Phase I of efficency study under way
Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith
Mesa Legend Phase one of three of the Alvarez and Marsal efficiency study is already underway across Maricopa Community College campuses.
The project team of 13 headed up by Sajan George, Carl Kiefer, and Kevin McMahon landed on campuses during the first week in Sept. beginning Phase I of the three phase contract.
According to George the initial phase will focus on student recruitment, student retention, and student achievement.
“In about a six-week time frame we’re going to come back (to the MCCCD Board) with, here’s how those processes work at each of the ten colleges, and then a redesign of how they could and should look if we really want to maximize student satisfaction and student success,” said George.
Phase I recommendations will focus on students, “taking into account things that would make the life of the student simpler, easier and ultimately enables them to achieve their goals here at Maricopa,” according to George.
“To the extent that the system impedes that in any way., not by intention but perhaps by design or the way things are structured, we will look to restructure or redesign them,” George added.
Focus groups will be conducted on campuses by A&M as a means to encourage student participation and feedback in the restructuring process. The first focus group for MCC is scheduled for Sept. 15.
Students can also visit the project website at http://www.21stcenturymaricopa.com or they can email A&M with specific questions, comments or concerns at the confidential email address Maricopa@alvarezandmarsal.com.
At the project website students can answer the “question of the week,” join a focus group, participate in surveys, and follow the project’s progress over the Fall semester.
George stressed the importance of student feedback in their process and encourages them to utilize the 21st Century Maricopa website, “If we are trying to help students then we better listen to them. So getting them to engage us as much as possible would be great.”
The team will also be meeting with district faculty and staff, and they are invited to use the email address as well.
To accomplish their goals, A&M will apply principles used in private sector consulting to the Maricopa district with student improvement in mind, and not fiscal return.
“The bottom-line is different.there is no profit to be made. The bottom-line here is really student satisfaction and student success,” George said.
The total cost for Phase I will be approximately $538,734.
