community college report - Tennessee`s Community Colleges

WINTER 2013 COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
REPORT
ISSUE 30
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
REPORT
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Welcome to the 30th edition of the Community College
Report, a quarterly letter from Tennessee Board of Regents
two-year college presidents. This issue features six themes:
Completion, Partnership, Science & Innovation, Success
Stories, Arts & Culture and Workforce Development. Each
theme is identified by a distinctive icon.
Completion Partnership
WINTER 2013 ISSUE 30
Science &
Innovation
Success
Stories
Arts &
Culture
Workforce
Development
The Community College Report is available also online at
http://communitycolleges.tbr.edu/about/ccreport/.
ŸCHATTANOOGA STATE
ŸMOTLOW STATE
ŸROANE STATE
ŸCLEVELAND STATE
ŸNASHVILLE STATE
ŸSOUTHWEST TENNESSEE
ŸCOLUMBIA STATE
ŸNORTHEAST STATE
ŸVOLUNTEER STATE
ŸDYERSBURG STATE
ŸPELLISSIPPI STATE
ŸWALTERS STATE
www.chattanoogastate.edu
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www.clevelandstate.edu
Page 4
www.columbiastate.edu
Page 5
www.dscc.edu
Page 6
www.mscc.edu
Page 8
www.nscc.edu
Page 9
www.northeaststate.edu
Page 10
www.pstcc.edu
Page 11
www.roanestate.edu
Page 12
www.southwest.tn.edu
Page 13
www.volstate.edu
Page 14
www.ws.edu
Page 15
ŸJACKSON STATE
www.jscc.edu
Page 7
Page 2
Winter 2013
Community College Report
Chattanooga State
Community College
423-697-4404
www.chattanoogastate.edu
Reading Program Redesign Shows Success
Redesign of the college reading program began in the spring of 2012. Left to right: Charles Parks, Hollyanna White,
Toney Phifer, Jeff Hanna and David Stanislawski
Two CSCC Classes
Chosen for Coursera
Pilot
Two Regents Online Degree Program
(RODP) courses were selected by TBR
for a Fall 2013 pilot using the Coursera
platform. Previously, reading was taught
through lecture in classes of approximately 20 students. The creation of
a Reading Emporium, consisting of
84 computer stations supported by
faculty and tutors, allows students to
work independently and focus on their
own learning challenges.
Now, once students demonstrate
mastery of a unit, they can move to
the next unit. This gives students who
are excelling an opportunity to exit the
course early, and it ensures full
competency. Students who need extra
support can use the Emporium outside
of their class time to get additional
help. The success rate in academic year 20122013 was 64 percent versus less than
50 percent for the previous year using
the traditional methodology. More
than 1,200 students came through the
Reading Emporium during the year with
a total of over 52,000 visits.
One of these courses is Chattanooga
State’s Introduction to Chemistry I
developed by Dr. David Stanislawski,
Professor of Chemistry. His pilot
explores how new tools available in the
Coursera platform designed for MOOCs
can be used to enhance online course
delivery.
Over four months, Dr. Stanislawski,
working with a Chattanooga State
design team, transformed each course
module through the introduction of
four sets of videos: one covering the introduction of each issue; one providing
the Chemistry background; one delivering a “real world” application; and
a conclusion. Peer-graded Reflection
Papers were also added to the course
architecture. Finally, multiple interactive learning
objects were developed to enable
students to practice the chemistry
they were learning.
Morning Pointe Workforce Development Partnership
Morning Pointe, a division of Independent Healthcare Properties, has developed a unique social model in assisted
living. Each resident is provided
support for an active lifestyle -- a
private apartment and service, and assistance from a warm and experienced
staff -- all enabling residents to live
their senior years to the fullest. This
level of service demands a well-trained
and versatile workforce.
Chattanooga State is developing that
workforce for the 23-location provider
of assisted living throughout Tennessee.
The college is focusing on the develop-
Community College Report
Winter 2013
ment of an employee pipeline consisting of Resident’s Assistants, Certified
Nursing Assistants, Registered Nurses,
Maintenance Professionals and Supervisors, as well as strengthening the
performance of the current staff. The
college provides technical and managerial training and soft skills that enhance
staff-resident relations, job performance and advancement.
This one-on-one partnership continues
Chattanooga State’s tradition of focusing on the workforce needs of local
employers.
Page 3
cleveland state
Community College
423-472-7141
www.clevelandstatecc.edu
CSCC Opens New
Service-Learning Lab
Cleveland State Community College
recently held a ribbon-cutting for the
new Service-Learning Lab and The
Caring Place Sac Pac Program.
Seated: Kim Owens, Vice President, University of
Phoenix; Dr. Carl Hite, CSCC. Standing: Ryan Hampton,
Campus Director II, University of Phoenix; O’Brien
McCarty, Southeast Regional Manager, University of
Phoenix; Lydia Syed, Advisor, National Accounts,
University of Phoenix; Dr. Denise King, Vice President
for Academic Affairs, CSCC.
