Department of Public Safety
by
Chief Gary Lyle, Major Cleveland Smith and The Department of Public Safety Personnel

Winner Institution:
Anne Arundel Community College

Innovation Type:
Leadership and Organization

Description:
The Anne Arundel Community College’s (AACC) Department of Public Safety is a non-sworn agency with only the Director and Deputy Director having police powers. In 2006, The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Inc. (IACLEA) partnered with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. to develop standards for college and university law enforcement, security and public safety departments. IACLEA is an association that represents campus public safety leaders at more than 1,000 institutions of higher education. The IACLEA Accreditation constitutes recognition that a department conforms to the highest professional standards for campus law enforcement and protective services. On September 26, 2008, after 20 months of hard work, the AACC Department of Public Safety was awarded accredited status by IACLEA making it the only Public Safety Department in the state of Maryland and the only Community College Public Safety Department in the United States to be so recognized.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

College Connection
by
Mary Hensley, Luanne Preston, Melissa Richardson, and the ACC/College Connection team members

Winner Institution:
Austin Community College

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
College Connection is an access program providing automatic admission for 100% of a high school senior class and lifetime acceptance to Austin Community College, with all college admissions steps delivered on high school campuses. College Connection builds relationships between ACC and its service area high schools and has increased regional post-secondary transition rates. Begun four years ago in partnership between ACC and one school district, College Connection now serves 24 school districts and more than 16,000 seniors. The program has been replicated across Texas and has influenced college programs in other states. College Connection is led by Dr. Mary Hensley, Executive Vice President of College Operations; Dr. Luanne Preston, Executive Director of School Relations; Melissa Richardson, Director of College Connection; and a dedicated team of student services, financial aid, and admissions personnel.

How this project is being recognized:
Announcement on website and at the fall preservice

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

BRCC Assessment Institute
by
Shana Corvers and Laci Talley

Winner Institution:
Baton Rouge Community College

Innovation Type:
Research, Assessment and Accountability

Description:
The Assessment Institute (AI) was designed to help faculty members establish methodologically-sound assessment practices in selected course pathways and/or disciplines utilizing various levels of faculty and personnel. The Assessment Institute has rapidly become an integrated part of BRCC and how it functions with regard to assessment and institutional improvement. All new hires will be expected to learn and apply assessment institute methodologies. While at the AI, faculty members are exposed to the institutional model of assessment in place at BRCC and are given a better picture of where they fit into the model, as well as the significance of their contributions and role in continuous improvement. Having administrative support, experts in facilitation, a unique “institute” approach, peer mentoring facilitators, small work groups, and compensation has been an essential to the success of AI.

How this project is being recognized:
school newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Innovative Training Delivery Options for Child Care Practitioners
by
Russ Wilde, Linda O”Donoghue, Candace Cummings, Paula Wyne, Lona Tarney, and Becky Kelley

Winner Institution:
Bow Valley College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Through the development of four innovative strategies fashioned for the Early Learning and Child Care Program, the project team has minimized the impact of learning barriers by making training more affordable, creating flexible learning and practicum choices, and bridging immigrants into the program. By design, these strategies are also integrated to yield important enhancements to teaching and learning. Through a modularized curriculum and challenge exam process, learners can obtain credit for skills in which competency has already been demonstrated and receive a focused plan comprised of single credit, 15-hour courses to acquire the skills and knowledge they need. This is an effective model for PLAR and for recognizing foreign credentials and experience. Also, practitioners in remote areas need not relocate to larger centres to access training or practicums. Instead, they can learn where they live and work and thus facilitate the transfer of skills to underskilled communities.

How this project is being recognized:
Newsletter and celebration event

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Strategic Alliance: Leveraging Technological Knowledge and Experience
by
Annette L. Conn, Maureen McCreadie, Celeste Schwartz

Winner Institution:
Bucks County Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Bucks County Community College and Montgomery County Community College have established a strategic alliance for joint problem solving, knowledge sharing, staff development, and cost sharing related to technology. The initiative began as a sharing of expertise among technologists, but it has expanded to sharing best practices in teaching and learning, student services, infrastructure and administrative support. For example, MCCC was instrumental in helping BCCC plan for Internet 2 implementation, and BCCC passed along its step process for implementing Quality Matters to MCCC. Participants consistently leave the meetings with pragmatic approaches to leveraging technology resources.

How this project is being recognized:
Presentation at a conference as a best practice; College publications

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Mechatronics Education Center
by
Doug Pauley, Dan Davidchik, Sue Baer, David Vanderheiden, Allen Stenzel, Justin Young

Winner Institution:
Central Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Rising global competition, the rapid advancement of technology, the aging workforce, and the shortage of skilled labor necessitated the development of Central Community College’s Mechatronics Education Center (MEC) in Columbus, Nebraska. Formed with business, education, and government partners, the MEC addresses critical current training needs and works with secondary schools to build pathways for technical careers. Funded in part by a U.S Department of Labor grant since 2004, more than 1,640 workers, students, and faculty members from 114 businesses and 63 colleges and high schools have participated in training and workshops, and more than 14,000 individuals have attended Mechatronics awareness sessions throughout the U.S. and Europe.

How this project is being recognized:
Newspaper article; school newsletter; Mechatronics Education Center website (www.mechatronics-mec.org); Grant Report to the U.S. DOL; Dream It. Do It. network

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Outreach to Part-Time Faculty
by
Debbie Bouton and The Professional Development Team

Winner Institution:
Central Piedmont Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Like most community colleges, Central Piedmont Community College depends heavily on part-time faculty to offer the variety of classes needed by the community it serves. Most part-time instructors come to the College with rich, real-world experience, but may lack an understanding of basic adult learning principles. The Office of Professional Development has developed an innovative, four-part outreach program to address the most critical needs of part-time faculty. A select group of 50 part-time faculty completed this comprehensive program which included: a 25-hour teaching best practices course, a website developed specifically for part-time faculty, an orientation for all new part-time faculty, and Saturday Sessions – critical issues in teaching and learning for part-time teachers. The College surveyed participants and their students to determine the extent to which this program impacted the learning environment and retention of students. The results were overwhelmingly positive in both areas.

