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"If we were creating this college today, given what we now know and given the current level of technology, what would it look like?"

 

In an effort to best facilitate the planning for our collective future, I am requesting that YOU respond to this query in some manner. Each of us brings a unique perspective worthy of consideration and discussion. Please take a few moments, or more, to think about this issue and then send your reactions/thoughts to me. I will attach no names to the ideas expressed. The goal of this request is simply to mine the wealth of ideas of SCF faculty and staff and use these as a starting point to set a strategic direction and agenda for the college. Responses of any length and in any form are welcome (I'd rather see a one sentence response than none at all). This e-mail is going to all SCF employees. Reactions from every individual, regardless of title or position, are equally valued. I know how busy each of you are, but please give this request some thoughtful consideration. Thank you, in advance, for helping shape the future of SCF.

 

 SUMMARY OF RESPONSES:

• The changes that impact me most directly would have to do with the ratio of full time faculty to adjuncts. I am concerned that we do not offer sufficient quality or consistency within those classes with several sections taught by several different instructors. We need to have our best instructors teaching core courses such as A and P. These courses are the foundation for all of the health-related professions. The students' future success depends on a good grounding in these basics.

• I would like to see several "gathering rooms" for less formal class discussions. Maybe even an outdoor class room on the Bradenton campus. Our traditional class room structure is not conducive to group learning and discussion. The labs allow for more personal contact with students, but many classes don't have a lab component. For these classes, a discussion section would be helpful. I have found that I can identify with students who require remedial help more quickly in discussion groups and labs than in a lecture setting.

• I would like to see a series of late-start classes designed to retain students who are experiencing difficulty with their course work. This would offer a second chance to students who were unprepared at the beginning of the semester. The late-start session could begin 4 weeks into the semester and run as summer course would run. Students could take a late-start version of a class that they are failing, or a late-start remedial class to better prepare them for their required course work if they began a course for which they clearly had insufficient background.

• I'd like to have more than one v-tel classroom per campus… or the capacity to videotape any lecture to use for distance learning. We can't always accommodate the students' scheduling needs in person, but a video taped lecture would be an adequate substitute.

• I keep thinking how pc cameras would make teleconferencing so easy… What do we need to allow student to dial into a classroom from home? I did some research on this and it seems possible. If I can have a computer in the classroom/internet connected with a cable/ a pc camera…anyone could enroll who has access to a good computer and modem. I know not everyone has the equipment at home yet, but within five years, they will. We should begin to budget for and plan for the day each faculty member can "broadcast" every lecture to home viewers.

• I would re-design the places of learning: centers equipped with the best technology would be built, and they would be surrounded by small classrooms for small group discussions, for task groups, and for tutoring. The curriculum would meet the needs of our new work world; it would be based on 21^st century workforce skills. In addition, we would have enhancement centers for the fine and performing arts. Testing would all be done hands on, such as demonstrations of what one knows. Teachers would have a higher knowledge of an area of study as they do now, and they would be coaches, facilitators, and guides. Students would come from high school not needing developmental work, and we could really do our jobs, then. This is really a dream. Also, a dream is to have a college in which people and schedules didn't have to fit into little boxes.

• More open computer labs. Labs where students don't have to wait for classes to be over because the one open lab in the college is packed, and the other one doesn't have the current software or hardware necessary for their assignments.

• A complete Web Development Department. With more people getting on the internet and more distance learning opportunities, the college could greatly benefit from having real world distance learning capabilities. In order to do this efficiently it would be necessary to have staff specialized in each part of the web that makes this possible. It is not possible for a department of 1 to compete with colleges like St. Petersburg Junior College who has 10 people dedicated to their web development.

• SCF must continue to be aware of, implement, strive and provide the best possible customer service we can. Focus must remain on both internal and external customer services. Without internal, we as employees cannot function and provide the external.

• Each student would have a personal computer so that teachers and students could communicate by computer.

• Students would use smart cards to print from computers in the library and labs, for photocopies, microfilm and microfiche copies, snack machines, etc.

• Data ports would be available for students to plug in their laptops and access the internet.

• Laptops with a word processing program would be available to borrow from the library.

• eBook readers would be available to borrow from the library, and students could download books to the reader.

• Internet café.

• More flexibility in distance learning scheduling, with classes starting whenever students want to take them, or at least as the beginning of each month.

