Glendale
Community College
NCA
Self-Study Report, January 2002
Educational Support—Teaching Resources for
Faculty
Many
resources are available to support instruction by College faculty. Resources include offices or Virtual
Offices for all residential and adjunct faculty; lecture, lab and special-use
classrooms; presentation systems for classrooms; classrooms without walls;
off-campus facilities and equipment; and training and employee
development. Other resources,
discussed elsewhere in this report, include the Library Media Center, Center
for Learning, Instructional Palette, Innovation Center, and the College
Assessment Center.
Offices and Virtual Offices
The College maintains
278 residential faculty and staff offices. Virtual Offices serve the remaining adjunct faculty population
and provide voice mail, e-mail, access to the Instructional Palette (a package
of software applications), ability to create and publish course web pages,
syllabus templates, test databases and grades/student records maintenance. As well, many departments have created
adjunct faculty work areas, complete with computer terminals, fax and copy
service capability. Additional
information is available on the web at
http://gecko.gc.maricopa.edu/palette/voffice.htm
Training and Employee Development (TED)
Current
faculty resources available through Training and Employee Development (TED) are
located in 2 areas. The first (located
in HT2-139) contains a variety of networked Windows and Macintosh systems, 1
laser printer, 1 color ink-jet printer, 2 flatbed scanners, and a TV/VCR. The second location, HT2-149, is used
as a training classroom and contains twenty PowerMac 8500/120-student computers
and 1 PowerMac 8500/120-instructor station. Four of the student computers are connected to the academic
network system, while the other stations, including the instructor’s
station, are connected to the administrative network. All of the equipment has full Internet access. A video projection system and networked
laser printer have also been installed in this location. In addition, TED manages loaner
equipment (laptops, digital cameras, and zip drives) and instructional media
(CD’s and Videos).
Each
year TED also offers over 200 mini-classes for faculty and employees. Offerings range from management
seminars to software application short courses and web design and development
workshops. Web development is
further encouraged by the College’s Web Steering Committee and web
masters assigned to each department.
Currently, all departments have web pages and over 50 faculty have
individual web pages. These pages
are used to improve faculty-student communication, course advertisement and
instruction.
Lecture, Lab, Special-Use Classrooms, and Presentation Systems
Of
the 177 on-campus classrooms in use Fall 2001, 94 are listed as “lecture
only,” 71 as “lab only,” and the remaining 12 as
“lecture-lab combinations.”
While differing in configuration and use, these classrooms have several
important features in common: a phone with on-campus and emergency 911 access,
an overhead projector, access to other AV equipment, and permanent wiring to
connect the instructor's area to the Internet. In 54 of the classroom spaces, projection systems are
permanently mounted, usually in conjunction with an instructor’s computer
and full Internet access. Future
plans include the addition of 12 new systems per year, to fulfill demands. The remaining classrooms are equipped
with traditional VCRs and monitors.
Eight mobile presentation systems are available upon request in support
of these classrooms. Activation of
the Internet connection is also available upon request.
Nineteen
classrooms are designated for special-use as computer labs for Math, Business,
Computer Aided Design, Foreign Languages/Communication, English, Music, Art,
and the sciences. In most cases,
one department uses these rooms exclusively because of the specialized nature
of the instruction, room configuration, size and arrangement of specialized
equipment or the great number of students enrolled in the department’s
courses. Trained lab technicians
are employed because they are necessary in several of these areas.
Classrooms Without Walls
The
High Tech Centers serve as an extension of the College’s classrooms,
supporting open-entry/open-exit (OE/OE) classes, which allow students to
complete courses at their own pace and for faculty to reach audiences hundreds
of miles beyond the main campus.
GCC Health Care students, for example, complete the early part of their
coursework on the Internet from home or work from the various networked labs
available on campus. Students in
CIS133 may complete all of their work on the Internet; students in 20 other
courses complete part of their course in this manner. Assuming GCC students mirror those nationwide, the College
expects a growing student demand for course delivery via the Internet. For that reason, GCC provides faculty
with access to software for creating, delivering, and monitoring web-based
courses.
Off-Campus Facilities and Loaner Equipment
Many
programs utilize off-campus facilities or equipment for activities that require
special needs. These are
contracted with the appropriate business or agency. Examples include fire-arms ranges for Law Enforcement
Program, hospitals for the Nursing Program’s clinical programs, fire
towers and fire engines for the Fire Science Program and bowling alleys for
Health/PE/Recreation courses.
