Glendale
Community College
NCA
Self-Study Report, January 2002
Chapter Ten
Conclusion
Fully mindful of
the new century’s challenges, Glendale Community College recognizes the
need to acknowledge its history, identify obstacles to improvement, and make
the wise decisions necessary for continuing success. Assessment activities will provide additional opportunities
for continuous improvements in all of our educational and service
endeavors. Considering its
longstanding reputation for high academic accomplishments and taking humble
satisfaction in past achievements, the faculty, staff, and students look
forward to forging an equally acclaimed future, taking special note of the
College’s Elements of Excellence:
Ø Academic Distinction
Ø Business Partnerships
Ø Community Outreach
Ø Student Services
Ø Technology Leadership
Based upon
compliance with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central
Association's requirements as demonstrated in the Self-Study Report and through
the Team visit, Glendale Community College respectfully requests a
recommendation for continued accreditation and that its next comprehensive
visit be scheduled for 2011-12.
The 2002 Team will
have the opportunity to validate what has been said in this document and
provide guidance for future growth.
· The College has an adopted mission and
purposes that is understood by the College, its students, and its community
· The College offers a constantly changing
curriculum responsive to changing community needs, is fiscally sound, is
staffed by capable faculty, administrators and staff, and is organized to
address its mission
· The College has developed planning
processes that address linking resource allocations to its mission and goals,
focusing on the changing needs of students and community and holding units
accountable for positive change
· The College is assessing its effectiveness
and is assessing student learning and growth
· The College operates with integrity and is
sensitive to the often-difficult challenges that accompany change
Glendale Community
College has documented that it continues to meet the General Institutional
Requirements and the Criteria for Accreditation. It has responded to each of the concerns expressed by the
1992 Team and to each of the recommendations made by the Advisory Team that
visited in May 2000. By
responding, the College has changed and grown accordingly.
The Self-Study
represents a complete analysis of the institution. It was prepared by a large number of people for whom the
process of learning about their college was, perhaps, the most valuable
outcome.
With this
Self-Study Report and additional materials, GCC presents:
· Responses to the 1992 Team Report
· Responses to the May 2000 Advisory Visit
· Confirmation that the College meets the
General Institutional Requirements
· Evidence that the College adheres to the
five criteria, as outlined in the NCA Accreditation Handbook
The self-study
process offered Glendale Community College the opportunity to examine the
policies and procedures, campus resources, and planning processes necessary for
continued success, providing an occasion for employees to look at College
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, all of which will play
important roles in defining and implementing the strategic- and
operational-planning activities necessary to meet educational and service needs
for students and the community in the twenty-first century. The photo at the end of this report,
taken in 2000, presents a visual depiction of GCC’s 35 years of growth
and success, inspiring the College to build on its fine record as we move
forward and examine ways to improve over the next decades.
Voices of the Future
Recently hired
faculty/employees comment on GCC
Rachelle Hall—Business and
Information Technology Faculty
“Working at GCC is a wonderful
opportunity. I really enjoy
it. There's a lot of diversity in
students. I like that. Some students are already working in
the technology industry, while others are trying to get there. The diversity works to the advantage of
the students because if both types of students are in the same class, they
learn from each other. Students
new to the industry learn from the students already working in the industry --
students working in the industry learn new technologies. This works for a very well-rounded
learning environment.”
Don McCarthy--Math
Faculty
“The
College is supportive of innovative ideas to meet the needs of our diverse
population. The College community
is open to providing the faulty with the time and resources to explore and
implement these ideas.”
Sue
Olson--Coordinator of Enrollment and Academic Advisement
“I am very appreciative of all the
support given to employees by the College and District for personal and
professional development. I have a
sense in general that the entire campus is understaffed; consequently, there is
an accepted attitude of cooperation to ‘get the job done.’”
Clark
Shipley—Business and Information Technology Faculty
“I
like working here. The Business
and Information Technology
Department
is amazing. We have a great
collection of faculty. The staff
could
make a lot more money in industry, but they are here. As for
faculty
members, we have a lot of leeway -- there don’t seem to be many
constraints. The Deans and Department Chair tell us
to 'go for it,’
allowing
for innovation and new ideas.”
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Digital Aerial Photo of Glendale Community College January 7, 2000
From the South looking
Northward (Photo by Scott
Kozakiewicz)
Last revised 1/8/02. Direct feedback to l.hawbaker@gcmail.maricopa.edu. See Legal Disclaimer.