SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE
Institutional Effectiveness Committee
August 27, 2004
10 a.m. – Founders Room
Members Present: Phil Anderson, Jay Driver, Wayne Langehennig, Rita Quinonez, Rafael
Aguilera, Dick Walsh, Larry Nichols, Gail Platt, Marla Cottenoir, David Conner, Cary Marrow,
Dane Dewbre, Jeri Ann Dewbre, Theresa Green, Denny Barnes, Julie Gerstenberger, Rob Blair,
Mark Miller, Stephanie Jones, Stephen John
Members Absent: Jack Wardlow, Kimbra Quinn, Lee Cox, Kelvin Sharp, Fran Cotton, Frances
Coats.
The Institutional Effectiveness Committee met 10 a.m. August 27, 2004 in the Founders Room.
Wayne Langehennig, president of the Faculty Senate, was welcomed as a new committee
member. A student representative will soon join the committee as well. The following agenda
items were discussed.
Progress report on 2003-04 IE Plan: Progress achieved on the 2003-2004 IE Plan was presented
to committee members. At least 80% of the tasks outlined on the plan have been completed by
the various subcommittees this past year. An updated IE Plan for 2004-05 was presented for
review and comment. The plan targets the continuation of four initiatives begun in 03-04 and
recommends two new initiatives related to the development of learning outcomes and
involvement in Day 3 of New Employee Orientation.
Progress reports from IE Subcommittees: Chairs of the IE Subcommittees presented the
following progress reports.
Mission Statement Subcommittee: Julie Gerstenberger and Phil Anderson reported that the
proposed mission statement is still under review. The Mission Statement Subcommittee met on
April 14, 2004 and approved the proposed mission statement as well as the 20 proposed
institutional goals. In light of recent professional development, the subcommittee will revisit
some of the language of the document. The Administrative Council was presented the draft of
the statement in April for comment. The subcommittee will develop a process for gathering
additional comment from employees during the month of September. It was suggested that the
subcommittee might hold focus sessions or “conversations” on the mission statement and open
them to all interested employees. The proposed draft of the statement will be distributed via
email and hard copy prior to one of the focus sessions. It was also suggested that subcommittee
members consider adding an institutional goal related to effective resource management and
development. This would enable most administrative support service areas to have a clear link
to the mission statement. This addition may require combining two other goals in the current
draft.
Planning Processes Subcommittee: Larry Nichols indicated it may be necessary to revisit the
Planning and Budget Calendar to determine if recent budget procedural changes are reflected
in the calendar. The Administrative Council has yet to review the calendar and will do so this
fall. It was also discussed that the college’s overall 3-3-4 planning cycle may need to be
reviewed and changed to just a 3-year planning cycle. We are presently beginning Year 4 of a 4-
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year cycle. The subcommittee is also being called upon to assist in the continued use and
training of the IE Planning Report matrix.
Assessment and Outcomes Subcommittee: The Assessment and Outcomes Subcommittee
presented a progress report and the results of its April 14, 2004 meeting. Standards for assessing
the curriculum were identified and discussed by deans and department chairs who attended
the meeting. The subcommittee has drawn the following conclusions from its work and
discussions:
 The department chair is best able to set benchmarks for overloads, course completion
rates and grade distributions.
 The five measures identified by departmental chairs should continue to be the quality
indicators for assessing department performance.
 Historic data should be available to compare present and past performance and a
department should only compare itself to its own achievement record.
 Course completion data and grade distribution by instructor should be provided to
department chairs. Historical data should be available for trend analysis.
 Data should be collected in a systematic and systemic manner so that each year the same
data elements are examined.
 It is better to be proactive rather than reactive to an assessment mandate by an external
agency or body.
 We must be prepared to present our own data to verify and validate the quality of our
educational programs.
 We do not need to collect more information; we need to make sure the information we
collect is important and can be used in a meaningful way.
Gail Platt also reported on work being done to verify that the college’s core curriculum
addresses the expected learning outcomes for the basic intellectual competencies and
perspectives prescribed by state law and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The
Assessment Subcommittee will be called upon to assist and provide leadership in developing a
process that engages faculty in the development of learning outcomes for courses and programs
that are linked to these competencies and others that are identified by the college’s faculty.
Employee Survey Subcommittee: Jeri Ann Dewbre reported that 2004 Employee Survey was
administered as planned. Results have been compiled and have been reviewed by the
Administrative Council. The subcommittee will begin work on developing the Administrative
Support Services Survey. Some preliminary work has been done. The subcommittee polled
departmental planners last fall and asked what three questions they would want on an
employee survey. These responses will form a starting point. The subcommittee will determine
a timeline for finalizing the survey and distributing it in order to compile responses for use by
departmental planners in developing 05-08 plans.
Employee Survey Results: 333 employees participated in the Employee Survey administered in
March/April. Results of the survey were distributed to all committee members and the key
findings of the survey were presented and discussed. The results will soon be distributed to all
leadership and made available on the web site.
External Constituent Survey: 223 external constituents/stakeholders participated in the
External Constituent Survey in May. Key findings of the survey were presented and discussed.
The five most important core process of the college as identified by constituents included:
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preparation for transfer, preparation for employment, technology in the curriculum, accessible
education and comprehensive curriculum. The data from the survey validates the role and
scope of the college as described in the proposed Mission Statement. A report on the results and
analysis will be distributed to all leadership and will be posted on the web site.
New Employee Orientation: Dick Walsh presented information regarding Day 3 (Vision,
Values and Institutional Effectiveness) of New Employee Orientation scheduled from 1-4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 1 in the Sundown Room. IE Committee members are invited to assist with this
workshop session with new employees. The IE Committee is being asked to serve in a
leadership role in evaluating, programming and hosting this session in the future. A planning
session is scheduled for Friday, Sept 10 at 11 a.m. in the Founders Room.
Meeting Adjourned: 12 p.m.
Next Planned Meeting: To be announced.
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