STATUS OF COLLEGE EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES 1, 2, 3 and 4 

September 2004

 

 

Strategic Initiative #1:  Achieve excellence in teaching and learning.

 

Activities:

 

A.                  The College will rigorously pursue superior academic and skills-based student outcomes.

 

Instruction

·         Writing Department revised the outcomes for Writing 101 and is revising the Exit Assessment Scoring Guide to match the outcomes.

·         The Writing Department has recommended and the college has instituted a change in the AP scores accepted by the college. A student earning a score of 4 or above in the Language AP exam will earn “credit” in Writing 101. 

·         Honors Seminar was offered to evening students for the first time fall quarter.

·         Three coordinated studies course were offered fall quarter and had strong enrollments.

·         Library staff began working with the Biology Department. to develop a list of print, multimedia, and electronic resources in marine biology that will support instruction at the Redondo MaST Center.

·         Instruction’s U.S. Department of Education Title VIA grant is funding faculty to internationalize existing courses and develop new courses on international topics.

·         Fifteen faculty and administrators attended the American Association of Higher Education Assessment conference in Seattle in June 2003.  This event served, in part, as a kick-off activity for the college’s next two years of assessment activity, as the institution responds to the recommendations of its spring 2003 Full-Scale Evaluation for accreditation.

·         The Student Outcomes and Competencies Committee (SOCC) has taken a central role in implementation of the college’s “Assessment Action Plan,” developed as part of the accreditation self-study process.  During fall quarter, in keeping with that Action Plan, SOCC members concentrated on developing common vocabulary and  clarifying differences among key concepts such as “learning outcomes,” “department objectives,” and “department mission and goals.”

·         The Respiratory Care Program held a half-day meeting for its clinical faculty on the “Interater Reliability” to make sure that the clinical faculty were uniform in their evaluation methods of the skills and techniques required of students in the various clinical sites.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education’s office redesigned and conducted two professional technical student follow-up surveys in order to assess the quality and effectiveness of its instructional programs.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education conducted an evaluation of support services as they relate to professional technical education.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education conducted the annual Office of Civil Rights evaluation that is associated with HCC’s Carl Perkins funding.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education oversaw the development and publishing of curriculum guides for all Professional-Technical Education programs.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education conducted a program review of Interior Design.

·         The Worker Retraining staff assess new student’s academic competency, personality profile and financial need to ensure better course planning, retention services, and assistance in transition to work services. They also track graduation and placement rates for current and former worker retraining students.

·         The Worker Retraining advisory committee and former worker retraining students provide the WRT staff with current information on business and industry skill needs to keep course offerings current.

·         The WorkFirst Instructional staff initiated a pilot program with web-based learning for all WorkFirst and Basic Skills students involving pre- and post-assessments.

·         WorkFirst student in Instruction programs are reviewed and monitored quarterly on academic outcomes through CASAS testing.

·         The Washington State Council for Community Colleges published their recommendation for freshman composition learning outcomes and Highline’s Writing Department has all of them established in their Portfolio Scoring Guide and have had them operational for the year prior to the Council’s publication.

·         A Speech and a Writing instructor worked with Writing and ESL 30-60 teachers to establish a common learning outcomes assessment to be used in all classes, to adequately prepare students for Writing 91.  All students in this program were tested spring quarter and the data is currently being analyzed so that students can be effectively placed into the appropriate course.  Compass/Asset test scores will change to place students more accurately.

·         The Writing Department has created a new path for ESL and other under-prepared students as they transition to Writing 101.  They have established a new 3 credit course as a support course so students work with students to successfully pass Writing 101. Students will learn to understand syllabus requirements, understand rhetorical strategies and how to produce them, and understand how to produce the complex writing assignments, and grammatical challenges specific to their needs.

·         The Puget Sound Early College initiative, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has substantially met all of its benchmarks for the 2003-04 planning year.  As of June 2004, over 40 students have enrolled in the program, and appointments have been made for all key staff.  Among other noteworthy achievements for the year are:

o        Identification of course offerings and development of curriculum outlines for Year 1

o        Development of recruiting and public information resources, including web site, brochures and information documents, and formal presentations

o        Completion of student recruitment activities, including visits to high school classes, meetings with high school counselors, multiple open house events, and presentations at high school-college events

o        Development of admissions processes, criteria, and documents

o        Continued collaboration with Federal Way Public Schools, in particular with the district’s Equity and Achievement programs, to encourage participation among a diverse student body

o        Comprehensive planning for facility-use, including room configuration, furniture and equipment, library resources, and technology upgrades

o        Development of core operating policies and school values

Additional student recruitment and orientation activities are planned for summer, as well as orientation and team planning for the faculty and staff.

·         Dr. Vickie Ropp has finished her first year serving as the college’s outcomes assessment “consulting faculty member.”  To date, she has worked with over half of the college’s academic departments in efforts to refine assessment techniques.  She and Dr. Larry Blades, chair of the Student Outcomes and Competencies Committee (SOCC), held a series of workshops winter/spring 2004 to advance that work.  To close the year and provide new ideas for next year’s work, she attended American Association of Higher Education Assessment conference in Denver this June.

·         Two multidisciplinary Faculty learning Communities, “Closing the Loop: Classroom Assessment” and “Hybrid Classes” started meeting in April and will continue to meet through the end of fall quarter.

·         The FRC hosted brown bag lunch discussions on “The ethics of teaching II,” “The Dark Side of Literacy,” and “Digital Generation Meets Digital Divide.” Over 14 faculty and 2 students participated in at least one of these sessions.

·         The New Faculty Seminar Series session on “Teaching experiences” brought together new faculty and past Outstanding Faculty Award winners on March 5th.  This session was a chance for senior faculty members to share their impressions and experiences of teaching at Highline and to engage in a discussion of pedagogy. Twenty faculty participated.

·         A seminar on student success strategies, organized as part of the Summer Institute 2003-04 project “Student Retention: Making a Difference for the Institution,” was held on May 21.  This session promoted peer-to-peer faculty exchange of idea on various strategies.

·         Summer Institute 2004-05, “Redefining the Learning Curve,” began with the June 21-25 and June 28-July 2 sessions. This year’s institute includes 6 HCC projects focused on assessment and technology enhancements to instruction, plus 3 projects from the Polytechnic of Namibia. Fifteen HCC faculty and staff are participating.

·         Writing Gateway faculty member Wendy Swyt worked with the Education, Nursing, and Writing departments to improve their assessment of student writing and to promote student success.

·         The Print Program won local, national and international awards for work produced by students on campus.  Print industry leaders judged the work according professionals standards.

 

Student Services

·        The number of clubs grew from twelve to twenty-eight in 2003-2004.

·        The Childcare Center supported student/parents Cooperative Education college credits equivalent to 13.3 FTEs.

·        Two full-time and four hourly employees of color were hired in Childcare Services.

 

Administration

·         A high speed data circuit was installed linking the Redondo Pier facility to the main campus. This will give students working in the classroom there access to instructional resources at the main campus and the Internet.

·         Created student tracking database systems for three professional-technical programs, enabling these programs to track prospective and current students as well as graduates, business associates, and faculty. These stand-alone databases will assist in course planning, internships and accreditation processes.

 

Institutional Advancement

·         Highline’s Matching Proposal for the Marine Science and Technology Center will be included in the 2005-2007 SBCTC Capital Budget Request.  This will launch a $1,000,000 capital campaign for the dock, generating the funds necessary to build adequate classroom space and marine laboratories.  The Highline Community College Foundation has graciously offered to raise the funds required for the match. 

 

B.                 The College will create an atmosphere that inspires and prepares all students to succeed.

 

Instruction

·         Media Services and the head of the Language Department met to discuss the best way to deliver foreign language audio information to students. Media staff conducted impromptu tours of Media Services' language facilities when teachers brought classes in, demonstrated how the language lab works, and showed examples of the different types of media by which the language students might benefit.

·         Professional Technical Education staff have spent considerable time advising perspective students about the Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship so that their transition into the program will be smooth. In addition, they collaborated with Registration to improve that process for program participants.

·         The Professional Technical Program’s curriculum guide committee has met throughout fall quarter to determine their most effective use for all departments and students and they worked with the Professional Technical Program Coordinators to review proposed changes to the guides to bring them up to date with industry standards and current curricular requirements.