CSCC Signs Articulation Agreement with
University of Phoenix
Cleveland State Community College
recently signed an articulation agreement with University of Phoenix that
will ensure a smooth transition for CSCC
graduates to transfer to University of
Phoenix to complete their bachelor’s
degrees.
The articulation agreement allows a
seamless transfer of credits and offers
Cleveland State graduates a five percent
tuition reduction at University of Phoenix.
“Our students need a variety of options.
We have a wide range of students. Some
of them transfer to local universities
where they attend face-to-face and on
ground classes, but not everybody can
do that,” Dr. Denise King, Vice President
for Academic Affairs, said.
“They have family responsibilities and
obligations that don’t allow them to
attend class full-time during the day, so
having options like accelerated programs
at night or online degree programs like
the University of Phoenix offers—those
create choices for our students to go on
and continue their education—both in
content and in delivery.”
Page 4
The Sac Pac program started in January 2012 and was created to care for
children in Bradley County who are
living in poverty by providing packs
with kid-friendly, nutritious meals to
students each weekend during the
school year.
(Front Row, L-R) Lou Ann Wright, Bill Brown, Carl Hite,
Bob Hardin, Lee Ann Lowe. Reba Terry, Julie Jones,
Sandra Kay Williams, Denise King, and Tommy Wright.
(Back Row, L-R) Sherry Holloway, Margo Fitzgerald,
Mike Seago, Toni Miles, Guy Davis, and Kourtney
Yonge.
Coordinator Lee Anne Lowe, said,
“Within 16 days, 25,000 pounds
(approximately 5,500 bags) of food
have been unwrapped and unloaded,
bagged, boxed and partially delivered
to 459 children in our county,” Lowe
said. “Each one of these bags represents a child in our county.”
The program currently provides more
than 400 packs of food weekly to
local elementary schools. The Sac
Pac Program will provide on-campus
service-learning and community service volunteer opportunities for CSCC
students, faculty, staff and community
citizens.
Grammy-Winning Native
American Flutist Joseph
Firecrow Comes to CSCC
Cleveland State Community College
recently hosted Grammy Award-Winning
Native American Flutist Joseph Firecrow,
to campus as a part of the 2013-2014
Program Series.
Firecrow’s accomplishments include:
a Grammy in the New Age category, a
Grammy nomination in the Best Native
American Music Album category, six
Native American Music Awards including Songwriter of the Year and Artist of
the Year and a Telly award. His powerful
performance weaves transcendent flute
with Native American storytelling and
traditional drumming, taking one on a
journey into true American history.
“Cleveland State is excited to have the
2010 winner of the Grammy Award
Winter 2013
Joseph Firecrow for the Best New Age Album Mr. Joseph
FireCrow on our campus,” stated Tracey
Wright, Director of Special Programs and
Community Relations.
Firecrow stated, “The natural beauty of the
flute evokes very powerful emotions. The
traditional flute is social, not ceremonial, in
nature and should always be treated with
that in mind and spirit.”
Community College Report
columbia State
Community College
931-540-2722
www.columbiastate.edu
Advanced Integrated Industrial Technology Program
Hosts Grand Opening at Spring Hill Location
Manufacturing has moved to sophisticated,
high-tech computerized technology, and
the demand for qualified, skilled workers in
Middle Tennessee has grown in recent years.
In response to the workforce demand, and
in concert with industry leaders, Columbia State’s Advanced Integrated Industrial
Technology program was designed to prepare
graduates for careers related to manufacturing with an emphasis on technology, critical
thinking and problem solving. Program students take courses in the basic fundamentals
of engineering and technology and move to
advanced applications, including robotics,
hydraulics and pneumatics.
Columbia State’s AiiT program, which
launched in fall 2012, is located at the
Northfield Workforce Development and
Conference Center in Spring Hill. The program has 29 students enrolled and features
world-class, state-of-the-art training equipment, which helps prepare students to enter
today’s modern manufacturing field. The
Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president,
is joined by Dearl Lampley, dean of science,
technology and mathematics; John Woodason, AiiT program director and instructor;
and Dean Dickey, Columbia mayor, as well
as a number of Columbia business men and
women.
Nov. 7 AiiT grand opening event included
an overview of program operation, ribbon
cutting ceremony, and demonstration and
tour of the lab and equipment, introducing
industry and sector leaders to the NWDCC
facility and the equipment used in the
program.
STEM Girls Learn About Career Opportunities at Event
Columbia State Community College held its
inaugural “Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics Girls Really Love Science”
event at the Columbia campus Oct. 26. STEM
GiRLS was designed to teach middle school
girls about the many opportunities and
careers available in STEM fields. More than
300 middle school girls were in attendance
for the day-long event that featured educational and interactive hands-on workshops
designed to engage and encourage the girls
as they begin to think about their futures.
Twenty-one planned fun and engaging activities were led by Columbia State instructors, volunteer students and external STEM
professionals. Activities ranged from animal
science, astronomy, biology, chemistry,
computer science, engineering, industrial
technology, math, physics, psychology and
robotics.
