ASSOCIATE of ARTS DEGREE 10-YEAR PROGRAM CAMPUS REVIEW JANURARY, 2008

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1 ASSOCIATE of ARTS DEGREE 10-YEAR PROGRAM CAMPUS REVIEW JANURARY, 2008 Committee Dr. Rick Clubb Dr. Kent Skinner Dr. Michael Alexander Ms. Kathy Martin Ms. Rebecca Newton Dr. Karen Fawley Dr. Paul Francis Ms. Donna Hunnicutt Ms. Belinda Wells Ms. Lynn Harris Dr. Robert Ficklin

2 Associate of Arts Degree University--Arkansas at Monticello History. The University of Arkansas at Monticello s Associates of Arts (AA) degree was approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in the fall of The program was an outgrowth of the Associate Degree in General Studies developed by the University the previous year. The AA was designed to be an independent program for those students seeking a two year degree, as well as, an intermediate achievement point for those students seeking a Bachelor s degree. The AA degree was first offered in 1990, and has maintained a relatively consistent curriculum. There have been two substantial changes. In 1992, additional math and sciences requirements were added to comply with State mandated general education requirements and the total number of hours was reduced to 62. The addition of the Technical Schools in Crossett and MeGehee allowed for the development of additional associate programs. These include the Associate of Applied Science degrees in Pulp and Paper Technology and in Industrial Process Technology at the Crossett campus, and the Associate of Applied Sciences in Farm Management at the MeGehee campus. The Associate of Science degree in Land Surveying was added in 2000, with the Associate of Applied Science in General Technology becoming the most recent addition in Mission. The associate degree program is part of the Division of General Studies and meets all of the State mandated general education requirements. As a result the mission of the degree is congruent with the mission of general education. Specifically, the degree is designed to enhance the student s skills in reading, writing, computation, comprehension, and speaking skills. The degree further allows the student to develop an appreciation and understanding of the various social, political, scientific, and historical forces that shape our lives. The depth and breath of the degree allows graduate to be prepared to perform effectively and responsibly in society and the workplace. The program undergoes constant monitoring and is modified as needed to meet the demands placed upon a modern American University. Faculty. The faculty are employed full time to teach courses that fulfill the general education requirements as detailed by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. A large number of adjunct faculty and part-time faculty have been employed as needed by individual schools, units, and departments to fill the need for additional courses in the general education areas or to make courses available at times determined by student needs. The faculty includes thirteen full professors, eighteen associate professors, twenty assistant professors, and seventeen instructors. This represents more that half of the full-time faculty. The College of Technology faculty is comprised of Workforce Education Instructors. Most full-time faculty members have a minimum of a master s degree; however, in some very technical areas faculty hold baccalaureate degrees and/or technical certifications.

3 Curriculum Programs The Associate of Arts Degree The degree requirements consist of 38 General Education credits (consistent with Arkansas Department of Higher Education requirements) and 24 elective credits. All electives must be 1000-level or higher and can be drawn from any field of study. The Associate of Arts Degree is designed to be a terminal 2-year program or a step toward a bachelor s degree. All credits at 1000-level or above earned as part of an associate s degree can be applied toward the bachelor s degree. The Associate of Applied Science Degree This degree is offered in several areas, and these degrees are intended to be terminal technical degrees. Associate of Science Degree in Agriculture Production Management This program has a mostly defined curriculum with 63 credit hours required. The only options are choices in the mathematics and social sciences. Associate of Science Degree in Crime Scene Investigation This program is available only to personnel employed in Arkansas law enforcement, and is offered in partnership with the Criminal Justice Institute of the University of Arkansas System. Completion of the associate s degree requires three sequential steps: 1) a Certificate of Proficiency, which requires 15 credits of Criminal Justice Institute courses and ENGL 1013; 2) a Technical Certificate, which requires credits of Criminal Justice Institute courses, ENGL 1023 and CIS 2223; and 3) the associate s degree, which requires completion of the Technical Certificate, 8 additional credits from the Criminal Justice Institute, and 6 additional specific classes drawn for humanities and social sciences and mathematics. The degree requirements for this associate s degree are somewhat vague and should be clarified. It appears that the Criminal Justice Institute courses for the Technical Certificate are in addition to those courses required for the Certificate of Proficiency, but this should be stated clearly. The total number of credits required for the associate s degree should also be stated. Associate of Science Degree in Law Enforcement Administration This program also is in partnership with the Criminal Justice Institute of the University of Arkansas System and is offered in three steps, but these do not need to be completed sequentially: 1) a Certificate of Proficiency, which requires 18 credits from the Criminal Justice Institute and ENGL 1013; 2) A Technical Certificate, which requires 21, credits from the Criminal Justice Institute, ENGL 1023, PSCI 2213, and SPCH ) The associate s degree, which requires 79, credits including 36 credits from the Criminal Justice Institute and a number of General Education courses.

