Q-Tips

As we think about and further refine our QE topic,"Developing Strategies for Student Success through Invitational Education," the Quality Enhancement Team has been reviewing and discussing many different sources of data over the past months. On Feb. 12, instructors teaching curriculum courses at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. distributed the Invitational Education student survey to over 1,400 students (a 53% return rate of students enrolled in classes during those times). Continuing Education students are completing Invitational Education surveys this week. On Feb. 20, A-B Tech employees completed an Invitational Education survey with participation as follows:

In addition to completing the survey, Retreat attendees participated in the"5-P Relay," where 16 groups identified top A-B Tech challenges in the areas of People, Places, Programs, Policies and Processes. Those top challenges are summarized below. It is interesting to note that several of the top challenges have been addressed recently. For example, in the President's Council minutes of Feb. 19, two capital items had been presented to the Buncombe County Commissioners as part of the County Budget: 1) parking decks at terraced areas, and 2) an addition to Azalea Building (to allow the processes of students). As we learned recently,"Specialties" will be offering our campus food services beginning in May. The Quality Enhancement Team is delighted that the QEP process has provided a venue for the expression of so many different kinds of campus concerns along with essential data for our selected topic.

List of Top Challenges from 5-P Relay Input

Challenge: Noted # of times from 16 groups:

1. Reduce waiting time in Advising/Registration process (includes"provide more training for advisors") 26*

*same challenge noted in multiple"P" categories within individual groups

2. Improve communication across campus (includes improving signage on buildings and classrooms, and the need for a"Central Information System" to be accessed by the entire campus) 16

3. Parking 16

4. Address adjunct pay and benefits (includes providing access to affordable health benefits as well as sick leave and vacation leave) Note: Additionally, providing one free course per semester for adjuncts was mentioned as a top challenge 6 times; increasing communication with adjunct and part-time staff was noted 10 times) 16

5. Increase staffing 14

6. Inclement weather notification (including designating someone per building to be responsible for informing that building) 14

7. Cafeteria/food choices 13

8. Technology training 13

9. Study of work load, including advising and teaching loads, consistency in duties for similar positions across divisions and departments 13

12. One-stop advising center 12

13. Designated smoking areas 12

Note: of 190 faculty survey respondents:

• 11 identified as smokers = 6%
• 166 identified as non-smokers = 87%
• 13 did not identify = 7%

of 107 staff survey respondents:

• 10 identified as smokers = 9%
• 91 identified as non-smokers = 85%
• 6 did not identify = 6%

of 1424 curriculum student survey respondents:

• 333 identified as smokers = 23%
• 1021 identified as non-smokers = 72%
• 70 did not identify = 5%

14. Improve purchasing and work order procedures 10

15. Increase open computer labs (number and accessibility) 10

16. Improve campus cleanliness (In addition, two groups specifically mentioned the need for landscaping) 9

17. Upgrade classrooms with technology and furnishings; (centralizing classroom locations per department/division was also mentioned.) 8

18. Upgrade security (in parking lots for evening classes; add phones in parking lots, phones in classrooms, improve access to security staff; evaluate security staff) 8

19. Increase childcare opportunities for employees and students 8

20. Provide gathering places for students and employees (In addition, 5 groups noted the specific need for making the LRC more accessible and inviting) 6

All survey summary information is being made available soon through campus-wide e-mail and the SACS website. We welcome your continued participation and feedback, and thank you for the input you are providing to this important re-accreditation process.

Deborah Lonon, Team Leader, Quality Enhancement Plan

All Wired Up

Routing and Switching I student Matt Reece installs cable for A-B Tech's Accounting Program computer system. As part of the Certified Cisco Network Associate curriculum, which is part of the Cisco Networking Academy, the students are required to complete a structured data cabling project. It is estimated that the students saved A-B Tech approximately $2,000. They also completed a similar project for Asheville High School, saving the school approximately the same amount of money.

Environmental Hero

Wastewater Treatment Renewal Instructor and Ecusta paper mill Environmental Manager Mike Cody was commended in an article in the Asheville Citizen-Times. Cody was largely responsible for avoiding an environmental catastrophe when the Ecusta plant was closed. When Cody was notified that the"plant would close with no provisions for keeping the environmental systems running, (he) contacted the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources..." Because of his actions, the"French Broad River will be protected from environmental harm resulting from the Ecusta site."

Culinary Kudos

The A-B Tech Hot Food Team and the Knowledge Bowl Team were pictured in the April issue of The National Culinary Review, the official magazine of the American Culinary Federation. Both teams won first place in the Southeast competition.

Testing Nurses

Gaynelle Rogers, Continuing Education Coordinator and Instructor of Health Occupations, was one of only eight community college coordinators chosen to serve on the state-wide committee to develop a standardized test for nursing assistants.