<p>Northeast Texas Community College Updates for Faculty Meeting 9/25/08</p><p>Prepared by Dr. Herb Riedel</p><p>1. Welcome and Recognitions:  Please welcome  Prof. Rex Allen, Government  Prof. Lisa Currey, Nursing  Prof. Anna Elliott, English (interim)  Prof. Jeanette Gallup, Computer Science  Prof. Chad Henry, Agriculture  Prof. Debbie Lovelady, Cosmetology (interim)  Prof. James McGregor, History  Prof. Cynthia Parsons, Medical Laboratory Technology  Prof. Julie Ratliff, English  Prof. Lonnie Tarrant, as Interim Coordinator of EMS  Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner, History and Division Director for Humanities  Prof. Rick Rothwell, Director of Julia Truitt Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Program  Coach Dustin Merritt, Rodeo  Coach Jay Terry, Softball (and Housing director)  Coach Elizabeth McGee, Softball  Congratulations to the following faculty members on their promotions:  Joy Cooper to the rank of Assistant Professor  Kim Gatlin to the rank of Assistant Professor  Barbara Moore to the rank of Assistant Professor  Mindy Nobles to the rank of Associate Professor We appreciate their contributions and the recognition they bring to the College by their achievement.  Dr. Paula Wilhite for submitting a joint research paper in medicine with Dr. Isaac Osborne, a Mount Pleasant internist. The paper was submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine.  Drs. Archer, Brough, and Hearron for helping the NTCC American Chemical Society Student Chapter achieve a Commendable ranking.  Dr. Archer for funding and Dr. Yox for arranging a field trip of our Presidential Scholars to the Kimbell Museum in Fort worth.  Prof. Chad Henry for his leadership of the Faculty Advising Center, and Profs. Karen Andrews and Sandra Adamek for their service as faculty advisors in the Center.  Prof. Sergio Sanchez for terrific recruiting success and record enrollment in Welding.  Police Academy Director Richard Jones, and his faculty, for their pro-active and creative initiative in helping students from Paris Junior College finish their Peace Officer Training through our Police Academy.  Prof. Marguerite Morris for organizing 18 sections of the Master Student Seminar. Thank you to all who participated by teaching sections or assisting in other ways.  Prof. Jim Swann for reviving the Latino Club (also known as the Hispanic Cultural Club).  Please excuse any omissions and let me know for inclusion next time!</p><p>2. Effective with the Spring 2009 semester, NTCC will provide a Free Shuttle Bus Service from Gilmer, Pittsburg, Daingerfield and Mount Pleasant to the campus. By partnering with local Northeast Texas Community College council’s of government, we have been providing a bus service since June 2006 for a nominal fee. The service will now be free of charge. Ridership on the buses has steadily grown, with approximately 1,600 – 2,000 rides given to students per semester. Some students are now planning their class schedules around the bus times. This is a valuable service to help students cope with the high cost of gasoline and make the College more accessible. We hope to expand routes and add additional bus runs in the future.</p><p>3. The College had a very successful SACS site visit of the Hanson-Sewell Center. We received only one recommendation (related to documentation of faculty credentials for one faculty member). Thank you to Carla Asbill who chaired the committee and the many people who assisted in this important process. The same committee is now finalizing the College’s response to the recommendation as well as our Fifth Year Interim Report, due October 1, which includes an abbreviated Compliance Report (in essence a miniature self-study report).</p><p>4. The College will send five students to the Nation Collegiate Honors Council in San Antonio, TX, where two of these students will make presentations and complete for prizes. Last year at the Great Plains Honors Conference NTCC students won two of the six awards presented. Dr. Andrew Yox, and Dr. Mary Hearron will accompany the students.</p><p>5. On Thursday, October 2, NTCC will formally sign an agreement with Texas A&M University – Commerce to articulate coursework for the Industrial Engineering degree. The ceremony and reception will be at 2 p.m. in the Whatley foyer. Many thank for Dr. Jess Dowdy’s good work on this under a grant from AEP-SWEPCO.