Great Ideas – easy, cheap, quick Campus-wide party to encourage communication & friendship Brown bag lunches w/ all faculty to bring new and old together and teach history of NTCC Hire faculty prior to one in position retirement of their predecessor to allow overlap and mentoring Build alumni association strong – incorporate with 25 year celebration Do not transfer funds from one budget to another in Spring or Summer so there are funds left in summer to spend on instruction Let community know about new hires and make sure the new feel welcome Begin a mentoring process for new employees by long-term employees who have good, positive attitudes Put new employees on committees Let person retiring have input on hiring of new Phase in retirement by ½ contract w/ benefits & autonomy & priority in scheduling class times Establish a teaching academy for FT teachers Have salary schedules for all levels and make our salary more in the middle rather than on the low end (will cost $$ in the short run but will boost morale & give back some prestige for NTCC. Will in long run help keep new employees) Professor emeritus criteria & policy (faculty senate has worked on this) Need to award rank – full professor medallion to be worn at graduation Formal college-wide retirement recognition Dumpster to be located adjacent to the Whatley building – it’s the only theatre facility I am aware of that doesn’t have one Incorporate former and retired employees into the NTCC family w/ free tickets to productions and invitation to events, subscription to newsletters (educator & Eagle) awards banquet, etc. New employee orientation each semester conducted by senior faculty & staff Peer observations/evaluations for new faculty (this idea costs too much and cannot be implemented easily) I wish we would consider an adult day care – federally funded - for our community. With the aging population this is going to be a big need in the near future. I’m not talking about medically needy – just adults who shouldn’t be alone during the day. This program could work hand-in-hand with the child care program (built side-by-side so they can interact and things such as food & workers can be shared) These individuals could sign up for continuing education classes. It would be a service – not a money maker. Involve (require) all faculty to advise students at registration – provide incentive for assistance Adjust classified staff educational incentives by adding a $500 award for completion of a bachelors degree Have individuals attending professional conferences present, upon return, information they learned at the quarterly symposium Great Ideas List 2009 Reward faculty for working at registration Encourage all college employees to make the student experience at NTCC “special” It is all about “experiences” with the new generation and if each employee would consider the impact they have on students’ lives we could give excellent customer service & retain more students. Add a question about customer service & commitment to students/co-workers to every employee’s annual evaluation form. This would help set the standards & reinforce the college’s commitment to excellence For next year’s inservice we should break into groups and tell about our great moment of the year. Example, Tom Lynch had a student propose to his fiance in his class. Many students cried! It wasa an experience the class will never forget and students love “experiences.” We could then choose the best 10 or 15 great experiences and present them to the college A picnic area under the trees behind the Whatley Center & a walking path. All our tables are on the concrete. Most colleges have a “green” area for students. Set high standards and have high expectations for all employees. “Zero tolerance” for poor customer service. I realize this is out of the box but it works in my area. Every employee knows what is expected of them when hired. 100% great customer/student service, dedication, willing to go the extra mile and they are evaluated on these areas. Think about some business where every single employee is always upbeat, helpful and willing to help. They know the job depends on their attitude – it is set by leaders! Brown bag lunches for training on several areas including academic advising, financial aid, etc. Employee incentives (professional development units) for training opportunities Kiosk – better signage throughout campus New employee orientation. One-on-one comprehensive. Include insurance, ERS, tour of campus, name badges, keys, etc. Quarterly offer follow up to grou of individuals that went through orientation to cover more info and address questions that have arisen New employee handbook – develop something that can be placed on web, printed as needed. Reestablish professional development/skills development committee Welcome committee to help new employees acclimate and learn the ropes At in-services have panel groups where new employees can dialogue w/ veteran faculty/staff to help perpetuate family environment New employee handbook Travel for required CEU and staff development Reestablish professional development committee Pass on history to new employees Story on employees for others to learn about employee Comprehensive new employee training and manual (every semester) - separate training for faculty and classified staff Reestablish professional development committee Staff development information sheet Institutional Survey: 2 Great Ideas List 2009 o What can NTCC do to help you be successful? o What are your goals for NTCC? o