The
Alpha
Project
Week
The Alpha
Project: |
At the International Convention in Anaheim, Phi Theta Kappa launched a long range planning initiative, TAP! The Alpha Project. This initiative, named by the 1998-99 International Officers will help to identify important Traditions of the past as the Society engages in a comprehensive Assessment of current programs, services, and benefits in order to develop a plan for Progress in the new millennium. Last fall, Alpha Project Town Meetings were held at seven regional meetings. The Alpha Project facilitator Dr. George Vaughan and Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Rod Risley conducted the Town Meetings. These forums serve as brainstorming sessions for members, advisors, and alumni to express ideas on what the priorities for Phi Theta Kappa should be in the next decade. Alpha Project Town meetings were held at the following regional conferences: Virginia, Oklahoma/Arkansas, New England, Texas, Illinois, Greater Northwest, and Indiana. Comments taken from transcripts of the Town Meetings may be read.
Chapters, advisors, college administrators, alumni, friends, and donors were all given the opportunity to contribute to the Alpha Project by completing a survey, which was mailed later that fall. The survey provided an assessment of current benefits, services, and programs and will identify future needs and opportunities. Also, Questions of the Week did appear on Phi Theta Kappa's website to which website visitors were encouraged to respond. In January, the International Alpha Project Commission, comprised of national education, government, and business leaders, convened to analyze data from surveys and transcripts from Town Meetings. The commission proposed priorities for Phi Theta Kappa in the next decade. The Alpha Project Report was unveiled at the International Convention in Orlando.
For an in-depth introduction to The Alpha Project, read Rod A. Risley's article, The Alpha Project: Traditions, Assessment, Progress, "TAP" A Vision for Phi Theta Kappa Beyond 2001, from the 1999/2000 issue of 3.5 PLUS.
Dr. George Vaughan, who
is a nationally respected community college leader, has agreed to head the Society's
recently announced long range planning initiative, The Alpha Project. Dr. George Vaughan
served as a college president for 17 years beginning at Mountain Empire College and ending
at Piedmont Community College, both located in Virginia. He is a nationally respected
author and has written extensively about the community college presidency and community
colleges. Currently, Vaughan is a professor at North Carolina State University teaching in
the doctoral program for community college administration and serves as evaluator of Phi
Theta Kappa's National Science Foundation project. Following the meeting of the Alpha
Project Commission in January of 2000, Vaughan prepared The Alpha Project Report, which
was unveiled at the 82nd Annual International Convention in Orlando, April 2000.