Program/Unit Reviewed: Transportation Technologies
Self-Study Committee Chair(s): Scott Allen
Division: Applied Industrial Technologies
Year of Review: 2012-13 Date Submitted to VPAA:
Committee findings of self-study strengths:
Curriculum:

All courses appear to be scheduled for assessment on the five-year cycle.

Automotive program is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).

Curriculum is evaluated regularly by the Transportation Advisory Committee.

The advisory committee reviews degree and certificate worksheets and provides input on potential revisions.

The program maintains contact with liaisons from industry to gauge needs and currency of the curriculum.

The program uses a variety of methods to teach students.

Faculty are well qualified.

Self-identified issues of low completion rates motivated the program to find and correct issues that resulted in low graduation rates.

Identified need for tracking system to better assess curriculum currency, relevance and marketability within the industry.

Kudos to the program for working closely with four area high schools and Sierra Nevada Job Corps to articulate five Transportation Unit courses into their curriculum and on maintaining a good working relationship with
WCSD.

Transportation unit currently offers three emissions workshop courses.

Program has worked hard to determine appropriate outcomes that lead to relevant data driven improvements for half of the curriculum.

Previous areas of weakness in assessment appear to have been identified and where possible, corrected or in the process of being corrected.
Demographics and Enrollment:

Program attracts a higher percentage of younger students when compared to TMCC as a whole (62% vs. 54% five year averages), who will be eager to enter the workforce after graduating.
 Program contributes to TMCC’s ethnic diversity; the Transportation Technologies unit has a higher proportion of
Hispanic students when compared to TMCC as a whole (26% vs. 16% five year averages).

Transportation Technologies has increased their student headcount by 60% in the last five years (106 in Fall ‘07 to 176 in Spring ‘12).

The proportion of Transportation Technologies students who complete 12+ credits each semester are much higher when compared to TMCC as a whole (28% vs. 17% five year average).

The program has strong student recruitment strategies; including efforts to increase female and underrepresented students in the program.

Auto/DT course retention rates are very high compared to WDCE and TMCC as a whole (five year averages 88% vs. 83% and 73%, respectively).

The Transportation Technologies Unit has produced 38 program and certificate graduates from Fall ‘07 through
Spring ‘11. A number that has gradually increased during the study period.



The specific explanation as to why the student-faculty ratio is lower than the college is clear and concise--equipment availability, safety concerns, and space limitations.
The increase in full time enrollment is great; however, the full time enrollment percentage is incorrectly reported.
The increase from the 2007-2008 academic years to spring ‘12 by 65% is actually 46%.(page 3.10 – recalculated by IR)
Resources:

The program has highly qualified faculty who possess industry certificates, experience and proficiency necessary to provide quality instruction.

The committee identified the cost of their projects.

The committee has identified the strong full-time support that they have for the program.

The committee has developed a solid Resource Strategic Plan.
Committee findings of self-study weaknesses:
Curriculum:

Program self-identified a weakness in training aids and equipment but did not identify a strategy to correct this.

Didn’t see commendations/recommendation/progress update from external review.

If there are industry certifications or tests taken after program completion, please include national/industry certifications.


Program and emphasis are limited by financial constraints of the current budget.
Lack of equipment impedes the ability of the program to develop new offerings and dilutes the student

 experience.
Lack of data for follow-up assessment and information (job placement program).
Demographics and Enrollment:
 Although the “labor market data” for automotive and diesel is interesting, perhaps it would be better placed as an appendix as opposed to buried within the curriculum section.
Resources:

The Self-study committee identified the need for additional funds and discussed grants, but did not identify which grants if any are being applied for.


The self-study committee did not include an Account Expense Trend Analysis.
The self-study committee identified the trouble it was having recruiting qualified instructors but did not address how they were going to resolve this.

The self-study identified the need for additional support staff, but was not clear if they were going to request additional support staff.
Modification, if any, of development strategies:
Curriculum:
1.
List or attach the commendations, recommendations and any progress made toward those goals from NATEF.
2.
Courses identified on pages 2.1 and 2.2 of the PUR Template were identified as needing review. Only half were reviewed. Review the learning outcomes and measures for the remaining courses and continue assessment efforts as scheduled.
3.
Report completion/pass of national/industry certifications or examinations taken by Transportation Technologies students.
4.
Explore creating more CEU courses to generate interest in the program and funds for program growth and equipment acquisition.
5.
Explore external funding in the form of grants for program promotion and growth and to develop a repair or equipment fund.

6.
Continue to explore partnerships with mining industry and any private entity involved in the growth aspect of the program.
7.
The program has self-identified many issues with equipment as a barrier to program revision and development.
The program needs to develop a strategy to resolve these issues.
Demographics and Enrollment:
1.
Although graduates in the program have slightly increased, faculty need to continue to educate and encourage students and community employers as to the importance and benefits for students to complete the program to graduation.
2.
Implement additional strategies to increase female student enrollment.
Resources:
1.
The committee identifies a community interest in the development of a motorcycle/power sports certificate program and should investigate the logistics of this.
2.
Pursue recruitment plan for replacement of part-time/full-time faculty.
3.
Continue to pursue recruitment of a tool room manager and implement. This is a safety and loss issue that needs to be resolved immediately.

PURC Co-Chairs:
Name
Lance Bowen
Judy Fredrickson
PURC Members:
Name
Brid g ett Blaque
Dan Bouweraerts
1
Fini Dobyns
Jody Covert
Julie Muhle ancy Brewsterered i th
Pam Hawkins
Richard Williams
Ryan Fernandez
Heather Graham-
Williams
Title
Int e rim Associate Dean of
Assessment and Plannin g
Professor, Comput e r Science
Signature
Title
Professor, En g lish
Professor, Graphic
Communications
Signature
Date
Student Life and Ac a demic
Aff a irs Support
Professor, Nursin g
Professor, Dental Assistin g
Professor, Nursin g
Pro g ram Officer, Academic
Affairs
}
/trf~v
Con t roller's
Office
5}17113
11~ ~~
5 -'II .S
~~~.l r -
Analy s t, Institutional
Research
s l1~lt3
Professor, Nutrition w~
Date
~(g /r 3
;s
ts
6L'tL13