The college’s committees, councils, ad hoc groups, and teams provide a means whereby the faculty, staff, and support personnel may effectively contribute to the decision-making process of the college. Recognized groups within the Isothermal Community College structure include standing committees, councils, ad hoc groups, and teams. A description of each of these types of groups follows.
Descriptors of a Standing Committee:
The area of accessibility services is a complex area that is guided by local policy and procedure as well as federal law. Decisions made in this area may affect student learning, establish precedent, result in litigation, and/or inspire a review from the Office of Civil Rights. At the same time, best practices and interpretations of the law are constantly changing. In this regard, at times it is helpful to convene the committee to assist in decision making. These members are cross-trained in accessibility services. Members includes the accessibility counselor (chair), dean of students, dean of academic success and advising, and the director of college and career readiness. Other participants are included on an “ad hoc” basis, depending on the areas impacted by the discussions and related decisions.
The function of the Admissions, Academic Continuation, and Records Committee is to review student appeals on matters of admission to programs, acceptance of transfer credits or academic progress, to review appeals for re-entry of suspended students due to academic issues, to review student concerns for educational records, and to review and recommend, as necessary, amendments to admission and academic progress procedures. Amendments to procedures must have the approval of the dean of students, the vice president of academic and student affairs, and the president. The committee is appointed and chaired by the director of enrollment management and includes the registrar, representatives from each academic division, Academic Development representative, dean of students, accessibility counselor, and other service area staff as deemed necessary by the chair.
Program advisory committees are appointed by the deans/directors and meet for the purpose of providing exchanges of information between the institution and business/industry fields concerning the needs and capabilities of the college and the community in specific program areas. These committees are composed of the appropriate deans/directors, ex officio faculty and members of the business/industry community. See Policy 401-03-01AP for details.
(formerly Assessment Taskforce)
The Assessment Committee exists to guide the continuous improvement of programs and services at Isothermal Community College. The committee will accomplish this mission by providing ideas and support for:
The committee is chaired by the director of institutional assessment and an appointed vice-chair. The committee will include the vice president of academic and student affairs, the dean/director of each academic department, an assessment liaison from each academic area, the institutional assessment coordinator, a representative from Student Services, and the coordinator of technology-enhanced learning. Voluntary members will be recruited annually as part of the TALC taskforce membership effort.
The function of the Calendar Committee is to develop the official college calendar and recommend it to the president for adoption. The committee is appointed and chaired by the dean of students and includes the registrar, the dean of Continuing Education, the vice president of academic and student affairs, the administrative assistant to the president, representatives from Rutherford Early College High and Polk County Early College, representatives from each academic division, Academic Development, the Polk Center, and the Business Office.
The Campus Safety Committee exercises responsibility as it pertains to campus safety and health. The committee is chaired by the campus safety coordinator. Committee members are comprised of employees appointed by administration and employee volunteers, with the majority of committee members being comprised of non-managerial employees. See Safety Manual for details.
The function of the College Catalog and Student Handbook Committee is to revise, edit, and publish the College Catalog and Student Handbook. Members include the dean of students (chair), the director of marketing and community relations, the print shop manager, and the vice president of academic and student affairs. Additionally, to ensure accuracy, the document is reviewed, edited, and approved by appropriate faculty, staff, and executive administrators annually as indicated in the College Catalog and Student Handbook Review Procedures.
The Compliance and Accessibility Committee exists to evaluate, monitor, and address compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and NC Senate Bill 866. The committee addresses compliance issues related to college electronic information, including websites and e-learning content. The purpose of the committee is to ensure people with disabilities shall not be discriminated against and that equitable learning experiences and services be integrated into the learning process. Membership of the committee is appointed by the vice president of academic and student affairs and includes the following: director of marketing and community relations (chair), webmaster, coordinator of technology-enhanced learning, accessibility counselor, chief information officer, director of enrollment management, director of bookstore operations, purchaser/equipment coordinator, and a faculty member appointed by the vice president of academic and student affairs.
