Welcome to Calm Waters!
The purpose of this site is to navigate the rumor mill common to college campuses and to minimize the turbulence churned up by half-truths, misinformation or misunderstanding. If you want to check the veracity of a rumor floating around campus, check out the ones below or submit it here and we will try to steer you in the right direction. If your rumor is correct, we will confirm it. If it is untrue, we will explain. If you want anononymity, you got it.
The Latest Rumors
October 23, 2008
Rumor:
that silly answer is the reason I have dropped my classes. I also have CHILDREN to raise and a job so the unexpected extra week caused me too many problems to overcome. Any more stupid answers??? ROLE = student
Response:
The College must fulfill its obligation to almost 4,000 students to create a quality learning environment while operating within the requirements imposed by Texas law and the standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, our accrediting body. We cannot control the timing of hurricanes, and we cannot arrange our calendar or offer classes to meet the time preferences for every student, although we seek to accommodate as many as we can. All of us would be happier if Hurricane Ike had not arrived to disrupt normal activities and operations and to destroy lives and property.
October 17, 2008
Rumor:
College of the Mainland will only have two weeks for Christmas holidays instead of the 3 weeks. Galveston College was out longer but their Administration can develop innovative ideas for make up that do not include taking away holiday time. College of the Mainland made a knee jerk decision which shows little for their innovative ideas. I'm sure I'll hear how CoM puts the student first, but I'm sure Galveston College also puts the student first, but still is able to make sensible decisions after all information is gathered. ROLE = student
Response:
The Texas higher Education Coordinating Board has left it up to each college to make up the contact hours lost due to the hurricane. Galveston College is using a combination of online instruction and weekend classes to make up the lost hours; they will end their semester on December 19th as they had planned to do before the storm. Because we did not have to remain closed as long as Galveston College, we do not have to mandate weekend classes. We chose to simply extend the semester until December 19th because that is the least disruptive way to deliver the full semester required by the Co-Board and for which our students have paid. Many of our students need the full semester to succeed and all deserve every opportunity to succeed.
Our primary concern is the delivery of quality instruction and quality learning opportunities—not the length of the holiday period.
October 6, 2008
Rumor:
I have looked all through the CE schedule and can't find their office hours. I have left serveral message at ext. 406, but no one returns my calls. This is not the first time this has happened. Please give me the hours and I will take off work and come in person and then maybe I can talk to someone and get my questions answered. ROLE = student
Response:
The Continuing Education Program office hours are Monday through Friday 8am-5pm, these office hours are posted on page 4 of each mailed out schedule, and on our webpage under Contact Information along with the main extension for Continuing Education which is 586. Patty England is the Administrative Assistant for Industrial Trades and Craft Training and her extension is 406. All calls are vey important to us. We know you have a choice when it comes to training and continuing education, and we want your business. We make it a priority to return all calls within 24 hours. However, there are times when the caller does not leave a return number, or when we are not able to correctly make out the number. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We in CE do care, and we want your business. I would be more than happy to speak directly to any student or prospective student that has questions. Geane Stevenson Dean of Continuing Education College of the Mainland (409) 938-1211 ext. 280