The first Bragging Breakfast of the new year was packed full of information and updates from key areas of the college. Northwest Vista College President Dr. Ric Baser spoke about some of the new changes that occurred while we were on winter break.
For instance, there are new surface parking lots, new furniture in some buildings and new office spaces for faculty and staff in Pecan Hall. More renovations will be going on this semester in Student Success to prepare for Vista Central – a new advising area.
Dr. Baser also gave a quick update on Northwest Vista College’s work on its report for its accrediting agency – the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College. He said with approval from SACSCOC, the NVC cabinet team hopes to have its report in by June instead of later this year. He added NVC employees have been working very hard to address several of the concerns that SACSOC raised, including the way transcripts are handled, changes to branding of the colleges and the way financial aid is distributed.
Switching to enrollment, Dr. Baser said NVC is a bit down in enrollment from last year but we may be able to make up the numbers with additional students enrolling in the flex terms. With currently 15,613 paid students, Dr. Baser added statewide enrollment is down 3 percent at community colleges.
In spite of the decline, graduation numbers for NVC are way up for the fall of 2016 compared to fall of 2015. Last fall, a record 1,203 students received their certificates and degrees compared to a little over 800 for 2015.
Announcements:
The NVC Cowboy Breakfast will be held on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 a.m. until the food is gone.
Renata Serafin, director of NVC Public Relations, thanked key volunteers that went above and beyond for the second annual HalloVista this past October.
Virginia Leggett, NVC director of Resource Management, explained a new process to request services from Purchasing and Asset Management. Read about it here.
Dr. Baser said make room in your calendar to attend the NVC musical, “Grease.” He said he got a glimpse of it at the recent NVC Faculty Convocation and was blown away. Learn more here.
Celebrations:
Destiny Harper-Lane of Student Success received the Wildcat Spirit Award. See here.
Jose Olivares of NVC IT received the Employee of the Month Award for January. Read here.
Gary Bowling, a Student Success director, was one of 10 recipients awarded the “Outstanding First-year Student Advocates” from Engage Learning and the National Resource Center. Read more here.
Dr. Amy Whitworth, VP of Academic Success, received the Alamo Colleges Leadership Academy for Success (ALAS) Trusted Leader Award, which was voted on by the ALAS class and facilitators. Read more here.
Renata Serafin, director of NVC Public Relations, received the Alamo Colleges Leadership Academy for Success (ALAS0 Building Bridges Award (for involvement in mentoring other leaders). Read more here.
Melissa Monroe-Young, NVC Public Information Officer, will serve as the Public Relations Society of America Chapter Board president for 2017. Read more here.
Lynne Dean, Director of Institutional Advancement, was elected President Elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Antonio Chapter for 2017. http://www.afpsanantonio.org/about/board
Gaston LeNorte, faculty member in the NVC Philosophy area, successfully defended his dissertation. Congratulations on earing your Ph.D!
Janie Scott in the NVC President’s office has the the new title of Project Facilitator at Northwest Vista College. More here.
Richard DeMouy is the new NVC Coordinator of Risk Management (formerly TLF).
