Meeting & Agendas

Ashley Wells called the meeting to order. Janet Barlow welcomes the members.

Remarks: • College has completed the regional accreditation process with SACS.. • The self study for renewal of programmatic accreditation was submitted to JRC-DMS Fall of 2012. • The JRCDMS Site visitors were here on Campus and in the Clinical Sites in September 2013. • The ACC Sonography Programs have been awarded their 4th CAAHEP Reaccreditation at this time (Nov. 2013-2018)

Remarks: • The December 2013 graduating class (8 graduates) completed with 100% pass rate on the registry exam (one has not taken the exam). • Three are continuing in the Vascular Program. • Four are employed as PRN sonographers in area facilities. One student has moved out of the state and one student has returned to his native country. • There are 8 current DCS Students due to graduate in Dec. 2014 (all have shown interest in the ESC-VT) • 50% of the Cardiac Sonography Program Employee Surveys were returned • 71% of the Cardiac Sonography Program Student Surveys were returned o More ECG Training was cited as a need • Our Cardiac Sonography Program wish list entails: another ergonomic work station, dedicated Cardiovascular Equipment, TEE probe/attachment for our Simulator and expanded lab space • Thank you to all of our Cardiovascular Sites for your continued efforts and time spent in helping to prepare our students for success in the Sonography workplace

Remarks: • Attrition is still a major threat to the program. Many students drop the program because they receive full time employment with the promise of on the job training in vascular. • ARDMS does not require formal education to take the Vascular registry if they are already credentialed in General or Cardiac ultrasound. • Students are unable to receive financial aid for this additional semester. • These issues were assessed during our SWOT and IPR (Internal Program Review) in 2013 • We are proposing the addition of a vascular component to the current DCS program. • Texas State legislation has mandated the decrease in Credit hours from a maximum of 72 to 60 credit hours for Associates Degree Plans (AS/AAS). • The ACC “Workforce Based Associates Degree Programs” are approaching the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to ask for special consideration/ an exemption in regards to the decrease in credit hours. • Although we have just received our CAAHEP accreditation, the credit hour reduction may require another site visit. Gina contacted JRCDMS about the mandated credit hour decrease to ask how this will affect the program accreditation. We are waiting for a response. • Before submission to the ACC Curriculum Committee, we are asking the Advisory Committee for input, suggestions and support. • Janet presented an example of a possible Degree Plan Outline and Open Discussion ensued

• Janet discussed the required AAS degree plan basic Pre and Co requisites • Mick and Debra asked if perhaps there could be a reduction in the physics course hours or maybe combine the two physics courses. Clark (current student that recently took and passed SPI) stated that there were Doppler questions on the exam that might not be covered in the Sonographic Instrumentation course but felt the coursework could be combined into one class. • Sharee asked why not have three separate accredited programs; Cardiac, General and Vascular to choose from? • Gina stated that no cardiovascular accreditation available and noted that there was not enough staff or resources available for that work load. • Gina spoke about the changes listed on the proposed curriculum concerning the Human Anatomy and Human Physiology courses now taught vs. the proposed Intro to A&P. All were okay with the change. • Clark asked if we were required to have a pathophysiology course as a pre-requisite. Clark stated that he didn’t feel the course was helpful and that the needed information was actually already taught within the courses. • Gina stated the information not the course was required in the curriculum and if it was not taught as a pre-requisite then it would have to be taught within the lecture courses. Gina added that they (DMS) don’t always teach the broad aspects of the anatomy • Janet went back to the PPT and noted that the proposed changes would increase the program from 5 semesters to 6 semesters. • Then the question was asked 5 or 6 semesters?? Would the students be willing to do that? • Kim stated that if that was stated in the beginning that the students would be prepared and did not feel that would be a problem. But would there still be an issue of the last semester not being covered by financial aide? • Janet stated that in using the proposed 6 semester plan, it would include the Advanced Technical Certificate and that financial aid would be obtainable as long as each semester had a minimum of 12 credit hours (full time). • Danna asked the CI’s present how they felt about the Clinical rotation having Jr and Sr students overlap one (if not two semesters, depending on a 5 or 6 semester program) and could they adjust to having more than just two clinical days a week, some semesters including both cardiac and some vascular instruction; how it would affect their workload. • Both Lynn and Billy stated that they felt all of the above (Jr and Sr students, added clinical days and both cardiac and vascular instruction) would be a burden for the clinical sites. • Aaron stated that there might be a possibility of navigating vascular days to be more mobile and move with the staff but it might be difficult to maneuver due to schedules being closed down if not full. • Sharee added that having the time to work with the students now is limited and difficult to staff for the placement. • Robin reiterated that having the students in a program where they didn’t have the option of dropping after the AAS degree would be great. Right now they are being offered jobs and dropping out because the employer is offering the vascular education/hands on training while on the job. • Aaron stated that it is now mandatory through HCA that the Sonographers go through an accredited school so that should stop some of them from dropping the Vascular Program. Then Both Billy and Robin stated that they are complying by completing the Cardiac Program. • Danna asked if maybe having less students in the rotation for placement, breaks in between semesters would work better. • All of the CI’s present agreed that would relieve some of the burden. • Janet spoke to Pat at that time about how the Sonography program works and Gina commented that even with accepting fewer students the proposed 6 semester curriculum plan would actually increase revenue because all students would be completing 83 credit hours in order to graduate. • Gina asked everyone to complete the Personnel Resource Surveys

Each attendee introduced themselves and their affiliation (place of employment) with the Program

Meeting adjourned.