The functions of the Curriculum Committee are (1) to review properly-submitted requests for new curriculum programs, and for additions, deletions, and changes to existing curricula, (2) to verify proposals do not have a negative impact on or interfere with other programs offered at the college, (3) to ensure all programs are in compliance with state-established curriculum standards, articulation agreements, and the Combined Course Library, (4) to ensure all programs are in compliance with SACSCOC guidelines, and (5) to submit recommendations of the committee to the vice president of academic and student affairs and to the president for further actions. Membership is permanent and based on positions as follows: registrar, director of library services, financial aid representative, distance learning team representative, advising coordinator, College and Career Promise representative, and one faculty member appointed by respective dean/director of each academic division, and Academic Development.
As a condition of receiving federal financial assistance, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act requires institutions of higher education to develop, distribute, and enforce policies for preventing unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. The regulations also require colleges to conduct a review of these policies on a biennial basis. The Drug and Alcohol Review Committee is responsible for the oversight of the college’s biennial drug and alcohol review processes. Reviews are conducted in even numbered years. Members of the committee are the director of human resources (chair), dean of students, dean of continuing education, an Academic Development representative, dean of academic success and advising , director of plant operations and maintenance, director of Performing Arts & Conference Center, and a representative from Campus Enforcement.
The Eaves Award Selection Committee is responsible for ensuring the Robert Wendell Eaves Distinguished Teaching Award is administered in accordance with the wishes of the donor, the late Robert Wendell Eaves. The objective of this award is to identify and individually recognize faculty who have consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching to their students and the college. Recognition and a monetary award is given to the awardee each year during the Commencement held in the spring semester. The recipient of the award is the nominee for the college for the North Carolina Community College Excellence in Teaching Award. The Eaves Award Selection Committee consists of the last five recipients of the Eaves Award and two non-faculty members.
The Faculty Senate of Isothermal Community College exists to enable the faculty to perform more effectively its role of formulating, recommending, and implementing policy concerning faculty affairs. All full-time instructional personnel under the supervision of the vice president of academic and student affairs, excluding all deans and directors, shall be eligible for membership in the Faculty Senate. Should a member be appointed to an administrative position, that member shall forfeit membership in the Faculty Senate immediately upon appointment. Questions of eligibility shall be decided by the Senate immediately upon appointment. The Senate shall be composed of twelve members elected by all full-time instructional personnel from a list of eligible full-time persons as follows: three from Business Sciences, three from Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, three from Arts and Sciences, two from Health and Public Services, and one from Academic Development.
The Lewis Staff Award Selection Committee is responsible for ensuring the Willard L. Lewis Staff Award is awarded annually. The objective of this award is to identify and individually recognize staff who have consistently demonstrated commitment and contributions to the mission of the college, exhibiting consistent excellence on the job far above normal requirements, and providing significant contribution to the college and its students. Recognition and a monetary award is given to the winning staff member each year during Convocation held in the fall semester. Membership of the committee includes the chief operating officer (chair), chair of Professional Development Committee (non-voting member), the three most recent recipients of the award, and a staff representative chosen by the chief operating officer from an area without present representation on the committee.
The Marketing Committee’s purpose is to bring together the director of Marketing & Community Relations, the dean of students, and the dean of Continuing Education to develop and implement strategies to ensure that information about college programs, success, and opportunities for learners are widely publicized. The Committee will help build community support for the College through sharing and celebrating its many and varied accomplishments. The Committee will meet as needed. The Committee will be chaired by the director of Marketing & Community Relations with membership to include the Dean of Students, Dean of Continuing Education, and other members as needed.
The Occupational Safety committee exercises responsibility as it pertains to occupational safety and health. The committee is chaired by the occupational safety coordinator. Committee members are comprised of employees appointed by administration and employee volunteers, with the majority of committee members being comprised of non-managerial employees. See Safety Manual for details.
The Powers Scholarship Advisory Committee is responsible for ensuring scholarship funds are administered in accordance with the donor’s wishes, the late Martha Jane Powers. The committee will meet at least twice a year to discuss funding levels, scholarship guidelines, awarding procedures, and other issues that may arise. The committee is chaired by the Powers Scholarship coordinator with membership to include the director of financial aid, the vice president of administrative services, the vice president of academic and student affairs, the dean of students, the, and a Business Office representative.
