NCA Gives MCC Good Accreditation Report
The affiliation mark of the North Central Associations Higher Learning Commission
“The report is as good as I’ve seen from any accreditation visit at any institution in which I’ve been associated,” Morgan Community College President Dr. Kerry Hart told his faculty and staff concerning a visit from an Academic Quality Improvement Program team in November.
“It was the on-campus visit that made the deepest and most positive impression — and it’s simply because you allowed the visiting AQIP team to see MCC for the way we are and the good work we do,” he said.
The college hosted two AQIP team members for a three-day quality checkup visit during the first week in November.
The final summary report of that visit has been received from team members Gwladys Austin from Mid Michigan Community College and Kathleen Plinske from McHenry County College. Both are trained and experienced AQIP reviewers.
Their review of the MCC systems portfolio prior to the visit and the findings of the onsite visit determined whether the institution continues to meet the Higher Learning Commission’s criteria for accreditation, and whether it is using quality management principles and building a culture of continuous improvement as participation in AQIP requires.
During the three days of the quality checkup visit, the team members met with a wide variety of employees and students from MCC, along with community members, business representatives, advisory committee members, MCC Foundation board members, representatives from local school systems, nonprofit organizations, alumni of the college and the provost of the Colorado Community College System.
In the written report and during the exit presentation, the team acknowledged the college’s strong support from the community, the commitment to excellence by faculty and staff, compliance on all regulatory issues and positive comments from students including their desire for on-campus food service.
Institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission is granted on a seven-year cycle for schools engaged in the AQIP process. The onsite visit is conducted during the fifth or sixth year of the cycle.
“AQIP accreditation adds teeth and credibility to the things we hold dear to our hearts, to everything we do and teach here,” said Kent Bauer, MCC Vice president of Student Success. “This process is valuable to our students, to our community and to our region. We will continue to strive toward making continued improvements and meeting higher thresholds.”
Links for the complete versions of the AQIP MCC Systems Portfolio and the Quality Checkup Report can be found on the Morgan Community College Web site home page in the lower right-hand corner at www.MorganCC.edu. Courtesy of Fort Morgan Times.
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ACC Pharmacy Technician Student Using State-of-the-Art Robotics
ACC's Automated Dispensing Machine
For the past two semesters, Students in the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program at Arapahoe Community College have been using state-of-the-art robotics equipment to learn the profession with the same technology used in the retail and hospital pharmacy environment. ACC was the first college in the region to obtain this dispensing equipment.
The equipment, known as an Automated Dispensing Machine, is controlled wirelessly from six prescription input workstations. The software on which the students learn is used by many pharmacies nationwide. After a prescription is sent to the robot from the workstation, the automatic dispensing machine counts and dispenses the medicine. Barcode and image scanners help students learn the importance of safety and accuracy.
Dr. Larry Allen, ACC's Pharmacy Tech Academic Coordinator, says the acquisition of robotics has further elevated the status of the ACC Pharmacy Tech teaching laboratory. “Automation in pharmacies is a big deal, especially in hospitals,” Allen said. “It unleashes the pharmacist and technician from some of the day-to-day production tasks and improves accuracy.” Multiple career paths are available to pharmacy technician students these days, and this is one of the most significant, Allen said.
ACC's fast-track Pharmacy Tech program is offered as a blend of online, class and laboratory work. Following classroom training, students complete required internships in local hospital or retail pharmacies.
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Veteran TV News Anchor Turns to
Community College of Denver to Launch Second Career
Ernie Bjorkman
36 years after launching his hall-of-fame broadcast career Ernie Bjorkman, 58, signed off for the last time on Denver's KWGN-TV Channel 2 in December. Bjorkman was laid off after the news teams of KWGN and Denver's KDVR merged.
"I've been very blessed. Had some great jobs," recounts Bjorkman. "I've made great money and met people I never thought I'd meet from presidents to the Pope."
Although he had not anticipated leaving TV for a few more years, he has already been preparing at Community College of Denver the past two for the next chapter of his life. "I woke up one morning and said this not going to last forever, the TV job," he explains. "What would you like to do? What's my passion? And, it immediately came to me--veterinarian."