Community College Report
David Fawcett, associate professor of physics
and mathematics, led middle school girls in an
astronomy and physics workshop that demonstrated how a comet is formed.
Nearly 70 parents, teachers and other guests
registered and participated in concurrent
informative sessions designed to help them
recognize and encourage a student’s aptitude
for STEM subjects. These sessions provided
participants with techniques to keep girls on
the path to success.
Winter 2013
(L-R) Governor Bill Haslam; Dr. Janet F. Smith,
Columbia State president; Jacky Akbari, board
chair for the Council on Workforce Innovation; and Harry Wilson, chair of the Workforce Innovation project.
Workforce Innovation
Award
Selected for its unique initiatives that
impact the future of workforce development, Columbia State Community College
was awarded a 2013 Workforce Innovation Award. President Janet F. Smith
accepted the award at the “Conversation
with Governor Bill Haslam” and Workforce Innovation Project kickoff event
Sept. 30.
The award was given by The Council on
Workforce Innovation in Tennessee and
highlighted public and private partnerships that exist at Columbia State in
the areas of film crew technology and
healthcare programs, as well as the
emergency medical services/paramedic
and advanced integrated industrial technology programs that are offered at the
Northfield Workforce Development and
Conference Center.
Columbia State partners with community
leaders, regional employers and school
districts to provide educational programs
and training activities that have been
responsive to the needs of existing and
future employers. As a result of these
partnerships, programs and initiatives
have been put into place to assist with
industrial recruitment, develop dual enrollment for high school students, create
customized training for area employers,
and provide specific services for dislocated workers.
Page 5
dyersburg State
Community College
731-286-3200
www.dscc.edu
Futures are Bright for DSCC Dual Enrollment Students
Today’s industries are looking for individuals who have special and refined skill
sets that will help them compete locally
and globally. They know that those who
have obtained industry certifications
have specific knowledge that will help
their companies surpass the competition. For 17 students from Brighton High
School, the dual enrollment classes they
currently take at Dyersburg State Community College to become Certified Production Technicians will help them stand
out among the rest.
Will these students be able to find advanced jobs right after high school? The answer is highly likely. In fact, Larry
Gibson, Plant Manager of Unilever
in Covington, has already expressed
interest in employing the students who
complete the CPT program.
These students, under the instruction
of Phil Newman, recently completed
the Safety portion of the four courses
needed to obtain CPT certification. They
will study Quality Control and Statistical
Process Control next semester. DSCC Partners with Local Industries to Open
Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory
Dyersburg State Community
College recently celebrated the
grand opening of its new Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory
with a ribbon cutting. DSCC’s division of Continuing Education will
utilize the lab with the first course
in Basic Electrical Power Systems
beginning in November 2013.
Industry partners who contributed to the completion of the new
lab include: American Greetings, Bennett’s
Tool & Die, Caterpillar Inc., Colonial DPP,
Eaton, ERMCO, First State Bank, Forcum
Lannom Materials, Heckethorn Manufacturing Co., Hexpol, Hillshire Bands, Manning Innovations, Marvin Windows, Moore
Pumps, Mueller Fittings Co., Nordyne LLC,
NSK Steering, Omni-Tech, Paslode, PolyOne
Engineered Materials, Rack-It Industries
LLC, SRG Global Inc., Sun Products Corporation, Tyson Foods, Unilever and Williams
Sausage. These industries, which will provide cooperative education training positions, also
assisted in developing a curriculum for the
College’s new Associate of Applied Science
degree in Advanced Integrated Industrial
Page 6
Technology, which is scheduled to begin in
January 2014. The United States Department of Agriculture awarded DSCC the Rural Business
Enterprise Grant in the amount of $23,500
to purchase the new training equipment
for electrical power systems, hydraulic and
pneumatic controls, programmable logic
controllers, motor controls and mechanical installation for the lab. More high-tech
equipment will be added using Governor
Haslams’ recent grant of $589,022. A
similar lab will be set up at DSCC’s Jimmy
Naifeh Center at Tipton County in the summer of 2014.
Winter 2013
Higher Ed Center
Selects DSCC
to Participate
in National Project
The John N. Gardner Institute for
Excellence in Undergraduate Education recently announced its selection of Dyersburg State Community
College as one of several colleges and
universities that will participate in a
year-long project called Foundations
of Excellence.® The FOE project is
designed to help campuses evaluate
and improve the overall experience of
first-year students. The Gardner Institute is a non-profit higher education
research/policy center intended to
enhance new student learning and retention through systematic appraisal
and improvement of programs, policies, and institutional procedures.
Thus far, DSCC has formed a FOE Task
Force that recently discussed the
current practices used with students
during their first year at DSCC. These
practices will be compared with high
impact/best practices to determine
ways that DSCC can improve the first
year experience for students.
Community College Report
jackson State
Community College
731-424-3520
www.jscc.edu
JSCC Receives Workforce Development Grant
collaborative standards.
