Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/1071485
During the month of December, we held our bi-annual Faculty virtual symposium for each department. It was humbling to see and hear the amazing accomplishments of our students, Faculty, programs, and departments. In 2018, SSBS graduated more students than ever before, and the current student body is the largest it has ever been. Recent alumni surveys show that after graduation, our students are finding careers and jobs within their chosen fields, allowing them to be highly-engaged employees and experience very positive life satisfaction. Alumni report that NCU's programs and model were perfect for their needs and goals. I take great pride in the positive impact NCU is having on individuals, families, and our broader community through the educational opportunities we provide. These life-changing experiences happen because we have students that are willing to sacrifice and work hard to achieve their personal and professional goals. And we have Faculty members, like each of you, willing to take that journey with them – one course at a time, providing mentorship, encouragement and knowledge. Research tells us that achieving these educational and career goals will not only impact their lives, but their children's educational and career opportunities. I want to thank each and every one of you for the dedication you show and the work you do on a daily basis. 2019 brings many more exciting opportunities. We hope to add several more disciplines to our School over the next two years and continue to grow specializations within our current disciplines. Our Faculty demographic continues to diversify, bringing a richer variety of knowledge and experiences. Currently, approximately 44% of our students are taught by full-time Faculty and 56% by part-time Faculty. We hope to add several full-time positions in both departments this year. As most of you are aware, at the start of 2019 we changed ownership and became a nonprofit University. We hope to maximize this opportunity by increasing our emphasis and support for research and potential grant options. We also plan to continue to improve our student and Faculty day-to-day experience by making important changes to our Learning Management System (LMS), NCUOne. Our goal is to create a more engaging experience for students and offer a more efficient tool for Faculty to personalize their work with each student. Thank you again for all you do. Please let me or any of the School leadership know if there are ways we can better support and serve you. James Billings, PhD Dean School of Social and Behavioral Sciences DEAN'SLETTER