ACADEMIC PROGRAM REVIEW
RESPONSE AND ACTION PLAN FOR DEGREE PROGRAMS REVIEWED IN
2006-08
Report to be presented to the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Program reviewed during 2006-08: A. A. S in New Media Technology
Date of site visit: February 13-15, 2008
QCC Steering Committee:
Prof. Stuart Asser, Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
Prof. Robert Kueper, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Technology
Administrative Support:
Dr. Karen Steele, Dean for Academic Affairs
Prof. Michele Cuomo, Faculty Fellow, Academic Affairs, on leave from Department of
Speech Communication and Theatre Arts
Dr. Archie Calise, Director of Institutional Planning and Records
Ms. Anna May Jagoda, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment
External Reviewer:
Dr. Danyang Zhang
Assistant Professor of Communications Technology
York College
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RESPONSE REPORT AND ACTION PLAN FOLLOWING ACADEMIC PROGRAM REVIEW
Prepare a separate response for each program reviewed, using the outline below:
Program reviewed: A. A. S. in New Media Technology
1. Corrections of any factual errors in reviewers’ reports – No corrections
2. Major conclusions of self study
Upon review of the New Media Technology EM/EN curriculum we find there are many
strengths and also weaknesses in the program:
The strengths of the program include the following:
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Faculty who teach in the EM/EN program have strong ties to industry, are
effective in teaching and are well-credentialed.
The program maintains state-of-the-art equipment with excellent physical
resources.
The courses offered teach the students the latest Web languages of the World
Wide Web (WWW).
Students maintain most if not all of the credits when transferring from QCC to
other related technology programs.
Students in the EM/EN program have access to effective advisement and career
counseling.
QCC continues with a commitment to fund a new fall cohort every year in EM.
Retention among EM students is excellent.
Because the EM/EN program is closely related to more highly populated
programs, the curriculum requires minimal in the way of dedicated resources and
yet it provides additional specialization for students and is an attractive program
for industry.
The weaknesses of the program include the following:
 Enrollment in EM is moderate and we plan to expand it.
 Enrollment projection/market analysis for the EM New Media program has
not been done and is advisable if additional resources are to be designated to
promote New Media.
 Some entering students are not prepared for the program – we need to provide
better advisement and support for students in the program.
 Courses
 ET-716 Java Programming is a very difficult programming class. This class
usually does not get enough enrollments to run.
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ET-716 Java Programming is a very difficult compiling programming class.
Java should be split into two semesters to help students program the Java
language with better precision and understanding.
3. Major conclusions of external reviewers
 Move Two or More Electives to Major Requirements
As mentioned previously, moving two or three elective courses to the major
requirements will reduce the number of electives, thus increasing the enrollment for
overall elective classes. It might be an effective way to keep the elective classes running.
And since database-driven websites are the standard model for most e-commerce
websites, ET-718 Database Technology can be considered as a major required course
rather than an elective course. Also since multimedia technology is essential to the New
Media program, moving ET-720 Advanced Web and Multimedia Programming
Applications from electives to major requirements is more beneficial to students.
 User Interface and Network Security
Currently user interface design and usability are very important parts of
information/web system development. Many big companies even create a separate
department for user interface/usability study. Therefore, it would be advantageous to
introduce user interface and usability concepts in ET-714 Web Technologies II: Building
Database-Driven Web Sites or ET-718 Database Technology.
Network security is a very important concept in the computer networking field. Malicious
users have various ways to achieve illegal information over the web. Introducing the
basic contents of network security in ET-705 Networking Fundamentals II can strengthen
the comprehensiveness of the course.
4. Proposed action plan and timetable (next five years)
 Elective Courses for New Media
The New Media program has 17 elective credits for the Associate degree. We
currently offer a large variety of classes to meet these 17 credits. Since the students have
a large selection of elective classes to choose from the enrollment for each elective class
tends to be low. Moving two elective courses to the major core requirement will reduce
the number of electives, thus increasing the enrollment for overall elective classes. It
might be an effective way to keep the elective classes running. ET-718 Database
Technology is the standard model for most e-commerce websites. ET-718 should be
changed to a major required course rather than an elective course. Also since multimedia
technology is essential to the New Media program, moving ET-720 Advanced Web and
Multimedia Programming Applications from electives to major requirements is more
beneficial to students. This would reduce the elective credit requirement to 13 credits.
