Northwest Vista College Annual Report 2004 by Northwest Vista College

Northwest Vista College A college of the Alamo Community College District

Annual Report 2004

Collaborating to Achieve Our Vision

Table of Contents

Message from the President ....................................................................................... 4 Mission & Vision .......................................................................................................... 5 College Values ............................................................................................................. 6 Objective 1: Enhance Student Engagement and Success .................................... 7-10 Objective 2: Build a Positive Awareness of the College ..................................... 11-14 Objective 3: Solidify a Collaborative, Learning-Centered Culture ...................... 15-18 Objective 4: Continuously Improve the Quality of Our Processes ...................... 19-20 Objective 5: Be Innovative in our Resource Management................................ 21-23 Key Administrators .................................................................................................... 24 Academic Leaders ..................................................................................................... 24 Credits ......................................................................................................................... 24

Message from the President

Lao Tzu wrote these words 2500 years ago in his Tao Te Ching: “...You will know others by what you do yourself. ...You will know the world by what you do as a planetary citizen. ...Each part is the whole, and the whole is in each part.” Much of the world is embroiled in conflict. We see conflict within and among nations and peoples. We witness local conflict. We each experience conflict in our daily lives. Differences of thought and opinion among people are inevitable, but sometimes we may wonder if we have lost the ability to peacefully resolve conflicts and to arrive together at decisions that support the common good. And yet, there are individuals and groups in our community and in our world whose purpose and work embrace peaceful collaboration. The Northwest Vista College community strives to embrace collaboration for the success of our students. To do so, we must learn how to most effectively engage students in their own learning. We must ask ourselves what students need to know to become powerful human beings, workers and leaders who can together peacefully serve our society. As we contemplated this responsibility about two years ago in a college visioning session, themes emerged, with learning and collaboration at the heart. And so, a new vision was born for the faculty, staff and students of Northwest Vista College. To become responsible members of our world community, we create exemplary models for: Learning to be… Learning to work… Learning to serve… Learning to lead… Together. Our vision guides us in fulfilling our educational mission and in developing strategic directions that support student engagement and success. As we were compiling for this annual report the highlights of our 2004 successes and opportunities, the theme that emerged was collaboration. We hope this is an indication that together we have at least begun to create models that will allow our vision to become a reality. It is our hope that as you read the 2004 Annual Report, you will learn more about the part that Northwest Vista College plays in the whole of this community. Jacqueline Claunch President

Northwest Vista College — Annual Report 2004

Mission Statement

orthwest Vista College is founded as a comprehensive public community college serving primarily the northwest quadrant of Bexar County, Texas. As such, the college will address a wide range of learning objectives. The college will be characterized by innovative learning systems, accessible scheduling, and the effective use of learning technologies. Northwest Vista College will fulfill its mission by offering the following:

• Programs for students who wish to transfer to senior institutions. • Occupational and technical programs leading to immediate employment and career opportunities. • A general education core curriculum in support of all college programs. • Developmental education. • Student Success programs and services to enrich and support the learning experience.

• Learning technologies and distance education to complement instruction. • Eﬀective partnerships with schools, businesses, and community organizations to ensure eﬀective community, economic, and workforce development. • A learning environment based on a physically attractive campus readily accessible to the community.

Strategic Objectives Objective 1: Enhance Student Engagement and Success Objective 2: Build a Positive Awareness of the College Objective 3: Solidify a Collaborative, Learning-Centered College Objective 4: Continuously Improve the Quality of our Processes Objective 5: Be Innovative in our Resource Management

Northwest Vista College Values

“We, the students, faculty, and staﬀ of the Northwest Vista College community, are committed to making a diﬀerence through learning and through service. To that end, we are guided and inspired by a unifying set of values.” Learning

We value a quality learning environment in which each of us grows in eﬀectiveness as a worker and citizen while acquiring knowledge and understanding of self, community, and our cultural diversity.

Community

We value a community in which all members are empowered to contribute as learners and leaders, practicing mutual respect and building mutual trust.

Caring

We value caring – for ourselves, for each other, and for this place – and exhibit that caring through service to others.