In
response to the rapid growth of the Phoenix metropolitan area and classroom
limitations at the main campus, GCC offers additional sections of many courses
at off-campus sites. These include
GCC North, the UCC at ASU West, and 16 local high schools; the high-school locations
served 1,600 students in the College’s Dual-Enrollment Program in
2000-2001.
Achievements since 1992
· Development/implementation of plan to place
state-of-the-art presentation systems in classrooms, 12 per year
· Development of Training and Education Development
program
· Development of Desktop Project and Virtual
Offices for faculty and staff
·
Acquisition
(on loan from the town of Lavine) of a fire engine for Fire Science Program
·
Additional
classroom buildings
Team
Analysis
Team 7 conducted
an initial analysis of factors likely influencing the areas of improvement and
their relationship to the measures of success, which included numbers and size
of offices and meeting spaces. Limited adjunct-faculty office space and
general meeting space were seen as weaknesses, but new buildings, a Virtual
Office for adjuncts, and attractive outdoor spaces were determined to be
strengths. Improvements have
provided faculty the physical and instructional resources necessary to
accomplish their tasks.
Areas for
Improvement
·
Additional
office space and workspace for residential and adjunct faculty
·
Alternative
teaching methods to offset physical space/scheduling problems
· Consider video conferencing
· Increased training opportunities
· Flexible scheduling/coordination with curriculum
development and classroom needs
Recommendations
· Continue to work on more efficient
scheduling of physical resources
· In collaboration with MCCCD, investigate
distance-learning initiatives
· Plan for 2004 bond, specifically to expand
GCC North and occupational program facilities
· Establish additional partnerships with
business, government, and industry to provide additional faculty-training
opportunities
· Continue presentation-system installation
plan
· Support expanded book acquisition plan for
Library Media Center
Content Area Validation
Teaching resources
for faculty have improved considerably since the last NCA visit. The College has updated its Library
Media Center, added additional real and Virtual Office space, and
constructed/renovated classroom spaces.
It also maintains a technological edge within MCCCD and offers training
and encouragement to faculty to maximize this resource. Scheduling of physical spaces at prime
times, however, remains both a limiting factor and the significant challenge in
the foreseeable future. This
challenge can only be met in 3 ways: additional funding, creative scheduling of
existing facilities, and delivery of traditional course materials through
non-traditional means (i.e., Internet, dual enrollment, or articulation). The existing video-conferencing system
(VCN) has always been under-utilized and a new District-wide system may not be
warranted or cost-effective.
Educational
Support—Learning Resources for Students
The College provides
many resources to serve the learning needs of students. These include the Library Media Center,
the Center for Learning, Discipline-Based Learning Support, and the
Instructional Palette.
Library Media Center (LMC)
The LMC provides a full
range of services including reference, literacy, and bibliography instruction,
inter-library loans, and access to library collections and proprietary
electronic databases. The Library
also provides study spaces that include open-area tables, carrels, enclosed
small-group study rooms, and a small “computer commons” located in
the center of the facility. The
LMC provides a variety of instructional support services, including
installation and maintenance of the College’s basic technology and state
of the art video-projection units, tape duplication, video recording of
educational programs, maintenance of an extensive video collection, and video
production.
The LMC re-opened in
August of 2000. Renovation yielded
an additional 19% of useable space, improved access through 2 main entrances,
additional natural and artificial lighting, private and public study venues,
improved computer services for online research and publishing activities, and a
comfortable, pleasant learning atmosphere for students and employees. Recently, the LMC was honored by
Phoenix’s “Valley Forward,” receiving a Crescordia Award for
environmental and architectural excellence.
During the year the
library was closed for remodeling, the College contracted with Glendale Public
Library ($79,000) to provide services to students. Modest services were available on campus through electronic
resources and by librarians temporarily housed in HT2.
Center for Learning (CL)
The CL offers GCC
credit students free tutoring in most academic subjects, assistance with study
skills, media materials in English, reading, math, and a computer lab for
students to improve their basic skills.
The CL also provides adult community members with flexible educational
services for a minimal fee. These
services include mathematics, English grammar, speaking, listening, writing,
spelling, vocabulary, and reading.
