01-23-13 

Fall 2012 Summary

CAMP COLLEGE gives students the skinny on campus life
College Access Programs hosted five CAMP College sessions during summer designed to help incoming students become more college ready. The three-day camp introduced students to responsibilities of college life. Campers met with admissions representatives, counselors, tutors, and business office personnel to learn the details of maintaining status as a student. Campers also learned about the D2L online learning and how to access MyNortheast online services.

Hot Nights, Cool Music summer concert series
The College presented a series of musical concerts at the Wellmont Regional Center for Performing Arts Center Theater. The series began June 15 with nine shows over six weeks and included local, regional, and nationally known artists.

Gov. Haslam visits Northeast State to discuss workforce development
In the first of seven regional meetings across the state, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam met with local business leaders, lawmakers, and education officials at Northeast State July 17 to discuss ways to better align higher education and workforce development.

Technology updates for true believers
The College spent the last year evaluating and integrating technology to improve instruction and increase efficiency to stay abreast of student needs and increase student success. Updates included the purchase of iPads, a videoconferencing system, and several software packages such as DegreeWorks, Course Signals, and iDashboards.

New benefit seeks to put veterans back to work
Northeast State announced a new federal program designed to help in-need military veterans aged 35 to 60 get associate degrees. The program, known as the  Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), which offers 12 months of training assistance to veterans who are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old; are unemployed on the date of the application; and received an other than dishonorable discharge from their branch of service.

RCAM exceeds goal for course offerings
With the help of a recent Community-Based Job Training grant focused on retooling incumbent workers, Northeast State's Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing offered 103 credit course sections for 26 different technical courses – about 150 percent of targeted goals. In addition, there were also 164 credit course sections for 23 different on-line/lab process operations courses and another 44 credit course sections for 19 different on-line/lab maintenance courses. That is a grand total of 311 course sections for 68 different credit technology courses – about 400 percent of the stated goals.

Online chemical process operation curriculum developed
A state-of-the-art online chemical process operations curriculum was developed at the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing. With the availability and assistance of a vast supply of subject matter resources through Eastman Chemical Company and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), this curriculum provides 10 courses in chemical process operations. Some topics covered include materials handling, process equipment, distillation, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.

College launches redesigned Web site
The www.NortheastState.edu  Web site launched with a new design and an Ektron content management system. Designed for easier navigation for new and current students, the new site features quick access hover menus at the top of the page. Students can easily access links to apply for admission and financial aid, register for classes, check out scholarships, and find an advisor.

Rep. Matthew Hill deliver alumni lecture series address
Matthew Hill, a 2001 Northeast State graduate and representative for Tennessee’s 7th District, delivered the annual alumni series lecture entitled “Getting Involved and Making a Difference.”
 
Because of You Campaign raises $146,000
Northeast State’s Because of You campaign raised more than $146,000 for new and existing scholarships. The campaign raised $54,000 in 2011. The Northeast State Foundation orchestrated the campaign, which ran for one week with more than 20 groups and organizations putting on a myriad of fund-raisers, ranging from a mum sale, to a 5K road race, to a chili cook-off, to a benefit concert by the Spirit of Soul.

More than 6,400 students welcomed to fall semester
Northeast State Community College welcomed more than 6,400 students this fall. While the College’s enrollment was similar to last fall 2011, other Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges averaged a 4.0 percent decrease in enrollment for the fall. University enrollments also decreased by 3.3 percent.

College hosts Advanced Manufacturing Career Fair
Northeast State hosted a Fall Technology Career Fair at the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) in Kingsport. The free and public event provided opportunities to learn about job openings in advanced manufacturing and talk with area employers. More than 20 companies were on hand for the event.

October blood drive is the best ever
The October 2012 blood drive held at Northeast State marked a record day of giving by donors. Northeast State had 121 people register to give blood with 91 good units being collected at the main campus. The Northeast State at Kingsport site registered 34 and collected 24 good units.

Northeast State nursing scores exceed state, national averages
Northeast State’s 2012 nursing graduates notched the program’s best scores ever on the NCLEX-RN national licensure exam with a 97.37 percent first-time pass rate. The scores eclipsed the state of Tennessee's 93.77 percent average for 2012, as well as the national pass rate of 90.88 percent. The score is the best result yet for the program, which graduated its first class in 2009.

Theatre Department stages Night of the Living Dead
The Northeast State Theatre Department presented the stage version of George Romero’s classic horror film Night of the Living Dead Oct. 25-28 and Nov. 1-4. The production proved to be one of the department's most successful shows since the opening of the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts in 2008.

