Q-Tips

The Quality Enhancement Team has been collecting, reviewing, and sharing data with you in the process of "Developing Strategies for Student Success through Invitational Education."

Certain trends in that data have appeared with regularity. For example, at the Feb. 20 Quality Enhancement Retreat, when 16 employee groups identified their top challenges, "Reduce waiting time in Advising/Registration process" appeared 26 times. All 16 groups also identified "Improving Communication" as a top concern. Student and employee surveys, comments and feedback point to advising, registration and overall communication issues as well.

In an effort to meet the identified needs/challenges of all our constituencies within the focus of "Developing Strategies for Student Success through Invitational Education," the Quality Enhancement Team has recommended the topic: "Educational and Career Advisement." This topic was approved by A-B Tech's SACS/QEP Leadership Team on April 28.

The QE Team defines "Advisement" as a college-wide activity; it is not limited to one-on-one meetings to discuss schedule planning or career goals (although these activities are included in this topic). Every A-B Tech employee advises students, whether formally or informally. Further, the Team believes that improving the information communicated to students and each other (along with the processes for communicating that information) will make A-B Tech more invitational and improve student opportunities for success. This particular topic encompasses many of the ideas generated throughout the QEP process.

A call for the formation of "Educational and Career Advisement" focus groups for each Invitational Education "P" - People, Places, Programs, Policies and Processes went out earlier this month; that membership is shown below. The ideas generated at these focus group meetings will be recorded and shared with the College so that specific Action Plans (including tactical objectives) may be devised by various departments, divisions, or work groups as part of A-B Tech's regular strategic planning. In this way, the QEP becomes a vital and integral part of our College's future, and that is what the Commission on Colleges expects of it!

Deborah Lonon, Team Leader, Quality Enhancement Plan

A-B Tech Focus Groups on "Educational and Career Advisement"

PEOPLE:

• Pam Silvers, facilitator
• Kay Manley - co-facilitator
• Annie Clingenpeel
• Tom Dechant
• Glenna Gunter
• Sherry Thompson
• Andye Woods
• Kathy Woods
• Pam Baker

PLACES:

• Hannah Seal - facilitator
• Mona Cornwell - co-facilitator
• Connie Buckner
• Joe Franklin
• Jim Hornaday
• Stephen Maag
• Benny Smith
• Chris Tibbetts
• John Tucker
• student tba

PROCESSES:

• Becky Sroda - facilitator
• Doug Jones - co-facilitator
• Tina Fountain
• Ned Fowler
• Billy King
• Dick Mauney
• Faye Muse
• Maretta Pinson
• Crystal Smith

PROGRAMS:

• Bob Hixson- facilitator
• Dana Smith - co-facilitator
• Wes Adams
• Mike Charping
• Gigi Derballa
• Debby Harmon
• Sue Olesiuk
• Cathy Pollock
• Max Queen

POLICIES:

• Paulette Brownlee - facilitator
• Heather Vaughn - co-facilitator
• Robert Anderson
• Lisa Bush
• Hoot Gibson
• Randee Goodstadt
• Kathryn Lemieux
• Gary Lodato
• Ken Rudolph
• Nancy Troxler
• Robin Wiggins

• Quality Enhancement Team Member
• Student

Tech Prep A Success With High School Students

A recent evaluation of the Asheville Buncombe Madison Career Pathways Partnership's College Tech Prep program showed that students completing the College Tech Prep course of study in local high schools and enrolling the following year at A-B Tech continue to have a remediation rate that is considerably lower than others in the state. "College Tech Prep completers entering A-B Tech are prepared to meet the challenge of rigorous college courses," said Career Pathways Coordinator Marilyn McDonald.

The goal of Tech Prep, which began approximately 15 years ago is to provide a seamless transition from high school to community college. The evaluation was completed by PRAXIS, Inc., a private company which measures performance and provides reports for educational institutions.

A summary of students surveyed after completing a semester at A-B Tech, Spring 2002, also reported:

• 87% said they were satisfied with A-B Tech's help in selecting college courses
• 69% agreed that the transition from high school to the community college was easy.

Poets Who Know It

A-B Tech's English Department has selected the winners for the Student Poetry Contest. Contestants had to be a currently enrolled A-B Tech student, and the poem had to follow a recognized poetic form (sonnet, sestina, etc.) The winning poems were published in the May edition of Voices, the A-B Tech student newsletter. There will be a short story contest in the Fall semester, and another poetry contest in the Spring.

Cindy Jones, an Associate of Arts student won first place with her poems Thomas' Legacy and Lucky Me. The judges could not decide on just one of her poems therefore, they chose two. Aaron La Falce, another Associate in Arts student, won second place. Computer Engineering student George Droney won third, and Radiography student Teresa Sorbilli placed fourth.

"It is great to have students from so many majors participate in the contest and write such wonderful works of poetry," says Kenet Adamson, Interim Chairperson of English and Communications.

Building A Legacy

Robert L. Edwards, Vice Chairman of the A-B Tech Board of Trustees and retired Superintendent of Madison County Schools, was honored at a luncheon by the Madison County School System May 27. In commemoration of his many years of service, the Madison County Schools Central Office has now been named the Robert L. Edwards Administrative Building.

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