·         Mathematics Gateway faculty member has been working within the Math Department on outcomes and assessment, as well as pedagogical issues.  He has also been working with the Nursing and Medical Assisting Departments on improving student outcomes in math, and with Geology instructors on the Mathpatch initiative to provide "just-in-time" mathematics instruction to students.

·         The Pre-College Department and Tutoring Center hosted a state-wide conference dealing with preparing under-prepared students, structuring tutoring programs to meet those needs, and innovations in the field.  Over 70 participants from 30 different Northwest colleges attended the day long event.

·         The Accounting Department has established a designated tutoring section for accounting.  There are ten accounting tutors who are coordinated by an Accounting Instructor.

·         Business Information Technology continues to successfully offer a lab option for prerequisite and basic skills classes, such as Keyboarding, MS Word, Speed and Accuracy.  This has drawn students from across the campus interested in learning and improving computer and keyboarding skills.

·         Cooperative Education had 647 students participate in internships representing a 16% increase over last year.

·         A professional technical program instructor successfully applied for $21,526 in additional Financial Aid funding to serve dislocated workers served by the Worker Retraining Department.

·         The Education Department completed the first capstone course. This seminar based course supports students in developing a culminating portfolio and preparation for interviewing and employment.

·         Professional Technical programs trained 133 TANF, low-income and ACHIEVE student in customized job skills training instructional programs designed to prepare students for employment in child care, and medical office-related fields.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education worked closely with HCC’s Foundation in providing detailed information and statistics regarding the success of the Paralegal Department resulting in the development of the Ruth Riley Scholarship.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education used Carl Perkins funding to provide tutoring and access services to special needs population students, professional development and technical updates to faculty and staff so that they can better serve professional technical students, and to support instructional resources, curriculum development, cooperative education, and tech prep.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education managed the application process that resulted in two HCC students winning Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) awards.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education vocationally certified eight full-time faculty in six Professional-Technical Education programs.

·         A Speech instructor collaborated with a number of faculty and instructional staff on the implementation of an Honors Program in 2003 with 15 students.  This spring, 150 students are active in the program working with 70 faculty members on campus.  Honors Scholar Program graduates have won scholarships totaling over $150,000 and include a USA Today Academic All-American (Donnie Schwendeman), a $12,000 Next Step scholarship winner to US Tacoma (Renee Paulsen), and a $7,000 WAVE scholarship (Holly Maxim). The program has garnered the interest of University of Washington, Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Central Washington University that they have sent representatives from their Honors Programs to work with HCC students.

·         The Choir Director and a Writing instructor collaborated in a performance that combined music and poetry. Poems by students, faculty, and classic poets were joined with musical presentations.  The readings utilized the talents of choir members, drama students, as well as student and faculty poets.

·         The Writing Center implemented an online consulting program using a specialized training program. The pilot program was offered to evening and online courses.

·         The Writing Center Coordinator presented at the Pacific Northwest Writing Center Association Conference on Highline’s model for offering developmental writing support to students.  Ten HCC tutors also attended.

·         The Saturday Teacher Education Cohort program has completed its first academic year.  The cohort enrollment remains stable, and student evaluations have indicated that participants are very enthusiastic about the program’s quality, sense of community, and convenience.

·         As it ends its first academic year, the college’s Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy project has grown to include three sites, serving over 100 families from four Highline School District elementary schools.  The project has formed a sustainable set of partnerships with the District, community-based organizations, and agencies that provide curriculum support and wraparound services for participating families.

·         Dr. Stephen Brookfield, a nationally recognized adult education researcher, gave a workshop and a presentation at HCC on May 7. His workshop focused on using faculty learning communities to improve instruction, and his presentation, entitled “Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher,” focused on how to more effectively assess and respond to student needs. Over 48 faculty and staff participated in at least one of these sessions.

·         The MaST Center began programming offering Oceanography at the Redondo Pier.  They also initiated community programming that includes open house on Saturdays and other weekend offerings.

·         The Art Department organized the 4^th annual Arts Festival and Pottery sale that showcased student efforts.  They also brought noted sculptor, Mark Rudis to campus to speak as part of its artist lecture series, now in its 6^th year.

·         The Production Illustration program put on its annual DigiCom presentation of student work at the end of spring quarter. This well attended event draws in professionals and community members in addition to Highline personnel.

 

Student Services

·         Increase offering of our College 100 courses taught by Diversity/Student Development staff (classes specifically designed to meet the needs of students of color, students with disabilities and  coordinated studies with Careers 110.

·         Developed a new CORE orientation program and Thunder Week to better prepare all new students for success.

·         Set all time record for state work study funding.

·         Developed “Lingering Student” policy and procedures.

·         Campus-wide Enrollment Management committee developed enrollment management objectives

·         Processed more financial aid applications in less time than in prior years.

·         Policy and procedures developed for collecting ABE/ESL tuition.

·         Student Programs has developed a new First Fridays Student Leadership Training program to attract and welcome success   for all students. This monthly seminar provides intensive and accessible training for over 250 student leaders in life-long leader skills.

·         Thunderweek, a comprehensive welcome week, was launched fall 2003 to replace the traditional new student orientation program. Over 2000 student handbooks were distributed, which provided campus directions, answered basic questions, and generally offered a warm welcome to our new and returning students. Thunderweek includes quarterly CORE (College Orientation and Registration Experience) workshops.

·         Established an Interpreter Center for Hearing Impaired.

 

            Administration

·         Submitted capital budget requests for new facilities for Allied Health, Performing Arts and for matching funds for Redondo Pier. 

·         Developed a process for identifying Phi Theta Kappa candidates for PTK advisors to use in membership recruiting

·         OIR Director provided extensive analysis to explore Highline’s for a federal TRIO-Student Support Services grant.

 

Institutional Advancement

·         The Ruth Marie Germoulas Reilly Memorial Endowed Scholarship has been established to assist single mothers in completing their degree in Highline Community College’s Paralegal Program.  Earnings from the $75,000 endowment will provide for tuition, books, fees and other related educational expenses.

·         To support student scholarships and emergency assistance, the Foundation’s Spring Gala was very successful. The Fund-A-Dream item on the live auction brought in just over $26,000 for the Foundation's Student Emergency Assistance Fund, which is an increase of $14,000 over last year for the same item. 

 

C.                 The College will assess the progress of pre-college students and develop strategies for their success.

 

Instruction

·         For the fiscal and program year ending June 2003, the college’s Adult Basic Education/ESL program exceeded its targets for performance.  Of the 2,327 federally reportable students who attended the program, end-of-year data showed that 1,261 completed at least one subject area.  That figure yields an actual completion/performance rate of 54.19% – nearly 5% above the 49% projected performance rate for that period.

·         Reading Gateway faculty member has been working on bridge classes for students who need supplemental instruction as they transition from Reading 030 to 060 or from Reading 060 to 091.  She has also been working a curriculum alignment project between Reading and Psychology and Reading and Business Technology, and she is the coordinator of the Faculty Learning Community initiative run out of the FRC.

·         Writing Gateway faculty member has been working within the Writing and ESL Departments to revise developmental Writing and ESL courses to achieve better student placement and progression.  She has also evaluated the Nursing exam and the COMPASS/ESL placement test. 

·         The Faculty Learning Community (FLC) focused on Student Under preparedness continued to meet during Fall Quarter.  Reading Gateway faculty member Pat Phillips organized this group of six faculty from different departments and divisions last Spring Quarter to examine instructional challenges from and appropriate responses to the increased number of under prepared students in our classes.

·         The Pre-College Studies Department held a well attended session for instructors on “Identifying and Working with Learning Disabled Students.? The Presenter, Candyce Engquist Rennergarbe is a learning disability specialist.

·         The Worker Retraining staff, in cooperation with the Employment Security Department, checks the employment status of new pre-college students and tracks the progress of WRT eligible students. When WRT eligible pre-college students are ready to transition to college level work the WRT staff arranges an appointment with each student to discuss professional technical program options.

·         WorkFirst and CJST students attendance, progress and participation are tracked and monitored on-campus through database records and off-campus by SBCTC, DSHS and ESD measurements.

·         WorkFirst Instructional program offers three on-campus classes of intensive ABE and ESL for all levels of learners.

·         The Adult Basic Education/ESL Department was successful in securing FY 05 continuation – at full funding levels – for all of its major Office of Adult Literacy program areas:  Adult Basic Education, Volunteer Literacy Tutoring, and Family Literacy.  In FY 04, the program exceeded all performance targets set by SBCTC.

