Academic Leadership Team
October 22, 2019
1:00 pm
RH 220
Members Present: Tiffany Blackwell, Jackie Blakley, Tim Bowen, Ahmad Chaudhry, Jenni Creamer, Rick Cothran, Galen DeHay, Mark Dougherty, Mandy Elmore, Adam Ghiloni, Pam Goodman, Linda Jameison, Scott Harvey, Gabe Hollingsworth, Tom Lawrence, Chris Marino, Bryan Manuel, Robin McFall, Mary Orem, Sarah Shumpert, Luke VanWingerden
Members Absent: Gayle Arries, Tasheka Johnson, Glenn Hellenga, Brian Swords
Other Attendees: Travis Durham, Trent Hulehan, Dorian McIntire, Ted Stokes
Length of Meeting: 2 hours
The minutes of the September 10, 2019 meeting were approved as presented.
Mark Dougherty introduced Travis Durham, the new Student Conduct and Advocacy Coordinator. Galen DeHay welcomed Robin McFall, the new Faculty Senate President, and Pam Goodman, the new Faculty Senate Vice President, to the group.
Academic Program Review
General Engineering Technology – Dorian McIntire
- Key Measures:
- Delivery
- Student Paths
- Graduate Opportunities
- Assessment of Learning
- Student Feed Back
- What GET Is:
- Complete STEM coverage
- Not only automation
- Analytical vs. Procedural
- Design/maker oriented
- Transfer program is housed in GET
- Re-entry for students who opt out of a BS degree
- Resources:
- Faculty and Advisory Committee
- Support services
- Lab space and equipment
- Outreach
- Showcases are a great way to market the program
- Pathway Flowchart
- AAS degree
- Work/career
- BS degree
- Learning:
- Active
- Projectbased
- Public displays of completion
- Integrative learning
- SWOT Analysis:
- Strength – Critical thinking
- Weakness – Confusing name – Considering changing the name to Systems Engineering Technology
- Opportunity – Re-entry students. Fills a unique niche
- Threats – Confusion about the purpose
- External influence to modify the curriculum
- Course Timeline:
- Growth peaked in 2015, then dropped
- Trending up now
- Strategic Plan
- Initiatives help the program stay in front of the trends
Discussion and questions touched on the following.
- Define the program so that it can be fed into. Work with advisors to make them aware of GET and to consider ways to refer returning/transfer back students to GET. Share the questions Dorian asks students with advisors to help them in that process.
- The placement rate is high, so market to/recruit under-represented populations. Need strategies to do that.
- As a maker/project based program, consider different tracks.
- Programs have to follow the state program model, so changing the name to Systems Engineering Technology has some constraints.
Media Arts Production – John Woodson
Reviewed the program’s mission statement and stressed the goal to prepare graduates to create content where ever it is needed. He noted that more graduates are placing in non-traditional jobs.
- Growth:
- 127% growth since Fall 2016
- Name change may be the reason why
- Raised the standards to a "C" in core courses and general education courses must be university transfer courses
- Faculty is always training
- MAP advisory committee
- Online radio station
- Student success coaches and academic resource specialist key in directing students to MAP program
- Program Configuration:
- Students earn the degree and certificates at the same time
- Placement:
- More in non-traditional positions
- With growth, placement is harder. Opportunities are not as clear
- In the exit class, teach students to not limit their searches
- Facilities:
- Very good
- Hill Studio, Control Room, classrooms, study area
- Needs:
- Another full-time instructor
- Adjuncts are very difficult to find
- Eventually need to update and replace equipment
- Three-year Plan:
- Retention – work with high school career centers to identify students interested in MAP
- Articulation – work with senior institutions to give students options.
- Clemson is now accepting ARV courses for graphics and for Bridge students
- Research the need for a graphics design degree
Discussion and questions touched on the following.
- They work hard to recruit and retain minority students. Media needs diversity.
- Hope to use the Anderson Institute of Technology more. Can hold software-based classes at AIT, but not studio work.
- Need to recruit adult students (25/30s).
- Classrooms are dedicated due to the nature of the program and the equipment, so there is ample room for growth.
Student Loan Default Rate Data
Galen gave some background on how the default rate of sister colleges can impact Tri-County.
Adam Ghiloni distributed and discussed the Default Cohort by Division/Major Grouping for 2016 and 2017.
- Data is based on from where the student graduated and includes debt that came from other institutions. Also, students take debt from Tri-County to other institutions. All institutions are impacted by defaults.
- Need to review data and ask program level/division questions.
- Consider how to help students who aren’t eligible for Pell funding
- They still have significant need
- Middle class left out of the policy discussion
- Re-direct funds in a more targeted way
- Funding from the Foundation
- We want to offer the most cost effective education. Do not want to get into a situation where we cannot grant aid. Currently our default rate is the lowest in the state and at the national average for all institutions.
- To help students, we limit the amount of aid and create an individualized borrowing plan. Once they see the impact, they usually self-reduce/regulate and borrow less.
CALL TO ACTION:
- These data are provided so that programs can ask questions about their default rates and consider ways to improve them. Resources are available to help programs with high default rates. Adam will be happy to meet with divisions/departments on this topic.
Due to time limitations, Announcements were delayed to the next meeting, and the meeting was adjourned.
Recorded By: Anne Bryan
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 14 @ 1:00, in RH 220A
