Comprehensive Standard 3.5.3
The institution defines and publishes
requirements for its undergraduate programs, including its general education
components. These requirements conform
to commonly accepted standards and practices for degree programs.
(Undergraduate program requirements)
aCompliance ___Partial Compliance ___Non-Compliance
Narrative:
Lawson State Community College defines and publishes
requirements for its undergraduate programs, including general education
components. These requirements conform
to commonly accepted standards and practices for degree plans.
Publication and Dissemination of Program Requirements
Lawson State Community College publishes defines and
publishes—in print and online-- all degree requirements for its undergraduate
programs, including all General Education requirements in its bi-annual catalog
(2007-2009 Catalog pages 58-60). The Catalog outlines
course content, minimum and maximum credit hours, and general education core
requirements for each program of study in the College Catalog (Programs of Study, pages 1-113,
2007-2009 Catalog).
Lawson State Community College has
degree and certificate programs that include General Education courses/credits
linked to General Education competencies.
Alabama State Board of Education Policy 712.01: Degrees and Awards (Policy 712.01) requires that the distribution of
courses within the Associate in Arts, the Associate in Science, the Associate
in Applied Science, the Associate in Occupational Technology and certificates
contain general education components.
Alabama State Board of Education Policy 715.01: Graduation Requirements:
Degrees (Policy 715.01)
mandates that for a student to receive either of the aforementioned awards, he
or she must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 29-60 semester hours
(depending or degree or certificate requirements) of institution credit in an
approved program of study, including prescribed general education courses. Alabama State Board of Education Policy
907.01: Institutional Effectiveness: General Education Core (Policy 907.01)
indicates that the Chancellor has the responsibility of defining and
establishing a core of general education courses for each formal award
authorized by the Alabama State Board of Education and that the Chancellor will
review this core of general education courses at least once every three years.
These general education courses, along with their descriptions, are listed in
the Alabama Statewide Course Directory / Academic Inventory found on the
website of the Alabama College System (Academic Inventory)
There
is no differentiation among on-campus, off-campus, and distance learning
courses. Faculty, staff and administrators thoroughly review the College
Catalog prior its publication to ensure accuracy of program information.
General Education
Associate of Arts degrees (AA) and
Associate in Science (AS) degrees require a General Education core of 35
semester hours credit. The General Education core includes study in the areas
of Written Composition, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and
Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences (AA & AS Degree Plan Samples)
Associate in
Occupational Technologies (AOT) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees
require 26 semester hours of credit. The General Education core includes study
in the areas of Written Composition, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences
and Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, (AAS & AOT Degree Plan Samples)
Program Degree Designs
Each degree plan listed in the catalog outlines specific
goals for each academic department (Humanities Department Sample, pg.
82). Degree programs our
outlined in the catalog by area, to include:
Area I: Written Composition; Area
II: Humanities and Fine Arts; Area III:
Natural Science or Mathematics; Area IV:
History, Social and Behavioral Sciences; Area V: Pre-Professional Courses. When in student enrolls in Lawson State Community
College, they are assigned a specific advisor who works with students to
develop a correct path to a degree. Students
are typically advised to complete all developmental sequences, if applicable
and all introductory courses prior to enrolling and advanced level courses (Locating Your Advisor Insert).
Mission & Goals
Lawson State Community College embeds into
its general education requirements offerings that align with the mission (Mission) of
the college and goals (Goals). The comprehensive mission
statement outlines the following:
Lawson
State Community College is a comprehensive, public, two-year, multi-campus
college which seeks to provide accessible quality educational opportunities,
promote economic growth and to enhance the quality of life for people in its
service area. The College is dedicated
to the providing affordable and accessible lifelong learning opportunities in
order to prepare students for employment or career advancement, to enable
students to transfer to senior colleges and universities, and provide
customized training needs for business and industry.
Lawson State undergraduate programs,
including General Education support the mission in the following ways:
(1) Lawson State provides accessible quality
educational opportunities on both campuses to include all College Transfer
programs, Allied Health programs, and Business Technologies.
(2) Lawson State maintains an open-door policy
providing access to higher education for high school graduates and those that
successfully pass the General Education Development (GED) exam.
(3) Lawson State provides affordable tuition
rates that are comparable to peer institutions. (Fee Schedule)
(4) Lawson
State (via its STARS membership and accreditation status) provides the opportunity
for its students to transfer to state and out-of-state four year colleges.
Statewide Articulation of Credit
Lawson
State is a member of the Statewide Transfer and Articulation Reporting
System.
The AGSC …[which] stands for the Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee…was
created in March of 1994 by the (State Legislative Act 94-202) in an effort to
streamline the transfer process between two-year institutions and four-year
colleges. As result, the AGSC… developed
and has implemented a statewide general studies and articulation program that
facilitates the transferability of coursework among all Alabama public colleges
and universities. The AGSC continues to serve as a monitoring committee for the
articulation program. They oversee and maintain the program on an on-going
basis. Finally, the AGSC works to resolve any student appeals related to
transfer of coursework as it relates to the articulation program.