How this project is being recognized:
College President's Forum and College Website

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Century College Digital Fabrication Lab
by
Larry Litecky

Winner Institution:
Century College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The Century College Digital Fab Lab is an unprecedented multidisciplinary technical facility that supports the creation of innovative solutions to common scientific and technical issues through the use of industrial-grade fabrication and electronics tools, wrapped in open source software and programs written by researchers at MIT, primary partners in this innovation. The lab provides a concept-to-production rapid prototyping platform, and encourages students, faculty, and College partners to take ideas from the drawing board to the development of prototypes. The Fab Lab represents a new kind of applied educational framework, fostering new multi-disciplinary collaborative partnerships and new educational and learning communities.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony, College newsletter, press release

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Career Tools for Excellence
by
Randy Barton, Melissa Colon, Jeff Fitzwater, Patricia Harrelson, Ida Ponder, Katherine Schultz, Meryl Soto, Kathy Sullivan, Adrienne Webster, Gene Womble

Winner Institution:
Columbia College

Innovation Type:
Basic Skills and Developmental Education

Description:
Columbia College does an excellent job in preparing students for the workforce in terms of subject matter content. Career Tools is designed to support these efforts in meeting the needs of the business community whether our students are pursuing vocational training, transfer, or job enrichment/enhancement by assisting them in developing “soft skills”—skills for employability, as identified by the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills indicators as well as other critical soft skills needed to be successful in obtaining and maintaining a job in one’s chosen career. Career Tools coursework provides the environment to learn and integrate these necessary skills to be successful in today’s workforce—with the current economic forecast these skills have now become essential! The Career Tools for Excellence Program is an innovative approach in that it has an entire college focused on addressing the extreme need for employability skills for community college students.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Presentation at Board of Trustees Meeting - March 11, 2009

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

The Accelerated Learning Project (ALP)
by
R. Miller, S. Gearhart, S. Gilead, A. Roberts, M. Garcia, P. Adams, L. Berglie, S. Briggs, S. Grady, A. Nguyen, P. Rennie, P. Rogers, C. Scott, J. Scott, T. Nelson, M. Walker, A. Rusnak, and M. Berry

Winner Institution:
Community College of Baltimore County

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The Accelerated Learning Project (ALP) is an innovative approach to developmental writing. Under this program, developmental students register for a section ENG101 in which there are 8 ALP students and 12 students whose placement is ENG101. At the same time, they register for a companion course with the same 8 students and the same instructor, in which they receive instruction and support to help them succeed in ENG101. In its first year, the program resulted in doubling the success rate and halving the attrition rate for developmental students, and accomplished that in one semester instead of two.

How this project is being recognized:
SharePoint

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Advanced Tech at College
by
Linda Hansell and Willette Whitaker

Winner Institution:
Community College of Philadelphia

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
Advanced Tech at College is a dual enrollment program serving a population of low-income, minority (predominantly African-American and Hispanic) students from the School District of Philadelphia. While completing their 11th and 12th grade years on the Community College of Philadelphia campus, students have the opportunity to earn up to 30 college credits. Advanced Tech at College provides a comprehensive, enriched educational program that includes advance academic work, support services, and activities in a safe, positive learning environment on a college campus. Of the 89 students who began the program in the first three cohorts, 67 (75%) completed the required components of the ATC program and all 89 (100%) graduated from high school. This rate far surpasses the School District of Philadelphia as a whole, which has a dropout rate of 45.5% and a high school graduation rate of 55.5%.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Creative Parenting Skills Course/General Studies 1801
by
Barbara A. Taylor and Phyllis J. Dukes

Winner Institution:
Cuyahoga Community College

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
As a result of Dr. Taylor and Dr. Dukes interaction with students who expressed concern and interest about parenting they created a Creative Parenting Skills course. This is an innovative concept, in that normally parenting skills classes are primarily taught in the community, often at a mental health center not in a college setting. It provides a psycho-educational experience that has relevance for students on many levels, the class helps to empower students by instilling in them a sense of worth as parents and helps them to nurture themselves as well as their children. Another uniqueness of the course is that it addresses issues of parenting children at all ages and is not limited to birth and pre-adolescence as most traditional parenting courses. Therefore students in the course represent diverse ages. The success of this course has led to the development of Student Success Workshops that include topics such as child abuse, discipline and parenting styles.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Helen M. Nickless Dental Clinic Project
by
Pamela Smith, Leslie Myles Sanders, Mary Jo Miller, Judy Miller, Melissa Appold, Virginia Przygocki, and Carol Wieland

Winner Institution:
Delta College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Winners of the Innovator of the Year Award are: Melissa Appold, Virginia Przygocki, Judy Miller, MaryJo Miller, Leslie Myles Sanders, Pam Smith and Carol Wieland for the establishment of the Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic Dental Site at Delta College. The Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic is a medical clinic through Bay Regional Medical Center Foundation established in 2005 to provide free medical care to those persons without medical insurance. Delta College as a dental site for the clinic, was the brain child of Carol Wieland, adjunct faculty in Dental Assisting. With the development of the Dental Site at Delta College, students assist dentists at Delta while under the supervision of faculty. The dentists volunteer and patients are not charged for services The students treat patients with significant need, experience more diversity, provide a community service and observe health care professionals volunteer their services.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Search Engine Marketing
by
Liz Gray

Winner Institution:
Fanshawe College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Liz is an innovator who is always pulling new technology and new opportunities into her programs. She understands that today’s business students will work in an increasingly global and Web-based market. With that reality in mind, she developed Fanshawe’s ground-breaking Search Engine Marketing (SEM) course, which teaches students how to use Web-based tools as part of an overall marketing strategy – incredibly valuable and progressive knowledge that Fanshawe graduates will bring to their employers. To support SEM and other programs, Liz also cultivated partnerships with industry leaders including Google and the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO). Thanks to her work, Fanshawe became the only college in Ontario to offer the Google Advertising Professionals program.

How this project is being recognized:
College publications

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Hybrid Library & Information Services
by
Charlene McGrath, Yin-Fen Pao, Jeremy Berberich, Sheila Gray, and Ian Fry

Winner Institution:
Gateway Community and Technical College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Gateway Community and Technical College (GCTC) was created in 1997 from three existing technical schools in the Northern Kentucky area. In order to maximize service to students, as well as take advantage of its location in an information rich region, GCTC developed a hybrid library. The GCTC hybrid library provides the college community with print and electronic resources, onsite and virtual reference services, and access to the GCTC Library collection, as well as the resources of a rich array of regional partner libraries. This is accomplished through contractual agreements and memberships; library policies; resource access to on-campus centers at the three GCTC campuses, partnerships with Northern Kentucky University (NKU) Steely and Thomas More College (TMC) libraries; reference services; information literacy; and an annual planning process.

How this project is being recognized:
Recognition Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Virtual Reality in Aviation Training
by
Carl P. Washburn

Winner Institution:
Greenville Technical College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Carl has been involved in a partnership with Clemson University and the National Science Foundation to develop virtual reality in aviation maintenance. This program initially began four years ago with the develoment of a cargo bay inspection environement and has progressed to an engine bore scope environment was created and now a non-destructive test environment. Each level has increased in complexity and students have reported that this training has been very helpful in providing training not otherwise available. If the same training were provided using real aircraft and equipment, the cost would be extremely prohibitive and the space required would exceed what is now available. in addition, the number of defects, types, and the scenarios available to students would be limited. Students using this program now can easily master one level and then be progressed to one more difficult. The cost savings are excellent but the possible learning opportunities make this a very valuable asset.

