Provost's Council Minutes 8-25-15

Provost’s Council
August 25, 2015
1:00 pm
Ruby Hicks Hall, Room 248

Members Present:     Gayle Arries, Dan Averette, Jackie Blakley, Tim Bowen, Jenni Creamer,  Tom Hiebel, Lynn Lewis, Lou Ann Martin, Linda Jameison, Sarah Shumpert, Brian Swords, Hap Wheeler

Members Absent:      Scott Harvey

Others Present:         

Length of Meeting:   2 hours

Topics Discussed:

The August 11, 2015 meeting minutes were approved as presented.

The discussion on the SC Accelerate Grant was postponed until the next meeting.

Galen briefly discussed the policies and procedures that were recently distributed.  These documents went to the individuals with the most knowledge in the area.  All policies will be reviewed at the September 8 meeting.  All procedures will be reviewed at the September 22 meeting. 

Hap Wheeler presented Procedure 8-4-1010.1, Student Evaluation of Credit Courses and Faculty, which was approved as presented.

Sarah Shumpert facilitated a review of the Academic Program Review and asked for the group to consider things that stood out to them during the review.  The group broke into subgroups to discuss “Pluses”, areas that impressed and how that happened and “Wishes”, areas that were not addressed quite as well and what can be done to address those issues. It was noted that this information can be used

1.      To analyze the program to help develop a three year plan.  Have the structure in place to help.

2.      To be considered in the Project Updates meetings.  Could target specific areas for professional development.

 

3.      To consider whose role it is to handle an “Ask.”  Project management system should address this need.

The following “Pluses” and “Wishes” came from the small group work.

Pluses:

·         Openness to change (curricular redesign)

·         Involvement in facilities planning

·         HIPs evident

·         Passionate faculty

·         Passion for program

·         Real life applications

·         Realistic view of program status

·         Internal partnerships with staff support as collaborator

Members of the group volunteered to work on specific “Wishes,”

Wishes: 

·         Way to streamline and provide support for external partnerships (Gayle)

·         Internal College Program “Fair” to learn more about each other’s programs (Linda)

·         Help with incorporating workplace skills into the curriculum (Linda)

·         Night programs, provide infrastructure (Linda)

·         Clearer roles and responsibilities in student recruitment (Jenni)

·         Informed development of APR questions so information can be effectively used across the college (Jenni)

The following “Wishes” had a shared theme and will be addressed collectively by the Provost’s Council as a group.

·         Program ownership

·         Identify and connect to resources

·         Less overwhelmed

·         Seek out help

·         Development on how to create business plan for resource needs/allocation

·         Common/shared understanding of roles/responsibilities

·         Focused follow-up and distribution of information – enrollment, marketing, engagement, etc.

Announcements:

Jenni:

Kudos to all involved in enrollment and orientation.  Enrollment is on target and the college is in good shape.  It was stressed that we are not chasing heads.  We serving students who have submitted an application and are interested in Tri-County.  We will host the high school guidance counselor breakfast.  If there are any new initiatives for presentation at the breakfast, send them to Jenni.

Lou Ann:

We are still advising for Session C.  There are not a lot of courses available.  Success Coaches are reviewing information and are contacting students if they are not a good fit for Session C.  She also mentioned that they found certain courses that are marked as distance learning courses, but have a set meeting pattern.  The concept of an E-Campus will be discussed at the next deans’ meeting.

Gayle:

The website is moving forward, with an August 31 award date.  Once awarded, it will move very quickly.

Linda:

Noted the Student Conduct procedures that have been approved.  Updated versions will be on the website.  Title IX training will be included in COL 103 and 105.  The college will continue the workshops, which touch on awareness, options, and how to be proactive.  Linda also noted that the Library search has been concluded.  A decision will be forthcoming.

Sarah:

The deadline for the Curriculum Coordinator position has been extended. 

Dan:

Reminded the group that if a grant affects another department, that department needs to be involved in and sign off on the grant.

