Summary Form
Prepared for the Compliance Certification Review

• Institution
• Accreditation Liaison
• Technical Support
• Educational Programs
• History and Characteristics
• Location and Distance Education
• Accreditation
• Relationship to U.S. Department of Education
• Quality Enhancement Plan

Name of Institution: Collin County Community College District

Technical Support:

Educational Programs:

Level of Offerings:

• Diploma or certificate program(s) requiring less than one year beyond grade 12
• Diploma or certificate program(s) of at least two but fewer than four years of work beyond grade 12
• Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution
• Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent not designed for transfer

Types of Undergraduate Programs:

• Occupational certificate or diploma program(s)
• Occupational degree program(s)
• Two-year programs designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution
• Teacher preparatory (Alternative Certification Program through Continuing Education)

History and Characteristics:

History. The Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) was authorized by a vote of the electorate on April 6, 1985. On that date the voters also approved the formation of the district and elected a nine member Board of Trustees. CCCCD now serves nearly 40,000 credit and continuing education students annually. Both state and locally supported, CCCCD is a comprehensive district offering Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees along with certificates in a wide range of workforce related disciplines.

Mission. The mission statement of the district reads, “Collin County Community College District is a student and community-centered institution committed to developing skills, strengthening character and challenging the intellect.” Mission

Core Values. We have a passion for: Learning, Service and Involvement, Creativity and Innovation, Academic Excellence, Dignity and Respect, Integrity. Core Values

Service Area and Composition. The Collin County Community College District derives its legal status from the Constitution of the State of Texas and from the Texas Education Code that authorizes a County Junior or Community College. The District is coterminous with the boundaries of Collin County, Texas. The service area includes the territory within Collin and Rockwall counties and the part of Denton County that is within the municipality of The Colony, Texas.

CCCCD is a coeducational, comprehensive, institution of higher education. The student population reflects the service area with approximately 73% white, 10% Asian, 9% Hispanic, and 8% black. Nearly 49% are between the ages of 18 and 22, 57% are female and 60% are enrolled part-time.

Distinctive Features. Collin County Community College District was the first Texas community college to offer dual admissions, allowing students to be simultaneously admitted to CCCCD and a major university. Among CCCCD’s nationally recognized programs are Learning Communities and Service-Learning, which earned the National Bellwether Award; the theatre program, which is consistently ranked in the top five nationally; and the Dance Repertory, which is the only community college dance program in the nation to win three Gala Awards in four years. CCCCD is one of nine national Cisco Training Centers, training instructors to deliver CCNP certification courses.

CCCCD students can take advantage of numerous diverse and enriching educational opportunities. A guest lecture series sponsored by the Honors Institute brings renowned scholars to CCCCD campuses, including Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, goodwill ambassador Harriet Mayor Fulbright and former CIA Director Dr. Robert Gates. CCCCD’s faculty includes a U.S. Professor of the Year and four Minnie Stevens Piper Professors, one of Texas’ highest honors bestowed upon college and university professors. Also among the faculty is an honoree of the Teaching Excellence Award, presented by the Texas Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges.

Admissions. CCCCD operates under an “open door” admission policy. Students who are 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or equivalent are eligible for admission.

Locations and Distance Education:

Campuses. Collin County Community College District has three campuses where 50% or more of the coursework toward an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree can be obtained primarily through traditional classroom instruction. The Central Park Campus in McKinney opened in 1986 and currently serves approximately 2,700 students. The Spring Creek Campus in Plano opened in the fall of 1988 and over 11,500 students were enrolled fall 2003. The Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco opened in the fall of 1995 and serves approximately 3,800 students. Each campus has comprehensive programs and services for students. Associate of Applied Science and Certificate Programs are offered on one or more campuses as noted above. The Center for Professional and Economic Development located in Plano is a fourth major facility of the district and primarily serves continuing education students. The Center for Professional and Economic Development also houses many of the district’s administrative functions.

Off-Campus Locations. Fifty percent or more of the following select Associate of Applied Science and Certificate programs are offered off-campus in traditional classroom settings. Management and Engineering Technology programs are offered at local businesses in order to provide for employee educational needs. Culinary Arts is offered in facilities made available at a local high school.

Distance Education. Collin County Community College provides distance education through web-based, online instruction, telecourses and video checkout-courses. CCCCD uses a blended format for the majority of its distance education courses requiring students to come to campuses for orientation, laboratories and testing. The class schedule advises students about on-campus commitments prior to enrollment in the class schedule.

No degree or certificate programs may be earned entirely through electronic means; however, more than 50% of the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are available via the blended format described above.

During the spring 2004 semester, CCCCD offered 170 sections of 90 different courses via distance education. Enrollment in these courses totaled 2,301 unduplicated students with a total duplicated headcount of 3,492. Of the individual students enrolled in distance education option, the majority, approximately 75%, live in Collin County. Approximately 25% live outside of Collin County, but in the service area or surrounding communities.

Accreditation:

In addition to the Commission on Colleges, CCCCD is accredited by the following agencies. No sanctions have been applied by any of the accrediting bodies.

 Other Licensing Agencies.

Relationship to the U.S. Department of Education:

Collin County Community College has no limitations, suspensions, or termination by the U.S. Department of Education in regard to student financial aid or other financial aid programs for the last three years.

Quality Enhancement Plan:

Creating a Scholarly Community at Collin County Community College

Focus: Collin County Community College’s Quality Enhancement Plan will focus on strategies for creating a scholarly community within the context of the 21st century community college. The process will include defining the essential characteristics of a scholarly community within CCCCD’s institutional culture as well as describing the elements of a learned student attending the college. In addition, CCCCD will design assessment methods to measure student learning as defined by the QEP. To accomplish this end, the QEP intends to:

• Identify current CCCCD initiatives that have proven to successfully contribute to student learning
• Identify best practices that address student learning
• Identify current challenges
• Propose a plan for addressing the characteristics of a learned student within a scholarly community
• Develop an implementation time table
• Analyze budget implications
• Propose an assessment and evaluation process that focuses on the outcomes as stated above

The QEP will incorporate the following overarching themes:

• Enhancing communication between and among the institutional community
• Implementing planning initiatives that encourage communication and involvement
• Utilizing technology
• Remaining mindful of the college mission and core values
• Demonstrating assessment of learning, planning, outcomes

Reason for Selection: Action taken to date with regard to the QEP has been focused on refining issues relevant to the current as well as the future CCCCD institutional vision. Mindful of the mission and core values as they relate to student learning, CCCCD has discussed potential QEP topics on an institution-wide basis since summer 2003. Based upon the collective input of the college community and the institutional administration, CCCCD synthesized a variety of topics into the current QEP. Institutional data reflect increased retention, success and satisfaction of students participating in scholarly activities that encourage interaction and engagement (Hodge, Lewis, Kramer, and Hughes, 2001). CCCCD’s QEP reflects a groundbreaking challenge to engage in a systemic discussion about how students learn and how the institution will foster the scholarly process. Unique issues exist given the culture of the community college—how to create a scholarly community inclusive of part-time faculty and students; how to address the concept of scholarship in technical programs; and how to assist students to integrate knowledge across and between disciplines. These questions will be addressed in this QEP.