2.7.1 Program Length
Bossier Parish Community College is in compliance with this core requirement because the College presently offers fifteen (15) associate degree programs based on a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours. As mandated by the Louisiana Board of Regents, Academic Affairs Policy 2.15, associate degrees range from 60-72 hours based on degree designations as associate, associate of applied science, or associate of science or arts. The total number of hours required for a particular degree is designated in the Bossier Parish Community College Academic Catalog. Those degrees presently include the following:
Because all programs at BPCC meet the required minimum number of semester hours, program equivalency is not applicable.
Mechanisms for reviewing the appropriateness of degree program length exist which utilize input from both
internal and external sources. In accordance with the Louisiana Board of Regents Academic Affairs Policy 2.15, BPCC requires the following:
- Technical Competency Area (TCA) awards include 1-12 credit hours;
- Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) includes 21-33 credit hours;
- Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) includes 30-42 credit hours;
- Technical Diploma (TD) includes 45-60 credit hours;
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) includes 60-72 credit hours;
- Associate of Arts (AA) includes 60-72 credit hours;
- Associate of Science (AS) includes 60-72 credit hours.
All the degrees, certificates, and technical competency areas listed in the General Catalog 58-60 and the General Catalog 101-175 adhere to the policy established by the Louisiana Board of Regents. The BPCC Curriculum Committee reviews all new programs, additions, and deletions to established programs to ensure compliance with Regents' policy. Curriculum Committee minutes document the role of the committee when proposed changes to courses and programs are made.
All new programs must be approved first by the Division Chair, then by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, then by the Curriculum Committee. Next, approval is sought from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors. Finally, all new programs except TCAs must be approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents. This process helps to ensure the quality of programs offered as well as the appropriateness of the lengths of programs.
2.7.2 Program Content
Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) is in compliance with this core requirement because the College requires the successful completion of a general education component at the collegiate level as evidenced in the College's general education competencies requirements listed in the General Catalog 55. Evidence that the degree programs offered by the College are inherently connected to its mission can be found in the College's Mission Statement and in the individual degree requirements and the program learning outcomes identified in the General Catalog 101-166.
The assurance that the College's degree programs are offered based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education is assessed in Program Review Policies and Procedures in the Academic Affairs Policies and Procedures Manual. In addition, the College meets this requirement through its Policy on Curriculum Development. Both of these policies set and review standards that are in compliance with the Louisiana
Board of Regents' Statewide General Education Requirements 2.16.
The following is a specific example of the annual review process that is conducted by all programs in the Division of Science and Allied Health. The instruments used and data collected are identified on an established program assessment matrix. Pass rates on licensure/certification exams (where applicable) are evaluated annually. Program completion rates are tracked by individual program directors. Course completion/success rates for selected (high enrollment, core science courses) are compiled each semester. These rates provide information on needed improvement in student preparation and support and on needed improvements in instructional strategies. Allied Health Program Employer Surveys of all degree-granting programs, except for General Science, are mailed six months after program completion. Additional information is collected by program faculty and administration in accordance with the requirements of accrediting and regulatory agencies and as appropriate for the program. All program assessment information (Resources, Employer Surveys, Graduate Surveys, licensure/certification pass rates, etc.) is collected and analyzed during the Annual Program Review. This information is used to identify program strengths and weaknesses and to develop improvement strategies for the next year. Improvement strategies are included in individual classes or programs.
Bossier Parish Community College tracks graduation rates which are then used to assess students' completion of courses as prescribed in the programs of study. The Graduation Exit Survey is administered by the Executive Dean of Instruction to graduates at the end of the semester of graduation. A Graduation Report is generated by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment and sent to all Division Chairs and Program Directors for their review. This information is used to identify program strengths and weaknesses and to develop improvement strategies for the next year.
The Division of Science and Allied Health offers seven programs that prepare graduates to sit for a licensure, certification, or registry examination to be employed in their field. In all programs offered at the College where graduates must sit for a licensure, certification, or registry examination to be employed in their field, the pass rate of graduates is monitored. This information is used to determine the degree to which the College and program missions are achieved, to make adjustments in the curriculum to strengthen graduate outcomes, and to report in the College's annual review of the program. The Division of Science and Allied Health academic program summaries for these seven programs and the strategic planning that occurred in response to the data may be found in the 2004-2005 Annual Report 228-233.
Curriculum policy is institution wide and is coordinated between faculty and administration. The policy recognizes the roles of the community, faculty, administration, students, and the governing board. Curricular change is made only after careful review by faculty, administration, the governing board, and other appropriate state agencies. Individual faculty members, Division Chairs, groups of faculty, students, and interested persons from public entities offer ideas for courses and programs for consideration. Curricular proposals, formal and informal, are studied by the Curriculum Committee (as representatives of the faculty), Division Chairs, and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and a determination is made as to whether those proposals complement the overall programs of the College and can provide education for the College's constituency. Modifications to curricula, deletions, or additions to programs are approved by the academic Division Chairs and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs before submission to the curriculum committee. Changes involving addition or deletion of programs require approval by the Louisiana Community and Technical College Board of Supervisors Policy # 1.024 and by the Louisiana Board of Regents Policy 2.01.
2.7.3 General Education
Bossier Parish Community College is in compliance with this core requirement because the College requires in each associate degree program the successful completion of a general education component at the collegiate level as evidenced in the General Catalog 54,56,57. For degree completion in associate programs, the component constitutes a minimum of 15 semester hours or the equivalent. These credit hours are drawn from, and include, at least one course from each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics.