How this project is being recognized:
News release and web newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Continuing Education and Training (CET) Action Teams
by
Continuing Education and Training Division

Winner Institution:
Harford Community College

Innovation Type:
Other: Process Improvement

Description:
Through a series of interactive workgroups and brainstorming sessions, CET employees identified areas for needed improvement within the division to create a more productive, aesthetic and efficient environment. Using a "do what you can with what you have" philosophy, a series of Action Teams were formed and continued to evolve. These teams are aesthetics/sustainability, communication, marketing/research, process streamlining, spirit, and instructor communication and orientation. To date there has been 100% voluntary participation from 18+ employees working on the different Action Teams. The teams have made numerous recommendations that have been implemented and have had a significant impact on division operations. Camaraderie, problem solving and increased efficiency are a few of the positive outcomes from the teams.

How this project is being recognized:
Board of Trustees meeting, Convocation, College Governance Open Forum and press release

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Henry Ford Early College
by
(left to right) Lynne Hensel, Bill Barber, Marva Brooks, Ron Bodurka; (not photographed) Cyndi Scheuer, Paul Smith, Bill Schramm

Winner Institution:
Henry Ford Community College, Henry Ford Health System, Dearborn Public Schools

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
In collaboration with the Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford Health System, Henry Ford Community College obtained $400,000 in grant funding from the state of Michigan to develop the Henry Ford Early College. High School freshmen enroll in this five year program in which they attain a high school diploma plus a Henry Ford Community College certificate or Associates degree. This program is unique because it: 1. Is designed to introduce increasing levels of College and career curriculum and activities throughout the five years. Extensive opportunities for student engagement in career activities at Henry Ford Hospital are offered. 2. Provides students with five in high demand health care programs from which to choose. 3. Is designed for students to secure a job at the end. 4. Requires students to attend classes on the College campus. The first class of students began in Fall 2007 and the second class of 75 began in Fall 2008. The two year retention rate is 97%.

How this project is being recognized:
There will be an award ceremony on April 10, 2009, a press release will be written for local media and the winning innovation will be included on a multi-year plaque hung in the College's board room

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Service-Learning Veterans (Website) Project
by
Walt Ellis

Winner Institution:
Hillsborough Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Service-Learning courses couple meaningful community service with classroom instruction. Given the controversies of the Iraq war, the professor created a service-learning activity that increased students' awareness of veterans’ issues. A multi-semester Service-Learning project was developed in which sociology students contacted college and community veterans’ organizations and interviewed veterans to determine what services could be improved. Veterans expressed difficulty in accessing medical and educational benefits. In response, students created a “Veterans” webpage within the college website to address these needs. The multi-page site contains detailed information and links to government websites for educational/medical benefit forms and information. The project enhanced HCC’s ability to serve veterans, and increased sociology students civic participation, improved interpersonal skills, and enhanced understanding of sociological issues discussed in the textbook and classroom.

How this project is being recognized:
Newsletter, website, and Board of Trustee recognition

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Stop/Look
by
Sabra Desai, Gina Antonacci, Donna O'Brien-Sokic, and Diana Belshaw

Winner Institution:
Humber College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Stop/Look is the title of a 50 minute theatrical production, that students at Humber College created around diversity and inclusion issues. Students were encouraged to review their own experiences, interview other students, faculty, friends and family and the play took shape as a series of raw confrontations but underlying was a search for commonality and kindness. As the process went on, the definition of diversity broadened from a euphemism for racial differences to the uniqueness of linguistic, religious, physical, mental and class perspectives. The aspect of identity became important and in the end, the actors became deeply committed to the insights they had generated together. Students in the Theatre production program built the set and costumes, created the lighting and developed the sound support for the show. This play provided an amazing opportunity for the students as they worked with an external script writer and director to apply theory taught in class.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Baccalaureate Implementation and Transition Committee
by
Baccalaureate Implementation and Transition Committee

Winner Institution:
Indian River State College

Innovation Type:
Leadership and Organization

Description:
Indian River State College (formerly Indian River Community College) established a Baccalaureate Implementation and Transition Committee with over 30 members to do what some thought was impossible—develop and launch nine new baccalaureate degree programs and obtain SACS Level II accreditation within one year. By involving all key stakeholders, and by capitalizing on an existing culture of communication, collaboration and creativity, Indian River successfully added baccalaureate degrees to its comprehensive community college mission. Baccalaureate enrollment has more than doubled in one year, with over 1,000 students pursuing degrees that address critical workforce needs such as teaching, nursing, and organizational management.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony, Newspaper Article

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

“iDe'LITE”
by
Beatrice Tan, Teo Pui Sing, Peh Wee Leng, and Alvin Toh

Winner Institution:
Institute of Technical Education

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Besides learning vocational and technical skills, ITE students are taught customer service skills. Previously, such skills were mainly taught through traditional demo and practice method. The iDe'LITE software (Interactive Diagnostic Evaluation for Learning @ ITE) was developed incorporating effective training methodologies and technologies based on MRI (Mastery, Reflective Learning & Interactivity). Service performance of real and enacted service scenarios are captured on video and applied to the in-house developed software to analyse and evaluate (individually/collectively) the performance of the service provider(s) and annotate the critiques along the relevant segments of service performances. Scripted and impromptu role-plays by the participants can be captured and converted to flash video format for storage efficiency and copied into iDe’LITE for evaluation.iDe’LITE has resulted in cost & time savings, boosted the student learners' self-confidence and enhanced learner involvement.

How this project is being recognized:
At Hi5 Show, ITE’s annual awards presentation ceremony where the team received the SuperNOVA award for its innovative solution.

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Finish What You Start
by
Cheryl Frank, Kathy DeDeyn, and LeAnne Schmidt

Winner Institution:
Inver Hills Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The purpose of Finish What You Start is to transform the College's culture to one that promotes the expectation that students will achieve their educational goals. As an AQIP Action Project (2006-09), the initiative includes quantifiable outcomes and measures. Finish What You Start focuses on the following student outcomes: 1) promote readiness for college; 2) increase career planning and goal setting; 3) increase course completion rates; 4) increase persistence and degree/goal completion; 5) increase student satisfaction. Project outcomes have been met or exceeded. In 2007 a first-year experience class, On Course, was offered to new students as a component of Finish What You Start. Results indicate that first year students who took On Course and participated in a Learning Community have higher course completion and retention rates. Finish What You Start has become integrated into the campus culture, with high levels of faculty and staff involvement and enthusiasm.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

