NEW PROGRAM PROPOSAL: AAS IN INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY Agenda Item I-3c BIG SANDY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE September 18, 2015

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1 NEW PROGRAM PROPOSAL: ACTION AAS IN INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY Agenda Item I-3c BIG SANDY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE September 18, 2015 Recommendation That the Board of Regents approve an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Industrial Maintenance Technology for Big Sandy Community and Technical College with the track in Industrial Maintenance to be implemented in Spring Rationale The proposed AAS degree and tracks are consistent with the missions of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) and supports the statewide postsecondary education strategic agenda and the statewide strategic implementation plan. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is currently approved to offer diplomas and certificates in Industrial Maintenance Technology and has the facilities, equipment, and faculty available to support this program. Enrollment numbers in the Industrial Maintenance Technology program at BSCTC indicate a growing interest in this program. Enrollment has grown from 19 students in 2009 to 45 students in The base for employment upon completion is very broad. Hospitals, school systems, heavy equipment sales and services, manufacturing plants, Corps of Engineers, and any business that has machines in use that need to be repaired and maintained are potential employers of students who complete this degree. With the addition of the AAS degree, the Industrial Maintenance Technology program has the potential to emerge as a significant contributor to the area s response to the economic decline of the coal industry. The Southeast Chamber of Commerce identifies BSCTC as one of the major tools being used to attract manufacturing companies to the Big Sandy area. These companies need a highly trained and knowledgeable workforce, and an AAS in Industrial Maintenance Technology will address this need. Background According to the Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Diversity Policy and Framework for Institution Diversity Plan Development, Big Sandy Community and Technical College has automatic eligibility. An executive summary of the proposal is attached. A copy of the full proposal has been forwarded to each member of the Board s Academic Affairs and Curriculum Committee. 99

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Associate in Applied Science in Manufacturing Industrial Technology: Industrial Maintenance Technology Big Sandy Community and Technical College A Proposal for Initiation of a New Degree Program Centrality to the Institution s Mission and Consistency with State s Goals As a member of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), the goals of Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) mirror those of KCTCS and are linked to strategic outcomes. The goals and strategic outcomes reflect the College s commitment to a strong curriculum designed to fulfill its mission statement. The addition of the Industrial Maintenance Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) to the program inventory of BSCTC is central to this mission. Specifically regarding the application for this degree, BSCTC is in alignment with KCTCS in its support for the goal to Enhance the Economic and Workforce Development of the Commonwealth, and more specifically in terms of BSCTC to Enhance the Economic and Workforce Development of the Communities in the Big Sandy Region. The new credential will also address the KCTCS and BSCTC goal to Increase student access, transfer, and success. The AAS Degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology will provide students with a ready-to-work education as well as transfer opportunities. Further, the addition of the AAS Degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology supports CPE Policy Objective 4 and more specifically 4.1 to Maximize KCTCS s role as a high quality, low-cost provider of postsecondary education and transfer opportunities encouraging college access and success. Also, the addition of the degree program will addresses CPE Policy Objective 4.4 to Support new pathways for adult learners to enroll and complete postsecondary degrees and credentials. Graduates will be prepared to enter the work force and will have transfer opportunities through AAS transfer agreements currently in place. A significant transfer option for this program is through Morehead State University (MSU). MSU provides a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Technology Management Degree that provides transfer for KCTCS AAS graduates. In addition, AAS graduates may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in University Studies, Professional Studies Option, at MSU. Working with area companies can help facilitate Policy Objective 4.2 to Provide institution and student incentives to increase high-quality degree production and completion rates and Policy Objective 4.6 to Promote student engagement, 100