Credit and non-credit ESL classes are also offered. Comprehensive services for the
improvement of basic skills are available throughout the year. The Center is open to anyone over the
age of 16.
Discipline-Based Learning Support
Learning support is
available in several academic departments across the campus. Three primary examples can be found in
the Math, English, and Geology Departments.
Math Solution, located in
the new Math building, is the hub where students engage in exploring and
learning mathematics. Every
semester, approximately 1,800 to 2,000 students use Math Solution to obtain
tutoring, work on homework assignments, study for tests, and explore mathematical
concepts. Math Solution houses a
mathematics library, mathematics video collection, and computer stations and
learning pods where supervisors facilitate collaborative study efforts. Additional information is available on
the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/math/
In addition to Math
Solution, the Math Department offers students a specific tutored course,
MAT108. Students who do poorly in
math classes may enroll in MAT108 concurrent with the math course(s) they are
repeating. Faculty and tutor-led
sessions help students focus on problem areas and skills acquisition. Statistics reveal that 76% of all
repeaters earn a “grade of C or better” the second time around, due
in part to the concurrent tutoring course. Enrollment in MAT108 averages 160 students per semester and
contributes significantly to the College’s overall retention program.
Another opportunity for
students is the Writing Center, located in HT2-113, where volunteers help
support effective writing across the curriculum. Students schedule thirty-minute appointments and are asked
to bring assignment requirements and a draft of the work in progress. Residential and adjunct faculty from
the English Department staff the Writing Center, but the Center’s impact
is felt campus wide. In addition,
an electronic component begun as a pilot has since been expanded. Students can request help on-line and
expect a response within 48 hours.
Additional information can be found the web at
http://glory.gc.maricopa.edu/~bhackett/wcenter/
In the Applied Sciences
Department, GeoAssist and GeoMap are 2 examples of learning-support
programs. GeoAssist is a
geology-specific tutoring program for students enrolled in GLG101, 102, 103,
104, 110, and 111. Faculty provide
out-of-class assistance 5 days a week on the main campus, at the UCC (ASU
West), and at GCC North. GeoMap is
a hands-on, inquiry-based terrain model that simulates the geology and
topography of some generic region in the American Southwest. The model allows students the
opportunity to observe and to test some of the concepts introduced in their
basic geology classes under near field-like conditions. Additional information on GeoMap is
available in the northwest corner of the Physical Sciences building or on the
web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/appliedscience/geoweb/gmapproj.html
The Instructional Palette
Designed in 1996, the
Instructional Palette is available free-of-charge to all credit students and
employees. The Palette includes a
suite of software programs that enable students and staff to complete their work,
i.e., word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentational software, and a web browser.
Additional information is available on the web at
Achievements since 1992
· Renovation of the Library Media Center,
adding 7,120 square feet, or 19% of useable space within the existing building
footprint
· Added a mini “computer commons”
as part of the Library Media Center upgrade
· More faculty involved in selecting library
materials
· Merged the Learning Assistance Center and
the Literacy Center into one Center for Learning (CL) resulted in better
service to students
· Adding a full-time staff member to the CL
to meet the needs of increasing numbers of students using the facility
· Created the CL web site to serve students
more effectively
· Added ESL non-credit-Basic, Beginning,
Intermediate, Advanced 1 and 2, and Conversational ESL by the Center for
Learning
· Relocation of Math Solution to the new Math building
· Created MAT108-Tutored Mathematics
· Established a program to rent graphing calculators
to math students
· Constructed a Physical Sciences building in
1999, housing Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science and Geology, as
well as GeoMap
· Developed the Instructional Palette
· Since its inception in Spring 2000, the
Electronic Writing Center has experienced continued expansion; at present,
online assistance to evening and Saturday classes, GCC North, and other
departments
Team Analysis
Team 7 conducted an
initial analysis of factors likely influencing the areas of improvement and their
relationship to the measures of success, which included appropriate spaces
(labs and classrooms) and technology (computers, plug-ins, books, databases,
media). Collaboration and
cooperation among areas were seen as strengths, and the changing needs of the
community an opportunity that reduces the negative impact of insufficient
staffing and inadequate funding, which, although understood to be critical to
the success of seamless student services, were seen as weaknesses.
