ECAC
Early College of Allegan County
Minutes
November 24, 2014
______________________________________________________________________________
Present: AAESA:
LMC:
Plainwell:
Otsego:
Recorder:
Linda Blankenship, Mark Dobias and Laurie Schmitt
Dr. Clint Gabbard, Chris Spradlin, Larissa Hunt and Doug Schaffer
Sue Wakefield
Jeffery Haase
Lisa Currie, Otsego
Attendees introduced themselves.
1.
Minutes. Jeff distributed a copy of the Minutes from the last meeting.
2.
Timeline. The proposed Timeline was provided.
3.
Lake Michigan College. Information has been supplied to the LMC president. LMC will
need to develop a statement/plan before a proposal can be presented to its Board in January. This
includes further investigation into course offerings, location of instruction, and instructors. LMC
emphasized its Board supports early college opportunities for high school students.
Jeff pointed out the success of the model in effect in Newaygo County through Muskegon
Community College, wherein an Associate Degree is Business or Arts is offered. Additional
programs are available and are taken on the campus of MCC.
LMC is gathering the information necessary to file an HLC application. It expects to have the
application filed at the end of January, and even taking into consideration the approximate sixmonth wait for approval, the program could be ready for the fall 2015 session.
LMC will meet with its Deans in December and put together a proposal to present to faculty in
January. LMC builds its fall schedule in February, and reaches out to adjunct instructors in the
spring. If we decide to reach out to students and families in the spring, we would have to be open
with the public that we are in the application process, finalizing coursework and will attempt to
provide all courses at the ACATEC.
It was mutually agreed that the Dean for the ECAC would serve as coach, mentor and principal,
work with students and parents on course selection, and follow-up with students on a weekly
basis to provide the support needed to continue participation in the program. Eventually, an
additional Dean/mentor may be needed, and LMC suggested we look to private funds to support
that expense.
4.
AAESA. Will work on internal steps -- speaking with county superintendents and local
Boards.
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Regarding space, it is estimated the program will require six classrooms at the ACATEC, as well
as a suggested computer room, area for student downtime and instructional space. The latter two
items are currently available as well as some classrooms. As to space for the third year, an
option would be to bus those students to the South Haven campus if necessary.
5.
Local Districts. Jeff provided financial breakdown information with different scenarios
(with and without Dean). Books would be retained by the local districts.
Information is currently calculated according to credit hours, but will need to be recalculated
using “contact hours”. 3 credit hours translate to 4 contact hours. In addition, an Associate
Degree typically requires 64 credits (our current financials are based on 59 credits).
6.
Next Steps. Our next meeting will be held in mid-January. Local districts will need a
guarantee on tuition rates prior to presenting the ECAC proposal to their Boards.
Discussion was held about possible resources for funding the primary Dean position – local
districts may look to organizations such as Perrigo or Kellogg to offset this cost.