College joins with Johnson County schools on GEAR UP TN grant
The Johnson County School System was awarded a $443,625 grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to support college access and success efforts. As part of the grant, Johnson County High School and Johnson County Middle School will join with Northeast State Community College and other community partners to design activities that cultivate a college-going culture for students and families. The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program.

Carter County Bank coordinates $15,000 matched donation
A $5,000 donation by Carter County Bank was combined with a $10,000 anonymous match, making a $15,000 gift to the College’s Foundation. The funds are earmarked for Educate and Grow scholarships for 2012 Carter County graduates.

Northeast State lands Clean Tennessee Energy Grant
Northeast State Community College received a $180,000 grant from the state’s new Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program to replace the HVAC system at the Downtown Centre in Johnson City. The College proposes to install two boilers as part of the replacement for the HVAC system for classroom and administrative space in the facility. Having two units will permit the use of one or both as demand dictates.

05-01-12 

Spring 2012 Summary

Academic Affairs
• Hosted accreditation site visits for Surgical Technology, EMT-Paramedic, and Dental Assisting.

• Hosted a SACS Substantive Change On-Site visit in October 2011.

• Submitted self-study for initial accreditation for Early Childhood Education with on-site visit in fall 2012.

• Implemented 26 Tennessee Transfer Pathways with 11 more planned for 2012-13.

• Piloted AA/AS 41-hour certificate as a cohort at Northeast State at Gray. 

• Implemented the TBR A100 guidelines for Learning Support in all three subject areas: math, English, and reading. 

• Developed a Learning Support Summer Institute for Summer 2012.

• Implemented a degree planner for the 2012-13 Online Catalog and Student Handbook, a feature that outlines the curriculum within a program of study into a planner.  This planner will assist both the student and academic advisor.

• Developed new concentration within AAS degree program:  Information Assurance Concentration within AAS Computer and Information Sciences.

• Developed new 12-hour technical certificate in Industrial Operations.

• Expanded ITV capabilities to six classrooms.

• Increased enrollment in ITV, Internet, and Accelerated Studies classes.

• Continued partnerships with King College, Milligan College, LMU, UT, TTU, ETSU, and Tusculum College.

• The Theatre Department presented Godspell April 5-8.

Business Affairs
• Completed May budget process and transmitted to for inclusion in our system-wide budget.                                                                                                                                                                
• Initiated training of Business Affairs division staff on annual financial statement preparation.

• Preparing to send out a bid for the exterior cleaning and painting of the Northeast State – Johnson City Downtown Centre.

• Processing with TBR on bids for designer services for Northeast State at Johnson City.

• Processing with TBR on bids for leased classroom space for our Northeast State at Bristol site.

• Prepared financial materials for the Northeast State Foundation spring board meetings.

• Implemented risk analysis on two areas of our college:  Information Technology and Instruction/Academic Support.

• Conducted a Police and Safety table top exercise to aid in communications and implementation of our campus safety program.

Institutional Effectiveness
• Implementation of iDashboards:  A user-friendly dashboard software that provides real-time access to data. It enables the user to make quicker, well-informed business decisions.

• Implementation of Institutional Effectiveness Assistance Request System: An automated, easy to use system that our colleagues can now use to submit various requests to the division. With this new system, the requests will be forwarded to the correct researcher quicker with more of the information that they’ll need to complete the request.

• Provided Strategic Planning/Budgeting Training (Unit/Individual Objectives).

• Hired additional research analyst to aid with assessments and conduct training for College employees.

Information Technology
• Training and implementation of iDashboard (with Institutional Effectiveness and other departments).

• Implementation activities for Course Signals (with Student Affairs and Academic Affairs).

• Training and implementation activities for DegreeWorks (with Student Affairs).

• Training and implementation activities for BDMS (Financial Aid) (with Student Affairs).

• Completed installation and training for ARGOS reporting package.

• Provided technology resources for Regional Center for Automotive Programs (RCAP).

• Launch of first Apple and Droid Apps for community colleges in Tennessee (cross-functional team from across campus).

• Made presentation of app project at statewide Information Technology Symposium.

• Completed replacement of main campus digital signage (Media Services).

• Completed replacement and upgrade of main campus SAN (Storage Area Network) for Information Systems.

• Completed upgrade of Information Systems UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).

• Implemented a multi-site videoconferencing system with added access to outside locations (Media Services). 

• Began preparations for installing technology resources for Johnson City location (removed old computer cabling, ordered Ethernet circuit and phone system, ordered and received digital signage).

• Began preparations for Bristol location (ordered Ethernet circuit and phone system, ordered initial network switches and infrastructure).

