The following update is from my November report to the Board of Trustees. The numbers in parentheses refer to our strategic plan.
President’s Report
November
11, 2013
First 100 Days: During my interview,
Board President Westerhold asked what I would plan to accomplish in my first
100 days if I was hired as NWC’s President. I replied that I would focus on the
accreditation recommendations, shared governance, facilities master plan, and
learning everyone’s name. Although I have not had the luxury of solely focusing
on these items, I thought it appropriate to report on my progress, as October
25th marked my 100th day. I have appointed a steering
committee for our 2017-18 HLC accreditation visit and identified employees for
HLC reporting access. I have prioritized utilization of our strategic plan in
campus decision-making and in developing next years’ budget. As well, I am
working diligently to implement the tenants of our Shared Governance and Decision-Making Guide that has been posted on
the college’s portal for access by all employees. Five responses to the RFP for
the Facilities Master Plan have been
received, and we will be reviewing proposals later this month. Although I have
learned almost everyone’s name, I find that I do not necessarily call people by
the correct name (yet).
Student Success: As the
community college mission shifts nationally to include the importance of
student success, organizations are conducting research to better understand
factors that influence improvement in student success outcomes. In a recent
study, the Aspen Institute and Achieving the Dream identified skills,
attributes, and strategies necessary for community colleges to adapt and thrive
within the constraints of increased pressure to deliver more degrees of higher
quality and lower cost. The researchers found that “presidents must understand
– and in many ways reflect – the mission, demographics and culture of the
colleges they lead.” The report states that presidents must have a deep
commitment to student access and success, take significant risks to advance
student success including significant realignment of resources, create lasting
change within the college, as well as develop external partnerships to access
assets, expand economic development opportunities, and educate students in new,
highly effective ways. (SP 1.1, 1.2)
State: The Wyoming Association
of Community College Trustees hosted the third annual Summit on Community
Colleges in Laramie on October 17th. Over 130 people attended from
across the state, including NWC Trustees Larsen, Vogt and LaPlante, Mark
Kitchen, Gerry Giraud, Sheldon Flom, Jeannie Hunt and myself. (SP 1.1)
On
October 18th, the Wyoming Community College Commission met on the
University of Wyoming campus. Commissioners
voted to accept the Complete College Wyoming (CCW) white paper prepared by the
CCW team as well as the Performance Funding white paper prepared by the
community college presidents. The Commission also voted to adopt the goal of
increasing the number of certificates and degrees by 5% per year (compounded) as
per the CCW success goal. Definitions of the performance metrics will be
further defined by an expanded sub-committee of the Complete College Wyoming
group. I requested the Commissioners consider representation from Northwest
College on the sub-committee and have appointed Steve Thulin as our
representative. (SP 1.1, 2.1)
UW
President Sternberg presented to the Commissioners regarding the importance of
access and how traditional measures to predict student success in college are
not necessarily accurate. President Sternberg and I have been communicating
regularly regarding potential partnerships and ways we can work more closely
together for the mutual benefit of both our institutions. (SP 1.2)
One
such partnership is with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (BBCoW). On
October 21st, President Sternberg and I met with representatives
from the BBCoW to discuss summer academic opportunities utilizing the resources
of our three institutions. (SP 1.2)
Local:
Nursing
Director Marneè Crawford and I met
with Powell Valley Health Care leaders on October 14th and Doug
McMillan, West Park Hospital CEO, on November 1st. Marneè and I
visited with them about our Nursing program and the new Yellowstone Building.
Following the meeting, Marneè gave them a tour of the facility where nursing
instructors demonstrated the simulation equipment.
This
month I launched a monthly communiqué to
legislators to keep them informed of Northwest College’s needs, major
developments, and accomplishments. I met with Hank Coe over lunch on October 15th
to inform him of the emerging legislative agenda for our system of Wyoming
community colleges.
I
participated as a panelist on educational quality and attainment at the October
22nd Forward Cody meeting and had the honor of being the guest
speaker at the November 4th Cody Club meeting. I served as a
steering committee co-chair for the Voice of the Community Powell Economic Partnership
planning meetings the week of November 4th. As well, I continue to
meet with various community members in Park County to discuss ideas for
collaboration.
I
attended Dick Wilder’s funeral in Cody to pay respects for this special alumnus
who enrolled in the college’s first class in 1946. A longtime NWC Foundation
Director, Mr. Wilder was deeply committed to NWC.
Campus: I met with
Dennis Quillen and Dave Plute on October 22nd where I received an
overview of physical plant operations and the computerized control system. Bill
Johnson gave me a tour of the welding shop on October 24th, and
Kathy Crookshanks gave me a tour of the Cody Center on October 29th.
I had the opportunity to attend Dave Barkan’s chemistry class and attended the Phi
Theta Kappa (PTK) induction ceremony on October 23rd. Carey Miller, Mark
Kitchen, and I met October 24th to discuss the potential of a
presidential blog.
At
the October 22nd College Council meeting, I requested a change to
the meeting date to move the meeting closer to Trustee meetings. In keeping
with my commitment to shared governance, I reviewed the vehicle procedures with
members of the Council and asked them to provide me with questions and concerns
from their constituent groups. My commitment to shared governance also includes
meeting regularly with Student Senate President Quintin Brown.
I
attended my first Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting November 2nd
followed by a reception at the home of Mark and Sandee Kitchen. On November 8th,
I met with constituent group presidents and held an all-employee meeting to
update faculty and staff on various issues including performance funding and
Complete College Wyoming activities.
Foundation: In addition to
attending the October NWC Foundation Board of Directors meeting at Choice
Aviation in Cody, Shelby and I continue to meet with potential donors for the
Yellowstone Vista Campaign.