Areas for Improvement
· Additional financial resources needed to
update the library’s collections
· Additional space needed for growing library
collection
· Expanding the LMC’s broad-band
television network to all campus buildings to improve the dissemination of
college information
· Additional space and staff for the CL
· Additional department resources for
discipline-specific tutoring programs
· Updating Instructional Palette to keep pace
with emerging software/hardware improvements
· Acquiring more electronic reference
databases for the LMC
· Funding tutoring initiatives, including
technology-based services
Recommendations
· Assess and improve services of the Library
Media Center and offer more instructional media support; conduct more
focus-group user surveys
· Redesign web pages to be more user-friendly
· Use the new collaborative classroom in the
LMC to expand literacy offerings using multiple-delivery methods. The staff will revise and implement the
current five-year plan to reflect the new environment
· Design virtual tours of programs and
services
· Conduct more frequent in-class
presentations to familiarize students and faculty with programs and services
Content Area Validation
Initiatives to support
student academic learning outside the classroom have been developed and funded
over the last 10 years. Two trends
have surfaced that will likely become the direction for the coming decade. First, the decentralization of tutoring
is a phenomenon that is gaining popularity and appears to be effective. Decentralization, however, presents the
College with 3 concerns: space, personnel, and funds. Second, technology has become a required tool in almost
every discipline. Though perhaps
not as effective as “human” tutors or small-study groups, the use
of technology must be explored to help offset limitations of space, of
personnel, and of other costly areas associated with providing expanded
tutoring services, and to improve access to these services to all students.
Educational Support—Enrollment Services
With few exceptions,
Student Services are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30
p.m. Services more closely aligned
to support instruction, like the Library Media Center, High Tech Center, and
the Center for Learning, are available to students later in the evening and on
weekends. Enrollment Services
areas extend services to include Saturdays leading up to and during the first
week of classes.
Student Services
is divided into 2 major areas: Enrollment Services and Student Life. Each contributes to students’
personal and educational needs.
Enrollment Services primary focus is services/programs that recruit,
enroll, and graduate students.
Student Life focuses on services that support students while they are
enrolled. Each of these divisions
is lead by a Senior Associate Dean who in turn reports to the Dean of
Educational Services. Cashier
Services reports to the Dean of Administrative Services.
Admissions, Records and Registration
The Admissions,
Records and Registration office provides services beginning with initial
prospective student inquiries, through application, registration, graduation,
and beyond. It is the repository
of official student and faculty records and the certifying entity for
athletics, veteran benefits, enrollment verifications, and enrollment
reporting. Over 33,000
unduplicated students attend GCC each year. Additional information is
available in many formats, including on the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/kiosk/
Academic Advisement
Academic advisors
guide continuing and prospective students on a variety of degree programs
offered at the College. The office
is responsible for high school recruitment and community outreach. Services include advising, recruitment,
university transfer, new student orientations, and distribution of
information. Advisors visit area
high schools on a monthly basis and participate in the West Valley Outreach
Consortium. A series of GCC 101
new student orientation sessions are conducted fall and spring semesters. The University Transfer Center,
coordinated by the Advisement Office, is staffed with university personnel who
provide GCC students with current transfer information. In 2000, GCC implemented the Arizona
Course Applicability System (AzCAS), which provides students the opportunity to
monitor their progress toward a transfer degree or program. Additional information is available on
the web at
Testing Center
The Testing Center
administers a variety of assessment instruments, including computerized and
paper/pencil tests. The American
College Testing Assessment of Skills for Successful Entry and Transfer (ACT
ASSET), a computerized version of ACT ASSET called COMPASS, and Combined
English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA), are used for course placement. The Center administers the GED test,
offers make-up exams, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification
examination, and student academic achievement examinations in support of
instruction. The Center offers the
Sylvan Prometrics test for Microsoft Certification and the General Motors Mark
of Excellence Certification exam.
Cashiers Office
The
Cashier’s Office provides services that include the collection of student
tuition, fees and fines; management of various tuition payment plans; and
charging and monitoring third party tuition payments. The office also distributes financial aid monies, processes
payroll documents, distributes paychecks, and conducts all cash business
transactions.
Financial Aid
The Financial Aid
Office assists students with applications for federal, state, and College
financial aid programs. It
monitors students’ eligibility and maintains reporting data to help them
achieve educational goals. The office also communicates and interacts with the local
community though “College nights,” scholarship donations, etc. Additional information is available on
the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/finaid
Marketing
After several
years of hiatus, the Marketing Department was re-established.