On Sept. 24, Jackson State Community College received a $443,784 grant to fund needed equipment
for its Advanced Maintenance Technician programs at
the college’s McWherter Center. This grant will help
ensure the college is on the cutting edge of technology
by upgrading the advanced manufacturing industrial
technology lab at the center. Jackson State is partnering with Toyota and other employers in the area to
redesign the industrial technology curriculum utilizing
the automotive manufacturing technical educational
The ultimate goal of the grant will be to increase the number of multi-skilled industrial
maintenance technicians and skilled production workers necessary to meet the needs of
manufacturers in the rural area of West Tennessee and to attract new industry to the area
by providing a qualified workforce.
This is a key element in Governor Haslam’s “Drive to 55” initiative which has the goal of ensuring 55 percent of the state’s workforce earn certificates or degrees beyond high school.
This goal will be necessary in order to have a qualified workforce for Tennessee to attract
industry and jobs to the state.
Jackson State Launches New Marketing Campaign
Jackson State Community College
launched its new Stay Close, Go Far
marketing campaign in October.
New marketing collateral along with
a marketing video and advertising
campaign were released to heighten
market awareness. The campaign is
based on five key messages and focuses on the students’ ability to stay
close to home and not disrupt their
lives while helping them achieve their
goals. The five key messages are:
1. Choose Wisely – The level of education offered at Jackson State is the same
quality of any state university in Tennessee,
but the tuition is the most affordable in the
region.
2. Save Time – Fast track programs, accelerated schedules, credit for life experiences and a
dual-enrollment program make it possible for
students to achieve their goals faster.
3. Stay Balanced – Flexible class offerings
allow students to keep up with their work
Community College Report
Jackson State,
WGU Sign Agreement
Jackson State Community College and
Western Governors University Tennessee
signed an articulation agreement on Oct.
1 that allows Jackson State graduates and
staff to receive application fee waivers and
discounted tuition to WGU Tennessee. The
agreement between the two institutions
also allows for credits from Jackson State
to seamlessly transfer to WGU Tennessee.
WGU Tennessee uses an innovative learning model called competency-based education. Rather than earning degrees based
on credit hours or time spent in class, students are required to demonstrate competency in degree subject matter. This allows
students to move quickly through areas
where they have prior work or academic
experience and focus on the areas they
still need to learn.
Degree programs are rigorous and challenging, but designed to allow students to
schedule their studies to accommodate
work and family obligations. Tuition is affordable, approximately $6,000 per year
for most degree programs, regardless of
how many courses a student completes.
and family lives while succeeding in the
classroom.
4. Get Connected – Small class sizes and
invested professors ensure that students
receive the attention necessary to succeed.
5. Go Far – Whether traveling abroad,
serving others in the community or getting
hands-on experience in a career field, Jackson State can help students achieve their
goals.
Winter 2013
“This partnership provides great opportunity to our students and graduates,” said
Dr. Bruce Blanding, president of Jackson
State. “WGU Tennessee and Jackson State
share a goal of helping all Tennesseans
achieve their education goals at an affordable price.”
Page 7
motlow State
Community College
Academic Check-ups
Help Ensure Motlow
College Freshmen on Track to Graduate
Motlow College helps freshmen succeed
with one-on-one academic check-ups
between an advisor from Motlow’s Student
Success Center and each freshman during
the first semester.
The advisor and student discuss the classes
the student is currently enrolled in and his
or her progress in each course. The checkups discuss time management, study habits, absences, missed assignments (if any),
test grades and other assigned work.
Following the discussion regarding each
individual class, the advisor asks the student if there are any areas in which he or
she could improve. The advisor responds
with recommendations for resources the
student might utilize in order to improve
academic performance.
Students who are considered “at-risk” are
scheduled for follow-up appointments and
continue to attend meetings with their
Student Success advisor throughout the
semester.
931-393-1500
www.mscc.edu
Motlow College Enrolls More Than 100 High School
Seniors in SAILS TN Project
Motlow State Community College is
participating in the statewide scale-up
of the Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) TN project
after having received grant funding
through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).
Approximately 100 seniors from Warren County and Lincoln County high
schools are currently enrolled in the
Math Bridge course with expectations
to complete the embedded TBR Learn-
ing Support Math competencies prior to
high school graduation. More than 60
percent of the enrolled students have
passed the halfway mark in completing
all competencies.
Ms. Sandra Arman, the math department chair, Ms. Melody Edmonds,
Motlow’s McMinnville Center director,
and Ms. Laura Monks, the college’s
Fayetteville Center director, have been
instrumental in the success of the SAILS
initiative in the Motlow service area.
Business, Industry, Civic and Education Leaders
Gather for Motlow College Smyrna Center Open House
Motlow College celebrated the opening
of the new Science-Technology-Allied
Health building on the Smyrna Center
campus recently by welcoming business
and industry leaders, elected officials,
industrial board members and education
leaders at an open house held inside the
new facility.
“Fundraising for this second Smyrna building was
difficult,” said Dr. MaryLou
Apple, Motlow president.
