Rasmussen Paint the Campus Purple Day is

Wednesday, April 23, 2008!

One day a year, the Power of Purple is a matter of life and death.

Welcome to the “Rasmussen Paint the Campus Purple Day;” a groundbreaking national movement to help raise awareness of cancer. In doing so we will be saving lives, helping those touched by cancer, and empowering people to fight back against this disease.

We will empower students, faculty, administration, family, and friends by arming them with the knowledge and facts needed to defeat this dreaded disease…With Knowledge Lies Power!  This movement will unite our campuses to raise cancer awareness, support cancer survivors, raise funds and will give students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to work side by side for a unified cause. More importantly, by participating in this annual fundraising event our work will make a real difference in helping to protect all people within our family of schools, our communities, and throughout the world!

Wow! Talk about Rasmussen going global!

Why do we do this? Look around you; look at your co-workers, family, or friends…statistics show that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer within their lifetime. Is that you? The money raised from our campaign will help save lives by funding cutting-edge cancer research, early detection and prevention education, advocacy efforts, and life-affirming patient services. Our involvement makes this all possible through our volunteer partnership with the American Cancer Society and its signature fundraiser, Relay For Life©.

Relay For Life© allows all individuals an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have survived cancer and to remember those who have passed away from this disease. For the newly diagnosed, Relay is a healing experience that offers a chance to meet others who have claimed victory over cancer. For the caregivers who give their time, love, and support to their friends and family who face cancer it provides hope and understanding.

Will you join? Will you take a stance and grab the tools necessary to Paint the Campus Purple and make this day a success? It takes a team and Rasmussen has all the necessary ingredients to make this a proper mix of perfection!

On April 23, 2008 our campuses will reflect our determination and commitment to educate and empower our students, faculty, and administration!

We will: Celebrate! Remember! Fight Back!

Ok! Here’s what we’ll need to do!    

Designate a Team Leader for each campus. Get ready to decorate, dress, and incorporate the color purple any way you can on your campus. Each Campus will raise money through campus or community fundraising. Take it out to your community! Bring your camera along and take plenty of pictures! Prizes are involved! The campus with the highest amount of money collected will receive a trophy, recognition through the American Cancer Society, year long bragging rites, and of course the feeling of knowing you became an important factor in helping fund the fight in the cure for cancer!

Just think...that dollar you collect could be the one that buys the pen that is used in writing the cure for cancer...

All monies must reach the Pasco Campus no later than Thursday, April 30, 2008. Checks made payable to American Cancer Society; or if you prefer, find a Relay For Life© in your area to donate.

(Let’s just make sure people know RASMUSSEN COLLEGE RELAYS FOR LIFE)

Contact Sheila Stiles at the Pasco County Campus to request your Team Leader’s kit along with fundraising ideas and forms. 

The POWER OF PURPLE!

WE ARE TEAM RASMUSSEN!
 WE CAN DO THIS!

As you know, cancer can affect anyone, at anytime.  There are no prerequisites.  This year alone, this horrible disease has affected some of our very own Rasmussen family members.

Therefore, the Orlando office will be participating in the “Relay for Life” to help raise monies and cancer awareness on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 2pm. 

The “Relay for Life” continues for twenty-four consecutive hours - to remind us that cancer never sleeps.  Once the event begins, we need to have a team member on the track at all times, so we need your help to make it a success! 

There will be food and fun for all.  And, if you walk in the “Relay for Life”, you will receive a commemorative t-shirt as a thank you!

If you are interested in participating (no one is required to walk for twenty-four hours), simply sign up for your desired time slot on the board in the kitchen or sign up online.

If you choose the online option, please click on the “join a team button” and fill out the requested information.  You will be provided with an email template that will help you begin collecting donations for the event.  Donations are not “per lap”, but are one time donations (i.e. $10.00, $20.00, $100.00, etc.).  In addition, please make sure you pick up a donation envelope from the front desk.

Please, take the time to sign up today! 

Together, we can make this a very successful event and help stop a terrible disease! 

Black History Month Remembers:

The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was established in 1964 as a way for disenfranchised African-Americans to fight the white supremacy that dominated the Mississippi Democratic Party during this time period. 

While the national Democratic Party was trying to promote President Johnson’s efforts in Civil Rights, the Mississippi Democratic Party was distancing itself from the national party. Black participation was prohibited.  During the 1964 Democratic Convention, the MFDP fought its way inside to protest their lack of votes at the convention. 

The vice-chairperson of the MFDP was civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Her testimony concerning the abuses she suffered as she fought for the voting rights of African Americans grabbed the spotlight during the convention.  In 1967, she published an autobiography titled: Praise Our Bridges: An Autobiography

Speaking of autobiographies, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - written by Maya Angelou - is the first book in a series of autobiographical novels.  This first book explores a young girl’s struggles in the South being made to feel inferior to both her black and white peers.  This book is available through the Rasmussen College Library System.

More Black History Month Trivia:

Question:   What is boxer Muhammad Ali’s original name?    
Answer:   Cassius Clay

Question:   Which African-American spokesman’s strategy to accept discrimination for the time being and advance through hard work did W.E.B. Du Bois write about in his book The Souls of Black Folk?  Hint, he argued that following this man’s strategy would only perpetuate discrimination instead of solving it.    
Answer:   Booker T. Washintgon

Question:   Which well respected pianist, bandleader and jazz musician won album of the year at the 50th Grammy Awards held Feb. 10, 2008?    
Answer:   Herbie Hancock

Question:   Can you name the famous person in the photograph?    
Answer:   Bessie Coleman

Happy New Year Everyone!

