Professional Development Workshops
November 28, 2006
Richetta Miller-Smith from Wishard Health Services discussed the tools required to succeed while embracing change in the workplace. She mentioned relevant information such as adjusting to changes in technology, management and working on deadlines in the workplace.

December 6, 2006
4:30 – 6 p.m.
The next workshop on leadership by Rick Rowray from Youth Opportunity Center will be held today in the Alumni Center. This will be the last workshop of the semester.

December Paycheck
Your December paycheck will be available on December 30. If you are not going to be in Muncie on this date, you may want to consider setting up direct deposit with Payroll. Visit the Payroll and Employee Benefits office in the basement of the Administration Building to complete the necessary paperwork.

Networking with Potential Employers
As the holidays draw near, we are presented with different opportunities to meet with potential employers, be it at a family holiday party, your parent’s company Christmas party, or through family friends. Networking gives you a chance to get to know potential employers before considering seeking employment with them. When dealing with networking and mingling, there are a few key points to keep in mind. The WorkOpolis Campus Web site offers the following tips.

• Prepare — always be prepared to meet potential employers. A good way to prepare is to have your résumé, cover letter, and references on hand and ready to hand to employers.
• Identify yourself — if nametags are available at an event, use them! Employers want to put a name to a face.
• Dress for the occasion — f ind out what the recommended dress is for the event. Do not embarrass yourself by assuming that jeans and a sweatshirt are acceptable — often they are not.
• Do not "clump up" — talk with family afterwards. Break away from the group and talk with company representatives or potential employers, or anyone else you think might be a good contact.

Source: www.campus.workopolis.com

Indiana State Symbols
State Bird:   Cardinal
State Flower:   Peony
State Tree:   Tulip-Poplar
State River:   The Wabash River
State Stone:   Limestone
State Poem:  “ Indiana,” by Arthur Franklin Mapes
State Song:  "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" words and music by Paul Dresser
Motto:   The Crossroads of America
Origin of State Name:   The word Indiana means "land of the Indians," referring to the many Native Americans who lived in the area.
Nickname for State:   The Hoosier State.  The origin of the name is disputed; it may come from the word hoozer, an English dialect word that meant any large feature, such as a hill. The term eventually came to mean a hill dweller.
Nickname for residents:   Indianians or Hoosiers

Source: www.thingstodo.com/states/IN/symbols.htm

Stress Management Tips
As the semester is slowly winding down, students are dealing with more and more stress be it from class presentations, term papers, exams or working towards program deadlines. With all the stress associated with school, the key to overcoming the stress is by having effective stress management tools. According to stressmanagementtips.com, one of the functions of education is to challenge you and, in the process, prepare you for the challenges of life after school.

Tips for Stress Management

• Find help when you need it. If you need help with a subject, don’t be afraid to find a tutor. Professors may offer help and are a resource to assist you in finding either extra materials or a tutor.
• Plan your work and work your plan. Schedule time for homework and stick to your schedule unless a real emergency gets in the way. If you need a break after school, take it and schedule homework time later in the evening. Remember that the opposite of stress is relaxation; just be sure to schedule both!
• Learn to set priorities. You can probably whip up that essay in a flash, but how about that fifteen-page term paper? Use your scheduled study time to work on long projects or read a chapter (or even a few pages) ahead.
• Take a break. It’s a necessary evil sometimes, but you can avoid physical aches and pains and creative blocks by taking a five-minute break after each hour of study. Also, when working at a desk or table, make sure that your chair is at a comfortable height and firmly supports your back.
• Be on time. Unless you have a pretty thick skin, classroom snickers and teachers’ glares are bound to make you uncomfortable. Discomfort equals stress.

Source: www.stressmanagement.com