Northeast Alabama Community College Drafting and Design Technology AAS, Certificate, and Short Term Certificate Program Review March 2010 Program Purpose The Drafting and Design Technology (DDT) program prepares students for entry-level employment as computer-aided drafting technicians. These persons will perform tasks such as basic mechanical detailing, creation of solid models, and application of standard dimensioning practices. The DDT program assists individuals who need to improve their basic computer skills and supports individuals lacking in technical backgrounds. Instruction meets the specific educational needs of industries and governmental agencies within the NACC service area. Program Learning Outcomes Graduates of the Drafting and Design Technology (DDT) program are able to: Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamentals of drafting tools and procedures. (DDT 111) Demonstrate the ability to create orthographic drawings. (DDT 124) Demonstrate the ability to use CAD software to produce industry standard drawings. (DDT 104) Demonstrate the ability to apply conventions practices to sectional and auxiliary drawings. (DDT 128) Demonstrate the ability to apply industry standard dimensions and notations. (DDT 127) Demonstrate the ability to produce mechanical assemblies and models. (DDT 231 & DDT 233) Demonstrate the knowledge to apply tolerances, and dimensioning notations. (DDT 122) Demonstrate the knowledge to employ applied technical mathematical applications to industrial drawings. (DDT 239, DDT 212, DDT 225, DDT 213) Create civil maps: traverses, elevations, contours and profile. (DDT213) Create residential architectural plans. (DDT 132, DDT 212 and DDT 222) Exhibit a positive work ethic (WKO 106) Assessed Needs and Assumptions According to the United States Department of Labor (www.bls.gov/oco/ocos111.htm), employment of drafters is expected to grow by 4 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is slower than the average for all occupations. However, growth will vary by specialty. The field of computer-aided drafting (CAD) is one of the fastest growing in the entire field of design. Individuals who earn an associate degree in computer-aided drafting may earn an excellent salary, depending upon factors such as location. However, on average an architectural and civil drafter earns a starting salary of $39,190 per year
(www.degreedirectory.org/articles/computer_aided_drafting_associate's_degree.html). This means there is a growing demand for people who have skills in this area. The economic outlook and growth potential in this industry is particularly good. Since this degree is so technical and specialized, those who have degrees are preferred because they show they have training in the technical aspects of the field. This makes those who earn a degree highly sought after. The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations indicates that the drafting fields are expected to grow more slowly than average over the next 10 years. More powerful and easy to use CADD systems should limit demand for lesser-skilled drafters and the off-shoring of some drafting jobs should also dampen growth. Most job openings are expected to arise as drafters move to other occupations or leave the labor force. Usage of the term drafter is changing to that of CAD operator, or technician, to reflect the focus on technology in this field. The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations indicates entry-level wages at $11.52; average hourly wages of $19.14 and $22.95 are reported for experienced drafters. Structure The Drafting and Design Technology Program offers an Associate in Applied Science degree option, including program core courses required by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education with additional courses to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the program learning outcomes. The program consists of 63-66 semester hours, depending on the exact courses chosen. There are 42 semester hours of pre-professional, major, and elective courses (Area V), with the remaining courses consisting of selected general education courses (Areas I-IV). There are four Long Certificate options in the DDT program: General, Architectural, Mechanical, and Structural/Civil. The programs consist of 42 semester hours depending on the exact courses chosen. There are 30 semester hours of pre-professional, major, and elective courses (Area V), with the remaining 12 semester hours consisting of selected general education courses (Areas I-III). There are four Short Certificate options in the DDT program: General, Architectural, Mechanical, and Structural/Civil. The programs consist of 21 semester hours depending on the exact courses chosen from (Area V). Accreditation The Drafting and Design Technology A.A.S. degree program at Northeast Alabama Community College is within the institutional accreditation by the SACS Commission on Colleges, Inc., reaffirmed in 2005.
