Interdisciplinary Studies Program Review: Fall 2014

1 | P a g e

Interdisciplinary Studies Program Review: Fall 2014

I. PROGRAM MISSION AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

A. Mission Statement

The mission of the Interdisciplinary Studies program is to provide a comprehensive, yet personalized

education for students wishing to continue their education. The curriculum includes career-technical, general education/transfer, and topics courses. Program requirements are flexible and specific to each student’s needs as to help students establish their educational goals.

1. Is the program mission aligned with the College’s mission, vision, and strategic plan?

 Yes

B. Institutional Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate effective communication skills. 2. Students will use reasoning skills to analyze and solve problems.

3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures and value systems.

4. Students will apply health-related knowledge to promote physical and mental well-being. C. Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate effective communication skills using a variety of genres, and utilizing different technologies.

2. Students will use critical thinking and reasoning skills to analyze and solve problems. 3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures and value systems.

4. Students will apply health-related knowledge to promote physical and mental well-being. 5. Students will display professionalism in appearance, job performance, and ability to work as

team members.

6. Students will develop the professional competencies to function effectively within their chosen academic disciplines and careers.

II. ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES

2 | P a g e

Each degree-seeking student will begin an electronic portfolio during his or her college orientation course. Initially, we are using the campus online learning management system, Moodle. This portfolio will contain items for student use (education plans and resumes), institutional use (outcome measurement), and multi-use (student reflective statements). When completing general education courses, students will be required to upload an assignment to their portfolios

demonstrating their progress toward achieving the relevant student learning outcome. Also,

students will upload a reflective statement for each course. This reflective statement will describe, in the student’s own words, what he or she has learned in the course and why the course will be important to his or her future.

B. Outcomes Assessment Results and Action Response

Due to lack of graduates and lack of previous data collection, there is limited assessment data for this program. Previously this program did not identify a method for obtaining this data. Therefore, changes were made to increase the assessment of this program. These changes include the

ePortfolio and Capstone listed above.

C. Employer/Self-employed Satisfaction (A.A.S, Diploma, Certificate)

This data has not been tracked over the past 5 years. Since this degree program is specific to each student’s educational needs and based upon the graduate’s future career desires. The job market in the area is very heavily focused on the oil and gas industry as well as education, health and medical and support services. Students in the areas of education, health and medical would be better served with an AAS degree in that area instead as there are often certifications required. For support service positions not requiring specific certifications, this degree would be a viable option. For someone wanting to own his or her own business, this could be a beneficial degree as it offers valuable general education courses while also allowing the student to customize a their degree to fit their needs.

D. Transfer Information (A.A, A.S) N/A

E. External Reviews and Recommendations

When the state advisory team was here in the Fall of 2014, no recommendations were made.

III. PROGRAM RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

A. Student Enrollment Data 1. Trends and Barriers

3 | P a g e

2. Action Plan and Strategy

This program doesn’t have any students actively pursuing this degree program, although the numbers show students in the program these students need to have program change forms completed. It may be time to consider eliminating this program.

B. Faculty Data

The majority of courses taken in this program vary from student to student. All students are required to take a course in Communications; Math, Science, or

Computer Science; Humanities, or Social Science; Wellness; and College Strategies or College Transitions. Currently there are a wide variety of classes offered and adequate staff to meet the needs of students in these general education areas. Students are also required to complete a capstone as well as a co-op experience. The co-op program at WSC is very informal and could be improved. The other credits required are based on the student’s chosen field and vary from student to student.

C. Facilities/Technology/Budget Data

Facility needs are similar to the AA and AS programs as students take similar courses. Students will need access to computers, learning commons, tutoring/supplemental instruction, advising, online course support, counseling, student services, etc. The current renovation of Stevens Hall that will open in the Spring of 2015 should meet these needs. No additional funds are needed at this time.

D. Student Support Services

Advising in this program is currently assigned to Extended Learning as credit for prior learning could easily be incorporated into this degree. Current advisor is knowledgeable in advising and has been instrumental in developing student education plans across multiple degree areas. Currently WSC hosts an online job site for students and employers to access regarding job opportunities for graduates.

On campus tutoring is available for all students in the area of Math and Writing. Online tutoring is offered across multiple subject areas for all students. Tutoring in other subject areas on campus would be beneficial for all students.

E. Internships/clinical/practicum/co-ops

This program requires students to complete 1 credit of co-op that relates to the degree they are obtaining. This degree allows students to choose a specific area of interest to pursue and

4 | P a g e

currently no affiliation agreements for this program.

IV.

PROGRAM STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Flexibility in course choice for students, which allows them to design a degree that fits the area of study they are interested in. This degree also allows students to utilize appropriate credit for prior learning through on the job training, military training, and certifications they may already hold. The capstone requirement of the program allows students to document and demonstrate what they have learned in their program. This is used to not only evaluate the program, and that the student has met the program requirements, but could also be used to demonstrate skills to a potential employer. B. Opportunities for Improvement

If the program remains, it needs to be marketed more to employers and community members who may benefit from this type of degree program.

