FCS FLASH ISSUE 120:  April 6, 2010
Link to Complete FCS Calendar
April 4-10: Careers in Aging Week
April 9: Westwood: 2010 CCGG Annual Meeting “Preparing for the Next Generation”
April 16: Downey: Student Culinary/Hospitality Symposium & Competition Info. Online registration required for Hot Food and Tablescape Competitors here! Other Attendees here!
April 23-24: Costa Mesa, Fashion Camp OC
April 29-May 1: Costa Mesa: BESAC 2010
May 14: San Jose: Hospitality and Culinary Arts Professional Development Workshop - Limited Space Available - Online Registration here!
May 2010: Nationwide: Older Americans Month

Amazing FCS Programs

• The Nueva Vida Project– from Pamela Knights (Fashion) at Long Beach City College
• American River College Gerontology Program– from Sue Ward at American River College

Hot Topics: Carol Lamkins, CMKBD, CID, takes a look at blue being the new green, in other words, the importance of incorporating water conservation into your design profession. Maria Claver, Cal State Long Beach highlights Careers in Aging Week, April 4-10, with some examples of her Gerontology students' activities. Finally, Jean Tepperman takes a timely look at the endangered CARES program.

FCS FLASH Activity: It’s Not too Late to Get Started

If your students are like most college students, they procrastinate.  In fact, 90% of college students procrastinate and about 25% of these are chronic procrastinators. Unfortunately, many of these students end up dropping classes or even dropping out of college because they are unable to meet critical deadlines.  The price of procrastination is high: missed opportunities, poor grades, penalties for late assignments, feelings of guilt and depression, and high levels of anxiety. There are many reasons students procrastinate. They might feel overwhelmed by the task, or may be perfectionists, or maybe they are easily distracted. In addition, most community college students work, many have families to care for, and some lack the skills they need to succeed in the classroom. Whatever the reason, the fact remains- procrastination creates more stress in your student’s lives, and never yields their best results. It is important, especially at this time in the semester, to discuss the assignments and exams coming due and to give your students some tools to effectively manage those deadlines. Helping your students get started may be one of the most important lessons they learn this semester.

Try this:
Why not open this discussion with some humor by showing this 4-minute Ellen DeGeneres video clip, Here and Now-Procrastination?
Ask students some questions about procrastination.
            Why do most college students procrastinate?
            What are some of the consequences of procrastinating?
            How do you deal with procrastination?
Discuss the course assignments/exams coming up and get a sense of how students are handling these.
Distribute the It’s Not too Late to Get Started activity, review instructions, and have them complete the assignment.
Have students share their commitments with each other.
Provide students with information about tutorial services and student success labs on your campus.

FYI: Things rarely get stuck because of lack of time…they get stuck because the doing of them has not been defined. David Allen, Professional Productivity Guru

 This newsletter was brought to you by the California Community College Chancellor's Office Family and Consumer Sciences Collaborative Grant (#09-0160). Please contact Joann Driggers (jdriggers@mtsac.edu) or at 909/594-5611 x5203 with any questions.