|
|
 From the President
HLC Releases Preliminary "Assurance Report"
I'm happy to report that there is much good news in the team's Assurance Report. For two criteria (Criterion Four and Five) virtually no shortcomings were found that required additional attention. In the case of Criteria One, Two and Three, however, institutional deficits were found that will require us to design a plan of improvement by April 1, 2012, and to host a follow-up visit by the Higher Learning Commission in November 2013.
Because of these deficiencies, the team's recommendation to the Higher Learning Commission will be to award five years of continuing accreditation, half of the maximum number of years granted to any institution overseen by the North Central Association. Although this news is disappointing, none of the problems prompted the team to recommend sanctions or other forms of punitive action. Nor were the problems unknown to us: the need for improvements in board governance, campus communication, operational planning, participatory decision-making, and fiscal solvency are issues already at the center of our improvement efforts.
Currently, Vice President Short, one of the co-chairs of the original HLC Steering Committee, is heading up a team assigned to review the Assurance Report for accuracy. Corrections of fact will be submitted to the team's chairman, Susan Minnick, before her final report is sent to HLC headquarters. After that, our team will immediately begin to draft an institutional plan that lays out the many ways in which deficiencies will be addressed. Numerous efforts are already underway to satisfy the site review team's concerns. As an example, a board governance training event is scheduled for February 2, 2012, and will directly address and resolve the need for governance training.
The draft Assurance Report is attached to this message for your reference. However, please note that the report is in draft form, and does contain inaccuracies that we wish to have corrected before the report is submitted. We will provide you with both our set of corrections, along with a remedial plan due April 1, as soon as they are available.
|
|
STARS Nominations Accepted
The STARS (Student Team and Academic Recognition System) Ceremony for this quarter will be held on February 15, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Multiplex and will honor achievements from Fall quarter. We are now accepting applications for nominations in the following areas:
Green Award
This award will be given to recognize outstanding efforts from last quarter in the area of education of sustainable, renewable and environmental issues or the implementation thereof.
"We are One Hocking" Award
This award will be given to recognize outstanding efforts from last quarter in the area of cross-cultural education and/or community unification.
Most Outstanding Contribution to Campus or Community Life
This award will be given to recognize a project that made a positive impact on campus or community life last quarter.
Please send nominations by e-mail to Giles Lee by 5 p.m. on February 7, 2012. Nominations should include the name of the group or person nominated and a description of the project that includes the date that the project took place. Feel free to include photos, video, evaluations and references in the nomination e-mail.
|
Free Onsite Health Screening/Assessment
The screening is designed to help you identify potential health risks such as diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Services will include a finger stick test to measure total cholesterol levels, HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels in the blood. All test results will be available before you leave. Your weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure will also be measured. A nurse will review your results with you and help you set positive lifestyle goals.
The screen and assessment will last about 30 minutes. It is voluntary and confidential, and aggregate data from the screening will be used by the Benefit Advisory Committee to initiate appropriate wellness programs. If you would like to register or have any questions, please contact Loretta Whaley at 740.753.7041 or Kimberly Taylor at 740.753.7221.
|
|
Art Faculty in Dairy Barn Arts Center Exhibition
Art, Design and Marketing faculty member Brian Alloway was recently accepted into the Ohio Border Biennial juried exhibition at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens. The opening reception for the exhibition will be this Friday, January 13 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Works of art from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia in a wide variety of media will be on display from January 13 to March 11.
|
|
HCEI Offers Solar Technology Course
 Hocking College Energy Institute is offering a course, "Solar Photovoltaic Design and Installation Training" from February 28 to March 9, 2012.
The class will provide a detailed introduction to photovoltaic (solar electric) systems and designs as well as procedures commonly practiced in the photovoltaic industry and trade. The final examination will be the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge test. Any interested students can register for the course, but it is primarily intended for students with construction or construction management backgrounds who seek to become skilled photovoltaic installers, electricians and designers.
Enrollment for the course is limited to 20 students, and at least five students must enroll for the class to be offered. For more information, contact Jestinah McDonald at 740.380.9315, ext. 6601.
|
|
Are You the Biggest Loser?
Get started on your new year's resolution by signing up for the Biggest Loser wellness program.
Teams will go to the fitness center and weigh-in anonymously every Monday starting January 23. At the end of the eight-week program, the team with the highest percentage of total weight loss will receive $300 in gift cards to share. The second place team will receive $25 in gift cards for each team member.
Join the program by emailing Loretta Whaley by January 12. You can email your entire team (two to six members) or ask to be placed on a team.
Also, we are still looking for one more person to form the Weight Watchers at Work program. Let Loretta Whaley know as soon as possible if you are interested!
|
|
Mission
Hocking College provides a unique, innovative, and quality education in a supportive experience- based learning environment, preparing students for employment and transfer education opportunities, while teaching the value of lifelong learning, promoting diversity and developing citizens who are engaged in their local and global communities.
|
|
|
|
|
Kudos to Student Center Employees and Students
Great job to the Student Center employees and students who recently hosted Hocking College Trustee Paula Tucker's granddaughter's birthday party at the indoor pool. As Paula noted, "The entire staff bent over backwards to help us have a successful '8th' birthday celebration for our beautiful granddaughter. I am so impressed."
Hocking Grad Makes a Difference in Peace Corps
Hocking College 2007 Advanced Energy and Fuel Cells graduate Brandon Stephens is using what he learned, studying renewable energy to educate others in the Philippines. He and wife Tori have spent the last two years living on the island of Samar in the Philippines while working with the Peace Corps.
The couple is currently on assignment as coastal resource management volunteers. Brandon and Tori work with Filipino government employees and local residents to protect the country's natural resources, like coral reefs. One of their biggest efforts was the establishment of a marine sanctuary. The duo also teaches residents and fishermen safer and more environmentally friendly practices.
They plan to spend another year in the Philippines. "Hopefully our work will continue even after we've gone," Brandon said.
For more information, see the article in the Newark Advocate.
|
|
|
|
