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From the President
Responding to the "Gold Rush"
As I am certain you have noted, with all the recent publicity, the Shale Oil "Gold Rush" is upon us. My thoughts, and those of our Board of Trustees, have turned to determining the best way forward through the multitude of questions this new opportunity poses:
As a technical institution and provider of post-secondary education, what is the best way for Hocking College to engage in this wave of economic development? How can we best respond to the workforce demands of this new industry? What is the smartest way forward in terms of our financial future? Should we seek quick, upfront funding, or a sustainable increase in enrollment over time through educating students in the new skills required?
To choose the right path for the college, it's important to have the right people at the table. For us, this means exploring all implications - the potential monetary gain; the impact to our campus, environment and reputation; programming possibilities and fit with our educational mission. A Shale Oil Task Force has been created to include these differing viewpoints. The Task Force includes Drs. Mike and Kim Caudill, both faculty in our GeoEnvironmental Science program; Neil Hinton, Dean of Engineering and Technology; Ken Bowald, Associate Dean of Natural Resources; Hocking Trustee Andy Stone, Director of Public Works, City of Athens; Trustee Mike Budzik, Hocking Natural Resources alum and retired Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife; Board Chairman Mike Brooks, Chairman of the Board, Rocky Brands Inc.; Dr. Myriah Short, Vice President of Administrative Services; Joe Wakeman, Associate Provost of Curriculum and Instruction and former Director of Sustainability; and, Dr. Ron Erickson, President.
This Task Force will begin meeting its objective by visiting sites in the region that have already engaged in Shale Oil drilling. The sites selected will be both those that have provided a positive impact on the surrounding community, and also sites that may have not been so successful. The importance of these site visits is to provide a balanced perspective in reviewing our options.
Please be assured, we are in no hurry to make these huge decisions that greatly impact the future of Hocking College. We will carefully consider all of these aspects, our students, and our future, and then arrive at a conclusion that is best for the College.
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Special Projects Coordinator Tanya Conrath (L) and Director of the Tri-County Adult Career Center Kim McKinley (R)
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Hocking College Partners with Tri-County Adult Career Center for Workforce Development
Hocking College has entered into a partnership with the Tri-County Adult Career Center to expand local workforce development opportunities called the Business Training Center.
Director of the Adult Career Center Kim McKinley and Special Projects Coordinator Tanya Conrath have been meeting with Hocking faculty to discuss programs that could be offered by the Business Training Center, as well as publicizing the collaboration. McKinley and Conrath have also represented Hocking at Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) workforce division meetings and introduced the Business Training Center to the local business community. McKinley has served as our representative in meetings with Rich Frederick, the executive director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation.
The new partnership will include a grant-funded training center with professional training and meeting spaces at a "business-friendly" site. The state-of-the-art center will include a computer lab, video conferencing capability and other technology required by businesses for training and conferences.
The Tri-County Adult Career Center offers a combination of cutting-edge training and flexibility to businesses interested in employee training and professionals who wish to take certification examinations.
Currently, Kim and Tanya are seeking information about businesses in the area that hire Hocking graduates or partner with programs in an advisory capacity. Please contact Kim or Tanya directly at 740.753.5465 if you have any information to help them in this process.
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Board Passes Resolution Increasing Tuition
The Hocking College Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution approving a tuition increase effective autumn semester 2012. Instructional and general fees for students will increase by $99 per semester or $198 per year.
The college will likely begin the fiscal year with a reduction in State Share of Instruction (SSI) funds of approximately $450,000, and 2013 is the second year of a state-imposed fee cap of $200 for two-year institutions. SSI, tuition, fees and other student charges make up 99 percent of the college's operating budget.
The 2012-13 tuition and fees can be found on our website.
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 Ohio Historical Society Visits Archaeology Students
The Ohio Historical Society (OHS) archaeological staff visited the Hocking College Archaeology Department at the Sauber Environmental Center a few weeks ago to review the students' activities and deliver cataloging supplies.
