Saturday, May 25, 2013
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Institutional Effectiveness Plan: Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Mission:

Ensure an ongoing process of planning, research and institutional effectiveness: promote the improvement of MCC’s programs and services consistent with the standards and expectations of the North Carolina Community College System and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

2009-2010 Assessment Outcomes & Use of Results

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College Goal: Maintain overall fiscal stability.
Division Goal: Secure funding to support the budgetary needs of the college for current programming and future growth.
Objective: The rate of grant funding success in the fiscal year 2009-2010 will meet or exceed the previous year’s success rate.
Action Plan:
  1. Identify funding sources and share information with appropriate faculty and staff; collaborate with faculty and staff as requested to write grants, particularly in programming areas heavily impacted by funding cuts or in areas that offer alternative methods of delivery, such as online learning.
  2. Continue to seek funding for facility expansion through federal grants or private and corporate funding in collaboration with the MCC Foundation
  3. Collaborate with Montgomery County Schools to write Early College/High School initiative grant
Assessment Strategy: The grants spreadsheet maintained by the Dean will be used to measure success rate at the end of the fiscal year.
Assessment Outcomes: In January, the President informed the Dean of impending changes in the grants area of responsibilities; effective March 1, grants activities became the province of the new Foundation Director. At that juncture, the rate of grant funding success as denoted on the grants spreadsheet was on par with the preceding year: all but one completed grant addressed the funding of various types of student training; one grant, co-written with the Administrative Services Division sought funding for energy improvements of the physical facility.
Use of Results: The new Foundation Director will now set goals and objectives related to college-wide grant activities.
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College Goal: Maintain an on-going program that insures continual improvement and a high standard of institutional effectiveness, consistent with the expectations of governing and accrediting agencies.
Division Goal: Conduct planning, research and institutional effectiveness activities to promote the improvement of programs and services.
Objectives:
  1. Dean will complete and submit in a timely manner the (required) SACS Fifth-Year Interim report as wells as any supplementary information requested by the Commission on Colleges.
  2. Dean will document the method developed for tracking substantive change
Action Plan:
  1. Gather data and documentation for Interim report; review examples of successful reports; compile and submit report
  2. Document the sources of information and the communication process used to track substantive change
Assessment Strategy:
  1. SACS letter indicating acceptance/approval of the report
  2. Document approved by Cabinet and on file in the Dean’s and President’s offices.
Assessment Outcomes: The SACS Fifth-Year Interim report was submitted to the Commission on Colleges and a response has been received. The response letter indicated several areas that require additional documentation of compliance: Core Requirements 2.8 and 3.3.1.1, and Federal Regulations 4.4 and 4.5.

In December, the SACS Substantive Change Procedure was revised and submitted, along with accompanying documentation, to the President for approval. The document was received and approved.
Use of Results: Subsequent to receipt of the response letter, the Vice President of Instruction assisted by the SACS Liaison has been documenting compliance in the noted areas. The Liaison will work with the Director of Distance Learning/Faculty Professional Development to document compliance needed in the area of online learning. The Liaison will also collaborate with Student Services personnel to document compliance in that area.

The Substantive Change procedure will continue to be used to monitor changes at the college and ensure ongoing compliance with SACS policies.
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College Goal:Utilize technology to provide information services that support quality, personalized instruction.
Division Goal: Ensure that internal procedures support efficient service to the college and external entities.
Objectives: The Division of Institutional Development will implement the use of social media to serve as a communication tool and facilitate community-building among students and employees.
Action Plan:
  1. Research the use of and implement a college facebook account
  2. Research the use of and implement a college Twitter account to be linked to the college website
  3. Develop a college social media code-of-conduct for employees
Assessment Strategy:
  1. facebook: the number of “friends” and general response rate will be documented
  2. Twitter: the number of “followers” and general response rate will be documented
  3. Social media code-of-conduct will be developed and used to guide employees social media interactions
Assessment Outcomes: Social media in the form of college facebook and Twitter accounts has been successfully implemented and now serves as a communication and community-building tool among students, employees, and the wider community. The Twitter account is linked to the college home page and provides a venue for quick and frequent updates on campus events and announcements. As of this writing, the Twitter account has 76 followers and 303 “tweets” have been posted. The college facebook account has 297 total Fans and averages anywhere from 30-230 visits to the page each week, depending on general college activity level and the number and type of postings by the PIO.