“It takes visionary, dedicated leaders to step up
during tough times. Rutherford County is blessed to
have leaders that stepped
out during those tough
times and believed in
supporting initiatives that
make Rutherford County
and the State of Tennessee
a great place to live.”
The 35,000-square-foot, two-story building provides additional classrooms;
nursing, chemistry, microbiology and
computer labs; faculty and staff offices;
and a student success center. The building, completed in June 2013 ahead of
schedule, was designed by Thomas, Miller
& Partners, PLLC, and built by Messer
Construction.
Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of Motlow College, welcomes
guests to an open house held recently at the Smyrna Center’s new
35,000-square foot facility. Pictured with Dr. Apple, left to right, are:
Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed; Christy-Houston Foundation Executive Director Robert B. Mifflin; Bill Jones, Rutherford County Industrial
Development Board; and Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess.
Page 8
Winter 2013
Community College Report
nashville State
Community College
615-353-3333
www.nscc.edu
Job Fair, Transfer Day Held at Nashville State Community College
Nearly 600 Nashville State students and
graduates attended the Fall 2013 Job Fair
and Transfer Day on Nov. 7 in the Student
Services Center on the main campus. This
fall was the fourth time that Job Fair and
Transfer Day were combined together
into one large event, making it more
convenient for attendees to benefit from
both.
The Job Fair enabled students to interact and network with 50 regional and
national companies, including Nissan,
AppleOne, Bridgestone and Yellowstone
National Park. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Career Coach was also parked
at the college and provided résumé and
interviewing skills assistance.
“Students were able to interact with
companies directly to secure follow-up
formal interviews and cooperative education opportunities,” said Stephen Hooks,
Director of NaSCC’s Career Services
office. “The partnerships that we have
formed with these companies are beneficial to our students throughout their
entire educational journeys and those
connections continue into
their careers after graduation.”
Twenty-seven public and private universities, including
TSU, Lipscomb, MTSU and
Trevecca, were represented
at Transfer Day. Each institution presented information
on academic degree advancement, admissions requirements and scholarship
options to current students
looking to transfer.
“Transfer Day provides our
Evelyn T. Hadley, Director of Special Projects and Student Life,
students with a point of con- and Stephen Hooks, Director of Career Services, spearheaded the
tact at each university,” said Fall 2013 Job Fair and Transfer Day at Nashville State.
Evelyn T. Hadley, Director of
NaSCC’s Special Projects and
Job Fair and Transfer Day helpful as well.
Student Life offices. “They can begin
“Several of the company and university
to build relationships with the transfer
representatives are now calling us prior
counselors and admissions reps from
to the event to make sure that they are
the universities, which will be very
included,” said Hadley. “They are seeking
helpful as they move on from Nashville
our students because they know we have
State.” quality graduates who will be successful
The employers and universities find the
at their businesses and institutions.”
Earl Swensson Associates Represented
by Nashville State Graduates
G.K. Secky and James Cowan represented Nashville-based architectural firm
Earl Swensson Associates Inc. (ESa) at
the Fall 2013 Job Fair and Transfer Day.
They were there to recruit students to
join the 20 other NaSCC alumni employed at their firm.
Upon graduation, both Secky and
Cowan were hired full time by ESa and
have been promoted, moving through
the ranks ever since. “Through Nashville
State, I was given the opportunity to get
in the door and have shown ESa that I
can do the job well,” said Secky.
Both Secky and Cowan started at ESa as
interns while attending Nashville State.
They worked part time and found the
positions through the recommendations of their Architectural Engineering Technology professors at Nashville
State. Cowan, who has been with ESa longer
than Secky, agreed. “The skills learned
at Nashville State and the connections
made through our instructors have
helped me be successful with my career. This is a valuable program.”
Community College Report
Winter 2013
Earl Swensson employees and NaSCC
alumni, James Cowan and G.K. Secky, attended the Fall 2013 Job Fair and Transfer
Day.
Page 9
northeast State
Community College
423-323-3191
www.northeaststate.edu
Northeast State Awarded $1.86 Million
Dept. of Labor Grant
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Northeast State Community College a $1.86 million grant
for the development and expansion of innovative
training programs in partnership with local employers.
Northeast State nursing students in the new NURS
center.
Nursing Program Unveils NURS Center
First-year nursing students face the formidable subject matter of pharmacology
and fundamentals while second-year students focus on mental health, pediatrics,
and obstetrics. For students, relaxing
and free time becomes little more than a
memory.
The newly created Nurses Using Resources for Success (NURS) Center of Northeast State’s Nursing division now gives
students refuge from high-stress curriculum and offers a place to learn and relax.
The center’s acronym, NURS, was taken
from the nursing course’s prefix, which is
also NURS. The center serves as an ideal
decompression chamber not only for
study, but also as a welcoming environment where students can find emotional
support and physical relaxation. Along with the academic resources available to students, the center features
several nooks with comfortable chairs,
tables, and wall art giving a relaxed,
homey feel.
The center is open on weekdays in the
Regional Center for Health Related Professions in Kingsport and staffed by the
Nursing faculty and the dean.