• It seems education is becoming more online. Education is also becoming a business. SCF needs to compete for students where in the past this may have not been the case. When a student can live in Bradenton and attend a university possibly not even located in this state for their degree, it makes SCF's job harder to convince students that we are the choice for them. Every employee at SCF can market our programs and campus. I believe it would also be in our best interest to fully market our potential in distance learning. Distance learning seems to be the future in education. I have seen, within the last few months, distance learning advertisements from USF, Keiser, University of Phoenix, Webster, and others.

• Our phone system has to improve. People have been complaining that before, when they called the college, they always talked to a live person. Now they have to talk to a machine, listen to a long menu, are put on hold, sometimes for 10 minutes, forwarded to another extension where the phone rings and rings, and finally they are disconnected.

• INTERNET CAPABILITY IN EVERY CLASSROOM. Classrooms to include electric screens, current equipment/ video projectors, overhead projectors, VCR/TV (built in and secured).

• Have more people work with Secondary Education to prepare the students for what is in store. That is, college prep.

• SCF would have all of its student functions in one location - including bookstore and cafeteria, located front and center with lots of guest parking access (both campuses). All general education academic classes would be in building modules connected together. All separate programs would be together, much as they are now. The whole campus would be connected with covered crosswalks. There would be centralized areas for secretarial-type support sharing skills and areas of expertise, for all academic/department areas. We would be 100% student recruitment/retention focused with cross-trained support staff who would be role models of customer service excellence. All cashiering, payroll, purchasing, functions would be in one area. Faculty, both full-time and adjuncts, would feel equally valued to the institution and have the highest level of commitment to student satisfaction. They would receive adequate professional development opportunities to keep abreast of 21^st century skills and technology for their fields. There would be more automation to help with the yearly, time-consuming, monumental tasks such as budgets, standing committee assignments, SPD, state reports, grant applications, etc. All custodial, landscaping, electrical, etc. support would be contract out with strict requirements, expectations, and repercussions if not fulfilled. All computers would be leased with best contract possible to maintain and replace/upgrade/increase. We would have articulation with all educational entities in our service district sharing facilities and resources, perhaps faculty, openly and equitably. Administrators would each have a high-level assistant (Bachelor's or Master's degree) to assist with follow-through of various assignments, new and on-going responsibilities, etc. , to free them up for the more important aspects of running their administrative areas.

• Every room would be considered a "multimedia room" with the latest computers, projectors (mounted), DVD units, cdrw drives and other state of the art equipment (including a T1 connection to the internet.) all faculty would be trained to use the equipment, but to consider it a tool, among others, to be used according to one's professional judgment. No one would be expected to use it in every lecture, on every day.

• To design at least 3 or 4 v-tel classrooms on each campus and then get a "mobile" unit to rotate around in the community to extend offerings at high schools, churches, community centers, etc.

• Make all forms of distance learning a separate department to eliminate overlapping efforts and to eliminate conflicts.

• If I could prioritize funding I would hope each classroom would be set up as a multimedia room with a computer linked to the network, a VCR, projector and large screen. Also, a chalkboard, whiteboard and overhead projector.

• From a library point of view, the proliferation of online databases and the usage of the Web have become important issues today. The virtual library encompassing digital and virtual collections alike have become the mainstay in many academic libraries. In addition, with the trend towards distance learning classes, the virtual library has become a necessity. Print collections are necessary, however, allocation of resources towards electronic services is something that many people never saw coming years ago. People need to understand the value and worth of each type of collection. Online sources are not always the best answer. There are many troubling issues with online sources. Government documents are examples of documents that are increasingly only made available online (through GPO Access) so we cannot ignore the importance. Faculty with on site classes should bring them in more for Bibliographic Instruction on just how to use these databases and to learn what an authentic site is. It is surprising how many people (students as well as faculty) come in to the library not knowing all that it has to offer. Sometimes when researching information people have so many choices that they choose what is easiest instead of what is best. So far, there has been no way to "organize" the Internet, however, it is librarians and other information professionals that are attempting this awesome task. Technology has changed many parts of the college, perhaps none greater than in the library. We are living in an "information society," I wish that the importance and relevance of the Library would have been emphasized more.

• SmartBoards, video projectors built in each classroom and conference room. The whole joint would have wireless technology. No dedicated "Labs" i.e. Math, English, Language, etc, but an "electronic learning center" that would be staffed by aides or faculty knowledgeable in several subjects.

