May 2009, Volume 3, Number 7

Welcome to another edition of Hook'Em Up. May is a very exciting month for the NISOD staff. Preparations are well underway for the 2009 NISOD International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence. This year’s conference promises inspiring keynotes, engaging special sessions, and practical strategies in breakout and roundtable sessions led by practitioners from across North America and around the world. We look forward to seeing and welcoming you to Austin!

The NISOD Staff

• Student Webinar Offers "Reality" Advice for Success!
• Del Mar College (TX): Innovative Procurement Process Delivers $108 Million Capital Improvements Program On-Time, On Budget
• Accelerating College: The Early College High School Story in El Paso
• Wallace State College Wins $1000 Donation
• Community College Week–NISOD Student Essay Contest Top Ten Essay
• Operational Intelligence: Do You Have It?

• Offer Online Courses at No Cost to Your College!
• Learn How NADE Helps Students in Developmental Education
• This month’s NISODcast
• CCLP Corner
• NISOD Publications Corner
• NISOD Conference Corner
• The Learning Edge Blog

Student Webinar Offers "Reality" Advice for Success

The first-place winner and one of the top ten finalists of the Community College Week–NISOD Student Essay Contest were featured in NISOD’s last Webinar Series broadcast for 2008-2009, "The Student’s Perspective: Results from the Community College Week–NISOD Student Essay Contest."

First-place winner Kelly Labat from Paul D. Camp Community College (VA) spoke to a virtual audience of faculty and students about factors that increase student success. Most of Ms. Labat’s comments applauded the supportive faculty member who helped her realize her dream to become a registered nurse. Comments included “Professor Ann Pinner believed in me when it was hard to believe in myself.” Kelly and Ms. Pinner’s remarks reaffirmed the significance of having a faculty mentor and the value of faculty seeing students as real people with real problems. Of course, Kelly agreed that her own efforts and long hours of study laid a foundation for success. But, she said that Ms. Pinner’s support carried her through the days when she began to question herself and her ability to attain her goal.

Joining Ms. Labat was Kristin Grenier, one of the top ten finalists. Kristin, from Maysville Community and Technical College (KY), wrote her essay about Associate Professor David Lawler. “Discovery through investigation was a factor that affects student success,” according to Professor Lawler. She said that Mr. Lawlers’s leaf assignment motivated her to discover her own questions and answers. She, too, has successful study habits, but she acknowledged that Mr. Lawler’s style of teaching, which encourages discovery through investigation, was influential to her success.

Ultimately, all four webinar panelists highlighted “reality” advice for student success. NISOD members wanting to hear more detail about other significant factors that lead to student success can view the archived version of the webinar.

Del Mar College (TX): Innovative Procurement Process Delivers $108 Million Capital Improvements Program On Time, On Budget

It’s not every day an institution, especially a community college, has the opportunity to redefine its physical learning environment and expand program offerings at the same time. In April 2003, Del Mar College (DMC) District taxpayers changed the institution’s direction when they passed a $108 million bond referendum for capital improvements. Voters understood that Del Mar College works. (Click on video entitled "Dr. Escamilla on recruitment.")

Essential to the college’s successful capital improvements program was DMC procurement director Chuck Tines’ foresight to develop an innovative team process for every major project. As a result, DMC’s procurement process received accolades from the Community College Business Officers, a national organization that recognized the evaluation committee process with an Exemplary Practices Award.

Confidence in the college managing the capital improvements program changed the landscape of the institution’s two campuses and added the Center for Economic Development. Both noncredit and credit students now have greater access to classes, laboratories, and the latest technology to upgrade their current skills, prepare them for further study, or train them for immediate employment.

The college’s addition of the Health Sciences and Emerging Technology Complex, Public Safety Complex, and Industrial Education Complex on the West Campus, among other projects, amounted to over $65 million in construction and improvements. Students majoring in nursing, health sciences, law enforcement, fire science and emergency medical technician programs, industrial and technology programs, and new programs such as pharmacy technology, nuclear medicine, echocardiography, avionics technologies, and other programs have access to advanced training technology.

