Leaders Offer Updates via 'Hot Topics'

We are pleased to bring another Hot Topics, a feature to update the Thomas Nelson community about our efforts within College divisions. Cabinet members and the president highlight items they are working on and share other pertinent information.

To our Thomas Nelson colleagues and students,

These are certainly challenging times. As we work our way through this difficult situation, we are learning a great deal about ourselves as a community that can come together very quickly when our students are at risk. I personally am learning a lot about the resiliency of Thomas Nelson Community College. Even following a very difficult year, everyone stepped up and offered their very best to meet the urgent need to get our students to the finish line. I have always felt proud to be a community college president, but never more than right now.

I have received wonderful messages from students thanking us for caring about them both personally and professionally. I have heard from some of our faculty and staff raising legitimate concerns about certain directions we have taken. But everyone has been civil, with goals only to improve something for our students. Students, we appreciate that you recognize the efforts made by our faculty and staff to ensure your success.

This is not over yet and many unknowns remain, but I am certain that by continuing to work together closely we can resolve any issues that may come our way.

Thank you. It's truly a pleasure working alongside you. Even if it is from a distance!

-Interim President Greg DeCinque

HOT TOPICS

From the Vice President for Student Affairs: Student Affairs is still on the move! And online. And on the phone. And on video. The staff are nearly all working remotely and are ready and able to assist students with admission, registration, advising, disability support, TRiO support, career coaching, dual enrollment, graduation questions, transfer evaluations, transcripts, suspension/dismissals, placement testing waiver information, Great Expectations, retention coaching, and any information services we can provide! We're even still thinking about Student Life and Leadership in this new normal. Athletics is the one nut we cannot crack.

• We are also busy trying to develop processes for new placement guidelines and looking at new ways to assist students with our existing technology. We have staff busy calling all of our current students, checking in on them, seeing if we can help with academic resources. We also have staff about to begin calling students who started, but did not complete, an application for admission. We have temporarily reassigned some staff in order to keep everyone working and enabling more telework.
• Up until March 25, we were able to continue operating the food pantries. Sadly, when we ran out of sanitizing wipes, mask and gloves, we had to cease operations in order to keep the staff safe. But, we did provide food to 392 people in a single week.

From the Vice President for Institutional Advancement: All members of the Institutional Advancement team have shifted to telework as recommended by official guidance from government and health officials and implemented by Thomas Nelson. Staff continue to meet regularly, using various technologies, and collaborate with each other and the greater College community daily. Feel free to reach out to us via email - we miss seeing everyone and look forward to hearing from you!

• Communication Team members have been working diligently to keep the College and greater communities regularly informed about changes to the College's operating schedule, available resources for students, faculty and staff to assist with online learning and teleworking, and important health and safety information to keep our communities safety and healthy. Check back often for updates posted to the Thomas Nelson Preparedness webpage Thomas Nelson Emergency Preparedness page and many thanks to all who have contributed.
• The Development Team has been hard at work researching grant opportunities and discussing proposals with prospective donors to meet urgent student needs due to the impact of COVID-19, including laptops, hotspots and other technical needs resulting from a transition to virtual learning and food, housing and other basic needs resulting from reduced employment opportunities. Applications for Student Emergency Assistance funds from the Foundation can now be completed and submitted online at Student Emergency Assistance Application and Employee Emergency Assistance Application.
• Additional loaner laptops and hotspots were also purchased by the College for students with funding from the Thomas Nelson Educational Foundation's Equipment Endowment fund.
• Special Events, and particularly events hosted in the Dr. Mary T. Christian Auditorium, have been significantly impacted by the official guidance banning mass gatherings of 10 or more people. In an effort to control and mitigate community spread of COVID-19, all College events, and community events in College facilities fitting this criteria have been cancelled until May 9. Unfortunately, these events include the annual scholarship luncheon, student awards ceremonies, including program pinning ceremonies, and by order of the VCCS Chancellor, commencement ceremonies scheduled for May. The VCCS also cancelled its annual Chancellor's Leadership in Philanthropy ceremony, an event to recognize the private individuals and organizations who support our students and institutions.
• Despite the significant concerns about and impact of COVID-19, strategic planning for fall semester is underway, and Institutional Advancement is playing its part. New plans to market programs and courses, specifically those designated as "G3" eligible, are being developed and new methods of marketing the College to our various target populations, including dual enrolled students are being implemented. In these efforts, Thomas Nelson is aligned with the VCCS's plans for statewide marketing of Virginia's Community Colleges. Marketing is a college-wide activity, and the IA staff collaborate with enrollment staff and program faculty in developing and implementing College marketing plans. The Thomas Nelson Foundation has also stepped up to support these efforts and increase the College's fall enrollment by appropriating $300,000 to encourage our dual enrolled students to "Finish What You Start" by awarding eligible students scholarships to continue their education through completion of an Associate Degree with Thomas Nelson. With public school divisions closed for the remainder of the 2020 school year, we need everyone's help in spreading the word about these opportunities for fall. Our communities will recover, and we are ready to serve their educational needs. Stay safe and healthy!

From the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness: The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness has fully transitioned to telework and is continuing to provide all of its regular support to the college community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have data needs or questions we can help address.

• We have been working hard to ensure that our regional accreditor (SACSCOC) is aware of all of the recent changes to our academic calendar and delivery of instruction, and that we remain in compliance with their standards and in alignment with good practices in higher education.
• Spring is one of the busiest times of year for surveying, and we have been working to adjust our survey schedules in consideration of the many challenges our students and communities are facing at this time. As part of those efforts, we have been working with the Thomas Nelson Local Board to ensure they can still gather the feedback they need regarding their search for the next president of Thomas Nelson. Please keep an eye on your email for a survey on that topic. We value and appreciate your participation and input!