McKimmon Center for Extension & Continuing Education Annual Unit-Level Review

Transcription

1 McKimmon Center for Extension & Continuing Education Annual Unit-Level Review The ECU/NC State University Collaborative (The Collaborative) At the Gateway Technology Center Overview: Over the past fiscal year The Collaborative at the Gateway Technology Center (GTC) in Rocky Mount served over 8,900 attendees. This represents a 10% increase over last year thus accomplishing the Senate Bill 1239 to extend advanced educational opportunities to eastern North Carolina through the Gateway Technology Center. The service area includes the counties in eastern North Carolina. These services reflect face to face academic degree programs, face to face non-degree CEU programs, K-12 outreach, university delivered youth enrichment programs, professional, and workforce development outreach programs. Services offered also include extensive test proctoring to local distance education students. Top 3 Discussion Items: 1. Academic Degree Program Offerings: Beginning January 2015 NC State College of Education began offering the first doctorate level, face to face professional degree program through the GTC. The September 2014 recruitment open house was attended by a whopping 65 local interested educators. Nineteen folks made it through the rigorous application and review process. The Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D) is designed to prepare 21st Century school superintendents and district level leaders. Individuals deeply committed to leading improvement efforts in NC s schools were the primary targeted professionals. Coursework will be completed summer NC State University College of Education continues to deliver the Master of School Administration, the Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA), academic degree program though The Collaborative in Rocky Mount. After successfully completing three cohorts and graduating 62 local educators the fourth Cohort continued with 16 students and a fifth cohort of 15 students began in May NELA is an innovative school leader preparation program designed to develop principals as instructional leaders who drive improvements in student achievement in northeast North Carolina s rural, high-need schools. 1

2 NELA was nationally recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) by receiving the Exemplary Educational Leadership Preparation Program Award (one of only two programs nationally to receive this distinction). East Carolina University (ECU) continued a third cohort, Master in Social Work degree program. Cohorts I and II graduated 34 participants. 21 students are registered for Cohort III. In addition to the face to face credit offering, ECU has been a leader in distance education (online) in North Carolina for more than sixty years. In the 2014/2015 academic year there are over 400 registered online degree students in The Collaborative s closest 5 county service area of Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson counties. The Collaborative provides test proctoring and computer lab availability to local university distance education students. 109 exams were proctored from six different universities: North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, UNC Charlotte, NC Central, Winston-Salem State, American Military University and Edgecombe Community College... Testimonial: The staff are always easy to get in touch with, respond quickly, and are very helpful. Abby Hucks - ECU MBA online student 2. Certificate, Professional and Workforce Development Training Sessions The Collaborative expanded to offer the following workforce and professional development programs: A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate program was developed and delivered to 16 employees from Hospira, Inc. East Carolina University s Center for Innovation in Technology and Engineering developed the off-campus deliverable at the request of the company s management team. CEU s were offered to teachers, healthcare professionals, childcare staff and other local professionals to attend the Stewards of Children workshop from ECU s Brody School of Medicine Children s Advocacy Center. The focus was on early recognition of child abuse and the appropriate steps of response and reporting. 2

3 A collaboration with NC State College of Engineering brought the youth STEM program Achieving Success through Challenges in Engineering and Technology (ASCENT) to local YMCA afterschool middle school students. Participating teachers gained 1.6 CEU credit hours. Continuing education video conferences from the NC State Parks & Recreation and Forestry Departments extended outreach and training to local personnel. 3. Youth Enrichment Activities Fifteen different summer and year-long youth enrichment activities impacted more than 545 area elementary through high school students and provided employment for 67 local teachers and staff with university level sponsored programs. This represents a 25% increase since 2013/2014 in student s exposure to university developed programs and a 91% increase in employment opportunities for local educators. K-12 outreach and academic enrichment programs seek to encourage STEM enrichment as well as enhance the success of students as they consider higher education and career choices. Program additions for this academic year included a collaboration with the following: Video Game Design Program- Middle Grades Local response for this first offering was phenomenal. The expectation was for students to apply. Surprisingly seventy-five applications were received. A second class section was added and forty-eight students from the surrounding area were able to enroll. Due to the tremendous local response two summer middle and high school enrichment programs were added to the line-up. Jones Elementary STEM After-school Program (Wilson, NC) This new offering included 20 elementary students from October 2014-April The program curriculum consisted of the hands-on engineering activities and innovative teaching techniques used in the summer NC State College of Engineering summer camps thus extending the outreach to students that did not attend the summer programs. STEM Challenge for High Schoolers The STEM Challenge was a one day event that gave 8 students the opportunity to competitively utilize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills in addressing a local issue. The 2015 Challenge was "Design a cost-efficient local foods distribution system for your community." The plans 3

