How To Get An Early Childhood Associate Degree

Transcription

1 BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ~ALLIED HEALTH DIVISION~ A55220 Early Childhood Education/A55440 School Age Education Associate Program Review: July, 2012 l. Description/Purpose Associate in Applied Science Programs The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualifi ed teachers. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children. Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs. ll. Staffing SACS CR This program was staffed in by one full-time lead instructor and one full-time instructor. Parttime instructors are employed on an as-needed basis. SACS CS 3.2.8, 3.29, & Lead instructor and part time instructors meet hiring requirements with an appropriate degree/s and experience in the field. Employment policies and records can be found in the College s Human Resources Office. SACS CS Instructors are evaluated annually. (Refer to IE web site assessment section Performance Evaluation. ) Policies pertaining to personnel evaluation can be found on page 69 of the BCCC Faculty/Staff Manual. SACS CS Instructors are required to participate in ongoing professional development. Policies pertaining to professional development and other related academic matters are documented on page 122 of the BCCC Faculty/Staff Manual. lll. Program Data A. SACS CR 2.11 Program Operating Cost: The Early Childhood Education Associate/School Age Education Associate program costs can be found page 4 part V "A." B. SACS FR 4.1 Enrollment: One hundred sixty-one students were enrolled during fall & spring semesters of This total includes full- and part-time, day and evening, and first- and secondyear students. Two students graduated with an Early Childhood Associate degree, four students graduated with an Early Childhood Certificate, and three graduated with an Early Childhood degree. C. SACS FR 4.1 Certification/Licensure: The Early Childhood Education Associate/School Age Education Associate program is not certified or licensed at this time. However, there has been a lot of discussion at the state level to require Early Childhood programs to become accredited. This accreditation would be through The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The NAEYC Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation system sets a standard of excellence for early childhood programs that prepare teachers at the associate degree level. The process includes an extensive self-study, submission of a Self Study Report, a site visit conducted by a Peer Review Team, and an accreditation decision made by a national Commission of early childhood professionals. The accreditation process takes approximately two years from applicant for 1

2 materials and support, to submission of the program Self-Study Report, to the Peer Review site visit, and the Commission decision. Accreditation Fees include the following: -Application Fee - $500. -Accreditation Review - $2,000. -Cost of team visit approximately - $3,000. -Annual Report fee - $2,000. NAEYC accreditation will be something that our program will strongly consider pursuing in the near future. (See attached detailed information.) D. SACS FR 4.1 Job Placement: All graduates responded to the Graduate Follow-Up Survey question relating to employment and reported employment in their field of training or a field related to their training. All agreed that training was adequate for entry-level employment. E. SACS FR 4.1 Employer Satisfaction: Seven program area employers responded to the Fall 2011 Employer Satisfaction Survey and reported satisfaction with job-related knowledge, job-related skills, and overall job preparation. F. SACS CR 2.5 Student Satisfaction: SATISFACTION WITH PROGRAM Very Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied # Returns Graduates 4A 1A 1D 5/8A 1/3D Graduating Students 7A 2A 9/9A Non-Returning Students 3A 4A 4/6A SATISFACTION WITH COLLEGE Very Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied # Returns Graduates 4A 4A 1D 4/10A 1/3D Graduating Students 7A 2A 9/9A Non-Returning Students 4A 4/6A G. SACS 2.5 & FR 4.1 Goal Accomplishment: GOAL ACCOMPLISHMENT Yes, Completely Yes, Partially No # Returns Graduates 5A 1D 5/8A 1/3D Graduating Students 7A 2A 9/9A Non Returning Students 3A 3/6A *Legend: A=Associate D=Degree The graduates responding stated that they would recommend the Early Childhood Associate program to others. H. SACS CR 2.5 Advisory Committee: The advisory committee meets every spring semester. Minutes are kept on file in the office of the Dean of Instruction and the office of the Allied Health Division Chairperson. I. SACS CS Program/Student Outcomes at Program Completion: The Early Childhood Associate/Teacher Associate program is a competency-based program. J. SACS CR 2.7.2, 2.7.3, & CS Curriculum Currency: The Early Childhood Education Associate/School Age Education Associate program was implemented at BCCC in The curriculum is reviewed annually. (Any modifications are reviewed first by BCCC s program personnel and related advisory committees then forwarded to the BCCC s Curriculum Committee. Recommendations for changes or modifications are presented to BCCC s Administrative Council for approval. Once approved, the modifications are submitted to the NC Community College System.) The Early Childhood Education Associate/School Age Education 2