Although much initial research was conducted and a preliminary draft of a college social media code-of-conduct was created, this project was put on hold several months ago when it became apparent that the system-wide PIO group (PRIMA) was working in concert with the system office to develop statewide guidelines for social media use in the community colleges.
Use of Results: The success of the social media effort supports the continuance of this method of communication. As part of the overall shift of responsibilities mentioned above, the PIO now reports directly to the President. With this change, it will not be necessary for this department to oversee the development of a social media policy; rather it will fall within the duties of the PIO and Cabinet. As the Twitter account is closely tied to the website which is still under the management of this department, responsibility for providing updates or “tweets” will continue to fall within this area.
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College Goal: Provide an environment that supports employing and retaining a quality faculty and staff and promotes enhanced student learning, achievement, and development in a global society.
Division Goal: Ensure that division personnel are provided with professional development opportunities which are sufficient for the effective and efficient delivery of division services.
Objectives:
  1. Division personnel will attend all state-level professional organization conferences appropriate to their duties each year
  2. Division personnel will attend a national conference appropriate to their duties every third year
Action Plan:
  1. PIO will attend PRIMA and other regional professional development as appropriate
  2. Dean will contact SACS representative regarding inclusion as part of a SACS visiting team within the year
  3. Dean will attend: NC CORD, CC PRO (next national conference scheduled 2009-10)
Assessment Strategy: For each professional development event attended, personnel will document at least one example of new initiatives, approaches, strategies learned and how that knowledge has been incorporated into division operations.
Assessment Outcomes: As noted in the Budget Needs section above, the state budget precluded most professional development involving travel. The PIO was able to participate via web meeting and phone conference in a number of PRIMA discussions on various topics pertinent to her position’s responsibilities.

A second form requesting inclusion as part of a SACS visiting team was sent to the Commission on Colleges. No response has been received.

The Dean/Director attended training during the fall semester in Query Builder (Datatel) at GTCC and attended an IPEDS workshop in Concord. Spring semester training included mandated training at the system office on the new version of Business Objects (Data Warehouse).
Use of Results: As the new year’s budget appears to be as limited or even more so than the previous year, professional development involving travel will continue to be curtailed. However, the shift of responsibilities and impending SACS reaccreditation activities emphasizes a need for SACS-related training. This need will be addressed in the new institutional effectiveness plan.

Institutional Effectiveness Plan
2010-2011

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College Goal: Maintain an on-going program that insures continual improvement and a high standard of institutional effectiveness, consistent with the expectations of governing and accrediting agencies.
Division Goal: Provide facilities, staffing, and services that support educational program delivery.
Department Goal: Conduct planning, research and institutional effectiveness activities to promote the improvement of programs and services.
Objectives: The Director will complete and submit in a timely manner the requested referral report in response to the SACS committee’s review of the Fifth-Year Interim report as wells as any supplementary information requested by the Commission on Colleges.
Action Plan: Gather data and documentation for referral report; compile and submit report
Person(s) Responsible: Director of Institutional Effectiveness/SACS Liaison, VP of Instruction
Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: September 2010
Assessment Strategy: SACS letter indicating acceptance/approval of the report
Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: N/A
Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2011
Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2011
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College Goal:Utilize technology to provide information services that support quality, personalized instruction.
Division Goal: Provide facilities, staffing, and services that support educational program delivery.
Department Goal: Ensure that internal procedures support efficient service to the college and external entities.
Objectives:
  1. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness will create a consistent appearance on all college web pages by transitioning existing pages to the newer, centered format.
  2. Web page code will be consistent with currently accepted web standards, ADA compliance, and is SEO (search engine optimized).
Action Plan:
  1. Purchase and install latest version of Dreamweaver software (CS5) to ensure web code is consistent with currently accepted web standards, ADA compliance, and is SEO (search engine optimized).
  2. Reformat older-style web pages; check validation compliance on newer web pages
Person(s) Responsible: Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Purchasing Officer
Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: May 2011
Assessment Strategy: All MCC web pages will be reformatted and contain valid web code.
Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Approximately $150 for software
Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2011
Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2011
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College Goal: Provide an environment that supports employing and retaining a quality faculty and staff and promotes enhanced student learning, achievement, and development in a global society.
Division Goal: Provide access to and guidance in professional development opportunities to strengthen instructional delivery and to prepare for accreditation initiatives.
Department Goal: Ensure that department personnel are provided with professional development opportunities which are sufficient for the effective and efficient delivery of departmental services.
Objectives: The Director will attend SACS training in preparation for the development of the college’s QEP, Compliance Certification document, and the Reaffirmation visit.
Action Plan:
  1. The Director will attend the 2011 Institute on Quality Enhancement and Accreditation, July 17-20, Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Ft. Worth, TX.
  2. The Director will contact the college’s SACS representative requesting inclusion as part of a SACS visiting team.
  3. The Director will continue to attend in-state CC PRO conferences and meetings, as budget permits.
Person(s) Responsible: Director of Institutional Effectiveness/SACS Liaison
Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: July 2011
Assessment Strategy: The Director will have an up-to-date, comprehensive understanding of current SACS requirements and steps the college will need to take to ensure a successful reaffirmation
Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Conference registration, airfare, lodging and meals: estimated $1,000
Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2014
Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2014

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