College Services
Bookstore
Student supplies and textbooks are sold in the Bookstore, which is a service the College contracts with an outside vendor. Textbooks and special supplies such as drafting tools and kits used in certain programs of study should be ordered through the respective Program Director. Items imprinted with the Durham Tech logo are also available for purchase in the Bookstore. Employees receive discounts on supplies, plus gift items and clothes that are imprinted with Durham Tech. Bookstore hours are posted on the College website. For assistance with specific needs or orders, contact the Bookstore Manager.
Business Office
The Business Office provides financial support services. This department maintains all records related to fiscal and budgetary affairs, including FTE enrollment reports. Specific employee services include preparing and distributing paychecks; providing information about employee benefits; maintaining records on earned leave; purchasing supplies and equipment; and managing food and vending services as well as photocopying services available in the Copy Center and throughout college.
The Business Office also maintains the College Leave System. Leave balances can be viewed and leave requests can be made through the online portal.
Police and Public Safety
The Police and Public Safety department provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week on-site coverage, including dispatch and patrolling of facilities. To report a crime or an emergency, call Police and Public Safety at 911 or ext. 5555 or if the call is being sent from outside the college phone system, call 919-536-7255, extension 5555. When calling Campus Police and Public Safety, employees should identify themselves, the emergency situation, and the specific campus location. Employees calling for emergency medical services should also file an online medical incident report.
Doors to classrooms and instructional labs containing equipment and/or technology that are on card reader access are opened only when a faculty member, lab monitor, or other College employee is present and shows a valid college identification card.
When the College is closed, any essential employee reporting to campus must sign in with the Campus Police and Public Safety Department Office (or the station at OCC or NDC) at the time of entry and provide a reasonable rationale for the need for campus access. When the work is complete, the employee must sign out with the Office and exit from campus.
Center for Academic Excellence
The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) provides students with a variety of opportunities to supplement classroom instruction. Services include on-campus and online tutoring; make-up testing (MUT), and a computer lab. Instructors may also make Academic Alert referrals for one-on-one tutoring for students in particular English or math courses. The CAE is located in the Phail Wynn, Jr. Student Services Center (Building 10), room 10-308.
Competency-Based Education
In 1982, Durham Tech adopted a competency-based education method (CBE). This method describes any format of instruction in which the skills or competencies to be learned are carefully identified using an organized method. These skills reflect those required at job entry level and job mastery requirements clearly stated at the outset of the learning process. Competency is the ability to perform (mastery of) a specific affective, cognitive, or psychomotor skill. A competency, then, is a specific skill to be mastered. The collective competencies for a particular program represent the knowledge and skills required for future academic, technical, or professional skills. Program and course competencies are reviewed for relevancy on a regular basis by Advisory Committees and Program Review task forces.
In 2003, Durham Tech’s Instructional Services Division developed a Vision Statement for a Learning College. The Vision Statement recognizes the importance of continuing to establish and assess competency development. In addition, the Vision Statement names five attributes that all Durham Tech graduates should achieve in the areas of communication, diversity, work skills, critical thinking, and ethical awareness.
The Vision Statement serves as the guiding principle for the formulation and assessment of intended learning outcomes in programs, disciplines, and courses. Intended learning outcomes show the demonstration of the effective integration, application, and transfer of a set of competencies. For example, assessing the ability to perform a specific psychomotor skill could be combined with assessing the student’s ability to show through written communication an understanding of how that skill fits into the overall scheme of a particular profession or industry The student might also show an understanding of the ethical considerations, diversity issues, and workplace needs associated with performing that task.
Intended learning outcomes are identified at the course level through a list of objectives/competencies. An actual learning outcome is determined by the measurement (as a result of assessment activities) of individual learning as demonstrated by student performance on faculty-designed instruments.
Program level assessment of learning outcomes takes different forms:
- Some programs such as Business Administration or Accounting require capstone courses to assess student mastery of program competencies.
- Other programs such as Information Systems Security or Computer Programming include co-op experiences to acquaint students with fieldwork and to document students’ skills in a workplace environment.
- Clinicals in all the health technologies programs provide opportunities to work with professionals, and to test skills and knowledge learned in the classroom in a clinical setting.
