IN LINE WITH THE FANTASTIC FIVE

BACK STORY:

Tuition for spring 2012 courses was due at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9.

Individuals who did not make the deadline date (approximately 1,000 indviduals) were dropped from courses which opened up many previously closed courses.

At 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in-person registration opened up and courses were available to students on a first-come first-served basis.

There are usually between 500-800 students in line. Ironically, for a day that may appear hectic to the outsider, the day runs smoothly and turns out to be a fun, successful and happy day for many of our students.

As the Associate Dean in Enrollment Services, it is my responsibility to help ensure that the 'registration' process runs smoothly. (Along with major help from Student Development, deans from various academic divisions, volunteers, cashiers, public safety and other critical departments.)

So, for fun and to gather input from our students, I like to obtain feedback directly from them. This morning, I decided to talk with the first five students in line.

(Above photo indicates the time each student arrived - the prior day.)

After sitting/sprawled on a hard cold floor and being up all night, I have to say my first impression of the Fantastic Five was very positive. They were all in great spirits, quick-witted and humored me during our interview session. When I asked each of the five if they would each be willing to be featured in the blog, they all responded positively and of course, laughed!

Our first student in line, Charlie Lisk, arrived at 1:30 p.m. - He had his sleeping bag and was in good spirits when I spoke to him. For Charlie, he needed an entire schedule because, for reasons beyond his control, at the last moment, he needed to attend SCC this semester. Charlie is taking mostly nursing pre-requisites. Charlie spent his time watching movies and sleeping. This is the second time Charlie has waited in the 'post-purge' line.

The second student in line, Morgan Bauer, arrived at 5 p.m. - Morgan needed to add chemistry and nursing classes to her schedule; the classes were previoulsy closed. Morgan was very funny and said she would never 'do this' again - but alas, here she is. This is Morgan's second time to wait in the big honkin' line. She passed the time by playing games on her phone, iPod and mingling with her fellow line buddies. Next time if Morgan does 'this' again she is going to bring more blankets.

The third student in line, Mallory Acklin, arrived at 5:30 p.m. - Mallory needed a biology course for graduation and this was her first time to wait in line. Mallory was also in good spirits and felt it was worth the wait since she needed this course for graduation. She was still not sure where she was attending after graduation - so, I named every four-year Missouri college I could think of and we talked about how cool it would be to earn a BA/BS degree here at SCC and never leave ever!!!! Joking...sort of...

The fourth student in line, 'Just Anthony,' arrived at 5:40 p.m. - 'Just' was a tad quiet but was very quick-witted and sparred with me - which is a big plus in my opinion. This is Anthony's sixth time to wait in the post-purge line! No wonder he did not want to give me his last name. (LOL!..joking). Anthony was primarily after a physical science and a history course. And since he was basically a waiting in-line expert, I asked if he had any advice for others - - stated simply, 'maybe register early.'

The fifth student in line, Alexis Crownover, arrived at 5:45 p.m. - Alexis descended from a royal family in Holland....okay...not really....but that would be really cool...Alexis had a 'not so good' schedule and she wanted to get a better schedule. Alexis is transferring to UMSL and spent her time while waiting playing on her computer. Alexis's boyfriend also sat with her the entire night. Nice guy, right? She owes him. He waited in line to keep her company.

The end of the line: Well, it was time for me to jump back to Enrollment Services to begin the registration process.

Each of the five students got the courses they needed/wanted. I do not have any hard data at this point, but I registered about a billion students that morning and quite honestly, I did not have one disgruntled student or one complaint. I did not receive one complaint from any of our awesome enrollment service assistants - so, in my humble opinion, the day went well!

Thanks again to all of the volunteers and others who help make this day a success. And thanks to our students for being cooperative and patient!

'The Molly' comes through this Christmas

So - a little background. Molly, my sister, has delighted me each holiday season and birthday with her unique presents. Most people have an 'Aunt' - I did and her name was Aunt Edna. Aunt Edna's gifts were always...unique. Once for my birthday in March, I got a large 4-leaf clover golden paperweight which guaranteed good luck for the entire year. I was in 8th grade.

In Aunt Edna's footsteps, I have 'The Molly'. Each year, the presents get more unbelievable and almost funny. By request, I have even saved opening them until January when the entire office staff could enjoy the moment. Molly is a beautician who works in a very swanky shop and thinks everyone lives in a 'Hollywood' world. She refused to pump her own gas until she had to - it might break a nail. She thinks nothing of paying over $550 per month to lease a BMW with heated steering wheel - she needs warm hands. But when it comes to buying MY Christmas and birthday gifts - I get Clearance.