Associate
level degrees at Lawson State Community College are compatible with other two
year community colleges and aligned with the acceptable STARS related program
requirements. Indeed, each transferable
program, every two years, is reviewed and assessed based on the STARS guide and
modified, if necessary. For example, in
2004, CIS130 Introduction to Computer Systems was an acceptable transferable
course for most Associate degree majors and transfer colleges; however, a
pattern formed in STARS where CIS146 Microcomputer Applications became the more
acceptable transferable course. As a
result, all degree plans under the Associate level were changed to reflect this
trend (Sample Degree Plans). In addition, every Associate degree plan at
Lawson State refers students to the STARS guide for specific and relevant
course selection. Indeed, the Catalog (Step-by Step STARS Guide from Catalog) as well as every schedule booklet (Step-by-Step STAR Guide, Schedule Booklet) includes a step-by
step STARS guide that instructs students through the STARS registration
process. Once the guide is created is
serves as a contract between the Lawson State Community College student and their
transfer institution.
Students
who successfully complete their undergraduate programs may transfer up to 64
semester credit hours to their desired four-year institution. To ensure
successful transfer, all students are required to formulate an Articulation
STARS Agreement with that institution.
Lawson State Community College is in compliance with other comparative
institutions (STARS Student Sample)
Quality
of Programs
Faculty,
staff, and administrator input is critical to the design and assessment of
programs. In fact, faculty members and administrators regularly assess programs
using a comprehensive curriculum review
process that allows them to determine programmatic strengths, potential areas
for improvement, and adherence to the Alabama Department of Postsecondary
Education and the Alabama Board of Education mandates, particularly compliance
with general education core requirements and adherence to standards agreed upon
in the Statewide Articulation Reporting System.
Departments hold routine departmental meetings to evaluate the
effectiveness of individual courses’ student learning outcomes and to ensure
academic rigor. Those departmental
meetings also allow faculty members to ensure that students who matriculate to
the sequential courses in order to complete their undergraduate requirements
and matriculate to four-year institutions meet undergraduate degree seeking
requirements. This is determined at the departmental level. (Departmental Minutes)
Units
also work to development, improve and assess their programs via an annual Unit
Plan
Common Syllabi and Construction
Another way that Lawson State Community
College protects the integrity and quality of education is through the
standardization of its textbooks and Student Learning Outcomes per course. Syllabi and course objectives outline
specific minimums per course, regardless of instructor (Sample Syllabi). Full-time faculty (within each academic department) as
well as Department Chairs establish and review these standards via a syllabus
review. In 2007, the Academic Affairs
office issued a mandated syllabus review and restructure to include outlined
Student Learning Outcomes per course and the following template was issued to
all academic departments for syllabus alignment and uniformity (Syllabus Template).
The
effectiveness of the curriculum is monitored by faculty. They are responsible for designing and
administering assessments in their courses to measure and verify student
achievement and competence at the established level of proficiency. Faculty also work within their units (as a
team) to evaluate results and to adjust the curriculum to improve student
learning. Faculty often will work among
divisions to bridge curriculum gaps and to strengthen curriculum (Sample
Minutes between Developmental Education and Mathematics). Faculty also participate in
Program Reviews, Unit Planning, and Student Learning Outcomes Evaluations. They are directly responsible for working
with their Department Chair in crafting Unit Plans, tracking outcomes, evaluating
data and improving academic programs on a continuous basis. If a department requires a curriculum change
or if a change is initiated through post-secondary, they must seek approval by
the Academic Standards Committee (Developmental
Education Curriculum Change and Approval). If approved by the Academic Standards Committee (Academic Standards and
Curriculum Committee), the change is then
submitted to the Administrative Cabinet and President for final adoption (Example
of Committee to Cabinet Approval).
Unit
Plans and SLO’s
As
noted earlier, each year the College sets institutional goals that are
realistic and measurable as a means to attaining its mission. The Institutional
Planning and Accountability Committee coordinate the development of specific
goal indicators. These indicators serve as measurable statements and are used
to focus assessment and evaluation. Each academic and educational support unit
within the College is responsible for submitting an action plan (Unit Plans) which outlines an area’s specific
goals designed to help meet the institutional goals. These unit level action
plans focus on the department/unit’s strengths, weaknesses, needs and targets
for improvements.
General Education Student Learner
Outcomes assessment involves College Transfer, Business Technologies and Career
Technical Departments along with faculty, Department Chairs, Associate Deans
and the Academic Dean in tracking, analyzing and assessing General Education
Student Learner Outcomes (General Education Student Learner Outcomes Report). Lawson State has identified the following General Education
Outcomes:
·
Each General Education Student Learning Outcome is assessed,
measured and evaluated annually using the following criteria: (1) Expected Outcome; (2) Assessment Method;
(3) Expected Result; (4) Actual Results Obtained; and (5) Use of Results. Every spring, results are
reported using the Student Learning Outcomes form for Instructional Units and
are presented in detail to the Planning and Evaluation Hearing Committee at
Lawson State’s official Planning and Evaluation Hearing procedures. Once approved, the report is accepted and a
new cycle begins.