The grant is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant
program, a multi-year, nearly $2 billion initiative to
expand targeted training programs for unemployed
workers, especially those impacted by foreign
trade.
The funds will be used for Northeast State faculty
and staff, equipment, supplies, professional development and other costs as related to welding,
machining, and manufacturing education.
Northeast State will apply the
Northeast State submitted the grant as part of the
Labor Department grant to welding,
Southeastern Economic and Education Leadership
machine tool and manufacturing
instruction.
Consortium, which includes five other community
colleges in the Southeast: Pellissippi State Community College, Palm Beach State College and Polk State College in Florida, and Randolph
Community College and Vance-Granville Community College in North Carolina.
The consortium received a total of $12.7 million for use in advanced manufacturing
projects.
Northeast State, Walters State, ETSU
Sign Reverse Transfer Agreement
East Tennessee State University, Northeast
State Community College and Walters
State Community College recently signed
a reverse transfer agreement between the
institutions.
The ETSU reverse transfer program is
available to students who have transferred
to ETSU from NeSCC or WSCC prior to
completing their associate degree.
The program will enable students to transfer course work from ETSU back to NeSCC
and WSCC to complete the requirements
for an associate degree.
NeSCC and WSCC students who have completed a minimum of 15 semester hours
toward the associate degree or 25 percent
Page 10
of the requirements for degree programs
that are more than 60 credit hours will be
eligible for the reverse transfer program.
Winter 2013
ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland, Northeast
State President Dr. Janice Gilliam, and Walters
State President Dr. Wade McCamey.
Community College Report
pellissippi State
Community College
865-694-6400
www.pstcc.edu
Pellissippi State Awarded Record-Breaking Grant
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Pellissippi State a grant for
$4,569,689—the largest single amount the school has ever received.
Pellissippi State will use the grant to expand welding, machining and manufacturing programs. The funding is part of a $474.5 million DOL effort to help community colleges around the country train the workforce and facilitate students in
earning credentials.
Pellissippi State was one of only three Tennessee colleges awarded funds and
will serve as the leader of the Southeastern Economic and Education Leadership
Consortium. Through the consortium, Pellissippi State will partner with organizations such as the American Welding Society and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills to offer national credentials as part of the college’s degree and
certificate programs.
“The funding will significantly enhance our efforts with business and industry
partners to create more and better jobs for graduates throughout East Tennessee.” said President L. Anthony Wise.
Grad Accepted to Photography Review
Pellissippi State graduate Nicole Carnival
has been accepted for participation in
this year’s Portfolio Review, part of the
annual Atlanta Celebrates Photography
conference. The review allows photographers to meet with curators, editors and
photography agents from across the U.S.
trating in Photography, from Pellissippi
State in December 2012. Samples of her
work can be viewed at
www.nicolecarnival.com.
“More than 1,000 people apply, and the
ACP only accepts 52. So to be chosen the
very first year I applied, at age 21, was
really incredible,” Carnival said. “It was
a difficult process to choose only three
images,” she said. Her submitted portfolio included three images of her fine
arts work, all depicting women in natural
settings.
Carnival, who now is attending classes
at the University of Tennessee in pursuit
of a bachelor’s degree in photography,
earned an Associate of Applied Science
degree in Media Technologies, concen-
Community College Report
DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee representatives tour
Pellissippi State’s Engineering Technology classrooms,
meeting with department faculty and President Anthony
Wise.
DENSO, Pellissippi
State Partner
After more than 20 years of collaboration, Pellissippi State and DENSO North
America Foundation are joining forces
once again to help provide equipment to
students studying Automated Industrial
Systems, a new concentration in the college’s Engineering Technology program.
Representatives from DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee presented a $50,000
check on behalf of the DENSO North
America Foundation to the Pellissippi
State Foundation in August. The donation will apply toward the purchase of
programmable controller training systems, a robotic arm training station with
software and motor training equipment.
“For the auto industry to continue to
advance, we need to further develop and
invest in students’ technological skills—
that’s what we hope to accomplish with
Pellissippi State and this grant,” said Mike
Brackett, DENSO Foundation board member and senior vice president.
Nicole Carnival with photographs from her portfolio,
which features men and women in natural settings.
(Inset) An image submitted by Carnival to the Atlanta
Celebrates Photography conference’s Portfolio Review
depicts a woman against a background of bamboo.
Winter 2013
Students will benefit from the new
equipment since it’s similar to that used
in DENSO and other manufacturing settings.
Page 11
roane State
Community College
865-354-3000
www.roanestate.edu
Roane State Student Wins National $21,000 Scholarship
Roane State student James Davis of Crossville is one of two
students in the country to win a $21,000 AbbVie CF Scholarship,
which is awarded to young adults with cystic fibrosis as they pursue higher education.
Davis is studying business finance. In his biography for the scholarship’s Web page, he described living with cystic fibrosis.
Friends and family attended an event recognizing these graduates from Roane State’s AMTEC
program.