Synergy

We value working together to make our shared vision a reality, recognizing that the whole we can create together is greater than the sum of its parts.

Diversity

We value diversity, appreciating diﬀerent ways of knowing and ways of living and recognizing that our diversity is a source of strength.

Creativity

We value thinking beyond the usual parameters to engage in and support innovations that continually recreate our learning community as a model of excellence in higher education.

Openness

We value open and honest communications that create an atmosphere of trust and an openness to change for the beneﬁt of students.

Integrity

We value acting with integrity, placing high ethical standards before personal gain and modeling that behavior for others.

Joy

We value laughter and play that enriches our work and lives.

Objective 1: Enhance Student Engagement and Success

ASK Outcomes – Faculty Collaborating for Student Success

he Northwest Vista College faculty team has structured the core curriculum courses to foster student growth in the Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge (ASK) necessary for successful living, working, and future study.

Faculty across all disciplines are assessing the ASK outcomes in their courses and are using the results as a vehicle for improvement. For example, English instructors have created consistent course goals and have designed a rubric to assess writing through portfolios in Freshman composition.

Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge (ASK) Attitudes: • • • •

Behave with integrity and practice personal and social responsibility Value lifelong learning and wellness Accept change, nuance, and uncertainty Value diversity and differences in people

Skills: • • • • •

Communicate effectively (visual, verbal, written and listening) Cooperate and collaborate effectively Think critically and creatively Use technology appropriately and effectively Set goals and assess progress

Knowledge: • Understand various ways of knowing, and how individual disciplines investigate and interpret the world • Know sufﬁcient mathematical and statistical operations for effective living • Understand the American Experience and its place in an interdependent world

“The exciting thing about the ASK project is that it is faculty-driven. We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do for our students.” —Christa Emig, Math faculty/ASK Project Leader

Northwest Vista College — Annual Report 2004

Achieving the Dream – Northwest Vista College Collaborates with ACCD Sister Colleges

he four colleges of the Alamo Community College District have been selected to join the Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count project, which includes twenty-seven community colleges from five states. Funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education, the goal of this multi-year project is to increase the success of underserved students at community colleges. During the first year of the four-year project, each participating college was asked to identify student populations that currently experience low rates of success. The next step is to develop interventions to improve student outcomes and measure changes in student success. Initial data on underserved student populations point to the completion of 15 credit hours within their first year of college as a critical success factor in staying in college. Strategies for Northwest Vista College will be developed around increasing the likelihood that students will complete that critical first 15 credit hours. “The Achieving the Dream project helps us meet the needs of underserved students and improve their rates of success.”

OUTCOME STATISTICS OF FIRST-TIME TO NVC STUDENTS (FALL 2002) BY NUMBER OF HOURS EARNED DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR

—Jo-Carol Fabianke, Vice President-Academic Leader

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%

85% 74%

47% 32%

26%

14%

0% Persistence

Success

Withdrawal

Failure

Earned 15+ hours in first academic year Earned <15 hours in first academic year

Objective 1: Enhance Student Engagement and Success

Career Center – Collaborating to Help Students Achieve Their Goals

esearch has shown that students with goals have an increased likelihood of succeeding in their college coursework and graduating. In response to this finding, Northwest Vista College faculty and staff are collaborating with the College Career Center to help students identify their majors within their first year of college. Students who do not have a major are personally contacted and informed of career services and career options. In April 2004, the college hosted its first annual “Meet Your Match” fair to help students find a field of interest. As a result of these efforts, the number of undeclared majors at Northwest Vista has decreased by ten percent from Fall 2001 to Fall 2004.

PERCENTAGE OF UNDECLARED MAJORS 40% 35%

34% 31%

30%

26%

25%

24%

20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Fall 2001

Fall 2002

Fall 2003

Developmental Advocacy Center

Fall 2004

“I came to the Career Services Center seeking information about scholarships. The staff members were very helpful and pointed me in the right direction.” —Jennifer Vasquez, student

he Developmental Advocacy Center (DAD) at Northwest Vista College was certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) in December 2004. This certification entitles the college to issue Level 1 Tutoring Certificates for tutors who meet this level’s requirements set by the CRLA.

