Bailey - Week 3 - EMCC

Activities:

• Organized an excel spreadsheet for an upcoming meeting
• Visited Financial Aid and interviewed Gypsy Gray 
• Visited Veteran Affairs and interviewed Sandie Hearron
• Interviewed Marilyn Maddox
• Interviewed Patricia

Reflection:

     I must say, this was an interesting week. It was not filled with as much as the two prior weeks, but it was filled with moments that challenged me. The challenges helped me learn more about myself and student affairs. First, on Tuesday I was asked to review the notes we recorded during a meeting two weeks ago and organize a list or diagram summarizing the notes. This list or diagram would be used in our next committee meeting, scheduled for Thursday, to help members remember the topics that were discussed and help give everyone a visual. I decided to organize an Excel spreadsheet so that each element would be easy to see and read. As I looked at the notes, I had a hard time remembering certain things that were listed. Since this task took me so long due to having to remember so much, I learned that I need to take better notes during the meetings...notes that I can read and remember everything that is spoken or decided. I finally finished the spreadsheet and my supervisor was very pleased with the end product, even though the meeting was canceled for Thursday.
    As I have mentioned earlier, I am working on creating a faculty handbook that will be used as a quick reference during advising. This can't just happen. I have made an outline of what I believe should go in the handbook so now I am visiting with different people to get their opinions about what to add or eliminate. So, Thursday and Friday were filled with interviews associated with this handbook. Thursday, I spoke with a lady in Financial Aid and a lady in Veteran Affairs. I had a very nice discussion with Gypsy from Financial Aid but my conversation with Sandie in Veteran Affairs was definitely an eye opener. My graduate assistantship is in Athletic Academics. My population of students, student-athletes, are very similar to veterans who are in school. Even though I didn't completely understand everything Sandie was talking about, she was helping me understand veterans better. By the time I left her office, I felt very patriotic and a little sad that schools don't do more than they do for veterans. This group of students are significant and do not get the recognition and appreciation they deserve. It was disheartening to hear of teachers who are sometimes hesitant to help a veteran out with making assignments up. As many colleges are gearing up to host more veterans, this interview definitely helped me think about this group of students and the needs in which they have. Both interviews were a surprise on Thursday. I was expecting to attend a retention meeting, but it was canceled. This was challenge number 2. My supervisor told me as soon as I walked in that I was going to be interviewing the previous two women. I did not have time to properly prepare interview questions, as I have always learned. I had to simply sit in the office, ask questions, and spin questions off of statements that were made. There was no way for me to be prepared for these interviews in advance. I had no idea I was interviewing but this is just another example of the joys of working at a community college. You never really know what you will be doing from day to day.
    By Friday, I had prepared a few post-it notes of questions to ask in the event I was to interview again. Indeed, Friday, I interviewed two more ladies. These ladies work within the counseling center. Each interview was enlightening and developmental as each one helped me to think student affairs or higher education. Each interview also helped me learn different aspects of community college life that I was currently not aware of.
    This next week, who knows what is in store?

Cory