 

Student Services

·         The student handbook includes information on college departments that support student success, promotes student involvement in extracurricular activities, features, tools (“A Compass for Campus”) to help students prioritize their activities and manage their time, provides event calendar information, and features a free day planner. We printed 5000 books and will be initiating an assessment process.

 

            Administration

·         OIR Director participated in developing a pilot study evaluation of ESL placement tests.

 

 

D.                 The College will assess the community to ensure that the instructional programs, services and technology capabilities respond to community needs.

 

Instruction

·         The Speech Department’s service learning program revolving around teaching tolerance and “Opening Doors” continues to involve Highline students in local area schools. 

·         The Accounting program has adopted several electronic based templates to accompany in-class instruction and new software has been evaluated and will be installed to supplement accounting classes providing students with additional assistance using multiple pedagogies.

·         Paralegal continues its successful Community Justice Project, a service learning component to the Ethics Class. Students identify and volunteer at an organization working to provide or promote better access to justice.  This experience is how they learn about several key concepts in the Ethics class.

·         The Education Department was selected by Schools out Washington to participate in creating course work for school-age care providers to better meet the needs of the providers and ultimately to improve the quality of care in after school programs. In winter quarter its new “Methods in School-age Care” course was offered as part of the new short-term certificate in School-age care.

·         The Education Department worked to expand the para-educator apprenticeship program to additional school districts.  Currently, the College serves over 100 working Para-educators in this program.

·         The Print Program implemented their plan to market the College’s printing capabilities to community groups. In the first year, they produced just under $40,000 in revenue, have achieved local and national recognition, and have made numerous contacts with the local non-profit community.  Print shop products won a national award in which professional shops competed.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education received $225,000 under the Targeted Industry Partnership program, collaboration between HCC and Edmonds Community College to offer courses in network security, computer forensics and data recovery to incumbent workers from law enforcement and private industry.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education received $49,020 as a result of a successful proposal to the Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council for H1-B funding to expand capacity in the ADN and LPN-RN nursing programs.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education receive an award notifying HCC that its computer forensics, network security, and data recovery-related NSF proposal, in collaboration with Seattle University and University of Washington-Seattle, was successful and made HCC eligible for $118,000 in FY 05 funding.

·         The Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of Professional Technical Education, and several faculty members participated in the California Community College Job Fair in Los Angeles and visited a number of California graduate school campuses in order to recruit faculty and staff for 2005-2005.

·         HCC music students integrate a service learning program into the music practitioner certification process with the Music for Healing and Transition Program.  Students fulfill an internships requirement with St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way by playing therapeutic music at the bedside to comfort patients.

 

Student Services

·        Implemented class waitlist function used by all instructional divisions.

·        Sunset touch-tone registration.

·        All class rosters are now available on-line, including WI rosters.

·        Degree Audit RFP completed and purchased.

·        Admissions/Entry Services phone reporting system on Excel was enhanced for accuracy and efficiency.

·        Information inquiry requests are now being sent via e-mail instead of hard copy.

·        Established and streamlined retrieval of on-line admissions applications and processing systems.

·        Streamlined admissions application for easier data entry.

·        Admissions/Entry Services established an effective filing system to process and manage data input and retrieval.

·        Financial Aid web site enhanced to include the capability of downloading financial aid forms.

·         Enhanced student inquiry database for follow-up contacts.

·         In recognition of innovations and service delivery functions, Student Programs was selected and featured in Seattle University’s Best Practices in Student Services class.

·         The Childcare Center supported 16 cooperative education students (each taking five credits), three SeaMar dietitian students fro two weeks, and 15 HCC nursing students who conducted mandatory Well Baby screening rotations.

 

            Administration

·         Multiple processes within Financial Services were evaluated, redesigned and implemented to improve services to the campus students, staff, and faculty.  Process included; tracking and issuing 1099 Miscellaneous forms, tracking and issuing 1098 Hope Scholarship forms, filing and storage of paid invoices, and reconciling the bank accounts.

·         STEPP program was fully implemented giving 1200 students the opportunity to pay tuition using this student friendly payment plan.

·         WEB credit card was fully implemented including issuing refunds to students.  This optional payment method was used by over 3000 students this past year.

·         The bookstore installed six new IBM cash registers and a new server to support more effective customer service and response times for transactions.

·         The bookstore’s online ordering system, EPOS, was upgraded. This not only made the system more user friendly, but allowed students with agency accounts to purchase textbooks online.

·         Since the bookstore converted to EPOS and moved their website to www.highlinebookstore.com in May 2003 $70,000 worth of merchandise has been sold online.  Online text sales for September 2003 were $12,841.35; for September 2004, text sales were $29,313.57 (as of 9/22/04, the store can expect between $500-$1500 in additional sales in September).

·         The bookstore expanded their website to include supplies and insignia merchandise for purchase by faculty, staff and students.

 

E.                 The College will establish a process of incorporating continuous quality improvement by regularly assessing services, staff, faculty, administrators and instructional programs.

 

Instruction

·         The Workforce Training staff and selected Instruction Resources personnel participated in a pilot of the college Performance Appraisal System.

 

Student Services

·         Successfully passed both regional and state Veterans Administration audits.

·         Diplomas and certificates mailed earlier than prior years.

·         Admissions/Entry Services established effective working relationships with Professional Technical Coordinators to include creating a streamline and effective process for Respiratory Care Program applicants and RN and LPN to RN Nursing Program applicants by creating and managing the database utilized to apply to the program.

·         Admissions/Entry Services developed a working relationship with the EPAC staff for ease of new student registration.

·         Developed policy and procedure for scholarships that require institutional nominations.

·         Implemented above policy and procedure for the inaugural Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA) “Take Aim” scholarship and all nominees were awarded the scholarship.

·         In the spirit of compliance and insuring “due diligence” requested SSN for all students that had not disclosed them.

 

Administration

·         Produced and distributed institutional effectiveness plan update for 2002-2003 to campus --- showing over 80% of indicators now have measures attached, and over 60% of the measures were “successfully met” in AY2002-03. 

·         Facilities promoted staff training sessions to enhance job knowledge and performance.

·         Participated in discussion and review of enrollment and accounting practices in supported employment program. 

·         Completed EAPAS training sessions for all administrative exempt staff to enhance job knowledge and performance. 

·         Participated in tenure discussions through service on post tenure review committees and on Tenure Review Committee. 

·         Successfully negotiated the new faculty contract.

·         OIR developed survey items in conjunction with instruction and student services and administered the Community College Student Experiences Questionnaire. This survey provides valuable information regarding student learning outcomes and experiences.

·         The Safety & Security Office successfully transitioned to a new MS Access 2000 system for data entry, and two office staff were trained in Advanced MS Access.

·         FMS tables which interact with Financial Aid distribution were analyzed, restructured and updated to improve the accuracy of the auto application of financial aid to student accounts.

 

F.                  The College will create and maintain an infrastructure that supports a safe, accessible and innovative environment for teaching and learning.

 

Instruction

·         IC  sub-committee is developing a questionnaire to establish a classroom standard for equipment

·         Media Services has produced the first two of a series of "how to" videos that will assist faculty and staff when using Media equipment.

·         During the first 2 weeks of fall quarter 2003, Instructional Computing staff attempted to track the number of technical support phone calls received and responded to. The tally was approximately 600 calls during that period.

·         The Music Department worked with Instructional Computing on a new computer lab for students needing extra tutorials in theory and ear training.  The lab will be available to students beginning fall quarter.

·         Instructional Computing assumed responsibilities for technical support of the Federal Way Campus. Throughout spring quarter testing was done to better integrate server functions at FWC with the existing IC infrastructure.  Work is also being done to prepare for the arrival the Puget Sound Early College in the fall and IC is coordinating with Administrative Technology Network Services on the FWC network upgrade.

·         Instructional Computing continues to be an active participant in the technology planning for the Higher Education Center. Preparations are well underway for IC to provide and support instructional technology equipment for both HCC and CWU instructional activities.  IC staff are working with CWU staff to coordinate access and support for CWU students on Highline’s campus.

·         IC is assisting the Life Sciences department in establishing instructional technology tools at the MaST Center at the Redondo Pier.  Tools currently being installed and tested include a redesigned instructor’s station, a set of laptops for student use at the pier along with a wireless network.  Already installed are a data projector in the classroom, a connection between the weather station and the College’s web site, and a large computerized display to share information with the public at the site.