Students Graduate
from Roane State’s
AMTEC Program
Students from Roane State’s Advanced
Materials Training and Education Center celebrated their graduation from the program
this fall.
Based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, AMTEC is the college’s no-cost, high-tech training program for those who are unemployed
or underemployed. The program takes
approximately 14 weeks to complete, and
participants are trained to work as manufacturing technicians.
Courses include OSHA safety certification,
computer skills, basic lean manufacturing, basic machining and measuring, basic
plumbing and basic computer-aided drafting
and design. AMTEC participants also receive
specialized instruction in composites and
solar energy technologies.
The AMTEC program is funded by a grant
from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration/OGCM.
Page 12
“When I was born, I wasn’t expected to live past 15. As a child, I
was told that my life would be a constant battle between life and
death,” he wrote. “The day I turned 16, I suddenly realized I was
still alive, and now at 30, my life is nothing short of a miracle.
James Davis
“One of the most important things CF has taught me is to seek after things that are good,
worthwhile, and that have lasting value.”
Work by Roane State Art Professor Selected
for Exhibition on Hilton Head Island
A work by Roane State associate professor of
art Bryan Wilkerson was selected for exhibition during the renowned Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Wilkerson’s entry, “Faux Rest,” will be on exhibit through Dec. 31 at the Coastal Discovery
Museum at Honey Horn. Twenty outdoor
sculptures were chosen from more than 500
submissions for the Public Art Exhibition,
presented by the Community Foundation of
the Lowcountry.
Wilkerson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
from the University of Tennessee and a
Master of Fine Arts from The Ohio State
University. He is a skilled artist and versatile
designer with broad professional experience.
Wilkerson teaches computer art, ceramics
and additional art courses.
Winter 2013
Roane State associate professor of art Bryan
Wilkerson installs his piece “Faux Rest,”
which is on exhibit through Dec. 31 at Hilton
Head Island’s Coastal Discovery Museum at
Honey Horn.
Community College Report
southwest tennessee
Community College
901-333-5000
www.southwest.tn.edu
Southwest Tennessee Wins Nearly $10 Million
in Federal, State Workforce Development Grants
Southwest is the recipient of more
than $8.4 million in U.S. Department
of Labor grants to help train Trade
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) eligible
workers, veterans and others in the
fields of advanced manufacturing,
process control and logistics management.
Jacqueline Smith-Haines reviews proper table
etiquette with Southwest students.
The grants are part of the Trade
Southwest’s Industrial Readiness Training Class
Adjustment Assistance Community
College and Career Training grant
program, a multi-year, nearly $2 billion
initiative to expand targeted training pro- tronics program that integrates business
grams for unemployed workers. Southtraining programs and credit programs to
west received a total of three grants, a
provide students a pathway from adult
single grant and two consortia grants.
training to an academic award. This is part
of Gov. Bill Haslam’s “Drive to 55” effort to
In addition, Southwest received
increase the number of Tennesseans with
$1,550,090 from the state for its mecha- post-secondary credentials.
New A&P Emporium Model Holds Tremendous
Potential for Students
At the beginning of the 2013 fall semester, students in Southwest’s Introduction to Anatomy
and Physiology courses walked into a classroom
equipped with new Samsung Chromebooks
loaded with instructional software that included video lectures, interactive tutorials, practice
exercises, pretests and post-tests, etc.
Prof. Ken Carpenter and a lab assistant
acclimate students to the new Samsung
Chromebooks for use in the new modularbased format equipment displays in the
Bornblum Library.
The computers are the platform for Intro to
A&P’s new modular-based format that Associate Professor Ken Carpenter designed in collaboration with the Pearson Publishing Company.
“Southwest is leading the state of Tennessee
with its Introduction to A&P students. No one else is using a modular-based format, and in
an Emporium Model for Intro students,” stated Melissa Fischer, publisher’s representative
for Pearson Higher Education. “The Emporium Model replaces [conventional] lectures with
a learning resource center model featuring interactive-computer software and on-demand
personalized assistance.”
Based on this cutting-edge program, students can work at their own pace and have persons monitoring to assist when needed.
Community College Report
Winter 2013
Business Etiquette
Workshop Teaches
‘Soft Skills’
Southwest’s Office of Student Activities and Multicultural Affairs recently
sponsored the Business Etiquette for
College Students seminar facilitated
by Jacqueline Smith-Haines, of Smith
Haines Etiquette and Consulting.
The seminar covered the common
rules of etiquette and concluded with
a fine dining dinner tutorial. SmithHaines defines etiquette as a set of
practices which are followed in a wide
variety of situations.
Business etiquette, Smith-Haines indicated, is the accepted conduct one
must acknowledge when striving to
create strong business relationships.
She stressed the skills learned in business etiquette workshops are referred
to as “soft skills,” which are related to
emotional intelligence such as social
graces, friendliness and communication skills.
She also indicated data supporting the
significance of business etiquette for
college students has been substantiated by several major educational institutions that found soft skills gained
from etiquette training are as important as hard skills or job knowledge in
acquiring good career opportunities.
