5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, Texas

Transcription

1 Office of the President 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, Texas July 5, 2011 Dr. Belle S. Wheelan President Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, Georgia Dear Dr. Wheelan: In preparation for Austin Community College s (ACC) upcoming compliance certification for the reaffirmation process (Class of 2013), the College recently completed an intensive, two-year audit of its compliance with the Substantive Change Policy. This was conducted as a result of learning at the December 2008 SACSCOC Annual Meeting that ACC s interpretation of the Substantive Change Policy was not up to date with the current interpretation of the policy. For example, ACC was still operating, as were other Texas community colleges, under the old interpretations that the College was approved to offer any programs at the associate degree or certificate levels. Also, for locations, ACC understood that the 25% and 50% thresholds were for programs offered at that location, not anywhere in the College. To better understand and clarify the expectations of the Substantive Change Policy, ACC staff attended a Substantive Change Policy workshop at Del Mar Community College in Corpus Christi, Texas in March Based on the information obtained at the workshop, an audit was conducted of all locations and programs since ACC s last Special Committee on Reaffirmation visit in September 2004 to ensure compliance with the policy. This comprehensive audit resulted in enhanced internal processes to ensure compliance with the Substantive Change Policy. The procedures, which are designed to identify substantive changes in programs and locations, are described in Attachment 1: Processes to Prevent Noncompliance. Several of these processes were initially identified in the Round Rock Higher Education Center Monitoring Report (submitted September 4, 2009) and a follow-up letter of clarification (submitted April 29, 2009). The purpose of this letter is to share the results of this audit that identified potential unreported substantive changes related to (1) off-campus locations where ACC offers coursework, (2) the addition of new programs to the curriculum, and (3) the closing of existing programs. For this audit, all locations where ACC offered coursework since September 2004 were examined. The factors considered when determining the locations to be reported to SACS are described in Attachment 2: Procedures for Identifying Unreported Off-Site Teaching Locations. This audit identified the following locations, which are primarily high schools where dual credit courses are offered:

2 Dr. Belle S. Wheelan July 5, 2011 Page 2 15 off-campus teaching locations that should have been reported under Procedure One: Substantive Changes Requiring Notification and Approval Prior to Implementation; and 12 off-campus teaching locations that should have been reported under Procedure Two: Substantive Changes Requiring Only Notification Prior to Implementation. ACC s curriculum was also examined beginning with ACC s Catalog. In determining compliance with the Procedure One Expansions at the Current Degree Level with Significant Departure from Current Programs Substantive Change section of the Substantive Change Policy, the term, significant departure, presented a problem in that it was not clearly defined. To address this ambiguity, ACC defined significant departure as follows: To constitute a Procedure One Expansions at the Current Degree Level with Significant Departure from Current Programs Substantive Change the following condition must be met: The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the award includes at least 25% of semester credit hours from courses not previously offered at Austin Community College, as indicated by the College s most recent academic year catalog. If this condition is met, the new award must meet at least one of the following conditions: 1. The new award requires hiring faculty with credentials different from those listed on Austin Community College s current Faculty Qualifications Table. 2. The new award requires new/different facilities, learning resources, or library resources than are currently available. Without these resources the award could not be offered. Using this above definition, the audit identified seven new programs that were potential unreported substantive changes under Procedure One: Substantive Changes Requiring Notification and Approval Prior to Implementation. We are reporting these programs as substantive changes, but we respectfully request clarification of the term significant departure and confirmation of whether the definition used by ACC is appropriate. In addition, the audit identified 17 program closings with an internal teach-out protocol that should have been reported under Procedure Two: Substantive Changes Requiring Notification and Approval Prior to Implementation. In the event our analysis/criteria are correct, Austin Community College officially notifies SACS of these unreported Procedure One and Procedure Two Substantive Changes and submits the appropriate prospectuses or documentation, as required. Enclosed is a USB drive that includes: Procedure One: Substantive Changes Requiring Notification and Approval Prior to Implementation. o 15 prospectuses on unreported locations that offer at least 50% of an award o 7 prospectuses on new awards/programs ACC offers

3 Dr. Belle S. Wheelan July 5, 2011 Page 3 Procedure Two: Substantive Changes Requiring Notification and Approval Prior to Implementation. o 1 document identifying 12 locations that offer 25%-49% of an award and the awards offered at each location [Attachment 3: Unreported Locations Offering 25%-49% of an Award] o Notification of the closings of awards and the resulting actions [Attachment 4: Notification of Closing s and the Resulting Actions] We request any directions or guidance you may wish to provide. We thank you for your assistance and look forward to working with you and your staff during the substantive change process. Cc: Dr. Jack Allen, Vice President, SACSCOC Soon Merz, Vice President, Effectiveness and Accountability

