Can I get an incomplete?

I have forgotten who I have told and who I haven't told, but in the interest of communicating to all my students, you should all know that my Mom is back in the hospital and is not doing well.

She came with me to Minnesota on 11/19, and went into the hospital on 11/24. Her liver is failing and she is not responding positively thus far to the medical interventions that have been given. The next couple of days will be key for her, but honestly, I think she has given up. So, she is dying. Whether she dies in the next week or so or over the next few months is still in question. But there it is.

I know this has been a frustrating semester for all of you and that I have not been able to be as attentive as you and I would both like. I am doing my best to balance my work and family responsibilities, but am probably failing a little at both. Maybe that's the best I can hope for at this point. I hope I'm also succeeding a little. :) Maybe? If nothing else, I hope you feel I have been honest with you throughout and have kept you informed to the best of my abilities.

Please continue to email questions to me; I will respond fastest to those. I am also in the office (at this point) each day this week and will do my best to meet with you if that is helpful.

Thank you to all for your continued support, patience, and understanding.

Banned Books Week Extra Credit!

This week is Banned Books Week, and tomorrow, the library is hosting readings from banned and/or challenged books on the Skyway level of the T Building from 11:30 am-1 pm and from 4:30-6 pm. We're also hosting our annual Banned Books Week Readings show on BlogTalkRadio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mctc-library) on Friday morning from 11-11:30 a.m.

You can earn 5 extra credit points by participating in these events!

To earn extra credit, you need to:

1) come on Thursday and read a 3-5 minute segment from a banned or challenged book (lists online at http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/index.cfm

OR

Email me a 3-5 min MP3 recording of you reading from a banned or challenged book to upload and play during our Friday BlogTalkRadio show. Recordings must be received by me before 10 am on Friday.

AND

2) Write a short essay (300-500 words) on what intellectual freedom means to you and why you chose to read from the work you did;

AND

3) Post your essay in the Hallway Conversations forum of the online course with your name and "Banned Books Week Extra Credit" in the subject line.

If you plan to participate in this extra credit opportunity, reply to this message and let me know whether you plan to read "live" on Thursday or send me an MP3 file so I know to look for it.

Mozilla Labs » Concept Series » Blog Archive » Concept Series: Seabird – A Community-driven Mobile Phone Concept

For those who came to the video teleconference today, I thought this was particularly relevant given the conversations about mobile technologies. I would like this device. :)
Mozilla Labs » Concept Series » Blog Archive » Concept Series: Seabird – A Community-driven Mobile Phone Concept

Libraries & the Mobile Technologies Landscape

You are invited (and encouraged, if available) to attend the first in a series of 4 College of DuPage web presentations tomorrow from 12-2, to be viewed on the MCTC campus.

"Libraries & the Mobile Technologies Landscape"

MORE DETAILS HERE!

An RSVP is preferred, but not required.

Hope to see you there too!

Yom Kippur

Tonight and tomorrow is Yom Kippur, and I will be observing the holiday with my family. I also have other family obligations tomorrow and Sunday morning. If you post or email questions to me, I will probably not respond until Sunday afternoon or evening at the earliest, and possibly not until Monday.

Campus IT Downtime

This should not impact D2L access if you use the direct link (https://minneapolis.ims.mnscu.edu/)and not the link from the campus home page. However, if you email me, I won't see it until after the downtime.

~~~~

Please be aware that there will be scheduled campus network downtime on Sunday, September 12, 7:00 - 10 a.m.

ITS staff and our vendor will be performing maintenance on our campus firewall systems. During this time, there will be no access to the MCTC website, Outlook e-mail or remote access services.

All messages sent to Outlook during this time will be queued and delivered once the system is back online.

Phone services and voicemail will remain operational.

We apologize for any inconvenience this required maintenance may cause.

Please contact Dana Harrington with any questions at 612-659-6611 or Dana.Harrington@minneapolis.edu.

Conflict with office hours on Thursday

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow (Thursday) that will keep me from being available for my scheduled office hours. If you want to see me this week, please contact me to set up an appointment.

Tips for the Start of the Semester

• Students who have never logged on, or need extra help, can go to the LEARNING CENTER, T 4300. ITS is staffing learning center to walk students through ALL of the various MCTC logins (main, e-services, d2l, et al) HOURS: Monday & Wednesday: 8 AM - 6 PM, Tuesday & Thursday: 8 AM - 7 PM, Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM ph. (612) 659.6140
  
  
• Students can "look up" password at e-services login pages IF they know which e-mail they have on file
  
  
• IF student needs to update e-mail address w/ college, go to RECORDS/student service center T2200
  
  
• Students needing a STUDENT ID go to T1000 (Gourmet Dining Room) HOURS Mon-Thurs, 8AM-6PM and Friday, 8AM-4PM
  
  
• LAST DAY to charge textbooks to financial aid (at bookstore) is FRIDAY Aug 27
  
  
• FINANCIAL aid disbursements do NOT go out untils AFTER the 15th day of the semester

MCTC Campus Cards/Student IDs

MCTC Campus Card/Student ID operations have moved from T2020 to T1000 (Gourmet Dining Room) cafeteria entrance to better serve students during our rush period. This is by the entrance near the restrooms on the west side of T1000. Hours of operations are Mon-Thurs, 8AM-6PM and Friday, 8AM-4PM. We will also be open during Welcome Day this Saturday.

You can find a map of the 1st floor of the Technical Building online at:

http://www.minneapolis.edu/campusmaps/index.cfm