Page 13
volunteer State
Community College
615-452-8600
www.volstate.edu
Governor Announces Computer Information Systems
Grant for Workforce Training
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam recently
announced a workforce development grant of $259,700 for Vol
State to establish a networking
laboratory for a new computer
information science program.
The equipment at Vol State will
provide computer science training that includes cyber-security,
data analysis, mobile application
programming, Voice Over Internet
Protocol and virtualization training.
The Governor and members of the legislature presenting
Vol State will develop a program de- the grant to Vol State President Dr. Jerry Faulkner.
signed to reduce the cost and time it
takes IT students to obtain high-wage
professional jobs. According to the University of Tennessee Center for Business and Economic Research,
occupations in computer and information systems security are among the state’s most
under-supplied career pathways. The grant is part of Governor Haslam’s “Drive to 55”
effort to increase the number of Tennesseans with post-secondary credentials.
International Educators Find Second Home at Vol State
There are some big differences between life in Beijing,
China and Gallatin, Tenn., and it’s a subject Chinese
professor Jun Zhao takes not only a personal interest
in, but also a professional one.
Zhao will be a fixture on the Vol State campus for the
next year. She is visiting through a program with the
Confucius Institute at MTSU. The Confucius Institute is
an international Chinese project to share faculty with
colleges and university across the globe.
The Brock McGuire Band shows students the
different styles of Irish music during a concert
and class this semester.
Irish Musicians Hold
Class, Concert
For a musician, the only thing better
than seeing a great concert is being able
to ask questions.
That was the combination available to
Vol State students and faculty members
earlier this fall when Irish group the
Brock McGuire Band played on campus.
The band works with many Nashville
country music stars and showed the
students similarities and differences
between the two styles.
The Vol State audience included bluegrass musicians who appreciated the
different picking style of the mandolin
and guitar players. The International
Education Program brings international
music and cultural events to the campus
each semester.
“Gallatin is the first place for me to reside in the United
States, and it is very cozy,” she said. “The students here
are interested in China and Chinese culture.”
Vol State International Education Coordinator Anne-Marie Ruttenbur and Zhao studies cultural differences between Western
nations and China. She is teaching Continuing Educavisiting professor Jun Zhao.
tion classes this semester. Vol State has also had visits
by students and educators from Argentina, The Netherlands and Denmark this semester as part of the International Education Program. Those sessions included plenty of
student interaction and appearances in classes from several divisions. The college is
working to have visiting educators from Mongolia in January.
Page 14
Winter 2013
Community College Report
walters State
Community College
423-585-2600
www.ws.edu
WSCC Honors Society
Named to Nation’s Top
100 List
The Walters State Chapter of Phi Theta
Kappa has been chosen as one of the top
100 chapters in the nation.
Walters State student Sharon Smith and Dr. Eugene de Silva, associate professor of physics,
discuss the research Smith was involved in during her internship at the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory.
Walters State Student Completes ORNL Internship
Walters State sophomore Sharon Smith spent her summer at the Oak Ridge
National Laboratory. Smith is the first student chosen for a unique internship
since the two institutions launched a partnership. Smith, a civil engineering
major, worked with ORNL scientists studying the effects of weather patterns
on biomass crop productivity.
The honor society has over 1,285 chapters in the United States. The chapter
is very active in both campus and community service. Highlights from the past
year include the “Commit to Complete
Challenge,” which encourages students to
finish their associate’s degree or technical
certificate.
The club’s Honors in Action Project
brought middle school students from
across Walters State’s service area to the
Morristown campus for a night of science
and chemistry. The organization has also
hosted events to increase the financial
literacy of Walters State students. The project in which she participated is part of a large-scale study comparing
the economics of growing crops for energy creation to that of traditional crops
in various regions of the country. Walters State and ORNL announced the
partnership in August 2012. In addition to the internship, ORNL scientists have
visited Walters State classes and students have toured ORNL.
Exhibit Features WSCC Students
Nine Walters State artists will be featured in an exhibit at the Tennessee Board
of Regents offices in Nashville.
The exhibit begins in January. Featured work includes photography, pen and ink
drawings and work in gouache, a form of color painting. The college submitted
30 works upon request and 10 were chosen.
Shown with the Top 100 PTK certificate are, seated, Chase Grisham, vice president for service; and
Dr. Wade McCamey, president of Walters State.
Standing are, from left, Dr. Lisa Eccles, associate
professor of biology and Dr. Viki Rouse, associate
professor of English, both PTK advisors; and Dr.
Lori Campbell, vice president for academic affairs.
One student saw two pieces selected for the exhibit. Five of the featured artists
are current students, while four are alumni. This will be the first off-campus
exhibit for the students.
Community College Report
Winter 2013
Page 15
Produced by the Tennessee Board of Regents Office of Community Colleges. The Tennessee Board of Regents does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, sex, national origin, disability or age in its programs andactivities. The Vice Chancellor for Access & Diversity has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies can be reached at 1415 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 340, Nashville, TN 37217 or 615-366-4483.
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