The Professional Development Committee’s mission is to provide systematic opportunities to employees that promote personal and professional growth in support of Isothermal Community College’s mission to improve life through learning. This is accomplished by coordinating and recommending professional development opportunities, recommending how internally managed professional development activities are designed, delivered and evaluated, and working with key personnel to ensure appropriate educational activities are identified and available to personnel in all job categories. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of skills, knowledge, and the development of professional and personal skills and attributes to achieve excellence in job performance and student learning. Professional Development is a comprehensive institutional effort and is comprised of faculty and staff with representation from departments across campus.
The purpose of the SACSCOC QEP Implementation Committee is to ensure the college develops and implements an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that includes an institutional process for identifying key issues emerging from institutional assessment and focuses on learning outcomes and/or the environment supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution. In doing so, the committee will oversee a demonstration of the college’s capability to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP. It will include broad-based involvement of institutional constituencies in the development and implementation of the QEP. Lastly, it will identify goals and a plan to assess their achievement. The committee will participate in the process of submitting the Fifth Year Impact Report. The committee is co-chaired by the director of institutional assessment and accreditation/SACSCOC liaison and co-chaired by the QEP coordinator. Membership includes, at minimum, an instructor from each academic division and Academic Development, representatives from both Student Services and the Advising and Success Center, and a student representative. The QEP coordinator will be chosen from the committee members.
The purpose of the SACSCOC Steering Committee is to review and validate the internal institutional assessment of compliance with all Core Requirements, Comprehensive Standards, and Federal Requirements. The committee’s responsibilities include coordinating and managing the internal review process, coordinating the completion of the Compliance Certificate, ensuring the institutional community is engaged in the review process, overseeing the completion and ensuring the accuracy of the Institutional Summary Form, developing the Focused Report, overseeing the development and implementation of the Quality Enhancement Plan, overseeing arrangements for the on-site visit, and ensuring the appropriate follow-up activities are in place to address compliance issues. The committee is chaired by the vice president of academic and student affairs and co-chaired by the director of institutional assessment and accreditation/SACSCOC liaison. Membership includes all academic deans, the dean of academic success and advising, director of library services, dean of students, and the coordinator of technology-enhanced learning.
The Scholarship Committee is chaired by the financial aid counselor responsible for scholarships and consists of a representative from each academic division of the college. The committee meets once a year during the fall semester. Prior to the meeting, each member receives, for their review, the application for all qualified students and descriptions of all possible scholarships to be awarded. The committee meets to discuss applicants and to choose recipients for the scholarships during the annual meeting.
The function of the Technology Committee is to advise on the utilization of technology to enhance the learning college mission, explore ways in which information technology can assist in the formation and maintenance of the college’s learning focus, and assist personnel in achieving goals related to information technology. Included are course delivery exploration, the elimination of time and place barriers of course delivery, facilitation of registration and access to information, exploration of software options to enhance learning, establish and maintain technology hardware standards, and provide opportunities for collaboration and discussion on various technology issues. The committee is chaired by the chief information officer and membership of the committee includes the webmaster, Telecommunications Technology Instructor, registrar, dean of academic success and advising, student services advisor and technology coordinator, continuing education registrar, server administrator, Coordinator of Technology-Enhanced Learning, a Business Office representative, and a faculty representative. Additional faculty and staff provide input upon request.
The Testing Committee, appointed by the vice president of academic and student affairs, includes the interim dean of academic success and advising, math and English faculty representatives, representatives from each academic division of the college, and the testing coordinator and advisor serves as the chair. Procedures affecting program or course access (cut-off scores) are reviewed by the committee and recommendations are made to the vice president of academic and student affairs. Test data is utilized for research and institutional effectiveness purposes; therefore, the Information Systems Analyst serves as a resource to the committee. Additional faculty and staff provide input upon request.
