General Description:

Under general supervision by the Admissions & Business Operations staff, ABO Office Aides are responsible for clerical duties and general support of the IPEL Admissions & Business Operations office.

Minimum Qualifications

• File, scan, photocopy and fax documents as requested

• Send outgoing mail

Position Responsibilities:

• File, scan, photocopy and fax documents as requested

• Send outgoing mail to include packages and mass mailings

• Create and send form emails

• Assist in creating files for admissions applicants

• Maintain marketing materials to include: stuffing promotional brochures, program information folders and others

• Assist in maintaining supply inventories

• Order photocopies, pick up items from Print Shop

• Send materials to prospective students

• Assist with orientation preparation for new, incoming students

• May assist during new student orientation

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned

• Data entry with great attention to detail

• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality

• Assist with on campus errands for ABO

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiar with computer applications (Internet, MS Word, Excel, Access)

• Experience working in an office environment

• Plans to continue at GRCC for at least one more academic year

Applications available May 16 after 1:00 at the reception desk in the International Programs & Extended Learning office. APPLICATIONS DUE: Friday, May 24th 5:00 pm

Good luck everyone!

Here is the job description for the Chinese Student Marketing Assistant…

The duties of the Chinese Student Marketing Assistant are as follows:

• Respond to student inquiries

• Help prepare for visits and trips

• Help host visitors to Green River (sometimes after hours or even on weekends)

• Correspond with prospective and applied students and educational agencies

• Answer general questions about Green River Community College and share your experience as an international student at GRCC

• Act as a translator when needed

• Assist with new student and parent orientation, quarterly

• Give campus tours to prospective students, parents, agents and guests

• Additional projects as assigned

• Must be responsible and hardworking, with good follow-up

• Must work well with little supervision when Vice President is traveling

• Prepare marketing materials for overseas mailing

• Other duties as required

• 8-15 hours per week, $9.19 per hour

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be continuing as a student at GRCC next year (Fall 2012 – Spring 2014) and must be available to assist during orientations

• Excellent people skills

• Language Skills: Fluency in Mandarin Chinese (Cantonese also good, but not required) and English

• Completed at least one quarter of academic coursework at GRCC

• Ability to work independently and follow-through on projects

• Good communication skills (both oral and written)

• Minimum 3.0 GPA (B average or better)

• Computer skills: proficiency with all Microsoft office applications (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access);

The position will report to:

1. Ross Jennings, Vice President of International Programs and Extended Learning

2. Tawnya McLavey, Manager of International Visitors Program

A complete application will consist of the following four items:

1. Application

2. Supplemental Application with Completed Questions

3. Resume

4. Transcript of GRCC (or if a new student, last school attended).  Unofficial transcript ok.

Application deadline: Friday, May 31, 2013

Please bring your application to the IP Front Desk, Attention:  Tawnya McLavey

Meanwhile, here is the job description for the Indonesian Student Marketing Assistant…

Job Description

• Assist the Director of International Recruitment with efforts to recruit students, particularly from Indonesia.
• Correspond with prospective and applied students and educational agencies.
• Answer general questions about Green River Community College and share your experience as an international student at GRCC.
• Assist with translation as needed including translating presentations and documents.
• Be available to attend and assist at orientation for new international students and parents.
• Give campus tours to prospective students, parents, and agents.
• Post blog entries, take and post student life photos, film and edit short videos.
• Additional projects as assigned.
• 6-7 hours per week.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completed at least two quarters and currently enrolled in, academic coursework at GRCC.
• Enrolled at GRCC full-time and ability to work during summer quarter 2013 and continue as full-time student until completion of spring quarter 2014 at a minimum or longer.
• Excellent people skills.
• Ability to work independently without direct supervision and follow-through on projects.
• Good communication skills (both oral and written in English and Bahasa).
• Good GPA (3.5 Minimum).
• Good computer skills: proficiency with all Microsoft office applications (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access, Outlook); ability to use social networking sites (Facebook, WordPress, Instagram, etc.)
• Friendly, flexible, and punctual.