I apologize for being quiet over the past two weeks -  but I took a week off for Christmas and last week I was sidelined with a wicked sinus infection.

One quick update for those of you who are leaving me comments.  I make an effort to answer every question - however, there have been a number of questions about books and scheduling lately.  Please note than rather posting a response back in the comment section, I am assigning these issues to someone in Student Services.

Let me know if you have any issues with this. 

 

I am proud to announce our eighth and newest Rasmussen Sponsored Blog! 

It's from Michele Reed - you may remember her as the author of Rasmussen College Online.  She has decided to start a new blog with me about her life working a full-time job and jugging school online.

For the time being, we're calling Michele's Blog and urge you all to check it out when you have a moment.

After you do, stop back and let me know what you thought.

Early Thursday morning, the Marketing Department returned from a three day meeting in the Twin Cities. 

I want to thank everyone at the Eden Prairie campus for hosting the event in addition to the Lake Elmo / Woodbury campus who welcomed us for our team builder on Tuesday. 

Overall, it was a great trip.  I got visit with the people I work with in addition to making some new friends.   

As an FYI, I’ll be returning the first week of December to shoot video for the mock trial at the Eagan campus.  I’d also like to make a promotional video or two about the Hub and maybe some more interviews. 

If you have any other ideas for me, let me know.

Over the past 2 months, Rasmussen College has seen the birth of 5 blogs – so far, so good.

Actually, so far, so great! 

That’s one of the reasons I’ve been so busy.  Trust me when I say I am listening when ask for more blogs on other topics.

In addition, I have seen an unbridled enthusiasm from people who want to write a blog – that’s how Get Moving got started.

And as of today, you can add a sixth Rasmussen Sponsored Blog to the list.  Check out smallTalk when you have a moment.  It’s a great blog about the early childhood professional. 

Other blogs that are currently being worked on:

• A new blog from Michelle Reed about student life.
• A Student Services blog
• A new blog from the School of Business

In addition, here’s a list of possible blogs you may see in the near future:

• Fargo campus blog – I love the idea of each campus having their own individual blog.  If you’re interested in one at your campus – let me know.
• Multiplayer online gaming blog – I heard about an idea a couple of weeks ago regarding possible online gaming (e.g. Half-Life 2) competitions between campuses.  Again, very cool.
• DDA blog – We have a great DDA program, so why not a blog about this topic?

Are there any other blogs you’d like to see? 

Let me know.

I apologize for the lack of posts on this blog. 

I have been working on a number of projects – including getting the other 4 blogs up and running.

However, today is the day that the posts really start for this blog.

What’s so great about today you ask?

Simple.

Six months ago, I started with Rasmussen College.

Six months ago, I left a 12 year career in the travel industry to join a company and college I truly believe in.

In 184 days, I have visited 6 campuses, and worked on twice as many projects. I also met and worked with a number of truly extraordinary people.

It’s been inspirational. 

It’s been fun.

And it’s been a learning experience.

I can’t wait to see what the next six months will be like!

Thanks everyone.

Some of you may or may not know that Rasmussen College has a Profile on Facebook.  In fact, I'm proud to say that there is a large Rasmussen College presence on Facebook and our offical Profile has over 200 active "friends".

That Profile is found under the name "Walter Rasmussen" who happens to be the founder of our College.

Unfortunately, this Profile was deactivated by Facebook last week due to the following reasons: 

"...Your account was disabled because you violated Facebook’s Terms of Use, to which you agreed when you first registered for an account on the site. Accounts can either be disabled for repeat offenses or for one, particularly egregious violation.

Facebook does not allow users to register with fake names, to impersonate any person or entity, or to falsely state or otherwise misrepresent themselves or their affiliations. ..."

I can assure you all that nothing was done intentionally and I am working with Facebook to have them review this action on their part.  In fact, I have sent the following email to their Support Center:

"Hello, 

My name is Mark Krupinski and I am the Student Experience Manger for Rasmussen College (see: http://www.rasmussen.edu/).  

I am contacting you in regards to the recent deactivation of my Walter Rasmussen Profile by your company.  I am asking that you please reconsider this action and re-activate my Profile if possible.

Please note that I am new to Rasmussen College  as is my position. I oversee online life for all students and faculty for our 12 campuses.  In addition, Rasmussen College was established over 100 years ago and everyone identifies with Walter Rasmussen as he is the father of the College.

When I initially did research on Facebook for what to use in my Profile I noticed a number of Colleges/Universities are using fictitious individuals for their Profile Names - e.g. "Bucky Badger" for the University of Wisconsin, "Chief Osceola" (2 total) for Florida State University and "Ibis" (3 total) for the University of Miami .  Naturally, I followed suit by creating a Profile for our founder as he is someone that ever student/faculty can relate to rather than me.

Please take this into consideration and reactivate my account.  If you cannot, I would like to understand why and how to re-establish a new Profile under my mark.krupinski@rasmuseen.edu address.

I look forward to your response. 

Best Regards,

Mark Krupinski"

Hopefully I will get a answer soon and this Profile will be back up and running.  Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

If the Profile gets re-activated, should we continue it as "Walter", should it be me, should it be someone else?

Better yet, what do you think about this whole situation? 

Let me know.