What we value, we measure

If you believe the maxim ‘what we value, we measure’, then you can believe that York Technical College values the principles and behaviors that constitute engaged learning in a supportive academic environment. For every year since 2004, the College has participated in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), and this fall will be the second year the College has participated in the Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE). Both of these surveys are designed to measure key areas of student engagement which research has identified as directly related to student retention and other success outcomes. The surveys ask students about their college experiences – how they spend their time, what they have gained from their classes, how they feel about their relationships with faculty, counselors, and peers, and how the college supports their learning, etc.

Although the surveys measure similar areas, the SENSE items focus on entering students’ experiences during the first three weeks of their first semster, whereas the CCSSE items measure all students’ experiences during their time at the College. The SENSE focuses only on the early experiences of new students because research suggests that helping students succeed through their first semester can dramatically improve subsequent success.

The CCSSE data are reported through five benchmarks: Active and Collaborative Learning, Student Effort, Academic Challenge, Student-Faculty Interaction, and Support for Learners. The SENSE data are organized around six benchmarks: Early Connections, High Expectations/Aspirations, Clear Academic Plan, Effective Track to Readiness, Engaged Learning, and Academic/Student Support. You can learn more about both the CCSSE and the SENSE by visiting their websites: http://www.ccsse.org/ and www.ccsse.org/sense.

The key findings of the 2010 CCSSE report for York Tech summarizes the College’s benchmark scores and discusses some survey items where our results are significantly different than the average results for other participating colleges. You may also want to look at the College’s trend data of the survey items comprising the benchmarks for the seven years that we participated in the CCSSE.

As noted in the Beginning-of-the-Year Meeting, you will hear more about the SENSE and our first year of results through Benchmark Fridays during the academic year. These will be similar to the CCSSE Benchmark Fridays the College conducted last year. I hope you will take the time to review this information and participate in the professional development opportunities to further explore these ideas.

New Commission Member

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Harry M. Miller, Jr. has joined the York Technical College Commission. Since 2000, Mr. Miller has served as the Executive Vice President for Planning and Development for The Comporium Group. He began working with the telephone company after graduating from Clemson University as an Assistant Outside Plant Engineer, working on design and supervision of cable projects. With over thirty-seven years of experience at Comporium, Mr. Miller currently provides oversight to the following areas: Engineering and Planning, Information Technology, Internet Planning and Development, Network Services, New Venture Startup, Purchasing, and Wireless Planning and Development.

Mr. Miller has served eight years as a board member of the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom), the industry’s national trade association. He also serves as a member of Clemson University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering External Advisory Board.

Mr. Miller replaces Mr. Ed Barnes, who retired after 24 years of service to the College.

The other nine governing board seats are held by:

Mr. Bruce “Tony” A. Vaughan (Chair), Retiree
Mr. E. Paul Basha, President & CEO, York Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Mr. James “Jim” C. Hardin, III, Attorney at Law, James C. Hardin III, PLLC
Dr. A. Douglas “Doug” Marion, Ophthalmologist, Eye Associates of Chester, PA
Mr. Robert “Bobby” B. Meek, Owner, Century 21 Palmetto Homes Realty
Mr. G. Thompson “Tommy” Myers, Jr., Retiree
Mr. Charles Z. Robinson (Vice-Chair), Human Resources Consultant, Prosperity Resources, LLC
Ms. Geri H. Rucker, Regional Vice President, Founders Federal Credit Union
Mr. Jeffrey C. Sigmon, President, JEFCO Communications

We currently have one open seat on the Board. Ms. Carolyn Carpenter retired after 20 years of service to the College. We hope to fill that seat by the end of the year.

Kimbrell Memorial Golf Tournament

On May 10, 2010, the York Technical College Foundation hosted the much anticipated William C. “Bill” Kimbrell Memorial Golf Tournament. Mr. Kimbrell was an outstanding Foundation board member, serving continuously for over 17 years. He shared a passion for student success and was an enthusiastic advocate of numerous fundraising projects, helping the community and the college.
(Pictured left with me is Mr. Kimbrell's daughter, Willann, his wife Joanne, and Dr. Ed Duffy.)