ScholarSpace@JCCC
by
Barry Bailey and Judith Guzzy

Winner Institution:
Johnson County Community College

Innovation Type:
Leadership and Organization

Description:
This digital repository, initiated and implemented in 2008, is designed to preserve and showcase JCCC’s research, sabbatical projects, publications, presentations, and proceedings, as well as other technology and media created and produced through the college. Originally developed for universities, institutional repositories also allow community colleges to be recognized as prolific knowledge producers and to take their place in global academia well beyond the limits of physical boundaries. As JCCC faculty, departments, and campus groups populate the repository with scholarly output, ScholarSpace will promote who we are, what we do, and what we offer to the world. Through Internet archives, people everywhere can experience this single, cohesive vision of JCCC’s scholarly presence.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Family Day
by
Doug Bannon

Winner Institution:
Kirkwood Community College

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
October 2008 came with beautiful weather and the ideal setting for Family Day in the heart of Kirkwood’s campus. Over 600 students, parents, and other family members were in attendance from all over Iowa and many states outside of Iowa. Students and their families had the chance to interact with faculty and staff members, in addition to student volunteers. An ice carving, sales at the Bookstore, hayrack rides, and four of the Kirkwood Eagles athletic teams in action were just a few of the activities planned. The day provided students the opportunity to show their families around campus and provide parents with a proud feeling that they sent their child to Kirkwood. It also provided the Kirkwood family the opportunity to get to know our students just a little bit better. Family Day is a great way to improve student retention as it provides many ways for students to connect with the College. It was also great as families had the opportunity to see campus, some for the first time, and Kirkwood alumni had the opportunity to come home. Doug’s leadership and vision made this event just another innovation to take Kirkwood from great to greater.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Intermediate Alegebra Module Approach
by
Judith Hayes, Thom Kieft, Donna Matthews, Alissa Sustarsic, and Brett Taylor

Winner Institution:
Lake-Sumter Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
To improve student success the mathematics department at LSCC created a module approach to teaching Intermediate Algebra. Students retake the most recent module and assessment if their course average falls below a certain threshold. For those that retake a module, they finish the course during the first month of the following semester. Explorations in Math is then offered in a short term so that the students are able to complete two college level math courses in two semesters. This module approach enabled 30 students in two module offerings to succeed who would have normally had to repeat the entire course.

How this project is being recognized:
A press release is done, Presentation of their award at Convocation, and they are recognized at the monthly Board of Trustees meeting.

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Agricultural Business Management Program
by
Shirl Meads, Gene Hamacher, and Ross Penhallegon

Winner Institution:
Lane Community College

Innovation Type:
Workforce Preparation and Development

Description:
Combining the expertise of Lane Community College Business Development Center’s Farm Business Management Program with Oregon State University/Lane County Extension Office created a winning combination for local agricultural business owners. Ross Penhallegon, OSU/Extension Office Horticultural Specialist (40 years horticultural expertise) and Gene Hamacher, BDC Farm Business Management Instructor, (15 years business management) consolidated their efforts to create a new program, the Agricultural Business Management Program (ABM). ABM provides a complete package of business management classes and education on farming, agriculture, and environmental issues. As a result a wider array of services is offered to program participants in Lane County, Oregon as well as the development of a strong partnership for Lane during a time of diminishing funding in both organizations.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Creating and Implementing a Multimedia Electronic Textbook
by
Leif Swanson

Winner Institution:
Laramie County Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Leif Swanson, a full-time English faculty member created an online multimedia electronic textbook titled "College Research Papers Simplified: A Step-by-Step Approach." It can be accessed at http://www.lccc.wy.edu/index.aspx?page=1113 This innovation has been made available to anyone worldwide who wishes to use it. It saves the students from having to purchase a textbook for the English composition course at LCCC. However it can be used by any student who has an assigned research paper in any content area. This "e-textbook" contains approximately 100 pages of text, links to other websites (permission requested and granted) and several video clips. The video clips include tips from former students, tips from other LCCC faculty members and tips from Mr. Swanson, creator of the innovation. This project was presented at the Instructional Technology Council Conference in Portland OR on February 21, 2009. It will also be presented at the League conference on March 17, 2009.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Revealing the Truth: Multidisciplinary Explorations into Crime Scene Investigations
by
Jane Pfeilsticker, Andy Swanson, David Friedenbach, Cindy Hunter, Daisy Vulovich, Brad Davis, and Dory Lock

Winner Institution:
Manatee Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Revealing the Truth has been a noncredit program offered the past four summers for gifted high school students in our service area. Activities infuse the social and natural sciences, information technology, mathematics and 21st century workplace skills with advanced, critical thinking required by crime scene investigators. Participants observe law-enforcement practices, learn about DNA laboratory activities and present their investigative conclusions to a prosecuting attorney. This program embodies true collegial spirit by the lead faculty (Jane Pfeilsticker, Andy Swanson, David Friedenbach), the noncredit CCD support and guidance (Cindy Hunter and Daisy Vulovich), and our Resource Development Office (Brad Davis and Dory Lock). Their combined efforts have allowed the College to offer a program that has gained state recognition and is being replicated in other locations.

How this project is being recognized:
Newspaper articles and school newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

The MDC Honors College Dual Language Program
by
Alexandria Holloway and Jennifer Bravo

Winner Institution:
Miami Dade College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Students undertake their program courses in both Spanish and English. They demonstrate mastery of the honors curriculum, public speaking and writing in both languages, superior leadership qualities and commitment to service as global citizens. Via service learning, students contribute more than 1,000 hours with the elderly, inner-city children, support for Darfur, environmental cleanups and more. The I Have a Dream Program, with Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School, provided an innovative mentoring and tutoring opportunity with inner city children. Graduates have been admitted to Cornell, Columbia, UC Berkeley, Georgetown, Georgia Tech and other top universities.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Course Approval Process (CAP) Software
by
Eric Daeuber and Christopher Goltz

Winner Institution:
Minnesota State Community & Technical College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
M-State’s (Minnesota Community and Technical College) Academic Affairs Committee requested an electronic web-based system that would enable all faculty and appropriate staff to have input regarding course or program proposals. The Course Approval Process (CAP) software was developed by two faculty members in the college. CAP provides an immediate feedback and tracking process for all current curricular proposals. The CAP process ensures peer review, curriculum quality and the efficiency, timeliness and integrity of the college’s approval process. This is a unique, structured and targeted form of electronic communication that has facilitated our ability to communicate and work as “one college” on Academic Affairs proposals.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Online Course Outline Application
by
Jim Cummings, Keri Carter, Ali Burke, Horatio Stewart, Rob McInnis, Lynda Morgan Murdoch, Ali Cheaib, Catharine Ozols, Lisa Pegg, Jaspreet Grewal, Bongi Dube, Maria Campos, Jacqueline Cowden-Scott, Margaret DiVincenzo, and Judy-Anne Sleep

