Ozarks Technical Community College, Associate of Arts and AAS, Business (Off-site)

OFF-SITE DELIVERY OF AN EXISTING PROGRAM FORM

Sponsoring Institution (s): Ozarks Technical Community College
Program Title: Associate of Arts and A.A.S. in Business
Degree/Certificate: Associate of Arts and Associate of Science
Institution Granting Degree: Ozarks Technical Community College
Delivery Site(s): Richwood Valley Campus
Mode of Program Delivery: Seated courses, Online courses (optional)
Geographic Location of Student Access: Ozark, MO
CIP Classification: 24.0199 (A.A.) and 52.0201 (A.A.S., Business and Marketing)
Implementation Date: Fall 2008

AUTHORIZATION

Dr. Randy Humphrey 417-447-8151 or David Murphy 417-447-8114

2. Need:
A. Student Demand:
i. Estimated Enrollments
Associate of Arts Enrolment Projections

Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing

ii. Enrollment Caps
Enrollment caps are not anticipated for programs offered at Richwood Valley.

B. Market Demand:

The regional and local demand for the A.A. and the A.A.S. in Business are strong. The A.A. degree is transferrable and a majority of the college's students use this degree as a stepping stone to a four year institution. The A.A.S in Business is a terminal degree and the students can go to a variety of local and regional businesses and begin their career as an entry level shift manager. The students would be able to transfer to a four year institution with the A.A.S. as well if they decided to earn a bachelors degree. Lastly, rising energy prices have pushed colleges to offer more places for students to take classes instead of one centralized hub that would force students to drive long distances. That is just not a feasible option in today's economy.

C. Societal need

Society needs an educated population. The A.A and the A.A.S. provide an opportunity for students to learn a base of knowledge that will allow them to be a productive citizen of the state and nation.

D. Methodology

The methodology used to determine the need of the degree offering is the census and population distribution in the area. The campus is located in Christian County. The county is one of the fastest growing counties in the state and as of this date the county continues to grow at an increasing rate. Further the campus is located 1.2 miles from a major highway that links southern Springfield to the Richwood Valley Campus. The population of southern Springfield can drive to Richwood Valley quicker than the main campus in Springfield.

3. Duplication and Collaboration:

The A.A. and A.A.S. will not be offered in collaboration with any other institution. The Richwood Valley campus is located in OTC's taxing district and by offering these degrees at this location, the College hopes to alleviate some of the crowding being experienced at the main campus in Springfield. However, based on the College's growth, it is anticipated that students who leave the main campus to attend at Richwood Valley will be replaced by additional students on the main campus. With its opening, Richwood Valley has seen continued growth and additional growth is anticipated as seen in the enrollment projections. Duplicating these degrees at the College's south campus will allow students to choose the campus location that is closest to them. Enhancing convenience and reducing potential costs associated with increasing fuel prices.

4. Financial Projections (Deleted)
5. Program Characteristics and Program Goals

Form PS for Associate of Arts Degree

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 - 4 cr.

D. Major requirements: Total credits: 0 Credit Hours

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 PS for Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing

A. Total credits required for graduation: 61-62 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: 15-16 Credit Hours
Courses (specific courses OR distribution area and credits):

Communications - 3 cr.
Mathematics - 3 cr.
Biological/Physical Sciences - 3-4 cr.
Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3 cr.
Political Science - 3 cr.
English - 3 cr.

D. Major requirements: Total credits: Credit Hours

BUS 110 - 3 cr.
BUS 130 - 3 cr.
BUS 140 - 3 cr.
BUS 150 - 3 cr.
BUS 200 - 3 cr.
BUS 260 - 3 cr.
ACC 220 - 3 cr.
ACC 225 - 3 cr.
CIS 101 - 3 cr.

E. Free elective credits: 15 Credit Hours (Sum of C, D, and E should equal A.)

F. Requirements for thesis, internship or other capstone experience:
BUS 290 - 3 cr.
TEC 285 - 3 cr.

G. Any unique features such as interdepartmental cooperation: None

FORM PG

Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing

Student Preparation

• 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. Ten public schools in the three county area are A+ schools or are in the process of seeking A+ status: Nixa, Ozark, Springfield, Republic, and Rogersville.

Faculty Characteristics

• 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.
• Full-time faculty will teach the majority of courses

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 625 students.
• Student FTE seeking an Associate of Applied Science is expected to be 55.

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

• After five years, student enrollment is anticipated to approximate 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.

• Associate of Arts: Three years after implementation, we project there will be 150 students graduate with an Associate of Arts Degree; whereas, after five years, we project there will be 200 students graduate.
• Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing:

Special skills specific to the program.

• Associate of Arts: 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.
• Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing: The degree goal is to prepare students to enter into the workforce as an entry level manager. Students will be prepared with an entry level of knowledge related to the world of business. The students will be prepared to take this base knowledge and expand their horizons in the real world once they have graduated. In addition, OTC has established transfer agreements with Missouri State University, Evangel University, and is working on others that would make seamless transfer a possibility for A.A.S. graduates.

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

• Associate of Arts: This degree is primarily for transfer to a four year institution. There is no licensing or certification credential associated with this degree.
• Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing: 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.

• Associate of Arts: Placement rates do not apply to the Associate of Arts degree which is attained primarily for transfer to another institution of higher learning.
• Associate of Applied Science: Placement rates for A.A.S., Business and Marketing, graduates are tracked using a 180-day graduate follow-up survey. Currently, approximately 70% of graduates of the program are either employed in a related field or are pursuing higher degrees at other institutions. Graduates of the program from Richwood Valley will be included in future surveys.

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.
• The 180-day graduate follow-up survey will also be used to identify A.A.S., Business and Marketing students who have matriculated to other higher education institutions.

Program Accreditation

• Ozarks Technical Community College participated in its last site visit for continuing accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission in 2001 and was granted fully-accredited status with no required focused-visits. The next comprehensive visit will occur in 2010-2011.
• The A.A. and the A.A.S. in Businesses and Marketing are not separately accredited by any external agency. There are no plans to gain program accreditation for Business and Marketing.

Alumni and Employer Survey

• 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.
• 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 for Off-Site Programs

A. General Oversight: General oversight for academic programs will be provided by the Dean of Instruction located at the Richwood Valley Campus. In addition, the Dean of General Education provides administrative leadership at the college for the Associate of Arts degree while the Dean of Technical Education is responsible for the Associate of Applied Science, Business and Marketing. All of these Deans report directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs(CAO) who reports to the College's President. In addition, the division chair for Business and Accounting provides immediate oversight of the AAS, Business and Marketing degree program.

B. Faculty Qualifications: The qualifications for faculty at Richwood Valley are exactly the same as they are on the main campus in Springfield. 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.

C. Support Services: Richwood Valley includes a cadre of academic and student support services. The facilities include a library, computer labs, administrative leadership as well as student services including registration, advising, disability support services, academic tutoring, and financial aid. The services at Richwood Valley are comparable to the services found on the main campus in Springfield.