3 Associate program is included in the NCCCS approved program list on file in the Office of the Dean of Instruction. The following certificates were revised and/or added effective Fall 2006: 1. (C55220) Early Childhood Certificate (revised) 2. (C55220D) Early Childhood Administration Certificate (added) 3. (C55220B) Infant-Toddler Certificate (added) 4. (C55220C) School-Age Certificate (added) 5. (C55220A) Special Education Certificate (added) Attached you will find a copy of the diploma, degree, and certificates available in Early Childhood Program. K. SACS 2.5 Response to last year s Program Evaluation results: Refer to BCCC Institutional Effectiveness Plan End-of-Year Report Goal Assessment Plan. lv. A Program Status & Planning A. Status 1. Facilities and Equipment: Need observation lab for EDU students and instructors. 2. Employment Demand: North Carolina Planning Region Q (includes Beaufort County), indicated on NC ESC Report data, shows occupational supply and demand trends/projections. (Refer to NC Occupational Trends page that is attached.) ESC is one indicator of employment demand. A state-wide projection of need is attached. Data on BCCC service area (Regions Q & R) is not available. According to program personnel, many hiring requests are made directly to program personnel for program students. Requests also come from Advisory Committee meetings. 3. Strengths: Personnel - Instructor/s are well-qualified in their program area/s. Program The Early Childhood Education Associate/School Age Education Associate program collaborates with many agencies in our service area to include the following: -Internships and classroom observations with Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington County schools. -Practicums and classroom observations with Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington County schools. Equipment and Facilities - (Same as IV, A.) B. SACS CR 2.5 Short and Long Range Planning 1. Expected Measurable Outcomes met or exceeded: Collaborative learning lab for BCCC students. Availability of course offerings. CEU s Professional Development required and to stay current with EC trends and research. Coordinator housed in Bldg. #11. Twenty (20) students per Co-hort. Provide computer lab for EC students. Eighty-five percent (85%) or more of BCCC graduates responding to a survey will report that BCCC met their intended objectives and will recommend their program to others. One new off-campus site based on demand. Annual evaluation of program. Strengthen community relations. Stay current and expand on teacher practices, teaching techniques, and challenges that are exhibited in real classroom situations that can be related to courses being taught in the ECE curriculum. Availability of course offerings. 3

4 Accredited Program. Hands on activities for instruction and student learning. Professional Development Early Childhood meetings. 2. Assessment and Results: (Response will be documented in the current BCCC Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Plan.) C. SACS CS Recommendations and Follow-Up Recommendation/s Rationale Responsibility Follow Up/Progress -Collaborate with an outside agency and/or obtain funding in providing a modeling/experiential learning lab for BCCC Early Childhood students. -Continue to utilize part-time instructors. -Attendance at the NC Association of Education of Young Children Conference for professional development for one full-time instructor to attend and to be alternated each year between the two full-time instructors. -Wells Fargo Partnership East Coordinator at BCCC. (SO 4) -Wells Fargo Partnership online classes at BCCC. -Supply and maintain computer lab in Bldg. #11. -Expand current online courses to meet demand for Early Childhood Program (SO 3) -Expand off-campus classes. -Host annual advisory committee meeting. (SO 4) -Provide real-life experience to students. -Cost efficiency. -Keep skills current and proficient. -BCCC & ECU partnership. -Maintain program online offerings. -Computer lab maintenance. -Increase offerings to community. -Increase offerings to community. -Community partnership & Division Chair -Division Chair 4

5 C. SACS CS Recommendations and Follow-Up Recommendation/s Rationale Responsibility Follow Up/Progress -Strengthen community relations and observe practices being used by classroom teachers on a regular basis in child care centers, family home centers, and public school classrooms in our service area. -Continue to utilize part-time instructors. -Consider NAEYC Accreditation. -Expand and update children s resource library. -Maintain supplies/materials for modeling/experiential learning lab to be used by children and BCCC students. -Increase in funds for travel/hotel/food for two (2) fulltime employees. - Real-life experience for students. -Cost efficiency. -Program area -Replacement and new resources for library users. -Replacement and new supplies for program. -Professional development for faculty. -Instructors -Division Chair V. Data Summary A. SACS CR 2.11 Operating Costs: (Partial Year) Salaries/Benefits (FT and PT) 168, , , , Supplies , , Software Other Travel Total Operating 169, , , , Equipment 1, , Equipment Repair&Maintenance Total 1, , Total 169, , , , B. SACS FR 4.1 Enrollment and FTE: 2008FA 2009SP 2009FA 2010SP 2010FA 2011SP 2011FA 2012SP Associate Degree Teacher Assistant/ School Age Certification

6 Diploma Certificate Administrator Cert 1 1 Infant & Toddler School Age Cert Special Education Total C. SACS FR 4.1 FTE (BCCC Systems Administrator's Office) Associate (19.75, 16.47) (18.22, 17.75) (14.44, 15.38) (19.88, 23.38) Certificate (1.91, 2.44) (1.59, 2.47) (3.66, 3.59) (0.53, 0.09) Degree/Diploma (2.28, 3.63) (4.25, 3.94) (2.97, 1.31) (---, 0.28) D. Competencies: Number of Spring terms program completers (BCCC Registrar's Office) Associate Certificate Degree Number NOT Returning Students previously enrolled in program at least 18 hrs. (BCCC Systems Administrator's Office) Associate Certificate Degree Licensure/Standard Exams n/a n/a n/a n/a Number taking Exam Number passing Exam 6