HLC Steering Committee and Strategic Planning Committee

1. HLC Steering Committee and Strategic Planning Committee Subcommittee: Criterion 5 - Engagement & Service April 18, 2006 Mark Chaplin, Chairperson - Subcommittee Criterion 5

2. Criterion 5: Engagement & Service As called for by its mission, North Central University identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value.

3. Answering the “so what?” • “So what” are we doing with the previous four criterions in relationship to our constituents? Criterion 5 directly relates to these four previous criterion. • Are we doing what we say we are doing? • Are we who we say we are?

4. Component 5a: NCU learns from the constituencies it serves and analyzes its capacity to serve their needs and expectations. • General Current Students: • Student Life Department • App. 400 new students annually & all current students • University website – current & prospective students; updated information • Weekly communications • Student Success Center • Carlson Institute – non-traditional students

5. Current & former Education Students, Teachers and Principals: • Current Education Students: • WISE Program • Clinical experiences (total 144 classroom hours) • Student Teaching (2 sessions; total of 15 weeks) • Evaluation & assessments for above areas • Former Education Students: • Graduate surveys • Teachers and Principals: • Confer with NCU supervisors of student teaching • Written evaluations of each student teaching exp. • Interaction with Placement coordinator

6. Alumni / Donors: • Improved communication • Alumni website developed (2000-2001) • President’s office and Advancement office – continually pursuing more donors • Development of online giving for donors • Businesses & Organizations in Twin Cities: • Student employment – temporary & permanent • Building a data base of business professionals to serve as a resource for speakers & advisors

7. Community / Neighborhood: • Ministry Service Learning (previously Ministry Credits) • Neighborhood Non-profit organizations (e.g., annual Community Outreach Day) • Augustana Care Center (Nursing Home) • Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) • Woven (Music education) • Student-led Outreaches (e.g., Mardi Gras, Saturday Night Evangelism) • Ethnic Communities • One Accord & NCU Chorale

8. Missions / International Outreach: • Intercultural Studies Dept. (students take a minimum of one cross-cultural trip abroad – focus on language & cultural acquisition) • Ninedays – student-led mission trips • Minnesota District AG: • Pastoral Academic Major Advisory Board (qualifications & equipping for credentialing) • Ministry Internships • AG World Missions (AGWM): • Over 200 NCU graduates serving as missionaries overseas • More follow-up & tracking is needed

9. Eleven Supporting AG Districts: • Information will be compiled from surveys going out this Spring/Summer and assessed for next year’s HLC self-study report • Board of Regents: • From 11 supporting AG Districts • Meets 2x annually

10. Component 5b: NCU has the capacity and the commitment to engage with its identified constituencies and communities. • General Current Students: • Student Life Department • Oversee all activities related to community life on campus • Student retention • Student Success Center – (e.g., tutoring) • Carlson Institute – non-traditional students • Learning Centers, Master’s Commissions • Independent studies

11. Current & former Education Students, Teachers and Principals: • Current Education Students: • Supervision during clinical & student teaching experiences • Advising and Departmental chapels • Curriculum lab • Former Education Students: • Serve on Teacher Education Committee • Settings for clinicals and student teaching • Guest speakers • Teachers and Principals: • Interaction with NCU supervisors of student teachers & Placement Coordinator

12. Alumni / Donors: • App. 8,000 alumni • Mailings and communications • Personal contacts – district and national events • Special events held (e.g., Partners for Progress, annual golf tournament) • Alumni association • Recognitions and awards • App. 1,400 donors – Christmas cards and gifts sent to top 500 donors • Businesses & Organizations in Twin Cities: • Need for improving ability to identify local constituents • Business professionals serve as a resource for speakers & advisors

13. Community / Neighborhood: (see written report for comments) • Ministry Service Learning (previously Ministry Credits) • Neighborhood Non-profit organizations • Augustana Care Center (Nursing Home) • Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) • Woven • Student-led Outreaches • Ethnic Communities • One Accord & NCU Chorale

14. Missions / International Outreach: • Intercultural Studies Dept. – work with national and/or missionary leadership • Ninedays – training in leadership, service, and cross-cultural service • Minnesota District AG: • Church Ministries Fair (held annually) • Ministry Internships (both semester and full-year internships) • App. 2,600 NCU graduates live in Minnesota • Ministry teams (e.g., One Accord) • Placement – better statistical records are needed • AG World Missions (AGWM): • Over 200 NCU graduates serving as missionaries overseas • More follow-up & tracking is needed