This would still give the students adequate selection of classes.
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• Wireless Technology and Network Security Classes
The observer of the New Media program felt very strongly that Wireless
Technology and Network Security is very important concept in the computer networking
field. Wireless Technology is an expanding field in the technology environment. Wireless
devices are being used to connect computers and printers to networks. Introducing the
basic concepts of wireless technology in ET-704 Networking Fundamentals I can
strengthen knowledge of the course. Wireless technology is a subject that we should
evolve into a separate class.
Network security is a very important concept in the computer networking field.
Introducing the basic contents of network security in ET-705 Networking Fundamentals
II can strengthen the comprehensiveness of the course. Network security is a subject that
we should evolve into a separate class.
 Revised Curriculum
The changing of elective courses from 17 to 13 credits will help with the
enrollment of current classes. This will require the New Media curriculum to be
reviewed and revised. A committee will be formed to review and make
suggestions to change the New Media program.
 Update Course Material
The observer felt that New Media is a field that evolves very quickly. To keep
current with new technology is very important. ET-710 Building and Maintaining Web
site is being transitioned from Microsoft FrontPage 2003 using XP operating system
software to Microsoft Expression Web using Vista operating system software. ET-712 is
transitioned from HTML and JavaScript 1.1 to XHTML and JavaScript 1.2. ET-718
Database Technology is currently using Macromedia MX2004 software and is being
adapted to Adobe Studio 8 software. We are also bringing online for the Fall 2008
semester a new Web server. This new Web server uses quad core CPU speed and has
Terabyte storage capability. In order to remain current all classes will be updated to the
latest revision of software.
 User Interface design and usability into existing classes
The observer felt that User interface design and usability are very important parts
of Web system development. The overall design and feel of Web sites deals with this
concept. Therefore, it would be beneficial to introduce user interface and usability
concepts in ET-718 Database Technology class.
 Internship
The observer felt we should expand the cooperative opportunities to our students.
The career services department here at QCC offers a wide variety of internships to our
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students. Students usually take an internship to complete their elective requirements. The
ECET faculty should explain to our students the benefit of doing an internship and how
our students can be introduced to industry. This could help them find a more satisfying
job and career. We currently have two classes ET-991 and ET-992 to offer students the
opportunity to take an internship for college credit.
 Enrollment
The enrollment is slowly increasing each semester. The recruiting program has
identified the top 17 High Schools that send students to QCC. We have a relationship
with the college advisors and have visited these High Schools. We are also sending
technology brochures to keep our relationship strong. We are currently revising the New
Media brochure to the new college standard.
 Build Stronger Relationships with Senior Colleges
The New Media program has built a strong relationship with York College. The
New Media program has an articulation with the Communications Technology program
at York College. Therefore, faculty from York College could teach a web/media class at
QCC or one faculty from QCC can teach a class at York. In this way, the class
availability to students could be largely increased. We are currently working on an NSF
grant between the two colleges.
York College is a good place for our New Media students to transfer to upon
completing QCC. We have an articulation agreement with York College. The location of
York College to QCC is convenient for our students. We will look for other articulation
agreements with other institutions.
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Supplemental instructions:
Item 4, the action plan, includes a timetable for carrying out assessment of all the
curricular objectives (i.e., the Assessment Plan). In other words, you need to set up a
schedule for assessment of the key courses you identified in the plan. This means
conducting assessments, agreeing on rubrics, collecting and analyzing data, and deciding
what action to take as a result. Over the next four years, all six steps in the table will be
filled in - as you were able to fill in for those courses for which you had assessment
results. The key courses which you have identified for assessment will become part of
the College's regular schedule for course assessment.
Use this table to list the key courses and timeline for assessment:
Key courses to be
assessed
ET-710
ET-712
ET-714
ET-716
ET-720
ET-728
MA-301
ME-200
AR-121
Curricular Goals and General
Education/ Curricular Objectives ( 110)
3&4
3&4
3&4
3&4
3&4
3&4
TBA
TBA
TBA
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Planned
assessment date
Spring 2008
Spring 2008
Fall 2009
Spring 2009
Fall 2007
Fall 2009
TBA
TBA
TBA