ASHEBORO — In opening the Fall Convocation ceremony for the 2010-11 school year at Randolph Community College, Anne Hockett, vice president for instructional services, welcomed the crowd of faculty and staff members saying, “We are on the absolute cusp of greatness at Randolph Community College.”

The presentation for nearly 200 full-time faculty and staff members and approximately 100 adjunct faculty members was held Aug. 12 in the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center.

The audience included more than 20 new full-time faculty members hired because of the unprecedented enrollment growth that RCC experienced last fall – 13.4 percent.

Jim Campbell, chairman of the RCC board of trustees, welcomed the group on behalf of the board.

RCC President Robert S. Shackleford Jr. introduced his presidential initiatives for the 2010-11 school year, explaining that they fall into five areas identified as core values of the college: community, employees, quality education, radical hospitality and student success.

For the community initiative, Shackleford said he would like to “expand the College’s physical presence in cities, towns, and communities throughout Randolph County.”

For employees, Shackleford plans to “institute a President’s Educational Leadership Academy, wherein a group of employees are selected each semester to participate in a unique leadership training experience that is built around a mentoring model and designed to help prepare them for positions of increased responsibility.”

Under the third initiative, quality education, Shackleford said he wants to “transform the University Center of Randolph County to offer even more quality educational opportunities to the people of Randolph County through an expanded model.”

That expanded model would include more participating universities, more programs, and more delivery methods.

Shackleford said he is already in discussions with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, N.C. A&T State University, N.C. State University and Guilford College.

To implement radical hospitality, Shackleford said he would like to “revolutionize the comprehensive admissions/registration experience to significantly streamline the process; reduce student run-around; reduce waiting in line; bridge communication gaps; and decrease confusion, misunderstanding and frustration in all phases of the process.”

For student success, Shackleford’s initiative calls for “mobilizing campus personnel, resources, policies, practices, and procedures to improve the rate of student retention.”

He noted that student retention is the responsibility of all college personnel.

Plans include enhancing the school’s Enrollment Management Plan, student support services and resources, and using designated retention specialists.

Shackleford first introduced his presidential initiatives when he assumed the presidency of RCC in January 2007.

Last year’s initiatives focused on implementing an enrollment management plan, revitalizing RCC’s Continuing Education program, moving forward with plans for the Continuing Education and Industrial Center, and adopting a comprehensive college development plan. Shackleford noted several successes in these four areas, during the last year including the following:

n Formation of an Enrollment Management Committee and the implementation of an advising cadre in response to enrollment growth last fall.

n Effort to engage community groups such as Randolph Hospital, the N.C. Zoo, and businesses and industries to provide specific training programs; a customized training program that is among the top in the state; building pathways for Basic Skills students to enter Continuing Education and Curriculum classes; and the moving of three Continuing Education programs (Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, and Welding) into curriculum programs.

These efforts resulted in an FTE increase of 21.1 percent for occupational extension classes under Continuing Education (FTE or full time equivalent is the formula by which community colleges classes are funded by the state).

n Successful passage of the one fourth of a cent tax referendum in March to fund renovations to the Continuing Education and Industrial Center.

n Increased fundraising under the new College Development Plan through community outreach programs (Breakfasts with the President), enhanced community events (Dancing with the Randolph Stars raised $98,000), and new ways to give (Pledge Program and Legacy Society).

“We had a one-year increase in fundraising from $92,976 to $188,979,” said Shackleford, “plus we had 400 first-time donors this past year and two new endowed scholarships. It was a year of excellence on our journey to ‘great.’”

Past initiatives have focused on reviewing curriculum programs, the Archdale Center, successful audits, community collaboration, space/facilities, organizational clarity, performance measures, marketing, enrollment growth, fiscal strength, student leadership, advanced technology, customer service, cultural arts, communication, personnel, SACS reaccreditation, budget management, FTE growth, and the Good-to-Great philosophy.