Meeting & Agendas

Fallon briefly explained the reason for the Advisory Board Committee meeting and each person’s role. The non –ACC related employees could participate, propose and vote. ACC employees cannot vote.

The department is growing and needs to add programs. Discussion today will be focused on planning for what the ASLIT program will be able to offer in the future. Fallon explained this is the board’s community. The feedback from today can help shape the interpreters for the future. Austin is growing. Good problem to have, teachers are needed. The Board’s leadership will help us improve the program.

Statistics 21/31 graduated & certified 2 certified without graduation 2 not certified and working full time SLNG 1391: ASL VII ASL VII course - SLNG 1391 – ASL VII- ASL 7 Focused on expressive language. New teacher, second year teaching the course. SLNG 1346: Working With Deaf-Blind Person Deaf-Blind course – need deaf blind person – who can teach the class? Interpreters, deaf blind, and more want that training. Ms. Broadway will be coming into teach that class. Hayley foster is deaf blind taught last year and will teach spring. Benefit our students having that kind of exposure. ASL Studies I Certificate Online Program ASL studies – offering hybrid classes. Traditional will stay. Students want online options. Last year there were three classes, would like to add more. Next fall will have ASL 1-4 Online. This will help support students. Will be able to provide full online. Any updates? Jodi commented the program has benefits teaching students to adapt to deaf community and culture. Jack Busenbark asked to explain the difference in our SLNG and our SGNL classes. Fallon explained that ASL I-IV is Sign Language class. (SGNL) Interpreting classes and ASL V starts are labeled (SLNG). How do we rate our students? Lynne- explained the rating system. Scoring is determined from signs & homework. Emily and Lynne also give feedback on each other students. They have their students rated by the other teacher for a different perspective. Oscar – asked if ASL V 5 is paired with the Interpreting I class. Where do those students come from? Fallon said yes and explained that we have open door policy. Students are welcome to come in our program. We have the 2+2 program with Gallaudet. If students have attended ACC’s two -year program, Gallaudet will automatically accept ACC grades. Students, who transfer into ACC, must have ASL placement test. Emily added that students in ASL V must want to become an interpreter.

VOTE Interpreting Certificate 2018-2019- Modify pre-req to SGNL 2301 (ASL 3): SLNG 1321 Introduction to Interpreting Profession Modify pre-req to SGNL 2302 (ASL 4): SLNG 1391 Discourse Analysis Modify pre-req to SGNL 2302 (ASL 4): SLNG 2311 Specialized Settings Fallon: These were passed in 2017 however hasn’t attended to curriculum and committee meeting and will attend in early 2019 to propose the changes.

ADD course description: SLNG 1346 Working with Deaf-Blind Persons- There is continued change in Deaf Blind and we want to make sure the classes we offer, the culture is appropriate. Can’t change original class description, but we can add to it. There are State mandated stipulations. Workforce Education course manual is expanding. Jack Busenbark proposed to add the course description to SLNG 1346 Lisa Anderson seconded All voted yes (8) Fallon added that ACC has deaf blind class with hands on activity now, and that class can move straight to the new class. ADD pre-req of SLNG 1321 (Introduction to Interpreting): SLNG 2401 Interpreting I- Fallon explained their needs to be a class before Interpreting I begins. Some students need basic understanding of Interpreting. Want to add that requirement. Emily explained the class would explain- history of interpreting, what the BEI test would look like- an introductory class. Also would help students understand how to use words in interpreting. For example there are hearing concepts for some words. Help students understand the difference in culture. Lynne added to start giving one basic test. This will determine if they are ready for Interpreting I, or Introduction to Interpreting. Fallon explained the different ASL classes. Lynne added a class is needed to help understand Interpreting I-III and the role of Interpreting itself. Jack Busenbark proposed to add an Intro to Interpreting class Tamara Ocuto seconded All voted yes (8) REMOVE Elective course: SLNG 1206 Interpreting Artistic Texts – Fallon explained this class is really not needed. That offer classes will benefit the students more. Lynne added that she covers this kind of information in specialized settings, and intern’s also get an opportunity to work with ACC to interpret dramatic plays, so they are getting exposure. Tamara proposed to remove SLNG 1206 Oscar seconded All voted yes (8) ADD Trilingual course to catalog as an elective for the interpreting degree – Option 1: SLNG 1325 Trilingual Interpreting Issues Option 2: SLNG 2405 Trilingual Interpreting I - Fallon explained we have many Spanish-speaking students who are eager for this course. ASLIT would like to set up Spanish speaking students the opportunity to have that certificate for interpreting. Fallon added she 2 options for classes. Lynne added students who come here from other countries; this added course would be good for them too. - Lisa Anderson asked how to we test the Spanish skills of teacher and students. Fallon said the class we have an assessment test. Lisa emphasized Spanish skills can vary. How do we evaluate their Spanish? Fallon mentioned, courses with English to ASL are the same - we don’t test English. - Oscar suggested offering both the courses. Option 1 is more basic. Option 2 is more motivated for students who want to interpret. Lisa felt the courses will be very popular due to the changing demographic. Oscar suggested to have Option 1, but keep Option 2 on a “ as needed” basis. Fallon said we can decide how to set up in the Spring, Fallon suggested added a Pre-req. Emily also suggested having teacher approval. Oscar proposed two new courses: ADD SLNG 1325-Trilingual Interpreting Issues Pre-req: SLNG 1321 Intro to Interpreting Profession ADD SLNG 2405- Trilingual Interpreting I Pre-req: SGNL 2302 (ASL IV) Pre-req: SLNG 1325 Trilingual Interpreting Issues Jack seconded All voted yes (8)

Fallon announced the end of ACC ASLIT proposals.. Now open to feedback from the Board. Jack Busenbark commented about the need to see diversity in interpreting industry. He also mentioned how we can fully prepare interpreters for college level interpreting. –Fallon explained we expose students to educational interpreting and Interpreting in Specialized situations – but we need more.. Lynne- explains we have so much to explain. We expose students to higher interpreting now – but it is limited. Suggest more training and workshops. Fallon added we don’t see many males. Suggested we get more exposure through the community – maybe go to different HS that do and don’t offer ASL classes.

Gallaudet 2+2 Program- 4th year for this program. Good number of students transfers. There are two students going into this program with Gallaudet. New Administrative Assistant- Ericka Patterson- Dr. Phan helped with getting a full time administrative assistant. RGC Renovation expected to finish in 2020 – Building 300 is temporary. Deaf Space- New building will have a deaf space. The space on west wing will be deaf friendly: lights, hallway, design, etc. ASLIT Lab Fallon contributed a chapter in “Deaf Eyes on Interpreting” by Thomas K. Holcomb and David H. Smith - published in July 2018 American Sign Language Teachers Association - Conference 2019 in San Diego, CA – Four of the faculty will attend. Two submitted presentation proposal.

Jack - NDC is always looking for volunteers. Volunteers are needed for meeting notes, & for the yearly Gala. Good exposure for signing. Contact holly@tsdfoundation.com Avonne - Conference on Deaf Education will be at TSD on June 20-22,2019 Tamara- Convo is happy to have students come and see the Austin office- they do have deaf staff. Convo would also be happy to come to ACC. Oscar – worked with Lynne and students for opportunities. Please continue to contact for any help needed. Meeting adjourned at 11:33 am.