Front Door Committee
Minutes - 9/27/07
Members Present: Richard Cole, Christine Foster-Cates, Lori Petrozzello-Karn,
Nancy Lestrange, David Ross, Susan Salminen
Elect Committee Chair
1. David Ross was nominated and elected as committee chair by a vote of 5-0
Reviewed committee history and purpose based on initial Front Door Project
2. Committee is designed to help further accomplish and review/revise initiatives in the Front Door Project final report
Reviewed Final Report of Front Door Project Committee as to current status of implementation
Student Services
3. Create an Admissions Checklist – not implemented
4. Improve hours of Student Services – not implemented; requires additional research of peak times
5. Create a more accessible Recruiting Office – implementation started
a. Plans for renovating the lower level of the Library/Theater building have been developed; some office moves have occurred such as Marketing
b. Construction/Renovations have not yet been started
6. Open the space for the Testing Center – implementation started
a. Planning for this included possibly moving the Testing Center; it was determined that the space needed was not adequate in the new location
7. Create Proper Signage
a. Dave R. noted that some signs are not up to date and may be confusing such as in Lot 5 where the buildings are still labeled North and South.
8. Create Dean of Students to coordinate all Student Services – completed
a. The position has been completed and the search process is currently in its final stages
Location of Student Services
Short-term recommendations – partially implemented
a. With the office moves as part of #3 listed above, Financial Aid has been moved into the suite where EOF, Title III and Recruitment is currently located; this has free additional space for the growing staff in Advising and Counseling Services
b. Non-student services offices that were recommended to be moved out of the College Center have not yet been completely moved, such as College Advancement, the Mailroom and Central Stores.
Long-term recommendations - Build a Student Center to house all Student Services – in development
c. The concept of creating a student center has been incorporated into the College-wide Strategic Plan for 2008-2012 with possible consideration for construction planning/design to begin in 2009.
Access to Information
Create an Information Center – partially implemented
Staff the Information Center appropriately – partially implemented
a. An Evening Administrator position has been created and was staffed; however the position is currently vacant.
Create a Campus Calendar
b. Currently campus events are only posted via the Lion’s Den Announcement boards; the creation of a campus-wide event calendar was discussed
c. Danielle in Marketing is responsible for updating the current calendar, but the calendar does not include all events on campus, such as academic
d. Discussion of who updates the calendar in her absence.
Create a Call Center
e. The Call Center was created and staffed by some of the committee members. The Call Center seems to be successful and will be implemented again in January 2008.
Physical Aspects of the College
Improve General Appearance
a. Involve the Arboretum committee in expanding plantings throughout campus
Increase Visitor Parking
b. Concerns about prospective students and employees feeling welcomed on campus
c. The current number of reserved spaces for visitors is not adequate
Create walkways to access entire campus
d. Nancy L. suggested decorating and accenting current walkways with student artwork, including sculptures, drawings/paintings and photography
e. Repairing the path to Lot 5 in addition to increase lighting and an additional emergency phone were also discussed (Safety and Security Committee)
f. Discussion of appropriateness of evolution plates that are currently hung throughout campus; replace with student photography, perhaps have a contest to feature artwork each month
Increase parking and accessibility for people with disabilities
g.
Automate doors (follow-up with John Trojan by Dave R)
Improve signage (follow-up with John Trojan by Dave R)
h. Signage for the Academic Support Center and Testing Center could be improved
Improve classroom access (follow-up with John Trojan by Dave R)
Improve access to student services (follow-up with John Trojan by Dave R)
Create campus-wide training (follow-up with John Trojan by Dave R)
Online Front Door
Shift to Content Management
a. Discussed the move to a content management product that would allow for easier updates of information on the RVCC website. The website would be standardized via a pre-designed template allowing designated individuals in each area to have access to update content on their area’s site(s).
b. Nancy L. will provide more information to the committee as to the progress towards identifying a product for purchase and implementation.
Continue to develop channels
c. BANNER student, faculty and employee self-service channels have been implemented – this project has been completed
Continue to make website ADA compliant
d. A text-only version of the entire site has been created to make the site ADA compliant – this project has been completed
Community Front Door
High School and Community Outreach
a. Faculty liaisons with high schools?
b. Faculty having access to information re: these students such as test scores is a concern
c. Check with Nancy Jordan re: status and current issues that she has identified
Strengthen and clarify information about Concurrent Enrollment
d. Recommendation by committee to invite Tarana Baldwin to join the committee to help with this project
e. Faculty training and awareness could be addressed as part of this area
Strengthen and clarify information about Early Credits
f. Students who have early credits or are interested in early credits currently meet with Advising and Counseling Services
Strengthen and clarify information about the University Center
g. Discuss with Alberta Jaeger the status of UC and plans for expanding and developing UC
Strengthen the Writing Agenda
Issues Identified for Committee Focus
LPK suggested the committee identify 3-5 priority items from the Front Door Project final report for the committee’s efforts this year. The following items were identified:
9. Visitor Parking – RC volunteered to follow-up with Reinhold regarding status
10. Web Page – the main page’s use of real estate could be improved to show a more dynamic picture of campus academic and student life @ RVCC
11. Signage
12. Early Credits/Concurrent Enrollment
a. RC recommended we invite Tarana Baldwin to join the committee to discuss Concurrent Enrollment
13. Admissions’ Checklists, New Student Information and Parents’ Information
a. Checklists for various types of students – Transfer, First-time, Returning
14. Improve Student Services’ Hours
Other
The committee also agreed that our next (and possibly all future) meetings be scheduled in a CAT room for review of information related to the projects identified for the committee’s focus.