Ozarks Technical Community College, AA, General Studies (Off-site)

Form OS: OFF-SITE DELIVERY OF AN EXISTING PROGRAM FORM

Sponsoring Institution (s): Ozarks Technical Community College
Program Title: Associate of Arts
Degree/Certificate: Associate of Arts
Institution Granting Degree: Ozarks Technical Community College
Delivery Site(s): Waynesville Education Center
Mode of Program Delivery: Seated courses, Online courses (optional)
Geographic Location of Student Access: Waynesville, MO
CIP Classification: 24.0199(Please provide CIP code)
Implementation Date: Fall 2008

AUTHORIZATION

Dr. Randy Humphre
David Murphy

Person to Contact for More Information     Telephone
Form SE
2. STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS

       A.

            ii. In the future, it is not anticipated that enrollment will be capped.
        B. Multiple meetings were held with City Officials, City Council, and local Public School officials to determine the need for an Associate of Arts degree. Currently, there is no local higher education institution available where students may use their A+ funding.  Community leaders want to continue to provide a highly trained and educated workforce for the region.  Pulaski County is the 10th fastest growing county in Missouri with a seven county market area population of over 215,000. Its diversified industry base includes Fort Leonard Wood, headquarters for the U.S. Army’s Engineer School, Military Police School and Chemical School among many others.
A survey of the Waynesville senior class of 2007 was conducted on December 7, 2006.   Of the 189 students responding to the survey, 120 indicated that they would attend college in 2007.  One hundred thirty-six of the students said they would prefer to attend college at an OTCC campus in Waynesville.  The top six technical programs that the students wanted to pursue were business and marketing, early childhood, electronics, drafting and design, and computer information and/or networking.  The top nine general education courses students preferred were psychology, criminal justice, English, mathematics, lifetime wellness, communication, theatre, and chemistry/biology.  Of the students responding to the survey, 69 indicated that they were eligible for A+ funding.
       C. Community officials expressed the desire to improve the quality of life for all residents of the community.  Providing the Associate of Arts degree for students who prefer to remain in the community after graduating from high school would greatly facilitate this endeavor.  Moreover, non-traditional students would benefit from having access to a community college AA degree which would facilitate their efforts to improve their academic and career goals.
       D. Dialogue, conversations, meetings, and surveys were utilized to determine need.
Form PS
PROGRAM STRUCTURE

A. Total credits required for graduation: 62 Credit Hours

B. Residency requirements, if any:  In order for an associate degree to be awarded, the final fifteen semester credit hours must be completed in residence at OTC (as stated in OTC College Catalog).

C. General education: Total credits:  44 Credit Hours
Courses (specific courses OR distribution area and credits):
Communications  _9_cr. _Mathematics___ _3_cr. _Humanities____ _6_cr.
Biological/Physical Sciences__ _8_cr.
Social/Behavioral Sciences___ _9_cr.
Lifetime Wellness _2__cr. Sophomore Seminar _4_cr.
Microcomputer Applications _3_cr.

D. Major requirements: Total credits: 0 Credit Hours
______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr.
______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr.
______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr.
______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr.
______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr. ______________ ___cr.
E. Free elective credits: 18 Credit Hours  (Sum of C, D, and E should equal A.)

F. Requirements for thesis, internship or other capstone experience:

G. Any unique features such as interdepartmental cooperation: None

Form FP
FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS (Deleted)

Form PG
PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE GOALS
Institution Name: Ozarks Technical Community College
Program Name: Associate of Arts
Date: March 11, 2008
(Although all of the following guidelines may not be applicable to the proposed program, please carefully consider the elements in each area and respond as completely as possible in the format below. Quantification of performance goals should be included wherever possible.)
Student Preparation

• Any special admissions procedures or student qualifications required for this program which exceed regular university admissions, standards, e.g., ACT score, completion of core curriculum, portfolio, personal interview, etc. Please note if no special preparation will be required.

No special preparation will be required for admission in to the program. The Compass Test minimum standards for entry into college level courses may influence enrollment in developmental courses.

• Characteristics of a specific population to be served, if applicable.

It is expected that the majority of students will be in the traditional age group; however, students are anticipated to be diverse in age, socio-economic status, and background. Many students will have accomplished A+ status and receive A+ scholarships. Eight public schools in the five county area are A+ schools or are in the process of seeking A+ status: Waynesville; Licking; Stoutland; Salem; Houston; Plato; Crocker; and Richland.
Faculty Characteristics

• Any special requirements (degree status, training, etc.) for assignment of teaching for this degree/certificate.

Instructors are expected to hold Masters Degrees in the discipline in which they are teaching. A minimum of 18 credit hours at the graduate level in the discipline in which they are teaching is the standard.

• Estimated percentage of credit hours that will be assigned to full time faculty. Please use the term "full time faculty" (and not FTE) in your descriptions here.

