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The Research and Planning Department is made up of Director Dave White and Research Technician Phyllis Pack.
Name: Research and Planning
Director: Dr. David White
research Technician: Phyllis Pack
Location: Simpson Administration Building
Mission: To facilitate College-wide institutional research and institutional effectiveness efforts. "Every institution has to have a source for institutional information, and this department is it," says White.
Highlights:
- The office's two main functions are institutional research and supporting institutional effectiveness (IE) efforts. Institutional research involves collecting, organizing and reporting information about the college's programs and services for internal usage as well as to the community. The office conducts a variety of surveys during the year to assess the satisfaction rate of everything from food choices to educational opportunities.
- Supporting institutional effectiveness is an on going planning-implementing-evaluating-improving cycle that is applied to every level of the college. For example, each year the office works with program heads to create a program review. By culling information from various sources such as student and graduate surveys, Research and Planning, with the department and divisional heads, is able to assess the program's strengths and weaknesses to determine if the departmental objectives are being met.
- Research and Planning assists in feasibility reports for new programs. The office is currently working with Vice President of Instructional Services Sharon Morrissey, program heads and faculty to create feasibility studies on four new programs: Veterinary Medicine Technology, Bio-Processing Technology, Computer-Aided Design Technology, and Digital Media Technology. Research and Planning sends out online surveys and direct mailings to targeted professionals in the community to assess the viability of the potential programs. This information is processed and sent to Raleigh to show the program's feasibility.
- Each year the office creates a report on "A-B Tech's Economic Impact on Asheville", which showcases A-B Tech's ability to provide a strong workforce for potential employers looking to locate to the area. Through Research and Planning's research, it was determined that approximately one in three residents of Buncombe County had attended A-B Tech.
- Research and Planning is responsible for compiling the data for the Fact Book, which is accessible on the college's web page. This information ranges from enrollment figures to student demographic characteristics to capital appropriations. The office also maintains ongoing facts and figures on the college's intranet site. An A-B tech employee can access the site by typing "intranet" in the address bar and click on "Research and Planning." Just about everything there is to know about A-B Tech is available through the Fact Book and intranet site. The office is available to provide assistance for faculty and staff research projects, grants and other special projects.
Re"Disc"overing Old Classmates
The Business Computer Technologies Department held its first After Hours Alumni Reception Nov. 10. "It's exciting," said Business Computer Technologies Chairperson Pam Silvers. "The graduates wanted a chance to network and to see how each other were doing." And they are doing well. Of the 26 attendees, whose graduations range from 1993 to 2003, many are employed in their fields at such companies as Raflatac, Inc., Blue Ridge Center, NC Department of Health and Human Services, Henderson County Public Schools, Community Care Partners, Digitech International, and STG, Inc. Five graduates work at STG, a subcontractor for the National Climatic Data Center.
All the World's A Stage
A-B Tech's new Drama Club is presenting its first show, Rose, starring Norma Holt-Rugile, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. in Ferguson Auditorium. Bernie Hauserman directs.
The show revolves around the title character, Rose, a feisty immigrant from the Ukraine, who eventually ends up in Miami. Eighty years of history are recalled through tears and laughter, as the audience becomes acutely aware of the human aspect of history through Rose's life.
The A-B Tech Drama Club was founded in September 2003 to provide students an opportunity to participate in theatre activities. The Drama Club has sponsored trips to the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA, Flat Rock Playhouse, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Highland Repertory Theatre and the Artists Resource Center. The club also sponsors and produces productions, performances, workshops and lectures. Drama Instructor Peter Carver is the faculty advisor.
Tickets will be available at the door. Admission for Rose is $5 for the general public and $3 for A-B Tech students and employees.
Business Helping Business
President Bailey addresses participants at the Nov. 13 Business Helping Business Breakfast sponsored by the A-B Tech Foundation. Members of local businesses and industries were introduced, or reintroduced, to opportunities and services A-B Tech provides. Vice President of Continuing Education Max Queen and Executive Director of Corporate and Economic Development Mike McCarthy gave presentations on Corporate and Economic Development programs, and Vice President of Instructional Services Sharon Morrissey presented curriculum programs.