3 undergraduate research, internships, and other educational opportunities that improve the quality of the student experience, develop leaders, and lead to success after graduation. Local industry provides internships and cooperative education opportunities, which may result in scholarships being awarded to students or prospective students. For example, the Kellogg s Corporation, American Electric Power, and Army Corps of Engineers have been instrumental in offering internships and scholarships for past graduates. Local industry support and transfer opportunities also address CPE Policy Objective 7.1 to Strengthen and expand partnerships with business, industry, government, non-profit, and other educational entities to meet Kentucky s workforce and community needs, and CPE Policy Objective 7.2 to Support collaborations among postsecondary education providers to serve regional needs and planning efforts to raise the educational attainment level of the Commonwealth. Collaboration with industry, with communities, and with other educational institutions are essential to the advancement of the program and the success of its students. Many strong collaborations are in place that support this premise. CPE Policy Objective 8.2 to Build upon the success of Kentucky s Virtual Campus and Virtual Library to maximize the use of technology in implementing academic innovations, will be a component of the AAS in Industrial Maintenance Technology at BSCTC. The College, as well as the Industrial Maintenance Technology Program, embraces the flexibility, affordability, and creativity of online learning. Further, the College appreciates the role Kentucky s Virtual Campus plays in the delivery of quality education to the citizens of the Commonwealth. BSCTC maintains a strong online presence through a comprehensive schedule of courses and a rigorous quality control process. The College recognizes the effectiveness of online course availability from institutions across the state in meeting the unique scheduling needs of students. This credential will give students affordable access to a pathway to employment that places them in a high demand, high wage field of work and provides them with an educational foundation designed to support continued learning. Further, it will strengthen an existing program, increase degree attainment, and contribute to the economic growth of the region. Program Quality and Student Success The AAS in Industrial Maintenance Technology will prepare students for a job market that is projected to grow significantly both on a national and state level. On a local level, the program will become part of a larger response to the economic development of Eastern Kentucky by contributing to a well-trained, highly skilled regional workforce. The program hosts a well-developed curriculum that is sustained by the KCTCS curriculum process. All courses within the curriculum and offered through BSCTC will have a webenhanced component allowing for supplemental online instruction. The Industrial Maintenance Technology AAS program will be supported by the currently established diploma program in the Technical Division at BSCTC and by the existing administrative and financial structure of the College. 101

4 Program Demand/Unnecessary Duplication Enrollment numbers in the Industrial Maintenance Technology area at BSCTC indicate a growing interest in this program. Enrollment has grown from 19 students in 2009 to 45 students in The base for employment upon completion is very broad. Hospitals, school systems, heavy equipment sales and services, manufacturing plants, Corps of Engineers, and any business that has machines in use that need to be repaired and maintained are potential employers of students who complete this degree. With continued growth and the addition of the AAS degree, the program has the potential to emerge as a significant contributor to the area s response to the economic decline of the coal industry. The Southeast Chamber of Commerce identifies BSCTC as one of the major tools being used to attract manufacturing companies to the Big Sandy area. These companies need a highly trained and knowledgeable workforce, and an AAS in Industrial Maintenance Technology will address this need. Cost and Funding of the Proposed Program Big Sandy Community and Technical College currently has physical resources, library resources, and technology resources to sustain this credential. One full-time faculty will be hired to serve both the Industrial Maintenance Technology program and the Engineering and Electronics Technology program. With the addition of this faculty member, a sufficient number of qualified faculty will be on staff to provide instruction and support the program. Program Review and Assessment KCTCS Board of Regents Policy 4.3 stipulates that each program must complete an annual program review. At BSCTC, the review has been incorporated into the Institutional Unit Review. This comprehensive review process integrates the educational program s annual planning with student learning, program outcomes assessment, and improvement actions while including annual program data, program accomplishments, future program trends, and budget requests. Direct measures used to review student learning outcomes include enrollment information, retention/persistence, completer/graduation rates, placement/transfer rates, etc. Indirect measures include student surveys/course feedback, questionnaires, employer followups, exit interviews and focus groups. Conclusion There is a clear indication that technical students enrolled in diploma programs at BSCTC are interested in completing an AAS degree in their fields of study. During the academic year, BSCTC awarded 36 Associate of Applied Science in General Occupational/Technical Studies (GOTS) degrees. The GOTS degree provides a structure by which KCTCS students who are enrolled in diploma programs can earn an AAS degrees with the completion of additional general education courses. Implementation of a degree credential in all technical 102

5 programs will enable students to earn a degree in their specific field of study as opposed to the more general GOTS degree. The AAS in Industrial Maintenance Technology provides a pathway to employment and a foundation for continued learning and career advancement. The degree will supplement a diploma program that has strong enrollment and is already in place at BSCTC. Local business and civic leaders look to BSCTC to provide a workforce in this field of study to serve as a major tool in attracting manufacturing companies to the Big Sandy region. An additional faculty member to serve both the Industrial Maintenance Technology program and the Engineering and Electronics Technology program will be the only expense incurred with the implementation of this credential. 103

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