Transformations at HCC include students successes, academic innovations
Nov 18, 2014
Transformations is a weekly news update from HCC which highlights students successes, academic innovations.
SUPPORTING STUDENTS
Three categories provide $1M in extra funding for students
One week into the enrollment process, over 13,000 students registered
Spring 2015 credit registration started on November 10, 2014. As of Monday, November 17, (64 days from the first day of the Spring Semester) 13,410 students had registered for semester credit hour (SCH) classes. This compares to 8,083 last year as of 64 days before of the start of the Spring 2014 semester. It should be noted that this year, spring semester credit classes will start on January 20, 2015, a week later than the January 13, 2014 start date last year.
Hundreds take opportunity to register early
Working together for a successful open house at all colleges this past Saturday, advisors, financial aid experts, counselors, public relations departments, faculty, staff and representatives of the Foundation produced an event that allowed hundreds of families a first-hand look at all that HCC has to offer. Many explored hot jobs, career options, and signed up for courses that will begin in the Spring.
PARTNERSHIP SUCCESSES
State Department, HCC, Vietnam partner for student success
In what the US State Department terms a “win/win opportunity”, a video crew from the US recently partnered with a talk show host from the Vietnamese Culture Channel in Hanoi, Vietnam to work on a production designed to explore the way Vietnamese students learn in America. Coupled with footage of professors from Stanford and Indiana Universities, the students and administrators from Houston Community College were interviewed to tell the story of their learning journey in Houston. The segment is expected to air throughout Vietnam at 8:30 A.M. on November 18. The link will be available at http://vtc10.com/xem-netviet-online.
VIP Global Luncheon highlights international partnerships
At the second annual VIP Global Luncheon, HCC hosted representatives from Houston area consulates, elected officials and leadership from area colleges as they shared information about how HCC is serving Texas and beyond. Hosted by the HCC Diversity and Inclusion Council and the Office of International Student Services & Study Abroad, the program featured Dr. Cesar Maldonado and Dr. Noel Bezette-Flores, co-chair of Houston’s Citizenship Month. Insights into all that is being done to promote diversity and inclusion were shared from both HCC and the Mayor’s office.
HCC, Baker Institute meet
Officials from the Office of International Initiatives met with the Rice University Baker Institute Center for Public Policy. Their first roundtable topic was “Unbundling Mexico’s Telecommunications Sector: Reform, Investment and Digital Policy.” More interaction is planned to discuss educational opportunities in Mexico.
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION
One New Mathways leads to Writing Pathway
Having successfully launched the New Mathways Project that will more readily get students prepared for the college math course(s) needed for their career path, a team has been created to do something similar for English, Reading and Writing in accordance with Texas House Bill 5. The Bill stipulates that each school district is required to partner with at least one institution of higher education to develop and provide college prep courses in English, language arts, and mathematics. Math 0409 and the new INRW developmental course will be offered in high schools to increase a student’s readiness for college-level courses.
District wide team supports faculty innovation
The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) is hosting sessions to receive input from faculty to learn how they can best improve upon supporting faculty with active learning instructional design services. Sessions have been held at Central and Northeast; all other colleges will be involved prior to submission of a final report. Additionally, Distance Education and CTLE have implemented a newly revised HCC Online model course development process to increase efficiency and production of these quality courses for faculty use. These courses are fully-developed online versions of HCC courses/course content designed to be used as a starting point by faculty for face-to-face, hybrid, and distance education delivery.
HCC answers White House request for submissions
Two proposals from HCC were submitted to the White House in hopes of participating in the Second College Access Summit on December 4 in Washington, DC. The HCC categories of submission were STEM Degree Production and K-12 Postsecondary Counseling and Advising. The STEM proposal, which highlighted the collaborative engineering program with UT/Tyler, was accepted. The goal of that program is to ensure access, retention, and completion of both engineering associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Online learning and in-person coursework requested from Nigeria
HCC is preparing a proposal for the Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Nigeria (FPOG) to provide both online and in-person coursework and other services, leading to certificates and degrees for their students in Petroleum Engineering and Process Technology. As the project matures, it is envisioned that the FPOG will accept more responsibilities and transition into offering programs independently.
Articulation agreement signed with Loyola
Loyola articulation agreement giving 2+2 transfer plans for academics and several workforce programs as well. Unusual for universities to find a pathway for workforce programs to the BS.
AAS Programs revised to mandated 60 hours
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has ruled that all AA/AS/AAS awards must be 60 credit hours by fall 2015. At the time of the ruling HCC had 13 degrees that met criteria, and seven additional have been completed. Of the 47 remaining programs that have been submitted to the Co-Board, four have requested an exemption based on external accreditation requirements; they are Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapy Assistant, Sign Language & Interpretation, and Interior Design. Acceptance status is expected in the spring.