Queensborough Community College
DEPARTMENT:
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Speech Communication & Theatre Arts
May 29, 2014
YEAR: 2013-2014
A. DEPARTMENT SERVICES/ACTIVITIES REPORT IN 2013-2014
1.
Department-sponsored services (fall and spring semesters combined)
Area of Service
Speech Placement Testing
Departmental Production: “Spring Awakening”, November 1-9, 2014
Departmental Production: “Columbinus” , December 6-14, 2014
Departmental Production: ”12 Angry Jurors”, March 7-14, 2014
Departmental Production: “MilkMilk Lemondade, May 2-10, 2014
Service Learning : PS 46 (Rosanne)
Service Learning : Otisville Correctional facility (Franca & Elaine)
Service Learning : Taegle Grant – Sustainability – (Franca)
Inter-Disciplinary Activities
In partnership with the QCC Business Department, the Speech Department through Prof. Elaine
Thompson, served as faculty advisor for 2013-2014 Mock Trial Team coaching students in developing
their articulation, diction and projection skills, as well as in speaking persuasively.
In collaboration with the QCC Business Department, the Speech Department through Prof. Elaine
Thompson, prepared students for the NYS Business Plan Competition coaching students on their
presentation skills enabling them to communicate their business plans professionally and confidently.
As a result, two of the QCC teams advanced to the final round, competing before a panel of judges at
the University of Albany, where they represented the college admirably.
Number Served
5200
888
523
1297
344
19
73
18
12
5
PILOT program with Baruch College using VOCAT in a hybrid section of SP211.
22 students
Creation and maintenance of The QCC Theatre student/alumni email listserv
listservestudenttheatre@qcc.cuny.edu
150 students
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
Theatre Student Handbook created to be uploaded to website in Fall 2014
Department run Technical Areas for Theatrical productions includes Scene Shop, Costuming, Lighting
and Sound (Fall and Spring, 2013-2014)
106
14
Chaperoned students to production of “Little Miss Sunshine”, as participants in Second Stage OffBroadway Theatre Program, October 17, 2013
15
Departmental Open House / College Fair, November 9, 2013
Service Learning for production of “Columbinus” and Certificate of Merit to Cast and Company for
Excellence in Production of Theatre for Social Change from The Kennedy Center American College
Theatre Festival (December, 2014).
19 Students
(6 Faculty)
Faculty chaperoned and coached students for participation in the Kennedy Center American College
Theatre Festivals (Region 1 and Region 2)--January 14-19th, 2014 (Region 2) and January 28-February
2nd, 2014 (Region 1)
Devised Theatre Project (Student developed performance)
Rehearsals - January, 2014, Presented at KCACTF January 17th, 2014
7 Students
TDF Pre-show Acting Workshop for Glass Menagerie, February 3, 2014
25
Chaperoned students to “Glass Menagerie”– TDF show February 5, 2014
25
TDF Post-show Acting Workshop for “Glass Menagerie”, February 19, 2014
25
QCC Theatre Program Discovery Day, March 8th, 2014
17
Service Learning Project – 15 QCC Students (from 12 Angry Jurors/Actors Workshop I & II) and 40 8th
Graders from Holy Child Jesus School in Richmond Hill, NY, March, 2014
55
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
Conducted mental health patient simulation scenarios in cross-disciplinary CETL Grant with the
Nursing Department to create a laboratory setting for nursing students to practice therapeutic care using
theatre students as patients (March 14, 24 and 31st)
30
“TDF Pre-show Acting Workshop for Pippen, March 26, 2014
25
Chaperoned students to “Pippen” TDF show April 1, 2014
25
TDF Post-show Acting Workshop for “Pippen”, April 2, 2014
25
Stage Combat Class with Guest Artists (hosted by Drama Society) – Unkle Dave’s Fight House,
March 26, 2014
25
Talkback with “MilkMilk Lemonade” playwright, Joshua Conkel, May 3, 2014
60
Chaperoned students to production of “The Substance of Fire”, as participants in Second Stage OffBroadway Theatre Program, May 1, 2014
5
Juried faculty responses to student work for TH121, TH221, TH135 (new course/costume construction)
and Stagecraft 2 , December 17 and 18th (Fall) and 5/21 (Spring)
78
End of Year Awards Ceremony and Show
65
Creation of stock scenery log and lighting and sound inventories for outside designers.
