Email from AB-Tech president: We’re watching fall enrollment numbers; we will move many publications to electronic formats, including course catalogues

Here’s an email passed along by a loyal reader. It was sent last week by Asheville-Buncombe Community College President Hank Dunn:

I hope all is well and you are enjoying our warm summer weather. All too soon, by December I’m sure, we will be missing this warm weather and wishing it were warmer, so enjoy the heat of summer for the moment.

We continue to watch our fall enrollment numbers. With only two weeks and a couple days remaining before the term  begins, our headcount is still only 75% of what we projected it to be.  I am concerned that we are not going to make our projections, in spite of  having taken some very directive and specific action steps in the last two weeks. Please continue to remind students that school starts soon, but that our mini-mesters are future opportunities for students to enroll if they don’t make the start of the 16-week term.

We are making a concerted effort to move many of our written publications to electronic formats in order to save money and go green. Therefore, we will be moving away from printing large quantities of paper catalogs each year. Beginning the spring 2012  term, we anticipate charging students a nominal fee who desire a paper copy of the catalog.  However, a free, and probably more up-to-date electronic version is on the web and will always be available at no charge. Internal staff and faculty are encouraged to move to the electronic version, but those faculty and staff who desire to have a paper copy will be provided one during 2011-12 and perhaps beyond. Don’t forget that the new degree audits are up and running for our students, and any student (or advisor) can access web advisor to run a free and up-to-date electronic audit of what a student has taken and what they still need to take to finish their degree. They can also do a “what if” scenario to determine which of a students already completed classes apply to another degree or certificate program of the college.  

There are many on-campus efforts happening regarding continuous improvement. We are hopeful that in the name of efficiency and economy, we can begin looking at several on-campus processes to save steps. Some of those steps will eliminate signatories. An example of this is our P2 process for adjunct faculty. Beginning this week, we have reduced the requirement that the Vice President for Instruction sign off on these forms (except in rare exceptions). Therefore, this particular process should be sped up because of the reduced time in processing.  We hope to do more of these kinds of step-eliminating activities as we move into the new year.

We will be installing plasma screens in several of our Victoria Road buildings in the next 30-60 days. These screens will be strategically placed to provide information about the college and classes for students and staff. Some of the plasma screens will be split so they may run a continuous news program and provide updated information about the college. Look for continuing technological advancements  in the coming weeks and months to make life on campus just a little easier. 

We also pause today in memory of one of our adjunct instructors,  Captain Jeff Bowen, who lost his life yesterday in the carrying out of his duties as a Asheville city firefighter. Please remember Mr. Bowen and his family in this difficult time. My condolences and prayers go out to his personal family, and to the college family with whom he worked so closely. 

I hope you have a great weekend. Enjoy Bele Chere if you are braving the crowds.

Thanks for being part of an organization that prides itself on creating student achievement and student success. I appreciate all that you are doing to make students creators of their own futures.

Take care.

Hank Dunn

President

A-B Tech Community College