NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Historic interpreter Anna Jane Taylor, above, tells the history of the grandfather clock in the central hall of the Doak House Museum during a special program there Thursday afternoon. The grandfather clock, encased in a cabinet made in Greene County, is an original piece of the circa 1830s home of the Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak and his family, which is now the Doak House Museum on the Tusculum College campus. Taylor presented “Walk in Her Footsteps: Sarah Doak on America’s First Frontier,” a program in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution’s “Journey Stories” exhibit now on display at the Nathanael Greene Museum. Taylor took visitors on an informative and interesting tour of the Doak House, providing interesting facts about the daily lives of Rev. Doak, a co-founder of Tusculum College, his wife Sarah, and their family.

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The Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps will be at Tusculum College for a practice session on Sunday, August 1, for a stopover and rehearsal session, according to David Price, director of special events and music programs for the college.

The Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps is a world-renowned, world champion drum and bugle corps that travels between six and eight weeks each summer throughout the United States and Canada performing in competitive field shows and parades.

The Vanguard provides instruction for the experienced through the advanced member in the areas of brass, percussion and color guard.

The rehearsal sessions planned for Tusculum is set for 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The session will be held at the practice fields on the hill above Pioneer Field.  The sessions are not a performance; however, interested members of the public are welcome to observe the rehearsals.

The Corps will be giving a full performance at 5 p.m.

“We are very excited to have the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps on our campus,” said Price. “We have excellent facilities for their use and it offers the community a chance to see the internationally-acclaimed group at work.”

The Vanguard has won six Drum Corps International world championship titles (73, 74, 78, 81, 89 and 99), along with many other regional championships titles. Membership in the Vanguard is primarily between the ages of 16 through a maximum age of 22.

For more information on the Vanguard or for information on Tusculum facility use, contact Price at 423-636-7303.

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Two Tusculum College enrollment management officials were recently invited to co-present at a national enrollment conference on the topic of “Leveraging Technology to Support Student Success.”

Jacquelyn D. Elliott, vice president for enrollment management, and Brandon Conner, director of freshman services and student success, co-presented along with officials from software developer EMAS Pro at the 22^nd Annual Small College Enrollment Conference in Orlando, Fla.

“During my portion of the program, the focus was on emerging technologies for the future, and how these techniques should be worked through the enrollment management process from recruitment through the student’s enrollment,” said Elliott.

Elliott’s presentation focused on numerous new and emerging technologies, many of which are currently implemented in Tusculum’s recruitment and enrollment process.

Highlights of the presentation focused on augmented reality which allows a two dimensional item to take on new life when connected through technology. Examples include a campus map application for smart phones that points out hints and tips during a campus tour or a floor plan of a residence hall room that folds out to a three dimensional model when uploaded to a computer.

Elliott also discussed Internet Protocol Television which will allows small colleges to turn television advertising into direct marketing by tracking viewing habits through the Internet and allowing the institution to create personalized advertising for individuals they are trying to reach. She also profiled Quick Response Codes, which are similar to bar codes, but can be scanned by smart phones to instantly connect the user to Internet content on a related subject such as testimonial videos posted on a college’s website.

Elliott said many of the approximately 30 representatives of small colleges who attended her session were a little overwhelmed at all the technology coming down the pike. “If they don’t know it is coming and start planning for it now, they will all be behind,” she said.

Also co-presenting was Conner who focused on the student retention issue, which is often disconnected from the enrollment and recruitment efforts, but has become a critical issue for all small institutions.

Conner talked to the group about the capabilities of the EMAS Pro software and how it is improving the retention process and making the transition from student recruit to student enrollee seamless.

Tusculum College is the only small private higher education institution working with EMAS Pro to develop the database that will be used for other private institutions.

Conner told the group that the new software program is a critical tool for managing and creating call schedules and for collecting and analyzing information that determine risk factors for students that retention officers need for prioritization.

“These programs aid in setting priorities, communicating effectiveness and result in reporting that is actionable,” said Conner. “These are absolutely critical in any effective retention program in today’s higher education environment.”

Led by current and former professionals in the admissions, enrollment and retention fields, the annual National Small College Enrollment Conference offers opportunities for attendees to network with colleagues, discuss topical issues and get expert advice from the top performers in the field.

For more information on Tusculum College’s academic program or admissions and recruitment process, contact Elliott at 423-636-7300.

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Tusculum College has been approved as an ACT Residual Testing Site to offer the college preparatory assessment test at times other than the six nationally scheduled testing dates.

As a residual testing site, Tusculum can offer the ACT college preparatory assessment test to students who were unable to take the ACT on one of the regularly scheduled testing dates. Students who are enrolled, have been admitted or have applied to Tusculum will be able to take the test at the college.

Residual testing is treated in a different manner by ACT, Inc., the company that administers the test. ACT will send student reports from residual tests only to the college where the test was taken, and students cannot order score reports be sent to any other college. Students taking the test are required to present identification to the testing center and may not take the test within 60 days of previously taking the ACT test.

