September 27, 2012

Checking the Columbus climate

Associate Professor Eric Neubauer, (center, holding balloon) helps students in his Weather and Climate class launch a weather balloon Monday into a very clear blue sky.  In GEOG 1120, students learn about the basic concepts of weather and become familiar with climate types around the world. They also study the impact of human activity on weather and climates. 

HLC Quality Checkup Visit is complete

For some it was like taking a graduate school oral exam and for others it was a great coaching clinic. Either way, the three-day accreditation Checkup Visit conducted last week by reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) was a success.

"I think by the time our visitors left, they wanted to work here,” noted President David Harrison.  “They were really impressed with what we're doing."

In eighteen meetings spread over three days, Drs. George Johnston and Cheryl Carpenter-Davis met with more than 150 college employees, students and key community stakeholders.

They cited the progress the college has made in using data for decision-making and gauging stakeholder input. The Achieving the Dream initiative was noted and praised.  In an exit interview, the two said it was obvious the college took feedback from the 2009 Systems Portfolio review very seriously. 

The reviewers' report is due within four weeks, after which the college will have an opportunity to respond. A complete package of accreditation material then goes to the AQIP Review Panel of Accreditation. Their recommendation is forwarded to the HLC's Institutional Actions Council for a final review.  By the end of December 2012 the college will receive notification about reaffirmation of our accreditation.

Polly Owen and Greg Goodhart would like to thank all who helped prepare for the visit. 

Columbus State coach ranked No. 14 nationwide among junior college coaches

Pat Carlisle

Columbus State’s men’s basketball team has been making a mark in Division II junior college play since Pat Carlisle arrived as head coach in 2007. Since then, the Cougars have made regular appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) top ten rankings.

Under Carlisle’s leadership, the team has made it to the national tournament twice, with an appearance in the championship game once.  Over the past five seasons Carlisle has achieved a record of 129-32 – an 80% winning record.

Now Coach Carlisle’s hard work has paid off in a new ranking from RecruitDirt.com. It puts Carlisle at No. 14 for all junior college coaches, divisions I, II and III.

RecruitDirt.com is a site heavily used by the coaching community and is a popular interactive recruiting tool created to help talented basketball players gain exposure.
In announcing the new rankings, RecruitDirt.com states, “Junior Colleges have been pumping out talented players for years now.  The coaches of these schools do not get near the credit that they deserve.”

The rankings were based on recent wins and losses, conference wins and losses, championships won, along with recent and incoming recruiting classes.
Only one other Ohio head coach made the rankings, Dave Clarke of Owens Community College, coming in at No. 11.

Payroll Services to relocate

Earlier this year the Payroll Services team moved from Human Resources to the Business and Administrative Services Division. As of October 3, the Payroll Services office will relocate to Rhodes Hall, Room 227 in the Business and Administrative Services Area.

Employees may pick up paychecks with proper ID at the Cashier’s Office beginning October 4.

Payroll Services email and phone number contact information will remain the same:   
Tina Davis - 287-5288
Tahia Chhuom - 287-5617
Allison Stir - 287-2348
Jason Love - 287-5972
Becky Ribble, Supervisor - 287-5791

Disability Services promotes Keck; Killen and Van Horn earn master’s

Christopher  Keck has been promoted to Assistant Director of Disability Services. Keck is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a master’s degree in community counseling.  Prior to coming to Columbus State as an advisor in 2010, Keck was a Disability Services counselor at The Ohio State University.

Sheryl Killen, supervisor of Interpreting, and Darla Van Horn, office associate in Disability Services, graduated August 3 from the University of Dayton with a Master of Science in Education and Allied Professions. They both plan to attend the U.D. graduation ceremony on December 15.

Sheryl Killen, left, and Darla Van Horn show off their new master’s degrees. 

Christopher Keck is the new Assistant Director of Disability Services.

 

Help your students prepare for midterms!

Midterm exams are right around the corner.  Are your students already studying for them?  Find out how you can help students minimize stress, maximize time, and ace their exams!  Have them attend one of the upcoming BLUEprint workshops, and learn about how to best prepare themselves for exams, starting NOW!

Tackling Test Anxiety:  Monday, October 1, 3:00-4:00 p.m. in Madison Hall 225
Overcoming Math Anxiety: Thursday, October 4, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in Madison Hall 225

If you would like a printable flyer of all the BLUEprint workshops, or if you have any other questions, please email blueprint@cscc.edu.

College readiness assessment process to begin Oct. 1

As part of Columbus State’s student success initiatives and in support of efforts to prevent financial aid fraudulent activity, the college will implement a new college readiness assessment process.  On Monday, October 1, the college will require all newly accepted students to complete one or more of the following assessments of college readiness in English/Writing and Mathematics prior to registering for classes, and prior to receiving their login credentials for access to their student email, the CSCC network, and CougarWeb :

• COMPASS/ESL Placement Test (or ASSET if needed) – Writing and Mathematics sections (reading section also recommended). Note: Students placing into credit ESL courses are exempt from the math assessment requirement until they reach the designated ESL course proficiency level.

• ACT Test Scores – English (not writing) and Mathematics sub-scores  (reading score also recommended)

• AP “X” credit for ENGL 1100 and MATH 1151, 1152, or STAT 1350 (must submit AP transcript verifying completion of English Comp & Lit or English Comp & Lang and Calculus AB, Calculus BC, or Statistics with a score of 3, 4, or 5).  Note: If AP credit is in only one area, a college readiness assessment in the remaining area must be completed and submitted.

• CLEP “X” credit for MATH Special, MATH 1116, or MATH 1151 (must submit CLEP transcript verifying completion of Algebra-Trigonometry, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trig, College Mathematics, Calculus with Elem Functions, or Trigonometry with a subject exam score of 69 or above).  Note: A college readiness assessment in English/Writing will also be required.

• Transfer “K” credit for ENGL 1100 and MATH 100 or above (cannot be K-D credit).

For more information, contact Tari Blaney at ext. 5021, Tisha McGlaughlin at ext. 5513, or Liz Wyles-Smith, at ext. 5374 in the Admissions Office.