• Continued roll-out of iPads to additional personnel and departments.

• Continued changeover of main campus to VoIP phone system.

Northeast State at Kingsport
• Grand opening held Feb. 23 for the Pal Barger Regional Center for Automotive Programs.

• Gov. Bill Haslam visited and toured the Kingsport Center for Higher Education Jan. 20.

• Workforce Solutions at RCAM – Working with regional companies to develop qualified worker pools and improve student success including developing co-op opportunities for Advance Technology students.

• Workforce Solutions working in partnership with business and industry helped validate the curriculum for Welding, Office Management/Legal, and Web Design/Developer through the DACUM process.

• Completed several efforts to promote and grow the Kingsport Teaching site including speaking engagements, participation in community events, and television coverage.

• Active participation in transitioning to a new partnership structure for Academic Village and Northeast State at Kingsport.

• Communicated to state legislators to support the passage of an additional budget appropriation (HB 2314 / SB 2130) for the College and to defeat the “guns bill” (SB 3002 / HB 3560).

• Reached over 300 contact hours with high school students with the STEM mobile outreach and Tech-Explorer catapult project.

President’s Office
• Developed 2010-15 Academic Master Plan. Plan was approved by TBR Academic Affairs and has been incorporated into the facilities master planning process. A 2016 Schedule of Classes was developed, which includes the facilities and academic program master plan.

• Planned for off-campus expansions in Johnson City (Fall 2012), Bristol (Spring 2013), and Elizabethton (science lab for microbiology).

• Planning funds finalized for Emerging Technologies Building.

• Brittany Thomas and Kelly Stapleton were named to the All-Tennessee Community College Academic Team.

• Brittany Thomas named to All-USA Academic team.

Human Resources
• Personnel budget was finalized and submitted to TBR on May 4, 2012.

• Preparing to enter into a contract with The Centre Group to conduct a salary study this year.

Marketing
• New Fall Campaign:  Right here. This includes a new commercial, new billboards and new online advertising.

• Amp Camp Postcard Campaign: Postcard went on at the end of April and the camps were full in less than 2 weeks.

• Strategic Marketing plan under way: Goal for completion is June 30, 2012.

• New direct mail initiatives: Targeted audiences for specific courses.

Student Affairs
• Revised New Student Orientation program to improve student experience and increase student retention

• Established an Office of Career Services resource center on the Blountville campus.

• Conducted a career services spring fair, which included resume tips and interview training.

• Continued implementation and training of the DegreeWorks degree audit program (target date for go-live is fall 2012 semester).  Note: item done in conjunction with I.T.

• Initiated training and implementation activities for BDMS (Banner Document Management System) for Financial Aid.  Note: item done in conjunction with I.T.

• Participated in the implementation and training of the early alert system: Course Signals (with IT, Academic Affairs)

• Implemented new student discipline rules

• Coordinated the annual Honors Convocation at the MeadowView Resort and Conference Center in Kingsport.

• Coordinated Grad Kickoff with 497 students participating.

• Hosted commencement exercises at the Mountain States Health Alliance Athletics Center at ETSU (467 students participated. There were 981 graduates).

• Reviewed Financial Aid business processes and implemented recommendations to streamline processes.

• Several Student Affairs employees participated in the Northeast State Targeted Leadership Program.

• Established a Financial Aid Help Center to assist current students and applicants by loading their FAFSA information for them.

• Student Health Services hosted a number of activities including a blood drive, walking day, stress management workshop, and a business and wellness fair.

• Enrollment Services Enrollment hosted a number of activities including Survival Week, Home School Day, Gardens to Degrees, tour group presentations, and an open house.

• The College was named top blood drive sponsor for 2011 by the Marsh Regional Blood Center.
  
01-25-12

Fall 2011 Summary

College welcomes 6,478 for fall 2011
Northeast State welcomed 6,478 students this fall, the second-best enrollment figure in the school's history. Official 14th day totals showed a headcount of 6,478 students and 4,423 full-time equivalent students (those enrolled in 12 or more hours).

The enrollment dipped slightly from fall 2010 when 6,775 students signed up for classes. During 2009-2010, Northeast State enjoyed a 24.6 percent in enrollment. The current decrease is part of a trend across the state as the average enrollment at community colleges is down 2.7 percent.

Northeast State participates in inaugural Tennessee College Completion Academy 
Northeast State of was of eight college and universities selected to participate in the inaugural Tennessee College Completion Academy, designed to develop strategic plans for increasing student graduation and retention rates on their campuses.

