Meeting & Agendas

Introductions made by all (Jack Housworth, Jeanna Keener, Liz Coccia, Julie Stevens, Lynn Beaman, Tom Allen, Sandra Eames, Kipa Smith, Brooke Williams and Rick Thompson. New Board members were acknowledged and all entering Board members will now serve on a three-year rotation basis.

The October 18, 2013 minutes were reviewed and a motion to approve the minutes was made by Jeanna K., seconded by Sandra E.

Discipline Assessment Cycle Data from 2013 Last year, the college implemented TRACDAT, which will allow academic departments to choose their own method(s) to measure student success (i.e., in Human Services-how have chosen to measure how well HUSE students do ethically). This measure would be evaluated in Internship I (before completion of their site hours) and would require students complete an online ethics test (designed by HUSE faculty). This test will require students to achieve an 80% success rate, or go through remediation before retesting. Currently, students have had 100% success rate. The only HUSE program that doesn't require SCWK 1303, Ethics for Social Service Professionals is the Deaf Services Certificate. One student failed to initially pass but was successful upon remediation in their second attempt. Update on Curriculum Changes Approved at 2013 Meeting The curriculum changes approved by the Board in 2013 were to add Spanish I & II to HUSE electives to some of the HUSE plans, with the college-wide curriculum Committee approving the changes. PSYT 1313 was added to the Addictions Counseling in the Criminal Justice Certificate because it was the only plan in HUSE that didn't already include the course and the department wanted one course that crossed all HUSE curriculums. All curriculum changes were added to the 2014 catalog.

