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Colorado State Board Of Education Issues Monthly Report from Pikes Peak Community College for Aug., 2011
[August 05, 2011]

Colorado State Board Of Education Issues Monthly Report from Pikes Peak Community College for Aug., 2011


(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) DENVER, Aug. 4 -- The Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education issued the following monthly report: President's Report Dr. Lance Bolton President August, 2011 Student Access Goal: All Coloradans shall have access to comprehensive community college educational programs.



* PPCC's Department of Military and Veterans Programs has experienced exponential growth over the past two years and we do not anticipate that it will slow down any time soon. The Veteran population in El Paso County is the highest in the state of Colorado, and we are positioned perfectly to be the school of choice for this burgeoning population and their families. We also have a strong foothold in the active duty military arena, which has ranked PPCC at number 35 in the nation for serving active duty students using Tuition Assistance. The rank of 35 out of 2100 schools nationwide is noteworthy, since we are competing against schools like University of Phoenix, American Military University, and University of Maryland.

* PPCC has taken the lead in the system to ensure that we will continue to be able to teach online students who reside in other states. The Distance Education director worked with the system office personnel to draft and send a letter to 49 states requesting authorization to teach students who live in those states. The federal government has backed off from its mandate about this subject, but it remains for all colleges and universities to ensure that they are complying with each state's laws.


* Student Services continues to work closely with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center by deploying college personnel from Financial Aid to assist potential students at the workforce center in completing their Financial Aid Application Student Success Goal: The demands of Colorado businesses and communities shall be met through the development of a high skilled work force.

* PPCC's Lineman program, in cooperation with TSJC, is moving to a new facility. The new training facility is under construction and classes will begin on the PPCC campus in August. This facility will be more centralized and will be more accessible to students interested in training for this highly skilled and specialized career.

* PPCC nursing program has received a new "birthing" simulator called NOELLE. She has amazing capabilities for obstetrical and pediatric nursing simulation learning experiences for students and also comes with a newborn baby simulator named Hal. These simulators will allow our nursing students to experience multiple complications and newborn experiences in the simulation environment that they may not encounter in the hospital clinical setting. We anticipate beginning use of this new equipment for Fall 2011.

* The Dental Assisting Program has updated their equipment to include state-of-the-art dental chairs and delivery systems. Because of this, students graduating from this program will be able to seamlessly enter the workforce with their technical skills.

Student Success Goal: Colorado students shall have seamless opportunities to transition from high school into college and from two-year institutions into four-year institutions.

* College Prep Math is working to expand tutoring to online this year. We have purchased software, and will begin training of tutors in the fall semester. We are also in the planning stages to implement a mandatory orientation for developmental students.

* Career Planning and Advising has developed a Testing and Advising Outreach Program that takes testing and academic advising services into rural schools and underserved urban schools. Working with high school counselors and administrators in the Pikes Peak area we have been able to perform these important functions and extend services to graduating seniors where limited resources and transportation can be barriers to college enrollment. Spring 2011 was the first semester in which these services were provided and it is anticipated that Fall 2011 we will increase the number of school districts we are able to serve.

Student Success Goal: Colorado students shall have the opportunity to succeed through high quality, cutting-edge instruction and educational services.

* The Theatre renovation project at Centennial Campus is nearing completion. Architects met with the theater faculty to design this state of the art venue which will be utilized for performances, instruction and large conferences. The facility is scheduled to be ready for use on August 18, just in time for the Fall semester.

Operational Excellence Goal: The financial stability of the system's institutions and the physical safety of its students shall be ensured.

* The Centennial Campus Science Labs are off-line and asbestos abatement is done. Classes have been rescheduled at Irving Middle School for the summer. Classes will be held there in the fall, also. Due to the Downtown Studio Campus closure for the summer, Anatomy & Physiology labs are being held at UCCS in their newly built, cutting-edge Anatomy Lab. All classes are running smoothly.

* The Office of Sustainability is working towards developing PPCC into an educational institution capable of signing the Presidential Climate Commitment. The practices included in this commitment create new opportunities for local, state and federal funding. The Office of Sustainability in conjunction with Facilities and Leadership can address issues effecting PPCC's overall contribution to greenhouse gases and climate change. Implementing projects that address renewable energy technologies, water conservation and greenhouse gas emissions will ultimately lead to a long term return on investment and savings on utility expenditures.

TNS hc11-110805-MJ88-3523698 StaffFurigay (c) 2011 Targeted News Service

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