·         A HCC librarian created a “2004 elections including Presidential Campaigns” web page to help library users (community member, faculty, students, and staff) find credible and relevant elections materials on the Internet.

·         Instructional Computing staff are working to increase the security of our facilities and the equipment they contain.  This includes enhancements in progress to the security system in Building 30. IC staff are also working with Media Services to devise enhancements in security for equipment permanently installed in classrooms, especially data projectors. Security cages and special keyed security screws were installed on projectors across campus, and Media is working with Maintenance staff to secure projectors to COWs using the same screws.

·         Instructional Computing is nearing completion of an online application to allow users (faculty, staff, and students) to view and change their personal information, including passwords, online.

 

Student Services

·         After ten years of planning the new 115 child capacity childcare center named The Early Learning Center was officially dedicated on September 14, a banner day for the youngest members of the Highline Community College family.

 

Administration

·         Improvements to Redondo Pier to strengthen teaching and learning in marine sciences, biology and geology.  Worked with architect to develop building program, and analyze funding availability and phase project for capital improvements to display area and classroom.

·         Administrative Technology installed a wireless network at the Redondo Pier facility to benefit students and faculty in the Marine Science program. 

·         The Safety & Security Office processed thousands of permits and hundreds of parking tickets last year.

·         Recent renovations at the Redondo Pier have enhanced the space for marine biology classes and offer the opportunity for the public to tour the facility and interact with Highline staff and students.

·         The Redondo Pier is in the design stage for a complete re-build to bring the buildings up to code and create larger facilities for future class offerings.

 

Strategic Initiative #2:  Enhance a college climate that values diversity and global perspectives.

 

Activities:

A.                  The College community will deepen its understanding and appreciation of the diversity of our nation and local community.

 

Instruction

·         The International Education Committee, comprised of representatives from Instruction, Student Services, and International Student Programs provided the campus community with a week-long series of events around the theme, “Outfitting our Campus for the Global Society.” Instruction’s contributions included a Culture, Gender, and Globalism open house that showcased student work, faculty panel discussions of their international travel, the session about the College’s faculty exchange program with China, a presentation by William H. Chapman Nyaho on the piano music of composers of African descent, and a presentation by HCC alum, Mohamud Esmail of the Somali Rights Network.

·         A faculty/staff book discussion group was organized and spent Fall quarter we’re reading the novel My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki.

·         Faculty presented  "O Taste and See: Food Poems" event which featured Highline students cooking food from their own culture and four Washington poets read from the newly published poetry anthology "O Taste and See: Food Poems." This event was sponsored by the CGG department and included a discussion of how writers come to use food in their work.

·         The college’s family literacy initiatives have continued to emphasize outreach to neighborhoods that serve large numbers of immigrant and refugee families.  New collaborations have been forged with the non-profit organization New Futures and with Highline School District’s Para Los Niños initiative.

·         Highline’s Adult Basic Education/ESL program continues to serve a very diverse population of students.  For the fiscal year ending June 2003, the program’s federally reportable populations included American Indians and Alaskan Natives (9), Asian (342), Black/African American (338), Hispanic/Latino (479), Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander (15), and White (274).  Language groups served in addition to federal categories included Russian, Somali, Chinese, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Ethiopian and Tajik, among other languages.

·         Diversity is a central goal of recruiting efforts for the Gates Foundation project planning.  The college has established a partnership with Federal Way School District’s equity and achievement programs to facilitate meeting this goal.

·         Professional Technical staff have actively sought advisory committee members who will ensure that each is balanced and diverse.

·         Highline Instructors organized a campus wide Brown v Board of Education fifty year commemoration.  The three day event held in May included seminars, panels, speakers, and a reception with presentations and awards.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education represented HCC, its course offerings, its curricula initiatives and global perspectives by participating in or attending numerous community meetings and functions including: National Council for Workforce Education, American Association of Community Colleges, American Council on International Intercultural Education, and Community Colleges for International Development.

·         The Worker Retraining staff tracks employers who are looking to diversify their workforce with graduates who have language skills and cultural awareness skills appropriate to their customers and clients as placement targets for some worker retraining participants.

·         American Sign Language instructor brought Reginald Redding, president of the National Black-Deaf Advocates, to campus to present a forum and arranged for John Carlson, conservative radio talk-show host to come and debate Affirmative Action with Carl Livingstone from Seattle Central Community College. He also brought in Sheli Barber from Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services to speak during Domestic Violence Awareness month.

·         The HCC Education Department, Highline School District, and Pacific Lutheran University have formed a collaborative effort to provide teacher certification to Highline-area immigrants who hold bachelor’s degrees from other countries.   Working with PLU advisors, HCC will provide lower-division coursework, advising, and West-B (teacher skills) test preparation.  This “grow-our-own” teacher-education initiative will help the District develop and retain teachers who represent the diversity of the community.

·         The Adult Basic Education/ESL Department continued to expand services to immigrants and refugees through its Office of Immigrant and Refugee Assistance (ORIA) funding partnership.  Recent initiatives have focused particularly on the Somali community.  An example of this is an ESL class in an apartment complex that was started spring quarter to reach out to Somali women. Seventy percent of the residents in the complex are Somali.

·         The FRC hosted a brown bag lunch, “Safe Zones, Healthy Spaces,” facilitated by faculty members Allison Green and Derek Greenfield, and student, Verdena Gardner, on April 23rd about creating a context for meaningful dialogue with GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) students. 

·         Instruction faculty and staff worked on the Martin Luther King week committee and made presentations, gave readings, and organized round table discussions.

·         A member of the Writing department is a founding member of the Somali Rights Network and brought representatives to Highline to talk to the campus community about human rights.

·         HCC Music instructor, through the CEL, taught the art of Hawaiian slack key and folk guitar to seniors.  The course incorporates Hawaiian culture, language, history, literature, and dance.

·         The College Choir presented a “Music of the Pacific Rim” Concert during spring quarter that featured pieces from Japan, China, Thailand, and Hawaii.  The choir director asked international students from the choir to teach other members how to pronounce the lyrics and share their insights into these cultures.

·         The Center for Extended Learning offers popular travel and language classes that enhance global perspectives for Highline’s adult learner communities.

·         CEL staff works with Supported Employment and ACHIEVE students to accommodate special needs students with assistance on class setup, general questions from students and their guardians, and troubleshooting transportation issues when they arise.

 

Student Services

·         Sponsored our 8^th Annual Unity Through Diversity Week Programs which included educational, cultural, political, and social issues to broaden awareness, multicultural understanding and appreciation for diversity.

·         Sponsored twenty student leaders to attend the annual Washington State Student of Color Leadership Conference.

·         Increased and strengthened our multicultural presence and mission by employing a diverse student staff in Enrollment Services.

·         The Childcare Director continues to develop international partners in the field of early care. This year she was able to participate in early care programs on the campus of Western Australia in Perth for one month.

·         Through multicultural programming weeks, Martin Luther King, Jr. Week and Unity Through Diversity Week, Student Programs brought historical and social leaders in the struggle for equity and diversity to speak to Highline students.

·         Multicultural Services, Student Programs and Sociology Department hosted a forum on the use of the “N-word” to follow up in response to a public racial incident that happened on the Highline campus in the spring of 2003. The forum was filled with approximately 180 students with faculty members, Darryl Brice and Derek Greenfield presenting the historical and social implications of that racial slur.

·         The second annual International Night was held in May with over 100 people attending.

 

Administration

·         Sent staff to faculty and staff of color conference and Association conference that promotes diversity among employees. 

·         Provide staff advisor to student Rainbow Pride Club and promote participation in state wide rainbow pride organization which held meeting in October at Green River.

·         Initiated and implemented a one-day People Skills training session for campus administrators and a one-day Team Building session for Administrative Services managers, which will be the pilot group for other campus departments. 

·         Members of Financial Services’ staff participated on the Retention and Recruitment Council. 

·         Facilities scheduled department staff meetings at times to allow all staff to attend and also supported staff in their efforts to seek out job training with classes, seminars and workshops.

·         Began discussions on Highline’s involvement with Road to Beijing international athletic program.

·         Provided leadership for Rainbow Pride Club’s participation in the Campus Diversity week in May, sponsoring several workshops for the entire campus community.

·         Enrolled the Rainbow Pride Club of Highline Community College to participate in Seattle’s Gay Pride Week parade in late June.  This was the first time they had participated in the parade!

