Strategic Directions Report - Spring 2006
Submitted by College Council
College Council presents below a compilation of the progress made towards the Strategic Directions 2005-2010. The information contained herein was primarily derived through interviews with the following individuals: Dr. Laurence Spraggs, College President; Ann Marie Murray, Vice President Academic Affairs; Robert Peters, Vice President Administrative and Financial Affairs; Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Vice President Student Affairs; Richard David, Public Affairs Officer; Dr. Judith Siggins, Executive Director BCC Foundation; and Debra Morello, Director Community Education.
As the strategic planning process evolves, two other sources of information are anticipated: a database to be populated by the above individuals as well as project managers assigned to specific aspects of Action Plans and Action Items; and a comprehensive survey conducted by a College Council subcommittee measuring the attitudes and perceptions of the campus constituents with respect to the accomplishments of the Strategic Directions. With this additional information, College Council will be in a better position to assess the progress of the plan and evaluate the college’s effectiveness in achieving the goals.
Strategic Direction 1: Enhance the student experience to allow each to reach his or her full potential |
- Evaluate and improve enrollment services effectiveness
- Increasing enrollment is a number one priority, especially in light of the substantial deficit that BCC incurred last year. Dr. Ashford and Tony Fiorelli met with the administrator of Mom’s House for recruitment purposes.
- Initiatives underway for developing a consistent intake model for new first time students are addressed in Strategic Direction 2.3.
- A pilot one-day orientation program for Liberal Arts and Human Services students is being developed and designed by a designated Orientation Team and will be implemented in summer of 2006.
- To increase student awareness and to provide information about BCC’s Counseling Services (includes personal, career, transfer, academic counseling and international counseling) two new display boards have been installed in the Student Services Building and one display board has been designated in the Titchener Building. The Counseling Services webpage was completed. Counseling Services will be providing career counseling for newly recruited students from Mom’s House.
- Placement Services implemented an on-line Resume Assistance program.
- In order to increase the students’ response rate for the 2005-2006 Placement and Transfer Survey, Larry Truillo of Placement Services visited senior seminars and had students complete the survey in the classroom.
- The On Course Degree Audit Program for the 2003-2005 BCC Catalog has been completed by the Registrar’s Office. All testing is complete and the system is ready for use to certify the May 2006 graduates. The Registrar’s Office will begin building the degree audit for the 2005-2007 BCC Catalog this summer. In the fall of 2006, students will be able to utilize the system. This is a major effort to support the advisement process.
- Expand dual enrollment programs, such as the Fast Forward Program, which is currently progressing through the Admissions Office.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive retention plan
- The college hopes to secure funding next year for the PASS Program.
- The Athletes Missing Classes procedure approved by Executive Council.
- The 6th Annual SUNY Retention Symposium will be held at BCC on June 9, 2006
- Support student life outside the classroom
- The following student clubs activities occurred this past year based on expressed needs: the BCC Paintball Club was started; the Civil Technology Club wasreactivated; and the BCC Emergency Response Club is being developed
- Some major efforts are underway to determine the viability of building dormitories on campus. A feasibility study began in early May 2006 by Anderson Strickler, LLC. A student survey is underway and expanded marketing research will begin soon. (see also 5.2)
- Improve all student support services to help students reach their goals
- Plan to monitor student satisfaction regarding their education and experiences at BCC. We would also like to examine our level of customer service and how it relates to students and their families, as well as monitor staff/faculty satisfaction, and seek ways for improvement.
Strategic Direction 2: Strengthen the learning environment to address current and emerging needs |
2.1 Review and align programs with community and individual needs and assess
student learning
- Notified SUNY there will be a submission for two new programs: AS in Music (LAS) and a certificate in entrepreneurship (BUS). The time line is approximately 6 months.
- Worked toward a degree program in entrepreneurship. A certificate program will be subsumed in the new degree program. Time line is approximately 2007-2008.
- Worked toward a degree program in Fitness Technology (personal trainer). Time line is approximately 2007-2008.
- Worked toward a degree program in Commercial Music. Two courses in sound engineering already exist which will count toward the commercial music degree. A room in the Applied Technology building is currently being renovated to accommodate these courses. Time line is approximately 2007-2008.