How to Apply

• Fill out Student Assistant Application form available at the front desk in the International Programs Office.
• Complete the supplemental questions and submit it on a separate piece of paper.
• Submit the application to International Programs.

Application Deadline: Friday, Friday, 31st May 2013.

Timeline: Interview with Bjorn Myhre and Indira/Johanna will be scheduled on June 5-10.

The application packages are available at the International Programs–feel free to come by anytime to pick up an application! Good luck!

-Indira (ipranabudi@greenriver.edu)

Each of the presenting students shared a little bit about their background and why they chose GRCC. I was personally very honored to be one of them involved in this special event. As all of us hail from different provinces of  China, ranging from the very north down to the very bottom south coastline, it certainly helped to show the distinct diversity of the Chinese students.

Lynn born in Changchun, raised in the cosmopolitan city Shanghai

First up was Lynn who has recently been admitted to UC Berkeley. She shared that Shanghai is a competitive city where you are expected to speak Shanghainese or else encounter discrimination from the locals.  Lynn talked about the Chinese students’ classroom participation phenomenon. She said that in China, teachers are the sole speakers during class time. Students, unfortunately, are not encouraged to share their opinions, let alone oppose teachers’ statements. With this  influence, students naturally grow an inner fear of teachers. As “face” is an essential issue in China, being emphasized in this talk, students in China are afraid of making mistakes answering a question in class, they would feel refrained to participate in class and rather remain an attentive listener. Therefore, Chinese students tend to behave themselves in a similar way even in American classrooms.

Me from Shantou of Guangdong province, one of the well-known homes to overseas Chinese.

My name is Jadison, and I was there to talk  about making American friends.  I moved from city to city and then studied in Singapore for nearly 5 years from the age of 13.  I was lucky to have met people from all around the world. I believe many of the Chinese have the same experience as I did in that when I first came to study at GRCC, I was eager to make American friends yet had no clue how to begin. I was fortunate to go on the GRCC study abroad to Australia and New Zealand program last quarter with a class of 29 other American friends.  I didn’t expect to have become a family with all my classmates.  One thing I realized was, Americans wonder why we Chinese students tend to usually stay in our own groups while we have the same question for them. I suggest taking the initiative to get to know more about each other. From my knowledge, American friends are very interested in learning about Chinese cultures and customs.   I took them to Chinese restaurant on Lunar New Year’s Eve and the Lantern Festival in Auckland. It was a perfect chance to clarify some misperceptions.

Sara from northeast China, Changchun of Jilin Province(bordered with North Korea).

Sara shared the importance of academic grades to Chinese students. Back in China, an educational system of rote-learning is designed for Chinese students. Grades and results are stressed over the achievement of actually learning. The general goal of the students is to go to a dream school, because of the competitiveness in China, they study hard and prepare themselves for tests and exams.  Often times the teachers at GRCC will find Chinese students bargaining over the improvement of grades. This is due to how eager they are to have good transcripts for university applications, while the pursuit of knowledge should have been an equally fundamental purpose.

Yingying from the rising international port, Shenzhen of Guangdong, bordered with Hong Kong

Yingying talked about “Saving ‘face’ and peer pressure”. “Face” is a fundamental concept in China yet elusive to foreigners. Making somebody lose face literally means embarrassment, and Chinese people survive with “face” based on the reputation and achievement. Yingying shared her experience about her transfer from New York to GRCC, she mentioned that she was teased because of her Chinese accent when she first came to study in US, and how she has worked hard and pushed herself from losing “face” by making remarkable progress on her academic performance to deal with peer pressure.

Kevin from Chongqing, one of the four direct-controlled municipalities of inland China, and a city of pretty girls everywhere

Kevin, who aspires to become as eloquent as a native speakers one day, shared about challenges faced during his study at GRCC. He mentioned that language barrier has been a major issue in his life in US.  Chinese is an entirely different structured language compared to English, which also has been a problem for him while trying to make American friends. Kevin explained a good basic example of the difference between English and  when a Chinese person is asked a question in English, “you don’t have a pen?”, he/she would answer yes (when meant no) due to the Chinese logic. That is how different they are and how easily misunderstanding is caused.