 

Institutional Advancement

·         Highline Community College has received a donation and a matching challenge to the Foundation’s Board of Directors to establish a $15,000 Burien Challenge to Excellence Scholarship Endowment.  These funds are designated for students from Burien/North Highline areas who face financial challenges and who may come from families where English is not the native language of their home.

·         To help offset the costs of participating in the Troika project in Ecuador this summer, the Foundation has been soliciting $750 scholarships for each student.  To date, we have received funds from the Kent Sunrise Rotary Club, the Federal Way Rotary Club and the Highline Community Hospital Foundation. 

·         To support Highline's CCID (Community Colleges for International Development) Troika project - Nursing Perspectives in Ecuador - the Foundation secured $3,250 in scholarships for participating students. To date, the four organizations supporting this program are the Highline Community Hospital Foundation, the Rotary Club of Federal Way, the Rotary Club of Seattle and the Kent Sunrise Rotary Club.

 

B.                 The College will sustain and enhance the framework to support internationalization of the College.

 

Instruction

·         Instructional Design faculty worked with Summer Institute participants from partner institutions in South Africa and Namibia and are continuing those conversations electronically.

·         Instruction currently has five grants that support the College’s international initiatives.

·         Instruction’s ALO and USAID funded grant projects hosted several international visitors to the campus.  Faculty and administrators from Cape Technikon and False Bay College (both in South Africa) and from the Polytechnic of Namibia worked with HCC faculty and staff on student retention issues, approaches to training the disabled and effective entrepreneurship education.  They also made themselves available to Highline students by making classroom presentations.

·         Several instructors used their professional leaves to study abroad in Mexico, Panama, India, and Italy and are now using their experiences to internationalize courses.

·         Highline’s U.S. Department of Education VIA grant has paid for 10 faculty to create new courses on global theme or to internationalize existing courses.

·         Instruction funded three faculty members to take part in CCID’s professional development seminar to Italy.

·         Students enrolled in Nutrition and Global Health courses worked with PTK to collect canned food for NW Harvest and books and toys for First Place School.  Students in Global Health also worked on trail reconstruction with Washington trails Association, collected clothing for the Lifeline AIDS Alliance thrift store, and prepared sixty school supply kits and a dozen backpacks for an orphanage in Majiwa, Kenya.

·         Highline’s Jazz Band traveled to Yangzhou University in China at their invitation through the Kent-Yangzhou Sister City organization in April.  This tour gave the students important insights into Chinese culture and further supported HCC’s relationship with that institution.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education collaborated with Hillsborough and Hinds Community Colleges through CCID in developing a three-year Troika project related to a trans-cultural nursing instructional program in Ecuador.

·         The Vice President for Academic Affairs and an HCC Social Science faculty member attended the Northwest International Education Association meeting in May at Pacific Lutheran University.  Three Highline faculty were awarded NIEA mini-grants to internationalized curriculum.

·         The Choral Music Department held a Pacific Rim concert that featured music from Japan, China, Thailand, and Hawaii. Members of the College community shared their expertise in languages and culture and included Xiaoling Yang (faculty exchange member from Shanghai Jiao Tong University) and international students.

·         The New Faculty Seminar Series session on “International initiatives at Highline Community College” was presented on April 7th by Dr. Jack Bermingham.  Ten new faculty attended.

·         A workshop on “Enhancing the Curriculum with Global Perspectives” brought in a speaker from Furman University (S.C.), Erik Ching, on May 19th with 10 faculty and staff attending.

·         Instructional Resources personnel with partial funding from the College’s U.S. Department of Education VIA grant has initiated a project to update the classroom map collection of the campus. The grant also funded an expansion of library holding on international topics.

·         The Vice President for Academic Affairs accompanied HCC’s President on a CCID sponsored program in Japan.  While there, they met with officials from a number education and business groups.

·         The Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Dean of Professional Technical Education presented at the CCID annual conference in Orlando, Florida on the College’s USAID funded projects in Namibia.

·         Cynthia Weilbacher, an English Language instructor from the Polytechnic of Namibia, spent spring quarter at HCC as our first faculty exchange member from the Polytechnic.  While here she taught ESL, worked in the tutoring center, and participated in Summer Institute.

·         The Dean of Extended Learning accompanied Dr. Bell to attend the “Cultura para el Desarrollo” conference in Jalisco, Mexico in May.  While there, both made presentations on business and education partnerships and small business development.  Dr. Bell signed a letter of agreement with Instituto de Formacion para el Trabijo while there.

 

Student Services

·         International Student Programs Implemented the SEVIS database that meets the US immigration guidelines.

 

C.                 The College will continue to increase the number of international students and nurture the existing systematic programs that promote interaction among international and native students.

 

Student Services

·         International Student Speak Out Program was held as part of the federally sponsored International Education Week.

·         This past year realized a substantial budget increase for intentional International Student Programming ($8,338 last year to $24,411 this fiscal year).  Among other things this increase will fully support and equalize the student leadership opportunities with hourly wages and training dollars for the five person International Student Leadership Council and is expected to significantly increase access to programming for international students.

 

Strategic Initiative #3:  Strengthen and expand the presence and role of the college within the communities it serves.

 

Activities:

A.         The College will examine the needs of local, state, national and international communities to determine appropriate college offerings and initiatives.

 

Instruction

·         Instruction has partnerships in Africa, Asia and Latin America and is exploring additional possibilities for programming.

·         Instruction staff represent the college at the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, World Trade Club, World Trade Center Tacoma, World Affairs Council, ACIIE, CCID, AACC, NAFSA, NISOD, NASBITE, and other national and international organizations.

·         The Music Department has visited area K-12 schools to work with local music teachers and students.

·         Professional Technical Staff have met with the Community College labor liaison with King County Labor Council to report on Highline programs, gain insight into how they see the labor market and issues that community colleges might need to address.

·         Professional Technical staff organized and conducted a very successful annual combined program advisory committee function.  New members were recognized and the contributions of these business and industry representatives were honored.

·         Professional Technical staff assisted in the research and design of a questionnaire to determine the need for additional allied health programs as the College looks ahead to planning for a allied health building.

·         Professional Technical staff conducted the second half of the 2001-2002 professional technical Education student follow-up study used to determine their satisfaction with their training, whether or not they are employed, and how relevant their training has been to their work.

·         Professional Technical staff met with a representative of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to discuss the Continuous Improvement and OCR report for 2002-2003

·         Education students completed service-learning hours in community based family literacy programs in the following schools: Thorndyke Elementary, Sunnydale Elementary, Bow Lake, and Wyn Luc.  These schools are in Highline, Tukwila, and Seattle school districts.

·         The Respiratory Care program continued to expand its collaboration with the college outreach department.  The Respiratory Care student club attended on and off campus events to publicize both the college and the RC program. The student club also sponsored a half-day Critical Care Conference.

·         The Business Information Technology Department met with industry professionals from Microsoft, Boeing, and the Northwest Association of Project Management to discuss new degree and certificate options in project management.

·         Hotel Tourism and Management coordinator participated in a day-long strategic planning forum for the Washington Department of Tourism, Office of Community Trade and Economic Development in Seattle in June.

·         Interior Design program instructors and students continued to partner with the YWCA in Kent to provide interior designs and implementation of those designs in short term residential apartments for low income women with children.

·         A Health and P.E. instructor serves on the Washington State Holocaust Resource Center educator’s board and is a founding member of the Somali Rights Network—a human rights group working nationally on the rights of Somali citizens around the globe.  The instructor has facilitated presentations on campus for both groups.

·         Instruction administrators frequently met with Washington’s state and national congressional delegations and testified in Olympia on higher education issues.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education mat with staffers in Senator Maria Cantwell’s Washington, DC office to discuss allied health training, workforce training initiatives, funding opportunities and economic development programs.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education participated monthly on the Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council Strategic Planning Committee.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education was recognized by the Highline School District for outstanding service and contribution to the Career and technical Education Advisory Board.

·         The Worker Retraining staff works closely with the WRT Advisory Committee, contacts WRT graduates, and meets with employers to assess current community needs. Information about suggested changes in curriculum is shared with Professional Technical program coordinators.

·         A Writing instructor coordinated the “Jump Start Your Writing” workshops open to students, faculty, and community members. Area writers worked with participants on creative approaches to coming up with ideas, finding the right words, and taking the plunge to get it all on paper.

·         A Writing instructor collaborated with a HCC Counselor on “Different Worlds”—a connection between art and poetry on display during June in the Library’s fourth floor.

