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Fall 2006, Archived Submissions
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ID: 92
Title: Alternative Energy Sources
Description: Basically my idea is to use the districts campuses as locations to install alternative energy producing devices such as wind mills and solar panels. This would provide several benefits for the district.
1. Lower energy bills for the district
2. Provide a hands on experience to learn about the alternative energy
industry for students and faculty.
3. Lessen the districts environmental impact.
4. Decrease our nations dependence on foregn oil and fossil fuels.
5. Increase community awareness of the benefits of such technologies.
6. Increase revenues by selling excess power to the utility company.
Implementation:
1. Conduct site studies to find the most advantageous locations for small
wind and solar generating devices.
2. Research State and Federal Grants associated with alternative energy
property and incentives related to them.
3. Find appropriate suppliers and installers of alternative energy
equipment and recieve price quotes.
4. Apply for appropriate Alternative Energy grants, revolving loan funds, etc...
Impact:
1. Lower electricity bills for EICCD.
2. Increase public awareness of Alternative Energy Technologies.
3. Get first hand experience in a rapidly developing industry.
4. Shows the district is concerned about the environment and is willing to do
something about it.
ID: 93
Title: General Info
Description: Our people did a great envrinmental scan to show us what's up in different industries. Except for the customer service issue, we need to invest in math and the sciences.
Implementation:
Impact: I think we need to look beyond "how will this affect our students" and get other stakeholders and industry reps involved. We need to find partners now in those areas and have them help us find niches for programs or curriculum.
ID: 100
Title: Weekend College
Description: Propsal to setup weekend college for students who have circumstances that would not allow them to attend either thru the week or at nights.
Hours for weeend school are as follows:
Friday's 6pm-10pm
Saturday's 8am-4pm.
Implementation: Implementation of such curriculum could be implemented fall 2007.
Impact: By setting up a weekend college, this would increase Scott's enrollment and allow students to attend college and receive a degree, who would not ordinarily be able to attend classes due to their circumstances.
ID: 107
Title: SEED GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL/Globalization CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Description: Purpose: To assist Clinton, Scott and Muscatine Community College faculty members to develop a new course or to revise an existing course offering that will feature international and/or comparative material and perspectives.
• Proposals may focus on the addition of new material to the curriculum.
• Proposals may expand or augment existing offerings
• Proposals may be directed toward on-campus delivery or fashioned as
part of a study abroad experience.
• Proposals should strive to incorporate inter-disciplinary perspectives and
have an impact beyond the curriculum of a single department.
Amount of the award - $1,500.00 (three per year for a toal of $4500.00)
Funds can be used to cover necessary travel expenses, partial course release, purchasing of teaching materials, etc.
Number of awards – up to three (awarded at the end of the spring semester for projects to be undertaken during the Summer/Fall.
Applications should consist of the following:
• A statement of purpose outlining the goals and objectives of the applicant.
• A detailed budget listing proposed expenditures. Include information on any cost sharing
opportunities. Indicate whether you have submitted this proposal to other funding sources.
• A copy of the applicant’s resume.
• A letter of support from the applicant’s Department Coordinator, Dean or President
indicating how the proposed initiative will enhance the curriculum.
All applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of: (to be determined)
Completed applications are due Friday, May and should be directed to: (to be determined)
An information session regarding the International Seed Grant Program will be held on: (to be determined)
For more information, contact:
Jeff Armstrong
Dean of the College
Muscatine Community College
152 Colorado Street
Muscatine, IA 52761 USA
563-288-6004
563-288-6126 (fax)
jarmstrong@eicc.edu
Implementation: Annual submission for ideas. A committee revews the submissions and awards up to three grants per year (in the Spring for implementation the following Summer or Fall).
Impact: Individual faculty will design a project which will have an immediate impact in their classroom and on their students.
ID: 124
Title: Student retention by peer mentoring and guidance
Description: The peer mentoring and guidance program will focuses on successful and experienced students helping new students or eminent "at risk" students to achieve success in their academic goals.