And the Clearance items are from the holiday before...or from the little kid down the street who is selling a 'Rudolph and the entire herd of Reindeer' figurine set as a school project. One year for my March birthday I got hot pink long johns with Easter Bunnies on them. Now seasonally, that would have been purchased a year ago after Easter! It just became comical and we have all learned to laugh in wonderment.

My son now is experiencing the joys of "The Molly Present'. Last year for Christmas he got a gallon jug of 'close-out' Redkin Shampoo. For his birthday he got nothing and my sister sent his card a month late to his father's house. He hasn't lived there for 4 years. Passive/Aggressive perhaps? After a reminder phone call to my sister, she said, "Joey - if he would remember to write me 'Thank You' notes, I would remember his birthday!"

If you are following my blogs, for my birthday this year, I got a subscription to Marie Claire magazine. I didn't even know who Marie Claire was! When I brought in the first issue, the office laughed uproariously. Guess my cheeks aren't hollowed enough, my heels aren't tall enough or my hair isn't purple enough to fit the profile of a Marie Claire reader.

So, right before Christmas break - the office and surrounding friends were all a twitter in anticipation of 'The Molly Present'. I told them they would be the first to know the treasure I got this year.

And Molly surprised me...

What to my wondering eyes did appear? Decent presents! A really pretty silvery snowflake scent jar with wonderfully smelling wax discs that you lay on top. When you put a candle inside - it melts the wax and your house smells amazing. My son? A fun college-boy beverage game. He delightedly said, "Hmh!! That's a Keeper!" My boyfriend? A bottle of Bailey's. WOW.

'The Molly' came through.

Now what am I going to write about?

OMG! SCC was on OWN

So it started last summer when Kathy, my boss, said to me,"MJ, the Oprah Winfrey Network is developing a new TV series called "Sweetie Pie's" and I'd like you to give a campus tour to Charles - one of the people in the series."

She was totally serious.

She continued, "Charles wants to come to school here and the show wants to film you giving him a campus tour. Can you check your schedule and see if you are available on August 16th?"

She is not kidding.

AUGH!!!! REALLY??? So I did. And it was so fun. But because the show was a pilot and because of the unpredictable story line - we were told it might not even run and NOT to ADVERTISE THIS. In fact, they have people - and their people told our people to keep it on the down-low or the whole deal would be nixed. SO - I had to play like it was No Big Deal and I get mik'd every day with four cameras and two sound guys following me around campus.

The moment came and went - I got busy and put it on my mind's back burner. Then, just back from a heavy travel week in November, I get back to my office and my message light is flashing...so what's new. Messages could wait a bit - I needed to dig through my email first and clean up some paperwork. With that done and a fair sense of accomplishment, I finally decided to check my messages. The first one went like this: "Hi Mary Jo, this is Meagan with the Oprah Winfrey Network and I'm one of the Assistant Producers on the "Sweetie Pies" series...you remember, you gave Charles, Ms. Montgomery's nephew, a tour of SCC this summer."

AS IF SHE NEEDED TO REFRESH MY MEMORY?

"Well, the series is doing very well and we will be concluding the season with your episode. The show that you were in will be aired Saturday, December 3rd...we just wanted to make sure we have your title correct.You will be on the Season Finale."

I almost dropped the phone. I'm jumping all over the office, colleagues are clapping and J-La blurts, "There's our next blog! YOU GOTTA BLOG THIS!"

Well, I was on 'Sweetie Pies'...so was Paula Peraino from Student Development and Brian Legate from the Assessment Center. Paula's moment was shaking her head and saying, "OK". Nevertheless, it was integral to the story line.

So now, Meagan and I are BFF's and I am looking for an agent. The show is doing so well, that "Sweetie Pie's" just signed for 10-12 MORE EPISODES. They might be back -that is if Lil' Charles doesn't wreck his 6th car and doesn't get fired from the restaurant which Miss Robby threatens to do each episode.

I Love This Show-apparently so does Rosie O'Donnell. She told J-La. Check your listings for "Sweetie Pie's" on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network)...it's a hilarious show about 72-year-old Robbie Montgomery who was a back-up singer for Ike and Tina Turner. Due to health issues, she retired and now owns two soul-food restaurants in the city...one in Florissant and one in Tower Grove. There are various runs and re-runs throughout the week.

Ciao, Darlings.