• The college should closely coordinate with the high school counselors to see that the students are prepared to attend SCF. A program could be coordinated between SCF & the high schools to assist the students in the transition. This will increase the number of students that will have a better chance to succeed at SCF.

• The new democracy demands access to electronically mediated worlds. A learning environment like SCF must address the disenfranchised and dispossessed lest they become disconnected. Well-managed new technologies empower and enlighten, serve local needs and global ones. All along the way, public interests must be balanced with commercial interests. In shepherding new technologies, the single most important asset is "spectrum real estate"---the ether and fiber on which/through which information flows. SCF should encourage a think tank or task force that pulls from various disciplines as it plans and assesses the new technology on our campus, and in our community. The financial stakes are too high---the telecommunications market ranks third in the world behind health care and banking, growing at twice the rate of the global economy.

• A hybrid super campus combining MTI and Bayshore with a shuttle bus system between campuses. The closest customer market is right next door. Teachers and students changing campuses all day long. Coordinated events, schedules and, maybe management. Why recreate something that exists next door. Cooperate don't compete. Parents getting their child started at college while still in high school.

• I would have online registration for all classes, and online placement testing. Also, how about an online forum for career counseling with some type of assessment software that would help prospective students determine what classes or curriculum would be appropriate for them. As far as marketing is concerned, why not start a campaign documenting a student journey through SCF from registration to graduation.

• I would give students the opportunity to register for classes at the same time of their appointment with their advisor. The advisor could actually register them for the upcoming semester during the appointment. My priority would be to try and cut out some of the "hassle" of registration.

• Create a more uniform look with a park like atmosphere. As far as the interior workings, I would like to see more classes available on a year round basis. With today's technology, this might become more of a reality through our online video conferencing, etc.

• As Guskin recommended, we must move away from teaching and toward learning. As simple as this concept is, it is still not as readily understood and practiced as I think it could be at SCF. I believe that professional development with vision will be a key to getting us more into the learning paradigm. Active learning is both a vision and a set of skills. So, I suggest that for transformational change (not just incremental change) we think about putting together a faculty/administrative "team" whose responsibility it would be to articulate the vision of the learning college and to "lead" SCF into the instructional changes that will create the learning paradigm collegewide. The team should have some visionaries on it, some faculty/adm who embrace change and communicate it well, some task- based results-oriented faculty/adm, some senior faculty as well as junior faculty whom we want to mentor into leadership positions later (not all of these categories are mutually exclusive). The team would be a learning group itself, reading cutting edge articles for discussion, sent to conferences and retreats on learning, and arranging generative activities on campus such as brown bag lunches, book reviews, skill-building workshops, etc. Guskin suggested to us that we select just a few key items to focus on that directly support our overarching mission. To have the faculty/adm articulate the overreaching mission of learning into the shape of an identifiable vision along with instructional objectives would be a good first step I think. A team such as the one above might provide an important direction to the first step.

• The college would be a four year degree granting college. It would have several electronic classrooms as well as a functional writing center housed in the English department, but serving the entire campus. This writing center would be staffed by English instructors and honor students (who pass a grammar and essay exam created and graded by the English faculty). The college would urge separate departments to offer more "departmentalized" workshops to help all faculty members become comfortable in using updated equipment (video/sound equipment, web page design, computer research skills, etc.). Finally, the registration process would be upgraded to a package that would acknowledge prerequisites for courses registered for and would have the capability to boot student ID numbers out of a course that the student was not qualified to take. This would eliminate those students who register for a course without passing the prerequisite or students who are dual enrolled and have not previously taken the prerequisite (or mandatory tests) for a specific course. I hope some of these visions for the future of SCF will be shared among decision makers so that our campus can encompass that image of "Today's Technological College" that Guskin spoke about.

• My perception would be the creation of a symbiotic relationship between instructional technology, the instructor, and the student. We have embraced distance learning, video/multi-media courses, V- Tel, and other instructional/learning platforms or delivery methodologies that cater to the convenience and comfort of the learner, while yet attempting to maintain the "integrity" of the essential learning environment. A favorite quote of mine by Albert Einstein states "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge". I hope that never changes to substitute "computer terminal" for "teacher"! Provide instructors with the tools and technology that create an effective, thought provoking, inspirational, and motivating learning environment, and the students will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

• More services should be available on-line. For example, electronic timecards LOA, vacation, etc. Benefits would be on line. Much of this will come with Banner, but we should have a lot more in place now as we are educating students in Computer Sciences. We need to "practice what we preach."

