1. BIO 096 (4 credit hours) is being replaced by CHM 096 (5 credit hours). As was the case with BIO 096, CHM 096 is the pre-requisite for BIO 100 & 111. Students who have already taken and passed BIO 096 will be grandfathered, and therefore not required to take CHM 096.

2. The ACT Mathematics score acceptable for direct placement into MTH 126 has changed from 20 to 22. An ACT Mathematics score of 20 will still satisfy the Algebra & Pre-Algebra competencies towards qualification.

See below for updated Program Check Sheets.

Please read the following descriptions carefully, and refer to the updated curriculum check sheets below.

Summary of the New Math Sequence for PTA & RAD 

MTH 030 -> MTH 045 -> MTH 055 -> MTH 137

OR

If you have already passed MTH 121 with a “C” or better: MTH 121 -> MTH 137

Math Requirements for Qualification (i.e. getting on “The List”)

As of Fall Quarter 2009, if you are already Qualified for either the PTA or RAD programs, the changes in the Math Qualification Competencies will not apply to you. If you are not qualified, however; or if you are in need of re-qualifying for any reason; then, as of Fall Quarter 2009, your qualification for the PTA and/or RAD programs will include these changes in the Math Qualification Competencies.

Math Curriculum Requirements for Graduation

As of Fall Quarter 2009, if you are already Matriculated (i.e., in your Program Courses) into either the PTA and/or RAD programs, the changes in the Math Curriculum Requirements will not apply to you. If you are not Matriculated, however; or if you are in need of re-Matriculating for any reason; then, as of Fall Quarter 2009, your graduation from the PTA and/or RAD programs will include these changes in the Math Curriculum.

Updated Physical Therapy Assisting (PTA) Check Sheet (As of Fall Quarter 2009)

Updated Radiographic Imaging Technology (RAD) Check Sheet (As of Fall Quarter 2009)

Frequently Asked Questions

• I am Qualified (i.e. on the List), but not in my Program Courses.  Do I have to take MTH 137?

Yes. 

• I have been attending Rhodes, but am not currently Qualified (i.e. in “The List”).  Do I have to take MTH 055 before I can Qualify?

You must satisfy this qualification requirement, either by taking MTH 055 or by COMPASS placement directly into MTH 137 (which would supersede your having to take MTH 055 as a prerequisite for MTH 137) .

• I have already taken and passed MTH 121, but am not yet in my Program Courses.  Do I still need to take MTH 137?

Yes.  If you have taken and passed (“C” or better) MTH 121, however, then MTH 121 constitutes having met the prerequisite for MTH 137.

• Can I retake the COMPASS Placement Test to determine if I need to take MTH 055?

Yes. Contact the Testing Center at (419)995-8476 

A FREE online career planning program for Rhodes State College students and employees.

Available on the Rhodes State College Testing Center web page

http://www.rhodesstate.edu/testingcenter

Here’s what FOCUS 2 can do for you:

·        analyze your career planning status

·        assess your interests, skills, work values, personality, and preferences

·        discover and explore occupations, career paths, and education programs compatible with your personal attributes

·        map out your career and educational goals, action plans, personal development and training needs

The program is easy! Work on your assessment at your own pace, in your own time. You can print off reports, revisit your responses, and have at hand a variety of other resources to make good decisions about your career.

Login instructions for your free FOCUS 2 account:

1. http://www.rhodesstate.edu/testingcenter

2. Click the word “FOCUS” that is in the right hand column of the page.

3. The first time you use FOCUS 2 you will need to register. Click the link to register as a new user.

4. In the first field type in the keyword: rhodes (case sensitive)

5. Select your projected graduation date. If it is not listed, choose the closest.

6. Create a user ID and Password. Be sure to copy down your user name and

    password for future use.

7. Begin your career assessment.

The next time you log in to FOCUS 2, log in as in step one. Then key in the user name and password you created, and continue with FOCUS 2.

If you have any problems or questions, call the Testing Center at 419-995-8476 or send an email to TestCenter@RhodesState.edu.

Starting Your Career Right: Finding a Great Mentor in College

When I first went to college, I was lost. I had grown up in a tiny town where virtually everyone around me had started factory jobs straight out of high school. I literally knew no one (other than my teachers) who had attended college at any level. I more or less guessed at a major based on the advice of people around me who, quite honestly, had very little idea, either. I had no idea what would lead to success in school – I figured you just went to classes and goofed off all the time.

Luckily, I found three mentors while there that turned things around for me, showing me what I needed to do to succeed, providing me with advice when I needed it, and pushing and prodding me to move forward.

My first mentor was a professor who was also my academic advisor. He took a distinct interest in me (likely because I seemed so lost, but at least I was somewhat aware of it) and helped me find my first job (in a public computer lab) and then, later, my second job (in a research lab). Over the years (even after I graduated), we kept in such close touch that I wound up being one of the speakers at his retirement ceremony. He took me under his wing as an aimless college student and gave me direction and motivation.

My second mentor was a system support specialist that was charged with “overseeing” the computer lab where I worked. We mutually helped each other out several times and, eventually, he not only introduced me to my third mentor, but he provided a lot of the motivation I needed to launch a writing career. I still swap messages with him all the time. He helped me refine my direction, find the right place to continue to grow, and provided continuous advice along the way.

