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STANDARD 10: PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

QVCC provides accurate information to enable students and the community to make informed decisions about the institution. Many publications are provided both online and in print, with print versions available to the public at the College and through the mail. Members of the public may request printed materials by phone or e-mail. Examples of publications in print and on the website include the College catalog, current course offerings, and CTC system policies. Also in print and on the web is information regarding academic policies and procedures, cost of education, directories of staff and faculty, financial aid, the QVCC Foundation, mission objectives, and general education outcomes. The Uniform Campus Crime Report, in print only, is available in the Danielson library, the LSD office, and the office of the Dean of Administrative Services. Information about the last NEASC accreditation review is available on the College website.

In the past five years, QVCC has achieved the goal of an increased budget in the Marketing and Publications Office. As a result, the Office’s personnel hours have increased from one position at 19 hours per week to two positions with a total of 55 hours per week. This includes public information and marketing functions. The Office is designated to produce all College publications and is responsible for marketing activities, media relations, press releases, and advertising.

To keep up with current marketing trends, the marketing staff continues to take advantage of professional development opportunities through College and CTC system activities. In spring 2006, the Marketing and Publications Office received the Paragon Award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations, a national community college association. QVCC was selected from over 1900 entries and won the award for the Community and Professional Learning Division’s Learning for Life course guide.

The College has increased its effort to communicate with the community and to distribute College information to current and prospective students through various methods, including an information kiosk at a local shopping mall, targeted direct mailings, hand delivered College flyers and brochures, and radio ads in the Danielson and Willimantic service areas. Print advertising takes place in local newspapers. Print media coverage is augmented through the distribution of College publications to area merchants and agencies. Electronic methods of communication include advertising on a local daily newspaper’s website, an online newsletter titled Newsline that contains College news and events that are geared to the community, and Newsflash, a monthly student e-newsletter providing information on timely items for continuing students.

The College website is designed for easy accessibility by category, with drop-down menus below each major heading. A Quick Facts page can be accessed from the QVCC catalog link on the website, with information regarding location, type of institution, accreditation, programs, features, enrollment, student profile, tuition, financial aid, library, and credit-free options, all of which is updated annually. The Institutional Research Office, now staffed full-time, is in the process of developing an IR webpage containing College data with links to other information related to the CTC system. The website provides ADA accessibility to College facts and information. The College places the latest news pertaining to weather closings or delays in a banner information box on the website.

Toward continuing improvement of services, a Process Improvement Team was formed in July 2002 and charged by the President to review the College website for ease of use, currency, and completeness, and to address the following questions: Is the site effective for information dissemination and marketing? Is there an understood process or procedure for determining what is included on the site and what links are established to and from it? Is there an understood process or procedure for keeping information current without putting the full burden on the webmaster? An electronic survey was conducted, with the results evaluated and used to improve the function and appearance of the website.

Institutional Effectiveness

QVCC strives to provide accurate, accessible, and complete information to its entire constituency through the use of the latest technology. The increased staffing of the Marketing and Publications Office and the increased College presence online have enabled the institution more effectively to reach students, prospective students, and the community with relevant information about QVCC. An ongoing goal for the College is to develop and adhere to a process that maintains accurate, up-to-date, consistent, and accessible information in all formats, a process that continues to be reviewed routinely.

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