Having always had a tremendous empathy for animals and having chosen St Francis of Assisi as his Catholic confirmation name (the patron saint of animals), he adds, "Animals calm by presence." However, Bjorkman felt he was too old to take on the eight years to become a veterinarian but he did think CCD's two year vet tech program would be doable.
Bjorkman attended CCD in the mornings (starting at 8 a.m.) for the last two years, alternating between his internship and classwork. "I'd rush home, take off my scrubs, put on a coat and tie and go right to Channel 2." He says it was a grind, however, he points out his grades were better than his younger classmates.
Bjorkman is confident he'll be able to land a job as a veterinary technician and his likely starting salary will be around $30,000. To adjust from a six-figure salary Bjorkman says he and his wife, "Will start living the simple life again, get a cheap six-pack and invite friends over to play cards like we were when we first married."
For his second career, Bjorkman plans to relocate to a small ranch in the San Luis Valley (40 miles from the nearest vet) and he dreams of opening an emergency clinic there. He looks forward to acquiring horses, donkeys and other animals.
While Bjorkman is going to miss the people associated with his broadcasting career, he 's looking forward to his new life as a vet tech. He recently completed his Vet Tech certification exam and is now hunting for a job.
Bjorkman gives the following advice to baby boomers like himself who are looking to have a back-up second career. "Go to a community college," he says, "look at what your passions are, have a plan to do something else in life and do something that will probably make you happier than what you're doing now." Bjorkman has already become a national poster-boy for boomer reinvention. The New York times recently told his story. And, in December ABC's 20/20 flew him to New York to be included in a story about boomers moving into second careers. The story aired January 16.
Bjorkman is certain that his new career helping sick animals will bring him as much satisfaction as being a major-city TV anchor. "I think, I think. . . .ask me a year from now. . .I'll be just as happy if not happier."
Bjorkman's quotes and other information in this story are courtesy of Tom Mustin/KCNC and Joanne Ostrow/Denver Post. To watch the KCNC story click here, then click the triangle in the screen on the right side of the page.
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Pueblo Community College Vice President
Named 2008 Outstanding Chief Business Award Winner
Colleen Armstrong
Not being one to draw attention to herself, Colleen Armstrong admits that she feels a bit overwhelmed by a prestigious national award she received recently.
Pueblo Community College’s Vice President of Administration and Finance was selected a 2008 Outstanding Chief Business Award winner by the Community College Business Officers. The presentation was made last month at the national organization’s annual conference held in Corpus Cristi, Texas.
Recipients are chosen for their effectiveness in job administration, strategic planning and policies implementation for multi-campus community college, their involvement in professional activities in state, regional and national organizations, and for exhibiting community leadership, service and involvement. Armstrong has been in her current position at PCC for the past four years after serving as its controller for two years.
“I’m a little modest about such things, but it is very nice and a great honor to be selected for such a notable award,” Armstrong said. “This really means a lot to me.”
In her position as VP of Administration and Finance, she coordinates, develops, approves and implements the operation of PCC’s annual budget and fiscal operations. Her responsibilities include preparing quarterly and annual financial statements and being the liaison for the coordination of the fiscal year-end annual audit. She also is designated as the delegate for the State Controller in signing contracts and other legal documents for all three PCC campuses and serves as a member of PCC's President's Cabinet.
As manager of the Administration and Finance Services division, Armstrong supervises staff within the Cashier's Office, Payroll and Fiscal Operations, Human Resources, Facility Services, Grounds and Housekeeping, Purchasing, Printing and Publications and her own office.
“Colleen is a critical leader in supplying new visions and capabilities across Pueblo Community College,” said PCC President Dr. J.D. Garvin. “Her ideas and efforts are leading to new economic and workforce development opportunities for this region.”
The La Junta native has a wealth of experience in fiscal management. Before coming to PCC in 2002, she was the Associate Dean of Business Services at Colorado Northwestern Community College for four years. Prior to that, she worked for several large companies in the private sector, where her responsibilities included fiscal operations management as the Controller for Eaton Corporation, Financial Controls Analyst for McDonnell Douglas and work as a public accountant performing audits.
Colleen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting, from the University of Southern Colorado and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Community College Business Officers is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based organization that provides educational and professional support, networking opportunities, and timely trend and demographic information for business officers representing community colleges and community college system offices in the U.S. and in Canada. It aims to help business executives be successful in their professional roles serving community colleges.