Three years ago the College Marketing Committee was formed to provide
college-wide input into marketing and advertising initiatives, from conception
to placement. The Department
develops and distributes event calendars, functional pieces, The Gaucho
Gazette, and a College
telephone directory to assist with internal communication. The marketing plan promotes courses and
programs, supports recruitment activities, and is working to create a recognizable College identity. High school preview days were
successfully re-initiated during Spring 2000. Beginning in January 2002, The Marketing Department has been
incorporated into the Office of Community and Public Relations.
Achievements since 1992
· Expansion of the GCC web site now provides
online access to many enrollment services after daily office hours, including
financial aid applications, course and student schedules, transcripts,
enrollment information, and grades
· Students receive personalized acceptance
letters and ongoing correspondence
·
A
document-imaging storage system, which provides designated employees with
access to transcripts and other relevant documents in its second year of
implementation
· COMPASS testing added
· Testing, advisement, and registration are
conducted at local high schools
· GCC 101, the new Student Orientation, and
the University Transfer Center were instituted over the past 5 years
· The Arizona Course Applicability System (AzCAS),
a web-based application, helps students facilitate transfer to a university
· The Advisement Process Tracking System
(APT) was created to gather data relevant to time, staffing, and service
demands to improve services to students
· The College is the largest GED test site
and has the broadest special needs accommodations in Arizona. The Testing Center has been enlarged
and staff increased to meet additional demand
· A tuition payment plan and short-term
tuition loan program are available to assist students with short-term financial
difficulties
· Registration operators now take check and
credit card payments, helping to eliminate waiting lines for students
· Students Services technicians/specialists
have been cross-trained in admissions, registration, records, financial aid,
and fiscal functions
· Some departments developed their own
brochures
· Advisement appointments were initiated Fall
2001
· A computer adaptive ASSET test (COMPASS)
was implemented in 2000 in a limited way. As additional computers become available, computerized
testing will expand
· The Enrollment Services Leadership Team
composted of managers from Admissions/Record/Registration, Financial Aid,
Advisement/ Assessment, and Cashier. Multicultural Affairs, International
Students Program, Marketing, and Public Relations meet twice a month to discuss
issues and coordinate planning and improvement activities
· Established the Marketing Department with
its own budget
· Marketing Committee established to provide
forum to discuss marketing initiatives and communication with departments
· Testing Center acquired additional space
Team Analysis
Team 7 conducted
an initial analysis of factors likely influencing the areas for improvement and
their relationship to the measures of success, which included student satisfaction,
compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and enrollment reflects
community. The College’s
knowledgeable staff was seen as a strength, but competition with an increasing
number of institutions was determined to be a threat. While changing demographics in the West Valley may present
an opportunity, inadequate resources and a lack of up-to-date technology are
both weaknesses.
Areas for Improvement
· Inadequate 19-year old District-wide
Student Information System (SIS), incompatible with other computer systems and
applications, and unable to provide district-wide student tracking
· Ongoing staffing, cross-training, and
re-structuring for the new EC
· Outcomes of AzCAS have not met staff expectations
· Possible lack of space for additional staff
and student help in new EC
· Potential limited student access to
computers in new EC
· Increased cashier services personnel
workloads due to additional responsibilities caused by District
de-centralization
· Inflexible District-wide financial aid
system requires duplication of effort and manual input
· Limited SIS programming support at College
or District levels
· Insufficient number of experienced and
trained staff to maintain quality services during peak periods
Recommendations
· Improve and increase training and staff
development in Enrollment Services
· Adopt user-friendly technology
· Plan for new student information system
(SIS) implementation at GCC
· Improve/enhance marketing efforts
· Implement innovative scheduling (web-based/class
combo, more short term, less traditional models)
· Train and encourage students to use web
services
· Increase staff diversity
· Increase use of computerized testing
(COMPASS)
Content Area Validation
GCC participates
in the District implementation of the PeopleSoft Student Information System,
which is expected over the next 3 to 5 years. Additional staff has been hired and learner-centered
cross-training is in progress for the opening of the new Enrollment Center in
February 2002. MCCCD take part in
the improvements of the AzCAS statewide system. The Testing Center will gain 12 additional machines for
COMPASS testing in its new facility.
