”A 1]. t 1 O O k February 1992, Vol. 8, No. 2 Publication of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Winter 92 marks record enrollment at FCC] 2 registration increased. th 0th North Campu ‘(1 double digit rate of increased e ollment , visit any camp vmg proof to paraphrase the rnovre Field of Dreams, “If you offer it, they will by nearly six percent (5 7%) over the same term last 9%) a11d Downtowu Campus (11. 9%) expenencmg a " Nationally, community college enrollment is increasmg between 3% and 6%. But perhaps the best way to understand to scope of FCCJ’ s unprecedented growth is to "‘13“, 21681115 office on the las1: day to register - , . . » Not surprisingly, few employees look forward to returning to work after the College's holiday break. But perhaps no one dreads it more than Norma Blankenbaker. As enrollment services coordinator at South Campus, Blankenbaker supervises the records, registrar tion and financial aid departments. Even on a “slow day” (if such an event exists in student affairs), her interdepartmental responsibilities keep her more than busy. Yet on a day like today, busy is only the half of it... 8:00 a.m. The Winter ’92 college credit schedule refers to January 2, 1992 as the last scheduled day to register without late fees. Anyone who works in student affairs, however, knows it better as the day all hell breaks loose. Blankenbaker assists a student waiting to register at South Campus. “I didn’t think they’d be here this early,” Blankenbaker said as she raised the ‘iron ‘ curtain’ at the financial aid window, exposing a line of students stretching far across the lobby. 8:05 a.m. Blankenbaker’s first “Customer” had a common problem —- failure to follow directions. V After learning that the student hadn’t received her Pell Grant check yet, Blankenbaker asked how long it had been since she had sent in her forms. “I was supposed to send them the forms .7” the student asked. “I thought I was sup posed to show them to you." 8:20 a.m. When another student never received her financial aid award letter, Blankenbaker went to the computer to find out if the money was already in her account. “What’s wrong with the computers? They’re not coming up," Blankenbaker lamented as she picked up the phone. “Hi, this is Norma at South,” she greeted another student affairs employee. “Can y’all get into your computers ?...No, we can’t either...What are they trying to do to us?” 8:30 a.m. Back at the window, Blankenbaker tried to handle what prob— lems didn't require the use of temperamen— tal technology. “I’m sorry, but I can’t access your records until the computer is up," she told one , student who was concerned that such a delay would put him behind in the registra— tion process. “Don’t worry; theirs are down too...I hope you brought your lunch.” 9:00 a.m. Though she spent most of her time in the financial aid area, Blankenbaker monitored registration (being held in the cafeteria) throughout the day. “We’re trying something new this year, giving students numbers instead of just having them stand in line. I think it will probably work better this way,” she said. 9:45 a.m. Jerry Patterson, dean of student affairs, confirmed Blankenbaker’s optimism. “Everything looks good in there. I think we’re going to be okay,” he said. Until they ran out of numbers... 11:00 a. m. W 1th the computers back on— line, a second set of numbers distributed and registration well underway, it seemed that everything was taken care of. Except, of course, for the 30 students crowding around the financial aid window. 11:50 a.m. After routinely handing our teams of financial aid forms, approving numerous short term loans and veteran’s deferments, and answering countless questions, Blankenbaker would normally welcome a unique request. But when a student came in to have her Social Security number changed, Blankenbaker found her attitude anything but entertaining. “I have been here three different times to have this changed, and you people don’t seem to know how to do it. It doesn’t seem too difficult to me, so I don’t know what the problem is,” the student complained loudly. The student, displeased with Blanken~ baker’s explanation, eventually scooped up her books, told Blankenbaker, “You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be,” and stormed out. 1:45 p.m. It didn’t take Blankenbaker long to find out that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t help everyone, this phone call included. “What?...l can’t understand you...I don’t know what you’re saying,” she spoke into the receiver. “Sir, I’m sorry I can’t help you, but I don’t speak Spanish.” 2:00 p.m. Six and a half hours of listening to students complain and her day was only half over. But Blankenbaker’s typically unflagging attitude kept her smiling and as eager to help the 150th student as the first. “You really have to keep your sense of humor in this business. There is a lot of frustration in this area, and you can get pretty frazzled at times, but I enjoy the challenge,” she said. 3:15 p.m. Making her third trip to the financial aid window today, this student was visibly irritated. She shuffled her papers. She rolled her eyes. She tapped her pencil on the counter. “Okay, everything’s set. I got the override for you,” Blankenbaker told the student. And then, probably for the first time that day, the student smiled. 