Implementation: New students will be assigned a "peer mentor" by the academic advisors either when they first register or when the advisor feel needed. The mentors will be selected according to new students' major and is not "content" oriented but "academic skills" oriented. Mentors will be assigned by program advisors of instructors and will have training sessions and workshops in order to understand their positions and learn the skills to mentor new learner. Mentors would be paid as tutors and the success of the initiative would be measure by the success of the mentored students in a semester journal and report written by both the the mentors and menotred students. The innitial cost for the first semester to create materials, train and pay the first 5 mentors for Spring 2007 would be around US$1500.00. The pilot semester (Spring 2007) semester would have 5 mentors and 10 mentored students at MCC campus.
Impact: Increase of student retention.
ID: 133
Title: THE A TEAM
Description: Multi disipline areas of AS/AP show up on High School Campuses with COOL stuff
1. Auto programs build a Muscle Car with Dark Blue and Logo. Trunk open
wtih Speakers playing tunes.
2. Deisel has a tricked out Semi
3. Culinary arts has a Mobile cooker painted Blue with logo doing hot dogs or
something inexpensive
4. Ateec does something
5. A HUGE FOLDABLE CHECK MADE OUT TO "IAM A STUDENT"
SHOWING THE SAVING DOLLARS OF TAKING TRANSFER CLASSES AT
EICCD AND GOING ON AS A Jr. to regency school. include costs of housing in savings
...Mom and Dad will freak.
6. bring some livestock Make it all portable and take it on the road.
Implementation: Get with instructors and DC to come up with a student built project so students take ownership and tell theirr friends.
Impact: Could be huge, once mom and dad found out that you can get quality education and a career from Eiccd. And still transfer most credits Who doesnt want to save money.
ID: 134
Title: Let's get more students enrolled in science classes!!!
Description: This is my 2-minute explanation, BUT: We need to go to the elementary, junior (Especially), and senior high schools and get the students excited about science and tell them about the great programs we have in the EICCD. (There's another piece to this about improving enrollment in math classes in high school, but this is a second issue, although it has a direct effect on success in college science courses).
Implementation: Faculty need release time (Equivalent credit to load hours) to work with EICCD high school recruiters, local business leaders, high school counselors, and school teachers to find out which career paths look bright, get the students interested, work with the teachers, improve the programs/courses here when needed, and have time to do all of this!!
Impact: $$$$ (through a possible increase in enrollment) and benefit to the community by serving needs of companies who are relying on a greater number of science majors to get started on the right path through the pipeline from high school to science degree to career.
ID: 143
Title: Recruiting Retirees: Tapping the Boomer Bubble
Description: This project would provide guidance and oversight in the investigation of current courses, credit and noncredit, which could be offered to those who are retired and interested in taking a class. The facilitator would work with on-campus credit and continuing education personnel, as well as area agencies who offer services to senior citizens. For example, if an agency is offering a trip to Italy, we could offer a related course which the student could take prior to embarking on their trip.
Implementation: A part-time facilitator would be hired to investigate current courses, make contact with area agencies, and set up courses in conjunction with campus deans. This person could also work with marketing and department chairs to enhance programming and sales of new courses.
Impact: As high school age student demographics decrease, the baby boomer numbers are increasing. Though we currently offer courses, and a senior citizen discount, the process has not been formalized and the courses agressively marketed. This is a definate ara of growth potential for EICCD.
ID: 147
Title: CS:114 as a previous-knowledge-friendly course
Description: CS:114 is today one of the most challenging courses to teach due to our very diverse student population. Students come in this course with all levels previous knowledge from having never used a computer before to having used computers extensively in high school and work environments. The ability to have personalized instruction supported by a hybrid-delivery course can increase motivation by making each student's experience valuable and engaging.
Implementation: CS:114 Microcomputer Applications is taught today leveraging learners at a lower point where students that do not have a certain degree of computer knowledge have a great difficulty in following and students that have a certain degree of knowledge have a hard time keeping themselves interested in the course.