• We are having a real problem with lack of preparedness on the part of A and P 1 students. It is my understanding that we cannot require these students to take a general bio as a prereq to the limit on completion points for the nursing program. I am looking for a way to increase the # of completion points allowed for the nursing program to allow us to have the prereq. To this end, I'm looking for data correlating the grades received by students who have had bio prior to taking A and P compared to the grades received by students who have not taken bio. Is there a way to generate this data.

• Thoughts on Alan Guskin's statement. My concern is with the "given what we now know" part of his statement. Before I could make logical statements about the direction of SCF with respect to technology, I would need more information on what we really do know. This would help us better direct our energies and resources than the way they have been in recent years. SCF needs to set-up a research committee that will direct and oversee projects that would occur on campus and provide support for future directions. Running ahead of research usually wastes time and money as does bringing in speakers that tantalize the taste buds of the mind, but only provide empty calories.

• I would arrange to give the students more information about financial aid and how it is affected by the number of credits they carry , withdrawals, G.P .A, the type of part time job they choose, the date they apply, etc. Maybe I would do some cross-training among admissions, registration/advising and financial aid. Maybe I would produce a user friendly information bulletin explaining in the simplest, clearest language what is involved. Or perhaps i would publish a short dictionary of financial aid terms and jargon that could be used as a reference. In some way though I would treat the financing of the education (and that includes the expense of staying alive and well while being a student) as an important part of the whole education plan --similar to the place of financing in, say, buying a house. I believe that if there were more 'user friendly' information available and a more genuine advising process in place regarding financing the education we would attract and retain more students.

• I don't believe that the average student (whoever that is) is a big fan of distance learning. Most lack the discipline. I see our biggest weakness as how we deal with the underprepared student. We have the methods available to identify them, but we need a better plan on dealing with them to help them achieve success. We need to assure them that "remedial" courses aren't bad and that sometimes stepping back is the quickest and surest way of moving forward. I'd like to see us offer reading, study skills, math help etc in 5 week blocks so that an incoming student could register for and complete a series of remedial courses in one semester. (This would help them with full-time status also. Example: Fall Week 1-5 Remedial reading (3 cr), study skills (3 cr); Week 6-10 Remedial reading 2 (3 cr), Remedial writing (3cr) Week 11-15 Remedial reading 3 (3 cr) or something similar depending on individual need. May take all remedial maths in 5 week blocks in one semester. Hope this helps- these type students are our future- we can do a better job helping them.

• Libraries are based on the principles of librarianship, the mission of the library and the people and services that make that mission become reality. Given the current level of technology, only our role as an educator in the academic team has become most important and should be recognized as a beneficial partner for our new philosophy.

• Being a librarian at our institution, I have to answer this question from the eyes of an information professional. "Given what we now know and given the current level of technology", I will talk about the library's place in creating this college today. Modern libraries have always relied on technology to support services. As Guskin noted, librarians have frequently been early initiators of useful technologies. Online resources can intrigue patrons previously uninterested in a library , or claustrophobic by the library's physical walls. Whether in the library or at home, accessing electronic materials, patrons need instruction in techniques, analysis and evaluation. Technology both enables and requires librarians to be educators and to facilitate information literacy skills along with other teaching faculty.
• Librarians in today's college need to be the proactive not reactive member of their academic organization's team. Librarians need to form partnerships with faculty and then together they can playa central role in the learning process. The real resource of libraries is not the books or other electronic materials, but the librarians. It is the librarian who needs to be an educational entrepreneur and help to train students in the new practical life skills necessary for effective information handling. The web is wonderful but it is a woefully poor substitute for a full-service library.

• Addresses competency gaps such as communication, team-work etc. Learn more than from just lecture or lecture/lab. Cons- small class sizes needed, increase in consumed materials, cohort groups may be needed (harder for part-time students to form a team) increased instructor time in project development. What's needed: A team of "believers", Administrative support and college commitment, a project model of some sort that supports a variety of problems. (an example is a model train which can be seen at www.sci.tamucc.edu/trainlab )

• There will always be a need for personal contact with students: two examples come to mind. 1) Lab courses - unless there are downloadable simulations (given the student has a computer). 2) Some students learning styles mandate a traditional face-to-face classroom experience. I think these student's needs must continue to be met. 3) The appropriate use of technology should continue to be explored by not at the expense of our traditional "non-traditional" students.

