final report from HLC - Glendale Community College

5CRITERION FIVE: ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE. As called for by its mission, the organization identifies its constituencies and servesthem in ways both value.1. Evidence that Core Components are metGCC listens to and responds to the needs of its stakeholders, as evidenced by specific collaborative projects reported to the Higher LearningCommission team by local business and community leaders. Specific examples of working with local governmental agencies and individualbusinesses were provided that demonstrated the commitment of GCC to prepare the citizens of the West Valley for employment.GCC provides its occupational faculty and staff the resources and flexibility to provide both credit and non-credit courses and trainingservices to the students of GCC and to local businesses. Interviews with faculty, administration, and the workforce training staff providedevidence that the departments work collaboratively and effectively to meet both short term and long term education and training needsof its students.The college benefits from broad-based involvement from and support by the community it represents. Evidenced by the collaborativestructure of the Communiveristy; strong advisory committees; input by the President’s Circle, a group of influential local leaders; andthe strong relationships with baccalaureate degree granting institutions, especially Northern Arizona University and the Arizona StateUniversity/Maricopa Alliance; GCC is well-positioned to meet the ongoing and emerging needs of its service area.GCC participates in numerous programs to bring community members of all ages to experience its campus. The Silver Sneakers program,offered in cooperation with local insurance companies, brings hundreds of retired citizens to campus each year. The partnership with HeadStart exposes community members with small children to the campus and its services. The Honors Forum Lectures bring in four to sixdistinguished speakers each year, and are open to the college community and the public.GCC has exemplary relationships with key businesses and organizations in the community and region. An example of these relationshipsis the number of corporate partnerships that the Institute for Business, Industry and Technology has with such companies as Ford Motor,Chrysler Corporation, and Raytheon Professional Services. Similarly, the Department of Public Safety Sciences is providing extensiveeducational services to the region in the areas of emergency services and fire and police training and certifications. Many of thesepartnerships and services are longstanding and indicate that the college is providing good value for its clients.The college serves as a cultural and social center for the community by providing a rich variety of fine arts and musical performanceswhich are available to the public. Campus and community members are also welcome to attend the college’s numerous special events,which recently included such activities as an International Festival, the City of Glendale Green Festival, Earth Day, Student and Faculty ArtExhibits, and an Open Mic Poetry Night.The college’s internship program provides an extensive array of opportunities for students to gain relevant work experiences in businessesand organizations related to their field of student. The current resource guide for internship experiences identifies over 400 businesses,organizations, and agencies with potential internships for GCC students. The information provided in the resource guide clearly shows thatthe college has worked closely with area businesses and organizations to identify the types of work students would be doing as well asthe basic expectations of the employer.17 Final Report: Assurance Section