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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Quinn and Ripton Present at CCBOA


In its continuous effort to share best practices across SUNY community colleges, the Community Colleges Business Officers Association (CCBOA) sponsored guest speakers at its June 2008 conference in Corning, NY.  Participating from MCC were Mike Quinn, controller and Betsy Ripton, director, Registration and Records.

Mike presented MCC’s Distance Dental Hygiene program that has been quite the success with Jefferson and Jamestown Community Colleges.  In his presentation, he highlighted the fact that many colleges find it prohibitive to offer allied health programs.  First and foremost, these programs require considerable resources due to low student-to-faculty ratios, high faculty wages and costs of infrastructure, equipment and supplies.  Secondly, the local community may not experience consistent demand for some of these professions; this is especially true for rural areas.

Mike then described a typical scenario for rural communities where the need and resources are definite but not infinite.  Some key points follow:

·         There is a need for Dental Hygienists; however, such a program is not offered locally

·         Students leave the community for education and may not return

·         Locally educated students tend to stay in the local community

·         Critical workforce shortages are easily saturated by a small number of graduates

·         On-going programs produce unneeded graduates that depress salaries and negatively impact full employment

Through a collaborative effort, Monroe CC, Jefferson CC, and Jamestown CC have designed a Distance Dental Program to meet the needs of their respective communities.

Betsy presented Electronic Imaging at MCC.  She discussed the reasons why it’s necessary to image – filing, filing, filing and more filing.  She provided the audience with a brief history of the circumstances that led to MCC adopting electronic imaging for storing documents and the follow-on evolution of the process.  A clear statement of need was stated: “No matter how you organize outstanding filing --- there is always more to be done.  Everyone files everything, each staffer files specific letters, Friday only filing...”

Her presentation showed the trials and tribulations of implementing an electronic imaging system but more importantly, the end results:

Admissions and Registration offices started imaging and then 10 additional offices came on board.
We have saved staff headcount and dollars
Improved the use of campus space enabling increased space in Admissions, Financial Aid and Records
The manila folder is now retired and “wowing” the students by having immediate access to all information needed to assist with their needs

Customers have quick access to what they need and students are registered for the right courses the first time

Both presentations were well received by the audience.

Heze Simmons, Interim Vice President
Administrative Services
07/18/2008