2010-11 Annual Report

Dear Reader,

What better time to turn to a time-tested collaboration than this past year, given the uncertain economic times that challenged most organizations in myriad ways.  As part of its latest strategic plan, the Colleges of Worcester Consortium focused on three collaborative areas: 1) shared member services in academics, student affairs and administration; 2) higher education access and retention services; and 3) economic development and civic engagement. All three areas have produced impressive gains measured either in dollars saved, student success, or quality of life improvements in Greater Worcester.

The Consortium has cultivated a niche in professional development, led by its burgeoning Certificate in College Teaching program and complemented this past year by 39 conferences, technology trainings and workshops which drew local, regional, national and international participants.

With three major federal grants to support college and career readiness for disadvantaged youth and adults, the Consortium and its Higher Education Access and Retention Committee took a lead role in Greater Worcester and the Commonwealth on issues encompassing education and workforce pipeline challenges and opportunities. Studies indicate that our region’s future workforce needs will only be assured if we can increase our high school graduation and college completion rates. With that in mind, the Consortium has been committed to strengthening K-12 education in Greater Worcester and partnering with school districts to better transition students into postsecondary education opportunities.

In the area of economic development and civic engagement, the Consortium focused on talent retention strategies designed to, again, help meet our regional employers’ future workforce needs. While Greater Worcester doesn’t suffer from ‘brain drain,’ we are interested in supporting efforts leading to ‘brain gain.’

We encourage you to browse Snapshots of 2010-11: An Annual Report and witness the spirit of collaboration.

 Gail E. Carberry, PhD, Chair, Consortium Board of Directors & President, Quinsigamond Community College

 Mark P. Bilotta, MBA, CEO, Colleges of Worcester Consortium

 Colleges of Worcester Consortium:  A Snapshot of 2010-11

 Our work at the Consortium centers on:

• Shared Services in Academic, Student Affairs and Administrative Areas
• Higher Education Access and Retention Services
• Economic Development and Civic Engagement

The following is a brief summary of our work and accomplishments.

Shared Services in Academic, Student Affairs and Administrative Areas

Academic

• Sponsored two department chair workshops: “Models for Academic Leadership” (November 10) and “Legal Issues in Academe” (April 5)
• Sponsored annual reception for new faculty, deans and department chairs at Hanover Theatre (September 23)
• Sponsored First Annual NanoWorcester Symposium: “Moving Nanotechnology from the Bench to the Marketplace” (February 11)
• Sponsored a conference “Your Future in Biotechnology, Biomedical Research and Health Professions” (March 5)
• Sponsored a faculty workshop: “External Funding for Faculty Research: Working with NIH and NSF” (February 18)
• Sponsored a faculty development workshop with Prof. John Tagg, “The Learning Paradigm College: Shaping the Cognitive Economy for Learning” (March 25)
• Sponsored the 10th Annual Undergraduate Shakespeare Conference of New England: “Shakespearean Representation” (April 16)
• Oversaw the cross-registration of some 450 undergraduate students
• Enrolled 160 Certificate in College Teaching (CCT) students; program attracts Ph.D. candidates, tenure track and adjunct faculty, and career changers
• Maintained updated master course schedule for each semester, a master list of degrees database, and a master academic calendar
• Coordinated a 2/3-page joint recruitment ad in an October edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education

Student Affairs

• Sponsored the Fourth Annual Shrewsbury Street College Shuffle (September 11)
• Sponsored an African-Latino/Hispanic-Asian-Native American (ALANA) Conference: “Be Careful What You Ask For: Creating a Genuinely Diverse Institution Will Probably Require Changing the Landscape” (November 4)
• Sponsored First Annual “Consortium’s Got Talent” contest at Hanover Theatre (November 12)
• Sponsored a Career Services Professional Development Day at MEDITECH (November 16)
• Sponsored a webinar: “Promoting Wellness among Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education” (December 7)
• Sponsored a Resident Assistant Conference “At the Heart of It All” (January 15)
• Co-sponsored a juried art show for Consortium students with ARTSWorcester (February 5 reception)
• Sponsored Annual Career Fair, DCU Center (March 29)
• Sponsored “Careers in Student Affairs,” a panel for students (April 1)
• Sponsored a workshop on “Bringing in the Bystander: How Bystander Education Can Change Behaviors on Your Campus” (April 6)
• Sponsored the ALANA student leader Awards Banquet (April 7)
• Sponsored second joint concert (Sam Adams) at Hanover Theatre with support from six college/university members (April 19)
• Sponsored all-day workshop for Student Affairs Administrative Assistants (April 26)
• Hosted Worcester Residence Life Network (WRLN) professional luncheon on “Racial Healing” (April 27)
• Coordinated WOO bus for participating colleges
• Continued coordination of online internship database for our members

