Public Information Office Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: Investigate the possibility of purchasing projection system and license to show movies on and off campus.

Action Plan: Investigate copyright laws and regulations; find sources for licenses and movies; create a budget for these items. Check on equipment needed and cost for equipment. Budget for needed items.

Assessment Strategy: Research materials compiled and presentation to Cabinet of information obtained.

Assessment Outcomes: Researched license for showing movies on campus. Average cost per movie is $500 through a company called Swank. The college’s current projection system in the multipurpose room or in the auditorium is adequate; however it was difficult to determine if the sound system was adequate without having the rooms full of people. The final issue involved logistics: Who may attend movies? How will we control crowds? When will we show them without interfering with classes? The fact that it would take numbers of volunteers every time a movie was shown on campus, and the fact that we do not have security, and the added burden on maintenance were reasons we tabled this idea at this time.

Use of Results: Information will be kept on file in PIO office in the event circumstances allow us to look at this again.

Public Information Office Goal: Maintain up-to-date technology and services to provide the college with quality publications and other media needs.

Objectives: Purchase a larger monitor to support multiple software programs open simultaneously working together to create publications. (Most publications require having the following programs open to work simultaneously: Photoshop, Word, InDesign – and sometimes Excel and Publisher depending upon the source documents that are sent to me.)

Action Plan: Purchase hardware and begin using it to more productively create publications.

Assessment Strategy: Monitor purchased.

Assessment Outcomes: Monitor purchased for less than $500.

Use of Results: Monitor is connected and in use.

Public Information Office Goal: Maintain up-to-date technology and services to provide the college with quality publications and other media needs.

Objectives: Purchase a new digital camera to replace current camera that has a light meter failure. Also purchase an external flash for taking photographs in large rooms and possibly prevent light meter failure. (Camera’s mounted flash is not adequate for photos in large rooms. Camera’s digital light meter may have been compensating for lack of light in photographs.)

Action Plan: Purchase hardware and begin using it to take photographs that are used in all college advertising and publications.

Assessment Strategy: Camera and flash purchase.

Assessment Outcomes: New camera purchased for less than $800

Use of Results: Improvements in photos have already been realized because of this purchase.

Public Information Office Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: Publish a quarterly “magazine” in-house consisting of press releases and photos that have been in the news for recruiter to use in lieu of a viewbook.

Action Plan:

1. Work with Coordinator of Evening Operations and Safety to purchase paper appropriate for printing magazine in-house.
2. Create a template for magazine.
3. Compile and format appropriate press releases for publication in magazine.
4. Obtain appropriate approvals.
5. Determine number of copies to print with the help of Student Activities Coordinator and Dean of Student Services.
6. Submit to Coordinator of Evening Operations for printing.
7. Deliver to Student Activities Coordinator for distribution.

Assessment Strategy: The publication itself

Assessment Outcomes: Incomplete

Use of Results: Continue goal for next year.

Public Information Office Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: Organize a voluntary college-wide speaker’s bureau and publicize it.

Action Plan:

1. Ask instructors and employees with expertise in certain areas and some public speaking skills to make themselves available for public speaking engagements on behalf of the college.
2. Organize a list based on area of expertise.
3. Make list available to the Chamber of Commerce, schools and voluntary organizations in the County.
4. Follow-up by being the contact person to book the engagements; provide any materials and multimedia necessary for the speaker to use; and generally facilitate the speaking engagement to simplify the process for the speaker.

Assessment Strategy: The list of volunteers and the organizations the list is sent to.

Assessment Outcomes: Compiled a list of volunteers willing to speak at public functions to begin a speaker’s bureau. List has not yet been publicized because it is still very small and I would like to encourage others to add their names before I make the list public.

Use of Results: Continue to add to list next year.

Public Information Office Goal: Ensure a consistent message or college “brand” is displayed to the public in all internal and external media.

Objectives: Organize a subcommittee within the Marketing Team, to review all new forms used by the college to standardize their look.

Action Plan:

1. Obtain input from E.T. regarding forms that may be created using CIS.
2. Obtain input from departments using specialized State forms via the Marketing Team representatives.
3. Utilize the entire Marketing Team to review all current forms used by the college to begin standardization process.
4. Obtain approval from administration with each review and standardization request, if necessary.
5. Over time, re-create forms in standardized format in Adobe Design, making them available to be filled out electronically.
6. Recommend administration obtain Adobe Professional software licenses to be able to utilize electronic signature device for approval of forms submitted electronically.
7. Utilize the Forms Committee for review of all new forms for standardization. Once standardized and approved, PIO will re-create in Adobe Design.

Assessment Strategy: Standardized electronic forms available

Assessment Outcomes: Unable to form a subcommittee within the marketing team to look at college forms. The marketing team was officially re-formed in February of 2008. As a result of other initiatives, the college forms may not be the only documents to be reviewed for consistency. The other initiatives will preclude a forms subcommittee.

Use of Results: Due to the low priority, this goal will be grouped with other initiatives at a later date.

Public Information Office Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: Investigate the possibility of providing “multimedia brochures” for college and curriculum programs

Action Plan:

1. Estimate the cost for producing a college DVD by obtaining quotes from media producers.
2. Begin to experiment with college’s video camera and Pinnacle Studio software to determine if DVD can be created in-house.