- Assessment portfolios are often used in technical programs, such as Architectural Drafting.
Program assessment is also done by outside accrediting agencies:
- All of our health technology programs (Associate Degree Nursing, Dental, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Opticianry, Practical Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Pharmacy Technology, and Surgical Technology) are accredited by national organizations and must document the competency of their graduates for the national agencies.
- Our Automotive Systems Technology program is accredited by NATEF.
- Our Basic Law Enforcement Training program must conform to the standard established by the NC Department of Justice.
Further demonstration of the learning of Durham Tech program students is available through the state-mandated Performance Measures.
Each program at Durham Tech also participates in a program review. Program review allows administration, faculty, and community professionals to carefully examine resources, curriculum, student learning, and evaluation instruments. The program review committee outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the entire program and recommends actions for improvement.
At the department level, administration and faculty participate in institution effectiveness planning. Currently, these plans revolve around ways to improve student learning and are implemented over two-year cycles. The departmental plans seek to develop techniques and strategies that will lead to greater student mastery of program content and skills.
Professional development for faculty and staff provide all Instructional Services faculty and staff opportunities to learn about developing learning outcomes. Durham Tech aspires to be a Learning College. Continuous review and revision of learning outcomes is at the heart of the college’s pursuit of good teaching and learning.
Curriculum Development and Revision
Faculty may contact the Director, Curriculum Support and Development for special assistance in using various types of educational development materials. The Curriculum Development personnel work closely with the College's Teaching-Learning Center personnel to provide assistance to faculty in ongoing instructional and curriculum development.
Food and Vending Services
Hot food service is available in the College Café weekdays on a limited basis depending on the college’s class schedule. The College Café is located in the Phail Wynn, Jr. Student Services Center. Vending machines and microwaves are located in student lounges and/or faculty lounges of most buildings on the Main Campus as well as at the Northern Durham Center and Orange County Campus. Business Office staff supervise operations and the contracts for the college’s vending and food services.
Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services (ITS) is responsible for the maintenance and operation of computer resources, including email, telephone, campus networking, the academic computer labs, and the administrative computer system.
ITS personnel install and maintain hardware and software for administrative and office functions according to established guidelines. ITS manages all College software to ensure compliance with copyright laws and site license agreements. ITS is also responsible for installing and maintaining the campus network, which at present connects buildings on the Main Campus and satellite locations. Installation, software, and hardware maintenance of all academic computer labs is a high-priority responsibility for ITS staff.
Employees needing ITS services should contact the ITS Help Desk by calling extension 6111 or completing a Computer Work Order Request to the department. See also Computer Software and Appropriate Use of Computing Resources.
Email and Network Access
The NC Community College System has adopted Outlook as its email system and Colleague as its networked information data system. To obtain Outlook and network access accounts, employees must first obtain permission for an account from their supervisor by completing the Network User Authorization form and by agreeing to and signing the Appropriate Use of Computing Resources Policy form. These forms, as well as information about computer training workshops, Office 365, Informer, Canvas, and media services, can be found on the ITS department web pages.
Library
The library is an integral part of academic life at Durham Tech. A college identification card is required for employees and students to check out library materials. Employees are responsible for obtaining their college identification card from Campus Police and Public Safety.
Employees may request that the library purchase books or other materials. The library staff reviews the requests and orders materials approved for inclusion in the collection. The purchasing process may take up to three months from the date of the request. Periodical subscriptions are usually ordered on an annual basis. When funds are available, allocations are made to programs for the purchase of library materials to support courses.
The college’s extensive library holdings include books, magazines, journals, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks. Most periodicals and many electronic books are now available on databases.
Librarians provide reference assistance for employees and students as well as library instruction for classes.
Audiovisual equipment such as laptops, projectors, CD players, and cameras may be borrowed through the circulation desk at the Main Campus library.
Durham Tech's library participates in an interlibrary loan program with other libraries in the N.C. Community College System. Also, if needed, library staff members can obtain books on interlibrary loan from universities. Durham Tech has reciprocal borrowing with other NC community colleges and at NC Central University by presenting a current college identification card.
Branch libraries at the Northern Durham Center and Orange County Campus provide services at those locations.
