PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
DEPARTMENT FACULTY/STAFF INPUT
An important part of the Program Review process is the consultation and input of all
members of the department. Please have each member of the department both fulltime and part-time sign below to acknowledge that they were consulted with during the
process and were able to provide input.
NOTE: This signature does not indicate necessary approval of the data or the analysis
or evaluation of the information contained inside this document. It is an indication that
you had an opportunity to provide input in the process.
Name of Faculty or Staff Member
Signature
Gary Menser, Discipline Facilitator
Norm Becker, Associate Faculty
Ed Swan, Associate Faculty
Kevin Campbell, Associate Faculty
Bryce Cacho, Associate Faculty
Troy Kuhns, Instructional Assistant
Document1
Page 1 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
PART I. ABSTRACT (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY) In one page or less, summarize the
major findings of the Program Review Report. List the key measurements of quality for
your department and the results of the data. Provide a brief analysis/explanation of the
data and the major future goals supported by the data.
Based on the KQMs the welding program is successful as identified by all program
indicators being consistent with overall indicators of the institution as reviewed in PART
II of this report. The main indicators, enrollment, retention and success are very close
to institutional norms. The major issues for the program are funding for the instructional
supplies, enrollment management to meet current institutional targets, and management
of the laboratory to accommodate maximum class size. The goal of the department is
to offer opportunities for students to enter welding related occupations, retrain those
seeking new careers, and for those employed in welding occupations to learn new skills
and upgrade themselves for new positions. In order to meet this overshadowing goal
the priorities identified in this report as priority 1, to meet student learning outcomes,
and priority 2, keeping equipment updated and energy efficient clearly meets collegewide goals bullets 1 and 4 need to be supported. The cost of these needs are indicated
on the budget document attached with the email along with the department signature
sheet.
PART II. KEY MEASUREMENTS OF QUALITY (KQMs) Key quality measurements
(KQMs) are a combination of college-wide data elements (provided to you in a separate
report) plus elements that are of particular importance to each department. Please
describe below department specific data you consider in preparing this report.
The enrollment trends over the past five years tell us we need to work on maintaining
the growth achieved in 07-08 and 08-09 as compared to 09-10. The number of courses
offered and number of sections has been consistent over the five years and is not a
variable in the growth of the program. We have no data for our current school year 1011; however, I can report our facility has never been as impacted as the current school
year. The arc welding stations in the lab are over booked and required prioritizing
students by need to keep order in the lab. I will comment on the FTES/Sec even though
I saw no data on this ratio. The low number of FTES/Sec is due to the weld 60 offerings
which there are eight with a maximum enrollment of 20 for all sections. Weld 60s have
no instructor load, thus no cost to the district and these practice laboratory courses are
very important to student success. Also, a factor is the limited number of work stations
(as few as eight for GMAW) however, this is somewhat offset by the times courses are
offered. A review of retention shows the program being slightly higher than the
Document1
Page 2 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
institution and review of success rate shows the program being consistent over the five
years and slightly lower than the institutional average.
The variability of the instructional supply budget that I have reported in previous reports
has been corrected for the four years shown (’07-‘11) on the worksheet being used for
this report. However, I am not able to explain the variation in instructor salary over the
four year period for both summer salary and regular salary for fall and spring. These
numbers have not changed very much; however, the budget worksheet is showing a
40k variation is regular salary and 22k in summer salary which is incorrect.
The welding laboratory has space limitations of 24 arc stations and 14 gas welding
stations. The affect of space limitations as reported above is the impaction of the lab
daily and the need to prioritize students for lab space in order to keep order in the lab.
PART III. ANALYSIS OF KEY QUALITY MEASUREMENTS (KQMs) Referring to the
report of key quality measurements provided by the Office of Institutional Research at
http://www.vvc.edu/PRAISE/, please provide your analysis of each indicator included in
the report.
KQM 1 – Enrollment trend for the past 5 years: The last three years reported show
growth over the first two years and are consistent with a slight decrease for spring
’10. Current year observation, 10-11 all courses are at capacity, no data provided.
KQM2 – Enrollment projection for the next 3 years: Due to the current budget
situation I’m not projecting an increase due to the limitation on course offerings.
There is opportunity to grow enrollment based on waitlist and students turned away
during the first week of school.
KQM 3 – Retention rate: The overall retention rate is slightly higher for the program
than the rate for the institution in all terms over the five years reported.
KQM 4 – Persistence rate: NOT INCLUDED THIS YEAR
KQM 5 – Success rate: The overall success rate is slightly lower for the program
than the rate for the institution in all terms over the five years reported,
Document1
Page 3 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
KQM 6 – Job Market: OPTIONAL THIS YEAR. See these links for relevant data:
California Employment Development Department Employment Projections
http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/databrowsing/?PageID=145
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections
http://www.bls.gov/emp/home.htm
KQM 7 – Course Transferability: See reports available at VVC PRAISE website
(http://www.vvc.edu/PRAISE/)
Welding course work is transferable as elective units and regular course work in
specific programs of study such as: engineering, industrial technology, and
education.
KQM 8 –WSCH/FTEF: NOT INCLUDED THIS YEAR
KQM 9 – Cost Effectiveness: NOT INCLUDED THIS YEAR
KQM 10 – Availability of resources: See Budget History reports available at VVC
PRAISE website (http://www.vvc.edu/PRAISE/)
Perkins money has been available at times to augment equipment and supply
needs. These monies have been absolutely necessary to keep the program going.
I estimate without these funds we would have been out of supplies approximately
week 6 of the spring semester.
Other KQM – List other key quality measures not already listed that pertain to your
area. None at this time.
PART IV: CONCLUSIONS FROM ANALYSIS OF KQMs