Winner Institution:
Mohawk College

Innovation Type:
Resource Development

Description:
Online Course Outline Application The online course outline application, developed, tested, enhanced, and implemented over the past two years by a mulit-disciplinary, cross-departmental team, represents a significant innovation at Mohawk College that increases transparency, accountability, and responsibility in the course outline process. This quality assurance process: • encourages consistency of course outlines, delivery, and student evaluation across multiple programs, and between post-secondary and continuing education faculty, and • captures links between courses and course learning outcomes to provincial program standards, essential employability skills, general education themes, and external standards (as appropriate), as well as to student assessments.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

The Sixth Act
by
Maria Brandt, Gail Bouk, Jeffery Jones, Caren Pita, Paul D’Alessandris, Heather Fox, Jim Simmonds, Midge Marshall, Ann Tippett, and Robert Kashmer

Winner Institution:
Monroe Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The Sixth Act aims to broaden and deepen an interdisciplinary appreciation of drama at MCC and to connect MCC faculty, staff, and students with events in Rochester's theatre community. It seeks as its leaders faculty, staff, and students drawn from a variety of academic disciplines and departments. The Sixth Act is driven by a diverse and committed group of faculty and students-with objectives to: (1) to provide MCC theatre and non-theatre students regular, inspiring, challenging exposure to dramatic art, (2) to offer MCC faculty a variety of venues through which to cultivate their knowledge of dramatic art and bring this knowledge into a variety of classrooms across discipline, (3) to support and diversify MCC's growing theatre program, (4) to connect MCC students, faculty, and staff across disciplines and with Rochester's theatre community, (5) to fulfill and stimulate students and faculty members who work directly with Sixth Act programming.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Call Center
by
Barbara LeFevre and Erick Robinson

Winner Institution:
Montgomery County Community College

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
In September 2006, the College instituted a Call Center to act as a central point of contact for incoming call volume. The offices included in the pilot project were Admissions, Records and Registration, and the Student Success Center. In 2007, the Call Center expanded to the West Campus, and the Financial Aid Office was added in 2008. A primary goal of the Call Center is to allow the front line staff to focus their attention on assisting walk in students or performing other duties without answering phone calls. With added technology, a new procedure manual and scripting, the Call Center was charged with improving customer service and enhancing staff productivity. Some byproducts of the technology include the ability to manage by fact and to align staffing with student needs, due to the increased reporting capability from the software used to manage the Call Center.

How this project is being recognized:
Innovation of the Year Breakfast; plaque added to the Wall of Innovation in the Advanced Technology Center; press release; Big News (college-wide newsletter)

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

2nd Annual Intern and Employer Meeting and Awards Ceremony
by
Lisa Kelsay, Joyce Daniel, Pamela Payne, and Cecillia Carothers

Winner Institution:
Moraine Valley Community College

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
The 2nd Annual Intern and Employer Meeting and Awards Ceremony held on May 2, 2008 grew out of a desire to bring together all parties involved in the internship program. Never in the past had this been done prior to 2007 at the 1st Annual meeting. One goal of this meeting was to bring together Moraine Valley Community College students who completed internships during the 2008 Fiscal Year with their supervisors and employers who posted internships through our office during the same year to celebrate the success stories of the interns. Also invited to this meeting were college administrators and Faculty Internship Coordinators. A more important goal for this meeting was to give an opportunity to the students to show what they learned, for the college to show their appreciation to the internship employers, and to allow all attendees an opportunity to network. This meeting was also the culmination of a year of outstanding success stories. Students were nominated for the Moraine Valley Community College 2008 Intern of the Year award and employers were nominated for the first ever Moraine Valley Community College 2008 Internship Employer of the Year award. Nominees were recognized at this ceremony and the recipients of these awards were revealed.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

CPA Starter Program
by
Michael Tydlaska and Angela LeBlanc

Winner Institution:
Mountain View College

Innovation Type:
Resource Development

Description:
The CPA (Certified Public Accounting) Starter Program offers selected courses that will qualify candidates for the State of Texas uniform CPA exam. The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) has accredited Mountain View College as a designated community college to offer Qualifying Educational Credit for the CPA Examination. The CPA Starter Program is designed for students who hold a Bachelors degree in any discipline except Accounting. Mountain View College is the only single college awarded this distinction in the state. The other community colleges with this designation from the TSBPA, Austin College, Lone Star College and Houston College are designated as entire districts not single campus programs. The CPA Starter Program at Mountain View College focuses on advanced topics in accounting including financial, managerial, taxation and auditing. The intent of this program is to increase the quality and number of competent and ethically-sound candidates to sit for the uniform CPA exam.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

NAIT Shell Manufacturing Centre
by
Wanda Williams, Vincent Capri, Ryan Mussbacher, Mave Dhariwal, Dan Racette, and Neil Wenger

Winner Institution:
NAIT

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The NAIT Shell Manufacturing Centre, believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, offers a unique combination of manufacturing solutions and productivity enhancement training services. The Centre provides industry and students with exposure to leading edge manufacturing processes and ideas, and the services and support to enable these groups to apply them in their own products and environments. The Centre’s focus is on productivity gains made available through process innovation and advanced technologies such as rapid prototyping, laser cutting, welding robotics and radio frequency identification devices. The Centre is supported by Shell Canada, Microsoft, Matrikon, and the Governments of Alberta and Canada. In addition to core staff, there are approximately 25 contract staff and an Industry Advisory Committee consisting of manufacturing sector representatives providing guidance.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony, NAITLine Newsletter, All Users Messages

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

The Achilles Project
by
Carol Farber, Wendy Eisner, and Valerie Lagakis

Winner Institution:
Nassau Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Nassau Community College recognizes an innovative special program The Achilles Project. Designed by a college-wide task force formed by Vice President Jack Ostling and Associate Vice President Carol Farber, and directed by Psychology Professor Wendy Eisner assisted by Reading Professor Valerie Lagakis, this program addresses the educational needs of twice-exceptional students (high potential with learning challenges). It uses strength-based instruction and provides supports in students’ weakness areas. Interventions include: differentiated instruction; faculty teaming; faculty training; individualized supplemental instruction, personal counseling, academic, transfer, and career advisement; and group work for social-emotional growth. Many students with histories of failure and withdrawal are excelling at NCC and transfer institutions.