Instructors The Drafting and Design Technology program currently has one full-time faculty member teaching full time within the program and eight adjunct instructors. The adjunct instructors typically teach 3-9 semester hours per semester. DDT adjuncts are scheduled to utilize their individual industry specialty and computer-aided software knowledge. Keith Andrews, full time instructor and department supervisor, has a bachelor s degree in education with emphasis in Career Technical Education. He holds a two-year diploma in Drafting and Design Technology. He has completed instructor certification from the American Design Drafting Association. He has 5 years of experience teaching drafting at the secondary level and 21 years teaching computer-aided drafting at the post-secondary level. Professional development within the last two years includes workshops in computer-aided design software: AutoDesk s Inventor, AutoCAD 2009-2010, Architectural Desktop and Revit. James Hodge, DDT adjunct instructor, has an AAS degree in Drafting and Design Technology, with additional coursework in vocational education. He has over 30 years of experience teaching drafting at the secondary level. He has 8 years of experience as an adjunct instructor at Northeast Alabama Community College. He has completed instructor certification from the American Design Drafting Association. His professional development over the last two years has consisted of attending campus workshops on AutoDesk software applications. His specialty is with basic drafting fundaments and residential architecture. Tim Pope, DDT adjunct instructor, has an AAS degree in Computer Science. He has over 20 years of work experience installing and troubleshooting engineering computer systems and software. He has 8 years of experience as an adjunct instructor at Northeast Alabama Community College. His professional development over the last two years has consisted of attending campus workshops on AutoDesk s Inventor. His specialty is with solid modeling software, technical math, and CAD customization. Tim Gledhill, DDT adjunct instructor, has AAS degrees in Drafting and Design Technology and Industrial Electronics Technology. He has over 10 years of work experience in civil drafting. He has 7 years of experience as an adjunct instructor at Northeast Alabama Community College. His professional development over the last two years has consisted of attending campus workshops on AutoDesk Inventor software applications and a three-day workshop in Pro-Desktop. His specialty is in civil and electrical drafting. Tim Turner, DDT adjunct instructor, has an AAS degree in Drafting and Design Technology, with additional coursework in vocational education. He has over 20 years of work experience in mechanical drafting. He has over 5 years of experience teaching drafting at the secondary level. He has two semesters of experience as in adjunct instructor at Northeast Alabama Community College. His professional development has consisted of attending campus workshops on AutoDesk software applications. His specialty is with the fundamentals of drafting.
Kevin Ford, DDT adjunct instructor, has an AAS degree in Drafting and Design Technology. He has over 12 years of work experience in architectural and mechanical drafting. He is currently completing his first semester as a DDT adjunct. He is highly experienced with AutoCad s Architectural Desktop software. His specialty is with the fundamentals of CAD and architectural drafting. Kevin Brown, DDT adjunct instructor, has an AAS degree in Drafting and Design Technology. He has over 25 years of work experience in structural, civil, and mechanical drafting. He is currently completing his first semester as a DDT adjunct. He is highly experienced with AutoCad software. His specialty is with mechanical, AutoCAD, structural, and electrical drafting. Allen Mantooth, DDT adjunct instructor, has an AAS degree in Drafting and Design Technology. He has over 15 years of work experience in mechanical drafting. He is currently completing his first semester as a DDT adjunct. He is highly experienced with 3D modeling software. His specialty is with mechanical drafting, AutoCad software, and solid modeling. Gerald Dwight Hawes, DDT adjunct instructor, has a BS degree in engineering and is a licensed Alabama surveyor. He has over 15 years of work experience as a field surveyor. He is owner and operator of S&H surveying. He typically teaches DDT 133, Basic Surveying, once per year. On-going Costs for the Program The major on-going cost for this program is the installation and maintenance of two computer labs used by the program (TC108 and TC107). One lab (TC107) is used for first-year computeraided drafting (CAD) software applications and the other (TC108) for advanced CAD software applications. Hardware for the two labs is included in the campus computer replacement plan that provides for replacement of computers every 4 years. Costs for the two CAD lab replacements are approximately $20,000 for each replacement. Plotters required for the printing of industry-quality drawings are replaced every 3-4 years. The cost for replacement ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 per replacement. Software costs are covered by the AutoDesk Campus Licenses Agreement Contract that provides use of designated AutoDesk products for 35 CAD stations at a fixed cost, typically $7,000 annually. All additional department supplies and equipment are covered by a yearly budget of $3,000-$5,000. Salaries and benefits for fiscal 2009-2010 year in the DDT department were reported by the business office to be $143,863.44. This amount is expected to be relatively constant, but subject to the demands of increased enrollment. Instructional Quality and Enhancements/Curriculum Design The DDT faculty are highly experienced professionals that continually strive to make instructional modifications to improve the quality of student learning. The Associate in Applied
