Success At Your New Job: Unspoken Rules of Work

Important “soft skills” can make or break you on your externship or new career.  All businesses have “Unspoken Rules of the Workplace”.  These are rules that are normally not explained to you in your training -- but are practices everyone should observe in the working world.

I would like to share a few of the more important “Unspoken Rules of the Workplace”:

·    Social media - If it will embarrass you, put you in jail or could make you lose your job, then don’t write it down in email, Facebook or any other social media.

·    Be punctual.  When you come in late you have disrupted your employer’s balance of work. 

·    Keep home issues at home and keep work issues at work.  Blending home and work does not fit together.

·    Do not join the local office clique.  Be your own person and just do what you were hired to do – work.

·    Keep your personal phone calls to a minimum and refrain from using your cell at work for anything other than for emergency calls.  

·    Run errands on your own time.  Running errands during your lunch time is acceptable.  Your employer pays you to work - not to shop.

·    Do what you are asked to do, even if you don’t want to.

·    Always stay busy, or ask for something else to do. Walk around with a notebook and pen. 

·    Work is work.  Don’t expect it to always be fun.

Those employees who know and follow the “Unspoken Rules of the Workplace” are sure to succeed in their new careers!

JoAnne Jamrog

Career Services Coordinator

In Honor Of Memorial Day

As we approach the holiday weekend I began to think about the history of “Memorial Day”.  I would like to share a few thoughts on the history of Memorial Day.

There are many stories to the actual beginnings of a Memorial Day. Several states lay claim to the actual beginning, but I am sure it began directly after the Civil War.  Women who wished to honor their sons, brothers and husbands who died did so by placing flowers on their graves.  It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed on May 30, 1868.  It took many years for it to become a national holiday and not one just observed by each state.

After World War I it was recognized as a away to honor all Americans who died in any war. Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971 (PL 90-360) to ensure a three-day weekend for Federal Holidays. It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May.

In 1915 Morina Michael wrote a poem inspired by “In Flanders Fields” which was written to honor World War I dead.  As a result of her poem, she conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who died serving the nation during war.  This developed into the “Buddy Poppy Program” in 1922, where artificial poppies were made by disabled Vets and sold to raise funds to help vets and their families.

Since the late 1950’s on the Thursday before Memorial Day 1,200 soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery.  They patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to make sure all flags remain standing.  In December of 2000 a National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in the hopes of reminding all Americans what the day is for. This resolution asks that at 3pm local time for all Americans they voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of silence and respect for those who have died in the service of our nation.

As we approach another three-day weekend please remember this holiday is not just about barbecues, picnics and time away from our jobs. Please remember that while we share time with family and friends there are those whose loved ones are no longer here.  Take a moment and show respect for the men and women who have served and fallen in the service of our great nation.  These men and women are the HERO’S who defended our country and freedom never comes free.

Please remember as well, those who are now serving our country here and over seas.  Say a prayer for their safety and that they return home soon.

God Bless our country and all those who serve this nation. May you have a safe and blessed Memorial Day! 


Sharon Eifert
Associate Director of Student Services

Introducing: Our Newest Dorsey Roseville Admissions Team Members!

I am excited to announce the newest additions to the Admissions Department.  The team is excited to have them on board here at Rock’in Roseville! 

Salvatore “Sal” Mangiapane comes to the Dorsey team with a background in secondary education, specifically, having worked with Detroit Job Corp.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in education and is excited to join a GREAT team!  He said that his purpose for getting into education was to change lives and feels this opportunity can allow him to do that.

  

Adam Bigelow comes to the Dorsey team with a background in the mortgage and loan industry.  He is a Dorsey graduate and is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Adam is excited to use his own Dorsey experience and personal drive to encourage new students.

Please welcome them and say “hello” when you see them around the campus!

Allison Ouellette

Director of Admissions

Dinner With The Dean

The Spring B module is well underway and we are excited to have each and every one of you here at the Roseville campus. Our entire staff and faculty are here to serve you and we want to get to know you better.

One of the ways we do this is by hosting a dinner during week five of every module where eight to ten students are selected to have dinner with me and a few other staff from around the campus.

It is a great time for staff and students to get to know each other a little better. The food is prepared by the outstanding students of the Dorsey Culinary Academy, so be sure to come hungry.

If you are interested in joining me for dinner on Thursday, June 16^th at 4:30pm, you can sign up at the front desk in building C. Eight to ten students will be randomly selected and will receive an invitation to the dinner.

If you have previously attended “Dinner With The Dean”, unfortunately you are not eligible to participate. We want to make sure we give everyone the opportunity to attend who desires to do so.