What travel would you like to do and why? o On going new faculty checkups New employee handbook New employee orientation New employee follow up orientation (90 days after hire) Ongoing IT courses to update use of software, esp Outlook and Microsoft 2007 Reinstitute professional development committee Replace light bulbs Provide seating areas for students to study or read in every building except Admin (some seating for people waiting there would be helpful) Wall hand sanitizers installed on the walls Have Dale train us with what we already have and should do Instituted a better warning system Check all parking lot lights Fix the cameras we have and add more for security Make sure everyone has keys for the door to their buildings Have drills to prepare for violence, fire, tornado to ID where we are now and do training Put locks on the inside of doors so we can lock down the campus Consider an in-house intercom/phone system tied to the operator Replace aluminum can and paper recycling bins across campus Train faculty for emergency preparedness (CPR/first aid/disaster role) Keep working to train us to be green Redesign admin to make it more aesthetically pleasing and functional environment Facilitate the PO process – too long to get $ when needed Reinstate credit cards Relocate Morris County outreach services Have NTCC weekend work days on facilities Help people obtain citizenship Campus mall directory High school kids audit classes and invite them to sit in Emergency plan emailed or webCT to students Get cell #s to send out text updates of emergency or phone numbers Photo ID must be shown to take Accuplacer – students taking tests for others Materials re: levels (test scores, etc. for advisors) at registration Clean mold from offices Bulb in light outside Humanities building Online committee membership & charges/duties of committees Check academic status of students on published materials Put honor societies on transcripts 3 Great Ideas List 2009 All buildings need signs facing the parking lots (IT does not) for easy identification Every restroom should have a fully accessible bathroom stall (comode height important) – not just slapped together Generate accurate list of “mothers day out” programs in the area to provide childcare until we can have day care on campus Designate employee parking until we determine the feasibility of an employee parking lot Reinstate off-campus/business registration at Lowes, etc. Verify and advertise student membership in the new 2-story fitness building in Mt Pleasant until we have our own fitness facility Improve communication w/in departments and between departments Training for call center & for assistance w/ registration & advisement More professional development opportunities (like Zig Ziglar) Consider outside firm to construct additional dorm space and manage it under contract Make sure marquee is up to date, maybe offer daily “tips” recognize acheivements Have a student awards coordinator – that we are allowed to be aware through emails what awards are out there…who is competing (could be honors director) Faculty parking Designated phone receptionists Update campus signs New hires matched w/ mentors and given a handbook – benefits explanation FAQ on web for new employees Open physical education facilities to staff/faculty as a benefit or small fee Add walking trail around campus – it used to be there but disappeared. We have a beautiful campus Have a cheat sheet with basic answers to common questions and who should get the calls for certain issues Directory by department New students get t-shirt w/ registration Healthier food choices in SUB Restructure budget process and purchase order process – freedom to use monies that are budgeted for department – streamline budget order process. Make purchase order process paperless Clarify ADA policy – especially concerning students with physical disabilities Safety drills Lighting – replace bulbs Trash pick up voluntarily – seen on weekends – maybe everyone could pick-up Awnings to connect buildings Speed bumps to slow traffic Traffic sign when parking to include the dental hygiene clinic Walking trail around campus 4 Great Ideas List 2009 Handouts for InService in Spanish (Ice breaker: Give agenda to all faculty beginning in Spanish to provide sensitivity training Remind students to pick up after themselves in the SUB. They are adults! Faculty and staff should reinforce this. Freshman orientation – give rules & expectations of students. Pilot off another institution’s orientation Recruiting – Lee Gill working hard & doing a good job! (Tommie Smith) Reinstate off-campus gatherings – fish frys, BBQs, funtimes Faculty/staff break room Opportunities for lunch together, etc. I.e. “fat Friday” Career café – lunch, people who go above & beyond with dedication People (employees, students, relationships) who change the future. CIS, presidential scholars, … Energy conservation: HVAC/Air, water usage, doors/windows, restrooms, computers/AV equip left on… Better lighting of parking lots and campus Better heating & air conditioning in Humanities Faculty should be more intune/informed of library resources before sending students over (they should know how to use the Library before sending students over) Make sure all locks on bathroom stall doors work Split graduation into morning and evening Value people’s opinions – culture needs to be maintained…doesn’t cost anything Fix handicapped doors Replace light bulbs Kudos for great ad campaigns – maybe do “Let our Dr.s help you become a Dr” 5