The presentation ended with a Q&A session for faculty and staff .  Overall, they were pleased to learn more about the Chinese students. A request has been made to have an encore presentation for the IESL faculty on May 30th.

Purchase a ticket for the African Culture Night; $3 for GRCC students and $8 for non-GRCC students.

So what are we going to do during the event? Well, “there’s going to be African food and also professional African performers,” said Ugo Nwachuku, event organizer for the African Culture Night. The event will take place at the Lindbloom Student Center, from 5.30pm – 8pm. The entrance fee is pretty cheap, with just $3 for Green River students and $8 for non-Green River students.

So what are you waiting for? Students can either register for the event online, or head over to the Student Life at the Lindbloom Student Center. Don’t forget, the tickets are cheaper if you pay for it beforehand compared to if you pay at the door. Hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Ugo at ANwachuku@greenriver.edu

Hours: DAILY 8:00am-3:00pm.

There’s no need to make an appointment—just drop by!

What we can do:

• 30 minute focused tutoring.
• Help during any stage of the writing process (planning, drafting and revising).
• Feedback on any kind of writing assignment.
• Access to computers.
• Access to online resources for writers.
• Handouts on a variety of common writing problems and styles.
• Library of writing textbooks and other reference books.

What we can’t do:

• We don’t edit student work line-by-line.
• We don’t fix papers.
• We don’t guarantee error-free papers.
• We won’t evaluate assignments or instructors.
• We won’t advocate on behalf of students. 

What should students bring when they visit the writing center?

• The assignment sheet
• A draft of their paper
• A willingness to work with our tutors.

Who are the writing tutors?

We have talented and successful student tutors who have been vetted and mentored by faculty members. These tutors are engaged in a quarter-long training sequence as well. We also have faculty tutors from the English division who provide additional support for our student tutors and work with student writers on occasion.

For more information, visit our website.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision by the IPEL Reception Supervisor, IPEL Student Receptionists are responsible for general reception and clerical duties in the IPEL Student Services office.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Face of IPEL: help create a warm and welcoming environment by greeting guests

• Provide hospitality services to guests of IPEL

• Assist students signing into the electronic queue

• Schedule appointments for the IPEL staff

• File, photocopy, send and fax documents as requested

• Send outgoing mail to include packages and mass mailings

• Organize marketing materials

• Maintain supply inventories

• Maintain Student Resource Center

• Ensure tidiness of reception area and kitchen/break room

• Send materials to prospective students

• May participate in new student orientation

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluent in writing and speaking English ( Level 5 IESL or Academic )

• Students must be currently enrolled in a full-time Level 5 IESL or Academic educational program

• Enjoys working with people

• Students must show educational achievement by meeting the overall minimum GPA  requirement of 3.0 or equivalent

• Students must be in good standing according to student visa immigration regulations

• Students must plan to remain at GRCC for at least 2 additional quarters

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality

• Not working for any other group on campus

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluent in a foreign language other than English (Specific area language may be required)

• Familiar with computer applications (Internet, MS Word, Excel, Access)

• Experience working in an office environment

• GRCC student for at least 6 months

• Plans to continue at GRCC for at least one more academic year

In order for your application to be considered complete, here are the items you must submit:

1. Completed and signed student receptionist assistant application form.

2. Resume. Please attach your typed resume on a separate piece of paper and staple to the application. You should include in your resume: Name, Address, Phone, Email, Objective, Education, Work Experience, Computer Experience, Languages and Hobbies.

3. Recommendation. The recommendation form provided in this application needs to be filled out by a faculty member (former IESL or academic class instructor), sealed in an envelope and stapled to the front of the application package.

The IPEL Student Receptionist application package is available at the International Programs Office (IVD building). Please submit your application package by Friday, March 26th 2013 at 5:00pm.

All the best with your job application!

There is no time commitment (students can come and go as they please during the Campus Talk session), and it is always a fun and easygoing event. Beginning on April 9th, Campus Talk will occur every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30am-2:00pm in the St. Helens Room of the Lindbloom Center. The schedule for Campus Talk is as below.

Here is the schedule for Campus Talk!

