January 2007 Dear Parents:

As we begin a new semester here at Dana College, I want to encourage the parents of Dana students to take an active role in your son or daughter’s experience in college. One great way to get involved is though the Parents Advisory Council (PAC). One of the primary focuses of this committee is to bring parents together to discuss issues and happenings on campus that are important to students and parents alike. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact me at mthielen@dana.edu. Please take the time to access PAC information from our parents’ site to find out issues and changes on our campus that affect students and parents.

One of the new changes for next fall has been the renovation of Mickelsen Hall. The new suite-style rooms will accommodate 2-4 people with a washer and dryer on each floor. Each floor will have its own lounge with kitchenette and computer. Also, this new housing option will be available to all female students in the fall of 2007.

Additionally, the YMCA membership program that started for our students this fall has been very beneficial to our students and their health needs. For a reduced rate, our students get use of the Blair YMCA facilities and programs. The program also encourages our students to get out in the community and interact with people they would not normally come in contact with.

A note from the PAC President: Lee Ann Jones

Happy New Year! A new year is starting and I want to share with you some exciting changes. We are introducing the first Dana Parents Newsletter on-line. It will be a monthly publication that highlights items of interest for parents. There will also be a section that highlights a different department on campus.

PAC (Parents Advisory Council) is a group of parents who have students attending Dana. Meetings are held on campus on a regular basis. Various topics and issues of concern are addressed. One of the goals that the group has set is to improve communication with the parents of Dana and the community.

The council welcomes new members. If you are interested in serving on the council or you would like additional information, please contact Lee Ann Jones, PAC president @ jones262@cox.net or Matt Thielen, Dean of Students @ mthielen@dana.edu. The council welcomes any comments or concerns that you may have. Please visit the PAC link found on the Parents homepage for meeting minutes and future meeting announcements.

Department Spot Light: Musical Theater Major, Dr. Paul Schneider

The Dana College Curriculum committee has approved the proposed new Musical Theater Major for Dana College. The full faculty will vote on the proposal at a meeting scheduled for January 9. The new major will be virtually unique in the Midwest. It is a B.A. degree instead of the more conventional B.F.A degree, so it should be more marketable to students who ultimately choose a career other than performance. It is also structured to allow students to take a second major, again adding to the career opportunities available to them.

The Dana College Musical Theater Major draws upon Dana’s superb Music Department and the College’s log tradition or producing outstanding theater. Students in the program are likely to get much more stage time than they would at larger schools, and they will have the opportunity to work with teachers who are also active performers in the Omaha area.

The new Musical Theater Major will take full advantage of the new sound-enhancing materials installed in the Lauritzen Theater this past summer, thanks to the generosity of alumnus Donald Poh and the members of the 1984 Dana College Men’s Glee Club. A fundraising effort is now underway to replace the theater’s aging lighting equipment and to replace the stage itself with a sturdier surface that will be more “dancer friendly.” Contributions can be sent to Dana College for the Lighting Fund.

Further information on the program can be obtained from the Director of Theater, Dr. Paul Schneider, at pschneid@dana.edu.

To download the Spot Light Click here.