·         With support from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, HCC has continued to deepen its partnership with the Highline School District to bring holistic literacy services to families in the district. Spring quarter, HCC collaborated with the Highline School District and Para Los Niños, a community-based organization, to secure a $20,000 United Way grant for a pilot program that brings Early Childhood Educational opportunities and culturally appropriate parenting outreach to our ESL families.

·         In July HCC’s Family Literacy Program is partnering with the Highline School District, the City of Burien's Parks and Recreation Department, and the Mexican consulate to bring family literacy and Latino language and culture activities to families in the community. Parents will study English while children increase their language skills at the summer reading academy and also learn more about Latino language and culture with four Mexican teachers brought to Burien through a special cultural exchange grant. This intergenerational approach to learning is the cornerstone of family literacy.

·         With the renewal of the Tukwila School District’s Even Start program for a second four-year period, Highline Community College has significantly expanded its involvement and commitment to the project, particularly in the areas of Early Childhood Education and Parent Education.  These service components, formerly provided by TSD, have now been fully integrated into HCC’s Education Department, under the leadership of department chair Alice Madsen.

·         The Puget Sound Early College program, with the assistance of former Tukwila School District superintendent Dr. Michael Silver, was able to secure the full cooperation of the Highline and Kent School Districts in recruiting students for PSEC.   District administrators worked collaboratively with PSEC planners to coordinate student mailings, district-wide announcements, and open house activities to promote PSEC as an educational option for 10^th-graders.

·         The Print Shop expanded their customer base and produces work for local governments and non-profit agencies.  It also gives students opportunity to work in a “real world” professional environment.

 

Student Services

·         . Participation on the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators Regional Advisory Board as the community college coordinator.

·         Student Programs Blood Drives are sponsored quarterly by Team Highline programs. This year’s student coordinator, Hai Ton has expanded the scope of the Blood Drive beyond the campus to our local community as well.

·         Team Highline has instituted the theme of service-learning. They coordinated a group of 30 students in collaboration with the student club, Trailblazers, to plant trees in Issaquah during a Saturday day outing.

·         Student Programs selected a local Food Service provider as opposed to a national company to facilitate all Food Services and Catering functions at the College.

·         Established a partnership with a local hotel of offer our international students a dormitory option for housing. 

 

Administration

·         OIR Director was elected to Executive position in Pacific Northwest Association for Institutional Research and Planning.

·         The number of annual financial closing adjustments on state reports was reduced from 31 to 2 by advanced analysis, improved tracking, process redesign, and staff training.

 

B.        The College will strengthen its visibility by developing a coordinated institutional

advancement program.

 

Student Services

·         Financial Aid Office collaborative efforts with the SBCTC in meeting with and training agency counselors and advisors (for agency funded students).

·         Student Programs has collaborated throughout the year with fundraising activities. In the past year over seven student leaders were referred to the for various speaking engagements and one student government member, James Howell, ASHCC Vice President for Administration served as a student member on the HCC Foundation Board.

 

C.                 The College will strengthen its outreach program to prospective students.

 

Instruction

·         Media Services met with Educational Planning and Advising and began work on a video that will help students get through the advising/counseling process.

·         Media Services produced a video for Mark McKay: "The Ask" a lecture for the Foundation’s Executive Board on how to make successful presentations for raising money for the college.

·         A Business Information Technology instructor is on the Advisory Board for the Business and Technology school of the newly established Todd Beamer High School.

·         Professional Technical Education personnel, in conjunction with the Puget Sound Career Consortium (tech prep), hosted a College Awareness Day in June at HCC for 20 high school teachers and counselors, raining their awareness of HCC professional/technical programs so that they may better inform their students in the secondary system.

·         The Office of Professional Technical Education organized “Drafting and Technology for Your Future;” a hands-on experience for students with the South King County Tech Prep Consortium and the HCC Engineering Department.

·         The Office of the Dean for Professional Technical Education hosted the annual High School Counselor Day during which counselors were exposed to HCC’s Professional Technical Education training programs, support services, faculty and staff.

·         The Dean of Professional Technical Education participated as an advisor for the Kent School District’s Small Learning Communities federal grants, and continues to work with the District on matters related to high school and college correlations.

·         The Workforce staff participates in job fairs, regularly presents information at local WorkSource and Career transition centers, and presents weekly intake workshops for dislocated workers.

·         Cooperative Education co-sponsored the Spring Festival which included 1,500 junior high, high school and HCC students.

·         The Tech Prep initiative continues to expand at HCC.  Nearly 300 students are expected to request tech prep credit for 2003-2004.

·         Members of the Art Department participated in a career day and talked with area high school students about HCC’s offerings.

 

Student Services

·         Sponsored the second annual Students of Color Opting to Reach Excellence conference for college-bound students in our local service area.

·         Expanding Your Horizons conference for over 300 junior high school girls to encourage them to pursue careers in math and science. Professional women from the South Puget Sound area volunteered to be workshop facilitators and keynote speakers.

·         Largest Spring Festival over, with over 1200 participants.

·         Sponsor Jostens’ Leadership workshop for 1000 local high school student leaders.

·         High School Principal/Counselor Day and High School Advisory Board meeting.

·         Sponsored two Financial Aid Nights for prospective students and their parents.

·         Worked with Tom Nixon, Program Chair of Washington Business Week, to mentor juniors at Highline High School for one week of leadership and business education.

·         Visited with over 8,000 prospective students through on-campus events, tours, community fairs and local high school career and college fairs.

·         Made contact with all of Highline High School 9^th grade students.

·         Maintained over fifty brochure racks at high schools and community-based organizations.

·         Sponsored a fall Open House to attract prospective students.

·         Advertised open housing using radio media.

·         Sent mailing to prospective students who had applied for admission but not enrolled.

·         Sent mailing to prospective students who had listed Highline on their FAFSA and had not applied for admissions.

·         HCC Childcare has developed new community connections for the past six months that have culminated with a letter of agreement with SeaMar Community Health Center. Highline Community College will serve as a clinical site for the nutrition/dietician students and this is expected to strengthen the current food program.

·         International Student Programs worked collaboratively with Extended Learning, KAPLAN and the local community to launch a short-term program.

·         International Student Programs developed a promotional video, CD and DVD and posters and enhanced the Web Site.

 

Administration

·         Members of the Financial Services staff participated in the Expanding Your Horizons program by sharing with junior high aged girls about career paths for women.

 

D.                 The College will build its capacity to carry out its role in the advancement of economic opportunity for the communities in the Highline Community College service area.

Instruction

·         The Center for Community Research and Assessment (a CEL initiative) conducted a business needs and outlook survey for the City of Federal Way.

·         The Higher Education Board awarded a $75,000 grant to HCC’s Education Department to develop and pilot a weekend cohort program in teacher education.  The project is designed to serve working adults who are pursuing a career change to education.  The core courses will be offered as “hybrids” -- part face-to face, part distance education -- in an interdisciplinary model that makes teaching the central theme.

·         The college was successful in securing a modest increase in its contract with the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA) to provide English-as-a-Second-Language instruction for refugee adults in Highline's service area.  Contracts were reduced by 31 percent, overall, in Highline’s region (Region 4).

·         In June, CEL focuses on new ways to meet community training needs and redefined the way it reaches out to perform contract training services.  They have created open enrollment classes to cater to the need of employers who have too few workers needing training to make a targeted class cost-effective.

·         CEL instituted a blanket marketing programs through the Quarterly and targeted mailings and advertising to specific groups.  “Invest in Yourself” came out in March and again in May and featured course offerings at the Federal Way Center. 

·         CEL developed a brochure to come out quarterly, “Learning Advantages” that features career development and personal enrichment courses.

·         CEL held an Open House at the federal Way Center in February.  Over 100 individuals and organizations attended and increased enrollments resulted.

·         The Small Business Development Center (a CEL initiative) increased the number of businesses served each month.  The South King County Education District Initiative, a partnership between the five cities in Highline’s service area plus King County and the Port of Seattle funds the SBDC through support from five area banks and Puget Sound Energy.  These relationships create a synergy out which other projects may come.

·         CEL staff has made numerous presentations to community organizations including Kiwanis, Rotary, Sister City groups, and economic development organizations.

·         The Dean of CEL worked with the Alliance for Corporate Education and is a member of its Cabinet, a small group that advises ACE on strategy and contract development. CEL contracted with ACE to provide instruction on data input related to trainee evaluations.  The Dean has also provided billable hours of service to ACE and ACE rented space at the Federal Way Center for training.

