Occupational Administrators Council Meeting
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
District Maricopa Room
Mission Statement: The Occupational Administrators Council collaborates to support the creation
and implementation of programs that meet the workforce development needs of our communities.
We accomplish our educational objectives by using current workforce data and by deploying
human and physical resources to serve students efficiently. We promote economic vitality and
quality of life by emphasizing the importance of college-level career and technical education
among our internal and external partners.
Minutes
Members Present:
Dean Hermanson (SCC)
Cindy Odgers (SMCC)
Sharon Halford (PC)
Michael Glisson (GWCC)
Phebe Blitz (MCC)
Maria Reyes (CGC)
Heather Weber (EMCC)
Gary Marrar (GCC)
Randy Kimmens (DO)
Jo Jorgenson (RSC)
MaryLou Mosely (PVCC)
CJ Wurster (MSC)
Linda Maier (GCC)
Rick Kemp (RSC)
Sandra Cooper (DO)
Steve Kiefer (DO)
Mark Hamilton (ADE)
Kristina Scott (LAP Mentee)
Jennifer Kaufman-Fourness (DO)
Leah Palmer (MCC)
Guests:
8:35
Call to order
Introductions were made. Gary Marrer announced that this would be his last meeting and introduced
Dr. Linder Maier as the incoming Dean for GCC. Gary will be going back to Math Faculty. The group
discussed that the next Chair of the Occupational Administrators Council would be Sharon Halford (PC).
Update from Healthcare Education (Sandra Cooper)
Faculty background check information is rolling out with 161 already checked. This is 25% of all Faculty
and considered good progress. The deadline for background checks has been extended past May 1 to
June 1, 2012.
There is a rumor floating around that Mayo may start charging clinical coordination fees. Sandra met
with Mayo and they shared that the Rochester location does charge clinical coordination fees and the
same approach is being researched for the Valley. If instituted, there is the possibility of a waiver for
community colleges.
Jo asked if wait list information could be available drawing from the Surprise area, with a PC/NAU
pathway BSN pathway being a possibility at the Communiversity.
The Nursing profession job market is still tight, however students and graduates need to be better
informed about opportunities outside of the hospital setting. The preference of BSN continues.
Approval of March 2012 Minutes: Mary Lou moved that the minutes be accepted as amended and
Phebe seconded and all approved. Cindy will submit with corrections.
Instructional Council Approvals
Yesterday, an email was shared my Andrea Buehman regarding the recommendation of the Math IC to
remove MAT102 from the course bank and replace with MAT115, which would provide a higher level of
math. The Math IC is reasoning that MAT102 is not transferrable and is not at a college level.
It was noted that over 90 AAS degrees in the District allow MAT102 as meeting the math requirement
and the District was collecting feedback from impacted Faculty and programs regarding this possible
change. It was discussed how with the increasing importance of completion, how we do not want to
make it more difficult for students to complete occupational programs due to a math class that is
beyond what is required to do the job. If MAT102 is not of college level, it was also discussed how
MAT102 could be enhanced some, instead of deleting MAT102 and having to modify a large number of
program. The OAC inquired how many students utilized MAT102 toward completion and Rick shared he
would try to get the data. It was also shared how although AAS degrees are much more transferable
than ever before, the main focus is job preparation, not transfer to the state universities. OAC members
were asked to encourage their Occupational Faculty impacted by this change to submit their feedback.
The feedback is to be compiled at each college and submitted to Andrea B.
Workforce Development Center (Randy and Jennifer)
Carl Perkins: Jennifer indicated that the new requirements for Programs of Study are becoming more
clear. As part of Perkins, ADE wants high school CTE students to get college credit and has mandated
that 10% of the college funds be used for this purpose. To accomplish this, east valley and west valley
consortiums have been established and initial pathways identified, with a lot of the credit going to the
college Dual Enrollment Coordinators. Of the $113,000 Perkins set aside for high school consortium
pathways, $48,000 has been approved and $64,000+ still needs to be allocated. Since it looks bad not to
spend the dollars, Jennifer will contact colleges whose plans were not approved in an offered to utilize
the full amount. Rather than open the unused funds for other colleges to use, the OAC empowered
Jennifer to work with colleges to spend the rest of the money is supporting CTE programs. Jennifer said
that there was much accomplished in a short time and considerable learning took place in this first year.
One lesson was that the program of study application was not a good idea. Next year, the 10% is likely
to be merged in each college’s larger Perkins application.