4 Associate of Applied Science in General Technology The Associate of Applied Science in General Technology (AAGT) is available through two options. The AAGT Option one has the more clearly defined curriculum. All requirements for a technical certificate in one of nine programs of study must be completed in addition to 15 hours of general education courses for a total of 64 credit hours. The AAGT Option two is consistent with Option one in terms of both total credit hours required and general educational coursework requirements. Option two provides greater flexibility for earning the AAGT by allowing 28 hours in one technical area combined with 21 hours in technical core support courses. To exercise Option two the student must have coursework approved by their academic advisor and the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology The Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology (AASIT) also is available through two options: the AASIT Electromechanical Technology- Industrial Controls Option, and the AASIT Electromechanical Technology- Instrumentation Option. Both AASIT Options specify 70 credit hours of major coursework requirements for the respective Options. In addition to the 70 credit hour core, three credit hours are required in Social Sciences, and both Options provide the same selection of courses from which to select. Associate of Applied Science in Nursing The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) is available as a transition program for LPN to RN education, and the AASN is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. The AASN program is well defined in terms of coursework requirements, grade point requirements, licensing (LPN) requirements, and supporting documentation requirements. The SN includes Microbiology (BIOL 3553) and Microbiology Lab (BIOL 3561) as a Supportive requirements. The prerequisites for Microbiology are 6 hours of chemistry and 3 hours of biology; or BIOL 2243/2301 (Anatomy/Physiology II + Lab) and 3 additional hours of biology. The AASN is short the additional hours of biology needed, so it is suggested that Introduction to Biological Science (BIOL 1063) be added to the AASN curriculum. Associate of Science in Land Surveying Technology The Associate of Science in Land Surveying Technology (ASLST) requires total credit hours, depending upon the mathematics course chosen. The ASLST requires courses in general education, spatial information systems, and land surveying. Completion of the ASLST satisfies requirements needed for students to take the state licensure exam and become a licensed professional land surveyor. The ASLST program requires two years of coursework. Frequency of Course Offerings The General Education courses required for completion of the Associate s degree are offered in both fall and spring semesters to accommodate both Associate s degree and baccalaureate degree programs. It is noted that most technical programs can be completed within a one year period; however, the ASLST program stipulates that a two year period is required for completion.

5 Facilities and Equipment. Faculty members engaged in teaching these courses are employed throughout the various schools and departments at the university. These faculty members utilize the existing facilities and equipment available in their various departments. In sampling a few of faculty members at various departments, satisfaction levels were average with the current equipment and facilities. Some questions about Wi-Fi connections, campus wide implementation and accessible were noted. In conclusion, facilities and equipment are at high enough levels to maintain and support a good environment for both faculty and the students pursuing an Associate of Arts degree. Library Resources. The collection housed in the UAM Taylor Library and technology center in the branch libraries of the MeGehee and Crossett campuses provide excellent educational and research assistance the AA degree. Both journal and book holdings have increase substantially over the past five years to meet the needs of the campus. Electronic databases have also grown in both scope and depth and can be accessed for all three campuses. The libraries also provide comfortable and accessible studying and meeting spaces. The library support staff is well trained and provides excellent support to the students. Accreditation. The University of Arkansas at Monticello is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission s North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The practical nursing programs on the College of Technology-McGehee and the College of Technology- Crossett campuses are approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. The nursing assistant programs for both campuses have been approved by the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Services, and Office of Long Term Care. The College of Technology-Crossett programs are accredited by the Council on Occupational Education for occupational education units. The units approved include: Administrative Information Processing, Computer Maintenance/CISCO, Electromechanical Maintenance, Electromechanical Technology Industrial Controls and Instrumentation, Industrial Equipment Maintenance, Industrial Process Technology, Practical Nursing, and Pulp and Paper Science. The College of Technology-McGehee holds the following accreditations: Child Development, McGehee, Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education; Emergency Medical Services, McGehee Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health. Student Outcomes. There are seven Associate Degree programs and a restricted enrollment program for Arkansas Law Enforcement employees administered in the University of Arkansas at Monticello system. Six of the seven programs are career-specific, such as the Associate of Applied Science Land Surveying. In the last ten years, 893 of the non-restricted 1048 Associate Degrees awarded were in the 62 hr general Associate of Arts program. Of the six career-specific degrees, 51 percent of the degrees awarded were in the Associate of Applied Science Nursing/LPN-RN. It is noteworthy that 84 percent of the students awarded an Associate Degree continued their education at UAM. With only 157 career-specific degrees

6 awarded during this period, it is most likely that the majority of the 877 students who continued their education at UAM received the general Associate of Arts degree. The more general Associate of Arts degree is popular with students and appears to encourage them on toward a four-year degree. Remedial courses were required by 580 students from May 2005, the year that all seven of the programs were available, to May Math accounted for 77 percent of the remediation needs, reflecting the general trend in the region. Until students and secondary programs in the region make drastic improvements on mathematic education, UAM should continue the emphasis on maintaining and improving the remediation programs, especially in math. In the past ten years, only one student has received a degree in the Pulp and Paper program and three in Agriculture and Production Management. Both of these programs were initiated in A thorough review of these programs to determine the current and projected regional needs, costs, and value should be undertaken to assess whether or not they should be terminated, modified, or promoted more aggressively. Program Improvements. The associate degree program is an interdisciplinary program that is designed to use already existing resources and faculty. The program is fully contained in the Arkansas Core Curriculum, which limits the changes in the program. However, UAM is committed to offering more courses at unconventional times to better serve our nontraditional and working students. It was also noted that the technical components of the associate degrees are a burden on many budgets. To ensure the standards set by accrediting bodies are met, UAM must continue to explore possible sources of extra funding. Technology is an area that we cannot fall behind to ensure that our students will receive a quality education so they will be competitive in the job market. The primary improvement that currently is planned in the associate degree program is to improve the graduation rate. By educating students and advisors that all students should apply for an associate degree when applicable, will help to improve the graduation rate. Students should be aware that an associate degree is just the first step in obtaining their bachelor degree, not a stopping point. Summary and Conclusions. The Associate of Arts degree at the University of Arkansas at Monticello provides students with the opportunity to receive a quality education and to earn a college degree in a relatively short period of time. The degree is ideal for many professional and paraprofessional careers. The associate degree provides training and education designed to meet the applied needs of the region and State. The program has been successful over the past year and continues to grow and enjoy University-wide support. The University is committed to ensuring the program continues meets the needs of our students. Further, the joining of the Technical Colleges to the University has provided a wealth of opportunity for the students and region.