• I believe that we should bring in people who are well trained to utilize modern technology in their workplace (and especially for faculty in their teaching), or train the people already here to adopt technological innovations. This means that we must stop the "revolving door" of adjuncts that cycle through each semester, and who often come to us with skills that are not updated due to being out of teaching for some time, and commit to providing SCF employees long-term training with reliable resources that they can build upon.

• Facilities: small seminar-type classrooms; one or two large lecture halls per campus for special lectures; performing arts spaces on both campuses; open computer labs/libraries/classrooms that are available to students on a 24-hour basis which contain internet access, e-mail availability, programs to compose PPT presentations and webpages, student information (registration, credits, financial aid, etc); laptops available for rent or loan; equipment and facilities for filming, photography, videotaping, etc.; Learning Communities: AA transfer students: organization of faculty and students into small interdisciplinary learning communities --with less emphasis on majors and more emphasis on academic readiness for advanced college study; AS students --communities with strong career orientation incorporating students, faculty and in-field consultants (could be adjuncts who work in the field) College Community: continued growth of shared resources with new emphasis (at least new to Venice) on creating campus/ community relationships through artist-lecture series, student performances and club activities, internships, mentoring of high-school students, tutoring of elementary and middle-school students, etc.

• The library would be in the very center of the campus. It would be surrounded by classroom building. The center of the library would have an Internet Café where students could use a college PC or connect their laptop to the internet. There would also be a large number of computers in the reference area for research. We would have many electronic resources for students. We would also have a book collection with the latest books in all areas of the curriculum.

• I would pursue project-based, multidisciplined team learning. The general idea is to pull together a team of diverse talent and orchestrate a project that creates the "need to know" or "teachable moment" environment for the student team. The task list given to the student is complete, i.e. includes research, project development, application of appropriate technology, application of appropriate mathematical or physical science concept, and documentation and presentation. Pros- Makes use of collaborative learning

• The campus layout would be based on a circle rather than a rectangle. The library in the center with classroom and administrative buildings surrounding it. The facilities and plant management infrastructure would be on the "backside" of the circle. All classrooms would have a multimedia setup with projector, computer, VCR/DVD, etc. Faculty would be trained in many learning modalities. Students would have choices in the delivery of classes, i.e.lecture, internet, video, etc.

• It is vital for our students to have consistent academic advising / counseling services. They should have individual sessions with a professional staff member on a regular basis so that there are no misunderstandings or mishaps during their career here at SCF. I just can't get over how common it is for our students to be "in the dark" about their academic program of study --they're constantly asking ME what classes to take, what is involved in their specific program, etc. ! I tell them that I never took even a step without consulting my advisor first --and then they say they don't even have an advisor. Something's wrong with this picture here.

• It would be great for SCF to have some type of centralized learning center or a "learning resources" center where students receive help regardless of subject matter or a "prescription" that allows them to get the help. The learning center would be staffed by professionals well-versed in English writing, reading, languages, math, science, etc. so that a professional (not just a student tutor) is always there to answer questions or read through papers. Having a place where professional staff assists students at all hours --daytime, evenings, Saturday mornings --is vital to our student population since the need is definitely there. Over here in the English dept. it has been awful to turn away students who simply want another set of eyes to read through their paper before turning it in (if they don't have a specific prescription from the instructor, the English lab doesn't work with them. Isn't that horrible?). Of course we can refer them to the SAIL lab for help, but students usually don't go over there because they want a professional in the particular subject area of English. This is just an example of how our students become frustrated easily because they are not receiving the time and attention that they deserve to have. On a side note, most other colleges do have a centralized resource center for students (I worked at one a long time ago, in 1989-1990, at Lake-Sumter C.C. in Leesburg and it ran beautifully. I understand that it has expanded to yet another center in the past decade.)

• AC that WORKS in the classrooms is most necessary. Since we're supposed to imagine how our college would be, given current technology, I would suppose that we could have efficient cooling and comfort in our classrooms.

• Modernizing our buildings is essential to improving the campus appearance, of course, and I realize we're working on that now.

• Availability of some kind of personal counseling. I frequently have students who have psychological/emotional problems and no other way to get help. I am not a qualified counselor and it worries me that I have nowhere to sent the student for help.

• A substantially expanded SAIL lab. There should be more of it and it should be advertised more. I get a lot of students who don't know the kind of help they can get there.