Health Sciences and Emerging Technology Complex

Through new technology and improved facilities, West Campus programs continue to grow and form more widespread industry partnerships addressing workforce needs across the Coastal Bend and South Texas. One example is the Department of Technology Education’s Aviation Maintenance and Nondestructive Testing Programs, which have used a $1.9 million U.S. Labor Department Community-Based Job-Training Grant to expand training and employment opportunities for DMC students.

East Campus renovations expanded the Kinesiology Complex with the addition of a new 4,500 sq. ft. weight room, 2,500 sq. ft. dance studio, and other improvements addressing program needs. A $7.9 million expansion and renovation of the Garcia Science Building now provides the Natural Sciences Department another 14,000 sq. ft. of classroom, teaching laboratory, and computer labs to train students majoring in biology, chemistry, geology, and pre-professional areas of study in allied health, dental, medicine, and veterinarian fields. The department’s newest program focuses on careers in biotechnology.

For more information about Del Mar College, contact President Mark Escamilla, Ph.D.

Accelerating College: The Early College High School Story in El Paso

The concept of Early College High Schools (ECHS) in El Paso, Texas, is still in its infancy. In four short years, El Paso Community College (EPCC) learned about, developed, and initiated four Early College High Schools. The ECHS premise is simple: “Believe that motivated students with varying degrees of preparation can achieve beyond expectations.” In the El Paso Community College ECHS model, students obtain a high school diploma and an associate degree. EPCC pays the student’s college tuition, the school districts provide textbooks, and students attend college at their high school campus and at the college to receive instruction from credentialed college faculty. All expectations have been exceeded. Twenty-three high school students in the first Early College High School will graduate with associate degrees and enter the University of Texas at El Paso as juniors. They will continue to take courses in their senior year of high school and graduate from high school at the same time they complete their junior year of college.

The four Early College High Schools currently in operation in El Paso, Texas, are:

• Mission Early College High School in partnership with Socorro ISD;
• Valle Verde Early College High School in partnership with Ysleta ISD;
• Northwest Early College High School in partnership with Canutillo ISD; and
• Transmountain Early College High School in partnership with El Paso ISD.

Northwest and Transmountain are designated TSTEM High Schools (Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). A fifth Early College High School, Cotton Valley, will open in August 2009. This school is a collaboration of four small rural school districts: Fabens ISD, San Elizario ISD, Tornillo ISD, and Ft. Hancock ISD. Two additional Early College High Schools are in the discussion stage.

Each of the schools received a start-up grant from an external source to get the school up and running, and the Greater Texas Foundation committed to provide a $2,000 scholarship to each Northwest ECHS student graduating from high school with both a diploma and an associate degree. This commitment is restricted to students in the first four graduating classes.

Visit the EPCC website for more information on the Early College High Schools.

Wallace State College Wins $1000 Donation

Boston Reed College (CA), a NISOD Bronze Partner, sponsored the 2009 NISOD Presidents Breakfast at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Annual Convention on Sunday, April 5, 2009. All presidents attending the breakfast were entered into a drawing hosted by Boston Reed. Congratulations to Dr. Vicki Hawsey, President of Wallace State College (AL), who won the $1000 donation to their college foundation. Boston Reed resides in the Napa Valley of California and provides educational opportunity to busy adults seeking stable and growing careers in the healthcare industry. Boston Reed is dedicated to training caregivers who provide safe, respectful healthcare.

Community College Week–NISOD Student Essay Contest Top Ten Essay

Congratulations to Jennifer Hofmann, a student at Harford Community College (MD), for writing one of the top ten essays for the Community College Week–NISOD Student Essay Contest. Jennifer’s essay describes her most rewarding learning experience as a student in Rosalind Bennett’s Career Development class. Rosalind Bennett is an Instructor at Harford Community College. NISOD is proud to feature all top ten essays in upcoming editions of Hook’Em Up. Enjoy Jennifer’s story!

An Excuse to Say “Thank You”

“I’m just going to poke around the Harford Community College (HCC) website and see how much it costs to take a class.” In the winter of 2005, I was torn between my dream of starting college to study psychology, and my crippling doubt; I was a 31-year-old, full-time secretary with two teenage daughters, approaching college themselves.

