SSCC board mulls policies, student achievement data

SSCC board mulls policies, student achievement data

By BRANDY CHANDLER

The Highland County Press

   DUNKINSVILLE – While building on strengths such as working together and understanding major social and economic trends that affect the institution, the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees discussed a self-assessment report, outlining that they need to work on areas of measuring and responding to student success once they left the school, in

order for the institution to become stronger.

   The board met Jan. 23-24 at the scenic Murphin Ridge Inn in Adams County. As part of their agenda for the two-day event, they reviewed a self-assessment report from the Governance Institute for Student Success (GISS).  

   

According to the report, its purpose was to “encourage reflection and assessment and to foster learning during the (GISS). All governing board members of Ohio’s community and technical colleges were afforded the opportunity to complete the survey... This report serves as a tool for both self-assessment and group assessment and to inform constructive dialogue on the board’s strengths and areas requiring greater attention. In conducting a self-assessment, the board helps set standards, clarifies expectations, and serves as an example of ongoing commitment to accountability needed to ensure student success for the college community.”

   Measuring the success of SSCC’s graduates was an area where the board felt they needed growth. 

   

The board members discussed what happened to Southern State students once they graduated, how successful they were in finding employment, and what happened to the students who dropped out before they completed their programs.  

   

By measuring where those students are, and how successful they were once they obtained a degree or certificate can tell the school if they are being successful in what they’re providing the students, board members said.

“How do we decide if we’re getting the job done?” asked board president Kay Ayres. “If you’re in manufacturing you know you’re a success if your product sells and you’re making money.”

  

SSCC President Dr. Kevin Boys said, “Our greatest weakness is not with the ones who complete, but the ones who just disappear.”

   

However, employers, Boys said, would be the ones who could best assess how students perform, once out of college. 

   

Ayres said that with the current state of the economy and high unemployment rate, that was another complication in tracking former student success. 

   

Board member Rory Ryan said that sharing the success stories of some of the various program graduates would be a good partial assessment. 

   

Board member Don Moore said that even if area high schools were asked what became of their students, they would have a hard time answering. 

  

Boys said that it’s a difficult area to track, and that a research and development department – which SSCC does not have – would be in charge of such data at other schools. 

   

It was discussed whether or not an alumni association could work on collecting such data. Boys said that alumni associations for community colleges are still in a relatively young stage. 

   

Board member Dr. Vickie Wilson asked about job placement for students, and while Boys said that occasionally employers will call and ask for a specific sort of student for internships, it was not the norm. 

 

   Board member Leilani Popp said that other institutions have career centers. Boys said that while SSCC does not have a career center, there are some faculty members who do work with job placement, and resumé help. 

   When looking at other areas of assessment, the board said they would like to see better training for new board members that was more comprehensive and detailed. 

   

Ryan said that one of his first items of business as a new board member was to help pick a college president, with minimal orientation to the board.  

   Board members stressed the need for a policy manual for incoming board members.

   

Board member Ben Houser also attended the meeting. Michelle Cimis and Paul Hall were not in attendance at Sunday’s meeting.

   

The board continues to be one member short, after the Ohio Senate rejected former Gov. Ted Strickland’s appointment of Judith Craig from Fayette County.

   

Former Ohio Sen. and current state Rep. John Carey told The Highland County Press those appointed by Strickland prior to the Nov. 2 midterm election were approved, and those appointed after the election were rejected.

   However, Craig had been appointed by Strickland to the board in September 2010, prior to the Nov. 2 election, and was sworn in to serve as a board member by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss during a Sept. 8 board meeting.

   Ayres told the board Sunday she has had no word from the governor’s office on when the vacancy may be filled.

DUNKINSVILLE – While building on strengths such as working together and understanding major social and economic trends that affect the institution, the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees discussed a self-assessment report, outlining that they need to work on areas of measuring and responding to student success once they left the school, in order for the institution to become stronger.

  
The board met Jan. 23-24 at the scenic Murphin Ridge Inn in Adams County. As part of their agenda for the two-day event, they reviewed a self-assessment report from the Governance Institute for Student Success (GISS).  

   

According to the report, its purpose was to “encourage reflection and assessment and to foster learning during the (GISS). All governing board members of Ohio’s community and technical colleges were afforded the opportunity to complete the survey... This report serves as a tool for both self-assessment and group assessment and to inform constructive dialogue on the board’s strengths and areas requiring greater attention. In conducting a self-assessment, the board helps set standards, clarifies expectations, and serves as an example of ongoing commitment to accountability needed to ensure student success for the college community.”

  
Measuring the success of SSCC’s graduates was an area where the board felt they needed growth. 

   

The board members discussed what happened to Southern State students once they graduated, how successful they were in finding employment, and what happened to the students who dropped out before they completed their programs.  

   

By measuring where those students are, and how successful they were once they obtained a degree or certificate can tell the school if they are being successful in what they’re providing the students, board members said.

“How do we decide if we’re getting the job done?” asked board president Kay Ayres. “If you’re in manufacturing you know you’re a success if your product sells and you’re making money.”

  

SSCC President Dr. Kevin Boys said, “Our greatest weakness is not with the ones who complete, but the ones who just disappear.”

   

However, employers, Boys said, would be the ones who could best assess how students perform, once out of college. 

   

Ayres said that with the current state of the economy and high unemployment rate, that was another complication in tracking former student success. 

   

Board member Rory Ryan said that sharing the success stories of some of the various program graduates would be a good partial assessment. 

   

Board member Don Moore said that even if area high schools were asked what became of their students, they would have a hard time answering. 

  

Boys said that it’s a difficult area to track, and that a research and development department – which SSCC does not have – would be in charge of such data at other schools. 

   

It was discussed whether or not an alumni association could work on collecting such data. Boys said that alumni associations for community colleges are still in a relatively young stage. 

   

Board member Dr. Vickie Wilson asked about job placement for students, and while Boys said that occasionally employers will call and ask for a specific sort of student for internships, it was not the norm. 

 

   Board member Leilani Popp said that other institutions have career centers. Boys said that while SSCC does not have a career center, there are some faculty members who do work with job placement, and resumé help. 

   When looking at other areas of assessment, the board said they would like to see better training for new board members that was more comprehensive and detailed. 

   

Ryan said that one of his first items of business as a new board member was to help pick a college president, with minimal orientation to the board.  

  
Board members stressed the need for a policy manual for incoming board members.

   

Board member Ben Houser also attended the meeting. Michelle Cimis and Paul Hall were not in attendance at Sunday’s meeting.

   

The board continues to be one member short, after the Ohio Senate rejected former Gov. Ted Strickland’s appointment of Judith Craig from Fayette County.

   

Former Ohio Sen. and current state Rep. John Carey told The Highland County Press those appointed by Strickland prior to the Nov. 2 midterm election were approved, and those appointed after the election were rejected.

  
However, Craig had been appointed by Strickland to the board in September 2010, prior to the Nov. 2 election, and was sworn in to serve as a board member by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss during a Sept. 8 board meeting.

Ayres told the board Sunday she has had no word from the governor’s office on when the vacancy may be filled.