4 200 S. Vista Ridge Blvd., Cedar Park, TX Semester courses first offered at location: Fall 2006 Semester courses most recently offered at this location: Spring 2011 Coursework Offered at Location 1 Economics 2 English 3 Government 4 History 5 Speech 25% - 49% or more of the award may be earned Current Percent Semester Award Reaches 25% Threshold AA Art (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AA Dance (66) 27.27% Summer 2009 AA Economics (63) 28.57% Summer 2009 AA English (61) 29.51% Summer 2009 AA Foreign Language (60) 25.00% Summer 2009 AA General Studies in Liberal Arts (60) 30.00% Summer 2009 AA Geographic Information Systems (61) 24.59% Summer 2009 AA Government (64) 32.81% Summer 2009 AA History (60) 30.00% Summer 2009 AA Journalism (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AA Philosophy (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AA Radio-Television-Film (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AA Speech (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AAS Computer Information technology Game and Visualization 26.09% Summer 2009 Programming Specialization (69) AAS Hospitality Management-Baccalaureate Prep Specialization (68) 26.47% Summer 2009 AAT Education Instruction 4-8 Grade Levels (60) 30.00% Summer 2009 AAT Education Instruction 8-12 Grade Levels (60) 30.00% Summer 2009 AAT Education Instruction EC-6 Grade Levels (60) 30.00% Summer 2009 AS Anthropology Archaeology (61) 24.59% Summer 2009 AS Biology (65) 27.69% Summer 2009 AS Business Administration (61) 29.51% Summer 2009 AS Chemistry (65) 27.69% Summer 2009 AS Computer Science Computer Information Systems (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AS Computer Science Computer Science (65) 27.69% Summer 2009 AS Engineering (66) 27.27% Summer 2009 AS Environmental Science and Technology Environmental Studies 29.03% Summer 2009 (62) AS General Studies General Studies in Science (61) 29.51% Summer 2009 AS Geology (65) 27.69% Summer 2009 AS Health and Kinesiology Health (65) 27.69% Summer 2009

5 Current Percent Semester Award Reaches 25% Threshold AS Health and Kinesiology Kinesiology (63) 28.57% Summer 2009 AS Mathematics (60) 30.00% Summer 2009 AS Physics (64) 28.13% Summer 2009 AS Pre-Med/Pre-Dental/Pre-Medical/Pre-Pharmacy/Pre-Veterinary (63) 1% - 24% or more of the award may be earned 28.57% Summer 2009 Current Percent AA Anthropology (64) 23.44% AA Creative Writing (64) 23.44% AA Drama (63) 23.81% AA Geography (65) 23.08% AA Music (70) 21.43% AA Psychology (62) 19.35% AA Social Work (63) 19.05% AA Sociology (63) 23.81% AAS Accounting Accounting Specialist (60) 15.00% AAS Accounting Accounting Technician (61) 9.84% AAS American Sign Language Interpreter Training Interpreter Training (68) 4.41% AAS Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design Architectural 13.43% Specialization (67) AAS Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design Electronic Graphics 13.64% Specialization (66) AAS Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design Interdisciplinary 13.64% Specialization (66) AAS Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design Mechanical 13.43% Specialization (67) AAS Auto Body Collision and Refinishing (71) 12.68% AAS Automotive Technology (66) 13.64% AAS Biotechnology (70) 12.86% AAS Building Construction Technology Construction Management (68) 13.24% AAS Business and Technical Communications Business and Government 9.84% Communications Specialization (61) AAS Business and Technical Communications Technical Communications (60) 10.00% AAS Child Care Development Child Development (70) 8.57% AAS Commercial Music Management (65) 13.85% AAS Computer Information Technology Computer Programming (66) 13.64% AAS Computer Information Technology Computer Programming Software Testing Specialization (68) AAS Computer Information Technology Computer Programming Web Programming Specialization (65) 13.24% 13.85%