The ACT is America’s most widely accepted college entrance exam and is a requirement for admission to Tusculum College. The ACT exam also became a requirement for all students who are juniors in high school in Tennessee last year.

The cost of taking the residual test at Tusculum is $40, and each testing date will be limited to 15 people on a first come/first serve basis. Students must apply to take the test and return the application by a pre-set deadline to confirm registration for the test.

The new service is an addition to the ACT testing conducted on the Tusculum campus. The college was approved last year as a national testing site, and the college administers the test on the six national testing dates. The next national testing date will be Sept. 11 with a registration deadline of Aug. 6.

Applications for taking the residual ACT can be requested by contacting the Office of Admission at 423-636-7374 or by writing P. O. Box 5051, Greeneville, TN 37743.

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Susan D. Vance, interim vice president for institutional advancement at Tusculum College, was recently named president of the Tennessee Advancement Resource Council (TARC).

Vance, who has been with Tusculum College’s Institutional Advancement Office since 2003 and has served as interim vice president since February 2007, is a 1991 graduate of the college.

“I am honored and am eager to make a positive contribution to the organization in support of our mission to promote both professional and educational excellence in the schools, colleges and universities of Tennessee,” she said.

The announcement of the organization’s new slate of officers was made during the organization’s annual conference held in Nashville. Vance has previously served as vice president and president-elect this past year.

“The organization has benefited from the guidance of our previous president John W. Smith, associate director of advancement services at Tennessee Tech University,” said Vance. “He has done great work, and we are all grateful for his leadership.”

Vance was in Nashville to participate in the conference along with Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody; Kim Kidwell, director of development; Cody Greene, coordinator of development and alumni relations, and Kathy Brown, director of advancement services.

Dr. Moody also participated in a president’s panel along with Dr. Jan Simek, of the University of Tennessee and Dr. Warren Nichols of Volunteer State Community College. The presentation provided the presidential perspective of various aspects of the advancement field.

 While in Nashville the Tusculum College group also hosted an alumni event and had the opportunity to connect with Nashville area alumni who attended the event.

“The TARC conference is an excellent professional development opportunity for advancement professionals, with workshops providing expertise and information sharing for those who work in all aspects of advancement, including development, alumni, communications and advancement services,” said Vance.

“Being able to combine the experience with an alumni event allowed us to accomplish several things at one time, particularly having Dr. Moody join us at the event. We truly enjoyed the opportunity to reunite with our Nashville-area alumni.” 

Approximately 100 attendees participated in the conference representing 28 institutions of higher education from across the state from both private and public institutions.

The Tennessee Advancement Resources Council was established in 1973 to promote both professional and educational excellence in the schools, colleges and universities of Tennessee. The council strives to serve as a forum for exchanging thoughts on how to build and enhance alumni and development programs and services.

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More than 50 administrators, staff, faculty and Board of Trustees members from Tusculum College recently spent two days in strategic planning sessions, reviewing the past year’s successes and challenges and optimistically planning for the future.

The group met at First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville on Monday and Tuesday, July 19-20, and spent the time developing the college’s next five-year strategic plan for 2010-2015.

“There was tremendous energy in the room as this group looked at the next five years for Tusculum College,” said Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody. ”There will continue to be challenges, but the future for the unique education, career and life preparation offered on the Tusculum College campus is vibrant.”

The group reviewed the existing plan and reports were made on strategic initiatives for 2009-2010. Several key items included the beginning of a band program and the addition of a theater minor at the residential college. Also added were a master’s of arts degree in teaching, a bachelor of science in business administration and concentrations in financial management and information technology in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.

“We were able to add several new offerings while utilizing existing resources and personnel,” said Dr. Estep, academic vice president and provost of the college. Marilyn duBrisk, artist-in-residence and director of the Arts Outreach program, reported that to date, eight students have enrolled in the theater minor program.

Other achievements included the completion of the Quality Enhancement Plan on Problem-solving with Reflective Judgment which was reviewed during the recent Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on College visit. Steps are already underway to begin the implementation phase of the QEP, according to Dr. Bill Garris, QEP director and assistant professor of psychology.

Additional steps were taken to further support financial stability despite a still shaky economy.

After reviewing the existing plan, the group, which was composed of campus leadership from all sectors and programs of the college, agreed to work on four overarching goals for the next five years.

Those goals included enhancing academic quality, preparing students for success, sustaining optimal institutional resources and monitoring and managing risk and compliance.

Participants broke into several smaller groups to discuss specific objectives to be considered for inclusion in the revised plan.

“The recommendations from the small groups will be reviewed again by the President’s Cabinet, and others will have additional opportunities for input,” Moody said. “Once we have refined our ideas, the final revision request will be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration and adoption, most likely at the October meeting.”

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Tusculum College recently hosted a workshop for members of the Tennessee Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (TACRAO) at its Knoxville Regional Center.

Forty-seven admission officers and registrars from private and public colleges and universities in East Tennessee attended the workshop.

