ATLANTIC CAPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CURRICULUM COMMITEE
December 8, 2011
Minutes - Approved
Attendance: K. Bergman, B. Clark, W. Dougherty, K. Forrest, B. Heard, O. Hernandez, L. Ingram, B.
Johns, M. Keklak, H. Peterson, E. Russell, L. Stein, R. McArthur, G. Wilinski. Guests: C. KnowlesHarrigan, O. Halldorson, S. Marzelli, D. McElroy, J. Taggart, M. Yoa, B. Zilovic. Excused: D. Matt, B.
Lemons.
Minutes – The minutes of November 10 were approved as submitted.
The minutes of November 22 were approved after a motion was made to remove the word
“patterns” from the Committee’s statement on page two. The revised statement reads:
The Committee affirms its continued commitment to voting based on the College’s
mission and value statements, acceptable academic practices, fair review of the
presented data, and limited internal/external bias.
Form A Revision: R. McArthur explained that Middle States has been getting tougher during
Accreditation reviews. Several NJ Community colleges have recently been placed on probation
with MS (Bergen & Essex), primarily due to assessment issues. The course syllabi in Division
Office are in bad shape and need to be removed and replaced with standardized syllabi for each
course. Goals, objectives, learning outcomes and assessment techniques must be included. Each
department will need to work on their syllabi together. Assistance is available to help the
departments. D. Dunayer’s former assessment and dual enrollment duties will now be handled
by A. Shelton (assessment), Eddy Maria Eubanks (assessment), J. Atsu-Swanzy (dual
enrollment/high school articulation), and N. Vincent will also be available to assist with program
review and assessment.
Will there be any room for individualization on syllabi (policies)? R. McArthur stated that this
will be discussed further at the next AAC meeting. Learning Objectives should align with
assessments. L. Stein stated that accredited programs need to align with national standards.
Regarding program assessment, each program will need to have a mission statement, goals,
objectives, learning outcomes and assessment techniques/tools.
There were questions about the current language on the Form A and a need for clarification on
some of the terminology (student learning outcomes vs. course outcomes, etc). R. McArthur
suggested that A. Wexler address the Committee at a future meeting to review the appropriate
terminology for the Form revisions.
The changes to Form A were tabled until a special meeting in January.
Curriculum Proposals
Psychology Option, program change – D. McElroy
Changes are being made to better align with Rutgers for transfer agreement. Our psychology
courses need to align with categories that Rutgers uses. This will also expose our students to
more areas within the field of Psychology and increase the number of courses that transfer as
program courses rather than free electives. Students will now select one course from each of
four groups. It will also be noted that if a student chooses to take PSYC226, it will transfer to
Rutgers as a free elective rather than a program course.
The program description was also changed to add the transfer agreement with Rutgers-Camden
and urge interested students to contact the department chairperson.
APPROVED (unanimous)
ARTS103 – Art Appreciation, course change– C. Knowles-Harrigan
The beginning of the course description was changed from Slide lecture survey… to Lecture
survey course… because slides are no longer used in the course. Other forms of multimedia and
technology are now used. No other changes were proposed.
APPROVED (unanimous)
New Media Studies, A.A.S., program change – J. Taggart, B. Zilovic, C. Knowles-Harrigan
CISM190 is being moved from Program Electives to Program Courses and ARTS100 is moving
from Program Courses to Program Electives. CISM185 is being added to Program Electives.
The Advisory Council for New Media Studies recommended the changes.
APPROVED (unanimous)
CISM160- Systems Analysis and Design, course change – M. Yoa
The department is working with Stockton to renew a CIS articulation agreement. Stockton has
requested that the CISM160 prerequisite be changed so students take a programming course
before enrolling in CISM160. The pre-req. will be changed to: CISM135, CISM154, or
CISM174.
APPROVED (unanimous)
AVIT210-Private Pilot, new course – J. Taggart, O. Halldorson
An addition was made to the course description on page 3 of Form A: Students are required to
have passed the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test, have proof of U.S. Citizenship or TSA
approval, and have a valid second-class medical certificate to enroll in this course.
The Aviation advisory board and the ISAS department agree that there is a community need for
pilot training in the area. No schools offer training in Atlantic or Cape May counties and the
FAA is facing a significant pilot shortage.
J. Taggart has attended the Association of Aviation Universities, used a consultant from Vaughn
when developing the Aviation Studies degree, and has met with Aviation program personnel on
the campuses of Dowling, Mercer, Vaughn and Beaver. There are two models used by these
colleges for flight training. The colleges either own planes which includes the responsibility for
maintenance and expenses, or they partner with an existing flight school and the college offers
classroom courses and the flight school provides actual flight training. Atlantic Cape plans to use
the second model and partner with an existing flight school.
The syllabus format is different from what the Committee generally receives because we must
use an FAA approved syllabus in a checklist format with a place for the instructor to sign and
date when the student successfully achieves each goal and associated objectives.
After successful completion, students are recommended for a Check-Ride exam administered by
an independent FAA examiner. This training is the first level of pilot licensing and would permit
a person to be a private pilot (recreational pilot). This level does not permit a person to gain a
paid position as a pilot. There are two additional levels to become a commercial pilot. Additional
curriculum will be submitted to the Committee. After the flight courses have been developed
and approved, they may be combined to form an Option off of the Aviation Studies, A.S. degree
or a Professional Series program.
Approximately half of the schools offering Air Traffic Controller training require students to
have a pilot’s license. Some feel it’s important and useful in the ATC profession, while others
think it’s unnecessary. Our Advisory Board is divided on this issue. The College may decide to
require some pilot experience for students in the ATCT program.
Pilot training is expensive and will cost approximately $8,000 for the 1st level. Students at a
college have the advantage of being eligible for financial aid, while those who go to a private
training school will not have that option.
APPROVED (unanimous)
AVIT220- Instrument Pilot Ground School, new course – J. Taggart, O. Halldorson
A change was made on pg. 10, of Form A, under Goal #22: Objectives b, c, d, f, g, h & m.
The first word of each objective, Read, was replaced with the word Utilize.
Students will take this course after AVIT110. It prepares them for the FAA Instrument Rating
Airplane Knowledge Test. In bad weather, pilots must be able to fly using instruments-only
when they cannot see out of the windows. This is the 2nd step toward becoming a commercial
pilot.
APPROVED (unanimous)
Computational Science Option, program change – J. Taggart, S. Marzelli
This option was designed for transfer to Stockton’s BS program and we are in the process of
formalizing an articulation agreement. They also offer a Masters program. Stockton changed
their program which prompted our change. They are no longer accepting MATH256Differential Equations (Stockton wants students to take this course during their junior year).
Replacing MATH153 with MATH152. Stockton eliminated the Chemistry “track” from their
program so we are doing the same. We have approximately 19 declared majors at Atlantic Cape.
Question: Can students transfer to Rowan with this degree? Answer: No. Rowan doesn’t
currently offer a program in Computational Science.
Question: Are student’s taking Stockton’s courses concurrently or after they complete the
Atlantic Cape requirements. Answer: Concurrently. Stockton prefers that students take their
courses as early as possible.
APPROVED (unanimous)
Time did not allow for discussion of the charges. A special meeting will be scheduled in January
to address the following charges:
 Liberal Arts charge: Review current Liberal Arts courses and identify the criteria for
future Liberal Arts course proposals.
 Special Topics charge: Continue to review the definition and criteria for special topics
courses. Review the procedures for Special Topics course proposals.