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Di Pasquale?
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You Asked the President
June 15, 2006
Since I launched the President's Web page a few months ago, I have received a wealth of questions through the Ask the President interactive feature. These questions demonstrate not only the wide range of issues CCRI faculty, staff and students must negotiate on a regular basis, but also the strong level of commitment within our college community to improve our workplace.
Below is a sampling of queries and responses I have received over the past several months. Some of these are abridged to maintain the confidentiality of the author.
Ask the President sample questions and answers
Q: What could be done to expedite the acceptance of [waitlisted]
students into the nursing program, especially older students who already
have extensive job experience?
A: Currently, CCRI is examining alternate approaches to the nursing acceptance process. However, at present we are maintaining our “first-come, first-serve” acceptance policy, regardless of student GPA, age or work experience. If that policy does change in the future, please know that the college will make every effort to contact waitlisted students like yourself.
Q: Are there any plans in the near future to expand the online
course offerings? I am an employee of the college and would like to earn
my associate’s degree, but I have a family with small children and the
only time I would be able to take classes would be late in the evening,
from home.
A: We currently offer an array of distance learning courses which you can learn more about here. Developing alternative delivery systems is an area in which I have a great deal of interest, and I anticipate that we will be offering additional distance learning courses in the near future.
Q: I was curious … if it would be advantageous to have faculty and
possibly other staff involved in direct recruitment of students.
A: We would be delighted to have faculty and staff more involved in recruiting students. One way to accomplish this is through Enrollment Services latest initiative—a telecounseling center at the Warwick campus. Scheduled to begin operations this summer, the telecounseling center will accommodate eight telephones and computers for staff, faculty and students to contact prospective students and help them make CCRI their college of choice. Volunteers are needed to help close the recruitment process by contacting students who need to finalize the admissions and financial aid application process, schedule orientation and Accuplacer testing, register for courses and/or make tuition payments. If you are interested in volunteering, I’d be happy to forward your name.
Q: This is not a question but a song of praise for the unmatched
patience, calm demeanor, good humor and excellent skills of the
Information Technology support staff.
A: It’s always great to hear when our employees are doing outstanding work. Thank you.
Q: What should I do? I’ve attended CCRI in the past to no avail, and
I would like to take a couple of courses now…. I have ADHD and I don’t
thank that in my past time at CCRI I understood how to seek extra help
due to my lack of focus.
A: I am very happy that you have decided to continue your education at CCRI…. As a prospective student needing assistance, you should contact our Advising and Counseling Office (825-2301) so that a staff member can provide you with a step-by-step process of getting back to CCRI and creating an educational plan that will help you reach your academic and career goals. The second recommendation I have is that you contact the Disability Service Department (825-2305) so that knowledgeable staff members can discuss the academic accommodations available to you. The professional staff will help you get the type of services that will provide support for you in the classroom, such as working with tutors and taping your lectures, if needed. Congratulations, and I look forward to hearing about your progress.
Q: Why aren’t time cards distributed in a timely fashion?
A: Our payroll office is currently reviewing the employee timesheet process to determine ways in which it can be improved in the future. Please note that a long-term goal of the HR Banner Team is to replace the current paper system with electronic timesheets, so that the issue of time card delivery may one day be a moot one.
Q: I was wondering whether the community college was exploring the
possibility of installing a wireless network.
A: This suggestion has been on a project list for the college for several years. Unfortunately, we have not been able to implement broad-based wireless access on campus due to budget constraints. But do not give up on the idea! We plan to revisit this issue as soon as budget dollars become available. In the meantime, you may take your laptop to any CCRI academic computer lab, and a lab assistant should be able to help you plug into our campus network.
Q: I am very disappointed and worried about the recent results of a
department chairpersons’ vote to approve a particular set of general
education requirements [combining science and math requirements]. … What
happens next in the process of setting the general education
requirements? Does the department chair vote represent the final
decision?
A: In considering the general education requirements, the department chairs took a hard look at the current NEASC standards as well as the Board of Governors requirements before making any decisions[l1][l2]. While the chairs did consider separate math and science requirements, they eventually concluded that grouping math and science requirements into one category gave departments the most flexibility. This grouping option also ensured the least amount of interruption of programs as they exist at the college—an important consideration given out implementation timetable of Fall 2007. Please know that a draft of the general education requirements will soon be distributed electronically to the entire CCRI community in hopes of soliciting feedback. [NOTE: The General Education Committee recently distributed an electronic feedback form to the college community regarding this issue.]
Q: I would like to say I think you’re doing a fantastic job, and
this Web site is another example of it. In my opinion, you are the first
administrator in my 20 years at CCRI to improve communication
college-wide and to include everyone. If my memory is correct, in the
last two NEASC visits we were given very poor marks for lack of adequate
communication. Again, keep up the good work!
A: Thank you for your supportive words. My hope is that this Web page will be just the first of many new lines of communication throughout the college.
Q: Would it be possible for Dining Services at the Newport campus to
run a sandwich and coffee cart in the evening?
A: Steve Marginson, Dean of Administration, responds that the food service operation at the campus is not yet covering expenses due to low volumes [of customers] during the day. Until such volumes increase, it is unlikely that additional services will be offered. As you know, I have set an aggressive goal for an increase in the fall enrollment at the Newport County Campus, and I am hopeful that if this goal is met, we can give serious consideration to providing additional services.
Q: My suggestion is to make the [president’s attendance request]
form interactive on the Web page so that we do not have to print it out,
scan it in, fill it out and then find a fax machine by traveling back to
the college for one.
A: You’ll be happy to learn that a member of the IT staff is currently building an online version of the request form to make it easier to fill out and submit. [NOTE: an electronic form to request the president’s attendance at a college event is now available here.]
Q: May I suggest that benches or chairs of some kind be placed in
the outside hallways on the sixth floor? There are frequently students
learning against the walls and windows, or sitting on the floor. It
would certainly be a welcome addition.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. I have checked with our dean of administration, and he tells me that the fire codes will not allow benches or chairs in the hallways, as they present a possible hazard during building evacuations, particularly for the physically challenged.
Q: Now that I have finished agonizing over a few borderline grades,
I wanted to ask if there has been any further discussion about
implementing a plus/minus system of grading at CCRI?
A: I conferred with the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who has taken the plus/minus issue to the Academic Advisory Committee. A member of that committee is researching this, and I am advised that it will be on the committee’s agenda for the first Fall 2006 semester meeting.
