The Biggest Learner at Columbus State is all about increasing grades—not decreasing waistlines! 
College reaccreditation coming in 2013
Greg Goodhart
Greg Goodhart, professor of Mathematics, has been named to lead Columbus State’s Accreditation Project for the coming year. The college will host the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for an extensive “quality checkup visit” in 2013. The Higher Learning Commission is the college accrediting body for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Goodhart recently addressed a team of more than 30 staff, faculty and administrators at a Reaccreditation kick-off meeting Oct. 3. "Fully documenting what we're doing—collecting the data—is Step One in this process," Goodhart told the group. "We'll need to show how we use that data to make continuous improvements."
Tracking annual improvement is the cornerstone of the HLC's Academic Quality Improvement Process (AQIP), one of two accreditation pathways for colleges and universities.
Goodhart, a faculty member since 1992, led a cross-functional group to share the results of the recent Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) survey. CCSSE was also one of three required AQIP action projects this past year.
Accreditation joins Start Right, Switch2Semesters, the Master Plan and Strategic Plans as “Tier One” projects. Navigator, a management consultant firm, will help organize the work along project management guidelines.
"This is a college-wide project," said Goodhart. "Members of the subcommittees may be knocking on your door to ask for your assistance, and we hope that everyone will pitch in to share the great work we all are doing at Columbus State."
College Master Plan will “envision the future”
Columbus State has a Master Planning website where anyone can access information about the process and progress on the college’s Master Plan. The Master Planning website will include updates, invitations to community forums, and links to surveys to collect your feedback. You can even sign up to receive an email notification each time the website is updated. Bookmark the website so you can help Envision the Future!
Autumn Quarter figures finalized
The preliminary Autumn 2011 headcount and FTE as of the census date, October 5, stands at 30,839 paid students, compared to the Autumn 2010 headcount of 30,297, a 1.79 percent increase from a year ago. The total Full Time Equivalent (FTE) count for Autumn 2011 is 20,558.3, a 1.21 percent increase over Fall Quarter 2010.
Total comparison headcounts and FTEs by campus, online courses and off-campus centers, are available on the Intranet here (only available on campus). This document also gives a comparison with census day figures for Autumn Quarter 2009 and 2010.
Sign up for flu shots at In-Service
The Wellness Initiative will offer seasonal flu shots to full time employees on In-Service Day, October 26, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in UN 137. To make an appointment, click here. You need to bring a consent form with you to the appointment as well, which you will be forwarded when you make an appointment. If you have any questions, contact Nichole Bowman-Glover.
In-Service planners need your meal requests!
The Fall In-Service Day will be held on Wednesday, October 26. The program and schedule for the day are online here. For planning purposes, employees are requested to register for each meal they plan to attend no later than Wednesday, October 19. The links to register for meals are on the Menus page.
Call for readers
The Bookstore will hold the annual Scholastic Bookfair Oct. 17-22, with Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m.–noon. Family Day will feature refreshments, story time, visits with Clifford the Big Red Dog, and a gift bag for the first 50 children through the door. Readers are needed for children’s books on Family Day. You can volunteer here!
Survival sign language courses offered
During Disability Awareness Month, October, you can come in and learn some basic sign language. The course is open to faculty, staff and students.
The course will be held Wednesday, October 19, and Wednesday, November 2 in Eibling Hall 101-Conference Room, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Free self-defense class offered next week
As part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Week, Columbus State’s Student Activities Department will offer a free self-defense class on Monday, October 17, from noon-1:00 p.m. in Delaware Hall Room 158. Classes are on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration is required.
Professional development available for employees through Mindleaders
Mindleaders is an online learning system offering self-paced development opportunities to all employees of Columbus State without leaving the office. By logging in using their Novell username and password, employees have access to a variety of self-paced courses on topics including Microsoft Office, Management Skills, Personal Mastery, Leadership and Project Management. Users typically find the system easy to navigate, requiring no special knowledge or equipment to use. Examples of course titles in the personal mastery series include: Becoming More Assertive, Creative Time Management and Dealing with Change.
Employees can use the content of these courses to improve their skills and meet both personal and professional development needs. Applying what is learned from a Mindleaders course can, with supervisor approval, qualify as a Professional Development Goal for PERFORMs.
To explore Mindleaders opportunities and participate in the courses employees can access Mindleaders using this link. No registration is necessary for these courses. For assistance, or more information about Mindleaders, contact Mary Francis McLaughlin, at mmclaugh@cscc.edu or by phone at ext. 5220.
Columbus State places second for college blood drives
The local American Red Cross recently honored Franklin County business and community groups for hosting blood drives throughout the past year at the 2011 Life Sharing Challenge Luncheon. The event, held September 23, honored more than 48 organizations for their blood collections during the period from July 2010 through June 2011. The Life Sharing Challenge awards points based on the number of blood drives, blood drive success, number of drives during the key summer months and holidays, number of first-time donors, and employee participation.
Columbus State was presented with the 2nd place award in the college category, out of 25 area colleges. The Ohio State University placed 1st in the category, with Capital University placing 3rd and Otterbein University placing 4th. On hand to accept the award were Heather Borland, supervisor of Student Activities, Wellness, and the Student Ambassador Leadership Program, and Julie Collins, office associate in Student Activities & Athletics.
Red Cross Blood Drive is Oct. 24
Make a note to donate blood at the next Red Cross Blood Drive, Monday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Nestor Hall Study Lounge.
October Health & Fitness News online now
In the October issue of the Human Performance Center’s newsletter Health & Fitness News, you can read articles about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cancer Fighting Nutrition, Fitness Facts and the Exercise of the Month!
More health news available from USI
Read about Down Syndrome, preventing falls, and more health news in the October issue of USI Insurance Health & Wellness newsletter, available online here.
Cancer Support Group to meet Oct. 19
The Cancer Support Group is an opportunity for anyone impacted by cancer (personally, professionally, through family or friends, or for someone who is just concerned about how others are affected) to come and learn and share information that would be helpful to the group. The group will meet Wednesday, October 19, at noon in the Public Safety Department Training Room, DE. For additional information contact Nichole Bowman-Glover, wellness coordinator, at ext.3989.