monday, March 25, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. in the Library Studio
Topic: Health and Wellness (and Health Care Plans)
Guest Speaker: Nichole Bowman-Glover - Wellness coordinator, will present information and take questions on wellness and the Health Rewards program.Monday, April 29, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. in the Library Studio
Topic: Small Business Creation
Guest Speaker: Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta – Columbus State Small Business Development Center, will discuss starting a business. Her expertise comes from both her experience at SBDC and creating her own family business. For more information about this ERG, email erg@cscc.edu .
Seats still available in Hostmanship class
The employee course “Hostmanship: Customer Service and Leadership reframed: The Art of Serving Others" offered Friday, March 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. has seats still available. Register here: http://web.cscc.edu/is/employeetraining/roster.asp?C=433&D=2918
Ideas to Go: Supporting students’ basic needs so they can learn
The next Ideas to Go! topic is “Supporting Students’ Basic Needs So They Can Learn.” Bring a lunch and join the discussion on Tuesday, March 19, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in WD 1094. Judah Gartman, former Student Ambassador, and now Ohio Benefits Bank coordinator, will lead the discussion.
Our students face unique needs and obstacles from homelessness to lack of transportation. The office of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEaL), along with the Columbus State C.A.R.E.S. committee, has been assessing these special student needs and creating programs to help meet them. Learn about the findings, plans to address these needs, and share your own ideas about helping students manage the major issues they face. The group will also discuss a new learning opportunity for employees that will include “poverty simulation” and “compassion training.” Pre-registration for this session is encouraged.
Do you have topic to share with Columbus State? The Human Capacity Development Department can help you host an Ideas to Go! conversation. Session hosts provide a brief overview before moving to open conversation. The sessions are quick, conversational, and impactful. Contact Rich James at ext. 2175 to learn more.