The more students who attend, the more beneficial the program will be for all involved. We want Campus Talk to build bridges between the international and domestic student populations here at GRCC, so “the more the merrier!”

For more information, please contact Nicole Wooldridge at nwooldridge@greenriver.edu.

Come to Campus Talk! Every Tuesday and Thursday at St. Helens Room

• Program Based

• Merit Based

• Need Based (some are reserved for single parents)

• General Scholarships

• Transfer Scholarships

**The GRCC Foundation Scholarship may only be spent on books, tuition, fees, and required supplies at GRCC.

If you are interested in applying for the Foundation Scholarship, then here are the steps you would need to take:

1. Create a profile at http://thewashboard.org/login.aspx

2. Since TheWashBoard.org is a scholarship search engine, it is advised that you complete your profile first before proceeding.

3. Locate the GRCC Foundation Scholarships under My Matches.

4. Shortcut: Go to All Matches Search Scholarships for GRCC

5. Open the GRCC Foundation Scholarships

6. Click on “Apply,” and complete all required parts of the application.

7. Attach your essay, letter(s) of recommendation, and transcripts.

8. Submit your application by Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

If you are unable to upload your letter(s) of recommendation or transcript(s), you may submit them to the Financial Aid Office. Also, if you not comfortable completing the application online, you are allowed to submit a printed copy instead. Printed applications are also available in the Financial Aid Office. (Financial Aid Office – Lindbloom Student Center 231)

In order for your application to be considered complete, you will need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete all the requirements for the GRCC Foundation Scholarship application on http://thewashboard.org/login.aspx

• Submit letter(s) of recommendation:

  • Please either print the Letter of Recommendation Form from http://thewashboard.org/login.aspx or download it from here.

  • Submit at least one, but no more than three letters of recommendation with your application.

  • Teachers, counselors, supervisors, and others who can speak to your academic record or career goals and financial need and past academic record should complete the form(s).

  • A spouse, parent, or other family member, or friend or classmate should not complete a recommendation form.

• Submit your transcripts:

  • Include a current Green River transcript, other college transcripts and/or high school transcripts.

  • Unofficial transcripts or photocopies are okay.

  • If you have been out of school for more than five years and are unable to obtain a transcript, please include an explanation in your application packet.

  • Include an explanation if any special circumstances impacted your transcript, such as a severe illness that affected your grades.

How are the GRCC Foundation Scholarships Awarded?

Each application is read and evaluated by at least three people. After all the applications have been read, a committee meets to determine which student is the best fit for each scholarship, based on the scholarship criteria and the student’s application. All applicants will then be notified whether or not they are selected for a GRCC Foundation Scholarship:

• Notification is sent by mail – be sure to update your address with the GRCC Foundation if your address changes after submitting your application.

• Notification letters are mailed in early July for most scholarships.

• You will be asked to write a letter of thanks if you accept your scholarship.

• You will have 30 days to notify the foundation whether or not you accept the scholarship. If you decide not to accept the scholarship, it will be awarded to another student.

What Happens After I Accept the Scholarship?

A scholarship account will be set up for you by the Financial Aid Office:

• Your fall scholarship funds will be used to pay your tuition for Fall 2013.

• If there are any remaining Fall 2013 scholarship funds in your scholarship account, up to $300 will be transferred to the Paper Tree Bookstore. You may use those funds to purchase required books and supplies beginning one week before Fall 2013 quarter.

You should also expect to:

• Attend two scholarship events: a scholarship student Welcome Reception in October and the annual Scholarship Banquet in November. The foundation will send more details about these events.

• You may be invited to an individual lunch or meeting with your scholarship sponsor.

• Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, make satisfactory academic progress and follow the GRCC Rules of Student Conduct. Your scholarship may have a higher minimum GPA if you are enrolled in a specific program of study.

• Release to GRCC and GRCC Foundation the right to use your name, application materials and picture for publications, reports and press releases, in both print and electronic media.

• The GRCC Foundation may ask you to share your story in a publication or by speaking at a foundation event.

For more information, you can visit: http://www.greenriver.edu/about-grcc/foundation/scholarships.htm or email the GRCC Foundation at foundation@greenriver.edu.

