Goodbye for now...

It's been a pleasure working with all of you and I look forward to staying in touch and seeing your careers progress in the future!

Best of luck!
Robin

Graduation!

Congratulations to the ALOP graduates!

Here's a little pomp and circumstance to get you in the mood...
(the part you're most familiar with starts 1:14 into the song)

Congratulations!

Advice to students participating in graduation on Saturday

All graduates:

• if at all possible, pick up your graduate gown before Saturday. They pack them in little bags and they are full of wrinkles! (and I know you want to look perfect for all those graduation photos! :-)
  
  speaking of photos, there will be two professional photographer shots that you will have the option to purchase: one taking as you are getting your diploma/shaking the President's hand, and one in front of a Drake backdrop right after you exit the stage.
  
  
• Hanging your gown (not the hood) in the bathroom during a couple of steamy showers should get out most of the wrinkles.

Women graduates:

• try on your cap ahead of time and see if you need to bring bobby pins or not.
  
  
• unless you're wearing a button down shirt tucked into your pants/skirt, you'll want to bring a safety pin to pin the "string" on your hood to your blouse/top so that it doesn't choke you. (the design was originally based on the idea that everyone graduating would have on a button down shirt...i.e. men.)

See you Saturday!

APA manual version 6!

There is a new APA manual (version 6) due out in July. They also promise updated website, blog, tutorials, FAQs, etc. Read more about it here.

Free APA Manual!

One of the graduating ALOP students has graciously agreed to donate her APA manual to a current student. (I can't believe she doesn't think she'll need it after graduation! :-)

Email me at Drake if you're interested...first come, first get it!

Graduation and Registration

At this point, you all fall into one of two categories: graduating or registering for summer/fall classes (although I know some of you fall into BOTH categories until the end of the summer.) So here's some info and reminders:

Graduation

• Here is the link for all things graduation.
  
• I believe we're up-to-date, but if you are graduating spring 2009 or summer 2009 you need to complete a graduation application (available online under MYDUSIS). You must complete a graduation application whether or not you are attending the commencement ceremony.
  
• If you graduated December 2008 or are graduating spring 2009 or summer 2009, you are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony on May 16. If you previously did not want to participate in commencement but have changed your minds (you know who I'm talking to), please let me know ASAP and go the the bookstore ASAP to order your cap, gown and hood.

Registration

• Registration will officially open March 30. A registration schedule will be distributed sometime this week to let you know exactly when you can start registering (it's based on your school--we're school of education--and the number of credits you completed before spring 2009 semester.) I'll post the schedule here when we get it, but you should also find it in the announcement section of BlueView.
  
• This registration is for both summer and fall classes.
  
• Summer and fall class schedules are both available online through MYDUSIS.
  
• If you want to meet with me to talk about your schedule (or if you need to do "the stickers" to plan your classes) send me an email and we'll make and appointment.

Here comes winter...again!

Our brief glimpse of spring is over and we're expecting snow again starting Friday (and starting Thursday for our Omaha friends). This is a good time to review class canceling policy.

Local TV and radio stations will announce closures. You can also call the Drake Cancellation line, 515-271-4545. If possible, closures will be announced on http://www.drake.edu/. However, since the people that handle the Drake communication channels work during the week and our classes are on weekends, you will often need to rely on your instructor to communicate class cancellations.

For students in classes with me...I will email your Drake email to let you know about class cancellations and will post an announcement on Blackboard and/or any other class communication tools (like a class blog). You are, of course, also welcome to call me. It's likely other instructors will do the same thing, but if you're not sure, feel free to give your instructor a call or send an email.

(Here's an earlier blog post on Drake's emergency plan. Drake's emergency plan is also available through the main page on BlueView.)

Free Event: Combating Job Displacement in Des Moines

Rochelle Rudd (ALOP) works at Kaplan and wanted me to share this in case any of you (or anyone else you know) is interested.

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Event: "Combating Job Displacement in Des Moines"

Description: Kaplan University will host a FREE event open to the public to assist displaced workers from recent layoffs that have been hitting the Des Moines metro. Our goal is to prepare displaced workers for the next step whether that is Job Searching, Changing Careers, or Continuing Education.

Multiple sessions will be held covering the following topics:
Effective Job Search Strategies, Unemployment, Resume Development, Strategies for Career Changing, Online Applications, Marketplace Trends, Entrepreneur-SBA, Interviewing Skills, Computer Skills, Online Networking, Utilizing Temp Services, and Furthering Your Education.

Presentations will be given by Principal, CDS Global, Robert Half Technology, Midwest Professional Staffing, Community Support Advocates, 2 The Top, Kaplan University, and Iowa Workforce Development. Computer labs and resume critiquing will also be available.

Date: Friday, March 6th

Time: 12:00-4:00

Where: Kaplan University, 4655 121st Street Urbandale, Iowa 50323

Additional Info: Kaplan University will also be holding a Career Fair open to the public on Thursday, March 12th.

Questions: Contact Lori Gelhaar, 727-6844 or lgelhaar@kaplan.edu