Spring enrollment has begun already, said Mary Ann Bodine, Academic Advising assistant director.

The 16-week spring semester begins Tuesday, Jan. 18, the day after Martin Luther King Day.

Students can enroll online and on the first floor of the Main Building at the advising office.

Bodine said she encourages students to enroll early.

A group of OCCC students are reshaping their lives after what started as a simple classroom assignment took on a deeper meaning. Students in Professor Amy Wilson’s College Writing II classes have the option to participate in a fitness initiative to promote healthier living for extra credit.

Approximately three-fourths of Wilson’s students in her seven classes have taken her up on that offer.

Attending live performances in downtown Oklahoma City will be the assignment for students enrolled in an eight-week humanities course that begins Friday, Oct. 29, said Ruth Charnay, instructor for the class.

The course, called OKC Arts Alive! HUM 2003, is offered through the OKC Downtown College. It is designed to expose students to a variety of arts in the area, said Charnay, who also serves as department director for Communications and the Arts in the Arts and Humanities division.

They say that those who can, do; and those who can’t, teach.

OCCC music professor Michael Boyle defies this truism. Not only can he teach music, but also he can perform it as well, as his weekend gigs as a double bass player in Bricktown attest.

A music professor on campus since 2006, Boyle has been playing music professionally for nearly 35 years.

For the past four years, Boyle has used his experience as a musician to teach his students and fellow musicians who are hoping to make a name for themselves.

“As a professional performer, I always emphasize to my students that they must practice their craft,” Boyle said.

“That means endless practice on their instrument.”

Safety and Security Director Ike Sloas resigned at the end of September after six years of serving in his position.

Sloas said he has taken on a new position as security director for Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.

He said his family played a large part in his decision to leave OCCC.

“I grew up in Tennessee,” Sloas said.

“My family and my wife’s family still live there, within an hour of downtown.

“When we visited them on weekends before, it was seven hours of driving, one exhausted day with them, and seven hours of more driving.”

A New York television news producer talked about the challenges of declining advertising revenues and evolving media platforms in a speech on campus Sept. 30.

Jason Goodwin, who graduated from OCCC in 1999, is currently the producer of the nightly newscast for WPIX 11, a CW affiliate in New York City.

For 45 minutes, Goodwin spoke of trends in the media, giving examples of some his workplace is moving toward.

He said WPIX 11 is switching to a “no anchor” format starting Oct. 11, meaning there will mainly be a voice overdub on most news segments with more of a news emphasis during the telecast.

During The Leadership Council meeting Sept. 30, TLC members acted out scenarios which showed verbal abuse, domestic abuse and other dangerous relationships in order to provide a preview of what will be covered during special activities on campus Oct. 11 through 15.

The intent was to give the student leaders a preview of the events planned for Relationship Violence Awareness Week, said Jenna Howard, OCCC counselor.

Activities will include self defense training, relationship violence awareness training, guest speakers and a silent memorial for those who have died from domestic violence.

Judi McGee, OCCC Employment Services coordinator, said 110 employers participated in this year’s Job Fair, held on campus Oct. 6.

And, Student Employment and Career Servies Director Debra Vaughn said approximately 3,000 people attended, looking for employment with companies that included large corporations such as Halliburton and Norman Regional Hospital.

There’s more than one place to read a textbook.

Students who don’t have a textbook at home can use the library’s reserve collection, said Emily Lewis, library circulation assistant.

One hundred thirty professors participate in the textbook reserve program maintained by the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library, Lewis said.

Singing on stage with Broadway star Frank D’Ambrosio is the goal of two OCCC vocalists who submitted audition tapes for his master class, to be held on campus Oct. 11.

Lauren Rose and Nidia Reyes will learn on the day of the class if they have been chosen to be among the three men and three women to receive singing lessons from the performer.

Rose crossed her fingers as she said she hopes to be picked to join the master class.