The program expects to be able to manage FTES based on targets set by
administration. Overall retention is slightly better and intuitional and overall success is
Document1
Page 4 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
slightly lower than institutional. I do not consider the difference of either to be significant
indicators. The growth of the program is hindered by both lab and classroom space
available at this time. The facility is operating at maximum capacity. Modernizing the
lower campus is in discussion at this time and the program facilities may be improved
and enlarged based on a review of the needs being done.
Due to current and
projected demand the instructional supply budget is and has been under funded for
several years. The program has survived by using budget augmentation in the spring
semester as well as Perkins’ funding and continues to do so.
PART V: STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT
“Student Learning
Outcomes” are the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that a student has attained
at the end (or as a result) of his or her engagement in a particular course or program.
“Assessment” is the documented process of measuring student achievement of
intended learning outcomes, reviewing and analyzing the results, and using the results
to plan for the improvement of teaching and learning.
For each course assessed, include the following:
1. Course SLO(s) assessed for this report:
2. Certificate Program SLO(s):
3. General Education SLO(s):
4. Assessment Method(s):
5. Assessment Results:
6. Analysis of Results:
7. Plans for Improvement and Reassessment:
The ultimate outcome from taking classes or completing the program of study ending in
a 20 unit certificate or the completion of the associate degree is employment. The
current need of the welding industry is employees who are able to pass welder
qualification testing and become certified welders regardless if they have taken on class
or completed the associate degree. A result of this need is a learning outcome
identified in all courses for students to perform and test welds meeting the standards of
acceptability identified in welding code books. All instructors have included laboratory
activities to inspect student work in order to measure the quality against visual and
destructive standards where applicable. A part of this outcome includes encouraging
students to complete their laboratory assignments early allowing them the opportunity to
pass a welder performance test, leaving the class with a welder certification for no cost.
This process has been going very well, showing and increase in student performance
Document1
Page 5 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
and students passing welder performance testing. The plan is to continue to monitor
student improvement of their welding skills by their ability to pass welder performance
testing to industry standards.
A second learning outcome consistent in all courses is the ability of students to show an
understanding of the safety precautions and demonstrate the importance of safety in the
laboratory. The assessment of this outcome is the safe operation of the laboratory and
no accidents. The normal injuries include foreign debris in the eyes, cuts and burns.
We have had no injuries for several semesters.
PART VI: ADDITIONAL EXPLANATIONS Include any additional comments necessary
to support your plans.
PART VII: GOALS FOR DEPARTMENT
What is your Priority 1 department goal for the coming year?
The top priority for the department is to support student learning outcomes. The
outcome identified in part V of this report, of having students learn the skills
necessary to pass welder qualification testing in order to get employment is our top
outcome and consistent in all classes. The person in direct line of the students
helping the student to obtain the skills and evaluate the work is the instructional
assistant. The goal is have the instructional assistant become a Certified Welding
Inspector. This goal is related to the college-wide goal number 2.
The goal will be successful when the Instructional Assistant becomes a CWI and is
better able to evaluate student performance based on welding code standards.
The goal will be accomplished by completion of the CWI training through the
American Welding Society and passing of the CWI exam.
The resources required are approximately $3,000 on a one-time basis.
What is your Priority 2 department goal for the coming year?
The second priority is to continue keep equipment updated to industry standards.
Document1
Page 6 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
This priority is related to goals 1 and 4 of the college-wide goals.
Replace equipment that requires continual maintenance and are energy inefficient.
The goal will be accomplished by energy savings, employee hours and parts and
enhanced learning opportunities for students.
Projected cost $30,000
Refer to budget development spreadsheets you will receive from Fiscal Services.
Please make sure to relate your budget justifications to these goals.
PART VIII: MAJOR INITIATIVES/INNOVATIONS - FUTURE GOALS FOR
DEPARTMENT
Please describe any goals you have for the department within the next 2 to 3 years, and
describe any additional resources needed by responding to all the questions below.
What is your goal for 2 to 3 years from now? Ensure the welding facilities are part of
the lower campus modernization.
To which College-wide strategic goals (see last page of this document) is this
related? This project support all the college-wide goals.
How will you know if the goal was successful (measurement)? Modernization of the
welding facilities.
How will the goal be accomplished (key activities)? Working with and participating in
the activities of the college-wide facilities committee.
What additional resources are you requesting?
General Description – Modernization of program facilities, to include increase of
size and energy efficient ventilation system
Projected Cost – $200,000
One-time or base increase? – One-time
Additional Comments –
Document1
Page 7 of 8
PROGRAM REVIEW, ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR
EXCELLENCE (P.R.A.I.S.E.) REPORT
PLANNING YEAR 2011-2012
INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Program (a/k/a Department or Service Area):
District-Adopted Goals
The goals of Victor Valley Community College are to:

create sustainability and environmental stewardship for our colleagues, our
students, and our community.

become an agile learning organization consistent with the needs of students and
the communities that the college serves.

offer educational programs that lead to meaningful and measurable student
learning and success through seamless transfer opportunities to colleges,
universities, and careers.

increase the number of students served through recruitment, persistence, and
retention strategies.

provide affordable and attractive options for members of the community seeking
a post secondary education, which includes an environment in which diversity
thrives.

develop and deliver enriching courses for community members and businesses
seeking additional training and development.
Document1
Page 8 of 8