• In thinking about the modern classroom it entered my mind we could have more V-tel type rooms and perhaps more would be okay. However, I really believe the students who are on the opposite campus from wherever the "live" presentation is being made are losing out. To my way of thinking there is no replacement for in-person training. The teacher adds an important part of the setting in which we learn. The personal touch in a remote classroom is not really the same and although the convenience might be a plus, the minus side is this lack of "togetherness" for want of a better term. I am one, as I believe you are, who likes to have choices. It would be nice to have the capability to offer some distance learning courses but I would not think it wise to make this the most common form of class offerings. Perhaps because I am an older employee (in age -not length of service) I see the world changing from what is was to this rush/fast/hurry up and go agenda and I see a population that is more restless and less content with life in general. True we have a larger population and more everything including the dreaded word --traffic --but do we need to continue to distance people from each other??? The computer is a wonderful tool and although it can bring people from allover the world together --it also creates or allows for less human, one-on-one, in-person contact between human beings. To me this is not the most logical and people serving road to navigate.

• So in essence I say we have the flexibility to offer distance learning via super electronic classrooms, but I also would hope we do not lose the opportunity to remain a college that promotes caring and personal attention to our students. This type of teaching one-on-one can be done with the video projectors etc

• I do think that far more computers would be very beneficial if we expect to have the students access their own information. Although, having availability without some kind of instruction is pointless. We tend to assume that all of our students are savvy in the ways of the computer, but they aren't yet. On-line or telephone registration is a must.

• Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I don't want to think about "The Jetsons Go To College" where everything is done on line. I don't think there is anything more important to a nervous, 18-year old freshman OR a confused, 40-year old freshman than an interested and patient human being. I hate to think that this is the direction that technology is sending us. We often don't experience enough of "the human touch" during our lifetime as it is. Blah, blah, blah.

• Although viewed by some here as the purview of technical colleges, I think it is critical that we continue to explore the development of programs that address specific labor shortages and opportunities within southwest Florida. The dental program is a step in the right direction. Another obvious area is travel and tourism, specifically food and lodging management. Also, we must continue to develop articulation agreements with other Florida 4-year colleges that will facilitate the training of students to meet existing labor needs.

• Anecdotal evidence suggests that many of our students do not learn effectively from distance learning courses and many simply don't like the distance learning approach. I think the development of small, satellite campuses that draw from the resources of the two main campuses is a sound strategy for most of our learners.

• Standardize the room placements for classes before the semester begins so some instructors would not be put off. I know this occurs infrequently as far as the number of classes on both campuses are concerned but it does occur every semester .

• I would also have someone available to make student id's on the Venice campus any time we have someone available to take their money. I think I would increase the marketing budget as well as investigate more grant opportunities for program development as well as scholarships. Can our grant writers or department heads contact two different major companies each semester to investigate grant possibilities or proposals?

• I would continue to develop the computer service for students on campus.

• In a partnership with the University of South Florida we may be able to get some of their instructors to team with our own for different perspectives on common subjects. I guess that would just be a dream. Will we be able to look at different professional certification tests to determine if we could become a site for those? The Certified Purchasing Managers test comes to mind through the National Association of Purchasing Management. We already have class space to provide the test in both the written or computer formats. With four modules at $115 for each module paid up front there is the possibility of making a little money there. NAPM also has other certification designations along the same line that we as an educational facility could investigate to both administer tests and teach courses. The courses would be extra and separate from the cost of the certification tests. We could even try to get NAPM to put on a seminar in Sarasota/Bradenton at SCF instead of having so many in Orlando. At roughly $900 to $1200 per person for five days I believe our hotels may even want to contribute to the educational fund of SCF if we could possibly recommend their facility as a site for housing.

• I would like to see the college: have the leadership in being a community resource for the twenty-first century; provide a student-focus or student-centered learning environment; have the expansion of instructional delivery modes; have an active role in the area of Post-secondary Adult Vocational education (PSAV) which is one of the major focuses in the workforce development arena; have more opportunities based on the needs of the market and the communities; and have more updated technology/skill oriented programs.
• I am very interested in getting the ACT placement test implemented for our non-native English speakers (our ESL) population). All of the ground work has been done it would be fairly easy to implement. The FPT is not an accurate instrument for this population and causes unnecessary hardship for these students and the instructors who are trying to teach and help them.