On the other hand, to test-out of the course, students need a 75% or higher grade in a test that should cover all learning objectives of the course. There is, today, a large number of students whose previous knowledge is located between these two milestones and that could benefit from a process that would handle the large number of students between the two ends.
IMPLEMENTATION:
(1) Following the CDM's course competencies and learning outcomes, this project proposes to group the outcomes in units
(2) Each unit would have a pre-test which would determine if the students needs to go over the unit or can proceed to the next unit
(3) After taking the pre-test, the student would receive a study guide based on learning needs to meet the course learning outcomes
(4) After going over the learning guide steps, which would include instruction and practice exercises, the learner would take a post-test and the grade in this post test would represent a percentage of the learner's final grade.
(5) Each unit will represent a percentage of the final grade, and all the pre and post test will be competency and skills based
IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS:
(1) online course shell to create hybrid course
(2) performance-based test-out software (already in use and available)
(3) one work-study for one semester - 10 hours/week X 16 weeks X huorly work-study pay
(4) another faculty willing to brainstorm and define process
Impact: By not having to go over what is already known or stress over what is not known to follow other learners' pace, students would focus on learning new skills and refining previous skills that will positively impact their academic and professional lives. This will very likely positively impact on student's motivation, auto-esteem and perception of academic competency. It will also impact on performance in other courses by the use of acquired computer literacy and skills.
ID: 148
Title: Bots and Avtars: an automated just-in-time feedback and learning support tool for online courses
Description: The research on online delivered courses show the positive effect of asynchronous communication in online courses providing learner with time the elaborate and reflect on answers, feedback, and interactions. The research does not seem, though, to discuss how the absence of prompt answers to questions and feedback impact on online learner's motivation and achievement. This project proposes to create and implement an automated just-in-time feedback and learning support tool based on reusable learning objects theory, and test the effect of having this tool available in achievement and retention in online courses. The project will also study the impact of the tool in faculty work hours in online courses.
I would like to use this project as my PhD in Instructional Design for Online Learning research and dissertation.
Implementation: The development and implementation of the project would involve to create the tools, embed the tool in one or two section of a course, and measure results. If the results show a positive impact and creates interest, the tool can easily be "trained" to be used with different contents and contexts. The needs for this project should be discussed in person and I do believe this tool would be valuable added feature of EICC online courses, not available in any other institutions' online instruction. The tools can be trained to be "teaching assistants" and online learning companions, and to motivate learners. The tools can also "speak" different languages.
The cost for this project is low, and I believe we could get external funding for it. Please contact me for more information. I would like to start my PhD research and dissertation project in late Spring 2007.
Impact: The cost of this project is low, and I believe we could get external funding for it. Please contact me for more information.
ID: 149
Title: Walk-up Computer "Kiosks"
Description: Provide students with several walk-up computers that they can do simple computer things like check emails, ebridge etc.
Implementation: It has been my experience that many students use the computer labs for simple things like checking email or perhaps a quick look at a website. With the trend towards less formal computer labs for students (at least at Belmont)we could provide them with several walkup computer stations in places where students frequent. Housed in an attractive and secure piece of furniture, these stations could be used for those quick computer tasks freeing seats in the open student computer areas for more time consuming computer activities.
Impact: Having more computer resources for students can only make thier experience at EICCD better and will help with overcrowding in the libraries and labs.
ID: 150
Title: EICCD Sustainable Campus Initiative
Description: With the current concerns about energy in the U.S., this seems a good time to consider an effort aimed at this area and at the broader target of overall environmental sustainability. As an institution of higher learning, it seems logical to make an effort to formulate an internal District policy that's in concert with our educational objectives. We teach students the professional and intellectual skills they need to cure disease, run businesses, lend money, and legislate policy. We also provide basic scientific and social knowledge that's instrumental in understanding the natural world and the effects of human activities within it. In teaching all these skills and with close community, business, and industry ties, community colleges have a unique opportunity to provide a leadership role in using education and sound science to make personal, institutional, and public policy decisions about the interaction between pragmatic business decisions and the sustainability of the natural systems on which our health and well-being depend. Taking the lead in the classroom and by the example of our physical facilities, an EICCD sustainable campus initiative would provide contextual teaching and learning opportunities for faculty, students, and staff and could become a model for community sustainability education.