Objective 2: Build a Positive Awareness of the College

Students Recommend the College to Others

orthwest Vista College has built a strong reputation among its student body. According to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, Northwest Vista College students are more likely to recommend the college to their friends and family than students at other colleges participating in the survey. In Fall 2004, 98 percent of students surveyed said they would refer their friends and family to the college as compared with 94 percent of students at other colleges of the same size. REFERRAL RATES 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89%

98% 96%

97%

93%

2002

94% 92%

2003

2004

Northwest Vista College Other Medium Colleges

The College Collaborates with Clients to Provide Customized Training

orporate and Community Development (CCD) of Northwest Vista College continues to expand its partnerships and collaborations with corporate clients. The number of clients increased by 45 percent from 2002-03 to 2003-04. In the most recent survey, CCD received a 100 percent satisfaction rating from corporate clients for quality of service in training programs. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

64%

36%

Overall Quality of Service

EXCELLENT

40%

60%

Quality of Training

GOOD

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Northwest Vista College designed two courses for our supervisors that produced immediate results. Their assistance was incredible.â&#x20AC;? -Jeffery Austin, Senior VP of The SCOOTER Store

Northwest Vista College — Annual Report 2004

Par tnership Launc hed to Address Teac her Shor tage

n response to the growing need for teachers and teaching assistants in the San Antonio community, Northwest Vista College collaborated with the Northside Independent School TEACHER EDUCATION District (NISD) to create a new initiative PROGRAM’S PARTICIPATION RATES in the teacher education program. The IN SERVICE LEARNING goal of the initiative is to infuse service learning with every teacher education 250 216 course at the college. Students pursuing a degree in teacher education complete a 200 service-learning internship at NISD and 150 also receive credit for service learning.

“This partnership is an ideal match for service learning. It’s a way for our students to get the hands-on experience and it’s also fulﬁlling the needs in the community.” -Shelley Blagg, Service Learning Coordinator

Service learning integrates volunteering with academic curriculum. Students complete their projects at an agency and write a report about their experience. The goal is to foster civic responsibility and to improve student engagement in the community.

100

50 3

0 Number of Faculty

Number of Students

Fall 2004 Spring 2004 The total number of students participating in service learning at Northwest Vista currently exceeds 450 each semester. The Teacher Education Service Learning initiative increased from 75 student participants in Spring 2004 to a Fall 2004 number of 216 participants—almost half the total service learning numbers. The number of education faculty participating has increased from three in Spring 2004 to 14 in the Fall 2004. For the coming year, the plan is to integrate service learning into all core Biology courses and to begin recording service learning participation on the student’s transcript.

Elementary School Partners • Bob Lewis • Carson • Cable • Elrod

• Leon Valley • Northwest Crossing • Ed Cody • Scobee

• Brauchle • Knowlton • Adams Hill

Objective 2: Build a Positive Awareness of the College

College Collaborates with the Community to Create Walkable Neighborhood

orthwest Vista College hosted its first ever Walkable Communities Workshop in May 2004 in an effort to learn how to create a neighborhood around the college that would be more friendly to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The workshop, sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was part of a nationwide initiative to promote more active lifestyles in growing communities. The program participants included college faculty and staff, community business leaders, elected officials, health and safety groups, civic organizations, homeowners associations and others who teamed up to participate in a one-mile walk through the Northwest Vista College campus and surrounding area. The program also included breakout sessions and presentations by expert trainers. According to Dr. Claunch, this program is especially needed in an age of suburban sprawl. “We hope that after attending this session, participants will have a working model for positive change in their communities.”

“This new initiative is a good ﬁrst step in educating ourselves and our community on how we can go about creating a walkable and bikeable community in Westover Hills.” -Jacqueline Claunch, Northwest Vista College President

Objective 3: Solidify a Collaborative, Learning-Centered Culture

New Employees Learn the Importance of Collaboration

n Fall 2004, Northwest Vista College launched an enhanced New Employee Orientation (NEO) program. The program is designed to acquaint new employees with NVC’s mission, vision, values, organization and culture.

