Comprehensive Program Review Report (Narrative) College of the Sequoias

Program Review - Accounting Comprehensive Program Review Report (Narrative) College of the Sequoias Program Review - Accounting Prepared by: Michael Skaff, Andy Hinojosa and Janell Spencer What are the strengths of your Quality of Instructors. The Accounting Department currently has 3 full time instructors including 2 Certified Public Accountants. All 3 have extensive real world area?: experience and have owned and operated their own businesses. Internship Program: The Accounting Department currently places between 30 and 40 students per year in accounting/bookkeeping internships with approximately 30 participating local businesses. This is a 25% increase over 2014-15 figures. Technology Use: The current software being taught and used in the department (Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and Tax Programs) have been or are currently being used in a business setting by the Accounting Professors. Full Time Professors: The full time faculty of the Accounting Department currently teach 80% of the courses in the Accounting Department. The remaining 20% are taught by adjunct faculty with over 10 years experience each. Student Learning Outcomes: The Student Learning Outcomes are currently being met or exceeded in all accounting classes as shown by the assessments in Trac Dat Internship Assistant: A part time classified employee has been hired to assist with the Internship program. This will allow for success tracking and more placement data. What improvements are Student Success: Student Success rates, based on completion of courses, is 57%. The goal is 60%, which shows the need for improvement. Our plan is to establish needed?: an ongoing pool of qualified tutors identified by accounting faculty to support student success. Internship Tracking: The accounting department should track the number of permanent job placements in the industry for interns within a year after completion of internship. By having this process in place, internship placement success can be validated as well as data analyzed towards continuous internship improvement. Technology Updates: While the Microsoft Office programs and the Tax Programs are updated regularly to meet industry standards, the QuickBooks program should be updated every 3 years. Describe any external The challenge is to prepare students for vocational bookkeeping clerical positions while also serving the needs of our transfer students on a path to pursue opportunities or challenges.: Accounting as a profession. Employers continue to seek well trained bookkeeping and tax assistants. COS can meet these demands by continuing to challenge students by providing them with rigorous but essential training in the most up to date business software and technology. Overall Outcome Achievement: Student Learning Outcomes: The Student Learning Outcomes are currently being met or exceeded in all accounting classes as shown by the assessments in Trac Dat. The number of outcomes varies with each course, but in all cases show that outcomes are being achieved. Changes based on outcome There have been no changes based on outcome assessment to date. Annual review of assessments and changes has been implemented. achievement: Outcome cycle evaluation: The cycle for outcome assessment is every year. The Accounting Faculty meet to discuss the tracdat assessments and recommend changes according to student needs and changing environment. Action: Accounting Department Student Success Rates Improve student success to 60% Implementation Timeline: Start Date: 09/01/2014 10/20/2015 6:29 PM Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive. Page 1 of 3

Completion Date: 05/31/2016 Status: Continued Action Identify related At the end of this program, students will be able to actively assist in the bookkeeping, general accounting functions, and financial statement preparation of an course/program outcomes: employer. This will be assessed by testing/assessments requiring the above functions. Person(s) Responsible (Name Michael Skaff and Position): Rationale (With supporting Student success history shows a 57% success rate. Within one year that rate should be 60% or higher. data): Priority: High Safety Issue: External Mandate: Link Actions to District Objectives District Objectives: 2013-2015 * 2013-2015: District Objective #1 - District Objective #1 for 2013-2015: Provide effective academic support services as measured by an increase in the rate at which students successfully complete courses. District Objectives: 2015-2018 * District Objectives - 2.2 - Increase the number of students who earn an associate degree or certificate annually. * District Objectives - 2.4 - Increase Career Technical Education course success rates and program completion annually. Action: Update Quickbooks Update technology - Quickbooks 2017 Implementation Timeline: Start Date: 08/27/2014 Completion Date: 04/29/2015 Status: Discontinued Identify related Given specific data of a business entity, students will be able to create a fictitious company using computerized accounting software with 70% accuracy or better. course/program outcomes: Person(s) Responsible (Name Janell Spencer and Position): Rationale (With supporting Remain current with industry technology data): Priority: High Safety Issue: External Mandate: Resource Description Quickbooks 2017 Software Resource Type: Technology Add Resource Request for Action Why is this resource required for this action? Upgraded technology needed for effective classroom teaching. This will be paid for with department funds. tes (optional) Active Yes Link Actions to District Objectives District Objectives: 2013-2015 * 2013-2015: District Objective #1 - District Objective #1 for 2013-2015: Provide effective academic support services as measured by an increase in the rate at which students successfully complete courses. 10/20/2015 6:29 PM Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive. Page 2 of 3

