Meeting & Agendas

The meeting was called to order with all members being introduced. Paul Dubiel, Barry Borel, Fred Ramirez, Dr. Marcus Lines, Winston Brooks, D.D. Stiles, Bob Jones, Anna Balding, Robbie Sanders, Yvonne VanDyke, Dean, Rudy Garza, Mary Wagner, Margaret Bishop, Karla Eaton, Justin Maxwell.

We are hoping to become involved with nuclear medicine. It was stated that it was best to get your RT first and then go into nuclear. There is a lot of multi-tasking that will be done. Need to be able to do several types of jobs.

Rudy needs information on clinical personnel who help our students. Their job description should include student supervision. Needs to be designated in personnel records in HR.

Gina Swearingen, Department Chair of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program provided the committee members an update on the Ultrasound program, their new facilities at Eastview, and distributed some information for each of the committee members. Committee members were encouraged to go see the new facilities and to please contact her if they had any questions or comments about the information in the document.

Rudy spoke regarding the status of the Radiology Program.

Rudy Garza informed the members that background checks for students would begin in May. Second year students will not have to be checked. New students will pay for their own background checks. The cost runs approximately $50 to $75 each. It takes about three days. Results will go directly to Dean VanDyke\'s office. The question was brought up about what kind of issues would preclude a person getting registered. Yvonne mentioned they worked with clinical partners to come up with guidelines for students who are getting a criminal background check. (http://www.austincc.edu/health/background.php)

All health science programs have moved to Eastview campus in December. There will be an Open House in February. The Radiology Program was awarded $115,000 from the Perkins Grant. We hope to purchase digital computed radiography system.

We have purchased a digital camera and software. Rudy will contact them in about 2 weeks regarding the committee members input in adding digital imaging information in the curriculum for ACC\'s Radiology program.

What do you anticipate in employment and educational opportunities in January for radiographers? Barry Borel said some facilities are multi-tasking and compiling jobs under one person. He indicated that it was possible the market is starting to be saturated. Paul Dubiel mentioned that with Seton\'s new hospitals coming in 2007 and 2008-09, they would be hiring a significant amount of techs for the new facilities. Throughout the country, needs differ for RT\'s. Rudy informed the committee that the CT and the Cardiovascular programs have not made over the last 2 years. MRI has made every year except for this year due to lack of faculty.

The radiology program is trying to fill a full time faculty position. Due to the SACS issue when ACC was put on probation, we lost some very qualified instructors. We are now looking for a person with an Associate\'s Degree, CT/MRI credentials. Community colleges cannot compete with private sector in pay. At ACC, an instructor in the radiology program would make between $54,000 - $60,000 plus benefits. Paul will give Rudy the name of a good candidate from Temple that he has worked with.

In 1998 we were awarded 8 years of accreditation. Information will be needed from committee members regarding accreditation, i.e., resumes. We will begin the self-study process this spring and will most likely have the on-site accreditation visit in 2006.

Our goals are measurable. Outcomes are very important. 95% of our students are passing at this time. Rudy informed the committee that we are required to review the goals every year to see if they need revisions. It is important that at least some of the goals be measurable. The committee was asked if they felt the goals were acceptable as is, and it was unanimous that they were fine.