Paula Hoffman appointed Interim Dean of Student Affairs

Paula Hoffman has been appointed to serve as Interim Dean of Student Affairs, filling a vacancy created when Nancy Mach, former Dean of Student Affairs, retired July 1 after serving in the role for more than eight years. Hoffman is no stranger to the higher education landscape, nor PTC, having served as PTC's Director of Academic Planning since 2008, and prior to that, Hoffman served as Integrated Service Project Grant Coordinator in PTC's Employment and Training Center since 2006. Additionally, Hoffman has instructed, teaching PTCG 1225 - Job Seeking and PHIL 1271 - Critical Thinking in Modern Society.

"It's already been nearly one month since I've taken on the Interim Dean position, and I am so happy I did," Hoffman says. "Throughout my career, I have been committed to creating a holistic environment for student success, and now, leading the student affairs department gives me the opportunity to pair my academic affairs, my teaching experience, and my knowledge and understanding of student success in a way that will uniquely contribute to the goals of PTC. I am more than excited to join Student Affairs, especially at this time, where we are readying for the start of the new academic year," Hoffman adds.

Hoffman holds a B.S. in Secondary Education/Social Studies from St. Cloud State University, an M.S. in Education-Professional Studies, and she continues to work on her Ph.D. in Post-Secondary Adult Education.

"As an educator and skilled administrator, Paula understands the educational and student service needs of our students, making her ideally suited for this role," PTC president Robert Musgrove, Ph.D., says. "Her experience in multiple roles at this college, combined with her formal education and training, have really prepared her for this senior leadership position, and we recognize we are very lucky to have her," Musgrove adds.

Photo at top: Paula Hoffman.

With new H2P grant, PTC's healthcare programs and new online resource, Virtual Career Network, flourish

PTC is part of the national Health Professions Pathways (H2P) Consortium that received a total of $19 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College & Career Training Grants funded through the U.S. Dept. of Labor, and the college is using the H2P grant to enhance and expand its healthcare training programs. The H2P grant goals are to increase the preparation and support opportunities for health profession training, provide training in competencies needed by industry, and develop assessment measures for continuous improvement.

“Healthcare training and healthcare jobs are very much in demand,” says Melissa Johnson, Education and Employment Advisor at PTC. “According to our research, available jobs in healthcare are projected to reach more than four million by 2015,” Johnson adds.

Healthcare careers are available for all skill and education levels. Students are encouraged to use the Virtual Career Network (VCN) – a site that includes information on more than 80 careers, 11 of which require less than one year of education and 37 that require just a two-year degree. By using the VCN, students can:

• Explore healthcare careers and answer questions such as, “What do jobs like this pay?” or “What is it like to be a nurse/technician/medical coder?”
• Decide which healthcare career is the best fit and use online assessments and tools to compare options based on interests.
• Identify education and training needed, and see what education, training, licenses or certifications are needed get and hold a job.
• Locate an appropriate instructional program and find courses, training and other programs near a user’s ZIP code.
• Access test preparation materials and online courses, and take courses directly through VCN for academic preparation.
• Find and apply for financial aid.
• Get credit for prior learning; determine whether courses taken through an employer, in college or while in the military may be eligible for education credits.
• See job demand in specific geographic areas, and cross-reference occupational matches with local job openings.

For more information about PTC’s programs in healthcare, including its new associate degree in medical assisting, visit: http://www.pinetech.edu/academics/catalog-and-programs/nursing-and-health-science.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and its many education, healthcare and workforce development partners developed VCN through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The H2P Consortium includes 10 community colleges and partner employers in collaboration with community-based organizations that are galvanizing a national movement to dramatically improve health professions training. H2P offers accelerated progress for trade impacted and low-skilled and other workers who are preparing for the competitive health care workforce.

High school students get a jump-start on college with the PSEO program

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) was created in 1985 as a means to promote rigorous educational pursuits and provide a wider variety of options for students. Through PSEO at PTC, high school students take PTC courses that satisfy requirements for both high school and, of course, their college credits.

"We're seeing more and more high school students take advantage of the PSEO program each year," says Jodie Klinkhammer, Assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs at PTC. "It's an excellent way to both stimulate high school students who are ready for college material, as well as introduce them to college life and motivate them to set long-term academic and career goals," Klinkhammer adds.

The program is available to students throughout the state, and students from nearly every Minnesota public high school earn credits through PSEO from programs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Through PSEO, students may take courses on a college or university campus or, where available, at their high school. PSEO courses offered in high school are sometimes called concurrent enrollment courses.

"The program is not for everyone. To be accepted, students must score 'college-ready' on the Accuplacer test," Klinkhammer warns. "But, if you are committed, it's very, very worth it, since the program is offered at no cost for participating students and their families. So, it's wise to get in and take as many college classes as you can to reduce your cost or your family's future cost," Klinkhammer explains.

To apply to the PSEO program at PTC, students should contact their high school guidance counselor(s) to obtain the proper documents, as well as gain advising regarding particular courses that will work in the student's favor. Additionally, students should contact Jodie Klinkhammer at PTC, 320-629-5117, or e-mail KlinkhammerJ@pinetech.edu.