Administrative

• Offered Management Certificate program to administrators and staff (Series I); 6 sessions – 36 participants (9 institutions participated)
• Offered 20 technology trainings
• Hosted 7 professional development seminars primarily for staff and administrators including: Managing Student Workers (offered twice), Grammar and Punctuation, Diversity and Inclusion, Recognizing Bullying, Preparing for Retirement and Understanding Social Security and Medicare
• Coordinated approximately $3 million of spending through the Consortium Joint Purchasing Group
• Co-sponsored engaging Road Bowl with FCHP with some 1,500 participants
• Engaged members with the Boston Consortium on the Health Insurance Co-Hip program
• Sponsored a vendor fair for local/regional businesses looking to provide products/services to college and university members (September 23)
• Sponsored a two-part retirement planning session for employees nearing retirement at member institutions
• Sponsored an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)/403B regulation update for HR Directors
• Hosted a social media policy presentation and roundtable discussion
• Hosted a healthcare compliance workshop
• Sponsored a presentation to CFO Committee by Bowditch & Dewey LLP on the IRS University and College Compliance Initiative

Higher Education Access and Retention Services

• Provided GEAR UP college- and career-ready services/workshops to approximately 1,000 students at Worcester East Middle and North High schools in grades 8-12
• Provided Educational Talent Search (ETS) college- and career-ready services/workshops to approximately 700 students in grades 7-12 at Burncoat, Doherty, South and Worcester Technical high schools;
• Transitioned Collegiate Success Institute (CSI) from Worcester Community Action Council to the Consortium; served approximately 175 Worcester Public School juniors and seniors in collaboration with colleges partners Anna Maria, Assumption, Clark, Holy Cross and Worcester State, and corporate partners Unum, Hanover Insurance, EBS Foran, and Morgan Stanley
• Provided postsecondary education planning services to approximately 1,500 low-income, first-generation adult clients through our Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) in Worcester
• Submitted renewal proposals to U.S. Department of Education for ETS and EOC programs
• Submitted and was awarded College Access Challenge Grant of $250,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Provided career and education case management services to approximately 175 early childhood educators in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation and the YWCA
• In partnership with local agencies, provided EOC services in Boston, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield; ETS services in New Bedford, Springfield; and GEAR UP services in Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield.

Economic Development and Civic Engagement

• Implemented initiatives to address student talent retention and ensure regional workforce needs
• 10 colleges and universities continued a financial partnership with Hanover Theatre, valued at almost $1 million over five years.
• Conducted a bus tour of Worcester for those involved with marketing the city (October 27)
• Sponsored a legislators breakfast for Central Massachusetts state delegation (December 10)
• Coordinated tuition waiver program with teachers from Worcester Public Schools (29), Worcester Diocesan Schools (10) and Worcester Academy (2) and five member institutions (AMC, AC, CU, WPI And WSU); waivers valued at $56,412
• Sponsored a college fair for 46 community agencies (March 24); recognized nominated college students for their exemplary community engagement
• Sponsored community breakfast on the “Education and Workforce Pipeline in Greater Worcester: Challenges and Opportunities” (April 4)
• Co-sponsored Town/Gown Roundtable Discussion (June 7)
• Continued to explore viability of downtown Worcester student housing
• Collected data on student engagement in our local communities – includes 17,500 student placements representing more than 1 million hours at 1,480 nonprofit and for-profit organizations; among them – 900 student placements (120,000 hours) at 38 Worcester Public Schools

Sources of Funds – 2011

Uses of Funds – 2011

2010-11 Consortium Board of Directors

2010-11 Consortium Staff