Message from President Tracy D. Hall
Moving the needle
Our work is paying off… literally. Thanks to improvements in our outcomes metrics and quality assurance funding, Southwest will receive a $1.6 million increase in our FY 2019-2020 state appropriations… the largest in 7 years.
This is big.
When we set out to achieve the Big Audacious Goal to Redesign, Reinvent, Reset Southwest in the Fall of 2016 with the Achieving the Dream (ATD) initiative, our chief objective was to foster student success through excellence in our operations. We went to work to move the needle on multiple fronts—from enrollment to commencement and the many touch points in between. It’s working. For example, in 2017 – 2018, we awarded 13 percent more associates degrees and increased dual enrollment by four percent and awards per FTE by 16 percent.
Our recent Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) performance funding scorecard indicates we are making gains in quality assurance, too. In fact, we earned 90 of 100 points on the Student Learning & Engagement and Student Access & Success scales, also known as the Quality Assurance Funding Score. This represents a 22 percent increase over last year. These gains have moved us up 8 spots in the rankings among public colleges and universities in Tennessee. We are now number 11 out of 22. We were 19 a year ago.
These student outcomes are not happenstance. They are a result of hard work that has yielded immense financial gains. Our students are reaching their goals as never before and now Southwest employees will benefit. The College will invest these financial gains in compensation, professional development, new equipment, physical plant improvements and more.
In the meantime, let’s bask in the glow of success. We are moving full steam ahead in the right direction in our Big Audacious Goal to Redesign, Reinvent, Reset Southwest. Keep up the magnificent work and, as always, thank you for all that you do!
In This Issue...
- Message from President Tracy D. Hall
- Inaugural Community Relations Ambassador Luncheon celebrates achievements, kicks off Career in a Year
- Southwest employees are the best choice
- EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH: Monica Crawford, Human Resources Assistant
- Welcome aboard, new team members
- MENTAL HEALTH CORNER: Getting to your finish line: A pep talk
- Title VI and Non-Discrimination training deadline is May 15
- Blue Path Day introduces high school seniors to MPD’s workforce pipeline
- CAREER SERVICES CORNER: Juan Bell continues internship at Le Bonheur
- FACULTY NEWS: Commencement instructions for May 11
- STUDENT NEWS: 33 inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda
- Phi Theta Kappa chapter earns 5-star honors again
- Student Leadership Institute empowers and motivates adult learners
- Hieroglyph expands reach online and in Memphis bookstores!
- STUDENT NEWS: Students spruce up campuses on Salqui Clean Up Day
- Students celebrate diversity, inclusion at Southwest’s first-ever second-chance prom
- Women-owned small businesses focus of 2019 SBDC Day
- Southwest to offer new communication degrees
- Summer Institute 2019 registration now open
- tnAchieves holds orientation for TN Promise mentors
- Southwest explores National Hardwood Lumber Association partnership
- SALUQI CORNER: Saluqi lives up to moniker in her journey to Southwest
- Mid-South Therapy Dogs and Friends to offer Stress Free Zone event April 22
- Southwest: In the News
- Police Services/Public Safety Department wins 2019 AACC Awards of Excellence!
- BBB CORNER: Don't spend your tax refund with a shady car dealer