SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE
Institutional Effectiveness Committee
November 15, 2013
9:00 a.m. – Founders Room
MINUTES
Members Present: Billy Alonzo, Corye Beene, Jim Belcher, Nanette Blair, Rob Blair, Dane
Dewbre, Shanna Donica, Jim Harman, Kara Martinez, Jessica Miller, Cathy Mitchell, Stuart
Moody, Gracie Quiñonez, Yolanda Salgado, Amanda Sims, Shalyn Slape, Pete Stracener, Jeremy
Todd, Dawn Valles, Jim Walker, Ben Walton, Jack Wardlow and Stephen John. Cesar Sanchez
attended as a guest.
Members Absent: Urisonya Flunder, Ann Gregory, Jenna Holt-Day, Sue Ann Lopez, Mollie
Melton, Yancy Nuñez, Gary Poffenbarger, Jody Reding, Lynda Reid, Lance Scott, Ron Spears,
Ronnie Watkins and Alan Worley.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. Minutes of the September 6, 2013 meeting,
distributed earlier by email, were presented for approval. Motion by Jack Wardlow to accept
minutes by consensus. Motion seconded by Dane Dewbre. Motion passed on voice vote.
The following subcommittee reports and agenda items were presented.
Institutional Research and Data Subcommittee
Jack Wardlow reported that the subcommittee met Oct. 25 to discuss various data reports
required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, as well as, institutional data
needs. Among the items discussed was the development of an Institutional Data Profile
Handbook. Wardlow also said the college is now a subscriber to the National Student
Clearinghouse Academy. He has attended a workshop on the Student Tracker System that will
allow us to track students who leave SPC and enroll in another institution. He also
demonstrated the new PX Web Query that has been installed in MySPC. The data tool allows
for the development of searchable databases and web-based access to administrative data bases.
Users can identify the data reports that are needed and the Institutional Research Office can
now build a module for accessing that data. Wardlow said that data applications for this new
feature will be developed in the future.
Mission Statement Evaluation Subcommittee
Kara Martinez reported that the Mission Statement Evaluation Subcommittee has received
additional feedback on the draft of the revised mission statement that is posted to MySPC. She
said she planned to send out a reminder email for additional feedback. Some individuals have
questioned the inclusion of “lifelong learners” as an outcome, asking how this would be
measured. The subcommittee is still planning to organize focus groups. Jack Wardlow, Kathryn
Perez, Dawn Valles and Martinez have volunteered to facilitate these groups at Levelland and
Reese Center campuses. It was suggested that the subcommittee invite specific individuals to
participate in the focus groups.
Assessment Subcommittee
Shanna Donica proposed that the Assessment Subcommittee be reactivated and focus on
providing professional development workshops on assessment on a monthly basis. Jason
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Renaldo, director of assessment for the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University, has
committed to presenting at one of these workshops. Donica asked for IE Committee members
who were interested in assessment to volunteer to serve on the committee. She also said she
was going through each TaskStream workspace account to evaluate the planning and
assessment information that is being recorded in the workspace. She plans to contact the
workspace manager to suggest other assessment methods for student learning outcomes other
than pre/post testing techniques.
SACS Reaffirmation Update
John reported that the SACS On-Site Reaffirmation Committee’s visit to SPC in October was
successful. The nine-person team was able to address issues quickly. The committee had only
two recommendations to present: faculty competence and substantive change. The committee
determined that documentation of credentials for 13 faculty members was insufficient.
Instructional deans are working on compiling sufficient documentation for compliance. The
committee also recommended the college comply with the Commission’s substantive change
policy. John said the college will receive feedback from the SACSCOC Trustees on its
Monitoring Report addressing the college’s substantive change policy. The college’s response to
the committee’s recommendations is due in March. John said it was the best Reaffirmation
Report the college has ever received.
Cathy Mitchell reported on the Reaffirmation Committee’s response to the college’s Quality
Enhancement Plan – ESP@SPC. The committee found the QEP to be acceptable and
recommended three changes to the plan. The project goals/outcomes and the assessment of
these goals need to be stronger. The project budget needs to be revised in order to support the
goals/outcomes. The committee also recommended that the scope of the project be narrowed
to include specific student cohorts or target groups. Mitchell said the committee was very
positive and provided valuable feedback and suggestions for improving the QEP. All the
Reaffirmation Committee members were impressed with SPC employees, students and our
facilities. The committee also felt SPC faculty were motivated to help students and would
contribute to the success of the QEP.
Mitchell and John commended Donica for her work in organizing the Reaffirmation
Committee’s visit and coordinating their accommodations and schedules.
Strategic Planning Update
An update on the status of strategic planning activities was presented to committee members.
Three separate groups have met to provide input and feedback to identify the college’s
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. From this input, five strategic priorities
have been identified:
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Increase enrollment and ensure student success;
Continually improve educational programs and instruction;
Sustain service area communities through outreach and service;
Strengthen our commitment to employee excellence;
Increase resources and maximize effectiveness.
Key strategic challenges have been identified for each of these priorities. The administrative and
instructional leadership of the college met Nov. 1 to review and validate these strategic
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priorities. During the planning workshop, participants brainstormed and discussed strategies to
accomplish the strategic priorities. The Administrative Council will appoint a strategic planning
task force to review the input and to draft strategic goals and priority objectives that will
become the framework for the college’s revised Institutional Plan for 2015-2020. Group
memories for all planning sessions, as well as other planning resources have been posted to
MySPC under the Employee Tab and Institutional Effectiveness button. Included on the pages
are the context for the plan which includes a draft of the environmental analysis. All these
materials are accessible by SPC employees for review and comment. Employees my also submit
their ideas via email to plan@southplainscollege.edu.
2014 Employee Survey
Committee members were reminded that the 2014 Employee Survey will be administered
during the spring semester following spring break. More information will be presented at the
next IE Committee meeting.
Open Discussion and Announcements
Martinez asked what office or individual has been assigned the responsibility for enrollment
management at SPC. John said that with the consolidation of New Student Relations with the
Office of College Relations, the enrollment management function is now a shared responsibility
among several offices. The Marketing and Recruitment Committee has been reactivated to
provide input and leadership in this area.
Rob Blair announced that welding courses will be offered in Plainview this spring for students
of Plainview ISD and for the community. An internship program is also being developed with
AgCo, a group of agricultural equipment dealers. The diesel service technology program is
revising its curriculum to include Association of Equipment Distributors certification in the area
of heavy machinery. Area heavy equipment companies are looking to hire 250-300 diesel
mechanics over the next five years.
Jim Belcher announced the library on the Levelland Campus will be open until 10 p.m. the week
before finals week. Library usage this semester by students has been better than usual.
With no further announcements or business, the meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
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