Update from the President
by Dr. Shanna L. Jackson
Greetings,
May has arrived and the celebrations to honor our students and graduates completed. I applaud the faculty and staff involved in making the primarily virtual events special and memorable. Our students have pushed through the pandemic and done well in the midst of many challenges faced since fall 2019. It is your effort, no matter what position you hold, that creates the place and support for our students to thrive and grow. You are the difference makers!
Below are a few updates from the Office of the President:
May Commencement – A special thanks to Evelyn Hadley, the committee and all involved with creating a wonderful celebration for our 1,228 graduates! More than 500 participated in the virtual ceremony with many students submitting videos and pictures. Thomas Melton did a wonderful job working with our vendor to create a seamless enjoyable production.
Sharing the Good – This is your monthly reminder to use this form to recognize an individual (faculty, staff, or student), department, program, or group that has had a significant accomplishment or made a difference.
Enrollment – On the first day of summer classes, we were up 8.7% headcount and 7.3% FTE. On May 21st, we were up 7.5% headcount and 6.4% headcount for Fall from last year. However, compared to fall 2019, we are down 20.7% headcount and 23.8% FTE. There are several efforts underway to increase applications and enrollment. Below are the links to the new daily enrollment reports: Fall 2021 to Fall 2019 ETR Comparison Dashboard – Fall 2021 ETR Dashboard – Summer 2021 ETR Dashboard
Budget – The FY22 Budget has been submitted to TBR for approval at the June Quarterly Board meeting. The budget is based on a 2% increase in fall enrollment, 4% increase in spring and a 1.5% tuition increase. Our projected revenues are $49 million and projected expenses $51 million. This leaves a $2 million shortfall. However, the majority of the shortfall is an increase in expenses to open and staff the North Davidson (Madison) Campus. New positions to support the campus will be added but remain unfilled until fall enrollment is known. We will review which positions will move forward during the October budget revision process.
Compensation Task Force – Based on the approved definitions of Committees on Committees, the original Compensation Committee meets the guidelines of a Task Force. Administrative Assembly, Faculty Senate, and Staff Assembly will each have two representatives; which includes three members from the original committee. Jill Ferrand will serve as Chair.
This month ends my third year as President of Nashville State. Throughout the many challenges we have faced in a short period of time, I remain confident that we are charting a path to become the best Community College in the country. Our official Vision 2030 will be shared during Convocation in August providing our pathway forward. We will be building out our core values so that every employee understands that when Nashville State LEADS, Students SUCCEED. I am grateful to be on this incredible journey with each of you. Together – we are Nashville State Strong!
Nashville GRAD Partners Celebrate TBR 2021 Partnership Award!
by Tom Hayden, Associate Vice President, Office of Communications and Marketing
As was previously announced, Nashville State Community College received the Tennessee Board of Regents 2021 SOAR (Statewide Outstanding Achievement Recognition) Partnership Award for the Nashville GRAD program.
Nashville GRAD wins Tennessee Board of Regents SOAR 2021 Partnership Award
The Tennessee Board of Regents recognized the Nashville GRAD program with the Partnership Award during the March 25 SOAR 2021 Awards presentation. With the support of the Mayor’s Office, Metro Council, and community partners, Nashville GRAD aims to remove the non-academic barriers to college retention and completion. It is a program under the joint Nashville State and Metro Schools Better Together initiative.
“Nashville State is honored to accept the 2021 SOAR Partnership Award on behalf of all our Nashville GRAD partners. We are grateful for their continued support.
Nashville GRAD started with a $1 million commitment under Mayor Briley. Mayor Cooper and Metro Council appropriated another $1 million for this academic year. To date, over $450,000 has been secured from private sector partners.
Launched in the Fall of 2019, GRAD is modeled after the successful CUNY ASAP program in New York. Students receive personalized academic and career advising and financial support beyond tuition and fees.
Nashville GRAD is a true public – private partnership, a shared value that education is a key to social and economic mobility.
