College of the Redwoods
Program Review Committee
Comprehensive Executive Summary
Adopted November 6, 2009
Mission Statement The College of the Redwoods’ Program Review Committee leads and facilitates authentic
assessment as it relates to student success and planning at the institution for all subject and service areas.
The committee reviews Annual and Comprehensive Program Reviews that provide the strong foundation
upon which College of the Redwoods develops, identifies, states and documents quality improvement plans
and goals including providing the direction of prioritization of funding, and support needs as organized under
the strategic planning objectives.
Objective: To provide an evaluative Executive Summary of this program’s review for authors, the
Integrated Planning Committees, and the District.
Program Review Subject/Service Area: __Dental Assisting______________________
Program Review Authors: ___Hillary Reed________________________________
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Summary and Recommendations:
1. Program strengths:
Program can be completed in 2 years;
Diverse population (except for males; only 1% of all dental
assistants are male);
Outstanding retention;
Graduates are getting jobs, even in difficult economic times;
local dentists waiting for CR grads;
Ensuring students have their financial aid in line prior to
enrolling in program;
2. Program challenges/obstacles:
Lack of summer help;
Lack of time and resources for marketing program effectively;
Having enough Nutrition and Speech classes available for
these students;
3. Commendations/
Outstanding student guidebook for students
Outstanding work by Hilary to promote and support the
program; has a passion for the program and does extra hard
work, at no compensation;
Hard work involved in recruiting more students for this
program;
Huge increase in successful graduation for this program over
the years High retention;
CR is the only CODA accredited and RDA approved school
between Portland and Sacramento;
Graduates are getting jobs, even in difficult economic times;
local dentists waiting for CR grads
Additional Comments:
Possibility of having a SPCH 6- cohort group
specifically – currently not approved for course;
Recommendations:
With expansion, a second lab would require more
staff support.
Graduates are getting jobs locally – Dentists are
waiting for graduates to fill job openings;
Speech 6 would help the program;
Include anecdotal and local job market data in this
comprehensive report.
Working with financial aid regarding financial aid
issues for student support;
An AOA working during summer, sending out
acceptance letters, etc;
A lab assistant for the summer hours;
Process:
PRC will forward completed Executive Summaries to program review authors.
Authors will have two weeks to provide feedback and corrections on errors of fact and/interpretation
PRC will forward Executive Summaries and authors response (if available) to the appropriate integrated
planning committee and the CPC.
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4. Program Budget/Funding Sources:
Dental Health Center provides most of the funding;
funding summer support;
A Continuing Ed component through community education
could be a possibility for increasing DA’s budget;
Explore the economic feasibility of opening another cohort;
5. Program Goals/Plans:
Preparation of a clinical manual;
Addressing diversity needs;
Enlarging the program – look at funding, staffing issues, since
program is the only CODA, RDA program in the area;
Using program outcomes assessment feedback ;
Market for more African American and Native American
students;
6. Program Outcomes Assessment (PLOs/SLOs):
Well documents learning outcomes; external accreditation
mandates this;
7. Student Success/Achievement Basic Skills
obstacles/challenges:
Getting right coursework;
Success better now that minimum math, English are required
as part of program;
Success rates are high and students doing well with State
Boards;
Compensation for summer coverage (AOA, maintain
Dental files, respond to recruitment, equipment
management and repair.)
Personnel shortage – over the summer
With expansion, a second lab would require more
staff support.
Determine ways to use feedback to make
improvement for programming. Find ways to
include feedback from local Dentists.
Recommend: graduation rate data be collected;
numbers are needed.
Notes: re marketing outside area, so students have job possibilities, since this area is limited in job
placement;
Currently program only holds 24 students; how to open up for larger? Open new lab, but staffing would be
lacking;
Process:
PRC will forward completed Executive Summaries to program review authors.
Authors will have two weeks to provide feedback and corrections on errors of fact and/interpretation
PRC will forward Executive Summaries and authors response (if available) to the appropriate integrated
planning committee and the CPC.