WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

Criterion 4: Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge
The organization’s promotes a life of learning for its faculty, administration,
staff, and students by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice,
and social responsibility.
Core Component 4a: The organization demonstrates, through the actions of
its board, administrators, students, faculty, and staff, that it values a life of
learning.
Every employee and official associated with WNCC believes in learning, whether it is traditional
students completing specific educational-path requirements, returning non-traditional learners
wanting to change careers, or their own continued growth. The endorsement of learning as the
primary purpose of the College’s existence is demonstrated in numerous ways by various
components of the institution.
WCCA Board Policy
The Western Community College Area Board of Governors values a life of learning by espousing
the essential academic principles of freedom of inquiry and expression while acknowledging the
responsibilities associated with such self-determination. Board policy affirms that, “In the
development of knowledge, research endeavors and creative activities, the College staff and
student must be free to cultivate a spirit of inquiry and scholarly criticism.” The policy clarifies that
examining ideas in “an atmosphere of freedom and confidence” is fundamental to the role of the
institution (RR 95). The Western Nebraska Community College Philosophy statement affirms that
WNCC and its employees are “committed to serving the residents of western Nebraska with higher
education and lifelong learning opportunities” (RR 96).
Administrative Policy
Likewise, administrative policy, as imparted to instructors in the Faculty and Staff handbook, places
an emphasis on professionalism, stating that instructors are “required to possess a comprehensive
knowledge of the field of study, preparation and intense interest in students, a sensitivity toward
student interests, open-mindedness, a commitment to creative inquiry and investigation, and an
intellectual enthusiasm which transmits to the students” (RR 97).
Instructors are expected to keep current regarding specific disciplines and to integrate that
knowledge into the classroom, an expectation supported by the previously discussed options for
professional development and salary incentives linked to continuing educational attainment. In
addition, WNCC’s tuition remission policy allows staff, faculty, and dependents to take courses at
the College with no charge for tuition.
Faculty Members
Western Nebraska Community College faculty members create an individual course syllabus or
course outline for each course based upon the master syllabus. While the master syllabi outline
the primary topics which must be included in courses, faculty members are, according to the
Faculty and Staff Handbook, “encouraged to be creative and to exercise academic freedom
Western Nebraska Community College Page 133