List of Accomplishments Cited by Faculty and Staff in Attendance at the 2009 State of the College Address
- IT/Provost’s Office/Faculty cooperated in the design of new technology oriented teaching and learning spaces in SAC for construction in Summer 09 (2)
- The engagement of various departments on campus in reviewing administrative software systems; the work of the Administrative Systems Task Force. (5)
- Automating manual tasks in IT
- Budget information made available through the portal. (2)
- Improved IT help desk support and response rate
- English Department’s new writing minor, Medieval and Renaissance studies. Consortium with Sister Schools
- Good new hire — example of moving forward despite current economic conditions
- Getting good deposits and projected enrollment numbers are good.
- The renovation of the lower level of the library took place relatively smoothly —provided the students with some great new spaces for Academic and Career Planning and IT. (2)
- Proud of developing two new innovative courses that expand our department’s offerings.
- Physical Plant: Re-modeling of the south side office that will enhance our work area and our service to staff and students. Invite campus to visit.
- Campus service and support from Physical Plant to the Campus
- Office Remodel and hired new staff.
- Alma College on iTunes U
- Live webcast of Ecuador agreement
- College support for Rails to Trails
- The Math and Computer Science Department new faulty member — brings graphics computing expertise that will be exciting to students.
- Changes planned for the Communication Department: Creating a focus in Health/Environment; Political/Public advocacy; Media/New media; Relational/Intercultural
- Education Department hired a new faculty member — our first choice.
- Chemistry Department had a record number of students who conducted independent research with faculty last summer
- Addition of 3 Alternative Break service trips in December allowing spring athletes and choir members to participate (2)
- Transition of directors in CRL
- Plans to network with academic departments
- Developing Global Partners in Ecuador, Mexico and Wroxton, England
- Religious Studies has forged a partnership with departments from LCC, Kalamazoo, Hope and MSU. Brought best selling author Stephen Prothero to campus and attendance was over 200 people.
- CRL Fellows program is a wonderful program for the students to get involved in.
- Proud of my students and how complimentary they are. They even serenaded me! They are great!
- Hard work of the President.
- Continued emphasis on writing and writing skills. Can we also fit an emphasis on oral presentation into the new academic plan? Too many of our kids still fear this!
- Communication on paper is very important for our grads and separates them from other schools grads.
- Ice Rink
- Pot hole filling.
- Proud we have hired two quality individuals as Assistant Directors in Physical Plant. (3)
- Hard work of the Housekeeping staff.
- Happy and proud to have become a part of Alma College in this past year.
- Good cost savings through bidding for services
- Growing in times of contraction.
- IT was able to recover user’s data after hard drive failures.
- Migrated student data to active directory structure.
- This college wouldn’t be where it is at without its outstanding faculty and staff and their dedication to the students and each other.
- Chapel attendance is up
- Capable dedicated student leaders in chapel program
- Alternative break program expanding and maturing; provides wonderful experience for students as well as leadership development.
- General Announcements reduce the amount of emails campus wide.
- We made the judicial process efficient and standardized.
- IT was awesome during the new computer system search; one Company kept stating our team has done a wonderful job and could create it if needed. We all seem to forget what and how they help us run daily.
- Students stopping by the Hood Building to write and thank their scholarship donors.
- Developing the Chicago Program, establishing strong alumni relations, generating new career opportunities. Taking 5 students in the fall and 13 students last week for the Chicago In-City Interview trip. (In latest trip we had 64 interviews with 40 people and also had 24 alumni at our reception. Great trip for both students an alumni!) (2)
- Men’s golfer Kyle Travis (‘09) was named Academic All-American for the 2007-2008 season.
- Beautiful, functional new space for Academic and Career Planning.
- Making a successful transition with the India Program and maintaining the strength of the program after the Bishop’s death.
- Strengthening the academic support program and increasing access to support systems.
- Recognized nationally on U.S. President’s Honor Roll for Service
- Ecuador articulation agreement
- Vincente Fox speech
- Second straight enrollment record for 1st-year students (2)
- “Spanish for Faculty” class
- New Hogan construction
- Continued progress on Campaign
- New integrated marketing plan.
- Alma began participating in the National Student Clearinghouse: reduces work in Registrar’s Office and Financial Aid; makes enrollment verifications and degree verifications much easier for students; allows Enrollment to track students who apply but do not attend Alma; track students who leave. (2)
- NCA Self Study Report
- Model for financial aid.
- New General Education curriculum
- Signature Programs
- Diversity Study of campus climate
- Money allocated for students to designate for campus improvements
- Rebranding and improvements in campus visit experiences
- Increased Library gate count — approximately 1000 per month.
- The “Do Something” Program during Pre-Term
Some of our high points this year came from the professional accomplishments of recent (and not so recent) psychology majors:
Dr. Brian Hitsman (Alma 1990; Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Chicago Medical School) is now Assistant Professor in he Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University. Brian moved from Brown University where he taught for several years after finishing an internship in preventative medicine. Over the past year he has had published or accepted for publication 6 papers on nicotine dependence and its treatment.
Dr. Jennifer Troyer Plane (Alma 2001, Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Michigan 2008) started a post-doctoral fellowship at University of California, Davis.
Dr. Lyndsey Lanagn-Leitzel (Alma 2002; Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology, Pennsylvania State University 2008) is now Assistant Professor of Psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Dr. Cassie Stanton (Alma 2001; MD, Michigan State University) is now Chief Resident in the Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University
Melissa Barclay (Alma 2008, winner of the 2008 Kapp award in Natural Science) started work in pharmaceutical research at MPI Research in Kalamazoo.