Although space for expansion in the new Enrollment Center may be an
immediate concern, the College (like other institutions nationally) is
uncertain about how electronic access will modify the traditional delivery of
college services. Students will
have access to web-based information and services through 6 self-directed
computer stations in the new Enrollment Center. If demand exceeds capacity, additional machines can be
requested through the computer allocation committee.
Educational Support—Student Life
Student life is an important aspect of the total College community,
contributing to interests and goals that enhance students’ academic and
personal success. General information is available on the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/studentlife/
Athletics
The College has 15 intercollegiate athletic teams that participate in
the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) under the guidelines
of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Athletes are recruited from local high
schools. Athletes receive book scholarships
and have an academic program advisor to help them meet the demands of their
academic and sports schedules.
Additional information is available on the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/athletics
Career Center
The Career Center provides information about career exploration, job
searches and general career concerns.
Discover, a computerized career exploration tool, helps students and
community members select a career goal, identify information about other
schools and financial aid. The
Maricopa Recruiter is a web-based application that enables students to secure
positions on and off campus. Other
services include an annual Career Expo and Career Work Experience credit
course. Additional information is
available on the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/career/
Student Governments, Clubs, and Organizations
GCC historically has maintained 2 student governments. The Associated Student Government (ASG)
represents day students and the Evening Students’ Government (ESG)
promotes activities for evening student life. Each has a constitution and by-laws and elections are
conducted annually in the fall.
The governments support club initiatives. In addition, ESG maintains and acquires art for the campus
collection and schedules events in the Soleri Amphitheater.
Along with 2 honors fraternities, Psi Beta (Psychology) and Phi Theta
Kappa (National Honors Society), more than 20 student clubs and organizations
represent a wide variety of interests.
Clubs provide student leadership activities, social and networking
opportunities, intercultural awareness, and community service opportunities. Funds are obtained through fundraising
projects and/or dues. Club may apply for additional fund through either of the
Student Governments or Student Life Office. Additional information is available on the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/studentlife/
Counseling Services
The Counseling Center strives to meet students' needs as both an
academic department and a student support service. Counselors teach credit CPD (Counseling/Personal
Development) courses and provide individual career counseling, career-interest
testing, goal setting, deciding on a major, and academic success strategy
presentations, as well as offering personal and crisis counseling by
appointment or on a walk-in basis.
Counselors also provide various skill training classes, mental health
screenings, community referrals, and act as student advocates. Services also are available to faculty
and staff, and counselors frequently provide consultation services. Additional information is available on
the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/counseling/
College Safety
The Safety Department provides law enforcement activities including
investigations; escorts; room openings and closings; parking citations; and the
reporting of safety concerns related to the College. Weekly and annual crime reports are distributed. This unit is also responsible for the
Emergency Response, Chemical Hygiene, and Bloodborne Pathogens Plans, and the
maintenance of records. By
District policy, the 2 certified officers are unarmed. Additional information is available on
the web at
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/safety/
Bookstore and Food Services
Both of these
services are contracted to private vendors. Aramark is the contractor for food services; Follett manages
the bookstore. District Purchasing negotiates District-wide contracts, and the
Dean of Administrative Services implements College contracts.
Achievements since 1992
· Athletic training facilities moved to
larger quarters and purchased new equipment. Improvements and upgrades include a new gymnasium floor
· Career Services hired a Director in 1998
· Career Services added a computer lab,
résumé and interview classes, and updated its library of materials
· GCC played an instrumental role in
developing the Maricopa Recruiter, MCCCD’s Internet-based Job Service
released in 2000
·
A training
program has been established for faculty club advisors and student officers related
to policies, procedures and how to plan events. An annual ceremony is held to
recognize students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and community service
· Aramark has added a contracted coffee cart in the
dining room and a hot dog cart that serves the northern part of campus. Major accomplishments include a
facelift for the food services area
·
Relocation of
the bookstore to a new building, closer to student parking provides convenient
access for students. Waiting time
during back to school periods has been reduced by 10%. A book voucher system is in place for
students who have not received financial aid and do not have funds to purchase
books
· GCC counselors are diverse in ethnicity and
gender and two have specific skills in crisis counseling and working with
mental illness. A series of free
personal development workshops called Life101 is available for students
experiencing stress, test anxiety, etc.
· Counseling service hours have been extended
to include Saturday and 4 evenings.