You don’t have to wait for an invitation to the dinner, however, to speak with me. My office is in building C, so feel free to stop in sometime. It would be my honor to meet you. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to come by and see me.

Hope to see you soon.

Matthew Thisse

Academic Dean

Games That Help You Learn!

Are you playing games to help you learn?

If not, you should be!

Check out:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/health.htm

http://www.medtrng.com/quia.htm

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_vocab_med.htm

http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/usergames/May201018/game1273069656.php

A great way for Medical Program students to study key knowledge areas like Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology. 

The kind of games you should be playing and a great way to practice for your certification exams!

Anthony Vollmer

Medical Director – Dorsey Roseville

Weekly News And Motivation From Student Services

Spring B – May 16, 2011 through June 24, 2011. Can you believe it's spring?  I know it’s hard with the weather the way it is.  But we all know the greener grass, flowers, sunny skies and warmer days are just starting.  Since I know those days are coming I’d like to take a moment and remind everyone about the Dress Code Policy. 

Many students ask why we have a dress code policy.  The dress code policy is part our belief in developing self-esteem, self-reliance, discipline, confidence and professionalism in all graduates. 

We know that it has been proven that when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good about yourself you accomplish more positive things in your life.  The time you are spending with us is your chance to start becoming the professional you dream of being!

This is a Professional Learning Environment, so professional attire is essential.  As a reminder, professional attire includes business casual, medical office attire, and culinary uniforms.

Business casual includes dress pants / slacks, dress shirts, dress shoes, dress suits, dresses, pant suits, blouses, vests or sweaters.  Medical attire is a scrub set with or without coordinating lab coat and proper white shoes. 

Chances are, if you have a question about something that’s not on the list, it probably isn’t suitable and doesn’t follow the dress code policy. 

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the dress code, please see Student Services OR Career Services.  A copy of our dress code policy can also be requested. 

Keep in mind, even though the weather is getting warmer, that shorts, tank tops, halter tops, hats, t-shirts, muscle shirts, flip-flops or tennis shoes (unless you are wearing scrubs) are not part of proper dress code. Jeans are ONLY permitted on special designated days. 

Career Services invites employers to stop in, and at any time you may have a chance to meet with a prospective future employer.  I’m sure no one would want to miss an opportunity for employment because they weren’t following the proper dress code. 

This is just the beginning of a really great journey with your destination being a new career and a brighter future for you and your family.  Remember you never get a second chance to make a FIRST impression!

Sharon Eifert

Associate Director of Student Services 

Congratulate The Spring A 2011 Teammate Of The Module......Mr. Brandon Nowak!

For the third module in a row, the Roseville management team has, with painstaking effort and conversation, nominated a Teammate of the Module.  I have to say, however, that this module has been the toughest one yet.  So many people were nominated, and all were very deserving of the distinction.

As the panel convened, however, the decision was made to elect Mr. Brandon Nowak as the Spring A 2011 Teammate of the Module!

Brandon Nowak started with Dorsey Schools in February of 2010 working full-time in the admissions department, where he remained until December of the same year when he made the decision to leave the admissions department and move to the faculty team.  Due to Mr. Nowak’s dedication and work ethic in the admissions team, he was welcomed to join the faculty team and has contributed to its success in countless ways.  Here are just a few:

·         Having the most unique perspective on the faculty team, Mr. Nowak has streamlined the AZTEC process by sharing documents and creating a scheduling system for increased efficiency and to facilitate the testing.  As a result of these efforts, Admissions has been able to significantly increase the amount of students that complete the Aztec test before starting school. 

·         Without any coercion or directive, Mr. Nowak volunteered to take on the project of running our online blog, The Dorsey Dish.  He has done an amazing job on setting up the blog, but his consistent, daily contributions and oversight are incredibly valuable. 

·         While only with the faculty team for three modules now, Mr. Nowak has already received six certificates for achieving perfect pass rates on his students’ standardized final exams.  This, while learning the computer system, new software and the curriculum – and having taught SEVEN DIFFERENT classes so far.

·         Again, without any solicitation, Mr. Nowak has become the resident IT guru, becoming very active with Steve Wassel and Mary Lee in the distribution / workshops and troubleshooting of our netbooks.  Additionally, Mr. Nowak participated with Ms. Lee and Mr. Wassel in training ALL of our sister campuses in properly troubleshooting and executing effective workshops and distribution of netbooks.

