PIONEER Giving Life OCCC’S Goal to Raise State Grad Numbers Oklahoma Ranks 42 Nationally in Number of College Graduates
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Oct. 8, 2007 Oklahoma City Community College Inside Vol. 36 No. 8 This Week • “Halo 3” stymies students, editorial, p. 2. • Campus contsruction on track, p. 7. • OCCC soccer team reigns, sports, p. 12. • Symbols carved as you wait, clubs, p. 14. PIONEERwww.occc.edu/pioneer Giving life OCCC’s goal to raise state grad numbers Oklahoma ranks 42 nationally in number of college graduates By Carrie Cronk Editor klahoma is ranked just 42 among the 50 states Ofor the percentage of residents who possess a col- lege degree, according to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. OCCC will work to help increase the number of college graduates in this state over the next 10 years. To achieve this, the college has implemented a long- Photo by Mike Ferak range plan, “The Way Forward and Why it Matters.” Kasey Hanley, nursing major, foreground, takes time out of her day to donate blood at “The plan provides a vision of what we hope to become the recent blood drive in the college union. Oklahoma Blood Institute Spokesperson Jennifer in the future,” OCCC President Paul Sechrist said. Beattie said 86 people donated blood during the two-day event Sept. 27 and 28. The next Part of that vision is for OCCC to become “a college of blood drive is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 29 ... greater significance,” based on the success of the stu- in the college union. The event was sponsored by Student Life. dents and graduates, and also on the college’s role in the community, he said. “Students who are successful in completing a degree earn more money (and are) more likely to obtain jobs Early Alert system designed that offer health insurance and a retirement plan,” Sechrist said. “The plan provides a framework to encourage more stu- to help struggling students dents to attend college (and) provides support services to keep students enrolled and graduate.” By Chris Lusk Outlined in the plan are 10 initiatives, which will add Staff Writer “Any academic struggles the professor new services and expand current services to students. notices get reported to me.” The goal is to assist students to learn skills to help them tudents can over- —Mary Turner succeed, both in college and in their careers. S come difficulties and Student Development Counselor Sechrist said these initiatives include more childcare be successful in college for students with children, upgrading existing facilities with the help of their pro- and technology and the addition of new buildings. fessors through the Early Turner explained that, agement, or figure out a According to the plan, the Achieving the Dream initia- Alert system, said Student when professors become schedule that works better tive “addresses the preparation and success of students Development Counselor concerned about a student, for them.” early in their college experience.” Mary Turner. they fill out an online form Once she has contacted Many new students have experienced one aspect of this The Early Alert system and submit it to her. She the student, she prepares initiative with the new “Success in College and Life” was established in 2000 as then checks the student’s a letter to be mailed out course. a means for professors to background and tries to explaining why she con- Sechrist said, “There are many initiatives, programs help students struggling call the student. tacted them and reiterating and projects that are in place or have been started that academically, Turner said. “I attempt to contact the possible resources to help support the plan.” “It’s a way for the faculty student to see what is go- them, Turner said. These include an increased emphasis on learning com- to let me know if they have ing on and if there are any “After all of that, I com- munities and tutoring, as well as upgrading the college’s any concerns about stu- kinds of resources to con- municate back with the information technology infrastructure, he said. dents not attending class, nect them with,” Turner professors and let them Other initiatives in the plan call for the creation of new failing, changes in behav- said. know if I spoke with their centers, buildings and institutes and also remodeling and ior, etc.,” Turner said. “Depending on their situ- student or not,” Turner renovating existing areas. “Any academic struggles ation, I might refer them to said. The OCCC Institute for Global Excellence Initiative will the professor notices get re- our learning centers, speak Com- establish the Center for Inter- ported to me.” to them about time man- muni- See “Alert,” pg. 13 national Business, the Center See “Initiative,” page 13 2 • PIONEER • October 8, 2007 Editorial and Opinion Editorial Help with financial aid To the editor: recommend exhausting all importance of loan