Approval was received for CPD160/Introduction to Multiculturalism to
transfer to Arizona state universities as a cultural awareness course
· Evening Students’ Government
commissioned world-renowned architect Paolo Soleri to build an amphitheater
that is used regularly for campus and community events
· Associated Student Government assisted in
purchasing a handicapped accessible van.
A district-wide student governance body has been formed to help student
representatives from all Maricopa Colleges address issues of mutual concern
· The Safety Department made major
improvements in the area of staffing and now has a full-time dispatcher, an
administrative secretary, and a part-time administrative record keeping
position for material safety data sheets.
The Department has also evolved into a certified officer agency, with
increased space and additional supervisor positions allocated
· Counseling and Career Services work
together to clarify roles and responsibilities and collaborate to provide
workshops and seminars
· A security camera system was installed in
Spring 2001
·
A program
advisor now works with clubs and student governments
· Bulletin boards, sandwich boards, table
tents in the cafeteria, e-mail, newsletters, web pages, web-based calendars and
articles in student newspaper were created to inform students about activities
· GAUCHO TV came online Fall 2001
· Safety instituted a more complete record
keeping system, adopted standardized report forms, installed surveillance
cameras, and improved campus lighting
· A College-wide information campaign helped
clarify the role of counselors and advisors; it included printed and personal
communication
· The Counseling Center worked with the
Student Success Council to plan directions for one-stop student services, often
referred to as a student development model
· The Career Center implemented a customer
service training program for student workers
· A leadership program was implemented in
Fall 2001 for student clubs
· A job fair for companies and agencies
hiring full-and part-time positions was initiated
Team Analysis
Team 9 conducted an analysis of the factors likely influencing the areas
for improvement and their relationship to measures of success, which included
student satisfaction, compliance with federal, state and local regulations, and
participation in activities that reflect community demographics. A knowledgeable staff was seen as a
strength, but lack of up-top-date technology inadequate resources were deemed
weaknesses. While changing
demographics present an opportunity, competition is always a threat to the
College.
Areas for
Improvement
· Funding, scholarship limitations, Title IX
compliance, and academic progress of athletes
· Funding an adequate number of faculty club
advisors
· Promoting participation in student
governments
· Conducting a study of student
governments’ models to identify ways to meet the needs of an increasingly
diverse student population
· Adequate suitable space dedicated to
various student activities
· Insufficient number of certified peace
officers in hiring pool
· Need for additional services and skilled
personnel to address the increasing number of students with serious mental,
emotional and learning problems
· Consequences of quality, consistency of services,
and liability due to absence of campus and/or District mental health policies
· Card key access for all buildings
· Blue-light emergency telephones in the
parking lot and throughout campus
Recommendations
· Use technology for better tracking of
student participation in student activities
· Create job exchange programs to renew/cross
train staff
· Continue enhancement of web resources for
students
· Improve student spaces-outdoor
tables/chairs, remodeled rooms, more meeting and recreational space
· Request new staff where needed through
budget process
· Compensate (money or release time) club
advisors
· Add better signage (marquees)
· Use e-mail list to send information to all
students with accounts (this will require a means to set up distribution list)
· Install announcement panels in restrooms
· Expand size/breadth/frequency of student
newsletter
· Assist students with goal development
· Offer ongoing diversity training to student
services staff
· Continue to host a job fair to companies
and agencies hiring full and part-time positions
· Continue to implement learner-centered
processes in student services areas
·
Use GCC logo
vehicle sunscreens to sell or give as incentives
Content
Area Validation
Career Services and Career Counseling are scheduled to move into a
remodeled facility in the center of campus, which will provide improved
resources and visibility. Clubs,
governments, and organizations continue to attract students and support their
continued enrollment. The new
student leadership program further enhances student development. Student athletic program enjoys
national recognition and high levels of transfer and scholarship
opportunities. The new courtyard
between new Enrollment Center and Student Union will provide additional social
space for students. A series of
student focus groups have helped to identify how students would like campus
space to be used. One of the goals
of the next bond will be remodeled and new space for students that will include
places to relax and study. Joint
activities are provided for the organizations at GCC and ASU West. Students may apply for Maricopa
internships, a new program initiative by GCC.
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Last revised 1/8/02. Direct feedback to l.hawbaker@gcmail.maricopa.edu. See Legal Disclaimer.