Tech Prep funding is in its final year, but reporting is still in effect. The east and west side high schools
are each dedicating $10,000 to develop a database for Tech Prep. The OAC agreed to match this
$10,000 contribution in the creation of this database. This database should allow parents and students
to see program pathways.
UOP Articulation: Rick Hansen introduced Leah Palmer from MCC, who has worked with UOP on a
Manufacturing degree pathway. Leah shared that they have been working on a pathway process since
May of 2011, shortly after UOP eliminated Axia College, which offered lower division offering the
competed with the community colleges. Cari Mallory from UOP is charged with partnering with the
District and has been the UOP lead. At the beginning of the discussion, it was shared by Maricopa that
the degree pipeline was too narrow and needed to expand. In working with District Articulation and
MCC, a new manufacturing sector pathway was presented from Maricopa to UOP. If you want to be
included in the discussion, please work with Rick H. Gary shared that the programs don’t seem to fit in
manufacturing. In general, the OAC likes pathway options for students, including with UOP, but not
necessarily deeper partnering arrangements, as many university providers are now courting community
colleges for students.
Randy shared how ADE needs to better address the needs of post-secondary and not focus almost
exclusively on the secondary market. It is important to improve the relationship with ADE so that some
of this change will occur.
Mark Hamilton, Associate Director CTE with ADE: Mark introduced himself and provided his experience.
Mark shared that in his role he represents secondary education and he wants to open the door for more
secondary and post-secondary CTE. Regarding Perkins, he shared that it is not an entitlement, rather a
program improvement source. We will see more competitive grants from the federal government
which means that he is not sure if the 85% to 15% split will matter in the future. He is looking for more
collaboration of secondary and post-secondary and further alignment with state workforce
development integrating greater accountability measures, such as rates of employment, post-secondary
awards, and post-secondary enrollment in secondary. He hopes to push to improve workforce
development through partnerships.
ACTEAZ Summer Conference: The conference will be July 13-18 and there will be one shared both for
the District. Some rooms are still available and let Randy know if you cannot get one.
OAC/Career Services/Continuing ed council: Meeting April 6th at Rio Conference Center and 36 have
RSVP’d.
OAC, CE, Career Service meeting is scheduled for April 6th 9:00 am to coordinate activities. Randy is
planning the agenda. Send suggestions to him.
Arizona Skill Standards Update: Randy distributed a MCCCD Workforce Development and Training Needs
Assessment Proposal. He shared that information will be shared with Faculty.
Career Assessment System Update: A new career assessment system will be selected and all colleges
and related departments are involved in the vendor selection. Dr. Harper-Marinick has approved
$300,000 funding for the first year.
Workforce Survey Update: A draft survey was distributed and private sector funding is currently being
sought. Some funding has already been committed.
District Paramedic Training: A fee needs to be paid for paramedic accreditation for each program. The
fee is due now and Randy will ask if District will cover it. Sonja from MCC was initially contracted to
keep track of accreditation process.
Committee Updates
District Curriculum Committee (Cindy): cancelled
Council for Teacher Education (Maria): At the February meeting it was indicated that the ADE was
considering a tool to evaluate principals and teachers, with student feedback being included in the
performance feedback. Maria will send it out.
Course Placement Council: (Heather): meeting in two weeks
Maricopa Integrated Risk Assessment: (Gary): no regular meeting, but a new risk assessment
identification and prioritization meeting was held among a cross section of District employees. MIRA
representation will shift to Linda from GCC.
Student Success Pilot Project (Sharon): none
OAC Instructional Council (Rick): none
VPAA Updates: Most of the meeting consisted of a presentation from Human Resources regarding the
new hiring process. The new process is to reduce the steps from 52 to 19 and save 4 plus weeks. The
interview committee can now be different from the screening committee in an effort to bring in some
external participation. More of the duties are going to be pushed to the colleges. The IT Governance
group also shared their new ROI tool that they are implementing.
Catalog Common Pages (Dean): none
Dual Enrollment (Denise, Randy): none
TAA Grant (Jo. J): Jo shared that Rio is moving forward with implementation of the TAA Grant and
reminded that PC, PV, and EM were noted as affiliates and work will soon begin. Updates to come.
OAC Retreat: To be held in June at GCC North with possible dates to be sent out.
Early/Early Alert: Rio is in early development stage at of Digital and Social Media program. The
program will include a certificate and degree and had grown out of a non-credit program led by the
radio stations, including KJZZ. The program will go under the Journalism IC.
Adjournment: 11:30 A.M.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Rick Kemp