Cape Fear Community College

Cape Fear Community College

2001-2005 College Goals and Planning Priorities for FY 2003-2004

Progress Report

  1997-1998   1998-1999   1999-2000  2000-2001   2001-2002  2002-2003   2003-2004   2004-2005

 

View the 2003 - 2004 Highlights of CFCC Accomplishments  

Goal #1   Deliver quality programs and effective instruction that result in students achieving identified learning outcomes.  

 

1a. Create an Information Technology Department to include the Computer Engineering Technology, Computer Information Systems, Cisco, and Network Administration and Support curriculum programs.  

 

The creation of an Information Technology Department was approved but required hiring additional faculty. Due to budgetary limitations, this planning priority was postponed.

 

1b. Beginning fall 2003, offer Network Administration and Support and Electronic Commerce associate degree programs and Marine Propulsion Systems and Film and Video Production diploma programs. 

 

Electronic Commerce and Network Administration and Support associate degree programs required hiring additional faculty. Due to budgetary limitations, both programs were postponed however, E-Commerce was offered as a concentration in the Business Administration associate degree program.  

 

Using existing resources, a Film and Video diploma program and an Electronic-Commerce certificate program were initiated fall 2003.  The Film and Video program will graduate its first class May 2004 and a second class August 2004.

 

A proposed Marine Propulsion Systems diploma program required hiring additional faculty and was postponed due to budgetary limitations.

 

1c. Secure a full-time faculty position fall 2003 to support a Film and Video Production associate degree program. 

 

Due to budgetary limitations, hiring a full-time faculty position fall 2003 to support a Film and Video Production associate degree program was postponed.  

 

1d. Complete the application process for a Surgery Technology associate degree program.        

 

The Surgery Technology program application process was postponed due to space and budgetary limitations.

 

1e. Incorporate related electronic commerce courses as electives in Cape Fear Community College associate degree programs and consider developing additional diploma programs.

 

Using existing resources, a new Electronic Commerce concentration under the Business Administration Associate Degree program was offered for the first time during 2003-2004. 

 

The Business Administration Advisory Committee and the CFCC Curriculum Committee considered and agreed that electronic commerce courses should be included as electives in other   associate degree programs however, this was not achieved due to restrictions in the North Carolina Community College Curriculum Program Standards. In addition, several college planning priorities requiring the hiring of additional faculty were postponed due to budgetary limitations.

 

1f. Begin the process of obtaining accreditation for the Sonography program with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

 

During 2003-2004, a full-time Sonography instructor was hired and will begin the multi-year accreditation process with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.   

 

1g. Maintain high student pass rates on the licensure and certification examinations for vocational and technical programs.

 

Graduates of the following programs achieved high pass rates on state and/or national licensure and certification examinations: 

 

Dental Hygiene - 100% pass rate on both the State and National Board exams

Dental Assisting -  100% pass rate on Infection Control and Radiation Health and Safety

Sections of the National Board examination. This is a voluntary exam and is not required for

employment as a dental assistant.   

Associate Degree Nursing students -  97 % pass rate

Practical Nursing -  100% pass rate

Radiography - 100% pass rate  

Emergency Medical Technician - 91% pass rate  

Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) -  82% pass rate

Real Estate - 100% pass rate

Cosmetology Apprentice (1200 hours) - 100% pass rate 

Cosmetology (1500 hours) - 82% pass rate

Esthetics -  93% pass rate

Manicuring - 82% pass rate

Truck Driver Training  - 100% pass rate

Landscape Gardening - 82% pass rate

Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration -100% pass rate 

 

1h. Increase course offerings in the Early Childhood Education program to assist the local public schools in fulfilling mandates for the education of teacher assistants.

 

In an effort to assist the local public schools in fulfilling mandates for the education of teacher assistants, Cape Fear Community College held several meetings with New Hanover County and Pender County teacher assistants providing them with information on enrolling in CFCC education courses to meet state training requirements.      

 

1i. Apply for the highest possible 5-Star rating with the State Division of Child Development for the Cape Fear Community College Child Development Center.

 

The Cape Fear Community College Child Development Center applied for and received the highest possible 5-Star rating with the State Division of Child Development.

 

1j. Examine the latest technology available for each program in the Engineering Department and take steps to ensure the technology used in the curricula is the most current and up-to-date.

 

The Mechanical Engineering program acquired a Rapid-Prototyping Station allowing students the opportunity to build parts they designed with INVENTOR 7, a 3D-CAD software program.

 

The Machining Technology program added a new CNC Machining Station to be used in the CFCC Huskins classes at Topsail High School.