 

Administration

·         Coordinate massive construction projects on campus to minimize disruption on campus.  Inform neighbors about construction, work with City of Des Moines to minimize construction impacts.

·         Continued campus construction projects.

·         Signed letter of intent with developer to acquire rental space and visibility on Highway 99 for college use. 

·         Facilities staff met with the new Police Chief and the Director of Community Development for the City of Des Moines to discuss parking and construction. 

·         Safety & Security staff met with the new Des Moines Chief of Police to discuss ways to cooperate in providing services to the college.  Facilities continued their ongoing relationship with the City of Des Moines to work on capital project development, their ongoing relationship with King County Fire District for providing emergency response to campus situations, and their ongoing relationship with the Port of Seattle in developing noise abatement remodel projects.

·         Conducted discussions with City of Des Moines on permit and impact fees, north campus boundary developments and on-going town/gown issues. 

·         Consulted with Highline School District on construction issues. 

·         Oversaw remodeling to support Puget Sound early college program at Federal Way.

·         Participated on state wide collective bargaining process.

·         Participated in the development of community perception survey instruments.

 

Institutional Advancement

·         Highline Community College received $400,000 to create the Engineering Scholars Program (ESP).  This program will provide support for academically talented, financially needy students, enabling them to enter a university to pursue a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in engineering, following completion of an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in engineering.  This program will strengthen partnerships with area school districts, institutions of higher education and employers in the high technology industry to support students in their pursuit of a B.S. degree.

·         The 2003 Report to the Community was published in January.  Five thousand copies were distributed to supporters of the college, area business leaders, local and state politicians.  By sharing news of Highline's achievements and values with our constituents we are directly building a case for support -- from our community, area businesses, and potential donors.  For example, members of the SeaTac Hilton management team read about the Students of Color Opting to Reach Excellence (SCORE) conference and asked how they could get involved in future SCORE programs.

·         To better understand how the community perceives Highline Community College and its programs, the team of Hebert Research and Arscentia has been contracted to conduct Highline’s first Community Perception Survey and Communications Audit.  Four groups will be surveyed:  Community and business leaders; High school juniors and seniors; Community members-at-large (may also include parents of high school students); and currently enrolled Highline students.   

 

Strategic Initiative #4:  Continue to foster a college climate that nourishes the well being and productivity of the college community.

Activities:

A.                  The College will continue to support positive interactions and promote candid, open exchange of ideas concerning new innovations.

 

 

Instruction

·         Instruction hosted a faculty administrator reception during Fall Quarter, took part in Opening Week activities, and Professional Development Day activities.

·         The Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs held a series of meetings with exempt staff to discuss job satisfaction, workplace climate, access to administrators, and ways to improve campus climate.

·         The Faculty Resource Center held a Coordinator Academy (two sessions) to train faculty coordinators.  The sessions covered responsibilities, policies, and procedures of their positions. The FRC also hosted a Brown Bag series for faculty to discuss the book The Passionate Teacher by Robert Fried.

·         Based on a motion approved by Instruction Cabinet, instruction committees refined and/or developed their practices for rotation of membership.  These enhanced practices will help promote wider participation and more orderly transitions of membership and leadership.

·         A Professional Technical staff member chaired the Kick-Off Luncheon Committee for Opening Week Activities focusing on a Hawaiian theme including faculty musicians and student worker entertainment.

·         Numerous instruction faculty and staff assisted with the design and plan for Opening Week as well as volunteering to assist with all activities.

·         Instruction faculty and staff serve on most campus wide committees including Faculty Senate, Student Outcomes and Assessment, Coordinated Studies, Diversity/Globalism, Culture, Gender, and Globalism department, Faculty Resource Center Advisory Board, Student Retention to name only a few.

·         Professional Technical staff met with new program coordinators to review program advisory committee policy, operating procedures, and responsibilities.

·         Two instructors from Health and P.E. presented a seminar on the Atkins Diet to the entire campus community.  Attendance with standing room only.

·        Medical Assisting and Business Information Technology are working with Human Service, Nursing, and Respiratory Care to create health care industry partnerships and initiatives among the departments on campus.

·         The Worker Retraining staff and Professional Technical Program coordinators and managers met and discussed worker retraining students’ success, retention, graduation, and re-employment issues.  They also examined curriculum content, class sequencing, pre-requisite relevance, expected business and industry employment needs, and program costs (books, fees, supplies, tools).

·         The Director for Cooperative Education and Worker Retraining attended numerous conferences and received training on articulation processes, education policy as it applies to DSHS and Employment Security, Corrections Clearing House training, and grant review guidelines training with SBCTC.

·         The Opening Week 2004 Committee has worked with Instruction, Student Services, and HCEA to develop a calendar template that, going forward, will reduce cross-scheduling conflicts and will better meets the needs of constituent groups.

·         The Summer Institute 2003-04 Symposium presented the results of the 9 projects implemented during the past year.  Topics ranged from “Math Underpreparedness in Chemistry” to “Exploring Africa with a Personalized Learning Approach

·        The Music Department hosted quarterly receptions for music students to recognize their achievements and encourage general esprit de corps.

 

Student Services

·          Shared database between Financial Aid and Admissions/Entry Services to contact students who have applied for aid but have not applied for admissions to Highline Community College.

·         As part of the new policy development procedures for the campus, the ASHCC student government ahs successfully participated in preparing and proposing new campus policy. The newly passed smoking policy was initially developed by student government.

 

Administration

·         Pursued alternative parking for campus in wake of losing Midway parking.

·         Facilities began the planning process for improving parking lot lighting this year.

·         Conducted two open forums on campus transportation, formulated alternatives, began re-development of north parking lot to add parking capacity. 

·         Consulted with Metro and local property owners about development of alternative parking opportunities. 

·         Participated in faculty collective bargaining and classified state-wide collective bargaining. 

·         Continued development of additional office capacity for campus through work with private developer. 

·         Funded implementation of campus no-smoking policy.

·         Purchasing designed and implemented a pilot program for procurement card use on campus which will eventually improve efficiency for all departments when purchasing goods and services.

 

Institutional Advancement

• The Recruitment and Retention Council has finalized their first report to the campus, which will provide an overview of the current status of recruitment and retention of faculty and staff of color, as of Spring 2003. It creates a baseline from which future progress can be measured, and it provides a beginning for a campus conversation about ways to improve recruitment and retention and, more importantly, a catalyst for implementing systemic changes.

 

• The Office of Resource Development worked with Highline’s faculty to initiate the grant process for the Exceptional Faculty Awards, a $50,000 endowment fund created to assist Highline's faculty in funding special projects. The recipients of the inaugural awards were distributed from the Exceptional Faculty Awards Endowment as follows:  Diana Lee, Dusty Wilson, and Aaron Warnock received $3,000 for their project "Part-Time Math Instructor Classroom."  Glen Avantaggio received $1,000 for his project "Philosophy & Religions of India: Improving Three D/G Courses for Highline Community College." 

 

B.                 The College will create programs and support training, professional growth and development for all employees.

 

Instruction

·         ID staff continued with BlackBoard rollout, including teaching a series of workshops, including “All-in-One” sessions and a series of four smaller workshops (that together make up the All-in-One) , conducting one-on-one support for faculty project/course development , developing customized manuals and print/web support materials for faculty, and offering weekly technology in teaching workshops.

·         Instructional Design continued to coordinate Public and Direct Instruction web presences, provided regular updates of the on-line staff and department directories, posted the final Quarterly Schedules, continued forwarding webmaster e-mail to appropriate users on campus, and worked with several departments requesting links in “What's Up at Highline.”

·         The College’s U.S. Department of Education Title VIA grant paid for eight Highline faculty to attend a workshop offered by the University of Washington on effective use of documentary films in the classroom. It also funded two on-campus workshops on effective strategies for creating courses around international themes. Twenty-two faculty attended these sessions.

·         Reference librarians conducted over 50 sessions of bibliographic instruction requested by Highline faculty.

·         The Faculty Resource Center offered New Faculty Orientation seminars to acquaint new instructors with one another, College policies, procedures, and resources, and instructor responsibilities. The FRC also offered Education 299 to all faculty interested in learning more about teaching in the community college setting.  Designed to assist instructors coming from business, industry, or other education settings, the course focuses on successful classroom pedagogies and communication styles.