Mr. Nowak’s unique perspective on the school, having worked in two different departments now, has, indeed, made him a valuable asset to the strategy of the faculty team.  His insights into the admissions and retention process have helped our campus continue to grow and retain students each module.  In fact, our student retention for the Spring A module reached an all-time high!

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Brandon Nowak on this distinction. 

Thank you, Mr. Nowak, for your continued dedication to Dorsey Schools.  Your students, both those you enrolled and those you have taught, have become better people due to your hard work! 

Mark Young

Managing Director

Dorsey Schools - Roseville Campus

Dorsey Graduates "Plucked The Day, When It Was Ripe" To Achieve Career Fair Success!

'Carpe diem' is usually translated from the Latin as 'seize the day'. “However, 'Carpe' translates literally as 'pluck', with particular reference to the picking of fruit, so a more accurate rendition is ‘pluck the day when it is ripe' “(Martin, 2010).

Dorsey graduates are known for enjoying job success when they follow this age-old reference and ‘pluck the day when it is ripe’. 


A great example of this success was shown this past Friday, on May 13^th  at the Dorsey Roseville Graduate Career Fair.

More than fifty graduates attended the Career Fair dressed for success in business attire, with resumes and portfolios ready.  The fair was designed in two parts, employer booths so Graduates could approach and network with the hiring employers and secondly, Graduates were pre-registered for face-to-face, one on one interviews with employers who have current positions they are looking to fill.   On average each Graduate was pre-assigned for 2-3 interviews.   Participating employers included:

·         Asset Acceptance

·         Concentra

·         Independent Opportunities

·         Kelly Services

·         LGC Associates

·         Medical Team

·         Peace of Mind Home Care, LLC

·         Visiting Angels

OVER ONE-HUNDRED Graduate interviews took place at the Career Fair!  Excitement ran high by both employers and interviewers. A true rewarding feeling was felt by the many Graduates representing each of the Dorsey programs as they networked and interviewed.  

The Career Services team of Roseville is extremely proud of all of the participating graduates from Friday’s Career Fair. Graduates attended: Ripe, Mature, Ready, Seasoned, and Developed!  We anticipate great new career opportunities on the horizon for our participating Graduates in the days to come, and will be excited to share their new job news with you!!!

So ‘Carpe Diem!’~  go pluck the day when it is ripe with opportunity, and take advantage of both Dorsey Schools Roseville Career Fairs and those upcoming job fairs held in the community. J

Angela J. Zini

Career Services Coordinator

Dorsey Culinary Students Attend Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association Meeting

On May 16^th 2011 Chef John Miller, Certified Chef de Cuisine, hosted the MCCA (Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association) Meeting at Oakland University where Dorsey Culinary Faculty and Students showed a strong presence.

The monthly meetings for the Michigan Chefs de Cuisine (our local chapter of the American Culinary Federation founded by Chef Milos Cihelka CMC, one of our culinary faculty in Pontiac) are a good opportunity to network, share ideas, gain knowledge through presentations, and enjoy good food with culinary friends.

Chef Hooper and Chef Carreathers used this meeting as an opportunity to take a field trip with and introduce their evening students to the MCCA and all it has to offer. 

Dorsey represented approximately 25% of the overall attendance.  We had 30 students present and 6 Chefs – Chef Carreathers, Chef Hooper, Chef Cucculelli, Chef Proctor, Chef Piazza and Chef Usher.

All in attendance enjoyed the educational presentation provided by Chef Brian Beland, Certified Master Chef who passed the tough 8 day Certified Master Chef cooking exam last October.  His presentation, which covered his journey to the test and the determination to succeed, was inspiring to all.  The students and Chefs took away an understanding of what is needed to achieve such a prestigious certification.  It was a great time for all of us to refocus on our own personal goals.

Our students also had an opportunity to speak with a Dorsey Graduate, Manual “Manny” Rodriguez Jr. who is employed by ChartWells, the contract food service company responsible for all food service operations at Oakland University.  Manny shared his thoughts on being a success in school and on externship.  He also reminded the students that to be successful in the service industry you have to have as much professionalism as you do culinary skills.  One without the other and you will fail.  After he spoke to us, he brought over his appetizer of a sweet glazed smoked duck breast, red pepper, pickled daikon, carrot, and green onion wrapped in a perfectly cooked crepe.  The crepe was sitting on a bed of mixed greensand arugula dressed with an Hoisin dressing.  A great dish to conclude a GREAT event!

For more information visit http://www.mccachef.org/

Chef John Piazza

Culinary Arts Program Director

MY TV20 Detroit Is Coming To Dorsey Roseville With Their Cash Vault!