 

The majority of the Engineering Department labs were equipped with new flat screen, state of the art computers.

 

The Computer Engineering Department's Novell instructors upgraded their certifications to NetWare 6.x and ten new servers were installed to support this technology.                    

 

1k. Expand the Engineering Department's renewable energy project to provide students with the very latest technology and the opportunity to work hands-on with fuel cells, photovoltaic panels and wind generators.

 

The Electronics Engineering Technology and Instrumentation Process Controls Technology programs expanded the CFCC Engineering Department's renewable energy project by installing a 1.5 KW Fuel Cell, a 900 WATT Wind Generator and four 150 WATT Photovoltaic Panels. These new technologies will serve as the foundation for a new Renewable Energy Technology program. If approved, this new program will be the first of its kind in the community college system.

 

1l. Develop an online self-quiz to help CFCC college transfer students assess their understanding of the college's online advising website, the Statewide Comprehensive Articulation Agreement and the transfer agreement with UNCW. 

 

 This planning priority has been delayed until next year due to recent changes in transfer program standards and minimum course requirements for students transferring to a UNC institution.

 

1m. In a joint effort with University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), develop and administer a survey to CFCC college transfer graduates who subsequently enroll at UNCW for the purpose of collecting their opinions about their transfer experience, academic preparedness for transfer and the quality of instruction received at UNCW as compared to CFCC. 

 

The CFCC Arts and Sciences Department developed a CFCC Transfer Student Survey to collect opinions regarding their transfer experience to UNCW.  The survey was released to the UNCW Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to be administered to fifteen former CFCC students in good academic standing at UNCW and fifteen CFCC transfer students ineligible to return to UNCW.  To date, the Vice Chancellor has not been able to administer the survey but plans to do so as soon as possible.

 

1n. Conduct a joint workshop for CFCC arts and sciences faculty and UNCW faculty who teach basic studies core courses to share materials and assess course content to ensure they are parallel.

 

A joint articulation workshop of CFCC and UNCW faculty was held March 16, 2004 at UNCW. Eleven CFCC faculty, three department chairs, and the Dean of Arts and Sciences attended the workshop. Course outlines, the performance of transfer students, an overview of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement, and exploring joint community involvement for students and faculty of both institutions were discussed during this workshop. An outcome of the workshop was that UNCW has been satisfied overall with the quality of CFCC transfer students.

 

1o. Assess the minimum oral competency requirements for students enrolled in the communications core courses, assess students' writing proficiency in English 111 courses, and assess students' understanding of three major sociological concepts in Sociology 210 courses.

 

Cape Fear Community College speech faculty assessed students' oral communications competencies the end of spring semester and English faculty administered the English 111 Common Reading and Writing assessment in April to assess students' writing proficiencies as well as the English 111 Common Proofreading Assignment the end of spring semester. The tabulated results of these assessments will be available by first summer session. To assess students' understanding of three major sociological concepts, questions were administered to all Sociology 210 classes taught by full-time faculty fall semester. Results indicated that near the end of the semester, 82 percent of the students enrolled in Sociology 210 demonstrated an accurate understanding of the three major sociological concepts assessed.

 

1p. Increase the number of college transfer courses to provide students a greater variety of choices and to prepare students for their respective majors by adding eight new music, ten new art, and five new drama courses to the Humanities and Fine Arts Department. In addition, a new anthropology course, history course and psychology course will be added to the Social Behavioral /Sciences Department and a new biology course and physical education course will be added to the Math, Science and Physical Education Department.

 

Thirty-seven (37) courses were added to the College Transfer program curriculum for the 2003-04 academic year to provide students more variety and to prepare transfer students for their respective majors. The additional courses included music, art, drama, anthropology, history, psychology, biology and physical education.  In December 2003, the Arts and Sciences Department presented to the college curriculum committee forty-two (42) new transfer courses and one developmental science course that are to offered to students within the next three years.

 

1q. Review program standards for drama and art pre-major programs and propose changes to the Statewide Transfer Advisory Committee to better prepare students for transfer as art and drama majors to East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

 

CFCC is seeking approval from the North Carolina Community College System to offer an Associate in Fine Arts program.  If approved, a Drama pre-major will be subsequently submitted to NCCCS for approval with a tentative date for implementation fall semester 2004. The primary transfer institution for the drama pre-major will be East Carolina University.  CFCC continues to work with UNCW on the transfer general education core requirements for drama pre-majors transferring to UNCW.

 

1r. Explore establishing a one-credit hour library instruction course for college transfer students to increase their proficiency in utilizing the CFCC library.

