Sunday, 12 August, 2007

From the first time they step foot on campus to when they graduate, transfer to another school or enter the workforce, the faculty at PCC play an important role. While traditionally they teach, the instructors often spend countless hours throughout the year filling the roles of advisor, mentor, counselor and more.

“At the beginning of last year, I was very concerned about doing well in General Biology, and I was also homesick,” said Sara Rogers, freshman from Superior, NE. “I talked to my advisor, Junnae Landry, who helped me find ways to cope with missing my family. In addition, she took the time out of her schedule to personally introduce me to the teacher of the General Biology class I was so worried about.”

While some lend an ear to students struggling with personal problems, others are active in helping students continue their education beyond PCC or find a job upon graduation.

“I am in the EPT program and my instructor Dean Senter has gone out of his way to help me find a job,” said Andron Brown, freshman from Medicine Lodge.

In addition to providing assistance and support to students when needed, the faculty at PCC take the time to get to know their students. Unlike large colleges and universities where several hundred students are in one class, PCC has a 15:1 student/faculty ratio. This allows instructors to know each student by name as opposed to a number. In addition, several instructors take the time to get to know students personally and find out what’s important to them.

“Carmen Forest was very supportive (of the basketball team) and cut out articles I was mentioned in,” said Elizabeth Friessen, freshman from Goddard and member of the women’s basketball team. “This really helped by reminding me that people really do care about what we do.”

However, showing you care isn’t just limited to the faculty at PCC, as staff go out of their way to assist students as well.

“When I wanted to switch rooms, Joy Schwartz walked through other residence halls with me and worked to find a roommate that I could better get along with,” said Brad Lies, freshman from Minneola.

The willingness to assist students can be found in all different departments on campus. Often times, the assistance staff provides to students isn’t even in their job area or part of their responsibility.

“The librarian went out of her way to assist me with a computer problem I was having,” said Angie True, sophomore from St. John. “It was nothing related to finding resources or the library, but she still helped me.”

The care and concern PCC employees have for each student doesn’t just happen when the student has problems or needs something. Throughout the duration of a student being at PCC and sometimes even after they leave, the faculty and staff are involved and connected to students.

“When I was visiting different schools and trying to figure out what college to attend, I met Jane Brewer from PCC who had a wonderful personality and made me want to be a part of what she represented,” said Tarah Presley, sophomore from Meade. “When I finally got to Pratt to move into the residence halls in August, there was a familiar, friendly face who not only remembered my name but remembered why I had come to Pratt. Throughout the past three years she has continued to seek me out to ensure things are going well, both academically and personally. She doesn’t have to do this. Her job was done the moment I enrolled, but she does anyways. That’s what has made PCC so wonderful!”

While academic programs, athletics and other aspects of the PCC campus make it unique, according to students the people really are the difference between it and other community colleges in the state.