The day started with lunch, followed by the tournament, and concluded with a reception and awards. One hundred and twenty-five golfers turned out to play. Alongside the seasoned golfers were Robin Breedon and Jacqueline Drakeford, both students who have received assistance from the Foundation. They each spoke about their return to college, educational goals, and appreciation for the work of the Foundation with regard to scholarship funding. YTC Student Jacquie Wells was also recognized for her work in designing the tournament program.

The event was quite a success raising $110,000 to date for student scholarships. We are very appreciative of all of our generous sponsors, volunteers, board members, faculty and staff that made it happen. Congratulations on a job well done!

CPT Alumni Reunion

The first York Technical College Computer Technology Alumni Reunion was held on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Baxter M. Hood Continuing Education Center. Six hundred graduates of the associate degree and certificate programs were invited. Attendees included seventy graduates from the years of 1977 through 2010. Activities for the evening included informal networking and "speed networking" where each graduate introduced himself to someone in the room whom he did not already know.

Former York Technical College president and Computer Technology Department Manager, Dennis Merrell, reminded the alumni of how far computer programming has come since the early days. He engaged the audience by quizzing them to identify relic programming paraphernalia that he had brought with him.

Yung Chou, a Microsoft Information Technology evangelist, conducted a presentation on the Future of Cloud Computing. To encourage the audience to answer questions throughout his talk, Mr. Chou tossed out Microsoft software and other prizes to respondents.

Guests enjoyed an Asian buffet provided by CPT alumnus Thi Le of Thi’s Catering and a cake (left) designed by Department Manager Jyron Baxter’s wife, Aramis. Each alumnus was given a custom t-shirt displaying the College’s new logo.

I greatly appreciate all the work by the faculty, staff, and alumni that planned the event.

YTC Foundation Newsletter

The York Technical College Foundation has developed a newsletter, Overview, that highlights the many initiatives the Foundation is working on for the College. The April 2010 newsletter includes information about the William C. Kimbrell Memorial Golf Tournament that will be held on Monday, May 10. I greatly appreciate all the work that the Foundation and the Development Office does to help support the College's goal to Maximize Student Success.

SCTEA Recognitions

The annual South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) Conference was held February 18-20 in Myrtle Beach. The following York Technical College employees were recognized recipients of the Educator of the Year award.












Lori Ochsner – Administrator/Manager Category













Laura Sturgis – Teaching Category













Debbie Williams – Staff Category

Each recipient received a plaque and a $100 check.

In addition, the College’s Phi Beta Lambda student organization won third place in the SCTEA Student Community Service Project. In all, twelve projects were submitted for review. Their project titled, Learning to Rebuild for Success, focused on providing workshops to help participants improve their employability skills. Participants learned how to:

Search for jobs
Fill out applications
Create a winning resume
Dress appropriately
Present oneself in a positive manner
Exhibit one’s potential value to the company during an interview

Five PBL students (names are below) attended the SCTEA awards luncheon, along with advisor Cathy Kerwan, where they received an engraved plaque and a $100 check.

Susan Pleasant
Megan Floyd
Tameka Gaither
Tonya Graham - President
Jasmine Humphrey

Special thanks to the PBL advisors Ivan Lowe, Gwen Wilson, Cathy Kerwan, and Dane Loflin for their guidance and support to the PBL students.

Innovation Mini-Grant Program

I am pleased to announce an exciting new opportunity for faculty, staff, and student organizations. Through the Innovation Mini-Grant Program, the York Technical College Foundation will award grants for creative, new approaches to enhance student success. The grants will range up to $1,000 and will be based on anticipated outcomes and the impact of the projects on student success. Applications should be submitted by April 1 to the Development Office. We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity!

I appreciate the great support we receive from our York Technical College Foundation and for their leadership in creating this new program.