 

Pending new librarian positions are funded for 2004-2005, the LRC will make a proposal to the college curriculum committee to add a one-credit hour library instruction course to the college transfer curriculum.

 

1s. Develop and implement high profile student projects such as the Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) and solar housing design initiatives to exhibit in the community to showcase CFCC engineering programs and the learning opportunities available to students.

 

High profile student projects continue to showcase CFCC programs to the community.   

 

Mechanical Engineering students re-engineered the Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) this year and will enter the ROV in the 3rd Annual National ROV Competition to be held at the University of California at Santa Barbra (UCSB) in June 2004.  The new ROV design utilizes high technology and meets all of the required design specifications for the competition.

 

CFCC welding students participated in the re-engineering of the Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) and showcased their skills by fabricating and welding the tank used for testing the ROV.

 

Students in the Boat Building program are currently working with the Mechanical Engineering students to construct the body for an electric car. Boat Building students are preparing to build a 30-foot steam powered launch to display at the various wooden boat shows in North and South Carolina. 

 

The Boat Building program annually hosts its own Wooden Boat Show on campus the 1st Saturday in August.  The CFCC Boat Building program is showcased annually at the Maritime Day Festival, Wilmington Nautical Festival, Charleston Wooden Boat Show, Georgetown Wooden Boat Show, and the Beaufort Wooden Boat Show.

 

Industrial Systems Technology students designed and manufactured two hydraulic log splitters using the skills acquired in Metal Working 131, Basic Welding 112, Blue Print Reading 111, Hydraulic Pneumatics 110, and Pumps and Piping courses. When completed, the log splitters will be entered in the Salvation Army Wood Lot Competition this summer.

 

The Cape Fear Community College Student Chapter of the Instrumentation Society of America (ISA) competed in the District 2 Student Quiz Bowl in Washington, D.C. in April 2004. Representing CFCC were three instrumentation and one electronics student who defeated a team from Penn State's "Pennsylvania's College of Technology" to win the District 2 Quiz Bowl.

District 2 includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

 

April 2004, CFCC Architectural Technology students competed against ten colleges in the statewide Sustainable Design Contest held at the Research Triangle Park. Cape Fear students took first and second place in the competition beating the North Carolina State University School of Design, the East Carolina University Department of Construction Management, the North Carolina A and T Architectural Engineering program and, Appalachian State University. Students prepared design drawings of a residence accompanied with models, other graphics and data to support their projects. Sustainable designs are those that can be produced economically and safely for all time without impacting the environment and well being of future generations.     

 

1t. Plan and implement a fifth Firefighter Seminar and a Firefighter Cadet Academy through the Continuing Education Department to meet emergency services certification training requirements as a result of increasing national security alerts.

 

A Firefighter Seminar, co-sponsored by the CFCC Continuing Education Department and the Wilmington Professional Firefighters Association, was held to provide firefighters the opportunity to meet their certification training requirements.

 

An Emergency Rescue Technician (ERT) Training Academy was offered from October through December 2003. The 248-hour academy consisting of 22 courses allowed students to complete all of the required North Carolina Department of Insurance classes for ERT certification.

 

1u. Determine the feasibility of offering a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) course through Continuing Education to help meet the demand for more entry-level adult care providers in the service area. 

 

A Personal Care Assistant course was developed by the Continuing Education Department and offered fall 2003, however, the course did not materialize due to lack of interest. This course will be offered again fall 2004.

 

1v. Increase the number of hours for the Pender County Nurse Aide I & II programs from 160 to 192 hours to prepare skilled nurses aides for the workplace.  

 

The hours for the Pender County Nurse Aide I and II programs were increased to 192 for classes located at the Burgaw Campus, however, the hours for the Nurse Aide classes at the Hampstead Campus remained at 160 hours to accommodate UNC-W students enrolled in the class.

 

1w. Develop and implement a Continuing Education non-credit skilled trades certificate program in Electricity and Plumbing to provide students a short-term training option and to increase the local pool of skilled tradespersons.

 

In an effort to provide more short term training options to students and increase the local pool of skilled tradespersons, the Continuing Education Department offered a new Electric Theory and Practice I course fall semester 2003 and a new carpentry course spring 2004 using the Wheels of Learning curriculum. Plans are in progress to offer a variety of short-term construction trades classes such as a second Electric Theory and Practice I and Electric Theory and Practice II fall semester 2004.

 

1x. Develop and implement a Project Management curriculum that will be the first of its kind offered in a North Carolina community college to help meet an immediate need for skilled and experienced project managers for local industry.

