Vol. 3, Issue No.6                                                                                                                                                
April 17, 2015   
From the Hawk's Nest is distributed on the first and third Friday of each month. We need your input!  Please send your ideas for stories on upcoming events, reports on attendance at conferences, awards and honors received, photos or information on outstanding employees or students to Elizabeth Belcher, ebelcher@newriver.edu or Kelly Taber, ktaber@newriver.edu. The deadline for the next issue is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29. 

Data Discovery Day Kicks-off New River CTC's Participation in HLC Academy

 

New River CTC has joined the Higher Learning Commission's Persistence and Completion Academy to help boost student retention and academic achievements.

 

Low student persistence in programs leading to a degree or certificate is a problem at community colleges nationwide. Historically, only about one in four first-time students entering New River CTC or any community college in West Virginia receive an associate's degree or certificate within six years of starting their college education.

 
The Academy, a four-year commitment, is designed to help New River CTC build capacity for improvement of student persistence and completion and lead to higher rates of academic achievement and student success. 
 

Dr. Robert Haas, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Marion Technical College in Marion, Ohio will serve as the Academy mentor for New River CTC by guiding the development of a pro-active, data-informed, and targeted approach to improve persistence and completion.

 

 
Dr. Robert Haas, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Marion Technical College, meets with student services staff during Data Discovery Day.

A first-step in the four-year Academy process took place on April 13 when members of our administration, faculty, and staff met with Dr. Haas for a Data Discovery Day on the Raleigh County Campus. Early morning meetings with college leadership included President Washington; Vice-Presidents Amy DeSonia and Allen Withers; and Deans Marianne Layer and Karen Carter-Harvey. Meetings followed with information technology staff; members of the Institutional Research Committee; academic leaders that included department chairs; members of the Persistence and Completion Committee; and student services staff. 
 

As a trained mentor with extensive experience in institutional research and data management, Dr Haas engaged the various groups to learn about our processes and procedures that can affect persistence and completion. Special emphasis was placed on data collection, analysis, and usage across the many facets of our institution.

 

"It was a very productive and informative day for all involved. Dr. Haas is a good fit for our institution and will provide excellent guidance for us as we move forward in this important endeavor," said Jim Fedders, Interim Director of Institutional Research.
 

President L. Marshall Washington has stressed the importance of improving persistence and completion at New River CTC and the need for all administrators, faculty, and staff to support this institution-wide effort. Faculty and staff College-wide will be invited to participate in this process over the four years as we seek to improve student success at the College as a member of HLC's Persistence and Completion Academy.
Banner Software Training Workshop
  
Dara Fann, Senior Database Administrator, presented an overview of the Banner Digital Subscription Library training series on April 13. The workshop, delivered via IVN, demonstrated how these sessions will assist employees with on-demand Banner training options.

The College has purchased 10 seats for a year-long Banner software training starting July 1. Employees who receive the training will be assigned various learning paths for completion.
 
The first 10 seats are filled. There is a waiting list for open slots. If you are interested in receiving training, contact Dara Fann at dfann@newriver.edu or 304-929-6740.
  
  
Dara Fann leads a Banner Software Training information session via IVN. 

Office of Communications Forms Updated     

 

Reminder: The Office of Communications has updated their forms on the New River CTC website.

  • Advertising Request Form
  • Business Card and Name Badge Order Form
  • Printed Materials Request Form
  • Publicity and Media Request Form
  • Social Media Request Form

The Publicity and Media Request Form now allows faculty and staff to attach documents for review. Upon completion, you should receive a "Thank You For Your Submission" message. The Office of Communications staff will respond to all requests as soon as possible.

New Hire 

  

Travis Copenhaver, Visiting Instructional Specialist of the Paramedic Program, works from the Lee Street Complex of the Greenbrier Valley Campus. This semester, he is teaching Rescue Operations, Special Patient Considerations, Pre-Hospital Cardio-Pulmonary course and lab, and General Medical Care course and lab. He is a member of the West Virginia Association of EMS Administrators and the National Association of EMS Educators. Copenhaver also is President of the West Virginia Association of Municipal Judges, and serves as Municipal Judge and Mayor of the Town of Alderson.

 

Welcome Travis! 

Raleigh County Campus Health Fair  

 

 

New River CTC Medical Assisting students and the University of Charleston's School of Pharmacy held a free health fair on April 8 at Raleigh County Campus with blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. They also provided medication information to those who attended.

 
Volleyball 4 Autism and Autism Awareness Month Movie and Panel Discussion 

 
Volleyball 4 Autism, sponsored by the Browning Social Services Club, will be held April 25 at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Beckley, with the goal of raising $10,000 for the Autism Health Angel Fund, which allows low-income families to access autism services that are often not covered by insurance.

Also, New River CTC will recognize Autism Awareness Month with a movie showing and panel discussion: "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" Tuesday, April 28 at 4:15 pm, panel discussion to follow at 6:30 pm in room 147 at RCC, room 111 at NCC, and in room M117 for the movie and M102 for the discussion at MCC.