How this project is being recognized:
school newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Agriscience Academy
by
T. Mueller, L. Mueller, B. Kamm, K. Stock, D. Lawstuen, C. Harvey, J. Green, N. Gebel, T. Schnieders, M. Adams, M. Lansing, D. Martin, R. Twedt, M. Luckstedt, D. Mohling, M. Enyar, N. Zuercher, D. Dexter, and J. Dillon

Winner Institution:
Northeast Iowa Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The goal of the Agriscience Academy is to increase the number of students enrolling in and successfully completing a post-secondary agriculture degree, resulting in a more highly educated agriculture workforce. High school students will be provided with a faster, less expensive tract to an agriculture career through enrollment in post-secondary courses while in high school, and could complete a degree 1 year after high school graduation. Keeping students in their local school has the following advantages: reduced travel costs; leadership development opportunities; familiar environment; maintains high school district enrollment. Curriculum packets for these courses will be available electronically on the internet, providing an outline and teaching materials for consistency across sections and instructors. Curriculum for 7 courses has been developed: Animal Science, Crop Science, Farm Management, Agriculture Markets, Foundations of Writing, Fundamentals of Speech, College Comp.

How this project is being recognized:
Employee Recognition Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Ngawha Prison Reintegration Project
by
Shane Walden and Taina Savage

Winner Institution:
Northland Polytech

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The Ngawha project is a 20-week introduction program delivered to prisoners within the Correctional walls to teach and train basic building skills. It links in with not-for-profit organizations that can benefit from building projects, such as Habitat for Humanity, and is actively seeking to form new links with employment sources. The objective is to provide employers with a new source of employable, skilled workers and prisoners with sound basic employable skills, assisting with reintegrating them into the workforce. The basic skills learnt are not limited to construction. This pilot-based program is unique in New Zealand and was targeted to see if this would have an impact on prisoner reintegration. Prisoners who have attended the program have stated this is the best program they have attended, and, in addition, some paroled prisoners have since gone into working positions they would otherwise not have been able to secure. Corrections has since adopted this model for other prisons.

How this project is being recognized:
Northland Polytech newsletter, All-staff awards ceremony, Corrections internal newsletter, newspaper articles

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Innovation Mini Grants
by
The "winners" are the faculty, staff and students of Northwestern Michigan College.

Winner Institution:
Northwestern Michigan College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
A Faculty/Staff Innovation Grant fund of $50,000 was created in FY09 by request of the NMC Board of Trustees to the NMC Foundation. Grants are funded through unrestricted gifts to the Foundation's Annual Community Campaign. The purpose is to invest in innovative faculty/staff ideas and projects. Typically these innovation opportunities emerge during the year outside of the normal budgeting sources and processes. Funding is for one-time, non-recurring requests. Similarly, a Student Innovation Grant fund was established with $30,000 from the NMC Foundation, Barbecue Board and Student Government Association in order to invest in innovative student initiatives. Recipients are expected to share results with the NMC Foundation Board and the NMC Board of Trustees at the conclusion of each project. Quarterly grant cycles ensure agility and spark continuous innovation. Grantees are selected by representatives of the Trustees, Foundation and NMC Vice Presidents Group.

How this project is being recognized:
Newsletter, newspaper article, Board of Trustees and Foundation Board meeting updates and reports.

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Multiple Crime Scene Locations
by
Thomas Lesniak

Winner Institution:
Ocean County College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Thomas Lesniak, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Science, has received Ocean County College’s Innovator of the Year Award for his development and implementation of multiple internal and external crime scene locations for the Criminal Justice Program. The crime scenes integrated evidence into several scenarios requiring students to demonstrate critical thinking and analytical deduction. The multiple scenes involved the collection of furniture, clothing, and weapons (non-functioning). In addition to the critical thinking and analytical deduction activities, the students had the experience of a life-like evidence collection including photographic evidence. Professor Lesniak’s efforts were coordinated with members of the Criminal Justice faculty.

How this project is being recognized:
Campus-wide Broadcast; New Release; Board Recognition

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Cabinet (Executive Leadership) Learning Community
by
Joanne Munroe

Winner Institution:
Olympic College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
In response to March 2008 PACE survey results, President David Mitchell asked, Joanne Munroe, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning to design curriculum, plan activities and facilitate a year-long Cabinet level professional learning community organized toward "inclusive excellence" (AAC&U, 2008) and connecting leadership with student success. Using Hubbard's (2008) work (The Diversity Scorecard: Evaluating the Impact of Diversity on Organizational Performance) and Bergquist and Pawlak's (2008) work, Engaging the Six Cultures of the Academy, as core texts, the Cabinet Learning Community uses appreciative inquiry, case studies, empowerment evaluation and evaluation for capacity building in a developmental leadership model for organizational learning that builds toward consensus based quality improvement and provides infrastructural supports for sustainable institutional change.

How this project is being recognized:
Presentation - Board of Trustees

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Web-based Class Schedule
by
Sam Fraulino, Alicann Lunceford, Carol Myers, David Preston, Paul Golisch, George Mathew, Jason Pociask, and Corey Weidner

Winner Institution:
Paradise Valley Community College

Innovation Type:
Resource Development

Description:
This program is an efficient and cost effective way of presenting class schedule information via the web. The web schedule’s enhanced functionality engages students in crafting an appropriate semester timeline, contributing towards their success. It provides access to faculty and staff pertinent enrollment information, updated every ½ hour, that can be utilized for advisement, tracking enrollments, and 'go/no go' class decisions. Features include a class list “shopping cart,” late-start/canceled class information, an interactive campus map, and full course information with the click of a button. The application was developed in a two-week time period by a cross-functional team of Paradise Valley Community College and District IT, and instructional personnel. Input is continually being sought to enhance the program. The application source code has been shared with five system colleges to use as delivered or to adapt, and has replaced the PeopleSoft SIS schedule to benefit students.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Recognition Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

One Book, One Community
by
Barbara Zaborowski

Winner Institution:
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The One Book, One Community program was started in 2004 by Dr. Barbara Zaborowski, Associate Dean of Learning Resources at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College as a means of encouraging adults to read. Dr. Zaborowski organized other key partners in the community; namely, St. Francis University, Mount Aloysius College, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and the Cambria County Library System to serve as a selection committee to choose book titles. Based on a national model, the local program was expanded in 2006 to include middle school students. The middle school program has grown to become a multi-day program, in partnership with the National Park Service, the students get to meet an author and participate in hands-on activities surrounding themes of a selected title. In the past, these events have included stone cutting, log hewing, glassblowing, ethnic dance, music, black powder demonstrations, and costumed interpretation. All themes for the middle school program are based on Pennsylvania history and are incorporated directly into the curriculum at each school. The program has grown in 2009 to include 1,380 students from over 20 schools in the county. The adult program is also still growing, now in its 6th year, and has over 75 regular readers. By leveraging the College’s role in the community, the program has been able to be sustained through various fundraising activities and partnerships with other organizations and businesses in the county. The program is sustained through the generosity of multiple corporate and individual donations. In 2008, the Johnstown-Tribune Democrat, a One Book partner, was nominated for a statewide award for their support of this program. They received the media award from the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries.