Science DDT Program includes a total of 21 semester hours of general education classes. These classes include English 101 (3 hours); Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 hours); humanities and fine arts elective (3 hours); 100-level math course (3 hours); 2 math, natural science, or computer science electives (6 hours); and one history, social science, or behavioral science elective (3 hours). All of the syllabi in the DDT curriculum have been approved by the Student Learning Outcomes Committee. All class syllabi are posted on the NACC website and are used by the instructors to develop course handouts distributed to all students at the beginning of each course. Course reviews are accomplished on a five-year rotating schedule with approximately 20% of the classes receiving a review each year. These reviews are all current as of this time. Courses are scheduled according to the following schedule. Beginning DDT core courses (DDT 104, 111, and 124) are typically taught in the fall semester, both day and evening. Intermediate DDT core courses (DDT 127 and 128) are taught only in the spring semester. First-year and second-year DDT elective courses are distributed according to pre-requisites. Typically, three or more DDT electives are offered each semester. Physical facilities have reached some limits with increased enrollment, specifically with DDT 111 and DDT 124. These courses require classroom space to accommodate 18-20 students to perform manual drafting tasks. TC108 has served as the classroom for these courses over the past years, but will only adequately seat 16 students and equipment. The program has recently offered these courses at the DeKalb County Technology Center s (DCTC) Drafting Department Lab located off campus in Rainsville. Other options are being researched for the fall semester. TC 108 lab was furnished with 12 new CAD stations during spring 2010, and TC 107 lab is scheduled to be updated spring 2011. All software is up to date. The DDT department makes limited use of the library for assignments, and its facilities are adequate for the needs of the department. Advisory Council An Advisory Council is in place for the Drafting and Design Technology program consisting of five practitioners from industry representing five drafting specialties: mechanical, architectural, civil, electrical, and general drafting. In addition to the five industry members, four members represent education, three from local secondary drafting programs and one member representing post-secondary education. Faculty members for the program are invited to attend meetings of the Advisory Council. The committee is given a presentation of activities within the program for the year, and the members then make recommendations and suggestions for improvement or redirection. The DDT Advisory Council meets annually during the summer semester.
Enrollment and Completions Enrollment and completions for fall 2006 through fall 2009 are as follows: Academic Year Number of Declared DDT Majors Enrollments and Completions, Fall 2006 - Fall 2009 Number of Short Number of Long Term Certificate Certificate Awards Awards Number of AAS Awards 2006-2007 58 3 8 10 2007-2008 57 12 7 12 2008-2009 62 15 9 13 2009-2010 **FALL ONLY 64 3 1 7 Source: AS400 data query performed by Registrar s Office Job Placement Rates and Employer Satisfaction Student Follow-Up Reports Out of the 42 students that have graduated during the four-year period examined, 21 are working in the same or a related field, 10 are continuing their education, 5 are working in another field, 3 are currently unemployed, and 3 could not be reached. There were 12 responses to a telephone survey of employers asking about the quality of graduates as to performance in three areas: basic drafting skills, CAD skills, and ability to complete tasks successful with limited to no supervision. All of these survey results indicated excellent or very good in these areas. The employers indicated they were satisfied with the quality of NACC graduates and that they would hire another for any future job openings. Findings of Review The Drafting and Design Technology Program has been popular among technical students, especially with graduates from local area secondary drafting programs and with displaced workers. Subject matter is updated regularly and is current with respect to the state of the industry. The following areas have been identified as areas where improvements to the program might be made: Course offerings of 3D solid modeling need to be enhanced to ensure students obtain the latest industry design software applications. This problem was indicated by student interest surveys and local industry surveys taken during the 2008-2009 academic years. Efforts have already begun to address this issue by using DDT 233 as the introductory 3D modeling course and continuing with DDT 233 to apply advanced solid modeling
applications. Students have been demonstrating their abilities to create solid models with the purchase of a 3D modeling printer, acquired in 2008. The other area where improvement was suggested during a 2007 advisory meeting was to incorporate technical-related math to all beginning DDT students. Efforts of improvements have been demonstrated by the scheduling of DDT 239 (Math for Drafters) every semester. This course serves as both an assessment tool and refresher course to all students enrolled in the DDT program. As a result of changes in technology, the occupational title Drafter has been merged or overlapped with the title Computer Aided Design (CAD) technician. A recommendation has been made to change the title of the DDT program from Drafting and Design Technology Program to Computer Aided Design Program to reflect the changing realities of the job market. Report Affirmed by: Keith Andrews, Drafting and Design Technology Instructor Date Dr. Mike Kennamer, Director of Workforce Development Date Date reviewed by Curriculum Committee: Curriculum Committee Chair: Bradley Fricks, Spanish Instructor Curriculum Committee Chair