·         During Opening Week 2003, the Faculty Resource Center and the Office of Instruction co-sponsored the first in a series of training academies for department coordinators.  That series continued throughout the academic year, covering topics such as part-time faculty hiring and evaluation, departmental assessment, and leadership.  The series is designed to aid coordinators to be more effective and efficient in their tasks.

·         Professional Technical staff participated in the Performance Appraisal Pilot Group Training.

·         Members of the Accounting Department attended a two-day workshop this summer sponsored by the Northwest Accounting Educators.  Both professional and pedagogical issues were addressed at this workshop. Most other Business Division faculty attended conferences or other professional development activities.

·         Eight Highline Library staff members attended the Northwest EndUser Group meeting and five gave presentations. A HCC librarian was Vice Chair and organized the program and its pre-conference training sessions. She is now Chairperson for the organization.

·         CEL completed internal contract training for the technology departments and has begun working with Human Resources to build additional training for new employees.

·         A number of Highline faculty members have had books published this academic year including instructors from psychology, writing, computer science, para-legal, and communications.

·         A number of Highline instructors were recognized by Who’s Who Among University and College Teachers for 2004.

·         A business faculty member was the recipient of the “Outstanding Colleague” award given to one community college instructor every year by Central Washington University’s Business Education Division.

·         The Business Information Technology Department presented at the state wide WorkFirst Conference in Olympia in April, demonstrating Highline’s BTech lab model.

·         Two members of the Business Department attended the North American Small Business International Trade Educators. The focus of this conference is the launching of newly developed international trade certification for students and practitioners in international trade.

·         The Medical Assisting Department hosted the state wide Medical Assistants conference in April. The Medical Assisting coordinator served at the president of this association for 2003-2004.

·         Two Highline instructors (Business, and Production Illustration) presented at the American Association of Community Colleges national conference on Highline’s capstone classes in marketing and production illustration.

·         The Office of the Dean of Professional Technical Education assisted four professional technical education instructors in obtaining industry-based professional development grants totaling $9800. 

·         The Coordinator for Community, Gender, and Global Studies received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Washington state Community & Technical College Humanities conference. 

·         The New Faculty Seminar Series session on “Teaching experiences” brought together new faculty and past Outstanding Faculty Award winners on March 5th.  This session was a chance for senior faculty members to share their impressions and experiences of teaching at Highline and to engage in a discussion of pedagogy. Twenty faculty participated.

·         Three HCC faculty and the Chinese exchange faculty member gave workshops at this year's prestigious NISOD community college conference, May 24-26, in Austin, TX. These faculty members were Susan Landgraf (Writing), Ellen Hoffman (Humanities), Derek Greenfield (Sociology) and Xiaoling Yang (Chinese Exchange Faculty).

 

Student Services

·         Eighty percent of Enrollment Services staff and 100% of admissions staff completed CPR training.

·         Support staff in attending council meetings, workshops and training conferences.

·         Enrollment Services quarterly staff training and development meetings.

 

Administration

·         Provide leadership for Professional Development Day.  Complete analysis and dissemination of Campus Climate survey during opening week, to staff groups and on Professional Development Day.

·         Implemented performance appraisal processes for both the classified staff (EDPP-Employee Development & Performance Plan) and exempt/administrators (EAPAS-Exempt and Administrative Performance Appraisal System). EDPP is a state-mandated process; EAPAS is a home-grown program developed by HCC staff. 

·         Supported staff in submitting applications to graduate school, Federal Way Chamber of Commerce leadership academy, and the WELA program. 

·         Staff attended workshops in athletic development and participated in Washington Executive Leadership Academy for mid-level community college professionals. 

·         An introduction to technology resources at Highline segment is now included in the Human Resources orientation for new employees to help them become productive more quickly.

·         Provided free CPR and First-aid Training courses to Highline employees.

·         OIR Director continued progress toward attainment of a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

·         OIR Director participated in the CIS Train-the-Trainer program to provide an institutional resource for Administrative Systems training.

·         Contracted for an evaluation of the Office of Institutional Research in compliance with the Title III grant assurances.

·         OIR Director participated (along with lots of other folks) in the Interest-based Bargaining sessions last year.

·         Two Safety & Security Officers attended a one-day seminar on weapons of mass destruction, sponsored by the Homeland Security Department.

·         Financial services served as a pilot for the Exempt and Administrative Performance Appraisal System.

·         The Financial Services team developed a team vision through a series of team building sessions and developed the groundwork for preparing evaluations for the office.

·         Business Office and Human Resources worked together to implement paperless pay stub for all employees.

·         Under Recruit and Retention sponsorship, HR was involved in conducting focus sessions for classified and exempt staff of color.

·         HR and Center for Extended Learning co-created another piece of the New Employee Orientation Program:  an orientation workshop “Thriving at Highline”.  The workshop is given quarterly and invites all new employees to the 3-hour session.

·         Bookstore staff members attended the annual meeting of the National Association of College Stores and participated in the NW Bookstore Council meeting held in Tacoma.

·         The Safety & Security staff were all trained in CPR, one staff member attended Advanced Supervisory Training, and another one will attend the Supervisory Training in January.

 

C.                 The College will maintain and expand its tradition of acknowledging excellence in teaching, service and innovative contributions to the institution.

 

·         In partnership with KeyBank, the Foundation sponsored the 2004 Employee of the Year award, a $1,500 award given out to one of Highline’s outstanding employees.  This year, the award was given to Denise Kledzik, a member of the Human Resource team and long time dedicated employee of the college.

 

·         The Office of Resource Development worked with Highline’s faculty to initiate the grant process for the Exceptional Faculty Awards, a $50,000 endowment fund created to assist Highline's faculty in funding special projects. The recipients of the inaugural awards were distributed from the Exceptional Faculty Awards Endowment as follows:

o        Diana Lee, Dusty Wilson, and Aaron Warnock received $3,000 for their project "Part-Time Math Instructor Classroom." 

o        Glen Avantaggio received $1,000 for his project "Philosophy & Religions of India: Improving Three D/G Courses for Highline Community College." 

 

D.                 The College will reassess and revamp its current internal communication system to improve quality and responsiveness.

 

Administration

 

·         Administrative Technology and Human Resources worked together to implement two new applications to improve staff productivity: Automated Time Reporting for hourly classified employees and Electronic Employment Application Review. 

·         Administrative Technology and Student Services worked together to implement two new applications to improve service to students and faculty: Automated Wait Lists for students and Electronic Distribution of Class Rosters for faculty.

·         Facilities improved the response time for campus work orders. 

·         Completed upgrades to the main campus network backbone increasing its speed by a factor of ten and providing for several thousand more devices to be attached in future years.

·         Completed upgrades to the telephone switch in preparation for additional circuits to support the new buildings which will be opening in the coming academic year.

·         OIR continued to work with Student Services and Human Resources to improve the quality of student and personnel data.

·         OIR participated in a national study on instructional costs. The results of the study will provide comparative data for selected instructional program.

·         OIR participated in a national benchmarking study for community colleges. The results of the study will enable Highline to identify peer institutions for determining comparability in institutional characteristics, student populations, staffing, funding, educational resources, and capital investments.

·         Provided a database framework for tracking contacts for the Namibia delegation.

·         Conducted a cross reference analysis to document data housed in the Student Management System

·         Developed and enhanced data extraction processes to gain greater efficiencies for research and analysis.

·         Commenced development of a database for use by the college community to access frequently requested information.

·         Created an electronic image of all of the transfer reports received over the past ten years from Washington four-year institutions.

·         Created an electronic file summarizing selected transfer student data.

·                                                                                                                                 OIR provided quarterly snapshots of student populations.

·         The Small and Attractive inventory data base was updated and a physical inventory is underway in purchasing.

·         File and document storage and retention were restructured making historical data more easily available to campus staff.

·         The data in the Accounts Receivable sub-ledger was analyzed to determine the validity and potential for collection of the outstanding accounts. A plan of action was developed to improve the rate of collection.

·         The Chart of Accounts Sub Sub Object codes were assessed and analyzed to determine potential to simplify coding of transactions for all staff to save time and reduce the number of errors.  The review resulted in creating a concise list of account codes and designing a training session to familiarize staff with the changes.

·         The annual budget process was expanded to include all general operating funds, self support funds and auxiliary services funds. 

·         Financial Services worked with Administrative Technology to develop an online database of signature authorities for transactions.