- Completed some planning on revamping program reviews, but there is no progress to date.
- Discontinued six certificate and two AAS degree programs (no longer accepting new students in these programs). This has been approved by SUNY.
- Sent four degree programs and three certificate programs to SUNY requesting approval for deactivation (a program that is faltering is deactivated for two years – no students admitted – to determine if the program should be discontinued or reworked and continued).
- Used the department review process for decisions on action.
- Begun to review career programs where the number of graduates is not meeting community needs.
- Using the Strengthened Campus Base Assessment as a means of campus-wide outcomes assessment. It includes an external assessment.
- Brought together the academic unit with Community Education to increase non-credit enrollment. Examples include: The Year of the Entrepreneur, an offering from the Community Education, which will bring together the certificate program participants with community education offerings. A summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Workshop for elementary, middle and high school teachers will be offered through the Community Education Department.
- Held our first Project Management Program (PMP) certification course with the local chapter of the Project Management Institute.
- Scheduled the American Society for Training and Development Conference for June 9, 2006
- Increased enrollment in both the open enrollment and corporate programming for 2005-2006.
2.2 Expand alternative learning experiences for students
- Academic Affairs held a professional development workshop on ‘integrative learning’ and another on ‘interdisciplinary collaborations’ for the chairs, both in fall 2006
- Cross-divisional faculty teaching assignments, such as the forensic dentistry curriculum between the Criminal Justice and Chemistry departments. The ‘Revitalization of Binghamton’ project involves Civil Engineering, Interior Design, and Communications departments. The Business department joins with the Fine, Performing & Media Arts department for ‘Business of Art’, which will be linked to the First Friday celebrations in Binghamton. And the student who painted a mural of the Florida Everglades was taking a Biology course, Ecology: The Everglades.
- The development of an articulation agreement for the Binghamton University teaching certificate program.
- The EVOS program with Binghamton University that combines evolutionary science and the social sciences, including faculty seminars.
- The Entrepreneurship Certificate was approved, in concept, by the Business department faculty last fall and is currently under development along with three new courses to support it.
- A brochure, “Year of the Entrepreneur: BCC Helps,” is being developed to enhance awareness of the vitality of entrepreneurs in our community and how BCC supports them.
- The continuation of learning community activities.
- A clinical instructor training across disciplines within the Health Sciences division.
- The Health Sciences division is developing a common platform for pre-hospital required training.
- English faculty, Greg Saraceno, paired with Biology faculty, Richard Firenze, for course development on the topic of author, Charles Dickens.
- The development of various co-op education models that will build into as many curricula as possible and internships where students can learn by doing or by serving the community. All Business students have the opportunity to complete an internship in local law offices and businesses. All Health Science students also complete internships.
- Service Learning is integrated into many Liberal Arts courses.
- The Dental Hygiene and Nursing Departments have a required Service Learning component.
- Internships are required for both the Financial Services and the Hotel & Restaurant Management curriculums.
- The development of programs where students gain work experience in their field of study and strengthen their job prospects upon graduation. ITQA in Applied Science meets this objective. Liberal Arts has two Internship Courses CTP 270 and CTP 275, which may also be incorporated into Student Assembly participation and activities.
- Our plans to expand and evaluate all online course offerings and develop online degree programs to provide students with alternatives to the traditional classroom experience. These include:
- The faculty-driven expansion of online courses.
- That the quality assurance of online instruction is being investigated by TRC – Distance Learning Committee.
- The expansion of STEM options in online learning.
- ECE participates in an online consortium.
- Online degree programs are being developed for MLT, HIT, SCT and ENS.
- We would like to develop a true Honors Program that would provide a new learning experience and strengthen and deepen learning. A new Presidential Honors Scholarship is likely to be incorporated into this development. (see also 3.3)
- A new honors seminar is being offered in 21st Century Legal Controversies.
- A desire to provide faculty training on Service Learning.
- Improve developmental education structures to better meet student needs
- A major review is assured with the VPSA’s Dr. Ashford’s presence on campus.
- Access Center advisors are working with students to identify needs.
