Summary Report on Institutional Effectiveness
Northeastern Technical College
August 2008
Introduction:
This summary report for Northeastern Technical College includes the following components: Academic Advising, Majors or Concentrations, and Achievement of Students Transferring from Two-Year to Four-Year Institutions.
The following components will be reported on in the year indicated: Library Resources and Services (2009) and Procedures for Student Development (2010).
Academic Advising:
Surveys indicate that advising is an effective process at NETC and ratings consistently reflect that students are satisfied with advisor availability and quality of advising. Other aspects of advising, such as accuracy of information, the amount of time advisor provides for advising, assistance in making academic and career decisions and willingness to listen all indicate that students at Northeastern Technical College find advisors and the advising process helpful to them.
As a result of these findings, Northeastern Technical College will continue to implement current advising activities, faculty training for advising and development of resources for faculty and students to access academic information.
Achievement of Students Transferring from Two-Year to Four-Year Institutions:
The NETC Transfer Study is based on the Fall 2007 Transfer Academic Performance Report from CHE.
The information received this year is disappointing. A total of 34 NETC students applied to eight of the twelve public senior colleges in South Carolina for the fall term 2007. Of the 34 students who applied, 22 students or 64.7% were accepted for admission.
What is so worrisome about these statistics is the fact that this number of transfer applicants is so few, and 9 student applications were incomplete. What does this mean? Did the students lose interest or simply fail to complete part of the admissions process? Did they apply and attend in-state or out-of-state private colleges? Did they attend second semester? Is there anything that NETC can do to help ensure that more students actually complete the application process? These are several areas of concern.
Not so many years ago, NETC transfer applicants made up a high percentage of all of Francis Marion University’s technical College applicants, second only to Florence Darlington Tech’s applicants (located in the same city as FMU). NETC has a new Bridges Transfer Agreement with Francis Marion University, and it is hoped that it will help to increase the number of transfer students.
A limited comparison of the performance of NETC’s transfer students against the performance of the four year colleges’ native student population revealed that 70% of the NETC students that transferred to the four-year colleges (or 7 out of 10 students) achieved GPAs higher than those of the native student population at the state colleges.
Majors or Concentrations:
Practical Nursing
The Practical Nursing program submits an Annual Report to the State Board of Nursing which requires annual review of graduates, first-time pass rate for NCLEX and program activities. Additionally, in March 2007, the State Board of Nursing conducted the Site Visit, which required submission of a Survey Report by the College and a site visit by the State Board of Nursing. As a result of the Site Visit, three recommendations regarding wording in brochure, library collection review and revision of clinical agreements were made. These changes were made and NETC’s Practical Nursing program met all Criteria for Approval of Basic Programs Preparing Practical Nurses. Placement of graduates has been 100% for each graduating class, serving hospitals,nursing homes, physician’s offices and other health care providers in Chesterfield, Marlboro and
Dillon counties.
2008 Statement re: providing a “technologically skilled workforce”:
NETC Policies and Procedures to Provide a Technologically Skilled Workforce
Providing a technologically skilled workforce for its service area is one of the core values of Northeastern Technical College. This emphasis is documented in the college’s mission statement and institutional policies, as detailed below. (Italics added.)
Northeastern Technical College’s mission statement (NETC Policy 1.3.1) reads in part: “…the College contributes to economic growth by enhancing the employability of service area residents in technology, business, health, arts, and sciences.
NETC’s philosophy statement (NETC Policy 1.3.2) states that “…education must serve the needs of students in light of the occupational requirements of our community.” Advisory committees representing all employment sectors, including technology, meet regularly and provide input into program design and evaluation.
Finally, the college regularly evaluates each of its instructional programs “in terms of its contribution to the current and predicted needs of business and industry and the general economic welfare of the State of South Carolina.” (NETC Policy 4.1.4)