(1) General education requirements comprise a substantial component of each associate degree offered by the College. In accordance with the Louisiana Board of Regents Academic Affairs Policy 2.15, BPCC requires students to complete 60-72 credit hours in an approved curriculum for an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), an Associate of Arts (AA), and an Associate of Science (AS). The Board of Regents Statewide General Education Requirements mandate that 15 credit hours of general education be included in an Associate of Applied Science and 27 credit hours be included in an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science degree program. Three to six credit hours of English composition, three to six credit hours of mathematics, three to six credit hours of natural science, three credit hours of humanities, zero to three credit hours of fine arts, and three to six credit hours of social/behavioral science are required depending on the type of associate degree.
Bossier Parish Community College defines and publishes general education requirements and major program requirements for its associate degrees and certificates. These requirements conform to commonly accepted standards and practices for associate degree programs and academic certificates. These requirements are in compliance with the Louisiana Board of Regents Statewide General Education Requirements for undergraduate degrees at public postsecondary institutions and are consistent with SACS-COC requirements. Academic requirements are established specific to the credential. Board of Regents general education requirements for associate degrees and certificates are the following:
| |
Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) |
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) |
Associate of Arts (AA) |
Associate of Science (AS) |
Associate (A) |
| Minimum required general education |
9 credit hours |
15 credit hours |
27 credit hours |
27 credit hours |
27 credit hours |
| English Composition |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
| Mathematics |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
| Natural Science |
0 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
| Humanities |
0-3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
| Fine Arts |
0-3 credit hours |
0 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
| Behavioral/ Social Science |
0-3 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
3 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
General education requirements are designed to provide students with a broad, comprehensive foundation on which to develop knowledge and skills necessary for entry into a chosen vocation or for continued education. The general education requirements specific to each degree and certificate are published in the General Catalog 54.
In addition to general education, specific program requirements are included in degree plans to ensure an integrated, comprehensive understanding of the specific discipline. Each degree program has identified and published specific learning outcomes which are evaluated for effectiveness and compliance with the mission and goals of the College. The faculty, program directors, and advisory committee annually review programs for content and length. Program outcomes are evaluated with respect to criteria established by external accreditation agency and student/graduate/employer feedback. Based on program assessment information, recommendations are forwarded to the division chair. All program changes must be approved by the division chair, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the College Curriculum committee.
For each associate degree and certificate, the General Catalog 101-175 outlines the requirements for completion of the specific academic credential. These program requirements are consistent with the mission of the College.
(3) The general education components of each degree program are based on a coherent rationale. The general education competencies listed in the General Catalog 55 have been established and approved by the Division Chairs, Curriculum Committee, and the Executive Council of the College. These competencies are consistent with and achieve statewide requirements mandated by the Louisiana Board of Regents Division of Academic and Student Affairs Policy 2.16 for general education requirements. Attainment of general education competencies are evaluated by analyzing student achievement of the requirements as established by the College. The College general education competencies are listed below:
Associate Degrees Competencies
1. Comprehend, evaluate, and synthesize information gained by reading college-level material across the curriculum.
2. Communicate effectively in written English across the curriculum by thinking critically to develop ideas and organize argument and supporting information in a variety of rhetorical modes.
3. Develop effective informative and persuasive oral-communication skills demonstrated through oral presentation across the curriculum.
4. Comprehend and accurately perform course-specific mathematical operations to demonstrate problem-solving skills.
5. Develop critical thinking skills to generate and interpret information and beliefs successfully from knowledge, skills and abilities gained across the curriculum.
6. Use library resources to research topics across the curriculum.
7. Utilize current computer technology and applications across the curriculum to develop research skills and computer literacy for academic settings, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
Academic Certificates Competencies
1. Comprehend, evaluate, and synthesize information gained by reading college-level material.
2. Use basic grammar, mechanics, and composition skills in a variety of rhetorical modes to explain, describe, inform, and analyze.
3. Perform arithmetic computations as these are related to certification areas.
4. Demonstrate skills required for current entry-level employment in their chosen fields.
2.7.4 Coursework for Degrees
Bossier Parish Community College is in compliance with this core requirement because the College provides all coursework for at least one degree at each level for which it awards degrees. For example, all coursework for the Associate of General Studies Degree is provided on-campus as evidenced by the Spring 2007 schedule of classes 29-46.
BPCC, in fact, offers all coursework for all degrees awarded by the College. BPCC arranges for courses to be provided by another accredited institution in only one degree program: the BPCC courses required in the clinical phase (final year) of the Respiratory Therapy AS Degree are provided through contractual arrangement by LSUHSC in Shreveport.
As described in SACS compliance audit report 3.4.7, BPCC controls the quality of this program--those courses in a manner consistent with the evaluation and management of all "on-campus" programs/curriculum. Bossier Parish Community College has a single contractual relationship with the Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC) in Shreveport for didactic and clinical instruction in Respiratory Therapy using LSUHSC faculty. The Bossier Parish Community College courses are taught at the BPCC campus, at the LSUHSC laboratory, and at clinical facilities. The contract between the institutions delineates the responsibilities of LSUHSC and Bossier Parish Community College.
Bossier Parish Community College ensures quality of instruction through program review, advisory committee input, and faculty administrative evaluation. All students evaluate courses in accordance with College policy. In addition, the Respiratory Therapy Program Advisory Committee meets twice each year and receives feedback from respiratory therapists and students on the committee. Changes are discussed and incorporated into the program as appropriate.
The mission of Bossier Parish Community College reads in part: "The mission of Bossier Parish Community College is to provide instruction and service...." To achieve its mission, Bossier Parish Community College offers "...associate degree programs (and) one and two-year occupational certificate programs...." The offering of Respiratory Therapy programs carries out this mission. The advisory committee monitors the on-going quality of the program relative to the needs in the community and responds with program changes as needs warrant.
A contractual agreement between BPCC and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center is reviewed annually. This contract delineates the scope of educational services provided by LSUHSC in support of BPCC's Respiratory Therapy program.
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