8
Creation of CAD master copies of ShadowBox and QPAC theater for outside designers
8
Note: Faculty and staff development activities (grants, presentations, exhibitions, performances, publications, instructional improvement activities, laboratory development,
curriculum development, etc.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
For each activity, please indicate
1. whether department members organized the activities or gave presentations or both
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Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Queensborough Community College
May 29, 2014
2. the topic and type of activity and name of organizer/presenter, if applicable
3. the date (if not the exact date, indicate the month)
4. the number attending the event
B. COURSE CHANGES IN 2013-2014
INSTRUCTIONS: For each course that changed, indicate:
1. whether the course is new, revised, or deleted
2. the course number
3. the course title
4. the semester the change was approved at the Academic Senate
5. for revised courses, in the Comments section, describe the type of change(s)—i.e., course title, description, pre/corequisites, credits, hours, designation
New, revised, or
deleted
New Course
Experimental
Course
number
TH 135
Course title
Semester approved
Comments
Costume Construction
Experimental Course First run in Spring 2014
C. PROGRAM CHANGES IN 2013-2014
Type (see menu
Description of
below)
Change
Personnel
Temporary hire
(CLT/Technical
Director)
Personnel
Equipment
Reason for Change
Replacement for CLT who left
after Spring 2013 semester
New Hire – FullProf. McGill’s responsibilities
time Theatre
as Chair of the Department take
Faculty (Directing) her away from a full-time
teaching and directing load
Acquisition
MIG Welding machine for
Metal Work
Date/
Semester
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Evaluation of Change*
Joshua Rothenberg has been an
excellent addition to our staff and our
students have responded very
favorably to him
Professor Arthur Adair has been an
excellent addition to our faculty, his
student evaluations and peer reviews
have been very positive.
Improves scenery construction and
expands student learning.
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Queensborough Community College
Equipment
Acquisition
Equipment
Acquisition
Equipment
Acquisition
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Lighting Purchases:
Fall 2013
12 New Dimmers to Shadowbox
Theater raises total from 48 to
60
8 new remote color change
scroller for lighting equipment.
1 new Moving Light accessory
Installed M-Box computer
Spring
interface in Shadowbox Theater 2014
sound system
Multimedia Lab Software
Purchases & Installations:
17 licenses of:
Adobe Creative Suite
Final Cut 7
Avid Media Composer
StoryboardQuick
Final Draft
Vectorworks
Microsoft Office
Fall 2013
May 29, 2014
This additional equipment replaced
failing dimmers and has expanded the
capacity of the Shadowbox. The
upgrade offers both students and
designers the equipment needed to
light the theatre appropriately and
creatively.
Improves teaching and more closely
resembles technology students will
encounter in the work place. We have
ability to now run sound at line level
from the Q-Lab program on a Mac.
Expands creative options for students
in video editing, theatre students able
to create floorplans and lighting
designs in latest softea
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Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Queensborough Community College
Equipment
Acquisi
tion
May 29, 2014
Multimedia Lab Hardware
Fall 2013
Purchases & Installations:
16 - iMac 27-inch 2.9GHz Quadcore Intel Core i5
1 - 1 - Mac Pro Two 2.66GHz 6Core Intel Xeon
1 - Apple LED Cinema Display
10 - Apple USB SuperDrive
1 - Server: ISIS 5000 32TB
Media Composer Editor
Network Support Hardware for
Server:
CATALYST 4948E IPB 48SMARTNET 24X7X4
CATALYST 4948E IPB
POWER CORD 200/240V
CATALYST 4948E 300WAC
POWER SUPPLY
59 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP
TRANSCEIVER MODULE
SMARTUPS 750VA LINEINT
RM 2U LCD 120V
Program
Program change*
A.S. in Visual and
Performing Arts
Revision of General
Education requirements so as
to conform with CUNY
PATHWAYS.