 

Using Focused Industrial Training funds to contract with an experienced project manager, a new Project Management curriculum was developed and scheduled for a local company fall 2003.  Scheduling conflicts and production priorities necessitated postponing implementation with this company however, a Project Management course was offered to the public fall 2003 and two more were offered spring 2004.  

 

1y. Increase the variety of training for Small Business Center clients by offering a minimum of two new occupational extension courses each semester to help improve the success rate for start-up and existing businesses.

 

Fall 2003, the CFCC Small Business Center (SBC) offered two new occupational extension courses, Introduction to QuickBooks and Starting Your Own Business. Due to demand, both courses were offered to SBC clients again spring 2004.

 

1z. Design a subject specific compensatory education course to help increase the independence and employability skills of students enrolled in the Compensatory Education program.

 

The CFCC compensatory education staff participated in training with community supported employment agency personnel and designed and implemented a subject specific compensatory education course to help increase students' independence and employability. Students were taught job interviewing skills and job search techniques. They each made two job site visits and were introduced to agencies that could help them with job searches. As a result, a compensatory education student was successful in obtaining employment.

 

1aa. Actively market the Compensatory Education program to increase enrollment by 10% and provide services not readily available in the area for adults with developmental disabilities.

 

A survey was developed and administered by the Continuing Education Department to determine   services needed but not readily available to adults with developmental disabilities. The CFCC Compensatory Education staff met with the transitions program instructor with New Hanover County Schools, ARC of North Carolina, United Cerebral Palsy, and the Pender County Southeastern Mental Health providers to analyze the survey results and begin collaborative efforts to provide services to this target population. As a result, a presentation was developed to market the CFCC Compensatory Education program, a CFCC orientation session was implemented for exiting high school students with developmental disabilities, and a new compensatory education class was established in Pender County.

 

1bb.  Develop and implement two on-site workforce literacy classes for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED students to upgrade their basic skills to remain employed or promoted. 

 

No progress was made towards this planning priority but it will be carried forward for next year. 

 

Other Accomplishments:

 

A new Retention Pond Certificate program was developed and will begin fall 2004 as part of the Landscape Gardening curriculum.

 

The CFCC instructional deans initiated a process for reviewing credentials of all Cape Fear Community College faculty to ensure they meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges credentialing standards. Further, instructional supervisors implemented a new college personnel evaluation process in an effort to rate faculty fairly and accurately.

 

In March 2004, three Cape Fear Community College Interior Design students competed in the Carolina Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers annual Otto Zenke Design competition. One CFCC student took third place and received a $250 cash award and two CFCC students received Honorable Mention for their entries.    

 

 

Goal #2   Provide adequate facilities to support the rapid growth of the college and improve the maintenance, safety, and security of all campuses.   

 

2a. Dredge the Cape Fear Community College basin and replace the college's boat ramp to provide on-campus launch instruction for Marine Technology students.

 

Dredging was not completed due to budget limitations however, this will remain a priority as resources become available.

 

2b. Continue preparations to move Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Machining Technology, Welding, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Instrumentation and Electronics Engineering to the second building to be constructed on the North Campus.

 

The Instructional Council has met and discussed the relocation of programs from the Wilmington Campus to the new Engineering Building under construction at the North Campus.  These discussions include the utilization of space to be vacated at the Wilmington Campus once existing programs are moved to the North Campus fall 2005 in an effort to achieve as seamless a transition for the students as possible.

 

Planning is underway for a new North Campus Safety Training Center to house Fire, Truck Driving, and Basic Law Enforcement Training. 

 

2c. Begin discussions with faculty and staff to develop plans for a third building to be constructed at the North Campus.

 

Discussions and review of construction plans have been conducted with CFCC faculty and staff regarding a new Truck Driver Training Facility to be located at the North Campus.  Construction of this facility is ongoing and targeted for completion spring 2005.

 

Discussions are underway with college staff, county officials, and city staff to jointly plan and construct a Safety Training Center at the North Campus.

           

2d. Business Services and Maintenance will work together to upgrade and improve parking facilities for faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

 

CFCC parking lots located on the Wilmington Campus were re-striped, additional lights were installed, and rail ties were added to provide distinct parking spaces in unpaved areas.

New parking Lot X was established adding 20 more spaces for faculty and staff, two special parking spaces were added to Lot A and, new signage was installed in Parking Lots A, B, L, and auxiliary.

 

2e. Provide assigned parking spaces for North Campus employees once Lot NA-1 is numbered.

 

Parking spaces for the North Campus Parking Lot NA-1 were numbered and parking spaces were assigned to full-time faculty and staff.

 

2f. Expand parking at the Downtown Campus with the addition of 40 spaces to Parking Lot R located behind the Schwartz Center and expand parking at the North Campus with the addition of 233 spaces.

