Quality Focus provides an overview of NTC’s quality commitment. Facilitated by the leadership of a new College president since July 2006, NTC is dynamic and transitioning as an organization. Under the new president’s leadership, a single focus of 3000 FTEs, 30,000 Learners, in 3 Years (3-3-3) is the umbrella for NTC’s quality commitment.
New life has been brought to NTC’s Quality Journey with the benefit of the 2006 Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Systems Appraisal, 2006 Wisconsin Forward Award Feedback Report, 2006 Baldrige National Quality Program Feedback Report, in addition to 29 community forums conducted during September and October 2006. These external data sources were key in identifying NTC’s new strategic initiatives as well as new AQIP Key Quality Action Projects.
NTC participated in the Appraisal and Quality Checkup in March 21-23, 2007. The focus of the Appraisal and Quality Checkup was to present the changes that occurred at the College as a result of new Presidential leadership. According to the Quality Checkup report, the team indicated that NTC presented satisfactory evidence that it met all goals. On September 1, 2007 Northcentral Technical College issued a Reaffirmation Quality Highlights document outlining strategic changes.
Northcentral Technical College’s quality journey began in 1990 with a variety of training, team building, quality awareness and total quality measurement activities. NTC’s Board of Trustees committed the College’s reaffirmation of accreditation process with The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) using Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) in 2000. NTC is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association as well as an AQIP Participant. NTC was accepted as an AQIP Institution by the HLC on June 26, 2001.
Since 2001, NTC’s quality journey has transitioned the college to a learner-focused organization. The College has engaged in systems thinking where Key Quality Indicators (KQIs) measure results using data. NTC has also embraced the Baldrige National Quality Program Education Criteria for Performance Excellence and AQIP Principles and Categories for Improving Academic Quality to be a learner-focused organization supporting NTC’s learner success.
As an AQIP institution, NTC obtains external feedback to continuously improve performance. In 2001, NTC’s Board of Trustees selected the Wisconsin Forward Award (WFA) (state version of Baldrige National Quality Program) and in 2006, NTC’s Board of Trustees expanded the external feedback to the Baldrige National Quality Program. NTC’s external feedback used during the various AQIP cycles are as follows:
- 2001 Wisconsin Forward Award (Proficiency Level)
- 2004 Wisconsin Forward Award (Mastery Level)
- 2006 Wisconsin Forward Award (Mastery Level)
- 2006 Baldrige National Quality Program (Mastery)
To continue the reaffirmation of accreditation through AQIP, NTC participated in Strategy Forum during 2002 with eight participants. NTC created their first AQIP Systems Portfolio beginning in 2004 with the Wisconsin Forward Award Feedback Report. Category Champions were identified and provided teams leadership for working on each AQIP Category. NTC submitted their Systems Portfolio to AQIP in May 2006 and received a Systems Appraisal in November 2006.
As NTC selects new AQIP Action Projects, the College continues to use external feedback to improve performance. In addition to the external feedback already indicated, NTC utilized the 2006 AQIP Systems Appraisal and information from the Community Forums conducted by the College President in the Fall of 2006 to establish the following AQIP Action Projects:
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Assessing Core Abilities
(2006-2010) |
Category 1 (required) |
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| Enhancing Flexible and Accessible Learning (2006-2010) |
Category 4 |
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| Advancing Organizational Renewal (2006-2009) |
Category 4 |
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November 13-16, 2007 NTC sent 10 delegates to the College’s second Strategy Forum. NTC focused on alignment and strategic planning to advance organizational renewal. The College’s next Systems Appraisal will be in 2009-2010. NTC will submit its next AQIP Systems Portfolio in 2010.
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