·
In
addition to Unit Plans which focus on departmental/division improvement, each
Instructional Program is required to measure specific Student Learning Outcomes
per program offered at the college that has viable graduates. Student Learning
Outcomes (Student Learning Outcomes Template) are
developed by the department and are measured throughout each evaluation
cycle—from fall to spring. Each program, including General Education is assessed,
measured and evaluated annually using the following criteria: (1) Expected Outcome; (2) Assessment Method;
(3) Expected Result; (4) Actual Results Obtained; and (5) Use of Results. Every
spring, results are reported using the Student Learning Outcomes form for
Instructional Units and are presented in detail to the Planning and Evaluation
Hearing Committee at Lawson State’s official Planning and Evaluation Hearings
where Unit Plans, Program Reviews and Student Learning Outcomes (General Education Student Learner Outcomes Report) are reviewed, assessed and
approved. Once approved, the report is
accepted and a new cycle begins.
Program
Review
Annually, the Vice President for Instructional
Services coordinates the review of twenty percent of the College’s
instructional programs (Program Review Template) to assess centrality of the program to the
institution’s role and mission, program viability and demand, use of resources,
and uniqueness. If a particular division is up for accreditation review, then
that report is used in lieu of the Program Review report (NLNAC
Health Professions Report). Recommendations, suggestions, and
commendations are made, if needed, for each program reviewed. The report
addresses issues of quality and quantity through the analysis of both
quantitative and qualitative data, and discusses performance in relation to the
past five years and looking ahead to the next five years and beyond. Indicators
of quality will vary among programs and may include: enrollment management,
collegiate transfer, career and technical programs, health professions
programs, developmental studies, learning resources technology, student
development services, financial and physical resources and workforce training
and adult education. The results of program reviews are factored into the
institution-wide planning and evaluation process.
External Accreditations
Lawson
State offers undergraduate degrees in programs that are under professional
accreditation. The Lawson State Business
Technology program is accredited by the (ACBSP) Association of Collegiate
Business Schools and Programs and the Nursing Program is approved and
accredited by the NLNAC (National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission).
The
College’s commitment to quality in academic excellence is grounded not only in
its mission, strategic priorities and vision, but also in its responsibilities
to the highest principles of performance accountability. The College recognizes that external reviews
provide a valuable opportunity for the self-study of academic units and
programs within the framework of rigorous standards. The review process also permits the College
to receive valuable feedback from highly-regarded peers and to continuously
monitor and improve programs and activities.
Results from these accreditations help Lawson
State Community College strengthen its programmatic offerings. An example of the use of results from
external accreditation reviews include:
- As
a result of the 2007 Self-Study for the National
League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., additional
funds to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and software for the nursing programs
on the Birmingham and Bessemer campuses were identified and generated
through externally awarded grants.
In 2008-2009, the Birmingham campus received an initial allocation
of $200,000 from an external source with the possibility of another $200,000
available in the 2009-2010 year.
The Bessemer campus will receive an additional amount in excess of
$200,000 for the 2009-2010 year from external funds.
The
College has a number of programs that do not have recognized external
accrediting agencies. These programs
follow guidelines in State of Alabama Board of Education (Policy 903.01) Instructional
Program Review. The
policy establishes the principles for such review, the criteria for review, the
procedures, and the responsibilities of the various entities and persons
involved.
Documentation:
|
Documentation |
Location |
|
2007-2009 Student Catalog and Handbook, Pages 58-60 |
|
|
2007-2009 Student Catalog and Handbook, Degree Plan Samples |
|
|
State Board Policy 712.01 |
|
|
State Board Policy 715.01 |
|
|
State Board Policy 907.01 |
|
|
Course Directory |
|
|
AS and AA Degree Plan Samples |
|
|
AAS/AOT Degree Plan Samples |
|
|
Humanities Department Sample Goals, Page 82, Catalog
Section |
|
|
Locating Your Advisor Section, 2008 Spring Schedule
Booklet |
|
|
Mission Statement, Catalog |
|
|
Institutional Goals, Catalog |
|
|
Fee Schedule, 2008 Spring Schedule Booklet |
|
|
State Legislature Theory, Act 94-202 |
|
|
Sample Degree Plans |
|
|
Step-by-Step STARS Directions, Catalog |
|
|
Step-by-Step STARS Directions, Schedule Booklet |
(Step-by-Step STAR Guide, Schedule Booklet) |
|
Student STARS Sample |
|
|
Departmental Minutes, Samples |
|
|
Syllabus Template |
|
|
Syllabus Example |
|
|
Sample Minutes (Dev. Math and Math Team) |
(Sample Minutes Between Developmental Education and
Mathematics). |
|
Dev. Education Curriculum Change & Approval |
|
|
Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee Minutes |
|
|
Example of Committee to Cabinet Approval |
|
|
Unit Plan Sample |
|
|
Student Learning Outcomes Template |
|
|
Student Learning Outcomes Report (Sample) |
|
|
Program Review Template |
|
|
Program Review Sample, Nursing |
|
|
Associate of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs |
|
|
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission |
|
|
State Board Policy 903.01 |