During the two-day pilot orientation in September 2004, participants interacted with other new employees, toured the campus, and heard from several key contacts at the college. Working in small groups, the new employees collaborated on exercises in which they were asked to identify characteristics of NVC’s core values and prepare a work group action plan for their respective departments. “New Employee Orientation brings us one step closer to realizing our vision as a college,” says organizational learning coordinator Hope Medina. “As we grow and strive to build a positive awareness of Northwest Vista College as a center for excellence in learning and service, we’re helping new employees to realize that they are a vital part of making these plans a reality.”

NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION SATISFACTION RATES

Question

Average Score*

The mission and vision of the college were clearly articulated and understood.

4.9

I understood the culture of this college to be one of collaboration, teamwork and active learning.

4.9

It was clear that the ultimate goal at NVC is the success of our students, workforce and community.

4.9

My role at NVC is clear and I understand the expectations of the college.

4.8

* Rated on a 5-point scale where 1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree

A survey of participating new employees revealed nearly perfect satisfaction rates.

Pawdner Program Demonstrates Collaborative L e a r n i n g C u l ture

“As a new employee going through orientation, I learned so much about the college’s collaborative culture and how this helps all of us work toward common goals.” —Lee White, Help Desk Specialist

o solidify a collaborative, student-centered culture and to welcome new employees, Northwest Vista College launched our Wildcat “Pawdner Program,” through which veteran staﬀ and faculty members mentor new hires and help them acclimate to the culture. Pawdners are chosen based on their ability to represent the college’s core values. They are also selected for their outgoing nature, their ability to speak about and understand the overall operations and functions of the college, and their reliability. Pawdner responsibilities include providing new employees with a tour of the campus during their ﬁrst week of employment, taking them to campus events, and following up on their progress at regular intervals via e-mail, phone or personal visits.

Northwest Vista College — Annual Report 2004

Faculty Create Collaborative Classrooms

esearch shows that teaching strategies designed around active, cooperative learning enhance student engagement and success. Since 1998 Northwest Vista College has conducted training for faculty in active and cooperative learning strategies. In Summer 2004, four Northwest Vista College faculty participated in training to become workshop facilitators in active and cooperative learning strategies. The goal is to make it possible for all NVC faculty to eventually receive training in active, cooperative learning principles and techniques. “Community college students don’t have as many chances to make social connections as do university students who live in dorms,” notes communications instructor Linda Cuellar. “Cooperative learning in my classes has made it possible for students to become friends with one another, and to have a network of support for assignments and projects that enables them to succeed in school, both socially and academically.”

“Cooperative Learning is the best way I know to engage the students. Immediate use of knowledge by teaching others helps bring them back to class, give them purpose, and most importantly, win students over intellectually.” —Natalia Trevino, English faculty

These advanced facilitator workshops were conducted at the University of Minnesota by David and Roger Johnson, education professors who have co-authored several books on eﬀective learning strategies.

Critical Thinking Training

orthwest Vista College has identiﬁed critical thinking as a core curriculum outcome. In Spring and Fall 2004, faculty members participated in several critical thinking workshops which focused on assessing and fostering critical thinking by students in the classroom. The two-day training was provided by Dr. Gerald Nosich, a noted authority on critical thinking and the author of two books, Reasons and Arguments and Learning to Think Things Through.

Objective 3: Solidify a Collaborative, Learning-Centered Culture

Collaborative Tutoring Center Receives a National Award

he Northwest Vista College Developmental Advocacy Center (DAD) has been selected as an exemplary program by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). The DAD Center integrates support for developmental education in math, English, and reading. The Awards Committee of the Two-Year College English Association (TYCA) of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) announced the winners of the Diana Hacker TYCA Awards for Outstanding Programs in English for Two-Year Colleges and Teachers. The DAD Center received the award for “Fostering Student Success.” The DAD Center responds creatively to the challenges of educating two-year college students and demonstrates professionalism in the commitment to educating diverse student populations. DAD Center staﬀ representatives will receive a plaque at the CCCC Convention in San Francisco in March 2005. A description of the Advocacy Center will appear in Teaching English in the Two-Year College, a college English journal.