“I’m just going up to HCC to meet with an advisor, who will surely turn me away.” But, before I could whine, “I can’t,” an HCC advisor had suggested I take Career Development in the spring. “You will like the teacher, she is also a counselor at Bel Air High School.”

I left the advisor’s office remembering my high school counselor, the poor soul who had to drag me out of class to discuss issues at home as I stared down at my ripped jeans.

“I’m just going to take that Career Development class the advisor suggested, and then I can at least check the ‘some college’ box when stating my education level.”

On my first night at HCC, I found myself in a class with students who were not yet alive when I got my first perm. Just as I was about to run for the hills, I heard a familiar voice. “Welcome, class!”

“Noooo, it can’t be!”

I waited patiently until the end of class, “Hi, Mrs. Bennett, you were my counselor back in high school.”

“Hi Jennifer, how are your mom and brother?”

I couldn’t believe it…she remembered me! I immediately felt comfortable enough to share my secret dream of becoming a counselor. (I am surprised she heard me; I probably whispered it.) When she responded, “I think you would make a great counselor,” I was vicariously optimistic!

“Maybe I will go on to help others as Mrs. Bennett had helped me in high school.”

Each class, Mrs. Bennett treated me as if I had an equal chance of reaching my goal as my younger peers, and her can-do attitude kept me coming back. I shared her enthusiasm about taking personality tests, and I still talk about them. She even predicted how I would score on some of the assessments, and had we bet, she would’ve cleaned up! Mrs. Bennett would even discuss other classes or problems with students and, thankfully, encouraged me not to get discouraged in Psychology 101. She explained that all of the terminology and theories had not been simple for her either.

It’s now 2008, and I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the HCC tunnel, but can’t believe my eyes. With four classes left, “maybe” I will graduate in 2009. If asked, I bet Mrs. Bennett would reply in a know-it-all manner, “I knew she would do it.” (Then, I’m just going to poke around online and find out how much it would cost to take a couple of classes towards my bachelor’s.) Of course, Mrs. Bennett probably knew that, too.

Operational Intelligence: Do You Have It?

CollegeNET, Inc. (OR) is a higher education technology leader providing web-based, on-demand services to more than 1200 college, university, and non-profit clients worldwide. Over its long 30+-year history, the company has earned a solid reputation for reliable and innovative applications and services, and outstanding customer service.

CollegeNET has been a leader in scheduling and optimized space utilization solutions for higher education since its beginnings in 1978. Many of you are familiar with its Series25 products: Schedule25, R25, and X25. In 2008, CollegeNET introduced its latest addition to this product line, the 25Live event scheduling and publishing system. As with X25, 25Live is a fully web-based solution hosted by CollegeNET. Hosted solutions have many advantages for institutions, including eliminating the need for school IT staff to install and support software, and allowing CollegeNET to enhance each product continuously and incrementally over time.

You may also know the CollegeNET Intelligent Connections Admissions family of services. These web-based hosted services—Applications and Inquiry Management, Contact Management, and Online Recommendations—allow the company’s hundreds of college and university clients to manage their recruitment and admissions operations online. The newest of this family of offerings is the collegenet.com Scholarship Portal. The first of its kind, this innovative website allows students to discuss meaningful topics of the day and compete for scholarships by peer vote. Colleges can use the site as an innovative way to offer individual scholarships.

CollegeNET has also been “ahead of the game” in providing one of the first web-based hosted faculty and course evaluation systems, WHAT•DO•YOU•THINK? This system (which is customized to each school’s evaluation requirements) lets students fill out evaluations on the web, provides faculty and administrators immediate secure access to evaluation results, and enforces the security and anonymity needed for honest student feedback. Meaningful evaluation analysis that can be used to guide course improvement is provided by the system’s many reports.

CollegeNET has ventured into yet another area of college and university technology, IT change and configuration management. Using the IT Impact web-based, hosted system, IT departments now can manage the components of their IT infrastructures efficiently and all changes to them in accordance with best practices guidelines.

Offer Online Courses at No Cost to Your College!

Coast Learning Systems (CA), a division of Coastline Community College (CA), has been an award-winning producer of distance education courseware since 1973. The diverse learning styles of today’s students are being accommodated by new ways of offering and supplementing content.