- Dave Maslar is working on a plan to create a process that will allow us to document, evaluate, and communicate the steps a student takes through developmental education. Currently there are multiple processes and staff need to know where to refer students.
- A review of English developmental courses is being conducted by a faculty member.
- The Math department reviews student placement and success rates each semester.
- Dave Michalak will be creating a way to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of the developmental courses.
- The Health Science division is investigating the success of ESL students in pre-health science programs and will determine how to help these students become more successful.
- A new ESL faculty member has been hired.
- Increase the use and support of instructional technology and alternative Delivery
- Empire State College is completing a four-day intensive investigation of different platforms. Results will be reported to VPAA Dr. Murray.
- Alice McNeely is in contact with SUNY regarding investigation or trials of different platforms.
- Blackboard has purchased WebCT. It appears the college is secure in using WebCT for the next 3-5 years, after which we may migrate to the new technology chosen by SUNY.
- The identification of new offerings for faculty training opportunities in instructional technology through the TRC is ongoing and successful.
2.5 Expand international education activities and programs
- The college will be hiring a director of International Education to be in place for the fall 2006 semester.
- Work on an International Education website is underway.
- The administrative reporting structure of the new Director may be with the student services areas (housing, financial aid, etc.), with the curriculum areas, or a blend of each area.
- The college is working with Julian Okiri from Kenya on two initiatives. The first involves bringing African students to BCC. We currently have six students from Kenya enrolled in the spring 2006 semester for the first time. The second initiative involves marketing online learning to that same segment of the world.
- Michael Kuryla, professor of Business, spent the spring 2004 semester as a visiting professor in Florence, Italy, where he taught international business and audited a course “Globalization and its Consequences.”
- An English faculty member will be delivering a BCC course in Florence, Italy, to BCC students this summer. Additionally, several faculty members have participated in the Oxford Roundtable and two more have been invited to present in summer 2006.
Strategic Direction 3: Collaborate with the community to expand outreach and partnerships |
3.1 Expand access and outreach efforts to develop new student markets
- We are planning ahead for locating BCC courses and programs downtown as part of the SUNY Downtown Education and Community Development Center. Debbie Morello has identified a series of non-credit and community offerings for the Downtown Center location. Mr. Peters and Debbie Morello are attending Downtown Center construction meetings on a monthly basis to provide input for design, development, and support. Robin Petrus and Debbie Morello attended an audiovisual planning meeting for the Center.
- Debbie Morello has met with Rich David, the new Public Affairs Officer, to begin developing a strategic marketing plan for community education and workforce development programs. This will likely include a new name for the division.
- Debbie Morello is currently writing a monthly column for Southern Tier Business, published by the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin.
3.2 Take a leadership role in collaborating to build strong partnerships with public
and private sector organizations
- BCC partnered with Delaware, Otselic, and Tompkins Workforce Investment Board in 2005, to offer training to six companies from that region.
- Debbie Morello began attending Tioga County Economic Development meetings in 2006.
- Dr. Spraggs serves on the Broome Tioga Workforce Development Business Services Team.
- Debbie Morello created the Broome Triad in 2006. It delivers entrepreneurial services for women, minorities, displaced workers, and disabled workers.
- Doug Garnar started the BCC-Owego connection program.
- Margherita Rossi is involved with the BCC-City of Binghamton / University Community Partnership.
- Jan Hertzog holds Building Skills grants meetings for local companies. The meetings teach employees how to write grants.
- Julie Peacock and Lisa Ruocco, from the Admissions Office, are involved in a one year program partnering with the New York State Area Health Education Center (AHEC) for careers in nursing grant opportunities.
- Local training programs have been organized by a joint venture with the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), which is a consortium of companies and non-profit organizations that shares resources and maintains a video lending library.
3.3 Increase engagement of BCC alumni in supporting their College
- Dr. Siggins of the BCC Foundation, Jesse Stone and Natalie Thompson, are making progress. Enhancing communication among alumni to keep them informed of what is happening on campus is a Foundation priority.
- Discussions include giving a life time email account to alumni and holding alumni outreach events (see also 1.3 and 5.3)
- Discussions with VPSA Ashford concerning donor retention, expanding donors, and cultivating current students to develop a sense of connection and giving need to be addressed.