 

Parking Lot R behind the Schwartz Center was enlarged to accommodate an additional 37 parking spaces.  The capacity of the North Campus Parking Lot NA-2 was expanded to handle an additional 259 cars.

 

2g. Reactivate the Student Government Association's "Campus Improvement Project" to continue the tradition of the CFCC graduating class donating a permanent gift to the college to enhance campus grounds and/or facilities.

 

For their "Campus Improvement Project" this past year, the Student Government Association donated a foosball table to provide recreational equipment for the CFCC Student Activity Center and enhance campus facilities.

 

2h. Install a new chiller and boiler in the McLeod Building with automation controls in a central location. 

 

New chillers and boilers with automated centralized controls were installed for the McLeod Building with computerized monitoring systems located in the maintenance area.

 

2i. Install a new 10-ton air conditioning system for Computer Services to protect the college's network electronics. 

 

A ten-ton air conditioning system was installed in the computer services area to provide cooling and control temperatures for protecting the college's network electronics.

 

2j. Institutional Services will work with the architects and contractors to complete the McLeod Building elevator tower project on schedule.

 

The new elevator tower in the McLeod Building was completed spring 2004. 

 

2k. Receive bids, award the contract and begin construction of a second building on the North Campus.  

 

Bids were received and the contract was awarded for construction of an Engineering Building on the North Campus that is scheduled for completion summer 2005. 

 

2l. Upgrade equipment and make cosmetic improvements to the welding program shop located in the 'W' building.

 

The "W" Building which houses the welding program is still in need of cosmetic improvements.  Once resources are available, maintenance staff will address these.

 

Other Accomplishments:

 

In planning for the future development of its campuses, the Planning and Research Office conducted a campus-wide 'Facilities Needs Survey' and compiled the results into a document summarizing the current and future space needs for all college support service areas.

 

Computer Services made improvements to support the rapid growth of the college: (a) installed an additional Internet carrier at the Wilmington Campus to increase capacity and speed (b) extended fiber backbone to the Office Annex Building including the Auto Body Building eliminating the slow phone connection to this location (c) extended fiber backbone to the Dock House and the Dan Moore adding both to the College's high-speed network (d) upgraded the Wide Area Link to Burgaw to a T-1 line tripling the network speed and enabling network printing (e) hosted network connections for the HVAC system to expand its monitoring and control capabilities (f) implemented Software Update Server (SUS) which automatically distributes Microsoft security patches (g) implemented MAC address filtering in sensitive locations to prevent unauthorized hardwire entry to the internal network (h) implemented internal port filtering to protect against the proliferation of viruses if an outside perimeter is breeched (i) initiated wireless security sweeps to identify rogue wireless networks which would compromise internal network security (j) replaced 240 outdated computers in eight labs (k)  created a new learning lab at the Wilmington Campus (l) created a testing Lab (m) set-up two Macintosh labs to support the Film and Video and Photography curricula and (n) networked two photo ID machines between the Wilmington and North campuses.

 

To support the increase in enrollment, effective class scheduling and use of space and increased student access was achieved. A total of 132 more curriculum course sections were scheduled fall 2003 and spring 2004 as compared to the previous academic year. Access to continuing education courses also improved for example, the Emergency Medical Training (EMT) program provided 56% more training sections during 2003-2004 due to the availability of classroom and lab space at the North Campus.

 

The CFCC maintenance Department completed a host of projects for the upkeep and maintenance of CFCC facilities: (a) replaced VCT tile in the lobby of the Schwartz Center (b) pressure washed concrete slabs on the McLeod and Galehouse buildings to match the exterior appearance with the new elevator tower (c) stabilized the Science Building chiller enclosure to avoid damage to the building air handler (d) installed hardware for the McKeithan Center public address system to make the system operational (e) replaced the sidewalk in front of the Galehouse and McLeod Buildings (f) replaced blue window panels on the Galehouse building facing Front Street  to match the new elevator tower windows (g) steam cleaned all  carpets in the Science, Galehouse, General Administration, Health Sciences, and Learning Resource Center Buildings (h) repaired the Burgaw Campus roof (i) installed additional lights at the Hampstead Campus to resolve safety issues (j) replaced store front doors on the Galehouse Building and (K) stripped and polished the terrazzo floors in McLeod Building.

 

 

3. Incorporate the appropriate use of technology for students, faculty and staff and provide training in accessing and applying the technology.

 

3a. Provide introductory Geographic Information System (GIS) software use and applications experience for Marine Technology students.