In the past five years, Coast Learning Systems has concentrated its efforts on the development of online courses. In addition, it has created interactive CDs and DVDs to supplement online and face-to-face classes. They are all three-unit, pedagogically sound courses created from content experts throughout the country. The DVDs and interactive CDs are available in a variety of ways and pricing structures to suit many budgets.

The fully online music courses include Music Fundamentals Online, Music Appreciation Online, Introduction to Jazz Online, History of Rock & Roll Online, and the recently released, World Music Online. There is no fee to institutions, as the license cost is incorporated into the student work/textbook. FAQ and Help files are available online for both the students and the faculty. The content is integrated and easy to navigate, and all of the music has been acquired legally—a major concern for most institutions!

Coast Learning Systems also has two new online courses in production: Physical Geology and Dance Appreciation, which will be available soon. Keep an eye on the website for updates on these new courses.

Please call the toll-free number, 800.547.4748, to see how your institution can offer our courses at no cost to your school!

Learn How NADE Helps Students in Developmental Education

The National Association for Developmental Education (NADE) (AZ) is proud to partner with NISOD to share strategies that will promote professional development in higher education.

NADE is composed of over 3000 professionals who are committed to helping students in developmental education and learning assistance programs achieve success. Members include content area specialists, classroom instructors, researchers, learning center faculty and staff, administrators, advisors, and tutors. Our members exemplify the NADE motto: “Helping underprepared students prepare, prepared students advance, and advanced students excel.”

An area of particular interest to NADE is the improvement of program effectiveness. NADE’s Certification Council is involved actively in this effort through its certification process. The February 2009 publication, NADE Self-Evaluation Guides, 2nd Edition: Best Practice in Academic Support Programs, provides four self-assessment tools based on research and best practices in the field for programs to assess their strengths and areas of needed improvement. These self-study guides include developmental coursework, tutoring, course-based learning assistance programs, as well as a general guide devoted to factors that influence the teaching and learning process.

NADE’s 34th annual conference will be held in Columbus, Ohio, March 10-13, 2010, and the Call for Proposals is posted currently on the NADE website. The conference features keynote speakers, pre- and post-conference institutes, a certification institute, and more than 150 concurrent sessions that span approximately 15 interest areas. Please submit a proposal and join NADE in Columbus to share your strategies for professional development.

Karen Patty-Graham, Ed.D., President, National Association for Developmental Education (NADE), 500 N. Estrella Parkway, Ste B2 PMB 412, Goodyear, AZ 85338; Toll-Free Phone: 877.233.9455; FAX: 623.792.5747.

Each month, NISOD brings you conversations with educational leaders from across the globe, discussing urgent topics, innovative solutions, and success stories from NISOD members and partners. These short conversations are a great way to explore expert opinions on diverse topics from the comfort of any Internet-ready computer. No special software is needed—just click the link below.

This month, join Dr. Mary Spangler, Chancellor of the Houston Community College System (TX), and Dr. Evelyn N. Waiwaiole, Suanne Davis Roueche NISOD Director, as they discuss leadership in large urban community college systems.

On Monday, May 25, at 1:30 p.m., at NISOD’s annual conference, Walter Bumphus, Professor and Chair, Department of Educational Administration, The University of Texas at Austin, will serve as moderator of a special session entitled Components of a Great Board/CEO Relationship. The panel will include Mary Spangler; Barbara Mink, Member, Board of Trustees, Austin Community College (TX) and Professor, School of Human and Organization Development, Fielding Graduate University (CA); and Robin Smith, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Lansing Community College (MI). We hope to see you there!

Listen to the podcast.

NISODcast is password-protected for NISOD members only. For access, email Sheryl Powell.

NISODcast sponsored by

As another spring semester draws to a close, so does the Block experience of Campaign 64. It is not unusual for doctoral students to look back upon experiences, especially those in a group dynamic, to debrief and examine the total impact of the learning opportunity. We have captured a few of our reflective thoughts from our time in the CCLP Block. For those who are considering the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) as a vehicle to complement their passion for community colleges, we hope that they are as inspired by this video as we were making it.

