academic affairs newsletter- july 2012

1 The Academic Advisor

'If we always do what we've always done, we will get what we've always got.'

--Adam Urbanski

In This Issue

Students Learning for a Cause (pg. 1) 2012 Graduation (pg. 1) First Live, Campus Connecting Activity (pg. 2) Students on the Spot (pg. 2) Online Student Success Story (pg. 3) Arizona’s First Module (pg. 4) Faculty-of-the-Year (pg. 4)

Teacher Tips Always keep a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people.

---Adelaide Chambers

Tips: Don't procrastinate Form study groups and support groups Always keep a to-do list and stick with it.

Students Learning for a Cause:

Module 1: Breakfast for MS

Module 2: Obesity and Healthy Living

Module 3: Child Abuse Awareness Students put together a video and skit

montage showing why and how to avoid

child abuse.

Module 4: Autism Awareness Students put together a scavanger hunt

which led students around the campus to

learn about autism.

Module 5: Breast Cancer Awareness Students sold strawberries and put

together a scavenger hunt.

Commencement services this year were

sensational—they were broadcast on the

web and we had a full house of over

4000 seats. Congratulations to all of the

Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing

Assistant, and Medical Billing and

Coding graduates!

Congratulations and job well done!

July Institutional Edition 2012

2012 Graduation


Tests are not just for Students:

Instructors at Brooklyn renew their OSHA

knowledge

Certified Nursing Students Test their Skills: Students master 22 separate skills in assisting patients

with daily activities of living.

First Live, Campus Connecting Broadcast—Anatomy Workshop

Ms. Deborah Bingham, Dr. Cheslik, Jessica Ortiz,

Devin Gibbs, Carmen Fields, and Sheena Ash

presented the first ever web-broadcast fetal pig

dissection on June 20th. The concepts of

telemedicine, anatomy, pathology, and office-based

surgery were all discussed. The Brooklyn, Jamaica,

and Phoenix campuses were able to attend via web-

broadcast.

Students on the Spot Question: Fetal pig dissection. What are your thoughts?

“I recommend this kind of learning experience

because you can further your knowledge by making it

real and to see it right before your eyes”

-Devin Gibbs

Students on the Spot Question: What keeps you in school and focused on completing the program? Some thoughts from: Makeda George Kevin Cooper

“To make a better life for my kids”


“It’s exhilarating to learn how the body

operates—there is always something new to

learn”

“My fellow students who help me

answer the challenge”

“It’s great to be able to read my own

medical chart and understand it”

“I feel more enabled to help people in

medical need”

By Dr. Gotto

In each edition of the newsletter, we will focus on

one type of study skill that will increase your ability

to succeed in class. Today’s topic is especially

important in the online classroom.

.

The more you are involved, the more you will benefit

from the day’s class. Participation involves

answering questions when the instructor asks for a

response and asking your own questions if you need

clarification. Even if you are not sure of the right

answer, please give a response. That way the

instructor knows you are paying attention and giving

an effort. If you ever have a question that you are

not comfortable asking in the presence of your

classmates, you can always email the instructor or

request a phone call.

Adding your own perspectives or personal

experiences to classroom discussions would be very

helpful to your classmates. This brings the technical

information being taught back to the ‘real life’ level

of understanding. It also brings to attention how

common some of these topics are and therefore will

probably be experienced by you on the job.

Participation also includes working as a team with

your classmates. Consider this practice for your

future job. Any position will require you working

with others: members of the health care community

and patients. Some students have set up a FaceBook

page where they help each other with homework, find

jobs, or just chat. Your classmates are in a very

similar life situation as you. Perhaps your family and

friends cannot relate to your current lifestyle as a

student at Allen School, but your classmates can.

Remember, the more you put into your course, the

more you will get out of it! Look for the next edition

to our Study Skills series. Our next topic will be

STUDY TOOLS.

Deciding to go to school later in age was not an easy

decision; I chose a totally different career path. I have

been in education for over 19 years and I still can't

believe that this is what I would like to do when I

grow up. Seriously, new students need to focus on

their goal and stick to it. I have had to make

adjustments with my schedule and try to stick with a

plan to get class work done. I purchased a dry erase

board and every Sunday when new Units are posted,

I write down all discussions, assignments and quizzes

that are due and when they are due. As the week goes

along, I check off the work that I have completed

and/or submitted. It helps to see exactly what

deadlines need to be met first, what's crucial, and

what can be put off until a later day.

I am a single mom with two adult daughters and four

grandsons, but they still believe mom must put us

first. To their surprise, they too had to understand it


was time for mom. I had to show them what I was

preaching over the years about continued

education. I have my office and I close my door so

I'm not disturbed and they had to see what it was like

to take a course online. My family has sat with me

and heard my instructor’s voice; they could not

believe the technology of actually having an

instructor present in my home. So now that everyone

has seen the importance of me focusing on education

they respect it and more importantly respect me.