From 2008-2011, the Hocking College Archaeology Field School has been excavating the Miami Indian village and trader colony of Pickawillany, a site owned and maintained by the OHS and located just north of Piqua, Ohio. Students are now in the process of analyzing, labeling, cataloging and writing reports pertaining to the fossils found on the digs.
During their visit, the OHS presented the students with supplies they need in order to catalogue the artifacts in preparation for the items' return to the OHS in May 2012.
You can learn more about the visit and the OHS here, or visit the Archaeology Lab's website.
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 School of Music Presents Winter Concert
Come enjoy vocal selections that range from composers including Sondheim, Beethoven, and James Taylor. The choir is under the direction of Megan Cameron and accompanied by Jeff Daubenmire.
The concert is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception. The Nelsonville First Presbyterian Church is located on 69 East Washington St, Nelsonville, Ohio.
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Information on Advisor List Updates
In an effort to streamline advising, to ensure all students create Student Education Plans (SEP) for their transition to semesters and have them approved by advisors by the end of spring quarter, advisor lists are being rebuilt.
The biggest complaint to arise during advising training this quarter was the inaccuracy of the advisee lists in Colleague. In an effort to fix the problem, all advisor lists were deleted, and academic units were given new lists of all active students, separated by degree for faculty members to divide as they see fit. The goal is for students to meet with advisors familiar with the degree they are pursuing.
Some faculty members have chosen to waive the 30 students limit in order to work with all of their students. However, the Academic Affairs Council would like to stress that this is not required, and no one should feel obligated. Deans in Arts and Sciences are developing ways to incorporate faculty with no program affiliation into advising for units that have too many students to handle.
As soon as the new lists are finished, the information can be entered into Colleague, or departments can provide the names of faculty members with a list of student identification numbers as an excel spreadsheet to John Chappelear.
A system of manual, as well as automated checks, have been put in place to keep the advising lists accurate for future use. For more information, contact Kensey Love, Beth McKenzie or Joe Wakeman.
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 Online Military Education in Action
Hocking College is proud to be designated a "Military Friendly School" by GI Jobs Magazine. We are dedicated to serving online military students through degrees created specifically to match Military Occupational Specialties. With online classes, students are able to study at their own pace, and earn their degree in the shortest amount of time, at the lowest cost. Hocking is recognized as an accredited "quickest option and lowest cost" degree completion option, with ACE, ACF, National Guard Scholarship and G.I. Bill funding options.
Because of our efforts to serve the educational needs of service members and their families, Hocking College has been designated a Service Members Opportunity Consortium (SOC) college. As a SOC member, Hocking College has committed itself to fully supporting and complying with SOC principles and criteria.
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Cell Phone Discounts Offered to Hocking College Employees
 Hocking College offers employees discounts for cell phone service providers. The discounts are for new and current cell phone plans. If you already have cell phone service from any of these carriers, contact a representative to have the discount applied to your plan. Visit the individual websites for plan information and coverage areas. When you contact a representative, identify yourself as an employee of Hocking College.
All Hocking College employees can receive a 15 percent discount on their Sprint bills. To apply the discount to your existing plan, start new service, or upgrade your current device, please visit the website or call 1.888.457.6294 for more information.
Verizon Wireless offers a 15 percent discount on service plans and deals on phones. To apply the discount to your existing plan, start new service, or upgrade your current device, please visit the Verizon website and use the Nelsonville zip code (45764). |
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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.
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Hocking Alum Makes Cover of Magazine
| Aaron Baugher, a 2008 gradute of the Hocking College Construction Management -Commercial/Residential Electricity program, was recently featured on the cover of The Electrical Distributor (TED) magazine as an employee of Loeb Electric in Columbus.
After completing his degree at Hocking, Baugher earned a bachelor's degree in Engineering at Miami University of Ohio. About a year ago he was hired by Loeb, which was featured in the magazine for implementing a 50-hour per year employee training program.
Thanks, Aaron for being a great representation of Hocking College!
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