6 AAS Computer Information Technology Local Area Network Systems Network Administration (66) AAS Computer Information Technology Local Area Network Systems Security Administration Specialization (67) AAS Computer Information Technology Microcomputer Applications Applications (63) AAS Computer Information Technology Microcomputer Applications User Current Percent 13.64% 13.43% 19.05% 14.06% and Desktop Support Specialization (64) AAS Criminal Justice Corrections (63) 19.05% AAS Criminal Justice Law Enforcement (63) 19.05% AAS Culinary Arts (70) 12.86% AAS Dental Hygiene (72) 8.33% AAS Diagnostic Medical Imaging Radiology (72) 4.17% AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Automation, Robotics and 14.06% Controls Technology Specialization (64) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Bioinstrumentation Technology 13.43% Specialization (67) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Electronics Technician 12.86% Specialization (70) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Engineering Technology Specialization (66) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Nanoelectronics Manufacturing 12.50% Technology Specialization (72) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Networking/Computer 12.68% Electronics (71) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Power Technology Specialization 12.50% (72) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Renewable Energy Specialization 8.33% (72) AAS Electronics and Advanced Technologies Utility Lineman (64) 14.06% AAS Emergency Medical Services Professions Emergency Medical Services (69) 8.70% AAS Environmental Science and Technology Environmental Technology (64) 4.69% AAS Financial Management Mortgage Banking (61) 14.75% AAS Fire Protection Technology (63) 9.52% AAS Geographic Information Systems (65) 9.23% AAS Health Information Technology (66) 9.09% AAS Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology (65) 13.85% AAS Hospitality Management Food and Lodging Specialization (68) 13.24% AAS Hospitality Management Hotel and Lodging Specialization (68) 13.24% AAS Human Services Addictions Counseling (65) 9.23% AAS Human Services General Human Services (65) 9.23% AAS Human Services Therapeutic Recreation (66) 9.09% AAS International Business (60) 5.00%

7 Current Percent AAS Jewelry (69) 8.70% AAS Land Surveying Technology/Geomatics (63) 9.52% AAS Management (60) 10.00% AAS Marketing Fashion Merchandising (63) 9.52% AAS Marketing Marketing (63) 9.52% AAS Medical Laboratory Technology (70) 8.57% AAS Meeting and Event Planning Specialization (68) 8.82% AAS Nursing Nursing Mobility Track (62) 14.52% AAS Nursing Nursing Traditional Track (71) 8.45% AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant (72) 8.33% AAS Office Administration Administrative Assistant Specialization (67) 4.48% AAS Office Administration Legal Administrative Assistant Specialization (68) 4.41% AAS Office Administration Medical Administrative Assistant Specialization (68) 4.41% AAS Paralegal (66) 13.64% AAS Personal Fitness Trainer (60) 15.00% AAS Photographic Technology Advertising-Fashion Focus (71) 8.45% AAS Photographic Technology People-Portrait Focus (71) 8.45% AAS Physical Therapist Assistant (71) 8.45% AAS Real Estate Real Estate Brokers' Licensing (61) 14.75% AAS Sonography Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (Echocardiography) (72) 4.17% AAS Sonography Diagnostic Medical Sonography (72) 4.17% AAS Surgical Technology (63) 9.52% AAS Travel and Tourism (68) 8.82% AAS Visual Communication 2D Animation Specialization (72) 12.50% AAS Visual Communication 3D Animation Specialization (69) 13.04% AAS Visual Communication 3D Modeling Specialization (69) 13.04% AAS Visual Communication Game Art Specialization (71) 8.45% AAS Visual Communication Game Design Specialization (67) 8.96% AAS Visual Communication Graphic Arts Technology Specialization (67) 13.43% AAS Visual Communication Graphic Design Specialization (71) 12.68% AAS Visual Communication Interactive Media Technology Specialization (68) 13.24% AAS Visual Communication Motion Graphics Specialization (71) 12.68% AAS Visual Communication Web & Interactive Design Specialization (70) 12.86% AAS Welding Technology Art Metals (69) 8.70% AAS Welding Technology Code Welding (71) 4.23% Certificate Accounting Accounting Clerk (32) 9.38% Certificate American Sign Language-Interpreter Training (50) 6.00% Certificate Biotechnology (40) 7.50% Certificate Electronics and Advanced Technologies Engineering Technology 8.57% Specialization (35) Certificate Electronics and Advanced Technologies Power Technology 9.09% Specialization (39) Certificate Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology (32) 9.38%

8 Current Percent Certificate Radio-Television-Film Film/Video Production Management (24) 12.50% Certificate Radio-Television-Film Film/Video Production Technology (24) 12.50% Certificate Visual communication Game Design (58) 5.17% Certificate Visual Communication Interactive Media Technology (56) 5.36% Certificate Real Estate (16) 18.75%