Possible Change in Regulations May be Bad News for Students at TSTC

There is an alert system in place at Texas State Technical College Harlingen. As it stands, a student is given several chances (3 to be specific) to be satisfactory regarding academics.  

In English: You have 3 strikes to get your GPA over a 2.0 or else you forfeit Financial Aid funds.

There is a proposal being made to the Board of Regents that govern the TSTC System, which will change the regulation.  

The Current System looks like this:

1st semester of having a GPA below 2.0 = Warning

2nd semester of having a GPA below 2.0 = Probation

3rd semester of having a GPA below 2.0 = Suspension (which effects the next semester) 

Suspension = 1 semester. 

The Proposed System looks like this:

1st semester of having a GPA below 2.0 = Probation

2nd semester of having a GPA below 2.0 = Suspension (which effects the next semester)

Suspension = 1 year. 

So, in essence, TSTC is merely adopting a formula that the majority of other universities and colleges already have in place. We were one of the rare colleges that had a "3-strikes and your out" rule...most have "2-strikes and out".  

Again, this is just a PROPOSED modification. It is NOT in effect just yet.  

The next Board of Regents meetings should be around the month of May, so with planning and execution..we're probably looking at the FALL 2010 semester that it would be in effect.  

Just thought I'd give you a heads up. 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

TSTC on Facebook

As you have probably guessed...the majority of students have a Facebook account. TSTC realizes the importance that students receive information as soon as possible, so the Social Media Marketing Committee of the TSTC System has begun to put together an "inventory" of social spaces that TSTC currently has published.  

For Harlingen Students...this provides an excellent opportunity to be included in the most up to date information and subscribe to/become a fan of/friend your valuable departments, instructors or clubs! 

TSTC Harlingen Corporate and Community Education

TSTC High School Equivalency Program

TSTC Harlingen CNST Club

TSTC Fieldhouse

TSTC Phdclub (Photojournalism and Design Club)

TSTC SGA

TSTC Employment Opportunities

TSTC Harlingen

Photojournalism and Design Club

TSTCjosh (Advisor)

TSTC Harlingen

TSTC GST & Transfer Program

TSTC Harlingen 

TSTC Distance Education: 

TSTC Fieldhouse:  

Student Run

TSTC SGA: 

TSTC Harlingen Aviation Technology Club : 

TSTC PhD Club: 

TSTC DMD Club 

--
Joshua Hernandez
" if you can't solve a problem...You're probably playing by the rules."

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

Are YOU Non-Traditional? You'd better hope so...

Non-traditional students typically have more opportunities for scholarships, grants, and minor benefits.  All of which are better alternatives to not having anything. 

Did You Know? An occupation in which your sex (male/female) make up 25 percent or less of employment is considered non-traditional for that sex. 

Some examples of non-traditional jobs for women are architects, auto mechanics, drafters, machinists, and insulation workers. Women employed in these jobs typically earn higher wages and have more opportunity for advancement than their male counterparts. 

Some examples of non-traditional jobs for males are nurses, veterinarians, dental assistants, dental hygienist, medical assistant, surgical technician, teacher assistant. 

If you are going to college, check with your institution to see which degrees/trades may qualify you as a non-traditional student.

Choose your college to be directed to a resource: TSTC, STC, UTB/TSC, UTPA.

The benefits? 

• Child Care Services
• Textbook Assistance
• Grant Funds
• And More! 

It depends on each educational institution, so make sure you follow up on that.  If you qualify...then Congrats! Take advantage of what ever opportunity is available for you...YOU deserve it. ;-)

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

New registration "Laws" at TSTC Harlingen

Listen up! There are some new "Laws" effective immediately for Texas State Technical College Harlingen...YOU or someone you may know, might be affected. 

"Law" # 1:

Effective immediately all new students registering for the first time at TSTC, including transitory college transfer students, must complete new student orientation PRIOR TO REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES.  For now dual enrollment students who graduate and come to TSTC are not required to complete NSO, nor are returning stop-out students. 

       Faculty may advise new students prior to NSO, but will not be able to enter the courses into Datatel until NSO has been completed and the Datatel block removed by the College Information Office.  That block will be removed as soon as the live orientation ends and within 24 hours after online orientation is completed.    

 

Explanation: The way it used to work was, a student would come to an advisor - wanting to register for courses.  The advisor would register them for the New Student Orientation (NSO) if they were attending TSTC for the first time, then register them for regular courses.  Now, the student has to register themselves for the NSO (and complete it) before an advisor can register them for courses.  So more responsibility has been put on the student.  

"Law" # 2:

Effective this Summer/Fall registration period, the course schedule book will be available online only.  No more printed course schedule books. 

Explanation: As you may or may not know, TSTC would print "course catalogs" for students to view which classes were being offered the following semester.  We have done away with them. Now they are only available online.  

The Summer schedule is already available online at http://www.harlingen.tstc.edu/services/CourseSchedules.aspx 

You can get to this link from the Quick Links drop-down box on our college home page.  A button will be available on the home page soon.  The fall schedule is still under development and won't be available until March 29. 

As always, if there are questions...feel free to contact us! 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

A Social Media Savior...Google's Chrome v. Mozilla's Flock

Aggregation. Automation. Action. 

There's a new web browser in town...a browser that doesn't just allow you to surf the web, it allows you to organize it. It's a new Social Web Browser.  

For the longest time Internet Explorer by Microsoft controlled the web as THE browser to use.  Then Mozilla Firefox came along and brought new features like "tabs" and others.  Then Google introduced their browser, Google Chrome (which is what I favored).  

Now...Mozilla has introduced (since 2006 actually) a new browser, made specifically for aggregating our social media: Mozilla Flock.  

There's a browser war going on in my desktop and the battle is getting heated.  Flock has won two "Under the Radar" awards since its creation, and has been building up strength ever since.  I personally started using it just recently because I'm not a fan of Beta Versions of any software.  

Here's a synopsis of this browser:

Connects to - Bebo, Digg, Facebook, Facebook Chat, Flickr, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Photobucket, Picasa, TinyPic, Blogger, Blogsome, LiveJournal, Typepad, Wordpress, Xanga, Delicious, AOL Mail, Yahoo Mail, Gmail, 

From one window pane on the browser, you are able to stay updated and update all those services at once. 

Interesting stuff..I suggest you give it a test run. (I wouldn't recommend this browser for those of you who use computer screens smaller than 17'') 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

"Careers 202" Communication Etiquette

The day finally came...

...The General Studies in Technology Advisors and Mentors presented a workshop on the etiquette of communication and how to use it effectively.  The workshop started off with a "Listening Game" activity.  The object was to form two even lines, and see how accurate information can be passed from one individual to another.  

The results were...HILARIOUS! 

One sentence was whispered into the first person's ear...that person had to whisper it to the next person, etc.  By the time the sentence was repeated at the end...it was COMPLETELY wrong.  Funny stuff...you should have been there! 

And next time you can! Visit us at our website by clicking here.  And view our pictures that we've posted too! 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

Communication Etiquette Workshop Pics 02/2010

Our "Careers 202" workshop series includes Communication Etiquette, showing participants the importance of effective communication in the workplace and at school.  

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Student Success Office

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Posted via web from Student Success Office