 

ArcView software was ordered for the Marine Technology lab and the United States and World Geographical Information System (GIS) data sets have been received to provide introductory GIS training to Marine Technology students.

             

3b. Provide access to Smart Carts in all vocational classes. .

 

All Cape Fear Community College vocational classes now have access to Smart Carts.

 

3c. Increase usage of the Technology Training Center for professional development and training classes for faculty and staff.

 

The Learning Resource Center Technology Training Center offered fifty-nine (59) in-service classes on Microsoft Office, Blackboard and Groupwise and as of March 2004, a total of 240 CFCC faculty and staff had participated in this training. Twenty-one additional classes plus Dreamweaver and MEDLINE/PubMed classes will be offered to employees through the end of June.

 

 3d. Successfully manage the new College Information Systems (CIS) project by coordinating training and information distribution campus-wide, holding weekly meetings to evaluate, plan, and coordinate the necessary steps for implementation and attend project manager meetings and participate in weekly conference calls.

 

Implementation of the student application in the College Information System (CIS) project was revived October 2003. The College CIS project manager and key computer services staff continue to participate in conference calls twice a week concerning project management and conversions. A Student Application Workgroup consisting of student development, business services, curriculum administration, and continuing education staff meet once a week to discuss issues, challenges, and to share information.

 

The project manager disseminates training information including training dates, schedules remote consulting sessions, and ensures college employees attend all available training sessions taught by Datatel. From March 2004 through December 2004, the Technical Training Room in the Learning Resource Center is reserved Wednesdays to allow college staff to work on the CIS project without interruption.

 

Round 1 mock testing of the CIS student application was successfully completed March 2004. The second round of testing is scheduled for April 2004, and Round 3 testing in June 2004. The student application is targeted for full implementation by fall semester 2005. 

 

3e. The Learning Resource Center staff will research, evaluate, and recommend ways for faculty and staff to utilize the new Media Distribution System.  

 

The CFCC Learning Resources Center staff will meet with vendors before the end of the 2004 spring semester to decide on best methods for training employees on the use of the Media Distribution System.  

 

3f. Maintain the college's network with sufficient speed and capacity by converting the Downtown Campus network to run on a single protocol, lP (Internet Protocol) and separate the network into logical segments.

 

Work is in progress to segment the college's network to isolate traffic and increase speed.

 

3g. Ensure reliability of network services by moving GroupWise to a new and more powerful server and upgrade GroupWise to version 6.

 

GroupWise W-mail software was upgraded to version 6 and moved to a more powerful server to increase speed and capacity.

 

3h. Upgrade the Novell Operating System on the network servers to version 6.

 

Work is currently in progress to upgrade the college network to a single network protocol (Internet Protocol) using Netware 6 to increase speed.

 

3i. Continue to implement the new College Information System by continuing data conversions and testing for the student applications, replacing the current document imaging system with Open Text and installing and configuring a server for the new Electronic Commerce program.

 

CFCC will implement a new document imaging system when the North Carolina Community College System selects this new system.

 

A new server was configured and installed to support the Electronic Commerce curriculum program and electronic procurement allowing purchase orders to be emailed to vendors. Training is underway for full implementation of E-procurement later this year. 

 

A new server was installed for Web Advisor that will provide student registration and information services through the Internet. Implementation of Web Advisor is targeted for late 2005.

 

The college is implementing Campus Cruiser to provide portal services and access to academic information for every student with an email address. The college plans to test Campus Cruiser during summer 2004 with full implementation fall 2004.

 

3j. Protect computing assets with an anti-virus e-mail server and install an e-mail software program to filter for SPAM and viruses.

 

Email software to filter for SPAM and a more robust Anti-Virus checking software were installed to protect the College's computing assets.

 

3k. Improve computer services by manning the HelpDesk at all times, upgrading the Blackboard server, redesigning the college web site and upgrading the website server.

 

Computer services were improved by migrating Intranet services to a new server for increased speed and capacity. The college web site was redesigned to be more attractive and easier to navigate. New web sites were developed for the Huskins Program, the college bookstores, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. Resource links were added to the student web site to make security tools such as anti-virus, spy-ware and, anti-SPAM software available to students.

 

Computer Services coordinated the transfer of the athletics website to GoSeaDevils.com resulting in better scheduling capabilities and user management.

 

A Help Desk coordinator was hired to expand service capabilities and ensure better response. Help Desk hours were increased and services are provided beginning at 7:30am before classes convene and during lunch. ZEN software is being used more efficiently to clear Help Desk issues faster, decrease follow-up calls, and ensure satisfactory completion of requests.

 

The CFCC Distance Learning Website was re-organized and updated. Improvements to the website include links for student and faculty resources and a  video-clip about Online Learning provided by the National Science Foundation.