Effective Date (Semester
and year)
Fall 2013
Comments
Revisions made so as to
sustain programmatic
requirements and ease
transition into Pathways
General Education Common
Core.
*Key: (a)=initiated, (b)=closed, (c)=renamed, (d)=modified
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
INSTRUCTIONS:
 Use the full title of the program, i.e. A.A. in Visual and Performing Arts.
 Indicate whether the program change is initiated, closed, renamed, or modified. (If a new program has been approved by
the CUNY Board (or is expected to be approved by June 2013), use fall 2013 as the effective date.)
 Describe the exact status (i.e., proposal submitted to CUNY Board; approved by CUNY Board; etc.) in the Comments.
*Please note that, if change has been too recent to evaluate, you may indicate NA.
MENU
Type of change
Personnel or organizational change
Facilities/space
Equipment
Other
Description
New hires, retirees, resignations, promotions, department name changes, etc.
Renovations or development of office space or new facilities (i.e., computer laboratories)
Acquisition of new or disposition of old equipment
Other changes affecting the department not included above and including interactions with other departments
E. DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT IN 2013-14
1.
Departmental procedures for conducting assessment
The fundamental elements of standard 14 (assessment of student learning) of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
include: clearly articulated statements of expected student learning outcomes…at all levels (institution, degree/program, course)
and for all programs that aim to foster student learning and development; a documented, organized, and sustained assessment
process to evaluate and improve student learning; evidence that student learning assessment information is shared and discussed
with appropriate constituents and is used to improve teaching and learning.
Describe below the department’s ongoing procedures for assessing student learning and using assessment results to
improve teaching and learning. In your description, please explain how the department fulfills each of the Middle
States fundamental elements above.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
Target
Clearly Articulated SLOs
Assessment
Documented
Assessment
Organized
Assessment
Sustained
Theatre
Concentration
VAPA
Yes, See programmatic SLOs
and Theatre SLOs as
published in Handbook for
students
Yes, Program
Review on going
with published
self-study
Yes, as per NAST
standards
To be
completed
every 5 years
SP 211
Yes, Departmental Syllabus
includes both SLOs for
General Education and course
outcomes.
Yes, report at
end of each
semester
published
Yes, Departmental
Committee on
Assessment for Speech
established and ongoing.
Standardized templates
distributed for use in
sections, a universal test
instrument is
administered for listening
twice each semester,
data collected and
analyzed by
departmental committee
Yes,
Departmental
Speech
Assessment
committee
meets twice
each semester.
Evidence that
Information is Shared
and reviewed
Report distributed to
College, departments
within the program
and faculty.
Assessment results
reviewed at
departmental faculty
meeting at beginning
of each semester.
Results shared with
college Office of
Assessment.
Used to Improve
Student Learning
Yes, the last
study resulted in
a compete
revision of
theatre
concentration.
Budgetary
requests
reference this
study.
Yes, Syllabus for
course revised to
expand listening
assignments.
Additionally, two
texts have been
selected by a
vote of the
faculty to be
highly
recommended to
all faculty.
Handbook for
SP211 faculty
created and
awaiting faculty
approval.
TH121,
TH131,
TH151,TH134,
TH135,
Yes, Departmental Syllabus
includes both SLOs for
General Education and course
outcomes.
Report in
process
Yes, Departmental
Committee on
Assessment for Theatre
established and ongoing.
Yes. All
Departmental
Theatre faculty
met for a 3 day
Results to be shared
with Department and
College Assessment
Office.
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Queensborough Community College
TH221, TH231
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Standardized templates
distributed for use in
sections.