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Mother and Daughter at TSJC
Learn to be Certified Nurses Aides Together
Karina and Danelle Sierra
What began as an effort to encourage her daughter to continue her education after high school graduation last year, recently netted both mother and daughter CNA certificates.
“Just sign here,” encouraged mother Danelle Sierra to her daughter Karina after completing the necessary paper work. “I’ve already completed mine.”
Hesitant and lacking the confidence to proceed on her own, Karina signed on the dotted line but only because mom would be coming along for the ride. Mom already had earned her AAS in Cosmetology.
Confident that she had her daughter on track and in school, Danelle told Karina that she thought she would pull out and let Karina continue on. However, Karina was not about to go on without mom, so both went on to graduate from their CNA training in December.
Karina wants to use her newly learned CNA skills to assist a family member that needs in-home care. Danelle wants more. “I like nursing. I want to go on for my RN, but I was hoping she would go on with me,” she said as she looked hopefully at her daughter. With a shrug of her shoulders Karina responded, “We’ll see what happens next year.”
“She did a lot better than even I thought she would,” said Danelle proudly about her daughter Karina. Karina smiled and said, “I love it. I really enjoyed the clinicals at the VA center.” “Good,” her mom responded. “I picked up applications for both of us to get on with the Juniper Village assisted living center.”
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Section C –
Otero Junior College Hosts Inaugural
Colorado Entrepreneurship Marketplace
Last Fall, Otero Junior College was a sponsor and host of the first annual Colorado Entrepreneurship Marketplace. The all-day event attracted aspiring entrepreneurs and the principals of new and existing small businesses where they received information and access to a myriad of resources to help them succeed.
Over 350 people from throughout Colorado attended the event, which was initiated by the Colorado Rural Development Council.
The Colorado Entrepreneurship MarketPlace was broken into six tracks. Each offered five informational sessions. The tracks were: Agriculture, Business Development, Community Development, Technology, Financing and
Marketing.
Attendees had the opportunity to attend sessions within the same track for the entire day or switch to different tracks of their choosing. In addition to the educational tracks held throughout the day, the event also featured: two keynote speakers; an exhibit hall filled with exhibitors from throughout the state with products and services that can help small businesses; and, a retail store, featuring products marketed by small business owners in Colorado.
One of the keynote speakers was Huntington (“Hunt”) Lambert, Associate Vice President of Colorado State University’s Office of Economic Development. The afternoon keynote speaker was Charles “Chuck” D’Aprix, Founder of The Downtown Entrepreneurship Project in Washington, DC.
Culminating the day’s events was a reception celebrating the Flavors of Southeast Colorado. Food at the reception was prepared by local and statewide chefs, with ingredients from Southeast Colorado.
Within a few years, Otero Junior College will have the opportunity to host the event again for Southeast Colorado. For more information about the Colorado Entrepreneurship MarketPlace, visit www.ruralcolorado.org
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CCA Counselor Breakfasts Educate
"Regional Gatekeepers"
Nearly 60 high school guidance counselors from Aurora, Cherry Creek, and Denver Public Schools attended two separate appreciation breakfasts at CCA last Fall to learn what the college has to offer high school students throughout the region.
Updates on various academic departments were provided to counselors, as well as information about the availability of the First Generation Scholarship and the CCA Foundation Scholarship.
Another highlight was Mathematics Department Chair James Gray, who provided a special generational depiction of what a CCA student looks like, from the 17-year-old math student from whom classmates seek answers, to James' mother, Judy Spitz, who graduated from CCA and now works in Enrollment Services, and, finally, himself.
All CCA presenters focused on how they incorporate simulation learning into their disciplines and President Dr. Linda Bowman talked about making learning relevant and ensuring that students understand why the various pieces of knowledge that comprise a discipline are important.
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While other students watch, Tyler Nichols, a ninth grader at Sterling High School (secondfrom left) takes a good listen to the breathing sounds and heart beat of one of the many simulated-humans that are used as teaching tools in the nursing lab at Northeastern Junior College. NJC nursing instructor Rachelle Maker (left) was controlling the computerized patient. 