• A place to get training using up to date technology and equipment and at the same time provide a broad general education that would help people throughout their lives. We would provide convenient office hours, programs that are competitive and realistic, and a class schedule that helps people to move along quickly and meet their goals. We would have enough people working at SCF so that the students would never feel like they were just a number or lost in the system. We would provide attractive classrooms and labs and create an atmosphere that encourages success.

• More in-service days included in our teaching schedule to bring some of us more training in technology. There is so much I want to be doing in my classes utilizing the new technologies, but I am so busy preparing for classes, teaching, and grading papers that time just seems to fly by. To build workshops and training into our teaching schedule would be very helpful.

• SCF needs to move away from it's "grade 13-14" style of teaching. Students are looking for less teacher lecturing and more student/teacher interaction. Learning from doing. Projects and papers that relate to their jobs and life. Students want to see a difference between high school and SCF classroom environments. Technology can be utilized to conference with students and teachers around the world, access information for projects, and increase awareness about technology and it's power in the work place.

• Develop creative staffing and benefits programs that are tied to the Goals of the College. This would mean recognition and reward systems, compensations, etc. Benefits would be a flexible benefit program where employees make selections out of a given list with an established amount of money per employee. We would have work teams, maybe skill based pay system, some type of merit pay system to reward creativity and/or other goals as they are established. HR practices should be strategic, tied to organizational goals.

• Before a student could take a college level class in Math, Science, or English, he/she would have to demonstrate the ability to handle the course work by taking a simple qualification test. Remedial courses would be available to students needing them. Course grades would accurately reflect the student's degree of mastery of the course material.

• A pledge from staff and faculty to each other and students to insure polite, sensitive, respectful, fair service, etc.

• A safe environment; nurturing to promote exploration of ideas and thinking; to challenge students to rise above the entrance requirements. (open door).

• More Inter-discipline opportunities in the classroom and out. More cooperation between faculty, counselors & librarians. I don't think these groups understand what they have to do and what they want to do.

• A lap top for each student/portable (for the semester) so that their access to their faculty, library & support staff, can be made from home or school regardless of their economic means. Let's equalize the playing field for our students, and break down the different barriers to success. Economic barriers are the most over-whelming for students. "1 don't have a computer, indicates an economic need as well as lack of skill sets.

• Students could go into "lounge" areas, study areas, computer areas, the library to use their computer. Don't limit them in where on campus they can work. Print documents from a print server, one per building/lab so that there can be staff in each building to troubleshoot & assist.

• (Let's break down the pieces of the college so that they can "blend" or be built back up in different ways, not limited to the traditional academic departments.

• For the Library. E-reserves, scanned documents, video data stream for any/all classes requiring materials; databases, ebooks, online library staff able to do help & referral from on campus or off.

• e-B.I. sessions (don't think I'm not working on this one). Or Tutorials for all students not just distance learners.

• Librarian Chat, ILL materials, sent to all students so that they are not required not treated differently than D.L. students. A student is a student. Let's try to not differentiate by geography, economic means, etc.

• It goes without saying, staff to support all these neat ideas so that we are not stressed and overwhelmed, but are able to assist patrons proactively, as a team, keeping in mind our vision of quality and success for each patron/transaction. (It is hard to be a Pollyanna all the time!) This not just limited to the library.

• Reliable, consistent, proactive, knowledgeable, understanding service.

• We "want" to care about the individual, nurture and challenge, not create barriers or obstacles, not pamper or spoon-fed. An exchange of knowledge, that stretches, sometimes over whelms, but excites with achievement and possibility for the teacher as well as the student.

• A vibrant, changing thing. Provide ways in which our students can get to Maslow's 4th level. 1-3 are survival levels. "True "learning" can not occur unless 1-3 are in place. The college doesn't have to provide housing, etc, but provide "active" access to the knowledge. For instance, If a student is having trouble getting care for their child while they go to school, there should be, perhaps an office, with personnel, that will personally recommend the options and then put that student, "in touch" with a name or phone call contact so that the student can get the support they need with that outside organization (in this case, possibly Project Child Care). Students may not know that something is available; they do not know that something is available; they do not always have contact with the people who have that knowledge.

• Break down the components of classes, faculty, create modules within a course that can be directed by those individuals that have the knowledge even if they are in another department/discipline.

• All night students should be able to get a degree or at least the care classes without having to take day classes. Same with distance learning or daytime classes.