COOP program campus wide could be improved to become a more comprehensive co-op that works with area employers to identify more opportunities for students.

V. PROGRAM VIABILITY

This program has only had 3 graduates in the past 5 years. The last time someone graduated was May 2012. With the AA and AS degree as well as a variety of AAS programs for students to choose from, is there a need for this program anymore? Even with the name change students are still confused as to what this program is because we don’t have an undecided major. Since the AAS degree isn’t as transferable as an AA or AS, is it beneficial to students? Marketing related to credit for prior learning and obtaining a degree using it through WSC was done over the Summer 2014 and still no students showed an actual interest in this program.

VI. REVIEW TEAM

VII. APPENDIX

Program Outcome Guide

Enrollment Data

5 | P a g e

WSC Program Outcome Guide (POG)

Interdisciplinary Studies (AAS/CP)

Prerequisites Courses Assessment

Tasks Intended Outcomes  Completion of high school degree or equivalent.  For writing course placement, students must demonstrate proficiency through ACT test scores,

COMPASS test scores, or completion of ASC 087.  For math course

placement, students must demonstrate proficiency through ACT test scores,

COMPASS test scores, or completion of ASC 093.

Students are required to take 1 class from each of the following 4 areas:

- Communications

- Math, Science or Computer Science

- Humanities or Social Science

- Wellness

First time students are also required to take ASC 100 In addition this program requires students participate in 1 or more credits of COOP 197. Remaining credits should be chosen based on student’s career goal and be approved by the program team. Student can earn up to 15 credits for

approved credit for prior learning.

COMMUNICATIONS

BOTE 210 COMM 110 COMM 211

COMM 212 COMM 216 ENGL 105

ENGL 110 ENGL 120 ENGL 125

COMPUTER SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY

BOTE 102 BOTE 152 BOTE 188 BOTE 218 BOTE 299 CIS 105 CIS 128

CIS 129 CIS 130 CIS 180 CSCI 101 CSCI 114 CSCI 120 CSCI 122 CSCI 160 CSCI 161 CSCI 289  Capstone projects are embedded in various courses to measure intended student learning outcomes. 1. Students will demonstrate effective communication skills using a variety of genres, and utilizing different

technologies. 2. Students will use

critical thinking and reasoning skills to analyze and solve problems.

3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures and value systems. 4. Students will apply

health-related knowledge to promote physical and mental well-being.

5. Student will display professionalism in appearance, job performance, and ability to work as team members. 6. Student will develop

the professional competencies to function effectively within their chosen academic disciplines and careers.

6 | P a g e

HUMANITIES

ART 110 ART 210 ART 211 ART 299 COMM 200 ENGL 211 ENGL 220 ENGL 222 ENGL 299 ENGL 224 ENGL 225 ENGL 238 ENGL 261 ENGL 262 ENGL 265 GERM 101 GERM 102 HIST 257 HUMS 210 HUMS 211 HUMS 251 HUMS 252 HUMS 253 HUMS 290 HUMS 299 MUSC 100 MUSC 101

MUSC 111 PHIL 101 PHIL 210 PHIL 215

RELS 120 RELS 203 SPAN 101 SPAN 102 SPAN 201 SPAN 202 THEA 110 THEA 261

THEA 270 HIST 101 HIST 102 HIST 103

HIST 104 HIST 220 HIST 223 HIST 299

MATHEMATICS

MATH 100 MATH 102 MATH 103 MATH 104 MATH 105 MATH 107 MATH 146 MATH 165 MATH 166 MATH 210

SCIENCE

ASTR 110 BIOL 111 BIOL 115 BIOL 124

BIOL 150 BIOL 151 BIOL 220 BIOL 221

BIOL 230 CHEM 112 CHEM 115 CHEM 116 CHEM 121 CHEM 122 GEOG 121 GEOG 161 GEOL 105 PHYS 100 PHYS 211 PHYS 212 PHYS 251 PHYS 252 PLSC 110 SOIL 210 SOCIAL SCIENCE ANTH 171 CJ 201 ECON 105 ECON 201

ECON 202 GEOG 151 GEOG 161 GEOG 263 POLS 115 POLS 116 PSYC 100 PSYC 111 PSYC 250 PSYC 270 SOC 110 SOC 115 SOC 235 SOC 299 SWK 255

WELLNESS

7 | P a g e

HPER 217 HPER 253 HPER 260 NUTR 222

Interdisciplinary Studies Program Enrollment Data

(General & Technical Studies Prior to 2014)

Applied Admitted Matriculated Revoked Deferred Withdrew

8 | P a g e

CERT – Interdisciplinary Studies Enrollment Data

9 | P a g e

2010

Interdisciplinary Studies Graduation Data

AAS- IDS _{CERT – IDS}