Provost's Council Minutes (5/14/13)

Provost’s Council
May 14, 2013
2:00 p.m.
Ruby Hicks Hall, Room 245

Members Present:     Doug Allen, Jackie Blakley, Amanda Blanton, Tim Bowen, Dan Holland, Lynn Lewis, Robin McFall, Amoena Norcross, Sarah Shumpert, Brian Swords

Members Absent:      Scott Harvey

 

Others Present:          Gayle Arries

    

Length of Meeting:   2.0 hours

 

Topics Discussed:

The minutes of the April 23 meeting were approved with a minor change.

Amanda Blanton discussed Dual Enrollment Strategy and distributed several handouts.  She noted that Career Pathways replaces Tech Prep and that PACE has been reestablished to focus on career pathways.  She reviewed the handouts with the group and noted several ways that students can take advantage of our dual enrollment options.  She noted that students take courses for all kinds of reasons and we need to have standard practices in place for tuition and billing.  This initiative is in the plan, so a work group will be compiled to review this further.

Amanda discussed the Dual Enrollment Pathway with Crescent High School.  She noted that this collaboration is working extremely well, and we will want to replicate it by keeping in mind the following.

·         Committed people on both sides.  Great collaborative effort from all fronts.

 

·         Influential business partner.

 

·         New industry in the area.

 

·         Focused on what the community needs.  The right fit with the right program is crucial to success.

 

·         Guidance counselors need to be on board and make students aware of our options.

 

Amanda also noted that we will use marketing to focus on and target middle school students and will suggest making a middle school subcommittee of the PACE Board.  Middle school counselors are a key to this pipeline.   

Sarah Shumpert discussed the ongoing Connect to the Vision strategic plan sessions.  The world café format was a way to communicate the plan to all employees at all levels and to use individual and shared insights and actions to incorporate the plan into daily work life.  She noted that the sessions were informal and were focused on the conversations and exposure to the plan.  The sessions were not designed as a feedback to Executive Staff.  The sessions were well attended with cross-sectional attendees.  She noted the following:

·         In all sessions, there was a tendency to point fingers at others.

 

·         Considering how an employee can contribute to the vision through his or her daily job is very different from anything we have done before.

 

·         It is important for the plan to be as transparent as possible. 

 

Brian Swords updated the group on the Matriculation Implementation.  He reported that the matriculation team recommended a series of changes. These changes have been implemented, and the team is working with the individuals involved in the implementation.  The pilot is in place now, with plans to go live on June 3.

In general, the matriculation process follows this path.

 

Pre-enrollment session –  Provides information about what students need to know to get them on the correct path.

Generalists – Cross-trained service providers who serve as points of engagement for new students and can answer questions traditionally handled by multiple offices.

Student Success Coaches –  These are developmental advisors.   They complete the admissions process and provide counseling to include goals based on assessments and program fit.  They help students register for class for the first semester.  The Student Success Coach will provide developmental and intrusive advising to the students throughout their time at Tri-County.

Faculty Advisor – He/she will handle academic issues and prescriptive advising for continuing students.

The steps of the matriculation process will include these actions.

Pre-enrollment Sessions:

            Apply

            Student contact via phone call, letter, personally

 

Immediately after pre-enrollment session:

            Complete/submit application

            Campus tour

            Compass

            Smarter Measure

 

Meet with Student Success Coach:   

            After taking the Compass test, by appointment, at the student’s discretion

            Program fit

            Advising and registration

            Discuss assessment results

 

Brain noted that we will test with the pilot during the next few weeks, along with conflict resolution training and success coach training.  We will use what we learn and build on it.

 

Jenni Creamer has something similar in mind for Clemson Bridge students, so, at this point, this group will not be included.  They may be phased in at a later date. 

 

Rob Massey is preparing a communication plan about the role of advisors and student success coaches.  Division secretaries will be included in the training, and all employees will be invited to information sessions about the process. 

 

At this point, Galen presented the college’s 2006 QEP topic, Starting Now:  The Transition to College, which was chosen as the topic by employees in 2005 as part of our QEP design process.  The document touches on many of the things we are trying to address with the matriculation process, and indicates the need for an organizational structure to support the journey we have been on since 2006.

 

The discussion about Strategic Initiative:  Transformative Student Experience, was delayed.  This will be an item on a future agenda.

 

Under Announcements, Dan asked input on a refund question.

 

Jackie reported that she is a member of the Student Reaction to Instruction workgroup.  Chris Marino piloted an online version of the survey during the spring semester with great results.  The workgroup is in favor of using an online version, and the college may try to use it in the summer.  She will continue to update the Provost’s Council.

 

Jackie noted that a new HVAC system is being placed in Pickens Hall.  To expedite the process, the employees in the Division Office and surrounding offices may be relocated. 

 

Tim reminded the group that the road race would take place on Saturday, May 18.  Internal competition among departments is very good, and he is expecting a record number of registrations. 

 

With agenda items remaining, the meeting was adjourned.

 

Recorded By:             Anne Bryan

 

Next Meeting:            Tuesday, May 28, at 2:00 p.m., in RH 245