Juries end of each
semester implemented in
Fall 2014
May 29, 2014
retreat last
spring to
develop
templates and
schedule of
assessment.
Committee
meets regularly
thoughout the
semester to
review methods
and resultys.
Narrative: The Department of Speech Communications and Theatre Arts has two faculty committees dedicated to the
assessment of departmental offerings: a speech assessment committee and a theatre assessment committee. The speech
assessment committee conducts regular assessment of the SP211 (Public Speaking) course and the theatre committee conducts
both course assessment as well as participates in the Program Assessment of the Visual and Performing Arts A.S. degree.
These assessments also address General Education Objectives, programmatic objectives for the Theatre Concentration and
course objectives. All of the pertinent SLOs are listed in course syllabi. The results of this assessment are shared both with
the Office of Academic Affairs and reviewed at the end of each semester by the faculty of the department. At that time,
recommendations from the committees are discussed, voted upon and implemented in the semester following. In fall 2013,
members of the Theatre Assessment Committee participated in the campus Assessment Institute (see Assessment Reports for
Profs. Adair, Jimenez and Yonker, attached) and created new rubrics to assess Learning Objectives for performance across the
TH 121 and TH 221 courses, all TH courses requiring a Performance Critique and a rubric (still in development) for Play
Analysis. This assessment is ongoing and will not produce significant findings, due to low class size caps on these courses,
until spring, 2015.
There is an ongoing effort by all Theatre faculty to review and revise all course outlines and course rubrics to align them with
Departmental Learning Objectives.
In addition, Theatre faculty member C. Julian Jimenez served as Faculty Coordinator for the Visual and Performing Arts
Academy. In his role as coordinator, Prof. Jimenez, with instructors from the other 4 arts (Dance, Music and Art), assessed the
following QCC General Education Objective
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
10. Students will apply aesthetic and intellectual criteria in the evaluation or creation of works in the humanities or the arts.
SP 211:
Speaking skill assessments
Students of sp211 were tested on their competence in the following verbal and non-verbal skills: language, verbal skills (fluency, volume, rate) and non
verbal skills (eye contact, gesture, posture)..
Students improved 15% to 21% between speech 1 and speech 2, with the largest increase for eye contact (21.9%) and posture (21.2%). Good
improvement was also shown for fluency (20.5%), gesture (20.0%) and rate (17.8%). The least amount of improvement was registered for language
(14.9%) and volume (16.3%). The grade results show that on an average our students’ scores changed from an initial F, D or C- to a final C, B- and B
suggesting that students dramatically improved their speaking skills on an average of two letter grades from the beginning to the end of the semester.
Action plan
Faculty agrees that it would be extremely beneficial for both native and non-native speakers the creation of a department speech club/lab where students
can enjoy a scheduled conversational time (similar to the ‘conversation teas’ sponsored by the foreign language department) to practice and improve
their speaking skills.
Listening skills assessment
Sp211 students’ critical and comprehensive listening skills were tested. Students were tested on the individuation of main speech components and
‘comprehension’ of two defective speeches twice in a semester. On the ability to recognize parts of a speech students showed improvement on 9 areas,
i.e., (#1) attention getter (+1%), (#2) reason to listen (+8%),(#4), (#5) preview body of speech (+8%), (#6) main ideas (+6%), (#8) number of transitions
(+5%), (#9) cues the audience (+13%), (#10) review main points (+4%), (#11) restate thesis (+3%) and (#12) vivid ending (+35%). There was no
change for (#4) credibility statement between time 1 and time2. There was instead deterioration for 2 areas: (#3) reveal topic (-10%) and (#7) number of
cited sources (-4%). Overall students’ cohorts improved their abilities to identify speech components showing a 10% gain score from the first to the
second administering of the assessment.
Action plan
Faculty agrees that on ability to recognize parts of the speech, more activities such as summarizing, analyzing and reporting on content from spoken
language should be designed to help students to identify speech topic, main ideas and citing sources. With regards to citing sources faculty should
organize for their classes more than one trip to the library and create target exercises to identify citation in speeches and to incorporate citation while
delivering speeches following the MLA citation style for oral citations.
