TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEW
VICE PRESIDENT’S RECOMMENDATION
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEWED: CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CRJ)
Self Study Committee Chair:
Division:
Arnold Brock
Technical Sciences
Year of Review: 2014-2015
Date Submitted to the President:
Vice president’s findings of strengths and weaknesses of the program/unit:
Strengths: This program offers an AA degree in Criminal Justice designed for transfer to a baccalaureate program,
primarily UNR, and an AAS Law Enforcement degree related to employment in law enforcement, probation,
investigations, corrections, and corporate security. Enrollment in CRJ courses is high, and it is a popular program for
students planning to transfer to UNR. Students in CRJ majors are younger and more diverse than a typical TMCC student,
and the program has done a good job of recruiting females into a traditionally male profession. For the past two years, the
program has had only one fulltime faculty member, carrying a vacant faculty line, but has nevertheless maintained
enrollment through use of part-time faculty. A new BAS degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security has
been approved by TMCC which will augment and supplement the current CRJ Law Enforcement AAS degree.
Weaknesses: The Self Study was scheduled to be completed in 2013-14, but as submitted was incomplete. CRJ was
asked to resubmit in Fall 2014 which was done, but the PUR Self-Study still appears to have omissions and weakness.
Based on this submittal, the committee asked for changes in the material, but this did not happen. Therefore this Review
is based on the best information available at this time. Course assessments are not done on schedule and there is no
description of assessment-driven improvements. There appears to be a lack of communication between UNR and TMCC
CRJ faculty with the potential of harming students who transfer if course content is not aligned. The one tenured CRJ
faculty member has difficulty in communicating with his supervisor Dean New, and the resulting negative atmosphere
appears to be harmful to optimal functioning of the program.
Summary action recommended for program/unit: Continue but reform and update. Move reporting line of program
faculty to Director of Occupational and Safety Training Darryl Cleveland within Technical Sciences Division, in order to
ensure coordination of criminal justice, law enforcement, safety, and fire programs.
Recommendations for development strategies and anticipated time lines:
Recommendations made by Dean and Supported by VPAA:
1) Program must work with other Public Safety programs in the new BAS Emergency Management and Homeland
Security degree scheduled to begin Fall 2016. Curricular work on courses must be completed Fall 2015.
2) Complete search for highly qualified tenure-track faculty member in the 2015-16 academic year for a Fall 2016
hire. (The new faculty member should have an in-depth law enforcement and homeland security background.)
3) Review all transferable CRJ courses with UNR faculty, including creating the new UNR course that students
will need upon transfer. Ensure course content adequately prepares transfer students to be successful at UNR
by tracking graduation data on TMCC transfer students. Complete by November 2015.
4) Seek resources for an administrative assistant position to support all Technical Science programs at the Dandini
campus. Position to be filled by Fall 2016.
Other Recommendations:
Vice President’s Recommendation
Complete course assessment reports for all active courses and educate part-time faculty on how to complete CARS.
Complete by December 2015.
Schedule regular meetings at least twice yearly of CRJ Advisory Board, ensure minutes are filed, and document how Board
members’ input helps shape the program. Begin by September 2015.
Develop a program-specific mission and goals/objectives. Complete by Spring 2016.
Update
Identify additional resources and/or actions necessary from each administrative unit for implementation of
recommended development strategies:
Academic Affairs: Approve and support tenure-track faculty hire in law enforcement/homeland security area of
CRJ.
Student Services: None
Finance: In RAP consider a proposal for funding for additional equipment, such as crime scene processing and
firearm computer forensics and an administrative assistant to serve Technical Sciences programs at Dandini.
Human Resources: Support hire of administrative assistant by Fall 2016
Faculty Senate: None
Other:
Executive Summary:
This program offers an AA degree in Criminal Justice designed for transfer to a baccalaureate program, primarily UNR,
and an AAS Law Enforcement degree related to employment in law enforcement, probation, investigations, corrections,
and corporate security. Enrollment in CRJ courses is high, and it is a popular program for students planning to transfer to
UNR. Students in CRJ majors are younger and more diverse than a typical TMCC student, and the program has done a good
job of recruiting females into a traditionally male profession. For the past two years, the program has had only one fulltime
faculty member, carrying a vacant faculty line, but has maintained enrollment through use of part-time faculty. A new AAS
degree in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine and a BAS degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security has
been proposed and approved by TMCC, both of which will augment and supplement the current CRJ degrees. As a result
of this program review, a search for a tenured faculty member is anticipated in 2015-16, the academic area is being moved
into a coordinated program which includes public safety, and specific assessment activities for this program are being put
in place on an ongoing basis.
Vice President of Academic Affairs:
Name
Signature
Dr. Jane Nichols
Vice President’s Recommendation
Date
03/27/2015