Implementation: An effective initiative would require both District and individual campus support. A District advisory committee could be formed to explore potential focus areas. Ideally, this committee would include representatives from administration, faculty, student, and facilities management for each campus. Depending on initial support, the initiative could start with a small effort, such as improving current recycling practices or reporting on the success of current energy-saving efforts. As support for the initiative grows, needs analyses could be performed to decide on additional action items (e.g., waste stream reduction, storm water management, on-campus renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, green purchasing, etc.). Individual campus facilitators (from members of the advisory board) would develop implementation plans appropriate for each location.
Impact: A Campus Sustainability Initiative would provide many opportunities for multidisciplinary, contextual, and problem-based learning for our students, faculty, and staff. For example, a waste stream audit project could involve collaborative learning for students in environmental science, business economics, communications, and information technology. Also, as a leader and model for community education, the District could garner respect, goodwill, publicity, and potentially increased enrollment with a topical project such as a campus stormwater runoff project, likely capturing the attention of local municipal governments and the general public. From a practical point of view, many sustainability efforts will result in budgetary savings, such as an energy audit project to identify and recommend further District energy saving practices. Ultimately, a sustainability initiative could have as much or as little impact as the District and its individual participants are willing to support and participate in.
ID: 154
Title: Create an EICCD Technology Support Center
Description: Create and fund a Technology Support Center that would serve all of the Districts employees. More and more we ask our employees to utilize advance technologies with very little support, training or instructional design help. A Technology Support Center (TSC) would provide instructors with help in these areas as well as all types of distance learning; video & audio delivery technologies help desk services, printing services, presentation development assistance and provide the District with Research and Development of new technologies. The TSC would be closely tied to a the concept of the campus Professional Development Center which would be the direct local link on each campus providing local training, equipment and expertise. In the case of these centers all would need to be renovated and reorganized as they have been neglected. These centers should be tied to the TSC via videoconferencing technology to help facilitate delivery of training and as a way to share human resources and expertise. In addition to the instructional benefits, this type of center and its local centers can offer staff and administration many of the same training and delivery benefits. Videoconferencing can provide a cost effective way of communicating between campus sites without the need for travel. Obviously this is a complete departure from the current system (if one exists) of handling technology support at EICCD as the TSC idea seeks long term solutions to problems that are not likely to go away and will probably increase as we try to become more technologically competitive. Funds acquired through the IDEAS project will be a beginning towards those long term solutions. Funding of this idea would show EICCDs true commitment to education and technology in the instructional environment. Instructors can no longer be asked to be experts in their disciplines and in all of the technology and techniques available to them today and in the future. All employees would benefit when “on time” training is available for new software, hardware and processes.
Implementation: Some of the components of the project presented are in place but in great need of support or reorganizing. Funding could start the process of reorganizing the campus Professional Development Centers and give some needed support to training efforts. Videoconferencing between campuses could be funded to help utilize expertise and share other resources. The 8th floor of the Kahl building already has the square footage and houses some of the personnel and could serve as the base for the TSC, funding could better organize this space and move it forward toward being a concerted support area.
Impact: Our students can only benefit from instruction delivered with confidence by well trained instructors with instructionally viable content. When coupled with online course work, having this kind of a support center could mean EICCD could offer well constructed online and hybrid courses that are rich in content giving us an advantage over those institutions that offer only text based online courses. Well trained and connected employees can work smarter and that means cost savings and increased productivity. Travel expenses could be reduced when videoconferencing is made available.
ID: 155
Title: Weekend College-fasttrack
Description: To design a curriculum for IT that would assist students in completing their IT degrees, by taking weekend courses.