Assessment Strategy: Compare in-house product with DVD’s produced by/for other colleges to determine quality vs. cost.

Assessment Outcomes: Multimedia brochures are very expensive averaging about $10,000 and up. I began video editing in December and Pinnacle Studio shut down in mid-edit each time I began using it. Subsequently my computer crashed. I have not added Pinnacle back onto the computer since the crash and am waiting until next fiscal year when my computer will be upgraded to try again.

Use of Results: To be continued next year.

Public Information Office Goal: Stay up-to-date on current trends in the profession and upgrade skills on a regular basis.

Objectives: Learn more about photography to provide more professional services to the college

Action Plan: Enroll in and pass a basic photography course

Assessment Strategy: More professional looking photographs

Assessment Outcomes: Applied to Randolph Community College and received information about the photography program. Purchased all necessary equipment to begin. Tried to register for my first class and was told there was a second class that had to be taken at the same time. As the classes are during the day, I could not take them. I plan on learning how to use the equipment on my own when time permits.

Use of Results: N/A

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the college’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

PIO Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: With input from the Marketing Team, work with the recruiter & VP of Student Services to assist in target marketing to Montgomery County School students.

Action Plan:

1. At a regular Marketing Team meeting, brainstorm ideas for strategies to approach the different schools.
2. Discuss strategies with Cabinet to get input and support.
3. Meet with key faculty members for input and participation.
4. Discuss strategies with PIO at Montgomery Co. Administration for initial support.
5. Obtain necessary authorization to implement strategies.
6. Implement
7. Survey Montgomery County school faculty/administration/students or work with focus groups to obtain feedback during MCC strategic planning process

Person(s) Responsible: PIO, Marketing Team, Recruiter, VP of Student Services

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: May 2009

Assessment Strategy: Improved cooperation between MCC and County Schools

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: N/A

Assessment Outcomes: This is a two-year goal. Initial assessment of action plan will be done in May 2009.

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2010

College Goal: Utilize technology to provide information services that support quality, personalized instruction.

PIO Goal: Maintain up-to-date technology and services to provide the college with quality publications and other media needs.

Objectives: Purchase a photo-quality printer for in-house photographic needs

Action Plan: Purchase hardware and begin using it to more productively create publications.

Person(s) Responsible: PIO

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: December 2008

Assessment Strategy: Purchase of printer

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Approximately $1,000

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2009

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2009

College Goal: Insure that services are provided to industry, small businesses, and other community initiatives to facilitate economic growth.

PIO Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: Create various in-house video projects, visual presentations, or traditional media to use for promoting the college both on and off campus.

Action Plan:

1. Obtain updated photographs / video of all curriculum programs, continuing education classes and MCC departments.
2. Work with individuals and departments to provide presentations and materials for use at recruiting events on an as-needed basis.

Person(s) Responsible: PIO

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: Ongoing. Initial projects, May 2009

Assessment Strategy: Production of video project / visual presentations

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: Minimal use of PIO State supplies budget

Assessment Outcomes: Initial assessment, May 2009, then ongoing

Use of Results: To be completed May 2009

College Goal: Insure that services are provided to industry, small businesses, and other community initiatives to facilitate economic growth.

PIO Goal: Provide opportunities for growth in current and potential new markets.

Objectives: Work with various internal initiatives for marketing current and new programs, especially niche programs

Action Plan:

1. Make better use of the internet to advertise niche programs with the help of the webmaster.
2. Assist in creation of a splash page for niche programs for better search engine placement.
3. Evaluate efficacy of current advertising in national publications.

Person(s) Responsible: PIO and Dean of Institutional Development

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: May 2009

Assessment Strategy:
1. & 2. Increased number of inquiries via the web.
3. Be able to present data that will help in decision-making process for national advertising.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: State operating budget

Assessment Outcomes: To be completed May 2009

Use of Results: To be completed May 2009

College Goal: Maintain an ongoing program that insures continual improvement and a high standard of institutional effectiveness, consistent with the expectations of governing and accrediting agencies.

PIO Goal: Ensure a consistent message or college “brand” is displayed to the public in all internal and external media.

Objectives: With the help of the Marketing Team, develop publications guidelines for all college publications which will include fonts, colors, logo elements, etc.

Action Plan:

1. At a regular Marketing Team meeting, discuss alternative logo elements, fonts and colors for MCC publications.
2. Develop a palette of choices for elements.
3. Present to Cabinet for input & approval
4. Create guidelines based on approved elements

Person(s) Responsible: PIO and Marketing Team

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: December 2009

Assessment Strategy: Publication of Publications Guidelines

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: N/A

Assessment Outcomes: Initial assessment to be done in May, 2009

Use of Results: To be completed May 2010

College Goal: Maintain an ongoing program that insures continual improvement and a high standard of institutional effectiveness, consistent with the expectations of governing and accrediting agencies.

PIO Goal: Stay up-to-date on current trends in the profession and upgrade skills on a regular basis.

Objectives: Attend one professional development conference or course per semester

Action Plan: Attend a PRIMA or similar conference. Possibly take an Ed-to-Go course or attend a workshop or seminar.

Person(s) Responsible: PIO

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective: May 2009

Assessment Strategy: Professional development form filed at the end of the IE period.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective: State travel budget for conferences

Assessment Outcomes: To be completed May 2009

Use of Results: To be completed May 2009