Best Regards,

Christopher Darville
CCLP Campaign 64
“Creating Change, Leading with Promise”

Innovation Abstracts

Innovation Abstracts, NISOD's flagship teaching strategies publication, disseminates practitioner-written descriptions of successful teaching and learning practices and strategies, programs, and initiatives each week of the academic year. The most recent issues include:

• "From Preclinic to Professional—Mentoring Dental Hygiene Students"
• "Implementing a First-Year Program"
• "Lurking in Small-Group Assignments: Making Students Accountable to Each
   Other"
• "Signs Along the Way"

The fully searchable online archives contain all articles published over the past 30 years. Innovation Abstracts is password-protected for NISOD members only. Members who do not have a password can complete a password request form.

Publish Your Good Ideas in Innovation Abstracts!

Are you an administrator or instructor who has successful practices, innovations, programs, or initiatives that work for you, your college, and your students? Consider sharing them with NISOD readers in an upcoming Innovation Abstracts. Find out how!

Conference Updates

Conference Program Online
Begin making your plans now for NISOD’s 31st annual International Conference on Teaching & Leadership Excellence, to be held May 24-27, 2009, at the Austin Convention Center. Use the handy Personal Planner, along with the Conference Program, to build your conference itinerary.

Orientation
First-timers, as well as NISOD Conference veterans, are encouraged to attend NISOD’s Orientation on Sunday, May 24, from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., in Ballroom G, Level 4. Coral Noonan-Terry, Associate Director, NISOD, and Lecturer, Department of Educational Administration, The University of Texas at Austin; Ali Esmaeili, Dean for Developmental Studies and Bachelor’s Degree Program, South Texas College; and Tech Team, Iowa Central Community College, offer a fun-filled session to help you plan your time at the conference and navigate the Austin Convention Center. The last 15 minutes of the session will be dedicated to helping NISOD Conference presenters be more successful during their presentations and to answer computer and technology questions. If you are planning to use your personal laptop, you are encouraged to bring it to the session. Make sure to pick up your registration packet before attending this session.

Virtual Expo
Visit our Virtual Expo for a preview of NISOD’s Partners, Friends, and College Showcases that you will have an opportunity to meet and see in the Exhibit Hall at NSOD’s Conference. Check out the Schedule-at-a-Glance for Exhibit Hall hours and events.

General Sessions
Join us on Sunday, May 24, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., for NISOD’s Opening Session, as Gerardo de los Santos, President/CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College, receives the 2009 NISOD International Leadership Award. Our keynote address, “What Matters Most for Entering Students,” will be provided by Arleen Arnsparger, Project Manager, MetLife Foundation Initiative on Student Success, Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE), The University of Texas at Austin.

On Monday, May 25, from 8:15-9:15 a.m., we will honor another 2009 NISOD International Leadership Award Recipient, Kay McClenney, Director, Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE), The University of Texas at Austin. Wright Lassiter, Chancellor, Dallas County Community College District and 2009 Suanne Davis Roueche Distinguished Lecturer, will provide the keynote address: “A Chancellor’s Crystal Ball: Outlook and Challenges.”

On Tuesday, May 26, from 8:15-9:15 a.m., The Lumina Foundation for Education will receive the 2009 Amado M. Peña, Jr. Journey of Excellence Award. Join panelists Samuel Cargile, Vice President for Grantmaking, Lumina Foundation for Education (IN); Jerry Sue Thornton, President, Cuyahoga Community College (OH); Julie Phelps, Project Director, Achieving the Dream, Valencia Community College (FL); and Moderator, Byron McClenney, Project Director, Achieving the Dream Initiative, and Senior Lecturer, Department of Educational Administration, The University of Texas at Austin, as they address “The Full Circle of Giving: Conversations of Courage.”

You will not want to miss the inspirational closing session on Wednesday, May 27, from 11:00-11:45 a.m., during which we will celebrate the 2009 NISOD Excellence Awards recipients.

This month on The Learning Edge:

Bloggers discuss women in leadership. Share your thoughts and experiences.

Coral M. Noonan-Terry, Editor-in-Chief
Hook’Em Up is published monthly by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), Department of Educational Administration, College of Education, 1 University Station, D5600, Austin, Texas 78712-0378, (512) 471-7545.

© The University of Texas at Austin, 2009, All rights reserved.