(formerly Minority Male Mentoring Advisory Committee)
The charge of the committee is to continue an ongoing dialogue regarding the future direction and focus of the Uncommon Leaders mentoring program by providing guidance and support to mentoring personnel. The committee is chaired by the minority male mentor/intramural coordinator with membership to include the vice president of academic and student affairs, the accessibility counselor, the dean of Arts and Sciences, director of institutional assessment and accreditation/SACSCOC liaison, as well as success coaches and/or faculty members involved in mentoring and/or instruction within the program. Each committee member is also responsible for the promotion of this program, both campus-wide and in their respective functional areas, informing faculty/staff of mentoring opportunities, and nominating prospective candidates for the program.
The purpose of the Wellness Committee is to communicate the value of the wellness program and the benefits they can expect to receive. This is achieved by planning, coordinating and promoting wellness initiatives, as well as setting wellness program goals. The committee may also advocate for policies and environments that support improved mental and physical health. Committee members are comprised of employee volunteers.
The President’s Executive Council includes all direct reports to the president. The council meets twice per month or as needed. The council reviews and discusses organizational issues and each member shares updates from his/her area of responsibility.
The purpose of the College Council is to increase communication and collaboration among the various areas of the college and serve as a recommending body to the president. The council will report on activities and initiatives to keep the college community informed and to provide input as needed. The council will meet monthly to discuss educational and operational matters affecting the college and to facilitate dialogue between constituency groups. The council will:
The council will meet monthly, or as needed, with components of the meeting including a Board of Trustee (BOT) overview (when following a BOT meeting), a presidential update, budget information (when appropriate), short informative reports (3-4 minutes) from major areas with updates and sharing new developments from across campus, announcements, and spotlighting/profiling an area/program/accomplishment of the college. Council membership is determined by the president and includes: the president of the college (chair), administrative assistant to the president, chief operating officer and vice president of administrative services, vice president of academic and student affairs, vice president of community and workforce development, college advancement and director of alumni affairs, director of accreditation and assessment, dean of Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, dean of students, dean of academic success and advising, dean of Business Sciences, dean of Health and Public Services, dean of Arts and Sciences, dean of continuing education, director of marketing and community relations, director of library services, director of Polk Center, chief information officer, controller, director of human resources, , WNCW representative, Faculty Senate chair, chair of TALC Leadership, coordinator of grants, college development and fundraising, director of customized training and development, and a staff member (Professional Development Committee Staff appointee).
The functions of the Academic Council are (1) to plan and implement procedures to assure the coordinated delivery of curriculum programs and services that support student learning, (2) to oversee the development and implementation of distance learning courses, (3) to uphold academic policies and procedures, (4) to establish ad hoc committees for academic policy revision as necessary, and (5) to make recommendations to the president for policy revisions. Any revisions to academic policy require the recommendation of the vice president of academic and student affairs and the approval of the president. The council will meet monthly with additional meetings as necessary. The council is chaired by the vice president of academic and student affairs. Membership includes all direct reports to the vice president of academic and student affairs.
The function of the Community and Workforce Education Council are (1) to plan and implement procedures to assure the coordinated delivery of non-curriculum programs, (2) to uphold policies and procedures, (3) to establish ad hoc committees for policy revisions as appropriate and necessary, and (4) to make recommendations to the president for policy revisions. Policy revisions require the recommendation of the vice president of community and workforce development, college advancement and director of alumni affairs, and the approval of the president. The council will meet monthly with additional meetings as necessary. Membership includes all direct reports to the vice president of community and workforce development, college advancement and director of alumni affairs, the director of career and college readiness, and the small business center director.
The function of the Disciplinary Review Group is to hear student appeals regarding disciplinary actions and to assure and provide due process. Appointments shall be made on an as-needed basis consistent with the procedures outlined in the College Catalog and Student Handbook (Policy 601-02-00B).
The Distance Learning Team (“the team”) shall assist faculty and staff in the planning, development, implementation, and improvement of distance learning technology resources that enhance student learning. The team is responsible for securing state authorization for Online/Distance Education Program/Courses policy (Policy 402-01-03AP). Membership shall include the coordinator of technology enhanced learning (team leader), chief information officer, Help Desk representative, vice president of academic and student affairs, and director of institutional assessment and accreditation/SACSCOC liaison.
