Find out what’s happening at Meramec from new administrators to upcoming theater performances
Discounted tuition for undocumented persons deferred
After media reports recently publicized that STLCC was offering undocumented students local tuition rates versus international or out-of-state rates, Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis, Ph.D., released a statement to the board of trustees at the Jan. 16 meeting.
According to Michaelis, “… it has become increasingly evident that the issue of tuition charged to undocumented persons is a complicated matter and that many states have revised their policies and procedures to address this particular issue.”
Michaelis said he has become aware of efforts to develop a comprehensive policy for the state of Missouri in regards to charging of in-district or in-state tuition to undocumented persons. “As a result, I have decided to defer St. Louis Community College’s administrative decision to grant in-district or in-state tuition to these students until such time that a comprehensive statewide policy is developed,” Michaelis said.
It is still unclear whether or not undocumented students registered for the spring 2014 semester received a discount before the interim chancellor deferred the policy.
Alternative spring break trip registration deadline Jan. 31
Twenty five students will have the opportunity to spend spring break giving back to the New Orleans community while representing STLCC-Meramec. Students registered to participate in the alternative spring break service trip to New Orleans, sponsored by Campus Life and the Service Learning Office, will leave campus at 7 a.m. Sunday, March 9 and return Friday evening, March 14.
“We have done this every year for six or seven years – this will be my fourth year going on the trip,” said Debbie Corson, coordinator of Service Learning. “It started out as a direct response to Hurricane Katrina.”
This year’s trip will include work with the International High School of New Orleans. “They’re in a really old building in the Garden District in New Orleans, so we paint and do some dry walling, maybe a little bit of building,” Corson said. “We have helped them with some Katrina damage, but now we’re going back because we’ve formed a relationship with them.”
Students seeking service learning credit can earn 30 hours of service during the spring break trip alone, Corson said. “We have a semester service program where students who would get 45 hours of service during one semester get two letters of recommendation that they can have sent to four-year colleges or use it for scholarship applications,” Corson said. “So, it’s a great opportunity to get 30 of the 45 hours of service that somebody would need.”
Fees include a $100 deposit due Jan. 31 and the remaining balance of $193 due Feb. 18. Trip sponsors will host meetings at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 and 6 p.m. Jan. 30 in BA219L.
Contact dcorson2@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7234 for information.
Interim chancellor appoints new administrator, eliminates Wildwood president position
On Jan. 23, Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis, Ph.D., announced the appointment of Brad Bankhead to serve as administrator of strategic projects and student services beginning Feb. 3 on a temporary basis.
Bankhead will be responsible for assisting with review of the college’s admissions, registration and financial aid operations. “This position is a step toward establishing the position of vice chancellor of student services and as a part-time temporary position will allow me the time and opportunity to evaluate the value of this position and structure to STLCC,” Michaelis noted in a STLCC press release. “I would also point out that the longer term goal is to reduce the number of administrative positions over the course of the next 18 months.”
Michaelis said he has also recommend that the Wildwood campus president position be eliminated effective July 1, 2014. The Wildwood vice president for academic affairs and director of student affairs would then report to Meramec President Pam McIntyre.
In an email to faculty and staff, Michaelis noted that change in any institution can be very difficult and that he feels “strongly that significant change in our college must occur if we are to move STLCC forward.”
Archers host cancer awareness event Feb. 8
STLCC-Meramec will host the third annual Cancer Awareness Basketball Game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 in the Meramec gymnasium. The game is in memory of Mike Ethridge, father of Archers’ Womens’ Basketball Head Coach Shelly Ethridge. The event will raise proceeds for young cancer patients.
The Archers womens’ team will play Wentworth Military Academy at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s match against Wentworth at 3 p.m.
The event will feature a silent auction, raffles, giveaways and t-shirt sales.
For more information, contact Ethridge at methridge1@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7485.
Meramec Theatre hosts two upcoming plays
Theater students are actively preparing for a production of “Tales of the Lost Formicans,” directed by Meramec Professor Keith Oliver, with performance dates set at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-15 and 2 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Meramec Theatre.
After final production wraps, the STLCC-Meramec theater program will launch production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” with auditions slated for Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Meramec Theatre.
Students auditioning should prepare a one to two-minute comic monologue and prepare a one-minute song with sheet music in the correct key. The theatre departments encourages dress for a dance audition.
The performances of “Bye, Bye Birdie,” directed by Meramec Professor Michelle Rebollo, will be April 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. and April 20 at 2 p.m. in the Meramec Theatre.