Hap:

The Honors program has 25 students enrolled.  The feedback is very positive.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Recorded By:             Anne Bryan

Next Meeting:            Tuesday, September 8 at 1:00, in RH 248

Provost's Council Minutes 8-23-15

Provost’s Council
June 23, 2015
1:00 pm
Ruby Hicks Hall, Room 245

Members Present:     Gayle Arries, Dan Averette, Tim Bowen, Jenni Creamer, Scott Harvey, Tom Hiebel, Linda Jameison, Tom Lawrence, Lynn Lewis, Lou Ann Martin, Sarah Shumpert, Brian Swords, Hap Wheeler

Members Absent:      Jackie Blakley

Others Present:          Amanda Blanton, Margaret Burdette, Cara Hamilton, Jenn Hulehan, Cindy Mobley??, Diana Walter, Carol Watts

      

Length of Meeting:   2 hours

Topics Discussed:

The June 9, 2015 meeting minutes were approved as presented.

After welcoming the visitors to the group, Galen began the discussion on the Compass Placement Test.  He explained that as of 2016, the Compass test will no longer be available.  Carol Watt noted that, without software support, the Asset will no longer be available either.  Our Asset testing is a manual process that we use for disabilities services testing and for students with no computer skills.  Considering the timeline, Galen suggested creating a team to identify dependencies and to consider options, including the following:

1.      Status quo – identify and use a new tool to do exactly what we are doing now.

2.      Re-assess the college philosophy about placement – assess college readiness for programs rather than courses.  May be the long term correct solution, but it cannot be accomplished in six months. 

3.      Use option 1 as a stop-gap while working on option 2.

 

For Bridge students, it was suggested that we use the ACT, SAT, and GPA or a combination of these for assessment.  Using Clemson’s math test may be an option as well. 

It was noted that the Placement Committee, with a few additional members, will be the team.  It is best qualified to make these decisions and to consider all the implications.  The Placement Committee, with the addition of Amanda Blanton, will be charged to assess the tools that exist to place student for courses and assess all the dependencies.  The team will give regular updates to the Provost’s Council. 

Jenn Hulehan presented the Comprehensive Studies Redesign.  Her presentation focused on the past, present, and future of the program and discussed the following.

 

·         Background

·         Mission and Values

·         Who We Serve

·         Student Retention Specialist

·         Integration of Basic Skills into Core Classes

·         One Size Does Not Fit All

·         Multiple On and Off Ramps

·         Fast Track

·         Express Track

·         New Organizational Model

·         Timeline

Cara Hamilton updated the group on the US DOE audit and noted that the college did very well in the review.  She distributed and discussed Lessons Learned from Department of Education Program Review from Greenville Tech’s on-site review, and noted issues and concerns that Tri-County is addressing well and needs to continue to do so through good practices and processes.

Policy 8-2-1031, Academic Advising, was discussed.  Lou Ann will make the minor revisions and forward to Galen for presentation to Executive Staff.

The Academic Program Review presentations will the focus of the late July Provost’s Council meetings.  With this review, the first round of programs will be complete.

Sarah Shumpert updated the group on the QEP Project Teams.  Phase 2 of the HIPs project is to develop a QEP plan for SACS compliance.  The Project Charter team has been meeting to determine on what and how the work will be done.  Sarah distributed a list of the proposed members of the subgroups and asked the deans to contact her with any additions or deletions.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Recorded By:             Anne Bryan

Next Meeting:            Thursday, July 23, at 1:30 p.m., in RH 245

Provost's Council Minutes 6-23-15

Provost’s Council
June 23, 2015
1:00 pm
Ruby Hicks Hall, Room 245
 

Members Present:     Gayle Arries, Dan Averette, Tim Bowen, Jenni Creamer, Scott Harvey, Tom Hiebel, Linda Jameison, Tom Lawrence, Lynn Lewis, Lou Ann Martin, Sarah Shumpert, Brian Swords, Hap Wheeler

Members Absent:      Jackie Blakley

Others Present:          Amanda Blanton, Margaret Burdette, Cara Hamilton, Jenn Hulehan, Cindy Mobley??, Diana Walter, Carol Watts

Length of Meeting:   2 hours

Topics Discussed:

The June 9, 2015 meeting minutes were approved as presented.

