{"id":4997,"date":"2025-12-18T19:16:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T19:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww2.nscc.edu\/thensccvoice\/?page_id=4997"},"modified":"2025-12-22T14:23:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T14:23:26","slug":"december-2025-volume-9-issue-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ww2.nscc.edu\/thensccvoice\/december-2025-volume-9-issue-5\/","title":{"rendered":"December 2025 Volume 9 Issue 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Update from the President<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Dr. Shanna L. Jackson<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Greetings Fellow Falcons,  <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we come to the final days of 2025, I have been reflecting on another amazing year at Nashville State! From launching our new Flight School orientation for new hires, announcing three new Early Colleges under our Better Together Partnership with Metro Schools, closing in on completion dates for Clarksville and Dickson, new articulation agreements with Tennessee Tech and Lipscomb, and so many other accomplishments, we are continuing to accelerate success by striving for excellence in People, Programs, Places and Partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are a few updates from the Office of the President:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarksville Campus \u2013 The move in date for the new building is tentatively scheduled for December 19. There is a significant amount of work required to have everything ready to go for classes to begin January 20. This means TSD, Facilities, Security and others will be working countless hours and likely over the December break to ensure things are in place. Clarksville will be the priority, so we continue to ask for your patience and understanding if your requests for services or support are delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employee Holiday Party \u2013 The second annual Holiday Party was a great success. On December 15, more than 125 Falcons gathered in the Art Gallery on the White Bridge campus to Rock Around the Holiday Tree. There was plenty of food sponsored by the Foundation, cookies provided by employees, line dancing, an ugly sock contest, games and prizes, and a mocktail bar! A big thank you goes to Cyndi Moore and Sue Belcher for coordinating the theme and decorations, Jarvis Sims for DJing the event, and the Engagement Committee for planning the whole event!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compensation Study \u2013 We remain committed to working toward a more competitive compensation plan. As such, a compensation study is being conducted by TBR\u2019s approved vendor, Performance Point LLC. As with the prior studies, the goal is to benchmark as many positions as possible against external job market and salary data. While the methodology does not directly address regional factors like cost of living, it is one that is widely used across industries and consistent within TBR. The sources and overall approach have been shared in President\u2019s Cabinet minutes and with the constituency leaders. A representative from Performance Point will attend Cabinet in early 2026 to discuss the process and answer questions. This study will inform any changes needed in our current compensation plan. If revisions are needed, they must be approved by TBR at the June 2026 Board meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enrollment Update \u2013 Spring Enrollment is up 7.9% headcount and up 8.5% in FTE. Stay data informed by visiting the Data Access Page which also has information regarding applications, persistence and retention data. Please contact Institutional Research if you have any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wellness \u2013 I have found that the holiday season often creates additional stress. It is also a difficult time for those who have experienced loss. If you find yourself not feeling your best or simply want to improve your overall wellness, please remember that there are programs and resources available online through Partners for Health and Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (formerly EAP) for support services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as your President. For me, it has never been about the title but the opportunity to work with amazing individuals, teams, and organizations to bring positive change to individuals, families, and communities. We are Nashville State, we are the Dream Team, and we are the Difference Makers. I wish each of you a restful, safe, and joyous New Year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Start with Purpose: Build Engagement Around Learning Mindsets Day One<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Jessica Rabb, Professor of Biology and First Year Experience Course Lead<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Since NSCC 1010 our First Year Experience course is a designated TBR High Impact Practice<\/a>, TBR connected us to UVA\u2019s Motivate Lab, a TBR collaborator<\/a> that translates research on the psychology of learning into classroom practice. This partnership led to activities on learning mindset GPS (Growth, Purpose, and Sense of Belonging) that are an established part of the NSCC 1010 class and OER<\/a>. The NSCC 1010 Value Discussion and Reflection are the basis for Motivate Lab\u2019s Values Connection<\/a> free resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently presented this resource with my Motivate Lab partners at the Complete College America Convening<\/a> in November in Baltimore. Post-pandemic and now as we confront A.I.\u2019s impact on education, there is widespread interest in igniting student engagement in learning \u2013 in developing their own mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivate Lab proposes that classes need the \u2018psychological air\u2019 of learning and so I propose we take learning mindset activities that work in NSCC 1010 and use them at the start of our academic classes. For example, we can show our students the connections between our classes and career readiness competencies<\/a> they want to grow. This activity can serve as an icebreaker and promote a sense of belonging as we guide students to the purpose of our class beyond the class learning outcomes. Whether in a synchronous or asynchronous setting, students will know that our classes help them achieve their career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have started to take this message on the road too, as I like to do, most recently at the Assessment Institute<\/a> in October in Indianapolis. Again, there is widespread interest in connecting students to the purpose of a class especially to a career purpose. If you are interested, teaching NSCC 1010 is one way to acquaint yourself with the activities or send me an email and I can share day one discussion and reflection guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Motivate Lab\u2019s Values Connection Activity<\/em><\/a> based on the NSCC 1010 Values Discussion and Reflection<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Complete College America (CCA) Poster of Nashville State\u2019s NSCC 1010 Value Discussion and Reflection Impact (<\/em>CCA Convening 2025<\/em><\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Library Minute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Margaret Faye Jones, Ph.D., Dean, Learning Resources<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you want to do some reading (and who doesn\u2019t) during the break, remember NSCC is now part of the Tenn-Share Libby consortium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are just a few of the newly-added books that you can read or listen to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Compound<\/strong><\/em> by Aisling Rawle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerful Teaching<\/strong> <\/em>by Agarwal and Bain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything is Tuberculosis<\/strong> <\/em>by John Green<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Dumb Eyes<\/strong> <\/em>by Nate Bargatze<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future Boy<\/strong><\/em> by Michael J Fox<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Marriage at Sea<\/strong><\/em> by Sophie Elmhirst<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong Ground <\/strong><\/em>by Brene Brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nobody\u2019s Girl<\/strong> <\/em>by Virginia Roberts Giuffre<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find these and more, go the library databases page under L:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Workforce Minute<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Joseph Johnson, Executive Director, The Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As 2025 draws to a close, Nashville State Community College\u2019s Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education celebrates a year of exceptional growth and measurable community impact. This year was especially significant as NSCC expanded its footprint, strengthened employer and community partnerships, and delivered record-setting levels of workforce training across Middle Tennessee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening its doors in January 2025, the Workforce Training Center at the East Davidson Campus quickly became one of NSCC\u2019s most impactful workforce assets. In its inaugural year, the center established itself as a critical hub for short-term training, adult learner engagement, and community access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its first 12 months, the East Davidson Workforce Training Center achieved: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n