How this project is being recognized:
Yes, through local newspapers

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Microsoft Producer: How to have your own production studio
by
Jeff Rorer

Winner Institution:
Pitt Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Microsoft Producer is a free program from Microsoft that works with Powerpoint and is essentially a miniproduction studio that allows me to combine media from many sources into a final production that is the lecture component of the class. I first take the Powerpoint slides provided from the publisher of the text I am using and modify them to the way I teach. I then add my voice lecture and animation to the slides and import them into Producer. I also imbed, with permission of the publisher, the videos provided by textbook publishers into the lecture. If desired, HTML can also be displayed and the entire view from the students perspective can be customized based on the content you want them to see. I have been delivering CHM 131 online in this format for a little over 1 year and the grades have been on par or slightly better than the traditional face to face classes. It has eased the overcrowding some while still allowing students to feel as though they are in lecture.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Linking Developmental College Reading Students with Elementary Students through Technology and Nonfiction Literature
by
Lynda Wolverton

Winner Institution:
Polk Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Linking reading and technology skills between elementary and college students provides an enriching opportunity. At Polk Community College students select a nonfiction theme and develop a reading portfolio. They incorporate presentation software and other technologies such as library databases related to their chosen theme. After portfolios are complete, each college student shares their work with an elementary student in a one-on-one environment who will be taking a state mandated test in reading later in the school year. College students stress the importance of reading and using technology to enhance motivation.

How this project is being recognized:
award ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Conversion of Culinary Waste Oil Into Bio-diesel Fuel
by
Tom Bornhorst, Tran Ngo, Madeleine Ho, Reece Winter, Vita Martez, and Brad Rosenberger

Winner Institution:
SAIT Polytechnic

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
SAIT Polytechnic is reducing its environmental footprint through collaboration between its School of Hospitality and Tourism and its Applied Research and Innovation Services. SAIT has designed a unique filtration system and process to convert culinary waste oil into bio-diesel fuel, using a bio-diesel processor. The revenue generated from this fuel is reinvested into making the bio-diesel production self-sustaining. Student involvement includes developing and implementing testing programs that meet rigorous quality controls, to ensure the bio-diesel is commercially saleable. SAIT staff and students produced their first batch of bio-diesel in January 2009, and are currently processing their 7th batch.

How this project is being recognized:
Internal newsletters and communications

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Special Studies ESL for Facilities and Food Services Personnel
by
Bob Askerlund, Lidya Gonzalez, Douglas New, and Sonia Parker

Winner Institution:
Salt Lake Community College

Innovation Type:
Basic Skills and Developmental Education

Description:
This program promotes social justice at Salt Lake Community College by providing an opportunity for part-time personnel to improve their English language skills. The Division of Developmental Education, in collaboration with Student Services and Business Services, prepared English as a Second Language instruction for facilities and food services staff members. These employees give up part of their lunch breaks, combined with some work time, to receive four hours of instruction weekly. More than forty employees, some preliterate in their native language, have benefitted from the program; three have gone on to full-time work at the College. The special studies English as a Second Language program reaffirms Salt lake Community College’s goal to provide lifelong learning to serve people of diverse cultures, abilities, and ages.

How this project is being recognized:
Orbitz newsletter, Evening of Honor Awards Ceremony, Commencement & Convocation recognition

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Bachelor of Applied Sciences Programs
by
The BAS Cross-College Development Team

Winner Institution:
Santa Fe College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
In recognition of the local need for access to baccalaureate degrees in health-related fields, Santa Fe College developed and obtained state and accrediting body approval for two new Bachelor of Applied Sciences programs: Clinical Laboratory Science and Health Services Administration. Both degrees serve Associate of Science graduates, providing them with opportunities to earn four year degrees in high demand fields. The academic development team worked closely with regional hospitals, clinical laboratories, and biotechnology firms to create the programs, assuring that the degrees’ curriculum was high quality, academically rigorous, and responsive to the needs of the health care industry. The support team created the student services and system programming required to back the new degrees. The community has responded to the new degrees enthusiastically, welcoming this new access point to continued higher education.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Adult Education On-line Professional Development
by
Fran Turner, Philip Johnson, Curtis Coleman, Julia Chancey, and Kristen Peoples

Winner Institution:
Shelton State Community College

Innovation Type:
Basic Skills and Developmental Education

Description:
Shelton State Community College became the first Adult Education (AE) program in Alabama to provide on-line professional development opportunities for its 34 faculty and staff serving students across five counties. Segments included an update on program policies, encouragement and information from college personnel including the president and key administrative staff, and "Best Practices" sessions, which enabled instructors to share and participate in learning about successful instructional activities. Due to its effectiveness, this program has become a model for the regional professional development workshops by the Department of Postsecondary Education, which oversees AE programs statewide.

How this project is being recognized:
Newspaper and institutional newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Center for Energy Education Laboratory
by
Robert B. Gilbert

Winner Institution:
Sinclair Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The Center for Energy Education laboratory was designed and built by Sinclair students as an internship project. The Energy Lab has a wide range of projects, displays and information modules ranging from energy efficiency, solar thermal, solar PV, biodiesel, ethanol, wind and hydrogen. The Center is engaged in community education and awareness of dwindling global energy resources and global warming, together with student energy-related activities, development of energy-related curriculum, courses and modules, and designing and building an energy lab. There have been numerous tours given of the Energy Lab. The Lab has a special area designated as K–12 which includes numerous activities of interest to them: solar PV products, hydrogen powered cars, solar powered wind mills, an interactive solar drag race track and dragsters, among many other activities. Many programs at the College are able to use the laboratory for classroom teaching and learning. For example, Architectural, Civil and Construction Management Technology programs are able to use the lab to demonstrate Energy Star construction specifications, energy codes and installation techniques. As well, through learning service projects, students conduct energy audits for non-profit organizations within the community. These collaborations with local business community have resulted in co-op positions for Sinclair students. The Center for Energy Education Lab has proven to move Sinclair into the energy education arena.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

CISCO Technology in the Classroom
by
John Haney

Winner Institution:
Snead State Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
To meet the increasing advances in technology, Snead State Community College technology instructor, John Haney, redesigned and created a new Computer Science Technology degree. Students can choose a networking track (Cisco) or a web design/graphics track. The Networking track includes four Cisco courses which are part of the official Cisco Academy. Snead State is now an official Cisco Academy and has created a top-of-the-line Cisco lab for students to complete hands-on Cisco training. The Web Design/Graphics track includes new courses using Adobe software. Mr. Haney has been the College’s key leader in developing a curriculum students need and industry wants.

