OD Corner

The Quality Enhancement Team continues to gather input from many college sources during this stage of ABTCC's Quality Enhancement Plan:

* Team Leader Deborah Lonon has visited a variety of division, department and committee meetings across campus to share Invitational Education concepts and describe the Quality Enhancement Plan/SACS process (including, among others, Student Services, Faculty Association, Continuing Education, Allied Health, Biology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and a Super Tuesday session).

* In the next weeks, Deborah and QE Team members will talk with student organizations about the Quality Enhancement Plan and an upcoming QE Student Invitational Survey (including PTK, ADN, PNE, and Institute of Management Accountants). Since the formation of the Quality Enhancement Team, a student representative from SGA has attended all meetings. Last fall, Marland Holloway served in this role. Gary Lodato began representing the SGA in January.

* The QE Student Invitational Survey is currently being finalized and pilot tested. It will be administered early in February, with a report of findings to be presented at the Quality Enhancement Retreat II.

* The QE Team has been meeting weekly to write both the student and employee Invitational surveys as well as finalize plans for the upcoming Quality Enhancement Retreat II (Thursday, Feb. 20, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Ferguson Auditorium). The Retreat will include a continuation of the 5-P Relay to discuss ABTCC challenges and specific opportunities for improvement, completion of an employee Invitational survey, and a keynote speech by Dr. Betty Siegel, president of Kennesaw State University since 1981 and co-founder and co-director (along with Dr. William Purkey) of the International Alliance for Invitational Education.

All of this college-wide input will be used to generate three to five specific, measurable objectives that will "Develop Strategies for Student Success through Invitational Education," and, soon after, to determine corresponding plans of action. We will be counting on ABTCC employees and students to assist in the formulation of needed focus groups to assist in this process. At any point during the Quality Enhancement Plan process, please feel free to contact members of the Quality Enhancement Team to answer your questions as well as to relay your ideas, suggestions, etc. to the team. Below is a list of Quality Enhancement Team members and their area of representation. We continue to look forward to hearing from you! Thanks.

- Deborah Lonon, Team Leader, Quality Enhancement Plan

• Paulette Brownlee (College Relations).....ext. 113
• Mona Cornwell (Director of Communications)....ext. 117
• Glenna Gunter (Office Personnel).....ext. 281
• Deborah Harmon (Student Services)...ext. 146
• Robert Hixson (Engineering and Applied Tech)....ext. 343
• Gary Lodato (SGA).....ext. 205
• Doug Jones (IEC Liaison)....ext. 5822
• Deborah Lonon (QEP Team Leader).....ext. 339
• Kay Manley (Continuing Ed.).....ext. 334
• Ken Rudolph (Faculty Association).....197
• Hannah Seal (College Forum).....ext. 5801
• Pam Silvers (Business and Hospitality).....ext. 249
• Benny Smith (Plant Operations).....ext. 482
• Dana Smith (Adjunct Faculty).....danasmith@charter.net
• Becky Sroda (Allied Health and Public Service).....ext. 267
• John Tucker (Information Systems Technology).....ext. 123
• Heather Vaughn (Arts and Sciences).....ext. 315

February Activities

4th Intro to Power PowerPoint Birch 220, 3-4:30 p.m.

5th Accommodating Different Learners Sycamore 303, 6-8 p.m.

7th Safety Introduction/Refresher Sycamore 104, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (lunch and learn)

8th Accommodating Different Learners Sycamore 303, 9-11 a.m.

10th GroupWise Time Management Rhododendron 117, 9-10 a.m. Intermediate PowerPoint Birch 119, 2-4 p.m.

11th Faculty Discussion Group Elm 228, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

13th On-Campus Shiatsu Azalea 111, 3 - 5 p.m.

17th File Management Rhododendron 117, 9-10 a.m.

20th Professional Development Activities, 12 -1:20 p.m. Quality Enhancement Retreat, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

25th Retire-Myths Elm 228, 3 - 4 p.m.

26th On-Campus Massage Azalea 111,11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

28th Grantwriting LRC 121, 9-11 a.m. Excel Gradebook Birch 220, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Return to top

A-B Tech Welcomes New Employees

Rock Doddridge has become a full-time Instructor of Psychology/Sociology in Social and Behavioral Sciences at A-B Tech. Dr. Doddridge has been an adjunct instructor of Psychology and Sociology here for three years. He was the senior pastor at Faith Covenant Church in St. Petersburg, FL. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Loyola University in Chicago. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Florida.

Susan Donato joins A-B Tech as a CIP Assistant in Mechanical Engineering. She was an office clerk at YMCA Asheville, an Administrative Assistant at Morse Museum in Winter Park, FL, and Sales/Catering Manager at Hyatt Regency Orlando. She earned her B.S. from Kent State University in Kent, OH.

Robin Hayes joins A-B Tech as an Accounting Technician in the Business Office. She earned her A.A.S. from State University in Farmingdale, NY. Return to top

Student credits Instructor Bricker's class with major decision

A student in Jonathan Bricker's ECO 252, Principles of Macroeconomics class, wrote to let him know just how much the class meant to her, and how it influenced her decision to pursue economics as a major. She writes,"If I managed to convey how important this one... class and your enthusiasm for the material have meant to my whole educational direction, then I'm happy."

Tech Talk is published for employees of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College by the Communications Office.

Executive Editor: Mona Cornwell

Managing Editor: Jodi Ford

Send submissions to Mona Cornwell, director of communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu Publication of the next issue is scheduled March 1. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 17. Return to top