My third mentor was a professor who was my direct boss for six years. He would assign me projects that were vaguely defined and would require me to really push myself and find new skills, and he dropped just enough carrots along the way to keep me growing. He encouraged me to add a second major (computer science) to complement my first (biology). As I neared graduation, he actually created a full-time position for me in his lab that lasted for two years, then he helped me transition that experience directly into a federal job. He opened the door to my career.

At the same time, though, I interacted with a lot of professors, advisors, and others who didn’t seem to click with me at all. They provided very little help along the way. Often, it was clear that they were just telling me things to get me out of their way. Sadly, I found that most college students tend to wind up with a negative perspective of professors and advisors in general because of these experiences.

How does one separate the wheat from the chaff? How can a college student find a good mentor that can help him or her on the path to a good career – and avoid the ones that provide little or no help? Here’s the game plan for doing just that.

Know what you’re passionate about. No mentor in the world can help you if you don’t bring some of your own passion to the table. If you’re not enthusiastic about anything that overlaps a potential mentor’s enthusiasm, you’ll almost never click in any significant way.

So, find what you’re passionate about. Get started on this as early as you can, so that you can use this information to select a major that best matches what fuels your fire.

Find people at the school who share your passion. The best way to start is to look for extracurricular activities that relate to that interest – and I use extracurricular in the broadest sense of the term. Join clubs. Go to public lectures. Attend every optional program and session that you can that relates to your interest.

What you’ll begin to find is that there is a consistent group of people that attend many of these events. Professors, department heads, graduate students, and strongly motivated undergraduates will be in that group, and what they all have in common is an interest in those shared topics and the energy to reach out to discover more. Somewhere in this group is a great mentor for you.

Get in the mix by asking questions. Standing in the background won’t do the trick. You need to participate in the discussion. In almost every environment, the best way to start is to ask questions. If you don’t know, ask. Listen. Ask some more.

Eventually, you’ll start finding people in this environment that you click well with. You’re getting closer to a great mentor – those people that you’re clicking with are conversational and share your passion. When you begin to identify some potential mentors, ask around about them. Do your own research, too – Google the person and see if you can find information about them.

Ask. The best approach is usually to simply ask if the person you’ve identified as a potential mentor has some time to meet with you and answer some questions. Any potential mentor worth his or her salt will happily agree.

When you meet, simply lay it out there. Talk what you’re passionate about and why you’re passionate about it and simply ask how you can get going with regards to following this passion as a career. What can you be doing now? What can you be doing in the future?

Any number of things can come from a meeting like this. There might be an opportunity for paid work or for volunteer work. The person might be able to point you towards another person or situation that might be more appropriate for you. Other times, the mentor might just be a source of good knowledge.

If you get an opportunity to prove yourself, make the most of it. Do your assigned tasks as well as you possibly can. Ask questions – but hold back on the “stupid” questions and find the answers to those yourself.

You’ll find that, if you’re passionate and quite willing to utilize that passion, a good mentor is continually willing to offer good advice, answer the questions you may have, and often open doors for you, sometimes in unexpected ways.

Good luck!

ATTENTION STUDENTS:

TUESDAY AND FRIDAY WALK IN TIMES AT THE STUDENT ADVISING CENTER HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR SPRING QUARTER. REMEMBER, THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED IS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE ADVISOR ASSIGNED TO YOUR MAJOR.

IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT CANNOT WAIT FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED ADVISING APPOINTMENT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP BY THE ADVISING OFFICE DURING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS AND AN ADVISING STAFF MEMBER WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.

SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR ADVISOR HAS BECOME MUCH EASIER– NOW YOU CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK VIA THE WEB!

How to Make Your Advisor Appointment

1) Go to Rhodes State College’s website www.rhodesstate.edu

2) Locate Quick Links on the right side of the page and select AdvisorTrac.

3) Log in using your R# do not use the letter R, just type in the numbers.

4) Mouse over the Go to… white box and it automatically drops down the choice of Make Appointment.

5) Click this option. The page will now be Availability Search.

6) On Select a Center choose advising.

7) Choose your advisor. Then select a range of dates for when you would like to make an appointment.

8) Hit the Search button. All the available times for an appointment will appear at the bottom of the screen under search results.

9) Click on the time that would like to have your appointment.

- This page shows you the Appointment Information. If you would like to save this appointment time, click on Save Appointment. If you would like a different date mouse over the Go To… white box, click Return and choose a different time.

10) After you have saved your appointment time you will be returned to the Main Menu and your new appointment time will show as an upcoming appointment.

- If you need to reschedule your appointment time click on the date of the appointment on the Main Menu screen and hit delete on the next page. Then repeat scheduling process

http://www.twitter.com/RhodesAdvising

Yvonne is a graduate of Wright State University and the University of Phoenix. She has experience in a variety of health care settings and advising adult learners. Please feel free to call and schedule an appointment to discuss any concerns you may have or problems you may be experiencing as you progress throughout your academic program.

Contact Yvonne

Ph: 419.995.8030

Email: Taylor.Y@RhodesState.edu