Developmental Math Success Rates Increase Despite Enrollment Growth

he success rates of Developmental Math students continue to increase every year. In 2000, developmental math students had a 58 percent success rate. By 2004, the success rate grew to 64 percent. This occurred at a time when the college was ranked as the fastest growing community college of its size in Texas and in the nation. Developmental Math success rates are attributed to several factors. The program is supported by the Developmental Advocacy Center (DAD), a tutoring center for all developmental disciplines including math, English and reading. The center also provides support for new adjunct faculty to help them address the needs of developmental students.

DEVELOPMENTAL MATH SUCCESS RATES 70% 68% 66% 64% 62% 60% 58% 56% 54% 52% 50%

63%

64%

61% 58%

58%

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

“The developmental math classes I’ve taken have given me the skills to successfully continue to the next level.” —Eric Perez, student

Objective 4: Continuously Improve the Quality of our Processes

Objective 4: Continuously Improve the Quality of Our Processes

Quality Texas Foundation Visits Nor thwes t Vis ta

s part of an ongoing initiative to apply quality improvement principles, Northwest Vista College received a visit from the Quality Texas Foundation in March 2004 after submitting an application for the Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE). The application process requires an organization to complete a ﬁfty-page self-assessment instrument around the seven criteria of Leadership, Strategic Planning, Student and Stakeholder Focus, Measurement and Analysis, Employee Focus, Process Improvement, and Organizational Results (data). Following the visit, the college received a feedback report summarizing the college’s strengths as well as opportunities for improvement. The college has used the feedback to launch process improvements in many areas. Examples include: a Complaint Management System, a College News Center (CNC), a Training Infrastructure, and Graduation Rates.

NVC Staff Collaborate to Prepare for SACS Re- Accreditation

orthwest Vista College is currently preparing for the reaffirmation of its accreditation. The process began in January 2004 with several faculty and staff leaders attending an orientation and training session in Atlanta on the new Principles of Accreditation. To be re-accredited, the college has to develop two components: • Compliance Certification • Quality Enhancement Plan The Compliance Certification team, comprised of a technical group and a content group, began work in August 2004. The technical group is responsible for designing and developing a Web site to submit the report electronically. The content team is developing the report to include the following: • Summary of the effectiveness of all college functions - how the college meets core requirements and comprehensive standards • Supporting documents indicating how the college met each requirement or standard • Electronic version of all full and part-time faculty credentials from Spring 2004 through Spring 2005 The Compliance Certification report will be viewed electronically by an offsite review team from March 2005-May 2005. SACS will disclose its findings in late May 2005. If there are recommendations, the college will have several months to respond. During October 25-27, a seven-member SACS onsite review team will evaluate the College Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Northwest Vista College chose: “Ask NVC: Assessing Student Learning in the Core Curriculum” as a QEP topic. The team will meet with faculty, staff and the College Executive Team to evaluate the QEP and make recommendations for how to improve assessing student learning over a five-year period (2005-2010). SACS will announce its reaffirmation decision at its June 2006 meeting.

“Thanks to SACS re-accreditation, we are able to demonstrate to students that the degrees we confer, the classes we offer, the faculty members that teach, and the programs we have, all meet the stringent standards required of a higher educational institution.” —Cuihua Zhang, Computer Information faculty

Objective 5: Be Innovative in our Resource Management

N VC and UIW Receive $3 Million i n T i t l e V C o o p e r a t i ve G r a n t

n Fall 2004, Northwest Vista College and the University of the Incarnate Word were awarded a $3 million Title V cooperative grant.

Over the course of this five-year grant, Northwest Vista College will work toward the following objectives: • Increase the number of first-year students who declare a major before the end of their second semester by expanding student orientations, creating a dynamic first-year experience, and incorporating career planning strategies for students who are undecided on a major. • Increase the number of students who discover and participate in campus-based activities. NVC plans to create a student-run electronic newspaper and expand the campus news center so that students are better informed of all campus activities. • Increase the number of faculty involved in programs designed to promote retention of firstyear students. Web pages will be developed for instructors to share ideas and resources as well as access information on the use of cooperative learning and critical thinking strategies. Furthermore, the grant will help fund visiting scholars who will share their expertise with faculty.

