Carroll Community College
Convocation 2016,
No. 85


Contents

Diane Foster Elected Chair of the Board of Trustees

President’s Column

MILLER Welcomes Colorado Community College Visitors

Psi Beta Chapter Wins National Award

College Receives Readers’ Report on Periodic Review Report

One Good Deed Deserves Another

Info
College Receives Readers’ Report on Periodic Review Report

On August 1, 2016 the college received the “readers’ response” to our Periodic Review Report to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The report was prepared, following analysis of our Periodic Review Report and associated appendices, by Valarie Avalone, director of planning at Monroe Community College (NY) and Dr. Melissa D. Denardo, vice president of academic affairs and provost of the Community College of Beaver County (PA).

The Periodic Review Report (PRR) provided the readers with a comprehensive overview of the institution’s progress since the college’s decennial self-study, team visit and subsequent reaffirmation of accreditation in 2011. The college received only one recommendation from the decennial evaluation team: Carroll Community College should continue its efforts to improve its financial aid processes through automation and enhance coordination efforts with other offices. The readers commended the college for its response to this decennial visit recommendation.

The PRR noted a number of challenges facing the college over the next five years, including limited growth in its service area population, declining enrollment which puts pressure on tuition rates, declines in average billable hours-per-student, rising fringe benefit costs, below-market employee salaries, and limited state funding support. The readers noted that the college “has been honest, thorough and self-reflective in its examination of the challenges it faces over the next five years. In so doing, the college has been realistic in forming predictions and assumptions and has supported them with data.” Nevertheless, the readers did make two recommendations concerning the college’s financial outlook.

The readers commended the college for having planning processes in place to address its challenges, and for its use of assessment data: “The readers are impressed by the college’s use, understanding and knowledge of the importance and value of data and analytics for tracking performance indicators and making data-informed decisions.”

Middle States is in the process of adopting new practices that will include enhanced annual reporting along with the discontinuance of Periodic Review Reports. More details will be shared with the college community when the new procedures are approved and implemented.


Commendations from the PRR Readers
1 Throughout its pages, the PRR is direct, clearly written, and supported by appropriate documentation. The report is reflective of widespread community involvement in its preparation and it communicates a strong sense of reflection, thoughtfulness and commitment to institutional progress. The readers commend the institution for the quality of the report.

2 The readers commend the college for their efforts to improve the financial aid processes through automation and enhanced coordination efforts with other offices.

3 The readers commend the college for crafting a strategic plan which serves as a guide for addressing its challenges and capitalizing on its opportunities.

4 The readers commend CCC for their use of assessment to inform planning and improve institutional effectiveness and for a culture that values and encourages self-reflection and improvement.

5 The readers commend CCC for developing a planning structure and process which supports the integration of planning and budgeting.
Recommendations and Suggestions from the PRR Readers
1 The readers support the continued monitoring of the budget and recommend the college continue to actively explore options to fortify the financial health of the institution.

2 The readers recommend that CCC be proactive in addressing enrollment and finance trends by developing contingency plans in case the hoped-for solutions do not materialize.

3 The readers suggest the college be proactive in counseling and educating students on the actual costs and impact of credit card debit when selecting this option for payment.

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