Conversations About What We Believe

In the fall, I met with over 400 faculty, staff, students, business/industry representatives, public school officials, Commission and Foundation members, and others to obtain input in the College's planning process. On April 24, we will continue this process with a Recognition Dinner for Advisory Committee and Deans’ Council members.

Six themes were identified from the sessions: student success, programming, partnerships, campus environment, branding, and organizational development. Of all the themes, none is more important than ensuring success for every student. But what does student success mean to you? What is our philosophy towards students? How should we work together? How should we support each other? Those questions and more are important in helping us better define our values, philosophy towards students, and how we will execute the strategies and initiatives to support our goal. Your input is a key part of this process. Therefore, I would like to meet with you to discuss your thoughts and ideas in a format called Conversations About What We Believe. The idea for this title came from the National Public Radio project, “This I Believe.” Here is a sample of one that I feel has relevance entitled Presumption of Decency. If you discover other relevant stories, please share them.

I'm providing a few reading materials for you to review for discussion at these sessions. The readings include Starting Right: A First Look at Engaging Entering Students, Committing to Student Engagement: Reflections on CCSSE's First Five Years, and Learn and Earn Not Churn and Burn.

Your input is vitally important to this process, so I hope you will join me in one of these four sessions. Please sign up.

April 25 9am-12pm
May 2 9am-12pm
May 14 9am-12pm
May 21 9am-12pm

Phi Theta Kappa

On Saturday, March 17, York Technical College's Alpha Alpha Iota chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was recognized at the Phi Theta Kappa Carolinas Region Convention held in Clemmons, NC, for their hard work last year. Kirk Adams, President of PTK, has provided outstanding leadership to the College's local PTK chapter. His dedication to PTK and to the College demonstrates the level of commitment and engagement we hope for all of our students. Karen Hedgepeth and Bill Bass, faculty advisors for the local PTK chapter, have worked very hard supporting our students efforts and are to be commended.

The chapter received the following awards at the Phi Theta Kappa Carolinas Region Convention:

Carolinas Superstar Award - for 90 percent participation in Regional and International events.
Four Clover Challenge Award - for completing four environmental projects including planting trees, recycling, and providing environmental awareness information.
5-Star Chapter Award - for reaching the highest level of participation for a chapter, completing four International Honors Topic projects, four International Service Topic projects and much more.

The International Honors Topic and Service Topic Projects must involve some or all of Phi Theta Kappa's Hallmarks (Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship). Within Scholarship, our chapter shared their knowledge and experience with others in the school, community, and region. For the past two years, they have provided historical presentations at Jefferson Elementary School. They presented movies on campus with discussions afterward on how they relate to the Honors Topic, "Gold, Gods, and Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power." They have empowered those in the community and internationally through Project Graduation and Better World Books where they collected food to be donated to a local soup kitchen and books to be donated to The Children's Attention Home, Family Literacy, and Books for Africa.

In line with their Service Topic, "Operation Green: Improving Our Communities", they held a waterway cleanup at Ebenezer Park for the last two years, planted flowers around the school and trees in the community to help to reduce our "carbon footprint." In addition, they have distributed information in ways to keep the environment clean and handed out over 200 pocket ashtrays on campus.

Scholarship Hallmark Award - (awarded to the top 5 chapters in NC & SC) for projects making an educational impact on the college, community, and regional levels.
Service Hallmark Award (Honorable Mention)- (awarded to the top 10 chapters in NC & SC) for service projects making an impact on the college, community, and regional levels.
Hall of Honor Award (for Patricia Celley) - This is given to members who are nominated for Distinguished Chapter Member/Officer/President/Advisor Awards
Distinguished Chapter Officer Award (Patricia Celley) - This is given to the top 5 Chapter Officers in the region for their impact in the chapter as well as in the class and college.
Distinguished Chapter President Award (Kirk Adams) - This is given to the top 5 Chapter Presidents in the region for their impact in the chapter as well as in the class and college.
Horizon Award (Bill Bass) - For contributing to their chapter's continued advancement in the region.
Horizon Award (Karen Hedgepeth) - For contributing to their chapter's continued advancement in the region.
Distinguished Chapter Award (Honorable Mention) - (awarded to the top 10 chapters in NC & SC) for the highest overall scores/awards.
Distinguished College President (Dr. Greg Rutherford) - awarded to the College President who provided the highest level of support to the colleges Phi Theta Kappa Chapter.

As Kirk Adams stated, "our goal as a Phi Theta Kappa chapter is not just to be recognized for academic excellence, but to make a difference on our campus, in our community, and ultimately in our world by sharing what we have learned and giving back of our time and talents. We want to help with Dr. Rutherford's vision of making York Tech the best place to work and to learn by contributing in any way we can."

Thank you Kirk, Karen, Bill, and all the PTK members for a job well done!

Week of the Young Child

The Child Development Center will be celebrating the Week of the Young Child April 14-18. This celebration is in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Week of the Young Child is held each year to honor young children and thank early childhood teachers and all those who make a difference in young children’s lives. The theme for Week of the Young Child 2008 (WOYC) is:

Bring Communities Together for Children
– Children Bring Communities Together

Proclamation

Whereas, the York Technical College Child Development Center and other local organizations, in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children are celebrating the “Week of the Young Child”; and

Whereas, these organizations are working to improve early learning opportunities, including early literacy programs, that can provide a foundation of learning for children in York and surrounding Counties; and

Whereas, teachers and others who make a difference in the lives of young children in York and surrounding Counties deserve thanks and recognition; and

Whereas, public policies that support early learning for all young children are crucial to young children’s futures;

I, Dr. Greg Rutherford, President of York Technical College, do proclaim April 13 – 19, 2008 as the “Week of the Young Child” at York Technical College and encourage all citizens to work to make a good investment in early childhood education in South Carolina.