 

Free Anti-Virus software downloads were made available to all online students through the Blackboard log-on page. 

 

3l. Prepare Basic Skills Department for conversion to the new College Information System by improving the security and the accuracy of records handled by the department.  

 

The Continuing Education Basic Skills Department has implemented a mock audit procedure to improve security and accuracy of records. This audit procedure allows basic skills records to be reviewed periodically to ensure compliance, allows review of instructors' paperwork, provides the means to ask instructors questions about classroom procedures and allows coordinators to review the results of the mock audit and give feedback to instructors.

 

The Basic Skills Department developed an extensive new instructor training and support system to assist them in providing accurate and complete data on each student.

 

The Basic Skills staff attended all the required College Information System (CIS) training scheduled to date and have implemented internal staff changes to meet challenges associated with implementing the CIS system. The department analyzed the flow of the paperwork to determine how CIS project tasks could be better organized. Changes included matching employees' expertise with the tasks of entering data in the new College Information System, identifying erroneous data, and providing feedback to various basic skills programs regarding the quality of the data.

 

Other Accomplishments:

 

All CFCC Health Science Programs and their various admission requirements became available to students on the College's website.  There were 1,792 hits made to the ten different health sciences web pages during the month of February.  Students have commented on the ease of access to information since the development of these web pages.

 

The Landscape Gardening program used Smart Cart technology to create programs of study in Horticultural Pest Management, Turf Management and Landscape Design and a photo library was created from Internet resources for pest identification.

 

The Landscape Gardening students designed and created a completely automated greenhouse plant production system, water gardens, lawn bowling court, a plant identification garden and a carnivorous plants garden at the North Campus.

 

The CFCC Boat Building program faculty and students hosted on campus and attended a weeklong workshop in resin infusion systems for closed molding fiberglass boat building. Beginning in 2005, resin infusion will be required for compliance with MACT Law low emissions standards. Training in this technology will be incorporated into the Boat Building curriculum.

           

 

Goal #4  Enhance the teaching and learning process through the provision of adequate, up-to-date equipment and learning resources that are accessible to users and in formats consistent with prevailing technologies suitable to the college's needs and goals. 

 

4a. Provide Smart Board technology in the Learning Resource Center bibliographic instruction classroom.

 

Smart Board technology has been added to the Learning Resource Center Bibliographic Instruction classroom and to the Technology Training Center.

 

4b. Enhance the Learning Resource Center web page by providing current and subject-specific links.

 

The Learning Resource Center web page has been redesigned and specific subject links were made available to users May 2004.

 

4c. Complete an automated inventory of all holdings of the Downtown Learning Resource Center (LRC) collection.

 

The Learning Resource Center staff completed an inventory of the entire Downtown Campus library collection including books, videos, DVDs and CDs with over 2300 records corrected and a North Carolina collection added. The Dewey book collection will be inventoried and incorporated into the LRC collection during 2004.

 

4d. Automate LRC acquisitions and serials sections with the Horizon software and train the staff in the use of these products.

 

The LRC acquisitions and serials functions were not automated with the Horizon library software package due to budget limitations for travel and training.

 

4e. Establish guidelines for services provided by the college's new television studio that will be used for instructional, documentary, promotional and distance education productions.

 

Due to the turnover in the TV and Video Production position, this planning priority has not been addressed.  This position was filled again April 2004 and it is anticipated that guidelines for services provided by the college's television studio will be developed before the end of spring semester 2004.

 

4f. Provide basic graphics production services through the CFCC Media Center.

 

The Media Center is currently providing Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Publisher basic graphics production services to CFCC faculty and staff.

 

4g. Implement a color reproduction service in the Learning Resource Center for library users.

 

Using CFCC mini-grant funds, the Learning Resource Center purchased a combination color copier / printer and a digital smart card camera to provide color reproduction services for patrons. This new equipment allows reproduction of color prints from books, magazines, journals and digital images and serves as a back-up fax machine. A combination color copier/printer is on order for the North Campus LRC as well.

 

4h. The Learning Resource Center will promote and market the Bibliographic Instruction Classroom to departments and faculty who have not previously utilized this facility for instruction. 

 

Increased promotion of the LRC Bibliographic Instruction classroom resulted in nearly an 18% increase in the number of classes held in this classroom for 2003-2004 as compared the 141 classes held 2002-2003.        

 

4i. Equip the Media Center with the newest media production equipment and software for delivering quality instruction.

 

The CFCC Media Center is equipped to provide color transparencies, video recording, DVD recording, satellite downlinks and video conferencing to enhance the quality of classroom instruction.