15. Component 5c: NCU demonstrates its responsiveness to those constituencies that depend upon it for service. • General Current Students: • Student Life Department • Variety of communications • Student appointments • Student organizations • Student Success Center • 14 student tutors & 2 student assistants • 25 hours per week – center staffed with a tutor • Proctor exams • Carlson Institute – non-traditional students • Learning Centers, Master’s Commissions • Continuing Education program

16. Current & former Education Students, Teachers and Principals: • Current Education Students: • Provide services in advising, assistance on test preparation, supervision & personal feedback on clinicals & student teaching • Student concerns & feedback are incorporated • Former Education Students: • Provide help with completion of teaching licensure applications & state licensure issues • Placement assistance • Curriculum lab resources available for use • Teachers and Principals: • Clock hour certificates, honorariums, & communication from members of Ed. Dept.

17. Alumni / Donors: • Resource for feedback, new ideas, and suggestions • Serve as both a voice and an ear for NCU • Need to improve data from events, mailings, and activities • Different levels of donors: Founders, Builders, Partners, and Sponsors; letters and/or gifts sent depending on levels of support • Businesses & Organizations in Twin Cities: • Provide short-term & permanent staffing needs • Working toward becoming an information and training resource for local businesses/organizations

18. Community / Neighborhood: (see written report for comments) • Neighborhood Non-profit organizations – annual Community Outreach Day is largest outreach • Augustana Care Center (Nursing Home) – residents often attend NCU events • Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) – works largely in connection with Student Life Department • Woven – connecting people of like-minded mission in ministry to community • Ethnic Communities – students and outreach ministries often continue to build bridges and stay connected following specific outreaches

19. Missions / International Outreach: • Intercultural Studies Dept. – good reports of breaking down negative American stereotypes overseas • Ninedays – respond to various needs dictated by those whom they serve • Minnesota District AG: • Ministry Internships (both semester and full-year internships) – changes in structure; providing more online resources • Placement – website under supervision of the Director of Church Relations • AG World Missions (AGWM): • Responsiveness to needs is a big challenge • Need for developing more interaction with AGWM

20. Component 5d: Internal and external constituencies value the services that NCU provides. • General Current Students: • Student Life Department • Number of prospective & current students attending the many events and activities • Student Success Center • 100% of current tutors would refer students to the center for tutoring • Carlson Institute – non-traditional students • Positive feedback on course evaluations

21. Current & former Education Students, Teachers and Principals: • Current Education Students: • Very strong and positive feedback on clinical & student teaching evaluations • Former Education Students: • Actual use of curriculum lab • Need NCU’s assistance in attaining teacher licensure in Minnesota & many other states • Teachers and Principals: • Receive clock hour certificates which contribute to requirements for license renewal

22. Alumni / Donors: • Alumni office receives numerous letters of thanks for events hosted by alumni office • Challenge is to raise the level of support from our alumni – only approximately 10% give support annually • Support from donors demonstrates the value they place on NCU • Numerous scholarships available to students • Challenge to build and maintain contact information with donors • Businesses & Organizations in Twin Cities: • Continual requests for students to meet both internal & external employment, as well as volunteer demands of non-profit organizations

23. Community / Neighborhood: (see written report for comments) • Neighborhood Non-profit organizations – very positive feedback on Community Outreach Day • Augustana Care Center (Nursing Home) – some students report residents have become like “grandparents away from home” • Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) – grateful for small college presence in neighborhood • Student-led outreaches – students enjoy opportunities for ministry and leadership development • Woven – see report (variety of comments) • Ethnic Communities – give sense of value and worth to people new to the Twin Cities community

24. Missions / International Outreach: • Intercultural Studies Dept. – good reports on quality of work and servant attitudes that students displayed • Ninedays – many positive invitations to return back to various places of ministry • Minnesota District AG: • No information at this time • AG World Missions (AGWM): • No measurement set-up for evaluation at present time

25. Summary … • Engagement and Service – definitely a strength of NCU • Still areas to keep improving, assessing, and evaluating in order to stay current and connected with the needs of our world and our constituents