repay- For students starting the federal loan options before ment. Game over fall semester at colleges and considering private or al- To learn more about fi- universities across Okla- ternative loans. nancial aid, contact a local homa, there’s one more Loans distributed financial aid office or for addicts face on campus they’ll want through the Federal Fam- OGSLP at 800-442-8642 or to be familiar with: the fi- ily Education Loan Pro- www.ogslp.org. nancial aid counselor. gram often have lower in- —Oklahoma State On Sept. 25 lots of “Halo 3” fans waited eagerly There’s no question that terest rates, offer more flex- Regents for for the ‘Halo 3’ game release. Millions went online higher education remains ible repayment options, Higher Education and pre-ordered and thousands more stood in line one of the best investments and include important de- at midnight for the game. any individual can make. ferment, forbearance and So, if this game is drawing millions of gamers to A college degree yields in- loan forgiveness benefits. play it, how is it affecting our student body? creased professional oppor- An initiative of the U.S. There are a lot of ways that individuals choose to tunities and higher lifetime Department of Education, Vol. 36 No. 8 unwind at the end of the day. ‘Halo 3’ is just an- earning potential. the FFEL Program is com- Carrie Cronk...........................Editor But paying for college can posed of private and non- other one of those outlets. So, when does it become Matthew Bishop............Staff Writer seem overwhelming to stu- profit lenders who raise Yvonne Oberly...............Staff Writer unhealthy play? dents and parents who capital for student loans Stephen Sossamon......Staff Writer A couple hours a day is healthy, preferably if don’t understand the pro- through private financial Chris Lusk....................Staff Writer you’re doing it after homework; yet as an average cess or the terminology markets and guarantee Adam Brand..................Staff Writer student it’s easy to get sidetracked. used. That’s where the fi- agencies that insure the Brian Stansberry..........Staff Writer “I played until five in the morning, the night it nancial aid office comes in. loans for participating lend- Cynthia Praefke............Staff Writer Amber McBride.............Staff Writer came out,” said Joe Cutburth, an OCCC student. Financial aid counselors ers. Jay Rocamontes......Photographer Cutburth is not alone. can help students explore Nationwide, hundreds of Tim Cronk...................Ad Manager Many students played the same video game for options and identify the lenders, 35 guarantors, Mike Ferak....................Webmaster hours on end. Some only did it the night it came best approaches to pay for more than 80 percent of eli- Jamie Laleff....Circulation Manager out. school. Financial aid is gible schools,and more Richard Hall.............Lab Assistant available in several forms. than 5 million students and Ronna Austin.............Lab Director Yet, others are still playing for hours at a time on It’s best for students to parents participate each Sue Hinton...............Faculty Adviser a daily basis. What does it mean for these students use free money first, such year in the FFEL Program, The PIONEER is a publica- who do not put the controllers away? as personal savings, grants which has an impressive tion of Oklahoma City Com- When playing a game for hours, you take time and scholarships. cohort repayment rate of munity College through the away from other things, such as social interactions. Once that money is nearly 95 percent. Division of Arts and Humani- You can end up with a 21-year-old that has an spent, they may need to The rate reflects the sig- ties. It is published weekly emotional intelligence of a 12-year-old, according consider student loans to nificant commitment FFEL during the fall and spring se- mesters and the eight-week to CBS news. close the gap between avail- Program partners have summer session. It’s enough to ruin a college career, and many able free aid and college made to preventing loan de- expenses. fault and emphasizing fi- All opinions expressed are future possibilities that would result. It’s enough those of the author and do not If students must borrow nancial literacy, helping for most of us to see this problem as an addiction. necessarily represent those of to pay for school, experts students understand the So, if this is the case how do you recognize the the publisher. signs of video game addiction? For one, the amount The PIONEER welcomes let- of gaming time seems to increase. ters to the editor and encour- ages the use of this publica- Other signs are constant thoughts of gaming even tion as a community forum. when doing other activities are there, using games All letters must include the as a way to escape from real life problems and of author’s name, address, course, lying to conceal gaming, said CBS experts.