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Community

Dog Policy Clarifies Limitations for Campus Pooches

Starting May 1, dogs will no longer have the run of the campus some now enjoy. Dogs must be kept on a leash when outside on College property, and owners are responsible for immediately removing any dog waste (and having the means to remove it) and fixing any damage caused by dogs. Pets are still not allowed in residence halls. In academic and administrative buildings, building users now have two main policy options. One option simply bans dogs from the building; the other allows unleashed dogs in private offices but requires dogs to be leashed and attended in all common areas.

Copies of the full policy, including penalties for violations, are available from public safety, x2034, or buildings and grounds, x2012, and the policy will soon be posted on the public safety Web page (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dps/). The new guidelines were worked out by a faculty-staff committee, although various groups have been discussing a dog policy since early 1991, according to Dave Collette, director of physical facilities.

Faculty/Staff

Health Care Committee Formed, Newsgroup Established

There are two new ways for MHC employees to ask questions and share information about health care: the mhc.health-care newsgroup and an ongoing Health Care Committee. Both were established by the Office of Human Resources to encourage open dialogue on a wide range of health-related issues, according to director of human resources Lauren Turner.

The committee will advise the human resources department on health care issues, including the goals of the College's health-care plans, health-care needs of the College community, health-care plan options and costs, and how costs are shared between the College and employees. Its members include Sharon Crow, Jan Dragon, Steve Dunn, Janice Gifford, Rosemary Jackson, and Frank Scheinost. The committee seeks to add a member who uses the Blue Cross/Blue Shield CMM 80/20 service.

The mhc.health-care newsgroup is also up and running; below are instructions for joining the online forum.

When you log on, at the % prompt, type tin. (You will be asked questions about subscribing to new groups; type shift-c to just say 'no' to all the new groups.)

You should be presented with a list of preselected newsgroups such as mhc.announce. Type y to "yank" the 5,000 newsgroups available on tin. Type /, and at the prompt type mhc.health-care. (The / initiates a search, which should bring you to an arrow pointing at the mhc.health-care newsgroup. It will have a "u" in front of it, which means that you have not yet subscribed.) Type s (to subscribe); then type y (to "unyank" all the groups.) You should now see the mhc.health-care group on your short list.

When you want to check for announcements, at the prompt % type tin. After answering questions about subscribing to new groups, you should find mhc.health-care on your list of newsgroups. If there are messages, you will see the number of new messages in front of the group. Move your cursor to the newsgroup and hit return to read the messages.

Students

Planning to Apply to Health Professions Programs?

Students who plan to apply to medical, dental, veterinary, public health, or any other health professions program this summer or fall for the entering class of 1998-99 should meet with their health professions adviser before leaving campus this spring.

Applications to many health professions schools are reviewed, and classes filled, as the applications arrive, on a rolling basis. Application periods for some programs begin as early as June 1. If you apply early, there are more unfilled spaces in the entering class.

Whether your application will be completed this summer or in early fall, meet with your health professions adviser to coordinate recommendations and review the application process. If it's a summer application, discuss the application essay.

Students who do not yet have a health professions adviser may meet with any member of the committee: Kathleen Holt, biological sciences; Lilian Hsu, biochemistry; Jeffrey Knight, biological sciences; Mark Peterson, mathematics; Marilyn Pryor, biological sciences; Margaret Robinson, mathematics; and James Trostle, anthropology. Request forms for a health professions adviser are in the Career Development Center.

Attention All Seniors

Any student who has had a Stafford Student Loan, a Federal Direct Student Loan, an International Loan, an MHC Loan, or a Perkins Loan must attend an exit interview before leaving Mount Holyoke, per federal regulation. An exit interview is required to properly inform you of your rights and responsibilities during repayment of your student loan. Interviews will be held on April 29 and May 2 on a walk-in basis at Blanchard Campus Center. See the calendar section for more details.

PRESCHEDULED EXAMINATIONS
DURING EXAM PERIOD (MAY 9-15)