2.7.2 Program Content

Offers degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated purpose and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education. 

  Compliance      ___  Partial Compliance          ___  Non-Compliance

Narrative:
South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) offers nine associate degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with SLCC’s mission (stated purpose) and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education.

The mission of SLCC (1) is “to cultivate a learning environment in which participants develop the qualities and skills necessary to engage actively in the economy, governance, and culture of South Louisiana.” Through each of the nine degree programs, students are provided an environment that allows them to develop their qualities and skills to either transfer or enter the workforce upon completion of their degree.

SLCC adheres to the Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education (BoR) associate degree definitions as stipulated in BoR Academic Affairs Policy number 2.15 (2) :

Associate Degrees
The standard number of credits required for the Associate Degree will be 60. Given that the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare students to directly enter careers upon graduation, AAS programs often require additional technical training; consequently, AAS degree programs may range from 60-72 hours. Exceptions to the standard number of credits must be approved according to the respective System’s policy. The BoR will periodically review both the number of credit hours required and approved exceptions to the 60-hour standard.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - An applied/academic degree program with a limited general education component core (15 hours), primarily designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry. AAS degrees can be formed by combining a Technical Diploma program with 15 hours of required general education or can be a distinct curriculum unrelated to any preexisting program of technical studies. All general education coursework must meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges (SACS/CoC) requirements. If technical coursework required of the degree is intended for transfer to a four-year institution, this coursework must meet appropriate SACS/CoC requirements.

AAS degrees are limited to technical colleges, community colleges, and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of an AAS degree resides with the Board of Regents.

Example: AAS in Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic

Associate of Arts (AA) - An academic degree program with a significant general education core (24 hours), designed primarily to serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. All coursework must meet SACS/CoC requirements. AA degrees are limited to community colleges and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of an AA degree resides with the Board of Regents.

Example: AA in Care and Development of Young Children

Associate of Science (AS) - An academic degree program with a significant general education core (27 hours), designed primarily to serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. All coursework must meet SACS/CoC requirements. A.S. degrees are limited to community colleges and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of an AS degree resides with the Board of Regents.

Example: AS in Teaching

Associate (A) - An academic degree program with a significant general education core, designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry, but which also may serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. The use of this particular degree designation should be limited to cases wherein other associate degree designations (AAS, AA, or AS) have been determined to be inappropriate. All coursework must meet SACS/CoC requirements. Non-designated associate degrees are limited to community colleges and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of a non-designated associate degree resides with the Board of Regents.

Example: Associate of General Studies

Additionally, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors has passed the Day One Guarantee (3), which states, “If one of our graduates educated under a standard program, or his/her employer finds that the graduate is deficient in one or more competencies as defined in the program objectives, the community or technical college will retrain the employee at no cost to the graduate or the employer.”   To date, no alumni or employer of an alumnus has requested to be retrained (LCTCS Career and Technical Education Policy # 8.001).

The SLCC programs that are primarily transfer programs are: 

Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer (AALT)

Associate of Arts in Care and Development of Young Children (AA CDYC)

Associate of Science in Criminal Justice  (AS CJ)

Associate of General Studies (A GS)

Associate of Science in Industrial Technology (AS IT)

Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer (ASLT)

Associate of Science in Teaching (AST)

The  AALT, ASLT (4), and AST (5) were created through statewide meetings of faculty from both community colleges and universities to assist Louisiana students in the transfer process.  These three programs guarantee students beginning at community colleges transferability as a junior to Louisiana public universities, as long as the student completes the degree with a minimum of a C in all courses and meets the university’s eligibility standards for the junior level.

The AACDYC program is transferable into the General Studies curriculum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL).  SLCC and ULL are in the process of creating a 2+2 agreement in this area.

The ASCJ program has a 2+2 agreement (6) with ULL, Northwestern State University, and University of Phoenix.

The AGS program is used to assist students in transferring to universities, especially ULL. Students following the AGS can complete 2+2 programs with ULL in the following areas (7) :

Business Administration—Accounting

Business Administration—Business Systems, Analysis & Technology

Business Administration—Economics

Business Administration—Finance

Business Administration—Marketing

Business Administration—Management

Business Administration—Insurance and Risk Management

Business Administration—Professional Land and Resource Management

Health, Information Management

Elementary Education (Prek-3 Grade)

The ASIT has a 2+2 agreement with ULL’s Industrial Technology degree (8) .  The SLCC program is accredited by the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). (9)

The programs that are primarily workforce readiness are:

Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Technology (AAS EMT)

Associate of General Business (AS GB)

According to the National Registry of EMT, SLCC’s AAS EMT program provides 2% of the nation’s EMT graduates.  This program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) (10).  In Spring 2010, the EMT paramedic students passed the National Registry at 86%, which is above the national average.

The Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer, Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer, and Associate of Science in Teaching are not included in the table above as since they were implemented in the 2010-2011 academic year.

The SLCC Curriculum Committee (11) approves all new programs.  Using results from the Annual Plans, curriculum has been changed.  For instance, students in the Industrial Technology program were not performing well in the technology areas of their portfolios in the internships and special projects classes.  At the time, the Industrial Technology program was incorporating instruction in the use of Microcomputer Information Systems in the introductory course to Industrial Technology. However, after reviewing the portfolios, a decision was made to add a survey computer course to the curriculum (12) . 

SLCC’s courses and programs are based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education as evidence by the transferability of the courses.  SLCC has eleven 2+2 agreements with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  All programs must be approved by the LCTCS and the BoR. Faculty and staff participate in statewide discipline committees regarding curricula.  A faculty member attends the statewide articulation meetings assuring SLCC’s courses align with other colleges and universities across the State. The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs attends Chief Academic Officers’ meetings.

Documentation: