Vol State Virtual Community

Get on Board the Soul Food Luncheon Train

2012-02-09T13:37:00.001-06:00

A sampling of the Soul Food last year

Each February, America celebrates Black History Month. The African American Student Union (AASU) is preparing for the annual Vol State Soul Food Luncheon. The purpose is to acknowledge the contributions of African Americans to U.S. History. The members of the AASU, will share a presentation titled We Are the Dream.

As President of the AASU, Chanel Alford is busy putting the finishing touches in place. “Students, faculty, and staff will be there and basically everyone is welcome," said Alford. "We are really looking forward to this and want it to go well, since it is our first year without our founder, Dr. Monique Wright. We have a cool presentation about Don Cornelius. He not only contributed to black music, but also to music in general. Soul Train came out way before MTV and VH1."

The presentation and luncheon will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2012 at 12:30 PM in the Wood Campus Center in the Carpeted Dining Room. If you would like to donate a dish or volunteer to serve please contact Alford at calford@volstate.edu. Feel free to visit the Vol State AASU Facebook page.

Vol State Community College

Vol State Coach in Beech Hall of Fame

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

If you love sports, you are not alone. Vol State’s Head Softball Coach, Johnny Lynn has participated as far back as he can remember. He showed exceptional skill at basketball at a young age, and in 1980 his parents moved to the Beech High School district, specifically for him play in their program. He was a star at the high school, leaving a number of school records that still stand. Lynn was recently honored for his contributions. Last month he was recognized in the Beech Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I lived it, loved it, ate it, and played every day no matter what the weather was,” said Lynn “My dad was a football player, and when I wanted to play basketball, it kind of crushed him, but he was very supportive of everything me and my two sisters did anyway. I played at an elementary level, junior pro, middle school, high school and went on to play at college.”

He shared some of the events that shaped his coaching style. “As a young teenager I went to all the Vanderbilt football games,” said Lynn. “One time Auburn beat Vandy really bad, and I will never forget how the Auburn players were the nicest players I had ever seen. As a little kid I was always asking for things—‘give me a towel, sweatband, a chin strap or something’—and they did it. Onetime a quarterback even took me down onto the field, and when I left that game I knew what I wanted to do. It was a good life lesson. Later, when a lot of schools were recruiting me I remembered this and knew where I wanted to go.”

Lynn also gives credit to Coach “Sonny” Smith from Auburn University, and Coach “Boots” Scott from Beech High School as inspiration for his success. “Without their guidance I wouldn’t have been the player I was,” said Lynn. “It takes a lot of time to be good, and a player has got to be dedicated. I tell my team, ‘If you want to play summer ball, do it, but don’t get burned out.’ It’s important for each player to make that decision on his or her own; mama and daddy can’t make that decision for you.”

This kind of dedication took Auburn to the top. “We won SEC one year, we went to the NCAA every year, went to the second round every year, played Sweet-Sixteen twice, and the Elite Eight once, and we were just two minutes away from the Final Four,” exclaimed Lynn. “The main thing as a coach is, you always want to be fair. Which is not necessarily playing time, but it’s treating everyone equal. I had a bad knee, and studied marketing and economics for two more years to get a teaching degree, making my mama proud.”

As a coach, one of his most rewarding experiences was seeing the look on the faces of the 2011 Magic Softball Team last year when they won the state championship and went on to play in the Nationals.

Volunteer State Community College

Supporting Student Veterans

2012-01-31T16:08:00.000-06:00

It’s a military culture shock of sorts: one moment you have an organization that tells you everything you need to do and in the next moment you are in college and facing a bewildering array of choices. That’s the challenge facing many veterans as they re-enter civilian life and engage with higher education. Ken Hanson’s job is to help them make that transition and navigate the red tape.

“They need people to help them out,” Hanson said. “I try to inform them about how the GI Bill works and who they need to talk to at Vol State.”

Hanson is the new Veterans Affairs Coordinator at the college. He has a pretty good idea of what veterans are going through at the college. He spent 22 years in the Air Force.

“I started out enlisted for 12 years and I became an officer for the last 10 years.”

When asked where he was posted Hanson has to stop and think, eventually resorting to counting on his fingers to keep track.

“Five years in Japan. One year in Iraq,” he said. “And in the states: Arkansas, Florida, New Mexico, Delaware, New Jersey and Alabama.”

Veterans face challenges just returning home.

“You’re gone away from family and then all of a sudden you have to reestablish that and that takes time. It could take four to six months to reacclimatize to your family.”

Hanson will help student veterans navigate the Veterans Administration process.

“I want to make it more efficient to help student get their VA money quicker, but stay in the VA guidelines for the federal government and the college.”

He also plans to bring veterans together on campus.

“A lot of times veterans want that network. It’s rebuilding that camaraderie that they’re used to. That’s what most people miss when they leave the military.”

A student veteran organization is in the works, as well as an open house event. Hanson plans on engaging organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to work with students on campus. Faculty or staff interested in participating should e-mail him.

“Student veterans just need someone to help them and hopefully if they feel that camaraderie it will help them stay in school and be successful.”

Reach Ken Hanson By e-mail: ken.hanson@volstate.edu

And visit the new Vol State VA page at www.volstate.edu/veterans

Volunteer State Community College Veterans

69 Year-Old Vol State Student Ready for Graduation

2012-01-24T16:39:00.000-06:00

Every student dreams of the day when the educational journey comes to an end. Well, in reality, it doesn’t actually happen like that, because you never quit learning. Ask Helen McBride. She will graduate from Vol State this spring, and she is 69 years old. She is an inspiration for me every time I want to quit. When McBride’s husband of 47 years passed away in 2007 her friends thought she would fall apart. But McBride was not ready to throw in the towel. After a pep talk from her sister-in-law she decided to look at returning to school to get her GED.

“Everyone in my family had graduated high school but me,” said McBride. “I was the only one of my mother’s children that didn’t have a diploma and when I passed my GED, I gave it her on Mother’s Day. Now, four years later and by the grace of god, when I graduate, I will give her my college diploma on her 91^st birthday. Everybody at this school has been wonderful to me from day one, but it’s the students that have made the difference. In the past I have been late to work and things like that, but once I started school I have never been late to class. In fact, I have never missed a class, except once or twice for illness.”

Associate Professor of Communications and Journalism Clay Scott enjoys the diversity of a community college.

“Helen has overcome the obstacles she faced a young person,” said Scott. “She took advantage of an opportunity to come back to school and has made the best of it. Though there is an age difference, there is not a communication or education difference, because she wants to learn just like they do. They probably learn more from her than she does from them, because of her lifelong experience, they can learn from her successes and mistakes. There have been times in the newsroom when she was able to offer advice to students on non-academic things, and it is really neat to see that interaction. I have had several non-traditional students, and she has seen a transition from radio, to TV, and now to digital communication. This brings perspective and something fresh and new to the class.”

McBride works for the school paper as a photographer. “I reached a stage last year where I just didn’t think I could do it,” said McBride. “But I made it through. My favorite class has been journalism with Mr. Clay Scott. At first I had a little bit of a challenge, but now I love it. The stories he tells, and the things he teaches are wonderful. I have learned a lot from him.”

McBride wants to use her education to help inspire kids to go to school. She is working on a children’s book about a magic fly that inspires them to achieve their dreams by not quitting.

Volunteer State Community College

Vol State Radiologic Does it Again with a 100% Pass Rate!

2012-01-20T14:42:00.000-06:00

There are less than 700 Radiologic programs in the country, and Vol State has one of the leading programs. In fact, on nine different occasions we have had students receive a 100% pass rate on the first attempt when taking the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam. (This is way above the national average) The most recent class in 2011 is no exception, the results are in and we did it again!

What makes the program so successful? According to Program Director, Monica Korpady there are a number of factors at play. “We have fantastic instructors, they do a wonderful job,” said Korpady. “I am proud of them and they are an important part of our success, but also our students really want to do this. We have been here since 1988 and we have hit 100% pass rate on the first attempt nine times.”

Korpady was here when that first group graduated.

“We had our 500^th graduate this past May and I have known every single one of them personally,” said Korpady. “This job is very rewarding. The program has changed so many lives, everyone has been able to get a job and support their families. They are happy with the work they do and it is never boring, because it is different every day. There are so many fields you can go into once you are a registered radiological technologist. You can cross train into Computed Tomography (CT), or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a lot of our students go into special procedures, or arteriogram and angiography.”

Each year Vol State has between 400-600 applicants, and they interview around 90 to 100 of them for the thirty available slots. The college has nine clinical sites branching out from the Gallatin hub. Candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA based on 24 credit hours of general education before they are even eligible to apply for the interview process. Once accepted, it is a two-year program. For more information visit: http://www.volstate.edu/RadTech/?ref=az

Volunteer State Community College

Great Job on Donating Coats for Cold Weather!

2012-01-17T16:30:00.000-06:00

Judy Merritt and Renee' Eades collecting coats.

Imagine walking around in this kind of weather without a coat. Unfortunately, there are people that face this problem every year. However, many of them will not have to do that this year as a direct result of kindness on the part of the staff, students, and community surround Vol State College.

Associate Professor of English, Renee Eades has been involved with this program for several years. “As of the end of last semester, we had collected a total of 261 coats, which exceeds the goal of 250 that we set for this year,” said Eades. “In addition to the coats, we also received a number of hats, scarves, gloves, jumpsuits, and other winter-weather gear. There will truly be many people well-protected from the weather this winter as a result of the donations of the people in our community!”

As a secretary for Off Campus programs, Judy Merritt gets to interact with many people from the area. “This is my first time being on the employee relations committee,” said Merritt. “I have signed up to help on several projects in the past and nobody ever picked me, but this year they did, and I was so excited. I collected coats from my neighbors and brought in two or three big bags worth of items. At least one orange coat still had the price tags on it, so I know somebody just wanted to go out and do something nice for someone.”

“I am so proud to have been a part of the effort to collect these winter necessities,” said Eades. “I would like to first thank all of you who contributed these coats and outerwear. You have gone above and beyond the definition of "giving" during this holiday season, and your efforts will be appreciated even more by those who will be receiving these coats, hats, scarves, and gloves.”

The coat drive is sponsored by the Burlington Coat Factory and ABC's Good Morning America and the not-for profit One Warm Coat.

Volunteer State Community College

How to Get Weather Closing and Delay Information

2012-01-12T09:13:00.000-06:00

Let's have a chat about the weather and how it impacts you as a Vol State student, faculty or staff member. Right now, we don't expect to have any closings or delays due to the weather. But if that changes you can find out in one of four ways.

The easiest and quickest way is to sign up for Vol State text alerts: http://www.volstate.edu/PublicRelations/TextAlert.php

With the text service you can also check boxes to get specific alerts for Highland Crest and Livingston if you want.

Monitor our primary facebook page: www.volstate.edu/facebook

Follow us on Twitter: www.volstate.edu/twitter

Keep an eye on the front page of http://www.volstate.edu/ we put all cancellations and delays up there as well.

WVCP-FM 88.5 also gives out weather closings. For major morning delays and cancellations we send notices to the Nashville TV stations. But honestly, the TV stations should be a last resort. It sometimes takes an hour for the Vol State listings to come up...with all of the other closings. You are much better off with one of the four options listed above.

You'll find that the College doesn't close or have class delays nearly as often as the high schools. There is a big reason for this. High schools make their decisions based on school bus travel. We don't have any buses, so we make our decision based on car travel and that's quite different. However, we have students living all over the area and in a variety of terrain. If the roads are dangerous in your area you have the right to decide if you want to attend class or not. If you can't attend just let your instructor know so that you can make up your work. We want everyone to be safe and that means you need to use your own best judgement.

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Orientation Tip for New Students

2012-01-10T08:18:00.000-06:00

New students need to do Vol State Orientation before they can register for classes. For the last few weeks that had to be done in person. However, if you missed those sessions you can now do it online. Starting today students who are required to complete orientation online can do so by visiting www.volstate.edu/Directions. The students will be required to complete the “Required Modules” and enter their student V# at the end of the session. Classes start on Thursday, but there is still time to get the orientation done and get registered. If you need help visit the Vol State Advising Center in Ramer 174.

A Student Offers Tips for College Success

2012-01-06T14:19:00.005-06:00

I was nervous the first time I visited the Vol State campus. I didn’t know where anything was, I didn't know where to park, and I had no friends to show me the ropes. It is not easy, but it does not have to be as difficult as I made it. Here are a few tips to make your semester run smoother.

See the Be Advised newsletter for special hours, locations, and events the first few weeks of the spring 2012 semester. Keep up with these important dates. Even if you think you know exactly what you want to do, you still need to speak to someone about your academic goals. Although I had a general idea, I needed some guidance and direction. Your advisor is your best resource and someone you should stay in contact with throughout your college career. Ask others for advice as well, sometimes you will pick up a critical piece of information from someone else on campus that has had a similar experience.
Write down important names, dates, numbers, and locations in a notebook, calendar, cellphone, or laptop. You WILL use your Student Registration information EVERYDAY. Even though I no longer need a Campus Map now, I still reference a lot of this info daily. (V-number, your email information, your advisers extension and email, room numbers and class times. I even had to write down how to login, my passwords, and the number for the IT Help Desk.)
Sign-up for text messages from the college. It will send you an automatic text message for any weather closings or delays and also update you on important college news and tips. Just make sure you click the college tips section when you sign-up.

Check out our links for Facebook and the Vol State Blog. The college offers a lot of info on Facebook several times a day. You can also communicate with other students there.

Plan ahead. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting in a long line, only to find out that you are in the wrong building. Expect traffic delays, be ready to hold on the phone lines, ask for help, be polite and assist others if you know the answer. Things do go wrong, so be prepared and you will be successful.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” -- Ben Franklin

Paul Farmer is the student blogger at Vol State.

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Some important dates for the coming semester

2012-01-06T12:40:00.000-06:00

We hope everyone is looking forward to spring classes. We know, it's tough getting back into the groove of classes after a nice break, but hopefully you'll have a smooth transition coming back to campus. These are some important dates for you to keep in mind this coming semester. We also have some important phone numbers if you have questions specific to a division. Good luck this semester!

Dual Enrollment Fees Due – Wednesday, January 11
First day of classes – Thursday, January 12
Late registration fee begins – Thursday, January 12
First Financial Aid processing – Friday, January 13
College closed for MLK Day - Monday, January 16
First Financial Aid paper checks mailed – Tuesday, January 17
Last day to register through PRIDE Online for full term – Tuesday, January 17
Refund processing will begin – Monday, February 6
Spring Break - March 5-10
Early Registration for Summer and Fall - Starts April 2 and 3
Graduation - May 5

Allied Health Division located in the Wallace building - Room 102 (615) 230-3333

Business Division located in the Mattox building - Room 101B (615) 230-3301

Humanities Division located in the Ramer building - Room 101 (615) 230-3202

Math and Science located in the Warf building - Room 100 (615) 230-3261

Social Science and Education located in the Caudill building - Room 222 (615) 230-3231

Advising Center located in the Ramer building - Room 174, (615) 230-3702

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Considering Spring Classes?

2012-01-04T08:55:00.001-06:00

The spring semester at Vol State starts on January 12. That means there is still time to apply and then register for spring classes, but you do need to act quickly. You can fill out an application online at www.volstate.edu/admissions or you can visit us at the main campus in Gallatin, Vol State at Highland Crest in Springfield or Vol State at Livingston. Admissions counselors can help you get started. Once your application has been processed you will be able to register for spring classes. You will need to be able to pay the entire class fee at once.

A reminder that we are open for business this week and next, except for Thursday, January 5, when we will be closed for professional development day.

For the spring schedule of classes visit: www.volstate.edu/schedule

If you need help, you are best off visiting in person, as the phone lines get quite busy during this lead-up to the start of the semester. If you have questions about college you can also visit the Advising Center in the Ramer building room 174.

If you plan on taking Vol State classes also take a moment to friend us on Facebook and join the Vol State family. We keep students up to date with important information there.

Good luck and we hope to see you on campus soon!

Remembering the Strattons

2012-01-03T11:46:00.000-06:00

We lost two dear members of the Vol State family over the holidays. Vicki and Tom Stratton were long-time employees, just recently retired. Many people in the community remember them as Santa and Mrs. Claus during the yearly Christmas for the Kids event on campus. They were kind people who will be missed greatly. Our thoughts go out to their family.

College Schedule Over the Holidays

2011-12-20T08:28:00.004-06:00

Vol State will be closed starting December 24 and not back open again until January 3. This includes all offices and all locations. You can apply to the college for spring semester online at http://www.volstate.edu/ . Current students who have met with their advisor can register online while the college is on break, using the My Vol State portal.

If you need help registering before the 24th you can visit the Advising Center in Ramer 174 and for help in applying to the college visit Admissions in Ramer 173.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We'll see you in January and for Spring semester. Spring classes start January 12.

The Vol State Cheerleading Calendar is Here

2011-12-19T06:45:00.004-06:00

The Cheerleading Squad has worked very hard to prepare a 2012 Calendar for Vol State that represents our Athletics Department. The calendar is really beautiful. It lists a number of campus events and important dates, and is a fundraiser for Athletics. You can expect one or more of the cheerleaders to be in the campus buildings this week and next coming door-to-door for sales. Please help us out and invest in this calender for yourself, friends, or loved ones!

The calender will also be for sale in the Vol State Bookstore beginning on Monday. They are $10 each or $8 w/ student ID.

-Bridgett Augustino-Wilke, faculty advisor

EMT Adjunct Faculty of Year award

2011-12-16T16:28:00.000-06:00

EMS Education is proud to announce that Brandie Park received the EMT Adjunct Faculty of Year award for 2010/2011. Brandie has been an adjunct instructor at Vol State since 2010. Brandie is a 2004 Paramedic and 2009 AAS degree graduate. Since 2001, Brandie has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic with Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (WEMA).

“Brandie is an outstanding instructor dedicated to student success,” said Robert W. Davis, Director of EMS Education. “She always makes herself available to assist other instructors”.

The EMS Education program has four full-time and 13 adjunct faculty providing EMT and Paramedic programs at the main campus, Highland Crest campus, and five additional sites in Middle Tennessee.

Volunteer State Community College

Logistics Students Work at Second Harvest

2011-12-16T06:29:00.020-06:00

Logistics is important work. It's a profession that keeps complex organizations running smoothly. The Vol State Logistics program is actively involved with many local business and community organizations. Instructors George Wilson and Don Ellis put together those partnership opportunities.

On Saturday, December 10, ISM Nashville Inc. the local affiliate of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) held its annual community service at the Second Harvest Food Bank in Nashville. An opportunity arose to ask for volunteers from the Vol State Logistics LGM 130 class to attend this event. Students Amy Radmonovich, Jeff Hartman, and Roman Williamson participated. Roman worked at Second Harvest after already working a shift at FedEx. The students learned the logistics involved in running a busy food bank operation, at an especially busy time of the year.

ISM-Nashville has been involved in many Vol State projects and also recently made a $500 donation to the Vol State TnCIS China 2012 Travel-Study program.

Pictured left to right: Roman Williamson, Don Ellis, Adjunct Instructor and Jeff Hartman.

Grammy Award Winning Songwriter at Vol State

2011-12-15T08:57:00.000-06:00

Gordon Kennedy brought his songwriting talents to Vol State earlier this week. The multi-Grammy award winning artist is probably best known for the 1997 Eric Clapton hit "Change the World". That ballad won song the year. Kennedy has also worked with Bonnie Raitt, Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood, just to name a few. He was visiting Vol State for a taping of a new Vol State songwriting TV show that is in production. The show, hosted by Ben Clark, himself an established songwriter and musician. Kennedy shared his vision for crafting a song and then took a turn playing in the Vol State recording studio. The Vol State songwriters TV show will debut next spring and air on cable stations across the area and include web streaming.

Volunteer State Community College

Sounds of the Season CD for Sale and on WVCP Radio

2011-12-13T11:44:00.000-06:00

The Vol State college radio station, WVCP-FM, is pleased to broadcast "Sounds of the Season 2011"—the Vol State Christmas CD. "Sounds of the Season" is a production of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Special thanks go to James Story, Lynn Peterson, Mark Barnett, Steve Bishir, and the Com 295 practicum class for their help with students in making this production possible. "Sounds of the Season" was recorded in the Vol State Recording Studio. You can get a copy of the CD in the Humanities Office in Ramer 101, but there are only a few copies left. They're $5.

Here's the WVCP 88.5 FM Analog/HD-1/Web Stream/Air Schedule:
Wed. 12-14-11-----1:00 PM
Thurs. 12-15-11----9:00 AM

88.5 FM HD-2 Air Schedule:
Wed. 12-14-11-----2:00 PM
Thurs. 12-15-11----10:00 AM

The Reason for the Season

2011-12-07T17:31:00.004-06:00

Jazmin Mercer welcomes Dr. Scism to light the tree

The Vol State Show Stoppers sing "Carol of the Bells"

I attended the Vol State annual Festival of Lights this week, not knowing what to expect. The flier indicated that three religious and cultural holidays would be celebrated: Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Once I found out Paul Fields from the Vol State Grill was making homemade toffee, sweet potato pie, and latke with sour cream, the deal was sealed. The food was delicious, but when Professor James Story directed the Vol State Show Stoppers, I thought it couldn’t get any better. I was wrong; it continued to improve as many of the campus clubs and departments took part in decorating the Christmas tree, wishing good will toward everyone there. People seemed emotional and sentimental at the final ceremony as interim President Dr. Bruce Scism lit the tree.

The Festival is sponsored each year by the Student Government Association (SGA). Vice President of the SGA, Jazmin Mercer has already been involved in numerous events this year. “It is an opportunity for us all to get together to celebrate the holidays, no matter what religion or race we may be part of,” said Mercer. “People often forget the true meaning of the season which is giving and spending quality time with our friends and family. The lighting of the tree is representative of all the different groups, clubs, and offices on campus enjoying the true reason for the season.”

Check out this video of the Vol State Show Stoppers to kick-off the holidays.

Volunteer State Community College

Santa Claus Comes to Vol State

2011-12-06T15:50:00.016-06:00

Santa and one of his elves were spotted giving gifts to children on the Vol State Campus last week. This was an annual event sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA). Various students who are facing hardships brought their little ones down to kick-off the holiday season.

Lori Miller from the Student Life and Diversity Office was part of the team. “Some of the parents that have been involved in the past said this was the best turnout we have ever had. When I was a student here, my kids actually benefited from this event. It was really rewarding, since this time I got to give back to the community and see it come full circle.”

Maggie Lewis with the Association of Campus Events (ACE) helped with the registration of 140 children. “I worked with Christmas for the Kids last year also,” said Lewis. “They get so excited. It was well worth the work I put into it. Just to make one child happy would have been worth it.”

“Jazmin Mercer was the chairperson for this event and dressed up as an elf,” said Miller. “She did such a great job it literally brought tears to people’s eyes when she worked with the kids”

Activities for the children included pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The kids did arts and crafts, played board games and took part in face painting. The party lasted about three hours and both the parents and the children left with the Christmas spirit.