N ew Community and Tec hnology C e n t e r O p e n s f o r B u s i n e s s

he new Community and Technology Center officially opened its doors on January 10, 2005. The 29,500 square foot structure, located east of the current facilities complex, provides space for continuing education and technology programs at the college. The building houses 13 classrooms; five computer classrooms and one large open lab; a Teaching and Learning Facilitation classroom, where faculty learn how to create Webbased courses; office space for Corporate and Community Development; and public meeting areas. The facility also features a new 150-space parking lot and an additional entrance to the campus.

“The opening of the Community and Technology Center helps us bring more lifelong learning opportunities to our business and residential communities.” —Deb Morgan, Dean of Corporate and Community Development

Northwest Vista College — Annual Report 2004

Online Schedules

n Fall 2004, Northwest Vista College moved from a paper class schedule to a totally online class schedule in preparation for the 2005 spring registration. The college opted to only provide online schedules and forgo the printed copies for the following reasons: • Provide a more up-to-date schedule that was current in terms of course availability • Improve search and browse capabilities • Decrease printing costs - projected annual savings of $26,500 for printing and mailing both the academic and continuing education schedules • Reduce paper waste which usually amounted to 55,000 academic and continuing education schedules

“The student orientation seminars have really helped me set my priorities, decide on a major, and work toward my career goals. The class has also taught me the college’s core values and how to work well with others.” —Liesel Symons, student

Students were asked to evaluate the eﬀectiveness of the online schedule. More than 100 students completed the SCHEDULEOF SURVEY USEFULNESS OVERALL SITE survey: • 59% of respondents found the schedule easy to navigate • 59% of respondents were able to print the pages they needed • 56% of respondents found the browse tools useful • 54% of respondents found the search tool useful Students indicated the following opportunities for improvement: • Faster access and display of data • More connection between schedule, catalog, and registration

N or t hwe s t V i s t a C o l l e g e I n c r e a s e s I n t e r n e t O f f e r i n g s

n response to space limitations, Northwest Vista College continues to offer more distance learning classes, both Internet and hybrid. In Fall 2000, the college offered 19 distance learning courses with 215 enrollments, and four years later the number of courses offered grew to 125 with 2,093 enrollments, an increase of 468 percent in course offerings.

NUMBER OF DISTANCE LEARNING OFFERINGS 140

125

120 95

100 80

60 40 20

0 Fall 2000

Fall 2001

Fall 2002

Fall 2003

Fall 2004

Key A d m i n i s t r a t o r s Jacqueline E. Claunch, Ph.D. Jo-Carol Fabianke, Ed.D. Jimmie Bruce, M.A. Debra A. Morgan, M.S. Julie Pace, M.A. Christine Godin, M.A.

President Vice President – Academic Leader Dean of Student Success Dean of Corporate and Community Development Interim Dean of Service and Performance Excellence Director of Learning Resources

Aca d e m i c L e a d e r s Edgar Garza, M.A. Roberto Gonzales, Ph.D. Barbara Griest-Devora, M.A. Homer Guevara, M.A. Robert McWhorter, M.S.

Arts and Humanities Natural and Physical Sciences Academic Foundations and Learning Partnerships Social Sciences Business and Information Systems

Credits Annual Report Design:

Lorrent Smith, Design Smith Creative

Writing and Editing:

Jackie Claunch Renata Seraﬁn Maureen Smith

Proofreading:

Christa Emig Jeff Hassmann Jeannette Jones Elaine Lang Deb Morgan

Research:

Shelley Blagg Anna Harwin Elizabeth Lopez Aimee Moreau Shelly Power

Photography:

Patricia Garza Lisa McDaniel Ray Perez Bob Wickley

Graph Technician:

Shawn Harward

The Annual Report is published by the Public Relations ofﬁce of Northwest Vista College. For copies or questions, write to: Northwest Vista College Public Relations 3535 N. Ellison Drive San Antonio, TX 78251 (210) 348-2082