• Do we have to follow the agrarian calendar? What is best for our communities.

• Identify the skill sets that students need for employment. We always think about "true learning"; they often just want a job to better their lives. We need to get out of our Ivory Tower sometimes. Is it true that the career/job areas on campus are the lowest ranked by the exit survey? This is one of the most important, isn't it.

• Develop a MISSION STATEMENT - clear, simple (e.g. - The mission of SCF is to assist students to achieve success in the first two years of study for the bachelor's degree, in workforce training and retraining, and in lifelong learning.), and is used as a basis for the development of all programs, rules, procedures, and staffing patterns.

• Implement a learning community's approach across the curriculum. This is to assure focus and provide a support mechanism for the students with peers.

• Hold all employees accountable for retention efforts; from customer service orientation by staff dealing with students, potential students and other college employees to faculty being held to some standard of learning and retention. This must be the primary focus for those in leadership; they must demonstrate these skills in their day-to-day dealings.

• Evaluate and reward faculty based on a common measure of learning and retention rates. Do away with tenure and replace with contracts of specific length, ranging from one to five years. We need more "caring" faculty who can focus on student outcomes.

• If the college is to have satellite centers and campuses, each must have a clearly defined role within the mission of the college.

• Obtain more land in the Lakewood Ranch area and move all Health Sciences (as well as workforce development) to the Lakewood Ranch facility in the future. Accessibility is the key in order to best serve both counties and compete with the Technical Institutes and other CC's for this market.

• It would be located in an area accessible to its major population centers, with store front outreach centers

• It would allow for sophisticated distance learning

• It would accommodate evening students to a much greater extent than currently exists.

• It would also see conflict between technologists and traditionalists over the delivery of knowledge, and this would continue forever.

• Everyone (faculty, advisors, counselors and staff) would become a customer service representative. Students/customers are entitled to having questions answered efficiently and correctly. Everyone should know the college structure and competently direct students to where they can get the information they need, which empowers students to be in control of their goals.

• SCF can assist the students by providing current, accurate and standardized information. SCT Banner is a step in this direction, but SCF will have to expect more from employees, not less. SCF should provide everyone with a comprehensive procedure manual and the training to assist students with the basic ABC's of either an A.S. or A.A. degree. This will enable all employees of SCF to provide excellent and instant customer service.

• Technology is changing at a rapid pace and SCF is striving to "catch up", but needs to move faster. Streamlining the Admission process, as well as, the registration process should encourage more students to attend college and thereby increase enrollment for SCF. All SCF employees should be computer literate. The technology exists to enable students to take control of their academic needs. Counselors and advisors would be able to spend more time with individual students who need more comprehensive information and advising.

• Retention is a problem for SCF. We have made strides in attracting people to come in and sign up, but in reality are unprepared for college, and after one semester, we never see them again. The other retention problem is the student who wants to finish their degree, but encounter scheduling difficulties with classes they need. SCF needs to address the scheduling issue and to become student centered rather than faculty centered in the times that classes are offered. SCF attracts many non-traditional students who juggle work, family and school who express frustration and anger when registering.

• I would like to see a college that was proactive in bridging academic, cultural and economic gaps. An initial step might mean being more involved in the local high schools. Our public high schools need help. According to the FDOE's Florida Schools Indicators Report, the graduation rates for Manatee and Sarasota counties for 1999-2000 were 61.4% and 63.4%.

• One example of being proactive in this regard would be partnering with the local high schools by offering juniors and seniors who had not passed the FCAT, dual enrollment type classes, but in developmental courses. More students would not only receive standard diplomas but also be "college ready" when they graduate.

• A Summer Bridge program could be offered to these graduating students and other recent graduates. As part of this program, students could take a course during Summer B to get a jump-start on their college career by taking any remaining developmental classes or beginning credit courses. Students could access financial aid to pay for the Summer B course(s) by filling out the current year's FAFSA.

• As far as using technology to bridge these gaps, a potential student could access all the information they needed about applying, registering, transferring, financial aid, etc. from the internet or via telephone 24/7. If not available at home, a student could use a computer in their high school guidance department to access this information.

• And depending on the technology available, students could apply to SCF, take the FPT, register for classes, and complete their FAFSA all over the internet from their guidance office. Based on their FPT scores, the appropriate classes they would need to take could appear on their electronic registration form. They could then come to an orientation session to complete the process or receive on-line or telephone advising.