Meeting & Agendas

New members were introduced to the advisory committee. Everyone was welcomed for attending.

Linda Welsh shared information that one of our students, Verina Hoffman was awarded a $500 scholarship by the Child Development Educators Association, a statewide professional association for child development faculty. Amy Escobar, another child development student and member of the Advisory Board is the first Amanda Hernandez Endowed Scholarship Recipient. Advisory members are encouraged to spread the word about the Amanda Hernandez Endowed Scholarship, which has an application deadline of May 1 of each year. The Endowment Fund is at $23,490. We need about $30,000 to able to grant a $1,000 scholarship each year. Gale Spear was awarded the Roueche Award at the League for Innovation in the Community College. Amy Escobar, another child development student and a member of the Advisory Board is the first Amanda Hernandez Endowed Scholarship Recipient. Advisory members were encouraged to spread the word about the Amanda Hernandez Endowed Scholarship, which has an application deadline of May 1 of each year. The Endowment Fund is at $23,490. We need about $30,000 to be able to grant a $1,000 scholarship each year. Gale Spear was awarded the Roueche Award at the League for Innovation in the Community College.

Linda shared the changes in reading and writing requirements. State legislation prohibits colleges from placing entry-level requirements for reading and writing requirements for certificate level students. The Child Development Department had reading and writing prerequisites and co-requisites on all of the child development courses in the certificate. All of these prerequisites and co-requisites have been remove for certificate level courses to comply with state law. ACTION REQUESTED: The current prerequisites for CDEC 1166 and CDEC 1392 are that students who have completed 15 to 25 hours in child development must enroll in Practicum I/Special Topics before completing additional child development hours. Students who have not taken CDEC 1419 Guidance may take CDEC 1166 and CDEC 1392. This results in students who are not prepared for success in the course. The Child Development The Advisory Committee discussed the request. Sue Carpenter moved that CDEC 1419 be a co-requisite for CDEC 1166 and CDEC 1392. It was seconded by Lynne Kirby. The motion carried unanimously.

Linda provided an update on spring enrollment. There were 351 enrollments in spring 2014. One hundred and twenty-three students are being supported by Teacher TRAC for the spring; of these 41 are comprehensive CDA students; 40 are in the Child Development Certificate and 42 are in the AAS. Linda reported on the courses being offered in summer 2014. Dawn Leach gave an update on the Lab School.

Linda provided an overview of the state requirement to only require 60 credits in all AAS degrees. ACC Child Development reviewed six accredited peer institutions. Only one program required a personal computing course. Three courses stood out as either not in the degree plans or optional: CDEC 2341 School-age Child, CDEC 1321 Infant-Toddler, CDEC 2326 Administration of Programs for Children I ACTION REQUESTED: Linda presented the faculty's proposal for reducing the degree to 60 credits: (1) eliminate COSC 1301 Introduction to Computing; (2) Have students chose one of three courses as an elective (CDEC 1321 Infant and Toddler, CDEC 2341 School Age Child, or CDEC 2326 Administration of Programs for Children); and (3) Reduce CDEC 1393 to a two credit course. Several members of the advisory committee wanted the department to retain CDEC 1321 The Infant and Toddler as being very important for the local workforce. An alternative plan was proposed which was part of the faculty back-up plan: (1) Eliminate COSC 1301 Introduction to Computing; (2) Have students chose one of two courses as an elective (CDEC 2341 School Age Child or CDEC 2326 Administration of Programs for Children); (3) Reduce CDEC 1393 to a two credit course; and (4) Reduce the fieldwork hours for three sophomore level curriculum courses (CDEC 1456 Emergent Literacy, CDEC 1458 Creative Arts for Early Childhood, and CDEC 2407 Math and Science for Early Childhood) from 48 hours to 16 hours. This will result in a change in the Child Development Certificate, because it currently includes CDEC 2341 School Age Child, which will become optional and should be deleted from the Certificate. Sue Carpenter moved approval of the changes proposed in the alternate plan. Betsy Blunk seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

The Advisory Committee provided initial input on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions desired for ACC Child Development Graduates. The list was compiled and shared with the Advisory Committee for review. The Advisory Committee reviewed the list and offered suggestions. This will be brought back to the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30.