As the Center grows the number of full time faculty will also increase. Adjunct faculty will teach the majority of courses when the facility opens next fall. The full time Center Coordinator will also teach college courses. Full time faculty is estimated to teach twenty-five percent of the courses offered.

 

• Expectations for professional activities, special student contact, teaching/learning innovation.

The College policies require that faculty attend professional development activities as a part of their teaching load and are reflected in the annual performance evaluation. Additionally, instructors are expected to set office hours and participate in academic advising of students. Instructors are required to use technology including PowerPoint and Blackboard as teaching tools.

Enrollment Projections

• Student FTE majoring in program by the end of five years.

Student FTE majoring in the Associate of Arts is expected to be 170 students.

• Percent of full time and part time enrollment by the end of five years.

After five years, student enrollment is anticipated to be fifty percent full time and fifty percent part time.

Student and Program Outcomes

• Number of graduates per annum at three and five years after implementation.

Three years after implementation, we project there will be 20 students graduate with an Associate of Arts Degree; whereas, after five years, we project there will be 60 students graduate.

• Special skills specific to the program.

The degree goal is to prepare students to transfer to a four year institution. Students are encouraged to explore major areas of choice. Moreover, the degree is structured to bolster inquiry and investigation with elective options. The major skill areas follow the State goals for general education competencies: Communicating; higher order thinking; managing information; valuing; social and behavioral sciences; humanities and fine arts; mathematics; and life and physical sciences.

• Proportion of students who will achieve licensing, certification, or registration.

This degree is primarily for transfer to a four year institution. There is no licensing or certification credential associated with this degree.

• Performance on national and/or local assessments, e.g., percent of students scoring above the 50th percentile on normed tests; percent of students achieving minimal cut-scores on criterion-referenced tests. Include expected results on assessments of general education and on exit assessments in a particular discipline as well as the name of any nationally recognized assessments used.

There will be a minimum of 60% of all students scoring above the 50th percentile on the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) test. Departmental final examinations will be given for courses in various subject areas. Seventy-five percent of students will achieve minimal cut-scores on criterion-referenced tests. Results from the Written English Proficiency Test (WEPT) will be used to assess students’ competency in effective written use of the English language.  Additionally, an annual review of the content and analysis of student performance on locally developed departmental final examinations will be undertaken.

• Placement rates in related fields, in other fields, unemployed.

Placement rates do not apply to the Associate of Arts degree which is attained primarily for transfer to another institution of higher learning.

• Transfer rates, continuous study.

The transfer rate is projected to be 25 percent. A transfer survey will be undertaken every two years to track students transferring to four year institutions. This provides an indirect measure of student preparedness for upper-level coursework.

Program Accreditation

• Institutional plans for accreditation, if applicable, including accrediting agency and timeline. If there are no plans to seek specialized accreditation, please provide reasons.

Ozarks Technical Community College participated in its last site visit for continuing accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission in 2001.  The next comprehensive visit will occur in 2010-2011.

Alumni and Employer Survey

• Expected satisfaction rates for alumni, including timing and method of surveys

• Alumni surveys will be done every three years with 80 percent of those responding being either satisfied or very satisfied with their education while at the college. The very successful history of the Associate of Arts Degree program in the past and at other locations, leads us to expect high satisfaction rates for alumni.

• Expected satisfaction rates for employers, including timing and method of surveys

• Employers are surveyed every three years to ascertain their satisfaction with technical programs; however, employers will not be surveyed routinely for the Associate of Arts program.

6. Quality Assurance
            A. The general oversight of this program will be managed under the direction of the Dean of Extended Campus and Outreach Services, who reports to the Associate Vice President of Academic Services and Workforce Development.  Additionally, the Dean of General Education will work closely with employees at all levels to insure quality and consistency in program delivery.  Moreover, a local director/faculty person will be hired to oversee the daily operations of the facility.
            B. Instructors are expected to hold Masters Degrees in the discipline in which they are teaching. In some instances, 18 credit hours at the graduate level in the discipline in which they are teaching may be accepted.  As the Center grows the number of full time faculty will also increase. Adjunct faculty will teach the majority of courses when the facility opens next fall. The full time Center Coordinator will also teach college courses. Full time faculty is estimated to teach twenty-five percent of the courses offered.
            C. Support services will be provided to students by local staff, as well as staff from the Main Campus traveling to the Waynesville Center on a regular basis. Local tutors will be hired to provide academic support as needed.  The local library will be electronic, but a librarian will travel from the main campus weekly to provide additional learning resources. Two computer labs will be located in the facility. Local staff will provide financial aid assistance based on the recommendations and training provided by main campus staff. New students receiving will be required to attend a financial aid orientation seminar. Additionally, new students are asked to attend an orientation to college seminar. A new document imaging system is being implemented to assure quality and consistency in documentation of student and staff records