Another Year of Innovation

December 2023

As we near the end of 2023, I am delighted to reflect on the remarkable year of Instructional Innovation. We have witnessed significant achievements and embarked on exciting projects that are shaping the future of education at NPC.

Early College (EC) enrollment remains on an impressive upward trajectory. Fall 2023 has seen an outstanding 11.8% growth in Full-time Student Equivalents (FTSE) compared to the previous year. This remarkable accomplishment solidifies EC's position, now constituting 51.5% of NPC's total enrollment, with NAVIT experiencing substantial growth. We anticipate this upward trend to persist in both NAVIT and dual enrollment programs, with the addition of new programs in our college's service areas.

Exciting programs like Behavioral Health, Cybersecurity, Drafting, EIT, Medical Office Administration, and Agriculture will likely spearhead NAVIT's expansion in the coming years. Moreover, our dual enrollment program may receive a boost, as we continue to explore adding courses currently offered by local high schools to our dual enrollment curriculum.

With Arizona's increased support for dual enrollment and occupational programs, 2024 promises to be a year of further collaboration. We will continue to work closely with our partners, including the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) team, Student Success Alliance (SSA), Academic and Student Support Divisions, local school districts, and other stakeholders to maintain our momentum. Additionally, our Office of Accessibility and Inclusion (OAI), Early College, and IC Dual Enrollment Subcommittee are diligently ensuring our compliance with state and federal regulations.

The 2-year federal FIPSE grant-funded ECOADA project will conclude this December. This initiative has played a pivotal role in expanding EC opportunities, enhancing program pathways, and boosting the readiness of EC faculty and students for success. Our dedicated grant team, led by Project Director Raeann Brittian, has diligently transitioned grant-funded projects like TargetX, DualEnroll, Ad Astra, and college readiness courses to ensure they continue to support our college's mission beyond the grant's end. In the first few months of 2024, the grant will enter the liquidation period, during which Raeann will transition to part-time to assist with grant reporting. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Raeann for her invaluable contributions to the college.

Our team is actively engaged in the Open Textbook for Rural Arizona Project, led by the Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support (ITCS) Department and Library Services. This project has offered financial and instructional design support to approximately 10 Arts & Sciences and CTE faculty members in the development and adoption of Open Educational Resources (OERs) in 15 NPC courses so far. While the project continues to thrive (thanks to our dedicated faculty and staff), discussions are underway to integrate OER initiatives into our future strategic planning.

Our multi-year HyFlex pilot, initiated three semesters ago, is set to close at the end of this semester. In the spring, we will present our findings to the Instructional Council, who will then make a decision on whether to adopt HyFlex as a permanent course delivery modality. Additionally, several ad hoc groups, including the LinkedIn Learning Team and the Testing Task Force, have accomplished their mission to bring forward best practices and recommendations to enhance professional development and learning support.

I want to take this moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the dedication and hard work of our entire team and everyone involved in these initiatives. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones in 2023, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in 2024.

As the year comes to a close, I wish you all a joyful holiday season filled with warmth and happiness. May the upcoming year be even more rewarding and fulfilling.

Wei Ma, PhD
Dean of Instructional Innovation
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