 

4j. Increase the North Campus library print collection by 10% to support the curriculum programs and general education courses offered at the North Campus.

 

During the first nine months of 2003-2004, the print collection for the North Campus increased from 7,447 volumes to 8,219 volumes that is approximately a 10% increase over 2002-2003.  

 

 

Goal #5  Provide increased access to educational opportunities through distance learning.

 

A new Distance Learning (DL) Department Chair position was filled August 2003. The number of Distance Learning courses increased from 28 courses in fall 2002 to 50 courses fall 2003. Students enrolled in distance learning courses grew from 1,545 students in 2002-2003 to 2,249 students for 2003-2004.  During the 2003-2004 academic year, new distance learning courses were added in business, humanities, science, mathematic and communications.

 

5a. Review the college's compliance with the standards for distance education programs and support services required for accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges Schools, Commission on Colleges.

 

A Distance Learning 'Working Group' was formed, representing a variety of departments and organizations within the college, to review and ensure compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges accreditation requirements.

 

An online student course evaluation was created for distance learning courses that includes automatic tabulation of the survey results.

 

5b. Develop and offer online courses in General Biology I, Introduction to Chemistry, Introduction to Literature and Fit and Well for Life to complete the curriculum for an online Associate in Arts degree program.

 

Offering an online associate degree program has been deferred until a full review of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,  Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement is completed and it is determined that CFCC is in full compliance with all requirements pertaining to distance learning.

 

5c. Provide training for faculty and instructional support staff in developing hybrid instruction by learning to transition from traditional classroom instruction to teaching portions of the course content online.

 

Cape Fear Community College began offering Blackboard Introductory and Intermediate Training to faculty and staff to support the teaching of online courses. 

 

5d. Expand the number of Business Department curriculum courses offered online to increase student access and to support the development of an online associate degree business program for the future.

 

Online orientations and the addition of distance education courses in Accounting 122, Accounting 140, Business 230, Computer Information Systems 152, Marketing 120, Marketing 223, and Word Processing 136 were implemented to increase student access to business courses.

 

5e. Make distance education websites compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide training to distance education faculty and instructional support staff regarding ADA requirements.

 

The college is in the process of reviewing all public and Intranet web pages with the goal of making all web sites compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 508.

 

Areas to improve ADA compliance for the Distance Learning web site have been identified and work is underway to make this site fully compliant.

 

5f. Implement an 'Online Course Peer Review Guide' for distance education to help faculty assess the quality of distance education courses and instruction.

 

The college Distance Learning (DL) Working Group is currently preparing a  "Peer Review" worksheet created by the distance learning faculty to help them effectively assess the quality of DL courses and instruction.

 

5g. Design and implement procedures to track the academic performance of students enrolled in distance education courses for comparison with the performance of students enrolled in the same courses taught in a traditional classroom setting.

 

Procedures are currently being developed by the distance learning faculty to track and evaluate the academic performance of students enrolled in distance learning courses in comparison with the academic performance of students enrolled in the same courses taught in a traditional setting.   

 

5h. Develop an operations manual for distance education faculty and instructional support staff that includes distance education policies, procedures, and the roles and responsibilities of all involved with distance education initiatives.

 

The CFCC Distance Learning Working Group is currently establishing distance learning policies and procedures to be published and in accordance with the Southern Association of  Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges core requirements and comprehensive standards. 

 

Goal #6  Strengthen partnerships with business and industry, public schools, universities and others that are mutually beneficial and that maximize resources in meeting the educational needs of the service area.

 

6a. Create a new faculty position with responsibilities for oversight and management of the   Huskins Bill and Co-operative Education programs.

 

A Huskins and Cooperative Education Coordinator / Instructor position was filled October 15, 2003. The number of Huskins classes more than doubled this year with 40 Huskins classes offered both fall 2003 and spring 2004. Fall 2003, the college enrolled 293 students in Huskins classes offered at the high schools and 45 students in classes on campus. During spring semester 2004, Huskins enrollment grew to 388 students in classes at the high schools and to 77 students in classes on campus.

  

College staff worked cooperatively with public school personnel to address ways CFCC and the public schools could better serve high school students through the Huskins Program. As a result, recruitment presentations, informational meetings and distribution of a Huskins Program brochure to high school students were implemented this year.

 

A total of 162 students enrolled in Cooperative Education classes during summer 2003, fall 2003 and spring 2004 combined. The College developed procedures for collecting and evaluating the Cooperative Education Workbooks prior to FTE audits and revised the Cooperative Education Manual to be implemented fall 2004.