2.10The institution provides student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission that promote student learning and enhance the development of its students. (Student Support Services)
__X_ Compliance ___ Partial Compliance ___ Non-Compliance
Narrative:
In accordance with its mission, Maysville Community and Technical College provides student support programs, services, and activities that promote student learning and enhance the development of its students [1]. MCTC provides a comprehensive and appropriate range of support services and programs to enhance student learning and development at all its campuses. Student support services and programs include orientation, advising, tutoring, Student Support Service program, Career Pathways, placement, student organizations, disability services and VA services.
Information regarding many of our services is included in New Student Orientation [2], the schedule of classes each semester [3], the MCTC Academic Planner [4], and the Student Development web page [5].
Orientation
Prior to each fall and spring term, an orientation program is conducted for new, returning and transfer students. During orientation, students are introduced to staff members, who provide information on campus policies and procedures, fee payment, financial aid, email and student self-service, library services, online courses, academic calendars, and keys to academic success. Students also meet advisors and are encouraged to tour the campus during this program. Evaluations of the orientation sessions are conducted and results are evaluated [6] and [7].
Advising
Advising at MCTC begins with a Master Advising program to better assist first-year college students. The Advising Center provides quality academic advising, published program check sheets, transfer information and referrals to major advisors when students have completed developmental coursework requirements and/or have declared a major. Since implementation, new students receive a consistent one-on-one introduction to the College with a trained advisor. During this appointment, the advisor discusses the advising process, academic plans and goals, test scores and successful learning strategies. This is a first step toward building a connection between the student and the campus community. After students complete developmental coursework and determine a major course of study, they are assigned to a Major Advisor, who is responsible for determining that all subsequent graduation requirements are met.
The Advising Center houses a full time Academic Support Services director and office assistant [8] to assist students throughout the year. During periods of registration, designated master advising faculty serve in the center as well [9].
Tutoring
Free tutoring services are available to all MCTC students in pre-algebra, algebra, writing, and selected other general subject matter. Services are provided by peer part-time student workers and individual faculty members; coordination of services is provided by the Academic Support Services director [10].
Student Support Services
MCTC was awarded a Student Support Services (SSS) program in Spring 2006. SSS is a federally funded TRIO grant program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education with the goal of helping low-income, first-generation college students successfully complete their college education, graduating or transferring to a four year institution. The SSS program effectively promotes the mission of MCTC to promote student learning and enhance student development. All services are free, but a student must qualify for the program in order to participate. Services include academic advising, mentoring, tutoring, skills workshops, career guidance, equipment loan, cultural enrichment activities, personal counseling, member’s only tutoring program, and copy services. The Student Development Unit Plan Review (Student Support Services Section) for 2006.2007 is provided as evidence of this program [11].
Career Pathways
To meet the needs of students, employers and communities, MCTC began a Career Pathways program in December 2004, under a grant awarded by KCTCS. Career pathways are designed to create educational “stepping stones” for advancement of workers and job seekers, especially those stuck in low-wage jobs. The Health Care Career Pathway that MCTC has designed begins with student recruitment and assessment, progresses through various levels of training equating to various career fields, and ends with Bachelor degrees for management positions within the chosen fields of health care. Throughout the pathway, both new and current support systems are in place to increase student success. Each student embarking on the Health Career Pathway will have the opportunity to meet with the campus financial aid officers at each campus to explore scholarship possibilities. Students can enter and exit the career pathway at many points along the ladder. The pathway is designed so that, depending upon the students’ current skill and educational level, they can enter at the level appropriate and not repeat course work or skills already attained. Career Pathways promotes student learning and enhances their development in numerous ways. Many of these students would not have been given the chance to attend college if it were not for the Career Pathways program. Many Career Pathways students who have learning disabilities have been able to attain a bachelor’s degree at their own pace. The Student Development Unit Plan Review (Career Pathways Section) for 2005.2006 is provided as evidence of this program [12]. The practical nursing program at the Rowan Campus accepted responsibility for this program beginning with the 2006.07 year. Results of the practical nursing program review for the Rowan Campus/Licking Valley extension are provided to further document the Career Pathways Program [13].
