February 2010

Campus News:

MCLA Teams up with Berkshire Community College on new STEM venture
MCLA and Berkshire Community College have teamed up to offer a brand new "2 plus 2" program. The collaboration allows BCC students enrolled in a two-year degree in biotechnology to seamlessly transfer to MCLA and continue their education in biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology or technical laboratory skills. This new program will give students a strong background in chemistry, biology and the laboratory that will prepare them for employment or further studies.

Len Paolillo's NEA Post Lands him in Norway
MCLA Sociology Professor Len Paolillo attended the National Congress of the Union of Education Norway (UEN) in Lillehammer, Norway in November. At the Congress, Len had the opportunity to meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and UEN President Helga Hjetland. President Hjetland's priorities for education policy in Norway include more early childhood education teachers and improved professional development for educators.

Len was elected to a three year term on the National Education Association (NEA) Executive Committee in July 2008. The committee consists of nine members who are responsible for guiding NEA policy. For more information visit http://www.nea.org/home/index.html.

MCLA Students Celebrate Martin Luther King Day by Helping Others
Several MCLA students pitched in at the City of North Adams Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, January 18, sponsored by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) and the city's King Day committee. Volunteer teams worked on service projects across the northern Berkshires, targeted at providing food, clothing, shelter, and other services to those in need. Participants were treated to a performance by a local youth Step dance group coached by MCLA students Nhi Lam '10, Michael Obasohan '11, and Monique Symes '11.

Help For Haiti
When word of the devastating earthquake in Haiti reached the Northern Berkshires the MCLA community was ready to help immediately. Groups on campus will be engaged in ongoing efforts to raise funds and send aid to Haiti. Immediate actions have included:

• Collections at home basketball games were donated to the Church Outreach to Youth (COTY) Center's Haiti Plunge project.
• Resident Advisors collected non-perishable food items from students living in residence areas.
• MCLA and Williams College students put sanitation kits together.

Fundraising Update:

MCLA Receives McNair grant
MCLA was awarded a $60,000 Ronald E. McNair grant over two years from The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. McNair grant funds are awarded to colleges to provide academic support services, and to increase enrollment, retention and graduation rates of students.

The funds will support the College's Writing Center, a joint-venture between the English Department and the Learning Services Center that includes additional writing support for enrolled ESL students. Funds will also support basic skill classes in Mathematics for College and note takers for students with disabilities.

Support Needed for Student Scholarships
The number of students applying for financial aid has increased 37% from a year ago, while state budget cuts have resulted in a dramatic reduction in funds available for scholarships. A contribution to the Annual Fund is the most direct way to help these students and support MCLA. One hundred percent of your Annual Fund gift will go directly to financial aid, helping students and their families pay for their education. Make a gift today at www.mcla.edu/giving.
 

• Emily Maher recently returned from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL, where she is participating in the MINERvA Project. Emily was part of a team taking data using anti-neutrinos, which are the anti-particle of the neutrino. 
• On January 15, Web Communications Manager Amy Stevens was an invited speaker at a higher education roundtable on Web site management hosted at the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management. 
• MCLA opened a new music recording studio this semester. It includes two primary work stations - a DIGIDESIGN C/24 - 24 track board for Protools software and accompanying hardware, and a desk with peripheral support equipment, a 27-inch Mac computer, and an AKAI controller for Ableton "Live." The studio also includes a Yamaha Clavinova keyboard, and supports Logic, Finale and Garageband. 
• Education Professor Roselle Chartock's new textbook Strategies and Lessons for Culturally Responsive Teaching:  A Primer for K-12 Teachers was recently published.

Alumni Update:

The Alumni Board met on campus on January 23 and heard a compelling presentation by Denise Richardello '77, M.Ed. '81 Vice President of Enrollment and External Affairs regarding increased enrollment and the decrease in financial aid programs. The Board will be hosting a career networking event on Saturday, March 6 for students. Look for more information coming soon. If you are interesting in being a presenter or career mentor, please contact Jocelyn Merrick at J.Merrick@mcla.edu.


Upcoming Events:

Look at our Web site for upcoming events.

Saturday, March 27, Women's Leadership Forum:  Finding Your Voice:  Where Women Have Been, Where They Are Going. Proceeds from this event will benefit scholarship support for the MCLA Women's Studies Minor.


Blazer Briefs:

For the latest news from athletics, check out the department's Web site.

Women's Soccer Players Awarded
Congratulations to Jade Prickett '10 and Jess Tietgens '11, who were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-East Region Team. This team includes all Division III and II institutions from Virginia north to Maine and west to Ohio.

MCLA Celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day
On Saturday, February 13, the MCLA Athletics department will hold its annual celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Girls in grades 3-8 and women of any age are invited to this free event. Sports clinics for girls include basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Activities for adult women include a fitness warm up, volleyball clinic, and water aerobics. In the afternoon, participants will attend the 2 p.m. MCLA women's basketball game against Framingham State College.

Interested participants must pre-register no later than February 5. Space is limited.