Mail Services
Mail courier services are provided through Facility Services for distribution of Durham Tech’s business-related mail. The College mail service is not for personal mail. Mail is picked up and distributed twice daily. Interoffice mail should be addressed to include the individual's name, department, and/or building. All mail sent to the public must be typed, not handwritten. View information about bulk mail, state courier delivery, and large packages. All inquiries regarding mail services should be directed to the Mail Services Technician/ Courier or to the Facility Services Director.
Maintenance, Repairs, Painting, and Housekeeping Services
The college’s Facility Services Department provides maintenance and housekeeping services. Employees must submit an approved Work Order Request form to the Facility Services Secretary for any needed maintenance, repairs, painting, and housekeeping services in their area or in common areas of the college.
Marketing and Communications Services
Marketing and Communications staff provide a variety of services for informing the public and promoting the College's instructional offerings and activities. These services include providing public information and responding to media requests for information; serving as the liaison for connecting media with appropriate college personnel as needed and appropriate; serving as a resource for College-sponsored events; preparing text, developing designs, and producing materials for promoting and sharing information about the College with internal and external audiences through a variety of media. Examples include the College website; publications; advertisements for print, radio, digital, and television; designs for producing promotional items and recruitment materials; fliers, banners, and signage; forms for external use; and multi-media presentations. Services are determined and made available based on college priorities as well as personnel and financial resources.
Business cards may be ordered through the department. A list of service requests, descriptions, and links to the online forms are available on the Marketing and Communications Department web pages.
Department staff are also responsible for producing The Insider, an online blog for employees.
To promote accuracy, quality, and consistency in college publications and materials, review the editorial style and brand guidelines used by the College.
Photocopying and Printing Services
The Print Shop is located in the White Building, and is used for most quick-copying needs. Routine quick-copy jobs may include memoranda, tests, and short handouts (25 pages or less). Copying multiple documents for administrative or instructional purposes should be submitted to the Print Shop. Copy requests are made using a Request for Printing form (available in the Print Shop) and submitting it with the documents to be copied. Copyrighted materials are handled in compliance with current copyright laws.
Limited-use copy machines are located in all campus buildings. These copiers are also serviced by Xerox. Faculty and staff should consult with staff in the administrative office of a campus building for instructions on using these copy machines. Contact the Business Office about copier concerns.
All copying and printing services are charged back to departmental budgets.
Purchasing and Contracting
The Auxiliary Services Director is responsible for purchasing and contracting all goods within guidelines issued by the NC Community College System and the State of North Carolina. Requisitions are prepared via the NC@YourService E-procurement System and approved by the respective Department Head.
Equipment items must also be approved by the President or his/her designee(s). Products or services listed on State Contract must be purchased from the approved vendor. For non-contract items, quotes or bids must be obtained using the appropriate process based on the cost of the item.
The Auxiliary Services Director offers E-procurement training for employees responsible for or involved in the process of departmental purchasing. For further information about purchasing procedures, contact the Auxiliary Services Director.
Research, Evaluation, Assessment, and Planning Services
Research, Evaluation, Assessment, and Planning (REAP) provides accessible, reliable, and valid data; promotes institutional effectiveness; supports compliance with regional accreditation requirements; supports College-related research, including surveys and focus groups, curriculum and service evaluation, and learning and overall College assessment. REAP also monitors the college’s compliance with the NCCCS Annual Reporting Plan, as well as IPEDS data submissions. REAP’s core values are: access, accuracy, accountability, collegiality, integrity, and service.
Institutional Advancement
The purpose of resource development at Durham Tech is to provide support for the College Strategic Plan. The Manager, Grants Development works with college faculty and staff to develop proposals for funding. This may include direct student support as well as support of learning activities, instructional resources, equipment, and facilities. Organized efforts to raise private funds from business, industry, individuals, and private foundations are coordinated through the Durham Tech Foundation. The Durham Tech Foundation also holds a Campus Fund Drive each year to solicit internal support for the College. All campus fundraising activities should be approved by the Executive Director of the Durham Tech Foundation.
Travel and College Vehicles
The college owns several vehicles for employees to use in official college business. Please review the details included in the Reserving a Vehicle in Outlook and review the Mileage Reimbursement procedures.
Also see Meals and Lodging Reimbursement information.