We believe GRAD will increase the number of Nashvillians who earn a degree or credential, help close equity gaps and strengthen our communities. Thank you.”
Nashville State President Dr. Shanna L. Jackson
On May 11, Nashville State was able to celebrate the award in-person with some of our partners: the Office of Mayor for Nashville and Davidson County, AllianceBernstein, Amazon, HCA Healthcare, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Piedmont Natural Gas, The Memorial Foundation, and Tennessee Titans.
Nashville GRAD, whose purpose is to remove non-academic barriers to college retention and completion, is one tool Nashville State is using to support student success. GRAD is making a difference. The College is grateful for all of our wonderful community partners and champions. Together, we will ensure that all of our communities are lifted up and succeed.
Welcome Scott Parsons to the NSCC Family!
by Lauren Bell, Executive Director of Development, NSCC Foundation
Meet the new Campus Cupboard Coordinator, Scott Parsons. Scott is managing the logistics for the Cupboard program at all campuses and working with the volunteer site leads. He is also overseeing the day-to-day operations at the White Bridge Road Cupboard location. Scott is your contact for all Cupboard-related questions! You can reach him at scott.parsons@nscc.edu
NSCC Receives TBR Grant to Develop OER Course for NSCC 1010!
by Jessica Rabb, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
I am pleased to share that Nashville State has been awarded a TBR grant to develop an Open Educational Resource (OER) for NSCC 1010 – First Year Experience. NSCC 1010 is a one credit hour course that helps our first-time college students explore the connections between their career goals and academic plans. Until spring 2021, students were required to purchase a $40 textbook. Beginning summer 2021 students will use an OER called College Success. Our students will use this OER while we write our own in summer and fall 2021. We’ll pilot our OER in NSCC 1010 classes in spring 2022.
We need a text that is instantly and freely available to all enrolled NSCC 1010 students and matches the learning outcomes and pacing of our five-week course. We plan to create an OER with not just text, but audio and visual testimonials, tutorials, and tours by faculty, staff, and students. The work will be personal, specific, and adaptable to Nashville State.
During NSCC 1010, we want our students to take a personal journey to discover their purpose at Nashville State. That discovery requires a connection to the college, a sense they belong here. An OER we develop, is much more likely to foster a connection to the college than an outside text.
Because NSCC 1010 brings instructors from all over the college each semester, it has become a melting pot for faculty and staff, a way to directly see the importance of academic and social belonging in college and with this grant how an OER can facilitate connections. We believe an engaging and inspiring Nashville State specific OER in NSCC 1010 will help us improve student success in NSCC 1010 and in the academic and social life of our students overall.
The First Year Experience OER team members include me and Marla Perry (NSCC 1010 Course Lead), Emily Bush (Coordinator of Instructional Library Services), Gail Harris (Communications Faculty), Eric Morgan (Student Success Advisor) and yours truly. Our Advisory Board includes the team members and Julie Williams (Student Success Center Director), Robert Ladd (English Faculty, Teaching Center, OER project leader in English), and Brian Curtis (English and NSCC 1010 Faculty).
Graduation, It’s Like a Wedding!
by Christopher Saunders, CFM, Executive Director of Operations & Facilities
Not everyone knows what goes into setting up a “Special Event” here at the White Bridge Road campus. It’s like a wedding without the liquor, there are plenty of “Mother in Laws” calling out directions. However, with all the changing requirements due to this Pandemic, the show must go on.
Plan B for the last two graduation ceremonies has been to move it inside here at the White Bridge Road campus and turn it into a special prime time event for all to see. While its much smaller than the past graduation events, as they say in the biz “A Wedding is a Wedding Big or Small”. As to all great life changing events, it is the intense upfront planning, massive coordination by all the players, and perfect delivery that makes the participants and their families feel so proud of the outcome! Like a Wedding, while it’s a new day for so many, the planners, and their support teams, begin planning for the next “Special Event”, big or small.
Oh yes; “Where is the Garter”.
Thanks to all who made the 2021 “Wedding” a Success!
