Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
JEANNE GRAHAM, Dean of Students, talks to new students during orientation on Thursday at Gogebic Community College. Graham stressed the school wants to prepare students as much as possible and also provide as much assistance as possible to give them the greatest chance at succeeding.
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood - About 30 new students descended on Gogebic Community College Thursday for orientation before the coming second semester. Classes start Monday.
As usual, the orientation for second semester had significantly fewer students than first semester, according to a college spokesman. Orientation before the first semester usually runs about 100 new students.
According to the school's website, enrollment is 1,400, full- and part-time.
The mix of students at Thursday's orientation ranged from recent high school graduates to older, more mature students.
GCC president Jim Lorenson opened the orientation with some advice for students, "The school will do all it can to help people achieve their goals, but the primary responsibility rests on the student. Student success is dependent upon their own efforts."
Jeanne Graham, Dean of Students, described how orientation is designed to get students ready for class, as the college "wants students to be prepared for Monday."
She talked about the efforts the college makes to assist students, including free tutoring.
In describing the make-up of the typical GCC student, Graham highlighted how "about 45 percent of the student body consists of students enrolled in the academic transfer programs." These students are at GCC one to two years before transferring to a four-year university.
The school has academic and career counselors to assist with the transition to either the workforce or another school. The students just need to ask, said Graham.
This was a common theme at orientation. The students need to be self-motivated to look out for their own interests as the school has the tools to help, but the students need to make the effort to seek the aid.
Dayle Jackson, Director of Student Outreach and Engagement, took her job title to heart in an effort to help students acclimate to the schedule of a college student.
For adults who have been out of the classroom, the transition to a classroom and the homework can be a real challenge, she said. Meanwhile, recent high school students used to the same schedules day in and day out, also have to transition to a schedule with maybe one or two classes per day, instead of seven to eight hours straight.