4:40 p.m. After checking things in the cafeteria—currently serving number 660—— Blankenbaker returned to the window. A student from Greece wanted a defer! ment on his tuition while he waited for money to arrive from home. When Blankenbaker explained that unless he already had financial aid papers on file, there was nothing she could do. It’s not easy to tell students that you don’t have money for them, but it‘s part of the job, Blankenbaker said. “Working here you have to be able to think on your feet and make decisions fast.” 6:12 p.m. When most College employees were already home eating dinner, Blankenbaker was still on the job trouble‘ shooting. “According to our records, we didn’t receive your financial aid information until December 6...Yes, I know you haven’t received your check yet, but did it ever occur to you that you sent that information “The people who wait until the last minute to do everything are usually the ones who squeal the most, Blankenbaker said. to us very, very late?” she told the man on the phone. “Sir, I’m not going to argue with you, but if you had come in earlier and spoken with us, we could have done something. But six o’clock on the last day to register is really too late." 7:00 p.m. Though the doors were closed for registration 30 minutes earlier, the cafeteria was still full of students. “Your staff pretty well knows they’re here for the duration, right?” Patterson asked. 8:00 p.m. Twelve hours and 884 students later, (1095 students received numbers; 884 actually registered.) Winter ’92 registration was finally over at South Campus. As the remaining employees headed for the parking lot, Blankenbaker made a final check before leaving for home. Hungry, tired and, at times, irritated, this was not her ideal work day, but still, she remained optimistic about the department’s accomplishments. “I feel good about today. Things went very smoothly, and we didn’t have any major problems," Blankenbaker com— mented. “Despite the fact that we are terribly understaffed, we did very well. We [student affairs] work very, very hard, and we will continue to try to make the [regis— tration] process more efficient.” Winter ’92 registration. Susan Jeffefson, adviser I, and Blankenbaker puldown the iron curtain’ ’ on INSIDE -' .1 .1 .1 .l .l ..l .1 I! .l I! a. , OCR Text: ”A 1]. t 1 O O k February 1992, Vol. 8, No. 2 Publication of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Winter 92 marks record enrollment at FCC] 2 registration increased. th 0th North Campu ‘(1 double digit rate of increased e ollment , visit any camp vmg proof to paraphrase the rnovre Field of Dreams, “If you offer it, they will by nearly six percent (5 7%) over the same term last 9%) a11d Downtowu Campus (11. 9%) expenencmg a " Nationally, community college enrollment is increasmg between 3% and 6%. But perhaps the best way to understand to scope of FCCJ’ s unprecedented growth is to "‘13“, 21681115 office on the las1: day to register - , . . » Not surprisingly, few employees look forward to returning to work after the College's holiday break. But perhaps no one dreads it more than Norma Blankenbaker. As enrollment services coordinator at South Campus, Blankenbaker supervises the records, registrar tion and financial aid departments. Even on a “slow day” (if such an event exists in student affairs), her interdepartmental responsibilities keep her more than busy. Yet on a day like today, busy is only the half of it... 8:00 a.m. The Winter ’92 college credit schedule refers to January 2, 1992 as the last scheduled day to register without late fees. Anyone who works in student affairs, however, knows it better as the day all hell breaks loose. Blankenbaker assists a student waiting to register at South Campus. “I didn’t think they’d be here this early,” Blankenbaker said as she raised the ‘iron ‘ curtain’ at the financial aid window, exposing a line of students stretching far across the lobby. 8:05 a.m. Blankenbaker’s first “Customer” had a common problem —- failure to follow directions. V After learning that the student hadn’t received her Pell Grant check yet, Blankenbaker asked how long it had been since she had sent in her forms. “I was supposed to send them the forms .7” the student asked. “I thought I was sup posed to show them to you." 8:20 a.m. When another student never received her financial aid award letter, Blankenbaker went to the computer to find out if the money was already in her account. “What’s wrong with the computers? They’re not coming up," Blankenbaker lamented as she picked up the phone. “Hi, this is Norma at South,” she greeted another student affairs employee. “Can y’all get into your computers ?...No, we can’t either...What are they trying to do to us?” 8:30 a.m. Back at the window, Blankenbaker tried to handle what prob— lems didn't require the use of temperamen— tal technology. “I’m sorry, but I can’t access your records until the computer is up," she told one , student who was concerned that such a delay would put him behind in the registra— tion process. “Don’t worry; theirs are down too...I hope you brought your lunch.” 9:00 a.m. Though she spent most of her time in the financial aid area, Blankenbaker monitored registration (being held in the cafeteria) throughout the day. “We’re trying something new this year, giving students numbers instead of just having them stand in line. I think it will probably work better this way,” she said. 9:45 a.m. Jerry Patterson, dean of student affairs, confirmed Blankenbaker’s optimism. “Everything looks good in there. I think we’re going to be okay,” he said. Until they ran out of numbers... 11:00 a. m. W 1th the computers back on— line, a second set of numbers distributed and registration well underway, it seemed that everything was taken care of. Except, of course, for the 30 students crowding around the financial aid window. 11:50 a.m. After routinely handing our teams of financial aid forms, approving numerous short term loans and veteran’s deferments, and answering countless questions, Blankenbaker would normally welcome a unique request. But when a student came in to have her Social Security number changed, Blankenbaker found her attitude anything but entertaining. “I have been here three different times to have this changed, and you people don’t seem to know how to do it. It doesn’t seem too difficult to me, so I don’t know what the problem is,” the student complained loudly. The student, displeased with Blanken~ baker’s explanation, eventually scooped up her books, told Blankenbaker, “You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be,” and stormed out. 1:45 p.m. It didn’t take Blankenbaker long to find out that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t help everyone, this phone call included. “What?...l can’t understand you...I don’t know what you’re saying,” she spoke into the receiver. “Sir, I’m sorry I can’t help you, but I don’t speak Spanish.” 2:00 p.m. Six and a half hours of listening to students complain and her day was only half over. But Blankenbaker’s typically unflagging attitude kept her smiling and as eager to help the 150th student as the first. “You really have to keep your sense of humor in this business. There is a lot of frustration in this area, and you can get pretty frazzled at times, but I enjoy the challenge,” she said. 3:15 p.m. Making her third trip to the financial aid window today, this student was visibly irritated. She shuffled her papers. She rolled her eyes. She tapped her pencil on the counter. “Okay, everything’s set. I got the override for you,” Blankenbaker told the student. And then, probably for the first time that day, the student smiled. 4:40 p.m. After checking things in the cafeteria—currently serving number 660—— Blankenbaker returned to the window. A student from Greece wanted a defer! ment on his tuition while he waited for money to arrive from home. When Blankenbaker explained that unless he already had financial aid papers on file, there was nothing she could do. It’s not easy to tell students that you don’t have money for them, but it‘s part of the job, Blankenbaker said. “Working here you have to be able to think on your feet and make decisions fast.” 6:12 p.m. When most College employees were already home eating dinner, Blankenbaker was still on the job trouble‘ shooting. “According to our records, we didn’t receive your financial aid information until December 6...Yes, I know you haven’t received your check yet, but did it ever occur to you that you sent that information “The people who wait until the last minute to do everything are usually the ones who squeal the most, Blankenbaker said. to us very, very late?” she told the man on the phone. “Sir, I’m not going to argue with you, but if you had come in earlier and spoken with us, we could have done something. But six o’clock on the last day to register is really too late." 7:00 p.m. Though the doors were closed for registration 30 minutes earlier, the cafeteria was still full of students. “Your staff pretty well knows they’re here for the duration, right?” Patterson asked. 8:00 p.m. Twelve hours and 884 students later, (1095 students received numbers; 884 actually registered.) Winter ’92 registration was finally over at South Campus. As the remaining employees headed for the parking lot, Blankenbaker made a final check before leaving for home. Hungry, tired and, at times, irritated, this was not her ideal work day, but still, she remained optimistic about the department’s accomplishments. “I feel good about today. Things went very smoothly, and we didn’t have any major problems," Blankenbaker com— mented. “Despite the fact that we are terribly understaffed, we did very well. We [student affairs] work very, very hard, and we will continue to try to make the [regis— tration] process more efficient.” Winter ’92 registration. Susan Jeffefson, adviser I, and Blankenbaker puldown the iron curtain’ ’ on INSIDE -' .1 .1 .1 .l .l ..l .1 I! .l I! a. , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,Outlook Newsletter Resorted,1992,February 1992,February 1992 1, February 1992 1