General conclusion
As speech faculty during this academic year we continued to make necessary changes to our listening assessment instrument. For the spring 2014 we
decided to assign students the same defective speech twice, rather than two different defective speeches as previously done. We wanted to rule out
biases deriving from using two different defective speeches. Each class used the same speech twice because biases associated with memory recall
because of using the same speech twice were very low given the lapse of 8-10 weeks between the two administerings of the assessment.
Data analysis and results for the spring 2014 speech and listening assessment, however, are not yet available at the moment.
Moreover, we created a faculty page on blackboard to store class exercises and suggest assignments to improve students’ listening and speaking skills
and we increase the number of faculty involved in both listening and speech assessments.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
VAPA Gen Ed Assessment:
The assessment took place in sections of Advanced Beginning Modern (DAN 121), Intermediate Modern Dance
I (DAN 220), Introduction to Music (MU 110), Introduction to Theatre (TH 111), and Introduction to Sculpture:
Three-Dimensional Design (AR 122) during the Academic year of 2013 - 2014.
As a result of the Gen. Ed Assessment in 2012-2013:
The findings show, as anticipated, that the QCC General Education Objective #10 (Students will apply aesthetic and
intellectual criteria in the evaluation or creation of works in the humanities or the arts) is largely being obtained at the Basic (2)
or Class Level (3), with some Exceeding Standards as outlined within each category. (See Prof. Jimenez’s report, attached).
Two new test instruments were developed for the SP211 course to assess student achievement in Listening and Speaking. The
Listening instrument was used in the Spring of 2013 and both the Listening and Speaking instruments will be used in Fall of
2013.
The Theatre Faculty established a practice of bi-monthly production and faculty meetings in preparation for the National
Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) in November 2014.
The Theatre Department began its application toward external accreditation with the National Association of Schools of
Theatre (NAST) organization. We had our initial consultative visit in November 2013 and have begun our Self-study for
submission in fall, 2014. This process is being undertaken independently and as collaboration between the four arts (and their
respective Accrediting bodies) in order to receive external accreditation for the Visual and Performing Arts A.S. degree
program. This process is taking the place of a standard Programmatic Review (Middle States).
See attached reports from Assessment Institute.
2a.
Departmental participation in self-study/program review during 2013-2014, if applicable
Program(s) reviewed: A.S. Visual and Performing Arts (Theatre)
External Agency or Reviewers: National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
Date of site visit: pending, November 2014
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
Major conclusions of self-study
NA
Major conclusions of external reviewers
Resulting action plan
2b.
Program review follow-up
Action item from program review
Timeline for completion
Accomplishments during current year
NA
2.
4.
Course assessment
Courses assessed
(list individually)
Relevant QCC
Educational Objectives
Relevant Curricular
Objectives (cite both
curriculum and objectives)
Evaluation of Assessment
Results
Action plan
SP211
GE Objective 1
See Attached Report
See Attached Report
SP211 syllabi revised
to add additional
listening assignment.
Results of certification exams, employer and alumni surveys, student surveys, advisory board recommendations
(if applicable, please use the table below)
Data Source
Certification exams
Employer/alumni surveys, including
graduation and placement survey
Student surveys (current students)
Advisory Board recommendations
5.
Results
Action plan
JURY RESULTS (Not yet compiled)
Other assessment activity
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
May 29, 2014
F. DEPARTMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1.
Goals/objectives for 2013-2014
(Please indicate [Yes or No] if the objectives were part of the College’s Strategic Plan for 2013-2014.)
Departmental goals/objectives
Strategic
Plan Y/N
Y
Evaluation of achievement
Resulting action plan
Report very positive, recommended
acquiring devoted rehearsal and
performance space.
A room reservation
process for students was
instituted for rehearsal
purposes.