The Tennessee College Completion Academy is a state-level simulation of the national academies developed by Complete College America, a national organization committed to increasing U.S. college completion, and the academy builds on the state's deep commitment to improving college completion, as articulated by the Complete College Tennessee Act and subsequent work toward implementation.

TBR vice chancellor visits Northeast State
TBR vice chancellor for Community Colleges Dr. Warren Nichols visited Northeast State in October, touring the College's main campus and teaching sites, and talking with faculty and staff about the Complete College Tennessee Act. Nichols toured the Blountville campus and traveled to Northeast State teaching sites in Gray, Elizabethton, and Kingsport. He also visited the College's proposed teaching site in downtown Johnson City.

Nichols, formerly president of Volunteer State Community College, Nichols oversees a unified system created for the 13 community colleges across the state. As mandated by the Complete College Tennessee Act, the consolidated system will allow for more effective and efficient operations among the colleges and within TBR.

Northeast State at Johnson City plans move forward
Northeast State Community College is moving forward with plans to occupy the Downtown Centre at 101 E. Market St. in Johnson City after signing a five-year lease in for the facility with the Johnson City Development Authority in December. The College envisions a three-phrase renovation, with first steps involving the cleaning of the triangular building's exterior and parking garage, and placement of exterior signage. JCDA has committed $1 million in funds for interior renovations.

Phase 1 renovations include four classrooms and a reception/admission area. One of the current courtrooms will be transformed into a multi-purpose facility for classes and/or meetings. Another courtroom will remain intact as a unique teaching environment for speech and debate classes and events. This section of the building, which faces Market Street, is targeted for completion this summer to allow staff to set up offices. Classes are tentatively slated to start this fall.

DACUM workshops completed for energy specialist and auto body service
College officials participated in two Developing A Curriculum (DACUM) projects in the fall. The workshops for energy specialist and auto body service technician were held at Northeast State at Kingsport.

DACUM uses a storyboarding process outlining what a worker does in terms of duties, tasks, knowledge, skills, and in some cases the tools the worker uses. Panelists assess and adjust this information on critical and frequently performed tasks and the training needs of workers.

Learning Support unveils math, reading, and writing courses
The mathematics department unveiled new Learning Support competencies last fall. Formerly called developmental classes the new Math Learning Support divides math subjects into five one-credit hour courses with each course focusing on math topics such as percentages, fractions, algebra, and geometry. The faculty also created a textbook for Learning Support math as well.

A critical part of the course redesign incorporates MyMathLab, an online support system that accompanies textbooks in mathematics and statistics. Instructors use MyMathLab to review and analyze students' strengths and weaknesses by tracking their performance on tests, assignments, and tutorials, while the customizable grade book helps instructors manage results, calculate grades, and plan learning strategies.

Each course is design to last five weeks during one semester. A student's test results are used to determine their enrollment in one, two, or all five courses. When a student grasps the concepts presented in one of the five courses, he or she demonstrates competency on the course test and moves on to the next course.

In concert with the math courses, a selection of new learning support courses was developed to help students raise their reading and writing skills. The new English 0870 Basic Developmental Writing class replaced two developmental writing courses previously required of students. In addition, students are allowed to test out of the course and into a college-level composition class before the end of the semester to accelerate their progress into college-level work.

The Behavioral and Social Sciences division piloted one of state's first three programs redesigned for Reading in 2008. The pilot program has improved reading comprehension for students. The division's Reading faculty continues to monitor the program's success rate and the challenges faced by so many students entering college.

College raises $11,000 for American Heart Association  
Northeast State student, faculty, and staff rose to challenge of fighting heart disease this fall, raising more than $11,000 for the American Heart Association.

In addition, the College hosted an AHA Heart Walk Oct. 30 at the J. Allen Hurley Wellness Trail.
According to AHA officials, the event had 54 teams and 11 sponsors participate, raising a total of $110,000 – a $49,000 increase over last year. More than 500 walkers participated in the event. Northeast State raised the most donations in the company category, followed by Laughlin Memorial Hospital, and American Water Heater. Northeast State President Janice H. Gilliam served as chair of the Heart Walk this year, facilitating fund-raising and recruitment efforts.

Because of You campaign raises $50,000 in scholarships 
Northeast State's recent Because of You campaign to raise scholarship dollars saw an overwhelming response from faculty and staff, raising more than $50,000 for new and existing scholarships.Heather Cook, executive director of the Northeast State Foundation, said the campaign's goal was to increase participation by 20 percent - a goal that was more than doubled as 56 percent of employees participated in the effort.