Volunteer State Community College

Online course and student e-mail direct links

2011-12-05T09:41:00.000-06:00

If you need to access your Vol State online classes and student e-mail you can do so directly while the portal is being worked on: online classes https://elearn.volstate.edu/
and your student e-mail at https://mail.volstate.edu/

Class Registration System Down from 5pm December 1 - 8am December 6

2011-11-29T09:44:00.000-06:00

Due to computer upgrades the Vol State class registration system will be shut down from 5pm on Thursday, December 1 to 8am on Tuesday, December 6. Students wishing to register for spring classes should do so before or after those dates. The computer work will also shut down the My Vol State portal, but students will be able to access their online courses and student e-mail via links that will be put on the portal page. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Environmental Science Might be a Good Class for You

2011-11-23T06:30:00.000-06:00

I would never have chosen BIO 1050 from Vol State on my own, but now I am glad I did. Dr. Phil Clifford, affectionately called Dr. Phil by his students, has proven his skill in making education enjoyable. He is just as entertaining as world famous scientist Steve Spangler. Our current lab experiments (Seven EcoCubes) are on display in the Warf Building.

The idea came from a Christmas gift Clifford received in grad school. “It was an Eco-Sphere that had algae, a carefully balanced population of bacteria with some decomposers and pink shrimp swimming around,” said Clifford. “I wanted to look at a lab that allowed us to look at air quality, water quality and soil quality. This was perfect because we could build a complete ecosystem, and we can learn just as much from a failed system as we can from a stable one.”

Debbie Breese is studying for a degree in Environmental Resources. “I especially like the labs,” said Breese. “Dr. Phil makes the class fun, but his labs are where I learn the most. This is a great foundation. We had a fish in our EcoCube, but it died. When it is all over we are going to examine what went wrong and what went right.”

This is Daniel Russell’s first science class. “Dr. Phil is a great professor, his lectures are informative and the labs have great hands on experience,” said Russell. “My EcoCube is going pretty good. We had pill bugs and beetles to eat the decaying biomass and spiders to pick off anything else that was struggling. We even have a tree growing, but I can’t see the bugs anymore. I recommend this class and plan on taking the follow up class in spring.”

Public Relations major Crystal McCormick was worried about which science class to take but is now happy she chose BIO 1050. “I would have never guessed that we could learn so much from an EcoCube. We had worms, spiders, grasshoppers, and tried to create a natural Tennessee environment. I love it. The class is not easy, but it’s very fun. We get to go outside and see how things affect our everyday environment. I have enjoyed this class and suggested it other students.”

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Opportunities for Student Writers this Spring

2011-11-17T09:42:00.000-06:00

Students interested in writing and art should consider enrolling in the two English practicum offerings related to the publications "Number One" and "Squatters' Rites". A student enrolled in a three-credit practicum will work on collecting submissions, book layout including work with Quark or InDesign layout software, keeping up with correspondence with writers and artists and (in the case of Number One) assisting the faculty editors.
"Number One" is Vol State's literary publication and publishes stories, poems, essays, and interviews from all over the country. It is staffed by faculty.

"Squatters' Rites" is a student publication; student staffed, with faculty advisors, and publishing student poems, stories, and artwork in full color on the cover and on four inside pages. "Sqauatters' Rites" has won a national prize for several years in a row. We also need student submissions for SR.

The class numbers are:
ENGL290p-001 = Number One, Instructor C. Wyatt
ENGL290p002 = Squatters’ Rites, Instructor D. Kelley

For more info contact Cindy Wyatt at 230-3203

Interested in EMS? Read This...

2011-11-17T09:30:00.000-06:00

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Education Program at Vol State will be conducting advising sessions for our upcoming Spring Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate courses. The sessions will be conducted in the Carpeted Dining Room of the Woods Campus Center at the Vol State main campus in Gallatin on November 28, 2011 at 1:00pm and 6:00pm. Students interested in enrolling in the EMT classes at all locations should plan on attending one of the sessions. Please visit www.volstate.edu/emt
for more information.