Engraved Brick Campaign
By Lauren Bell, Executive Director of Development
There’s still time to order your engraved bricks! Don’t miss your chance to leave a permanent mark of support by adding your engraved brick to the quad! Engraving will begin later this summer so bricks will be ready for the Fall semester. These bricks will leave a legacy for all those who visit our campus with messages of remembrance, honor, and encouragement.
Exciting news: You can now place your commemorative brick order completely online! Just head here to place your order now.
Brick sales generate funds to support the Visionary Fund that will help ensure our students have the support they as individuals need to thrive! If you have any questions, please email Lauren at lauren.bell@nscc.edu
We appreciate your support!
Staff Assembly Updates
by Renee Johnston, Chair for Staff Assembly, 2021-2022
Please join us in congratulating our Employee of the Month for May, Chris Bledsoe, Plumbing/Maintenance Mechanic, Facilities.
Chris’s nominator had this to say about his service to the college:
We would like to nominate Chris Bledsoe for this important award.
His attributes that we feel qualify him for this award are as follows:
Superior quality of work: Chris has been in charge from our Department for all of Evelyn Hadley’s special events for years i.e. Graduation, Caps and Gowns, Hand-out, etc.
Good punctuality and dependability: Chris was very supportive during the Pandemic when the Campuses were closed, he called his teammates weekly to make sure they were OK.
Positive attitude: Chris has a very positive attitude. He takes on additional roles as asked of him. He recently was instrumental for the repairs of the flood in the W-Building. His plumbing expertise guided the contractor to the Fix – Solution for that mess. He is now taking Care Packages to the Extended Campuses to help support them for their PPE Requirements. He works through problems presented to him until he finds a solution then finishes his tasks.
Excellent communication skills: Chris has developed his relationships with faculty, staff, students and peers. He has a certain style of communications that makes everyone feel at ease, even when things look very grim.
Has good rapport with his peers: Since Chris has been in this new Lead role he has had to retool his management style. Chris is a team player first and a leader second. He gets his “Hands in the Dirt” on all the jobs much more than most.
Demonstrates efficiency at their job: Chris looks at a project then shares his thoughts with his Supervisor to move forward with their combined solution.
Goes above and beyond the call of duty: Chris is a very unassuming leader that directs his team to the next level of service for the NSCC Main Campus.
We are lucky to have Chris as a member of our team, we feel he is very deserving of this honor.
Thank you, Chris, for your service to the college. We are all happy to honor you for your continued efforts!
NSCC Foundation Newsletter
by Lauren Bell, Executive Director of Development, NSCC Foundation
Greetings,
This month we are repeating our newsletter within a newsletter!
Foundation articles this month are:
- The Big Payback
- The Campus Cupboard
- Meet April!
- Amazon Donor Spotlight
- SOAR Award
Maintenance and Operations Department Report
by Christopher Saunders, CFM, Executive Director of Operations & Facilities
Supporting the NSCC Campuses: The care of our campuses and the oversight of the new projects is an assumed natural phenomenon.
To share with you the types of projects – work required to maintain our campuses it is in 3 – categories:
- Day to Day Work Orders: Issues called – emailed to Facilities to be addressed generally within 3 – days or less; Hot – Cold Calls, Plumbing – Electrical issues
- Operations and Maintenance Projects: Efforts required to repair or replace existing assets; Cooling Towers, Parking Lot Repairs, Water Damage, and Campus Moves
- Major Capital Projects: Building Projects such as; the New Clarksville Modular Classrooms, North Davidson Campus, and various LED Lighting Projects
Much of this work is invisible, however, it’s the backbone of the NSCC College campuses. The efforts required to address the different stages of the process are provided by teams from; TSD, Security, Extended Campuses, Finance, Contracting, Facilities, Special Events, Faculty – Staff, outside suppliers, and general contractors.
Our combined efforts are directed at supporting “Nashville State Strong”, in order to provide a premier learning environment for our NSCC Students.
Thank you all for all of your support!