 Jacquelyn D. Elliott, vice president for enrollment management at Tusculum, made a presentation about leadership styles. A representative from the U.S. Postal Service also made a presentation about ways colleges can realize postage savings in their mailings.

Keeping with Tusculum’s focus on good citizenship and service to others, attendees were asked to bring donations for either the Greene County Humane Society’s Animal Shelter or the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

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Melissa Ripley, who is chief examiner for GED (General Educational Development) testing at Tusculum College, has been named to the Tennessee GED Testing Service Advisory Board.

Ripley, director of operations and marketing for the Residential College at Tusculum, will be representing East Tennessee on the Advisory Board for a three-year term. Members of the group are broadly representative of adult and secondary education, research, disability advocacy, correctional education programs, military recruitment and test development.

The Advisory Board was created to review the nature of the GED tests and provides guidance to the GED Testing Service staff in conducting its activities. The Board meetings each six weeks to advise, plan and discuss policy for GED Testing Services in Tennessee.

Tusculum College was approved last December as a testing center to administer the GED tests that provide adults who did not complete a formal high school program the opportunity to certify their attainment of high school-level knowledge and skills. The college has also received approval to administer the test at the Greene County Detention Center and the Washington County Detention Center.

Testing on site began in January, and 151 students have been tested thus far this year. Tests are given in either one-day sessions, typically on Saturdays, or in split sessions over two weekdays to accommodate individuals who may not be able to devote the seven-hour block of time needed to complete the entire test due to work or family responsibilities.

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Tusculum College students are working with Hal Henard Elementary School students this summer as part of the College’s partnership with their All Children Challenged and Equipped for Success in School (ACCESS) program. The program is set up for the College students to work with second through fifth graders in academic areas, as well as through offering enrichment activities.

According to Polly Johnson, assistant professor of education and director of field experience for Tusculum College, working with the Hal Henard Elementary School students through the ACCESS program is an extension of the College’s civic arts and service learning culture.

“Many of our students can be found working in service projects and providing assistance in a variety of areas throughout the community. The ACCESS program provides service opportunities for the College students while meeting a need in the community,” she added.

“The Tusculum College students that have been working with our Summer ACCESS program have been phenomenal,” said Hal Henard Principal Ken Fay. “We have had about six or seven students with us each day, and they have done a great job working with our kids. ”

In addition, the students, education majors at the college, have the opportunity to learn how schools are adapting to help meet the needs of students in their care, said Fay.

“We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the ACCESS program of Hal Henard Elementary School,” said Polly Johnson, director of field experience at the college.

“The partnership of Hal Henard and Tusculum’s field experience team provides a valuable asset in the training and success of our pre-service educators. We are very pleased to continue our relationships in providing service to local schools and communities.”

Developed by the staff at Hal Henard, the ACCESS program provides academic assistance and enrichment for reading, math and science, in addition to a variety of extracurricular enrichment activities such as arts and crafts, health/wellness, cooking and computers.

The purposes of the program are to provide a safe environment for the students, to provide extra help with math and reading, to provide fun enrichment activities, to provide wellness activities, to provide additional reading time and to offer a healthy afternoon snack.

            The mission of the program is to provide academic, enrichment and wellness opportunities for the children of Hal Henard.

            Among the Tusculum College students who have participated have been Shannon Haney, Billie Michelle Hernandez, Chloe Baugh, Jenny LeAnne Murvin, Elizabeth Ricker, Jocelyn Johnson, Samantha Ramsey, all of Greeneville; ShoSanne Evans of New Tazewell; Amy Salyer, of Gray, Matthew Hurd of Kingsport, Garry Lewis of Newport, Hope Penley of Limestone, Bess Gutenstein of Marietta, Ga. and Tyler Collins of Flowery Branch, Ga.

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The Doak House Museum is offering a new fun and educational program for pre-school aged children and their parents, “Mommy and Me & Museum Makes Three.”

The first session of this new program will be offered Tuesday, July 27, at the museum on the Tusculum College campus. The program will also be offered on Tuesday, Aug. 17. Both sessions begin at 10 a.m.

“Mommy and Me & Museum Makes Three” is designed for children ages 3-5 and their parents. The program’s fun imaginative games and fun activities are designed to spark an interest in history among participants and demonstrate the museums are places for fun and learning.

Admission for the new program is $5 per child. The first parent is admitted free with an admission of $2.50 per additional parent. For reservations, please call 423-636-8554.

The Doak House Museum is one of two on campus administered by the college’s Department of Museum Program and Studies. The museum is the 19th century home of the Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak, co-founder of Tusculum College, and hosts thousands of school children from the region for a variety of educational programs related to the 19th century.

The Museums also administer the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library, which houses a special collection of items relating to the 17th president, the college’s archives, special themed exhibits and volumes from the institution’s original library. The museums are also two of the 10 structures on the Tusculum campus on the National Register of Historic Places.  The museum department also offers one of the few undergraduate degree programs in museum studies in the country.

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