Implementation: Classes would be offered Friday evenings(6:00pm until 10:00Pm), and Saturday's from 8:00am until 4:00pm.
Impact: By introducing Weekend College, this would improve enrollments and provide an opprotunity for students who work during the week, to complete their education.
ID: 156
Title: Start a Turf Equipment Tech Program
Description: This program would be a two year Tech program. This would train students to obtain a job in the green industry. Golf Courses, Athletic fields as well as private lawn companies, need well trained individuals to fix and maintain there equipment. This equipment is not your lawn boy mower out of your garage,but mowers that require knowledge of hydralics,larger horsepowers, and specific technical knowledge. These jobs are also higher paying than jobs away from minimum wage.
Implementation: This program could be incorporated into the Horticulture program and would include a work component. Local business could be involved,since they are interested in graduates of this type of program. The schedule for this program would have to be available during the time when students are available. This would be different than the regular school schedule. The months that would work best would be October thru April.
Impact: This would be the only program of this kind in the state of Iowa and would be used by existing Implement stores as well as the Golf course industry. These jobs are readily available all over the country as demonstrated at Turfnet.com. This is a Information web site that has employment opportunites all over the country.
ID: 158
Title: Spanish for Frontline Staff and Spanish Versions of Student Information
Description: Provide training for frontline staff in business Spanish and develop Spanish versions of key student pieces.
Implementation: Utilize the Workplace Spanish that is currently being delivered by CE to train our own frontline staff. Select frontline staff from across the district including Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Services, CE and Switchboard to attend training. Consider offering via the ICN, TIE or online as a lunch time training class for several weeks (as language is not a one day training). Staffing is always a concern and this would allow for training to occur with little interruption to staffing. Expand Spanish training over time to include other staff, DC's and faculty. Creating Spanish versions of key student pieces such as the student catalog, handbook, application and some web information would assist students in access our community colleges. Hiring of a translation service would be required.
Impact: This would allow us to better serve a growing population in this region and reduce possible enrollment barriers. The hispanic population in Iowa is the fastest growing population, this would allow us to better meet the needs of this population.
ID: 159
Title: Career Exploration for High School
Description: Develop a partnership with Iowa Workforce, the ACT Center, Advising, Admission and the high schools to develop a Career Exploration assessment and curriculum using ACT products like Work Keys or ACT Career Interest Survey
Implementation: Select Beta High Schools to implement assessing all high school freshman and/or sophomores. Training staff to deliver Job Profiling training and develop career exploration curriculum to be used in conjunction with the assessment instruments. Provide training to high school staff as appropriate in interpretation of results. Provide information session to students and parents to assist them in exploring careers based on the assessment results. Primary cost would come in training of staff and development of delivery. Develop a roll out plan to include all interested area high schools.
Impact: Many area high schools have shared frustrations with limited resources (time, technology) to work with students in career selection. Parents and Students often come unprepared to select career fields. A program like this would allow students to explore careers earlier, make appropriate high school course work choices and learn more about college options earlier. Student would have more knowledge about careers and training opportunities. We enhance our relationships with the high schools by assisting them in career guidance. We have an opportunity to address students and parents about the importance of post-secondary training. Students are introduced to our programs and services early in their high school career. There is potential for increasing our vocational program enrollments by this enhanced awareness. This would specifically benefit at-risk and first generation students by helping them establish goals early in their high school careers.
ID: 163
Title: Dental Hygiene Teaching/Learning Partnership
Description: Eastern Iowa Community College District and Community Health Care will partner to provide students with an opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Community Health Care will provide a dentist (Dental Director) and Dental hygienists who will supervise students in a clinical setting and Scott Community College will provide a Dental Hygiene Director/Instructor who will coordinate the instructional aspects of the program. IDEA funds are requested in the amount of $40,000 to provide start up costs for fees for an American Dental Association consultant and partial salary for a Dental Hygiene Director/Instructor to provide initial accreditation recommendations for the clinical facility, curriculum development, complete the accreditation proposal process, and coordinate/develop the instructional and clinical components of the program. The benefits will result in planning for a quality program, increased enrollment for EICCD, an improved process involving a teaching/learning organization, increased satisfaction for students, faculty and the community and an innovative environment where students, professionals and community will work together and derive benefits.
