| Initiative Title | All Hands-on Deck |
|---|---|
| Submitted in Previous Year(s) | No |
| Critical Information, Notes, Justification, Rationale | Members in the First Year Support are part of various committees that discuss implementation and planning of initiatives in these areas. As we get more familiar with the features and implement workflows in OC, our collaboration with main offices will allow for timely access to information and services. This will help transfer students understand what credits may or may not transfer into SUNY Orange, thus helping increase our enrollment numbers of transfer students. Would like to find a way to review how the program has benefited students and what, if any changes we can make to the program to give the students a meaningful experience Purchase two language translator devices; one for each campus. We are frequently interacting with and assisting students and or parents that are not native English speakers. It is not practical to depend upon the few staff members who speak Spanish to always be available to act as interpreters. Additionally, Spanish is not exclusively the language that is needed. Therefore, we would like to have the use of a hand held translator device to utilize to assist those who are unable to communicate in English. We are in need of five noise cancelling headphones to replace several that have broken and one for a new employee. It is necessary for the SSC team to have high quality headphones due to the nature of our work and the location of our staff. The staff do not have private offices and work side by side at an open counter. A large majority of our interactions with students are conducted via phone, or zoom utilizing headphones. These headphones need to be good quality and noise cancelling to enable us to provide professional and adequate service as we work with students and other staff. The current manual contains some out dated information, and also the screen shots are from Banner 8 and we are now using Banner 9. On the Middletown campus, we have a computer lab that is dedicated solely for the purposes of testing. It is not used for instruction and is available whenever needed for testing. In Newburgh, we use Kaplan 231 and 233 for testing, computer labs that are also used for many other purposes on campus. Frequently, we cannot schedule tests at certain times during the day because both labs are otherwise occupied. It would be much easier all-around if we had a room in Kaplan Hall that was dedicated for testing. The Testing Center has been working closely with the Office of Accessibility Services to proctor exams for students who need accommodations. We would like to make this partnership more official and have two dedicated test proctors working 15-20 hours per week. The proctors would be trained in administration of exams with accommodations as well as the exams offered through the Testing Center. They would also cover both campuses. |
| Consequences of this initiative not being funded | Not staying current with latest recruitment and marketing strategies. If we are unable to receive sustained funding, we would not have the student ambassador program available to assist with student outreach and events. Without these devices, we are providing inadequate services to our community. We also risk losing potential students for both credit and non credit programs, especially at a time that enrollment is so critical. SUNY Orange has been recognized by the US Dept of Ed as a Spanish Serving Institution & awarded us the Title V Grant PROSPERAR. Therefore, it is incumbent upons us to do what is needed to serve Spanish speaking individuals and other non English speakers. Presently the team members with broken headphones have resorted to bringing their personal headphones from home. This is not an acceptable way to conduct business and it should not be an expectation that individuals purchase their own equipment needed to do their jobs. If we do not make this needed purchase, or communications with students and staff via phone and zoom will be negatively impacted. The testing process in Newburgh is not always as smooth as it is in Middletown. Having different setups at each location leads to differences in the way tests are administered at each campus and disparities in the student experience. We need to have adequate staffing to be able to ensure students' needs are being met. Without this, the office cannot function properly. |
| Department Goals | |
| Programs | |
| Locations | Main Campus, Newburgh Campus |
| Estimated Completion Date | |
| Will this initiative span multiple budget years? | No |
| Importance | Low |
| Funding Source | Request for Prioritization |
| Created | 01/10/2023 4:48 pm |
| Updated | 02/06/2023 10:09 am |
| Goal | How will the initiative support this institutional goal? |
|---|---|
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By looking at our needs and adjusting the staffing accordingly |
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Having dedicated test proctors to work with the Testing Center and OAS will allow OAS staff to devote more time to assisting students. |
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Having dedicated test proctors to work with the Testing Center and OAS will allow OAS staff to devote more time to assisting students. |
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Using noise cancelling head phones is the most effective means of communicating and serving students and working with other staff via phone and zoom. |
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This will allow the Testing Center and OAS departments to work even more closely than they are currently. We will be sharing staff and supporting each other. |
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This would improve the testing experience in Newburgh and ensure that students have the same experience at each campus. |
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Regular training of our staff includes training with other departments and divisions. This enhances our communication and understanding of our roles and responsibilities and improves communication with students. |