Dorsey Roseville is sponsoring the MY TV20 Detroit- Cash Vault!  The TV20 station crew will have their Inflatable Cash Machine set up between 1:00pm and 2:30pm, Thursday May 19^th in the Building C parking lot .  Participants will have 12 seconds to jump in the vault to grab handfuls of CASH, advertiser COUPONS and PRIZES! 

What a perfect time to invite friends and family to check out Dorsey!  Who do you know that is looking to get training for a GREAT career?  Tell them to come check out the cash vault and speak with an Admissions Representative while they are here.  Whether you're a current student or future student, this is an exciting event you won't want to miss!

Allison Ouellette

Director of Admissions

Dorsey Raises The Bar With Credentials - Students Take The Challenge & Produce Outstanding Results!

Starting in January of 2010, Dorsey Schools raised the bar – for students and for staff.  In an effort to “up our game,” the educational team chose to begin an affiliation with the American Medical Technologists (AMT): the certifiers of the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam. 

In the medical assisting field, the RMA exam is one of the most prestigious credentials available, and we wanted our students to have it.  The challenge, of course, was that it is a much more difficult exam, so our students would need to work even harder to pass the test – and our teachers would have to do the same.

 

Well, we called, and they answered!

Last module, the first group of students to finish the medical assisting program under the new AMT guidelines sat for the RMA exam.  With bated breath, we have awaited their test results.

While we certainly would not share the details, it will suffice to say that:

THEY ALL PASSED!  100% of them!

And they didn’t just pass, they aced it!  The minimum score to pass the test, as with the NCCT, is a 70%.  The lowest score from this group was an 86%!  Outstanding!

Dorsey Students – You are well on your way to success!  (And, the AMT agrees!)  Look for review sessions and take advantage of these opportunities!

Dorsey Instructors – Keep doing what you’re doing!  Your compassion and professionalism is evident in the outcomes that our students are receiving!

A special congratulations to the following students:

Ø  Christol C.

Ø  Tiffany F.

Ø  Charlesetta H.

Ø  Nicole M.

Ø  Stephanie R.

Ø  Jessica S.

Ø  Robyn W.

While many of our graduates successfully challenge various exams, this particular test is an indicator of our school’s pursuit of quality educational outcomes.  You each have made us very proud of your accomplishments!

Also, a special thank you to Mr. Vollmer and our medical team for investing the countless hours they invested in preparing these students for their exams.  We are proud to have you all!

Mark Young

Managing Director

Dorsey Schools - Roseville Campus

Interpersonal Skills Class Makes Personal Strides Toward Helping Others

It may only be May, but it felt like Christmas in Mr. Young's class on Tuesday night!

As part of the Interpersonal Skills class, Mr. Young always engages his students with the message of "paying it forward" in ways that help the community and those less fortunate than we are.  "Everyone has struggles," said Young, "but the question is:  Are mine greater than anyone else's?  By spending time, effort, and a little bit of money, we focus on other people's problems for a minute.  Truthfully, it makes ours look smaller by comparison."

This module, the Interpersonal Skills class partnered with Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritan.org) in anticipation of its annual shoebox outreach program, Operation Christmas Child (www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/).  The program, started many years back by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, distributes donated gifts to children throughout the world who would otherwise go without gifts for Christmas. 

For class, each student brought with her, at least one shoebox, accompanied by a trove of other items, including: bars of soap, hair brushes, combs, small toys, crayons, markers, coloring books, story books, hard candy, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and the like.  Each box was then wrapped in decorative paper and filled with a variety of items, including a handwritten, personal note to the child who may receive the box this Christmas.  The students, excited about the project, were allowed to also bring their children to school for the two-hour window of time when the boxes were assembled.  "It is a great gift to pack a shoebox for a needy child.  It is even greater, however, to teach our own children the value of charity and giving," said Mr. Young.  "It doesn't get more 'interpersonal' than that."

Although the national collection week is from November 14 - November 21, 2011, this group of students is looking to involve the entire campus over the coming months to make an earth-shattering impact come November.  Beginning for the Spring B module, this group of students is throwing down the gauntlet and challenging the campus to participate with them to make this project a campus-wide event.  Each module, the students have developed a theme.  Should students be able to reach the set goals of each module, Mr. Young agreed to allow jeans during all of week 6 of each module - but only if the goals were reached.

Overall, the class was able to complete 31 boxes during the two-hour window of time.  It was a great time to see the many smiles of students and their children while participating.  A special thanks also to Mrs. Eifert and Ms. Wilshaw for their assistance.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from the Roseville campus!