Implementation: IDEA funds will provide necessary start up costs to implement the planning and development phase of the Dental Hygiene Program. Such funds will be used to hire an American Dental Association consultant and partial salary of a Dental Hygiene Director/Instructor. These professionals will provide implementation of this project through working in collaboration with Community Health Care to develop an accredited dental hygiene clinical facility, design curriculum for the program and prepare for the accreditation process involving coordination of the instructional and clinical components.
Impact: The impact of the project will result in the development of an accredited Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science Program, which will provide a teaching/learning partnership in the Eastern Iowa Community College District. Students will have the opportunity to complete the degree award, be involved with career training and have job opportunities. The College District will increase enrollment and the community will benefit through the establishment of a business/education connection, as well as children in the area having access to increased opportunities for preventative dental services thorugh the expanded facilities and personnel afforded by this partnership.
ID: 164
Title: Adding athletic programs to Muscatine Community College
Description: Adding two more athletic programs to MCC. Both men's and women's soccer would benefit the college and campus life. With the soccer complex in Muscatine being one of the finest in the country it would be an easy start up for providing a practice and playing facility.
Implementation: Adding two more sports to MCC would bring 15-20 full-time women and 15-20 full time men student-athletes to campus. Playing sports requires the student to be full time for eligibility proposes per the NJCAA. Athletic programs have good retention rates and also benefit the college by filling housing. Adding 30-40 more full time students helps to increase enrollment, campus life and would continue to give the college a positive image in the community. The softball and baseball programs have increased Muscatine Community College's name recognition in Iowa, throughout the U.S., and in other countries through recruitment and retention of student athletes. Having sports associated with the campus, whether people like it or not, is one of the best ways to increase school spirit, alumni participation, community funding and overall support.
Impact: Adding 30-40 full time men and women students to Muscatine Community College. Increased enrollment, higher retention rate, contiued growth of student housing, increased interest in school by students, community, and alumni. Atletics also generate money for the college through tuition, book sales, and finanical aid.
ID: 165
Title: Innovation Space Project
Description: Our team would like to create and fund an Innovation Space to support both EICCD and the local communities that we serve. The impetus for this project stemmed from an IDEO brainstorming session at the CQIN Summer Institute 2006. Several team members noted the need for a non-threatening area to brainstorm, develop, and prototype innovative projects for implementation throughout EICCD. This discussion led to including a space that could be managed and used by EICCD and the local communities in using the IDEO Deep-Dive Innovation Process for improving products and services for our students and community customers.
The concept for this project revolves around a neutral non-threatening area that will allow participants to be creative. At times when this area was not being used by EICCD or the community it could be open to provide our students an area to relax, study, or work on group projects.
The facility would be sparsely furnished to present an open atmosphere. The area would be modular and readily adapted to any function needed. Smart White board should be provided at various locations throughout the area to be used in brainstorming and thought capture. Presentation audio/visual equipment should be provided in various areas. Laptop Carts with 24 laptop computers would be provided for prototyping and group work. White noise would also be generated to reduce distractions.
Implementation: The creation of this innovation space will be designed as a prototype for EICCD to use at all campus locations and to serve as a model for the development of a teaching learning center. Funding could be perused through the use of gaming grants, Idea funds, local community support, and EICCD matching funds for this project.
For a prototype, we are budgeting approximately $50,000 for equipment, material, and furniture.
Impact: This space would benefit EICCD, the local communities, and our students by providing an area centered around creativity. Innovation, whether used to solve old problems with new solutions or to develop areas not yet thought of, is easer said than done. By providing an area designed for just that purpose and lead by individuals trained in the IDEO innovation process, we would be setting ourselves up for future success