Placement
All first-time freshmen are required complete the COMPASS exam in reading, math and English, unless ACT scores indicate that remediation is unnecessary. MCTC adheres to the KCTCS Administrative Policy 4.13, Student Assessment and Placement [14], designed to direct entering students into the courses appropriate to their skill levels in written composition, reading, and mathematics.
Student Organizations
The Student Government Association represents the official voice of MCTC students. While all students are officially members, the student body annually elects officers who are responsible for addressing student concerns and promoting student participation in student activities. Officers for the 2007.08 year are listed below in the table of student organizations. SGA provides social, educational, cultural, and service-learning activities for the campus as a whole.
To support activities and provide structure for student organizations, the College has a locally developed administrative policy [15] addressing student organizations.
Below is a list of recognized student organizations active during the 2007-08 academic year.
MCTC Student Organizations
Organization / AdvisorsFaculty (F) Staff (S)
Christian Student Fellowship / Nancy Hunter (F), Hope Tyson-Rabe (S)
Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) / Deborah Nolder (F), Diana Reeder (S)
Maysville Community College Associate Nursing Students (MCCANS) / Rebecca Lightner (F)
Maysville Community and Technical College Horticulture Club / Carrie Taylor (F)
Belinda Adkins (S), Rhonda Cline (S)
Phi Beta Lambda (PBL)/Maysville Campus / Wendy Noble (F), Mark Bell (F)
Phi Beta Lambda (PBL)/Rowan Campus / Melissa Carroll (F), Debra Morris (F)
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) / Margo Hamm (F), Alex Hyrcza (F)
Student Government Association (SGA) / Darla Hunt (F), Joe Shearer (F)
Jennifer Renaker (F), Belinda Adkins (S)
SGA OFFICERS
President-Brittany Hutten
Vice President-Angela Doyle
Treasurer-Daniel Krol
Secretary-Kristin Frye
Students Surviving Single Parenthood (SSSP) / Robbie Graves (F), Belinda Adkins (S)
Students are made aware of these organizations in the Academic Planner [16], on the MCTC student organizations web site [17], and through faculty contact with students. The President or an authorized representative supervises all student activities at MCTC. All student organizations are appointed an advisor to assist in establishing an operating budget and for planning and supervising activities. These activities must be approved by the Chief Student Development Officer.
Financial Aid
MCTC provides a comprehensive financial aid program to meet the needs of all qualified students. In addition to the KCTCS Catalog, the College provides financial aid information to students through its financial aid brochure, financial aid web page [18], orientation sessions [2], Academic Planner [19] and on-campus visits. Additionally, Student Development personnel make financial aid presentations to parents and students at high school workshops through the year. Professional staff members are available to ensure institutional-wide coordination of all financial aid awards. The Chief Student Development Officer is responsible for the overall supervision of MCTC’s financial aid program. Other professional staff includes a director of financial aid and a coordinator. Uniform system-wide procedures are followed for the distribution of the Federal Pell Grant, Federal College Work Study Program, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Direct Loans (Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized and PLUS). The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) regulates the College Access Program (CAP) and KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship). CAP grants go to Kentucky residents who meet the state criteria. KEES is a scholarship program for Kentucky high school students based upon their high school grade point average and ACT score beginning with the 1999-2000 academic year. Scholarships are also awarded through the Licking Valley Campus First Chance program.
Student Success Program Participation Summary [20]
The financial aid program is discussed in detail in Comprehensive Standard 3.10.3 and Federal Requirement 4.7.
