Rural College Focus Group
Summative Evaluation

June 29, 2004

Please indicate your level of satisfaction that the grant activities addressed the goals and initiatives by assigning a score of 1 to 5 with “1” indicating “goal/initiative was not addressed” and “5” indicating “goal/initiative was fully addressed” in the space provided by each goal or initiative below:

Rating (1 – 5) Goals:

3.95

 Goal 1: To search for solutions related to barriers such as funding, staffing, infrastructure needs, and lack of resources, that inhibit the ability of rural colleges in Texas to fulfill their missions;

 4.15

 Goal 2: To increase participation of rural community colleges in statewide initiatives;

 4.58

 Goal 3: To increase collaboration with members of the TRCCN, other colleges in Texas, and state agencies.
  Initiatives:

3.68
  1. Using information from the TACC Institutional Research Committee and other sources, extract data relative to rural colleges and share this data with TRCCN member institutions.

4.7
  1. Identify key personnel from each institution to serve on leadership teams entrusted with developing specific aspects of this Strategic Plan.

 4.15
  1. Explore opportunities for these leadership teams to interact, including collaborative meetings, online discussion groups, and list serv activities.

 4.9

  1. Conduct regional workshops on topics of interest to provide the opportunity to highlight individual institutions and share ideas, such as: 

a. Grant writing workshop(s) – focused on resources available to assist with grant writing;

b. Professional Development models that work for rural colleges;

c. Marketing the rural college to recruit students, faculty and staff – workshop facilitated by a recognized advertising firm rather than a college recruitment/retention organization;

d. Recruiting and Retaining Adjunct faculty in a rural college; and

e. Resource Sharing/Best Practices – an open-environment meeting to share ideas and exemplary programs/practices

4.25
  1. Involve agencies and organizations [such as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), the Texas Association of College Technical Educators (TACTE), the Texas Community College Teachers Association (TCCTA), and the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA)] and other colleges in mentoring activities and as resources.

4.25
  1. Establish a list serv as a means of communication between and among members of TRCCN.  Use other forms of communication, such as conference calls, interactive television, and Microsoft Net Meeting to increase contact between network members with the least expense possible.

4.75
  1. Hold summer meetings to provide networking opportunities for the representatives of the rural colleges.

 3.5
  1. Develop a collaborative mentoring program among the TRCCN members by which they can share expertise.
 4.1
  1. Develop an Internet presence with a purchased domain name by which these colleges can share ideas, projects, and solutions for obstacles and barriers that limit their full participation in state-wide initiatives.
4.23 Overall Average Goals
4.25 Overall Average Statements