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Our staff training includes a strong focus on customer services and understanding students needs. |
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Our department works with all entering students and many prospective students. We play a vital role in them understand the enrollment and onboarding process. |
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improve accessibility, communication, retention and completion. |
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Transfer students and adult learners will be able to use this tool to make an informed decision about their admission. |
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Having the ability to communicate with non English speakers meets a vital need of our diverse regional population and workforce. |
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To provide opportunity for all residents of our region, requires that we are able to communicate with everyone in their native language. |
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Support of the Student Experience |
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Our ambassadors are huge resources for our prospective students and their parents. |
| Action Step | Responsible Party | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Set up demo | Admissions & IT Services | 1 |
| Create a survey for our current ambassador programs to fill out | Admissions | 2 |
| Purchase language translator devices. | SSC Director | 3 |
| Train SSC Staff on use of translator device. | SSC Director | 4 |
| Determine the best noise cancelling headphone product for our needs. | IT Staff | 5 |
| Purchase the Headphones | SSC Director | 6 |
| Train staff if needed. | SSC Director | 7 |
| Convert current manual to new Google site. | SSC Director | 8 |
| Replace Banner 8 screen shots | Lead Enrollment Specialist | 9 |
| Consult with other departments for their most up to date processes and procedures. | SSC Director | 10 |
| Convert existing classroom or office space into testing room | Facilities, IT Department | 11 |
| Formalize updated proctor job description with Human Resources | Suzanne Baumann | 12 |
| Outcome | Order |
|---|---|
| Increase in transfer numbers | 1 |
| Better understanding of how we can make our program better. | 2 |
| We will have the technology to communicate with non English speaking students and parents. | 3 |
| Students will receive high quality communication when interacting with SSC staff via phone or zoom. | 4 |
| An accurate and up-to-date training tool that can be used as a daily resource. | 5 |
| Improve services in Newburgh and ensure that students have a positive testing experience no matter which campus they test on. | 6 |
| Having additional staff will allow both the Testing Center and OAS to function more effectively | 7 |
| Method | Description | Other Method | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional Data | Review both program and student data that is collected at the institutional level. Data can include program enrollment, retention, transfer, student GPA, etc. | Admissions & Institutional Research | |
| Interviews | The students (or other participants) are able during an interview to share their direct experiences, attitudes and beliefs. Interviews can be either structured or unstructured. | Admissions | |
| Observations | Information can be collected while observing “events” (including, sponsored activities, student {office staff} sessions, etc.) in the natural setting. Observation can provide information on student behaviors and attitudes. | SSC staff members. | |
| Student Surveys: Satisfaction Need | Surveys can be developed internally and administered to assess student frequency, importance, need and satisfaction institution’s staff, office and services and programming. | SSC Director | |
| Document Analysis | Documents can be analyzed to provide information and meaning around an assessment topic | SSC Director and Lead Enrollment Specialists |
| INITIAL YEAR COST: | $49,900.00 |
|---|---|
| RECURRING COST: | $58,800.00 |
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convert classroom into testing center | $0.00 |
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| Five Noise Cancelling Headphones | $500.00 |
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| Money to cover subscription cost - Amount is an estimate - Will have exact amount after DEMO | $20000.00 / 20000.00 (1st year) |
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| Two translator devices | $600.00 |
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| TOTAL: | $21,100.00 / $20,000.00 | ||
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL: | $0.00 / $0.00 | ||
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL: | $0.00 / $0.00 | ||
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Additional Test Proctor Positions | $28800.00 / 28800.00 (1st year) |
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| Money to fund our program | $10000.00 / 10000.00 |
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| TOTAL: | $28,800.00 / $38,800.00 | ||
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL: | $0.00 / $0.00 | ||
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL: | $0.00 / $0.00 | ||
| Need | Cost (Initial/Recurring) | Supporting Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL: | $0.00 / $0.00 | ||
| Initiative Title | Department |
|---|---|
| Continue to enhance and support Onboarding, Orientation and FYE | Academic Advising |
| Continue to implement and utilize features in Orange Connect | Academic Advising |
| Review & Purchase Transferology by College Source | Admissions and Recruitment |
| Review effectiveness of Ambassador Program | Admissions and Recruitment |
| Purchase Language Translator Devices | Student Services Central |
| Purchase Noise Cancelling Headphones | Student Services Central |
| Update the Student Services Central Training Manual | Student Services Central |
| Dedicated Testing Center in Newburgh | Testing Center |
| Proctor Positions | Testing Center |
This is initiative is ready for prioritization.
| Date | Department Name | Status | Cost to Date | Funding Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No results found. | |||||