Hire Costume Designer/Production Manager
(Faculty) and Technical Director (CLT)
Y
Pending (Interviews summer 2014)
Hire new faculty
Initiate Review for eventual certification of
National Association of Schools of Theatre
Y
Ongoing
Complete Self-Study
and host evaluative
committee in Nov.
Successfully submit course for inclusion in
PATHWAYS
Y
All courses submitted and approved.
Two day meeting of
Speech faculty to
evaluate changes to
courses. Changes made
to SP211 syllabus
resulted.
Develop new articulation agreements with
public and private 4 year colleges.
Y
Ongoing
Complete agreement
with Queens College,
CW POST and York
College. Continue work
with Director of
Articulation
Agreements.
Consultative visit with NAST representative,
November 2013.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Upgrade Media Learning Lab with New
Computers
Completed and new Avid editing
system installed.
Schedule AVID training
for faculty and staff.
Submit new courses.
Y
Y
Accomplished.
Theatre curriculum
committee will continue
to review and revise
program, courses and
syllabi
A jury system at the end of semester for all
majors to be implemented in the fall of 2013
and spring 2014
Y
Accomplished
To be continued at the
end of each semester.
All Theatre majors have been assigned a
faculty advisor/mentor who follows them
throughout their academic career at
Queensborough.
Y
Accomplished
Faculty advisors to be
included in StarFish
notifications.
A compilation of emails for majors and alumni
has been implemented and students receive
regular “blasts” from the dept. keeping them
abreast of departmental activities.
Y
Accomplished
Continue to register
students.
Theatre faculty participated in the assessment
institute.
Y
Accomplished
Additional faculty will
complete institute.
An experimental course in Costume
Construction was offered in Spring 2014.
Y
Accomplished.
Revision of syllabi for
submission to CC
A full and complete review scheduled for all
Theatre Syllabi with revised syllabi to be
included in self-study
2.
Y
May 29, 2014
Goals/objectives for 2014-2015
(Explain how these goals/objectives align with the College’s goals and Strategic Plan for 2014-2015)
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Departmental goals/objectives 2014-2015
May 29, 2014
Completion of Programmatic Self Study
Mission/
Strategic
Plan
Y
Obtain Associate Membership to NAST
Y
For Speech and Theatre Courses: Review of
Assessment results and a series of recommendations or
changes developed.
Y
Review by Office of Assessment and departmental
faculty.
Theatre courses will be grouped by SLO’s
(programmatic and Gen. Ed) and assessed accordingly.
Revise and submit TH134- Costume Construction as
permanent addition to Theatre Program
Y
Establish New Concentration in Entertainment Media
Studies for VAPA
Y
Creation of new courses in AVID editing.
Y
Review Speech Testing process and revise as needed.
Y
Hire TESOL specialist
Fall – 2014 Create uniform templates for universal
course assessment of SP005, 006, 007, 020.
Spring 2015 – Distribute templates and assess courses
SP005.006,007,020
Y
Y
Continue Pilot with Baruch in the use of VOCAT.
Y
Review of Programmatic Outcomes and courses in
Theatre,
Syllabus revised and New Course Form submitted to
departmental and college curriculum committees for
approval.
Prepare course and program proposals and submit to
departmental P&B, college Curriculum Committee
and AA.
Approval by departmental and college curriculum
committees.
Dept. Remediation Committee will review and make
recommendations.
Request line and review remediation courses.
Review and approval by Departmental
Remediation committee.
Templates used in courses for assessment and exit
criteria. Data collected and reviewed. Review of
methods.
Report submitted for review by Speech faculty.
Y
Y
Planned method of evaluation
A published Programmatic Self-Study will be shared
college wide. External review by NAST scheduled for
fall ‘14
Successful application for membership.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Evaluate for wider distribution.
Install video recording booth in Media Lab for use by
Y
SP211 students enabling them to record and review their
speeches.
Establish Speech Society as an extracurricular activity
Y
May 29, 2014
Successful installation of equipment and service
offered to students.
Club accepted by SGA
16