The campaign ran for three weeks with individual groups and organizations each taking a day for fund-raising. Events were staged at Northeast State's Blountville campus, as well as teaching sites in Elizabethton, Gray, and Kingsport. The Foundation added $1,000 to the top fund-raising programs, with the overall winner receiving $2,000.

The top fund-raising programs and totals were: Learning Support - $10,770; Theatre Department - $2,417; TRiO Student Support Services - $2,360; Honors Program - $2,337; Veterans Affairs - $1,929; Alumni Program - $1,925; Nursing Program - $1,505; Medical Lab Technology - $1,165; Spirit Award - College Access Program - $1,331; and Cardiovascular Technology - $796.

Professional development activities provide training
A targeted leadership program provided training for employees recently promoted or those anticipating applying for leadership positions. National leaders were brought to campus to engage participants in higher education law, communication, emerging trends, defining leadership qualities. The first cohort of the two-year program recently began a second year of activities and a second cohort was selected for 2012.

A local firm, Who We Are Counts Institute, provided personality style training for more than 130 employees. The course helped staff and faculty indentify their own personality styles and taught them how to communicate and work with other styles. Northeast State is now a licensed provider of this professional development system to provide the training for students, employees, and the community.

In addition, about 40 faculty and staff members participated in a Chick-fil-A Leadercast, held at Tri Cities Baptist Church, and produced by the John Maxwell Group.

SunTrust Bank creates $10,000 endowed scholarship 
A generous donation by SunTrust Bank to the Northeast State Community College Foundation expands scholarship opportunities for students. The new gift of $10,000 adds the existing SunTrust Bank Endowed Scholarship. SunTrust regional president Jerome Julian and Phil Kellar presented the donation to Northeast State officials on Jan. 6.

The new endowment was created through the SunTrust grants program. SunTrust also donated a mural that will be displayed in College's new downtown Johnson City teaching site. The mural will be unveiled when the Johnson City teaching site opens.

Several key positions filled
Several key positions were filled during the fall. Amanda Adams was hired Aug. 1 as director of marketing. Amanda, who previously worked as marketing director for WJHL-TV, is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and has already launched several marketing campaigns including those for the spring semester and the Pal Barger Regional Center for Automotive Programs.

Jeff McCord accepted a position as vice president of Northeast State at Kingsport and will come on board Jan. 17. He has 15 years of experience at Eastman Chemical Co. in a number of management positions, most recently working with higher education institutions to provide professional development for employees. Jeff holds a B.S. in management from Georgia Tech University, an M.B.A. from Kennesaw State University, and is currently working on a doctorate through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Linda Calvert was named the new executive director of the Grant Development office. Linda has worked at Northeast State since 1989 in a number of capacities. Most recently, she directed the school's College Access Program. In her new position, she will develop a planning model to pursue grants and work with faculty and staff, as well as community partners to bring in supplemental funds for programs, services, and students. Linda holds a B.S. degree from the Mississippi University for Women and a M.S. degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Dynamic Campus conducts technology assessment
Dynamic Campus, a provider of information technology solutions for private and community colleges, recently visited with faculty and staff members for a campus review and technology assessment. DC specializes in helping colleges stretch IT budgets and provide more efficient and effective uses of current resources.

SACS makes Certificate of Compliance visit to Gray site
In October, a SACS Certificate of Compliance team visited the Northeast State at Gray site in response to the College's request to offer 50 percent or more of A.A., A.S., and Business Management Technology A.A.S. degree programs at that location. SACS awarded the College tentative approval to increase offering, with final approval expected later in the year.

The site has nearly 10,000 square feet and was renovated last year. The site is about eight miles from the main campus, off Interstate 26 at exit 13. It has an ITV room, computer labs, a Learning Support lab, and multimedia in all classrooms.

Northeast State at Gray is the College's third teaching site to gain approval for 50 percent or more of programs offered at a teaching site. Northeast State at Kingsport and Northeast State at Elizabethton are already approved at this level.

Students attend classes for first time at Pal Barger RCAP
Student attended classes for the first time on Jan. 12 at the newly renovated Pal Barger Regional Center for Automotive Programs. The center houses the auto body service technology certificate program, which trains students how to repair and rebuild auto bodies involved in accidents and collisions. The facility has two classrooms, two offices, and a large shop area.

The College's Foundation received $400,000 from Kingsport executive Pal Barger to purchase the building. The Foundation also received a donation of equipment from Dennis Powell valued at $25,000. The renovations currently total about $1.2 million, with nearly $750,000 targeted for state-of-the art auto body-related equipment, a paint booth, furniture, computer labs, multimedia classroom equipment, and information technology.