Evelyn Hidalgo

Current Online MIBC 103 A&P student

Arizona – MA Program

The Phoenix – MA program successfully finished its

first module with great success! The students,

instructors, and staff have formed a community that

is centered on support, hard work, and enthusiasm for

academic achievement. Highlights for the month

include:

Pig Dissection – the MA program was fortunate to

live-stream the pig dissection from the Brooklyn

campus. Not only did the class learn anatomy and

skill-sets, but they witnessed how The Allen School

is able and willing to use its resources and knowledge

to bring the student bodies from each campus

together.

Friday Feast – the MA students have begun a

Friday Feast in which the students, staff, and

instructors bring food and lively conversation to

share and cultivate relationships.

Blood drive – The Phoenix campus is excited to be a

part of the blood drive on July 19th

. This selfless act

will allow our students and staff to help the

community in an unforgettable way.

The word community keeps popping up when

discussing this outstanding campus. Every member of

the staff is working diligently towards each student’s

success. Our most recent Anatomy and Physiology

lab was filled with the support staff having their

blood pressures, respirations, and pulses checked (I

wonder if drawing blood will be as easy? )

Stay tuned…the Medical Assistant program at the

Arizona campus is headed for greatness!

Faculty-of-the-Year – Brooklyn Campus

Rod Armand Mr. Armand was selected as Faculty of the year at the

2012 commencement services. Whether in the

classroom or at an extracurricular

activity (like the AIDS walk), his

students will all tell you that he makes

it his business for them to learn.

“Perseverance is the key to your

success – NEVER GIVE UP” --Rod

Armand

Faculty-of-the-Year –Jamaica Campus

Josephine Te Ms. Josephine Te has been with Allen School for

more than 13 years and has been teaching for more

than 20 years, so it was just fitting that she was

selected as Faculty of the year at the graduation

ceremony of 2012.

Ms. Te chose teaching because it is a challenging and

rewarding learning experience. She strongly believes

that she can make a difference in

students’ lives by imparting the

knowledge and wisdom that will

make them a better person and

become successful.

Her ultimate goal as an educator is to

help students understand that learning

is an ongoing process.


“My advice for our current and future students is to

stay focused, be always willing to learn, and don’t

ever quit. Attitude is EVERYTHING. To the

graduates, employers would rather hire a C student

with an A attitude than an A student with a C

attitude.” --Josephine Te

Faculty-of-the-Year –Arizona Campus

Sharon Anton I have been with Allen School for a couple of years

and have thoroughly enjoyed the growth in the online

program and getting to be a part of it all. I was born

and raised in Wisconsin and made the big move to

the Sunshine State five years ago and

love it. I worked for 6 ½ years doing

billing and processing for the

Medical Assistance Program and then

made the decision to go to college to

become a teacher. I taught in the

classroom for 14 years and then made

the move to becoming a full-time

online instructor. I have taught

MIBC 104 Coding 1, MIBC 105 Coding 2, MIBC

107 Medical Insurance & Billing 1, MIBC 109

Medical Insurance & Billing 1, and MIBC 112

Certification Exam Preparation. I have my

Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business Education from

UW-Whitewater and I am in the final stages of

completing my PhD, editing my dissertation with a

goal of achieving my Doctorate within the next year.

I enjoy almost everything outside, a big motivator for

moving to the Sunshine State. I have 3 kids and 2

grandkids and enjoy them a lot. I really enjoy

working together with the instructors and Allen

School Team and also getting to be a part of the

educational journey with the students, helping them

to find their success. It is an honor and my privilege

to get to be a teacher with Allen and I appreciate the

Instructor of the Year award.


Allen School Institutional EDUCATE Core Values

E ducation, Quality, & Integrity

D edication

U nderstanding of Others

C ommunication & Consistency

A dvisement & Achievement

T eamwork & Technology

E xcellence

T eamwork &

Technology

E xcellence

Upcoming Events

Bodies Exhibit – Jamaica

Campus

Students Learning for a

Cause—Brooklyn

Campus Module 1: Lymphoma Module 2: Breast Cancer Module 3: Autism Module 4: Child Abuse Module 5: Obesity and Healthy Living

Next Campus Connecting

Activity—

Physical Diagnosis

Workshop!

Online Student FYI

Center Goes Live—

July 30, 2012!

Upcoming Stories

So you like healthcare…

So you like helping people…

So you’re an MA, MIBC, or NA student…

Our news letter is looking for a few good

authors. Have an idea for a story? Want to discuss a current

issue? Send your story to one of the contacts below: Ms. Bingham (Brooklyn)

[email protected]

Mr. Callman (Jamaica)

[email protected]

Dr. Gotto (Online)

[email protected]

Dr. Libby Hunt (Arizona)

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]