Present: Ann Adams, Marti Ayers, Lynn Bain, Sue Boyanovsky, Beth Camp, Max Cohen (student rep), Russ Gregory, Phil Krolick, Elizabeth Lundy, Marlene Propst, Gary Ruppert, Evonne Rutherford, Ron Sharman, Ann Smart, Paul Snyder, Diane Watson, Ed Watson, Peggy Weems, Chuck Wert, Steve West

Ann Smart chaired the meeting in the absence of John Griffith..

Subcommittee Reports and Tentative Plans:

1. Assessment & Curriculum - Sue Boyanovsky

Sue praised the members of her committee for all their hard work. The self-advising tool has been improved and is online. The biggest part of the committee's work has been the pre and post surveys. Winter term they were Beta tested. Spring term 85% of online students were surveyed. The Faculty Self-Appraisal Guide was developed by the committee and packaged by Beth to help administrators and faculty have a structured guide to help in assessment. A survey is being developed to find out from distance education faculty why they think their students are dropping out. It will be Beta tested this term. More analysis will be done next year on the pre and post surveys. The committee started looking into the distance education workload issue. Beth and Phil did research on how other colleges are handling workloads. Ed said this is an important issue. Next year will be the second year of the faculty contract. Distance education workloads will no doubt be a part of the next faculty contract negotiations process. Through the Student Ambassador program, calls are being made to distance education students three times a term. The retention rate is better when students are called. Peggy asked if there is a correlation between the subject taught and the rate of dropout. At a Computer Science meeting she went to, an instructor said he taught a program language class but would never try it again. However, database classes have been successful. Paul reported the Internet Skills class is doing well. There are not much in the way of computer classes being taught online at LBCC. Chemeketa and PCC both have quite a few online computer classes. Peggy said she thought about doing some online classes but decided to do regular classes with online help. In answer to how many online classes LBCC has where the student never has to come to campus, Paul replied that of the 50 Web classes, most can be taught to students who never have to come to campus. Some students do come for orientation even though it is not required. Lynn said for her classes there is an optional orientation.

2. Marketing & Web Presence - Marlene Propst

Two members of the committee from Media (Bryan and Rick) no longer work at the college. The spring schedule was online two weeks before the printed schedule came out. The schedule used to take Jim Crotts over 40 hours to put online. The spring schedule only took 8 hours. The year long schedule has been printed and should arrive on campus today. LBCC and OSU Dual Admission and Enrollment Program information is now online. Conference Services has a new Web Page which will give the fees for food services and rental of LBCC facilities. A media survey will be done next week. It will be given to 400 students. This information will help the Marketing and Publications office know how to spend its advertising dollars. It will ask students which newspapers they read, what radio stations they listen to, and which TV stations they watch. Ann Adams reported that Web for Student went live for summer registration. In addition, students can access their Financial Aid, an unofficial version of their transcripts, and their grades. The schedule page will provide a link to the Web to register. Student kiosks have been set up at 9 places across campus. Registration is piloting directions on how to use the kiosks. During registration they were handing out business cards with the Web address to register (http://sis.linnbenton.edu). Gary asked if a dummy CRN could be set up so staff can practice registering on the Web as a student. Ann Adams said a demo was given to Financial Aid last week.

3. Training & Summer Institute - Marti Ayers

The Friday Functions have been cancelled for the rest of this term. Due to staff changes in Media and low enrollment Paul said seven Friday Functions were held. Registration dropped off as the end of the term got nearer and people are busy. The skills workshops did well in such things as: scanning, digital camera, Web Board, online testing, Intro to PowerPoint, and computer storage. There will not be a Summer Institute because of lack of interest--only six people were interested in a full-blown training. Twelve applications for distance ed grants were approved this year. One project involved three people. Nine are still open - hours needing to be turned in. The grants totaled $10,000. There are three open from the previous year. One grant was refused because the college doesn't have the support staff in Media to assist at this time. Peggy said she was not able to attend the Friday functions because of meetings. Paul said the first 7 workshops had 8 to 10 people in attendance. Peggy asked if there were handouts. Paul said there are handouts available in Media on topics such as: scanning and how to use the Nikon digital camera, and they will work to have them displayed. Paul feels it is more successful to work with a particular department on training and find the time when they can all be together. Staff members can then support each other. Marti said her office will be doing away with the TLC (Teaching and Learning Calendar) because people are not showing up for training, failing to cancel when they can't attend or attending at a different time than they signed up for. Instead, her office will do specific training at the department level. Beth said one problem is that in the past one-on-one level training has been so successful but it cannot be continued at previous levels because of shortage of staff.

4. Student Support - Diane Watson

The Web registration is up. Staff have been pulling people out of registration lines to try the online registration. Fall students can't register online until September. Forms for admission are now online. Russ reported that he is still working on his Study Skills host/provider course. Classroom tests are now online. Students like online grading. Paul said Jim has a forms program that enables you to create, fill out and print out forms. Bruce brought his department over to Media for training on this program. Diane said there is a screen in Web registration where an instructor can list a block of students' names so they have permission to register by phone or online. Max asked how a student is identified and Ann Adams said by their student ID (Social Security number) and pin (birth date). They have to be already on the system. Diane said it is important for students to change their pin numbers. During fall term groups will be brought into the Learning Resource Center to learn how students can register online.

5. Technical Delivery - Paul Snyder

Last year Paul's committee began prioritizing technology fee requests. The amount available is based on student enrollment. Last year there was an approximately $30,000 carryover. This year they prioritized a second round of projects to use that money. There are just a few that have not been completed. The submissions this year have shown that staff are more knowledgeable in making requests, and the committee didn't have to make many changes. There were requests for $240,000 which was reduced to $205,000. The committee tried to fund requests in order of division priority for a total of $160,000. Their main priority is replacement, getting rid of old equipment such as projectors purchased in 1972. This year is the first year there has been a replacement schedule that included multimedia equipment. Costs are constantly changing. Multimedia projectors now cost $1,000 less and are sharper and brighter. There is a $30,000 contingency in case equipment is stolen or broken. Ann Smart reported that LBCC held its first ITFS class.

Staffing

Ann Smart reported on Media staff. Rick Barker's position has been advertised. Paul and his staff felt that this position needed to be opened first. This position is important to keep all the video, computer, and Internet systems going. The three month waiting period was waived. Lynn feels there should be a full time tech support person for Web classes so someone is available everyday when problems occur. Paul said Bryan's position grew from being a multimedia technician to include Web design. Ron said there are more and more classes being offered by distance ed and we are depending on only one person for support. The person needs to be dedicated to instruction. Marlene added that when we create an elephant we divide it into parts to be assigned to present staff and people can only be pulled in so many directions. Ann Smart said there is now expertise in Marlene's office for the college Web pages. Russ asked if anything could be done to shorten the waiting period. Ed explained that there is a long list of justifications for immediately refilling positions. Rick's job was a major exception because it supports the infrastructure of the whole college. However, if we make an exception for Bryan's position then there would be pressure to fill all the others too. The college is currently running a 1.3 million dollar deficit. Lynn asked about a temporary fix such as having Kate work more hours. However, Ann Smart said that wouldn't solve the problem of saving money.

State Reports - Distance Learning Council

Paul reported that Terri Johnanson has moved to the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. The Distance Learning Council is still in transition. She was in the past seen as a Chemeketa person.

Fall term meeting will be held during inservice on September 13, 11:30 - 1:30 in the Willamette Room, CC-210. Lunch will be provided and will be served at 12:15.