After welcoming the visitors to the group, Galen began the discussion on the Compass Placement Test.  He explained that as of 2016, the Compass test will no longer be available.  Carol Watt noted that, without software support, the Asset will no longer be available either.  Our Asset testing is a manual process that we use for disabilities services testing and for students with no computer skills.  Considering the timeline, Galen suggested creating a team to identify dependencies and to consider options, including the following:

1.      Status quo – identify and use a new tool to do exactly what we are doing now.

2.      Re-assess the college philosophy about placement – assess college readiness for programs rather than courses.  May be the long term correct solution, but it cannot be accomplished in six months.   

3.      Use option 1 as a stop-gap while working on option 2.

For Bridge students, it was suggested that we use the ACT, SAT, and GPA or a combination of these for assessment.  Using Clemson’s math test may be an option as well. 

It was noted that the Placement Committee, with a few additional members, will be the team.  It is best qualified to make these decisions and to consider all the implications.  The Placement Committee, with the addition of Amanda Blanton, will be charged to assess the tools that exist to place student for courses and assess all the dependencies.  The team will give regular updates to the Provost’s Council. 

Jenn Hulehan presented the Comprehensive Studies Redesign.  Her presentation focused on the past, present, and future of the program and discussed the following.

·         Background

·         Mission and Values

·         Who We Serve

·         Student Retention Specialist

·         Integration of Basic Skills into Core Classes

·         One Size Does Not Fit All

·         Multiple On and Off Ramps

·         Fast Track

·         Express Track

·         New Organizational Model

·         Timeline

Cara Hamilton updated the group on the US DOE audit and noted that the college did very well in the review.  She distributed and discussed Lessons Learned from Department of Education Program Review from Greenville Tech’s on-site review, and noted issues and concerns that Tri-County is addressing well and needs to continue to do so through good practices and processes.

 Policy 8-2-1031, Academic Advising, was discussed.  Lou Ann will make the minor revisions and forward to Galen for presentation to Executive Staff.

 The Academic Program Review presentations will the focus of the late July Provost’s Council meetings.  With this review, the first round of programs will be complete.

 Sarah Shumpert updated the group on the QEP Project Teams.  Phase 2 of the HIPs project is to develop a QEP plan for SACS compliance.  The Project Charter team has been meeting to determine on what and how the work will be done.  Sarah distributed a list of the proposed members of the subgroups and asked the deans to contact her with any additions or deletions.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Recorded By:             Anne Bryan

Next Meeting:            Thursday, July 23, at 1:30 p.m., in RH 245

Faculty Senate Minutes 8-28-15

Faculty Senate Minutes

Friday, August 28, 2015
OC 118
2:00PM to 3:20PM

In attendance: Tom Hiebel, Meg Allan, Andrea Barnett, Gregg Corley, Stacey Frank, Justin Herndon,  Laura McClain, Timeko McFadden, Lacey Torge.   

Welcome and Agenda

·         Tom Hiebel introduced the agenda for the meeting

Minutes of June 22, 2015

·         Were distributed and approved via electronic vote prior to this meeting.

Guest Presentation

·         Richard Parker discussed the forming of a task specific project team that will be charged with building a model best practices for lean higher education.  Project members are being recruited from each division. The project charter is currently under development. There will be more communication related to this activity as the project progresses.  

Old Business

·         Tom Hiebel reported on the information he had obtained about the governance structure of the institution.  He provided the basic framework for Advocacy Groups, Division Committees and task specific project charters.

·         The faculty senate expressed an interest in having more access to information about the membership and ongoing activities of committees and projects. Tom will follow up to see if there is a mechanism available for providing more details and more frequent updates.

Adjunct Elections

·         The process for electing adjunct faculty and lecturer representation for Faculty Senate will follow the same process as in the past.  Tom will follow up Human Resources to obtain a current listing for nominations.

Meetings

·         Recommendations for ongoing meeting times will be made based on a review of outlook calendar availability.

New Business

·         Faculty have expressed concern about the availability of parking.  Meg Allan agreed to follow up with Security about current practices for enforcement of reserved parking for faculty and staff and will report via e mail.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 3:20PM.

Recorded by:  Meg Allan, 8/28/2015