4 included were an organic school garden using in-house talent for maintenance and distribution, learning and utilizing composting techniques, a greenhouse initiative, canning and preservation, and even a model of a solar powered vehicle to maximize efficiency in distribution. Two coaches, two coordinators and three judges contributed to success of the experience. A+ Test Prep & Academic Services is a professional educational organization located in Durham, NC. They delivered five classes at the GTC to aid high school students prepare for the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. Testimonials from parents and students: My child has never been so excited about Math! Nyranda Copeland Elementary Math Camp parent I would [recommend] this camp to others. Naudia had a rare experience that most elementary students don t get. It made her feel like she was really in college. Name unknown Elementary Math Camp parent Maggie has had the best week. She learned so much at camp. All of the staff were very kind and helped her learn many new things. She wishes it would last another week! Thanks so much. Kim Collier NC State Engineering Camp parent My two boys participated in the NC State Engineering Camp this week and had a superior experience. My expectations were exceeded daily as I listened to their stories. The knowledge gained, materials provided and the entire staff and experience was exceeded. Bridget Alford NC State Engineering Camp parent I encourage my peers to attend the Shelton Challenge to build up the leadership skills and morals behind the reason for becoming a leader. This message is important to high school students because it is better for us so we can express how we feel and see things in different perspectives. This message can improve the people s lives...and help you become a better person. Anonymous Area Challenges: All five of the GTC surrounding counties have been designated as Tier I status by the NC Department of Commerce. Unemployment rates continue to be well above the national average with poverty levels from 18-27%. The ongoing depressed state of the local economy makes delivering affordable university programs a challenge. 4

5 Increased competition from the local Community Colleges offering youth STEM outreach programs is impacting the enrollments in the engineering summer camps. Unit Challenges: The unit continues to work through the challenges presented from the College of Engineering transferring the management of the High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Engineering Camps to a local management model. New Collaborations: ECU David Harrawood, Director of the Center for Innovation in Technology and Engineering; development of the new Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate program. Hospira Tim Devlin, Director, HPS (Operational Excellence); requested the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt class for fellow employees. Nash Community College Reggie Cobb, Instructor; new robotics program under development. Cummins, Rocky Mount Engine Plant Calvin Ballance, Plant Manager; developing technical and managerial programs for professional development of workforce. WHIG TV - Dr. Cindy Bennett; invited to talk on a local TV program to promote program knowledge. A+ Test Prep & Academic Services Sheba Lowe Brown; instructed five classes on how to prepare for the SAT/ACT College entrance exams. I liked the writing and engagement from the teachers and how the teachers engaged the students to think for themselves. Anonymous Survey Respondent North East Carolina Prep School Lynn Huff, Communications Director; participated in the ASCENT engineering program. Wake County Schools Stacy Harris and Trey Ferguson, STEM teachers; coordinated the content and curriculum for the STEM Challenge. 5

6 Major Unit and Employee Accomplishments: Successful launch of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership professional degree program through The Collaborative at the GTC in Rocky Mount. NC State College of Education began a fifth face to face cohort in the Master of School Administration (NELA) graduate degree program. NELA, the Master of School Administration cohort model design exclusively for The Collaborative was nationally recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) by receiving the Exemplary Educational Leadership Preparation Program Award (one of only two programs nationally to receive this distinction). The addition of a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate face to face program from East Carolina University began in May 2015 for 16 area professionals. East Carolina College of Public Administration Arts and Sciences agreed to deliver the first Master of Public Administration graduate degree program face to face at the GTC. Overwhelming local response to the first offering of the Video Game Design Experience. Jones Elementary After-school STEM program expanded outreach to 20 students otherwise not exposed to university offerings. Addition of STEM Challenge competition for high school students. 25% increase in K-12 youth impacted by additional program offerings. Maintaining all current programs with excellent customer service evaluations while continuing to expand offerings. Sara Hughes was accepted as a presenter in the United States Distant Learning Association (USDLA) national conference in St. Louis. 6