Institutional Effectiveness – As part of Richland’s Achieving the Dream initiative, English faculty are piloting components aimed at helping under-resourced students successfully complete the course and develop reading and writing skills to be successful in other college courses. Students from select English 1301 sections participated in four focus groups May 7-8 to provide valuable feedback about their experiences in the pilot sections and suggest improvements for student learning. Faculty will review results from the focus groups and develop action plans for implementation in the next academic year.
Sustainable Community Building – The Richland College Counseling Center hosted its second annual Healthy Living Fair on April 24, featuring 30 groups and organizations representing various aspects of healthy living. The nearly 200 student, faculty and staff participants learned about a variety of issues from preventing domestic violence and substance abuse to community gardening and yoga. The event was coordinated by Julie Hanson and Katie Neff, Richland College counselors, along with the assistance of Richland College Phi Theta Kappa student volunteers and Office of Student Life staff.
Student Success — Congratulations to Karla Hernandez, former Richland College art student, on her acceptance into the Yale Summer School of Art, a highly rigorous, six-week summer session for academic credit, in Norfolk, Conn. The application process is incredibly competitive, and Karla, who is currently attending the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), is one of only two KCAI applicants to progress successfully through KCAI’s own selection panel, and the only KCAI applicant to get accepted into the Norfolk program. While attending Richland College, Karla studied art with Vicki Mayhan, Tom Motley, Eric Eley and Brenda McKinney.
May 13 13
Kelley, Weaver attend TACE Conference
Employee Success – Konley Kelley, Richland College assistant dean of corporate services, and Melinda Weaver, dean of continuing education, participated in the recent the Texas Administrators of Continuing Education (TACE) Conference in Austin. Konley and Melinda served on the TACE Conference Planning Committee and worked on the TACE Vendor Subcommittee for this annual event. Approximately 200 community and technical college leaders attended the conference which included presentations from numerous colleges and reports from state higher education and government agencies. Mr. Kelley also served on a panel discussing continuing education and contract training marketing strategies.
Institutional Effectiveness – One of the strengths of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is the public-private partnership and the program’s reliance on the many volunteers who serve in its success. Contributing to that success are Fonda Vera, Richland College executive dean, office of planning, research, effectiveness, and development, and Bao Huynh, director of institutional research, who participated in annual, week-long, examiner training sessions to qualify as volunteer senior Baldrige examiners during the next national quality application review cycle.
Sustainable Community Building – Richland College partnered with the City of Dallas a second time in hosting the city’s spring 2013 Recycle Round Up event. Items such as cardboard, ewaste (computers, printers, keyboards, televisions), tires, metal, plastic bags, medical equipment, light bulbs, fluorescent lamps, Styrofoam, and clothing were dropped off by area citizens in 526 vehicles. A shredding service was also provided for secure, document shredding, and the Dallas Police Department collected expired pharmaceuticals. Seventeen Richland College students and one El Centro College student spent the day volunteering as part of their Service Learning instructional credit, and Richland College staff volunteers, Facilities Services employees and College Police assisted with the event.
Student Success – Richland College inducted 318 students into its Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Alpha Xi chapter during the spring 2013 induction ceremony on April 28. The honorary society, led by co-advisors Jon Ewing and Melanie Pruitt, recognizes and encourages scholarship, leadership development, and service. Muneer Muneer was recognized as a 2012 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and as a 2012 Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholar, both national Phi Theta Kappa scholarship awards. Sam Tinsley, Richland College 2012-2013 Excellence in Teaching recipient, was the keynote speaker. More than 200 students, faculty, staff, and guests also attended Richland College’s 25th annual Student Success Awards, An Evening of Elegance, on April 23. Outstanding students were honored in athletics; disability services; game technology; GED Transition; journalism/student media; Leadership Richland; multimedia; Richland Collegiate High School mentoring, service learning, and leadership; Student Government Association; travel, exposition and meeting management; TRIO; and Veterans Affairs.
Institutional Effectiveness – Richland College’s Multicultural Center and Athletics department recently submitted drafts of their annual program review to the Office of Planning, Research, Effectiveness, and Development (OPRED) as a progress check on this annual requirement. OPRED is meeting with administrative support and student services workgroups throughout April and May to help facilitate successful program review completion by the end of the academic year. The annual program review helps workgroups to be strategic in their pursuit of outcomes assessment and performance improvement in student services and institutional support.
Sustainable Community Building — Tandy Dollar, Richland College Garland Campus director of chamber and community relations, and Kimberly Wilkins, continuing education & workforce training coordinator, represented Richland College at the 4th Annual Garland Chamber Business Expo on April 23. Richland College was one of 61 participating organizations at the event held at the Curtis Culwell Center. More than 300 people attended the Expo, which included networking activities and marketing workshops.
Employee Success – As part of its annual Appreciation Week activities, April 22-26, the Richland College Council for Teaching and Learning hosted its annual Student Engagement Award Ceremony on April 24 to recognize faculty who support and enrich the learning cultures, climates, and contexts throughout Richland College. Congratulations to this year’s honorees: Sherry Dean and Jennifer Millspaugh, speech communication professors; Ed Luter, English professor; and Clive Siegle, history professor.