Minimum Qualifications for all Peer Navigators

• Must be enrolled in 12 credits at Green River Community College
• Must have for last two quarters and maintain a 2.75 GPA or higher cumulative GPA. Overall 2.5 GPA.
• Demonstrate cultural competency, sensitivity to cultural differences, and a personal commitment to fostering diversity at Green River Community College.
• Demonstrate strong personal integrity and a commitment to high ethical and professional standards.
• Demonstrate a commitment to community.
• Demonstrate skills in mentoring, leadership, organization, coordinating and implementing programs, listening to students.
• Able to take direction, follow through on assignments, and be held accountable for task completion.
• Proficiency with using computer and Microsoft Office programs: Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, Outlook Power Point, Access.

Applications are due Friday, May 3^rd.

Last February 13^th, I went to one of the most fabulous conference in my life in Boston with my friends and dear advisor Mark Blaisdell. The Conference is called Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN)2013. HNMUN is held every year for Model United Nations clubs in four-year colleges around the world. This club gives chance to students to learn about UN through simulating the meetings in the United Nations on current issues. There are many big and small MUN conferences, but HNMUN is the largest, oldest, and most prestigious conference of its kinds. This conference lived up to its reputation; intelligent meetings on global issues with intelligent students and the great social activities at night gave me such incredible reminiscences.

How I got to go to HNMUN was simple: It began from my career goal. With this goal, I began to search how I can prepare myself to be ready to work in the UN. I remembered the advertisement about Model United Nations back in Korea, so I searched Google if there was any MUN in America; I found one of the most well-known Model United Nations Conference held by Harvard University. However, there was an obstacle that I had to overcome. In order to join the conference, I needed to have a group to go with as well as an advisor. Since there was no official MUN club in Green River, I decided to ask my friends to go with me. It was challenging to find someone who had a same interest as me. Also the amount money that we needed to spend for the trip made many students to join. Though the process was not easy, God helped me to finalize the members at the end of December. Without these six colleagues— Gloria, Kevin, Lynn, Nicholas, Sodam, and Solin— and Mr. Mark Blaisdell, our advisor, this miracle wouldn’t be able to happen.

Honestly I was drowned in the dignity of many well-prepared students. However, I began to be proud of my team because we were the only community college students! Even the video that we recorded in Holman’s Library was part of the opening ceremony. Many of delegates were from prestigious universities such asYale University, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and University of Southern California. One interesting was that the name of school was not important at all in HNMUN; what was important was how the delegates were prepared to address the issue and their positions. In my committee in particular, the student from University of Lethbridge representing Democratic Republic of the Congo was outstanding by persuading the developed countries to financially support the developing countries. Also, it was absolutely fascinating to see how different countries built the bloc with the nations of similar opinions in order to empower their resolution. The fact that the whole conference and the activities were organized and operated solely by Harvard students motivated me to be more active and responsible for my future. Yet, it was little bit disappointing to see how those students from Ivy League schools looked same as we are. It also told me that if I do my best in given circumstances, I can be as outstanding as students in some prestigious universities.

During the conference, we had a committee meeting everyday which was typically 3 hours long. Every meeting went in English which made us more concentrated and prepared. This nervousness somehow made me “professional” like a real international civil servant in the United Nations. Because we were mocking the meeting in the UN, it was very serious with strict procedure. I was in the Third World Assembly on Ageing with the topic of social and economic effects of aging population. I didn’t think seriously about aging population before but it has very complex effects on the whole population. Also, it was terrific to observe how over one hundred countries were compromising and negotiating for the benefit of the world by passing one resolution on the topic. I would say that this experience totally opened and broadened my eyes, and made me step closer to my dream.

One thing that I want to encourage you is that making your dream come true is starting from your passion. Start from finding what you are passionate about and search for what you can do to make it come true. There are so many opportunities and resources waiting for you, so get up and seek for it!

PS: The registration for HNMUN 2014 will open in May, and will be held from February 13-16 2014. (http://www.hnmun.org)

Here is the Opening Ceremonies video for HNMUN 2013, in which our delegates appeared at around 1:45.