MCC-Penn Valley hosts international student orientation

MCC-Penn Valley recently welcomed 45 students at its international students orientation. Bobbie Gustin, cultural awareness coordinator, discussed immigration. Julianne Jacques, international student counselor, shared information on insurance and soft skills like punctuality, gestures and space when talking to other people.

These students are among the 150 international students enrolled in classes across Metropolitan Community College. Total students representing the following continents and countries include:

• Africa - 57
• Asia - 44
• South America - 9
• North America - 2
• Middle East - 14
• from Central America - 3
• from the Carribbean - 3
• Pacific - 2

Photo Caption: Bobbie Gustin (right), Penn Valley cultural awareness coordinator, chats with student following international student orientation.

Blue River ‘s first A+ orientation hits home

MCC-Blue River recently hosted its first A+ orientation with seventy-seven students participating. Designed as a credit class, the A+ students spent four days on campus getting an in-depth look at the college experience as well as a look at themselves.

“We really pushed them to look at themselves and what they want to do in life,” said registrar Karen Goos. “We tried to emphasize strategies for making it through college and pursing the career they want. We told them about other students who changed their path completely because of one class they did not like. We saw the students wondering if that was a good idea, basing their future on just one class.”

During the first class session, the students were asked what their future plans were. “We asked them to write the phrase I will, followed by one or two goals on a poster board,” said Jenny Steen, academic advisor. “We then photographed the students putting the goals together and showed the filmed segments to the students at the end of the week.”

It evidently had an impact. While some thought it was silly at first, many of the students realized the profound effect the exercise had. The message, of looking at yourself and decide what you will do with your future, really hit home. “It was the quietest they had been all week.” said Jenny.

Check out the A+ Orientation “I Will” Video.

The A+ program is a state wide initiative developed to encourage high school students to get good grades in return for free tuition at any Missouri community college or technical school. With such a large turnout for the first orientation, Steen is hopeful for the future. “This is just the beginning,” she said. ”We will definite be back next year, bigger and better.”

For more information, visit www.mcckc.edu/blueriver.

MCC-Longview new student orientation tours are in full swing

Student body president Jason Skinner leads one of the many tours around campus during MCC-Longview’s New Student Orientation.

They are easy to spot around campus. Tight clusters of recently graduated high school students wide eyed with packets of information and parents not far behind asking questions. Each group of new students is led by an energetic MCC-Longview student hoping to make a good impression.

New Student Orientation is in full swing at Longview as more than 1,200 new students are expected to file though campus over the next month.

“For some this is the first time they are going to see firsthand what their college career is going to look like,” said Kim Prosak, student life and leadership coordinator. “We want to help make the transition from high school to college as easy as possible.”

Like most other college orientation sessions, Longview offers tours, introductions to major faculty members and an overview of important services on campus. Longview has already been host to several student orientation sessions, but future Lakers can still sign up for several more throughout August.



Gary Cochran helps a new student at registration at the MCC-Longview New Student Orientation program on Friday. More than 100 students registered for the Friday session.

Future dates include:

Monday, Aug. 9 - 1-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 10 - 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 12 - 5:30-9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 14 - 1-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 17 - 5:30-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 18 - 1-4:30 p.m.

For more information, call student life and leadership at 816.604.2130.