</p><p>6. Dr. Paula Wilhite is the principal investigator for a pilot project in dual credit being conducted with Hughes Springs High School. The Dual Credit Partnership Model involves a combination of online and traditional instruction. Dr. Wilhite is team teaching the course with a teacher from the high school. Students benefit by having weekly face-to-face contact with a full-time faculty member from NTCC, while having additional class time with their high school teacher to reinforce concepts.</p><p>7. Seventeen faculty and administrators attended an Outcomes and Assessment conference at Collin College in Plano. The president of the SACS Commission of Colleges, Dr. Belle Wheelan, was the keynote speaker and breakout sessions addressed many topics related to accreditation and student learning outcomes.</p><p>8. Carroll Shelby Ride and Car Show, along with dedication of the Carroll Shelby Automotive Technology Center, Saturday, October 25, 1 p.m. This event is in partnership with Quantum Performance, a licensed Shelby Mod Shop in Dallas, and Team Shelby. There is an entrance fee for automobiles participating in the ride and 50% of the fees will be donated to NTCC to support scholarships.</p><p>9. Semifinalists have been interviewed for the Carroll Shelby Chair in Automotive Technology and finalist interviews will be scheduled soon.</p><p>10. Mr. Jim Wiley has been hired as the director of NTCC’s congressionally directed biodiesel program, which is funded through a $492,000 congressional appropriation. He will begin working on Monday, September 29. Northeast Texas Community College 11. A travel committee has been established and has met to determine distribution of faculty travel funds this year. Dr. Andrew Yox was elected to chair this committee.</p><p>12. The Faculty Senate has submitted a proposal for a Distinguished Professor Emeritus designation and is currently revising the wording to correspond to the newly Board-approved policy on designating a President Emeritus.</p><p>13. A new Academic Honesty policy has been proposed by the Faculty Senate and adopted by the College. It is contained in the revised Faculty Handbook.</p><p>14. A faculty awards procedure was proposed by the Faculty Senate and is being reviewed by the administration.</p><p>15. Administrative Matters:  Full-time faculty and administrators will be granted assistance in the purchase of academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) in the amount of one half of the purchase price up to a maximum of $250. This benefit may be used only one time. To qualify, regalia must be purchased through the College Store. During the first year of employment, departmental supply budget funds may be used to cover the cost of rental of regalia for attendance at one commencement ceremony.</p><p>16. The Updates for Faculty Meetings will be posted on our website, as soon as arrangements can be made with our webmaster.</p><p>17. Upcoming events:  NTCC/NIRA 2008 Rodeo will be held October 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and October 4 at 2:00 p.m.  Fall Break October 6-10.  Ceremonial signing of the articulated Transfer Agreement in Engineering between NTCC and Texas A&M – Commerce will be held Thursday, October 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the Whatley Center Foyer.  Phi Theta Kappa induction will be Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Whatley Center.  Theatre Northeast production (title TBA) October 23-26.  The Carroll Shelby Ride and Car Show, along with the dedication of the Carroll Shelby Automotive Technology Center, will be held Saturday, October 1, at 1:00 p.m.  Scare Affair, October 25 from 6:30-9:30, NTCC campus.  “Coming Home, The Landscape Photography of Vaughn Wascovich” will be on display through October 24 in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts. The reception will be held on Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Whatley Foyer.  The 5 Browns will perform November 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts.  Northeast Jazz, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.  Theatre Northeast children’s show production (title TBA) December 4-7.  The Texas Millionaires will perform December 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts.  Fall Graduation, Friday, December 19, 7:00 p.m. Faculty are expected to attend.  November 19 – offices close for holiday break.  Minimester classes will be held December 22-23, 26, 29-30, January 2, 5-9 Northeast Texas Community College  Offices re-open on Monday, January 5, 2009.  Spring In-Service will be held January 5-6, 2009.</p>