- Dr. Siggins believes we should foster relationships with alumni that would encourage support for developing internships and job placement programs. (see also 2.2)
- A donor is likely for the Presidential Honors Scholarship. The scholarship would be for full tuition for up to 2 years for a top high school graduate, starting next year. This will likely coincide with some retooling of the Honors Program. (see also 2.2)
- A grant for a Leadership Academy is in progress.
3.4 Strengthen public relations, marketing, and external communication efforts
- The hiring of a Public Affairs Officer for the college, Richard David.
- Rich David is working to raise the profile of BCC by working with the local and national media. Radio and TV ads are currently running. There are two radio ads - one promoting summer classes and the other promoting summer and fall enrollment. Another series of commercials is being developed, looking to change BCC’s image from “last choice” to “first choice”.
- In conjunction with others on campus, David will work to develop new student markets such as: a satellite office in Owego, continuing education through corporate training, and attract students from Elmira and Susquehanna, PA.
- Rich David maintains contact with the Binghamton Mayor’s office, and has access to a huge network in the public and private sector because of his prior experience. He will look to expand these types of partnerships, and their caliber, and network to increase BCC’s presence.
- BCC will be advertising online and making cutting-edge television commercials. He is talking with a Pittsburgh, PA company that specializes in commercials for large universities.
- Rich David invites faculty and staff to send him newsworthy items to highlight the work being done at BCC by its staff members.
Strategic Direction 4: Align structures and systems to optimize the talents and contributions of those within the college community |
4.1 Strengthen internal communication and sense of community throughout the
College
- Dr. Spraggs meets regularly with the President’s Cabinet, which has representatives from all campus constituencies. More representation, especially from faculty, such as campus-wide committee chairs and department chairs from each division, is being considered.
- Dr. Spraggs plans to make the time to walk around the campus to visit and chat with faculty/staff in their offices.
- Dr. Spraggs says there will be strong efforts made to communicate to all campus constituencies the projects, processes, and challenges administration deals with in order to make decisions. He is posting more information in articles in the Focus, the College’s campus newsletter.
- Fall and spring convocations are being used to disseminate information.
- Dr. Spraggs hosted a party at his house for new employees at the beginning of the academic year and will continue doing this. He feels this helps in passing on information.
- Executive council meeting minutes will now be put on a website so all can view. The plan is to also have the minutes of all the other campus-wide committees posted on a secure web system where all can read.
- An evaluation and review of the Focus is underway.
- Rich David is working on identifying the best ways to use print and electronic products for building a sense of campus community. He has been assigned the task of improving the process of prioritizing which events on campus should get attention.
- Would like to provide staff recognition and appreciation initiatives for outstanding achievements. College Council is currently in the process of creating a Standing Subcommittee for “Awards and Celebrations”.
4.2 Recruit, retain, and develop diverse, talented faculty and staff
- There is clear evidence of exceptional faculty and staff in the promotion packets.
- We are developing better college public relations and marketing. (see also 3.4)
- A reporting mechanism is in place and a review of faculty staffing, full-time, part-time and full-time adjuncts has taken place. Dr. Murray is trying to compile an accurate full time ranked faculty to the part-time faculty ratio on campus. She also wants to ensure the correct FTE distribution to each department/program.
- The college will host the Statewide Retention Symposium on June 9, 2006. (see also 1.2)
- A campus-wide subscription of a teaching professional publication has been ordered for the upcoming year.
- Michael Kuryla, professor of Business, facilitated a videoconference on “Developing & Enhancing the International Business Curriculum at the Community College” on November 9, 2005.
- A subscription of an executive development publication has been purchased for the chairs for the upcoming year.
- There is a plan to invite “leadership” experts on campus for faculty development.
- Debbie Morello and Alice McNeely are working on a Leadership certificate program.
- The TRC, in conjunction with Community Education, began sponsoring the First Friday Brown Bag Sessions in fall 2005. Faculty is invited, and motivational, inspirational and leadership videos are shown during these sessions.