The Distance Learning Advisory Team shall advise the Distance Learning Team by overseeing the development and expansion of distance learning courses, monitoring evaluations for course completion rates and course quality, and recommending policy regarding distance learning development and delivery. Membership shall include all members of the Distance Learning Team and the dean/director or their designee from Academic Success and Advising; Applied and Business Sciences and Engineering Technology; Arts and Sciences; Assessment, Planning, and Research; Continuing Education; Health and Public Services; Polk Center; and Student Services. (see policy 402-01-02AP).
To assure the college manages major crises in a responsible and timely manner, the president will designate a Crisis Management Team (CMT), which will respond to serious crimes, emergencies, and major events or circumstances that, if not managed, could have a detrimental effect on the college community. The CMT will be chaired by the president and membership will include the vice president of academic and student affairs, vice president of community and workforce development, college advancement and director of alumni affairs, director of marketing and community relations, dean of students, dean of continuing education, director of plant operations and maintenance, director of human resources, dean of academic success and advising, and campus enforcement. The president may include other personnel whose experiences and authority are critical to the particular crisis. The following are considered the minimum essential functions of the CMT and may be adjusted as the situations dictate:
In the spring of 1996, Isothermal Community College made a commitment to become a learning-centered college. An early initiative was the empowerment of a committee on learning, which evolved into the Team for the Advancement of a Learning College (TALC) Leadership group.
Subsequently, taskforces were developed to respond to institutional barriers identified by employees, students, and members of the community. During an assessment of TALC in 2010, additional taskforces were added and TALC became a part of the organizational structure. In 2016, TALC was reorganized into four teams: Educational Partnerships, Life-long Learning, Student Life, and Student Support and taskforces became task-specific and time-limited. TALC was formed to seek input from the stakeholders of the college and continues to guide college efforts to keep learning at the forefront of our mission. The current structure of TALC includes the TALC Council and taskforces.
The current structure of TALC includes the TALC Council and taskforces (see policy 201-03-05).
TALC COUNCIL TALC Council supports the efforts of our learning college journey by providing guidance for achieving Isothermal’s Learning College Principles and through the following functions:
TALC Council is comprised of 9 members. Three, including a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary, form the Leadership Team. The remaining positions are filled by various departmental representatives. TALC Council meets on a monthly basis. Meetings are also attended by non-members including the previous year's Chair (who serves in a one-year advisory position) and a Professional Development committee representative. The TALC Council Chair meets with President's Council and the Vice-Chair meets with College Council on a monthly basis for updates and reviews. In addition to functioning as the learning steering committee, the Council maintains a timeline of significant events in our learning journey.
The Threat Assessment Team is comprised of a select group of college administrators and staff charged with the responsibility of identifying, investigating, assessing, and monitoring high-risk behaviors exhibited by the college’s students. In addition, the team attempts to determine, based on behaviors exhibited by the student, employee, or visitor, whether they may pose a threat to the college community. Membership on the team is determined by the president and includes the chief operating officer & vice president of administrative services (chair), vice president of academic and student affairs, the vice president of community and workforce development, college advancement and director of alumni affairs, campus enforcement officers, counselor(s), dean of students, dean of continuing education, director of college and career readiness (when appropriate), director of human resources, college liaison (when appropriate), and president ex officio.
The college has taken a proactive stance for safety and security by establishing a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). SART has developed procedures for responding to students who report that they are victims of sexual assault. SART consists of the vice president of administrative services, Title IX coordinator (director of human resources), deputy Title IX coordinators (dean of students and dean of continuing education), dean of academic success and advising, and Campus Enforcement officers as appropriate. Any SART representative, as well as counseling staff, may provide students and employees with information regarding community assistance programs and supplemental college services in areas such as personal safety, domestic violence, sexual assault, etc. Also, educational programs and material are made available to assist students and employees in managing personal safety and sexual assault prevention. For more information, contact Student Services, Human Resources, and/or Campus Enforcement.
Policy Number: 201-03-04
Cross-reference:
Amended: January 2015, July 2018, November 2020, March 2021