2013-2014 Annual Program Review
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS - SAN JOSÉ CITY COLLEGE
PROGRAM: Accounting and Business Departments
PREPARED BY: Linda Ferrell and Jim Black
ADMINISTRATOR: Ingrid Thompson
EVALUATION YEAR (CIRCLE ONE): ONE
TWO
THREE
PROGRAM REVIEW SUBMISSION DATE: February 10, 2014
Program description
The accounting and business programs are designed to develop
the knowledge and skills essential for employment in the
accounting and business fields as well as completion of lower
division courses for transfer students. Instruction includes both
practical skills and theory. In addition, the departments stress
communication skills, both written and oral, critical thinking,
creativity, global awareness, and ethics which are essential to
professions in accounting and business.
The programs provide accounting and business information that
allows students to prepare for professions in both fields. The
programs also serve vocational students who return for one or
two courses to obtain practical skills for their current
employment. Some students return to obtain enough units to
prepare and sit for the C.P.A. exam. Other students may take
only a few classes until they acquire the skills to obtain
employment. Some students use our classes for continuing
education required by their company. Our programs, therefore
meet the needs of a diverse group of students.
Both programs provide associate degrees and certificates as well
as undergraduate courses that allow students to transfer to a
four year college or university. Completion of these programs
may lead to careers such as: Bookkeeper, Accountant, Accounts
Payable Clerk, Account Receivable Clerk, Certified Public
Accountant, IRS Agent, FTB Agent, FBI Agent, Forensic
Accountant, Payroll Accountant, Banker, Financial Analyst, and
Entrepreneur or Manager with skills in such areas as Marketing,
Sales, Operations, Human Resources, and Management in
Domestic and International Businesses.
PSLOs and/or SLOs
Assessment process
All SLO’s and PSLO’s are being assessed on a semester basis for all
courses and programs. A schedule is in place to ensure they are
assessed on a regular basis. We continue to streamline the
assessment process to make it less time-consuming for adjunct
and full-time faculty to perform yet at the same time, refine ways
to make it more meaningful and productive to students.
Accounting 30 changed methods of instruction and testing to
increase success rates for their SLOs. All SLOs were measured
successfully by the end of Spring 2013. Business started
assessing the program learning objectives by instituting a survey
distributed to all business courses. Accounting is continuing the
use of a survey distributed to accounting classes where students
would have taken two or more accounting classes.
Curriculum Information
All course curriculum is updated and current. The business
department completed a new AS-T business transfer degree. The
department is working on developing a transferrable Business
Communication alternative that would transfer which would
replace the non-transferable Business 7A,7B and 8. Business is
also reviewing less expensive textbooks for their courses.
Staffing information
Faculty is adequate given the current offerings. One full-time
faculty has retired who taught approximately 25% loading in
accounting.
It would increase success rates in business law and accounting to
hire permanent tutors rather than the student tutors. Currently,
business law does not have any tutors. Given the complexity of
the law and the detailed language involved, help is needed for
the significant number of ESL students. A business law tutor will
help students understand the complexities of language. This
should increase student success.
In addition, students are hired on a part-time basis to tutor
accounting. It is difficult as accounting students quickly
graduate after they complete the first two accounting courses.
The accounting tutors rotate quickly. The student tutors do not
know the topics as well as a permanent tutor would know them.
Currently, only SJCC students are allowed to be tutors. Even
paying San Jose State University students to tutor SJCC students
in accounting and business law would help. In addition, the
hours that the accounting tutors have currently are not
convenient for all students. Students complain to their
instructors that the tutors’ hours are during the same time as
their classes or jobs. They often have difficulty getting individual
attention from the tutor as multiple accounting students are
present at the same time. The hours do not always
accommodate night students or afternoon students.
Technology information
There is a need for a replacement of the white board with a
Smart Board, especially for the instructor with carpal tunnel
syndrome. Administration has approved this purchase which
should be made within the next year.
Budget information
Currently the budget for accounting is $800 which only covers the
bi-annual software license required for Accounting 30. There is
nothing is left for any other departmental needs. We are trying
to reduce the budget by buying a new annual license for less
computers as students do not all come to the lab at the same
time since the course is now online. Approval has been obtained
to get a smart board in one business classroom. We are waiting
for the vendors to return bids.
Other:
VITA/IRS held the first site on SJCC campus Spring 2013. This
was a joint effort with Fabio Gonzalez, E,O,P & S and the
accounting department in conjunction with VITA/IRS. SJCC
accounting students volunteered their time and expertise
preparing federal and state income taxes for low-income people.
This included SJCC students, their families, staff, and local
community.