Disabilities Services
MCTC is committed to providing educational opportunities and full participation for students and prospective students with disabilities. To ensure easy access to services, a Disability Coordinator is located on each of the three campuses: Cynthiana, Maysville and Rowan. The Disability Coordinator is committed to providing services for students with special needs so they may obtain equal access to all available educational opportunities at the College. Reasonable accommodations must be made to qualifying individuals in the instructional process as well as in institutional and departmental procedures. A “reasonable accommodation” is a change or adjustment within an educational program, activity, or service that provides a person with a disability opportunity to participate in the educational process, so long as the accommodation does not fundamentally alter the program or place an undue burden on KCTCS. Students are made aware of disabilities services through a variety of sources including the course syllabus information sheet [21].
MCTC also offers Veterans Education Services to ensure that Kentucky Veterans and other eligible persons, utilizing their G.I. Bill Education Benefits, receive quality education and training through the approval of education programs at post-secondary educational institutions, flight schools and correspondence courses, state and national exams, and training programs at Apprenticeship and On-The-Job employment establishments. Contact information and instructions for Veteran’s Education Benefits can be found in the MCTC Academic Planner [22].
Continuous Improvement
Student satisfaction with our services is measured with four primary surveys: new student orientation [23], student satisfaction of college services [24], distance learning student support services [25], and the exit survey [26]. These survey results provide the college administration needed data to support change and implement more student friendly initiatives.
For example, the student development effectiveness council discussed the student satisfaction of college services results and the distance learning student support services results during a meeting in October 2007. Here is an excerpt from those meeting minutes:
SS Survey, and DL Survey’s were discussed. The main issuelisted by students was not enough student activities. Progress is already being made in thisarea. We had three new organizations established last year, and Sandy has discussed thepossibility of two more that may be coming on board. In addition, games have been addedto the celebration picnics, and additional activities are being planned including movie nights, corn hole tournament, and volleyball. The biggest obstacle is the cost of liabilityinsurance. Another topic identified as a problem was ITV issues and that has been sharedwith the ITV department for their help. Updated equipment and broadband services will belooked at to correct this problem. Overall, the services provided by our unit rank fairly highin the very satisfied or satisfied rating. All employees were directed to review the data,which is posted on the intranet. Items where improvement is needed, should be evaluated and reflected in your unit plans and new two year strategies in the strategic plan. Items will also be discussed as part of the PPE process where appropriate, so everyone needs to take aclose look at the survey data.
A sample of student development meeting minutes are provided to further document the use of results from these surveys for continuous improvement [7], [27], and [28].
Supporting Documentation:
1 / MCTC Mission Statement2 / New Student Orientation Agenda, January 2008
3 / MCTC Spring 2008 Schedule of Classes
4 / MCTC Academic Planner
5 / MCTC Student Development Web Page
6 / New Student Orientation Survey
7 / Student Development Meeting Minutes, January 2007
8 / Academic Support Services Organizational Chart
9 / Master Advising Faculty List
10 / Academic Support Services Director Job Description
11 / Student Development Student Support Services/Title IV Unit Plan Review 2006.07
12 / Student Development Career Pathways Unit Plan Review 2005.06
13 / Practical Nursing Rowan/Licking Valley Unit Plan Review 2006.07
14 / KCTCS Administrative Policy 4.13
15 / MCTC Administrative Policy, Student Organizations
16 / MCTC Academic Planner, p. 21
17 / MCTC Student Organizations Web Page
18 / MCTC Financial Aid Web Page
19 / MCTC Academic Planner, p. 8
20 / Student Success Program Participation Summary
21 / MCTC Course Syllabus Information Sheet
22 / MCTC Academic Planner, p. 10
23 / Orientation Survey Results Maysville Campus Fall 2007
24 / Student Satisfaction of College Services Survey Results Fall 2007
25 / Distance Learning Student Support Services Survey Results Fall 2007
26 / Exit Survey Results Fall 2007
27 / Student Development Meeting Minutes, October 2007
28 / Student Development Meeting Minutes, January 2008