Curriculum changes for 2015-2016 Last fall all discipline areas were notified that the THECB will require all AAS degree plans become 60 hours only. No exemptions to the rule are likely (with only slight variations for some programs). Additionally, Workforce departments cannot reduce the required 15 hour (general education) core classes. Addictions Counseling AAS – the thought process within this program was to decide which course content could be taught within/under another course. Human Services majors need to take SCWK 1321, Orientation to Social Services; but the content of this course (an overview of the social services industry) can also be taught in DAAC 2341, Counseling Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions. The decision was made to remove SCWK 1321 as a required course and move it to an elective. Previously, the Human Services Elective only offered students DAAC 2306, Substance Abuse Prevention I or DAAC 2353, Substance Abuse Prevention II, or either of the two Therapeutic Recreation (TR) RECT classes; now students have the option to also take SCWK 1321. SCWK 1321 is currently offered in the fall and spring, but the course will be eliminated as a spring online option and only taught in the classroom in the fall. Additionally, THECB has also changed the course 'title' for DAAC 1319, Introduction to Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions to Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. The second course removed from this plan is PSYC 2314, Human Growth and Development OR SCWK 2305, Special Problems of Youth (a specialty area). Not all HUSE students work in youth-related programs, so that was the determining factor to remove both. The course has not been eliminated and remains in the catalog. If the Board agrees the class should still be offered (but there is no guarantee the class will make) HUSE could create a 15-HR certificate for students specializing in youth programs, but the Board would need to justify the need to place the course back into the plan. Rick further explained it's a career-making decision course providing information on working clinically with youth and their families, what to do with those who don't respond to behavior management, treatment centers, the character and structure of the family, etc. The required 60 credit hour rule brings the Addictions Counseling AAS total credit hours to 59, so a one-credit course had to be added (i.e., any one-credit hour KINE class). In response to this, the college also created a new one credit course, Effective Learning, PSYC 1100; the business area created a Interview and Resume Writing course, BUSG 1193; and the Hospitality area decided on an interacting course, HAMG 1191. If students take a four credit hour science class they won't be required to take the 1-credit Restricted Elective (but a three credit hour course would require they do). Addictions Counseling Certificate & Addictions Counseling in the Criminal Justice System – the only change is regarding the course 'title' for DAAC 1319, Introduction to Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions to Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. Deaf Services Certificate – the only change is regarding the course 'title' for DAAC 1319, Introduction to Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions to Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. General Human Services AAS– This degree plan was 65-70 credit hours. PSYC 2314, Human Growth and Development OR SCWK 2305, Special Problems of Youth was eliminated. This program had four electives which were reduced to three. The Spanish department dropped their language classes from 5 to 4 credits. SCWK 1321, Orientation to Social Services was kept as a requirement. The one credit hour option was also added. Therapeutic Recreation AAS & Therapeutic Recreation Certificate – the SCWK 1321, Orientation to Social Services content will be incorporated into other TR courses so it has been removed PSYC 2314, Human Growth and Development OR SCWK 2305, Special Problems of Youth has also been removed from both the Therapeutic Recreation AAS & Certificate (PSYC 2314 will still be offered at ACC but not as part of this degree plan). Within the Therapeutic Recreation Certificate, PSYC 2314 was replaced with a Restricted Elective (listing the same Restricted Electives noted for the TR AAS). To increase student success and graduation, Dr. Cook, new Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, has decided that all students (with the exception of those who have 12 transfer hours) will now be required to take a 1-3 credit college preparatory course (Effective Learning, Study Skills, etc.). Departments have until March 2015 to make a decision (to ensure the information is included in the Fall 2016 catalog). One possibility would be for department areas to design a prep course for their programs. Unfortunately, the Therapeutic Recreation AAS is already at 60 credit hours, so a prep course could not be added without removing another course. ACC's graduation rates are low and the rationale behind Dr. Cook's change is to increase graduation rates. The belief is that with the inclusion of a college preparatory course, students will be better prepared to pursue graduation, which in turn will increase graduation statistics (although, there are many variables as to why ACC has low graduation rates). Other colleges/universities already have this same requirement as part of their curriculum. A second alternative regarding this change would be to remove Speech (although it is currently required by ACC), and replace it with the preparatory course. Dr. Cook has set aside grant money for department use to enhance student success initiatives. HUSE is considering applying for grant money to create an online orientation program. Students need to be oriented to program expectations and there is a need for a better system to deal with students with behavioral and disciplinary problems (i.e., possibly looking into setting expectations/standards regarding student conduct, background checks, health issues, etc.). The college now has a policy in place for students who have been identified as having health issues and if they have registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) they can assist a student. There is also a new CARE team at ACC, available for students who may be a threat and need assistance. Discipline Assessment Cycle for 2014-2015 The new HUSE measure for this year is the end of semester supervisor Internship Program Student Evaluation forms (completed by the supervisor). Ninety percent of Internship I and II students will receive a """"""""agree"""""""" or """"""""strongly agree"""""""" to the evaluation standard that reads student has positive/ appropriate relationships with clients. There are 20 measures on the form. ACC November Proposition If the propositions pass, RGC will close for renovations and relocate to another campus (HUSE would request to move to the Highland Campus (HLC). Current Marketing Efforts Events Both Lynn and Liz S. are working on ways to increase awareness for the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program. Lynn met recently with Advisors and shared information about the skills set of TR students and asked that TR students be sent to HUSE for advising. Liz S. visited Pflugerville High school earlier this year to market the program and recently attended The College & Career Expo at the Palmer Events Center. There is a demand in the job market and last year TR was one of the top 10 positions. Corporations now only want to hire those who are certified, or who have an AAS or BA in TR (and corporations are willing to pay for the education). There is still confusion in the interpretation of occupational therapy and Therapeutic Recreation. Website The HUSE website will be revamped. The college is moving towards using WordPress for all internal websites. We have applied for an account and will be assigned an Instructional Design person soon (training will be scheduled at some later date).

Tom advised Park University is a private, non-profit liberal arts university with AAS, BAs and Master's (on line/classroom) degrees. They are headquartered in Parkville, MO, with campuses throughout the U.S. (with some being on military installations). The Austin Campus began in 1975 and currently has a 20% overflow of students. Park has a strong MSW program (but don't know when it will be available at the Austin Campus) and currently have ten degrees, with Social Psychology holding about 25% of their students. They are a major sponsor of """"""""Blues on the Green"""""""", with advertisements on Capital metro buses as well. Kipa said they are expanding their program(s) to include adults. They are excited about their Kayaking and have a brand new dock by Fiesta Gardens. They have a scheduled event at Fiesta Gardens that will be reaching out to veterans. Their hope is to bring groups together, including Paralympics. Brooke stated the Austin Recovery Center has recently moved to the Hicks Family Ranch in Buda. She added she has recommendations (from both a student and supervisor's perspective) that may be helpful to HUSE. Jack manages the Marble Falls Bluebonnet Trails Community Services reported they've opened Bluebonnet Recovery, an outpatient substance abuse treatment program, headquartered in Georgetown. They are opening centers in Bastrop, Round Rock, Lockhart, Seguin and have just been licensed in La Grange. They've just received their CTI status in all of their facilities and he is currently recruiting for interns, and practicum students. Bluebonnet Trails, Life Steps and other agencies will have a Townhall meeting on Adolescent, Mental Illness and Substance Abuse on December 3rd in the Georgetown Health Foundation Community. Meeting adjourned at 11am.