Hello ABLE Staff:
I have resisted the world of blogging forever, but I have lately been thinking it might be useful to start.
Since I have started as ABLE Coordinator for Mid East Career and Technology Centers, a day does not go by that I do not learn something new that I did not know before. I keep thinking that other staff might be interested in some of these things.
But I am also determined to not bombard your inbox with frequent emails. I believe that if I am strategic about the emails we send to you, you will be more inclined to read them when you get them. When you get one from office staff, you will know it is important and needs your attention.
By utilizing the blog, I can impart these words of wisdom as I think of them, but you can read them when you wish to. Or not at all, I guess.
Within the first hour of my day today, I learned that when students request a verification letter for proof that they have been attending class, that letter is technically supposed to come from the main office so that it may be written on Mid-East letterhead.
When I was an instructor in Morgan County and a student needed a letter for a boss, a case worker or a parole officer, I just typed it up on my facility's letterhead, signed it, and they went on their merry way.
In typical fashion, things work differently in Muskingum County. I learned this because a Muskingum County instructor called into the office asking for such a verification letter.
I'm just thinking out loud here, but maybe we should create a generic letter on ABLE letterhead that would allow an instructor to enter a student's name, some other info, print it out and sign it. I'll try to learn if this is a violation of some rule, whether it is from the state or from Mid-East. In the meantime, the beauty of a blog is that you can comment on it if you wish. What do you think about the idea?
I like the blog idea, simply because questions and answers are available to all, not just the recipients of an email.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have MECTC letterhead, but I guess something happened at one time, for we were told do not use it. Any letters would be sent from the office, not instructors. But this may work if a particular form with ABLE letterhead (not just MECTC letterhead), with only specific information permitted to be on it. What instructors are permitted to send out has been a 'walking on eggshells' issue.
The blog is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI don't often have students that need verification of their class attendance. But when they do I've cooked up something to satisfy the one who need to know. Sometimes it's a phone call. Other times it's an initialled class calendar.
It would be great to have a form letter we could use. There's no need to have the main office handle it.
This would save me time. I probably should have a copy in our files. It could be submitted with their paperwork.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you having trouble posting a comment, Shirley and I have discovered what to do.
ReplyDelete1. At the bottom of the article, click on the link that tells you how many comments have been made.
2. Type in your comment.
3. Choose "Google Account" from the dropdown box and click publish.
4. You will go to a log in screen. Your email address will probably already be filled in. All you have to do is enter your password that you use for your email. (This is your google account password for everything google.)
5. I think the next thing is to click on your profile, which I just chose the basic profile. I don't know what Google+ is so I ignored it.
6. And then you will go back to the blog page and I think it indicates that your comment is published.
I know at some point during the process you have to enter your "Display Name" too. The main thing is to log in to that screen that pops up after you hit publish. I think you only have to do this process once, so any comments after that should be much easier.
Feel free to comment to THIS post with more advice on how to make a comment.
Bev had the following comments:
ReplyDeleteFirst, in my opinion, I like the idea of a blog and agree with Jim that information, questions/answers are available to everyone. And, it does limit e-mails to being directed to matters of importance. So, thank you.
Second, I am not aware of any instructors being required to have the main ABLE office write a letter for an instructor verifying a student's attendance. I have always written a letter (although rare at my site)should a written verification be required. Adult Center letterhead was used ONLY if required.
In regard to a form letter, I do understand the possible need for a generic type of form. However, are color printers necessary for printing? If not, would black and white be satisfactory? Also, is there any reason why letterhead is not available to instructors?
NOTE: I did have an unusual request recently from a returning student to write a letter to Muskingum JFS stating this sites class days and hours of operation. And, the letter had to be signed by me as instructor, and on Adult Center stationary. The ABLE manual was not acceptable. I typed the letter in a matter of minutes and gave it to the student. I also put a copy of the letter in the student's file.
Personally, I like to create my own letters, which is very infrequent.
Thanks for the opportunity to share, and hope others do as well.