4.3 Evaluate and realign organizational structures to increase effectiveness
- Dr. Spraggs formed the President’s Cabinet, and the responsibilities of the VP for Student Activities has been divided into two positions – VP for Student Affairs and Public Affairs Officer.
- Several structural changes have been announced, which will be implemented for the fall 2006 semester: Community Education will now report to VPAA and be renamed to better reflect continuing education and workforce development; Computing Resources (Instructional Technology) will also now report to the VPAA, to better align academic and technological needs and capabilities.
- Dr. Murray is working on monitoring and adjusting the full-time to part-time faculty ratio. (see 4.2)
Strategic Direction 5: Identify, prioritize, and develop resources to support a dynamic organization |
5.1 Increase the existing and new revenue streams
- VPAFA Robert Peters wants to increase the number and amount of funding from non-governmental, non-grant sources. In the past, only state, federal and the BCC Foundation have been used as sources of funding, with financial aid as the largest portion of grants. He wants to look for additional non-governmental sources of funding outside the Foundation. The strategies to accomplish this include: identify beneficiaries other than BCC students for the Communications Technology Building; target foundations or corporations that might support some aspect of technology, such as in the arts (i.e. Pixar, Time Warner, Comcast, etc.).
- We will advocate for an academic audit.
- Peters hopes to use the master plan as an academic planning tool.
- We will address new programs that will be generated. (see also 2.1)
- We will focus on distance learning and dual enrollment. (see also 1.1)
- A proposal to link tuition increases to Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) is being considered.
- We will concentrate on procuring large donations rather than many small ones.
- Update the campus master plan to transform campus facilities and improve the overall student experience
- 74 Requests for Proposals for the updated Master Plan were mailed and 7 were returned. Four subcommittees were formed to review individual pieces of Master Plan which include:
Phase I – Dormitory Economic Feasibility – moving forward (see also 1.3)
Phase II – Energy Conservation and Performance Audit –New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) came to the campus and will soon be providing their report.
Phase III – Academic Programming – addressing new programs, distance learning and dual enrollment. (see also 2.1)
Phase IV – Overall Master Plan and Report – On track. Phase IV of the Master Plan will look at the entire college. Financing has been secured but not yet implemented as the consultant has not yet been selected. A single firm is being considered for Phase III and Phase IV.
- We believe having dorms on campus will allow for better use of current capacity and stem the enrollment decline. However, if Master Plan Study on Dormitory Feasibility is not economically viable, the dorms will not be built.
- The Capital Improvement Plan for 2007 will look to the county for funding of renovations to the Science Building as well as other renovations. In summer 2006, the Wales Building will be renovated using endowment money for the project. In summer 2006, boilers will be replaced in the Science and Student Services Buildings.
- Optimize technology resources and infrastructure
- There is a technology replacement plan that includes the Technology Committee charged with responsibility for tracking this area. A specific program manager will be identified. The Technology Committee is currently not representative of the entire college, and this needs to change. More focused efforts are needed in this area.
- The current integrated computer system is outdated and two competing platforms are being reviewed: BANNER and Datatell, which are both more robust than needed. Our current system will be viable for at least three more years, with enough time to select the best platform and migrate to it.
- We are looking into a web broadcast as a possible way to educate campus personnel before selection of Enterprise Resource Planning system is made. Input will be needed from the following areas prior to any decisions being made: deans and chairs, Student Services, and Business.
- VPAFA Peters believes we should be looking at best practices for an effective and efficient use of resources on campus. We need to think in terms of a ‘safe environment’ and always be thinking of an environment that will advance the instructional message. He wants to direct resources to more strategic use.
Recommended Revisions to the Strategic Directions and Action Plans:
1.1: Evaluate and improve enrollment services.
- Change 2nd Action Item to: “Develop a consistent intake model for new first time students.”
- Add Action Item: “Develop a consistent model for all academic advising.”
1.4: Add “all” to Action Plan: Improve all student support services to help students reach their goals
- First Action Item needs clarification. “Design and implement improved methods of informing students about various support services, including financial aid, admissions, and student activities.”
1.4: Evaluate and improve enrollment services.
- First Action Item needs clarification. “Design and implement improved methods of informing students about various support services, including financial aid, admissions, and student activities.”
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