How this project is being recognized:
local newspapers, campus publications

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center
by
Jill Wakefield

Winner Institution:
South Seattle Community College

Innovation Type:
Other: Partnerships

Description:
A coalition of community partners was instrumental in creating a unique training facility that meets the region’s need for workers in high-demand fields, including training for new generations of green jobs. Representatives of education, business, labor, government, economic development organizations and community groups helped spur a land swap that doubled the size of the Duwamish branch campus of South Seattle Community College, located in the heart of the region’s industrial-manufacturing corridor. The coalition then identified critical workforce needs and educational services for the facility, which set the foundation for the Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center, new construction and a newly renamed Georgetown Campus, reflecting the new strategic direction and community focus. Dedicated in 2008, the PSIEC serves as a focal point for economic development, educational opportunities, family-wage jobs and global competitiveness, and it has won statewide and regional awards.

How this project is being recognized:
News releases, website and recognition at annual convocation.

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

100 Yard Tricycles Races Enhance Learning
by
Scott Swan

Winner Institution:
Southwest WI Technical College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Scott Swan from Southwest WI Technical College has developed a learning project that incorporates the “real” meaning of active learning. The basic idea of his project comes from the PBS series, Design Squad. The project is a 100-yard race using tricycles powered by two portable drills. Working in two teams, the students apply the design process, intellectual properties, power transmission mechanisms, and horsepower calculations as they engineer the tricycles. Each tricycle reaches a speed of 7 mph. The race is a success . . as is student learning! Scott Swan believes the best way to learn is by doing and he shows it with his family, community, and school. Scott a father of five, coaches baseball, little league, and any other sport where assistance is needed. He keeps his mechanical design skills active and up-to-date by participating in summer job opportunities. Scott brings fresh ideas every year to the students. SWTC is fortunate to have an instructor like Scott for 25 years.

How this project is being recognized:
Award Ceremony

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Nursing Preadmission Scoring
by
Cindy Nicholson, Pete Lacey, and Mary Owen

Winner Institution:
St. Clair County Community College

Innovation Type:
Leadership and Organization

Description:
The nursing shortage, declining economy, and retraining of displaced workers has greatly increased the number of students applying to the nursing program. Analysis of admission criteria and scoring for these candidates has been a manual, time consuming, and cumbersome process. The innovators have improved the admission process by developing an electronic report that calculates the student’s course credits (both SC4 & transfer), grade points, and HESI points. In addition, this report cumulates the student’s total preadmission score based on the admission criteria. This score is used to rank the students for admission into the nursing program.

How this project is being recognized:
College employee communication, local newspaper, employee recognition dinner

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Anatomy & Physiology Digital Textbooks
by
Deborah Roiger

Winner Institution:
St. Cloud Technical College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
This project consists of two digital textbooks for Anatomy and Physiology I and II available to registered students through Desire to Learn. Each textbook has two sections. The first is a Digital Atlas with 676 images of all the resources in the SCTC anatomy lab. Each image is pinned with the structures the student needs to know in the course. The student clicks on a button and all the labels appear. All of the structures are indexed. The second section of each textbook consists of streamed mini lectures on difficult A&P concepts. There are 54 mini lectures in the A&P I digital textbook; 60 mini lectures in the A&P II textbook. The A&P Digital Textbooks provide students access to a virtual lab and lectures to review 24/7 wherever they have internet access. Their use has improved performance in the classroom and has made it possible to offer the courses online.

How this project is being recognized:
School newsletter, Awards ceremony, newspaper

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

New Student Enrollment Orientation
by
Julie Massey, Kim Fitzgerald, Suzzie Huff, Klaudia Krygiel, Ray Eberle-Mayse and Barb Shadburne

Winner Institution:
St. Louis Community College - Meramec Campus

Innovation Type:
Student Services and Activities

Description:
New Student Enrollment Orientation was created to deliver information to first time new students in an efficient and consistent manner and provide them with an opportunity to ask questions, be better prepared, and take more responsibility for and ownership of the enrollment process. New students are invited to attend a 1 1/2 hour orientation session after they have completed an enrollment application and provided appropriate test scores or assessment results. Orientation sessions are offered several times a day.

How this project is being recognized:

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

In-Class Writing Consultants
by
Laurie Kuribayashi

Winner Institution:
University of Hawai'i--Leeward Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
Laurie Kuribayashi, in collaboration with Professor Rae Watanabe and other faculty colleagues and the writing consultants (peer writing tutors), has developed an in-class workshop program in which the writing consultants facilitate small-group discussions in the classroom. The program currently encompasses more than forty in-class workshops a semester. Faculty and student surveys provide positive feedback regarding the program’s effectiveness in encouraging student engagement and providing instructional support. Perhaps the most compelling “evidence” of the program’s positive impact is shown in a comment from a student in a developmental writing class: “They helped me see that I could be a good writer.”

How this project is being recognized:
website, electronic newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Ventura College Promise
by
Ventura College Foundation

Winner Institution:
Ventura College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
The Ventura College Promise is a program sponsored by the Ventura College Foundation. The "promise" is that all recent Ventura County high school graduates, regardless of family income, number of units taken, or high school grade point average, will have their enrollment fees covered during their first year of attendance at Ventura College. To qualify, students must apply within 12 months of the completion of high school. In less than two years, the program has served more than 2500 students. There have been impressive differences in the enrollment behavior of Promise students vs. their non-Promise counterparts. 82% of the Promise students are enrolled full-time (as opposed to 46% of their non-Promise peers). Persistence is also significantly different: Of the initial cohort, 88% of the Promise students persisted from fall to spring, with 68% still remaining the following fall semester, while only 44% of their non-Promise peers remained in college during that same 12 month period

How this project is being recognized:
Short documentary film, multiple newspaper articles, magazine article

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other

Improving the First Year of College: Sweet Success for Students in Transition
by
Beth Bownes-Johnson, Cheril Grimmett, Wes Rakestraw, Rob Metcalf, Renee Quick, Natalie Shearer, James Tidwell, Karon Welch, Donnie Rice, Cindy Mallard , Rebecca Reeves, Ricky Burks, Brandi Gindhart, Lisa Harris, and Jerome Ward

Winner Institution:
Wallace State Community College

Innovation Type:
Learning and Teaching

Description:
In order to increase student success, retention, GPAs, and transfer rates, Wallace State developed the First Year Gateway to WSCC Initiative in fall 2008 to assist those students in transition. Because this is a holistic program, all aspects of the student experience were examined with a focus on providing increased academic support and improved interaction among faculty and students. A portion of this new program includes offering paired integrated Learning Communities (LC), Structured Learning Assistance Courses (SLA), and refined data collection. Pass rates have improved significantly from fall 07 to fall 08: ENG 101 from 76% to 93% (LC), SLA 84%; SPH 107 from 73% to 87% (LC); HIS 201 from 82% to 94% (SLA); RDG 083 from 70% to 100% (LC); ENG 092 from 76% to 82% (LC).

How this project is being recognized:
Awards ceremony, news article, and college newsletter

The criteria this project has met
Quality	Efficiency
Cost Effectiveness	Creativity
Timeliness	Replication
Other