Action: Track Intern Student Success Implement a system to track internships resulting in permanent job placements. Implementation Timeline: Start Date: 08/27/2014 Completion Date: 05/27/2016 Status: Continued Action Identify related At the end of this program, students will be able to actively assist in the bookkeeping, general accounting functions, and financial statement preparation of an course/program outcomes: employer. This will be assessed by testing/assessments requiring the above functions. Person(s) Responsible (Name Janell Spencer and Position): Rationale (With supporting Additional hours are needed for the internship assistant to implement the tracking of permanent placements. By having this process in place, internship placement data): success can be validated as well as data analyzed toward continuous internship improvement. This increase in hours will be shared with the business and paralegal departments. The total hours will be increased from 10 hours per week to 16 hours per week. The work experience program, though not a part of the business division, currently shares this part-time position. Priority: Medium Safety Issue: External Mandate: Link Actions to District Objectives District Objectives: 2015-2018 * District Objectives - 2.4 - Increase Career Technical Education course success rates and program completion annually. 10/20/2015 6:29 PM Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive. Page 3 of 3

What are the strengths of your area?: Prepared by: Michael Skaff, Andy Hinojosa and Janell Spencer What improvements are needed?: Unit Assessment Report - Four Column College of the Sequoias Program Review - Accounting Quality of Instructors. The Accounting Department currently has 3 full time instructors including 2 Certified Public Accountants. All 3 have extensive real world experience and have owned and operated their own businesses. Internship Program: The Accounting Department currently places between 30 and 40 students per year in accounting/bookkeeping internships with approximately 30 participating local businesses. This is a 25% increase over 2014-15 figures. Technology Use: The current software being taught and used in the department (Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and Tax Programs) have been or are currently being used in a business setting by the Accounting Professors. Full Time Professors: The full time faculty of the Accounting Department currently teach 80% of the courses in the Accounting Department. The remaining 20% are taught by adjunct faculty with over 10 years experience each. Student Learning Outcomes: The Student Learning Outcomes are currently being met or exceeded in all accounting classes as shown by the assessments in Trac Dat Internship Assistant: A part time classified employee has been hired to assist with the Internship program. This will allow for success tracking and more placement data. Student Success: Student Success rates, based on completion of courses, is 57%. The goal is 60%, which shows the need for improvement. Our plan is to establish an ongoing pool of qualified tutors identified by accounting faculty to support student success. Internship Tracking: The accounting department should track the number of permanent job placements in the industry for interns within a year after completion of internship. By having this process in place, internship placement success can be validated as well as data analyzed towards continuous internship improvement. Technology Updates: While the Microsoft Office programs and the Tax Programs are updated regularly to meet industry standards, the QuickBooks program should be updated every 3 years. Describe any external opportunities or challenges.: The challenge is to prepare students for vocational bookkeeping clerical positions while also serving the needs of our transfer students on a path to pursue Accounting as a profession. Employers continue to seek well trained bookkeeping and tax assistants. COS can meet these demands by continuing to challenge students by providing them with rigorous but essential training in the most up to date business software and technology. Overall Outcome Achievement: Student Learning Outcomes: The Student Learning Outcomes are currently being met or exceeded in all accounting classes as shown by the assessments in Trac Dat. The number of outcomes varies with each course, but in all cases show that outcomes are being achieved. Changes based on outcome There have been no changes based on outcome assessment to date. Annual review of assessments and changes has been achievement: implemented. Outcome cycle evaluation: The cycle for outcome assessment is every year. The Accounting Faculty meet to discuss the tracdat assessments and recommend changes according to student needs and changing environment. Actions Program Review - Accounting - Accounting Department Student Success Rates - Improve student success to 60% Add Resource Request for Action & Why is this resource required for this action? / Tasks Updates 08/28/2015 - Data shows the success rate is 57% which suggests we did not meet our goal of 60%. Results Update on Resource Allocation Effectiveness & Additional Comment 10/21/2015 12:18 PM Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive. Page 1 of 3

Actions Add Resource Request for Action & Why is this resource required for this action? / Tasks Updates Update on Resource Allocation Effectiveness & Additional Comment Implementation Timeline: Start Date: 09/01/2014 Completion Date: 05/31/2016 Status: Continued Action Identify related course/program outcomes: At the end of this program, students will be able to actively assist in the bookkeeping, general accounting functions, and financial statement preparation of an employer. This will be assessed by testing/assessments requiring the above functions. Person(s) Responsible (Name and Position): Michael Skaff Rationale (With supporting data): Student success history shows a 57% success rate. Within one year that rate should be 60% or higher. Priority: High Safety Issue: External Mandate: Program Review - Accounting - Update Quickbooks - Update technology - Quickbooks 2017 Implementation Timeline: Start Date: 08/27/2014 Completion Date: 04/29/2015 Status: Discontinued Identify related course/program outcomes: Given specific data of a business entity, students will be able to create a fictitious company using computerized accounting software with 70% accuracy or better. Person(s) Responsible (Name and Position): Janell Spencer Rationale (With supporting data): Remain current with industry technology Priority: High Safety Issue: Resource Description: Quickbooks 2017 Software Resource Type: Technology Why is this resource required for this action?: Upgraded technology needed for effective classroom teaching. This will be paid for with department funds. Cost Estimate: 1000 suggests we have to continue our efforts to improve the success rates of both accounting and the district objectives 2.2 & 2.4. Our plan is to establish an ongoing pool of quality tutors identified by accounting faculty to support student success Completed: Update Year: Impact on District Objectives/Unit Outcomes: ne. Related Documents: Student Success Rates - Accounting - 2014-15.xls 09/11/2015 - It is not necessary to update QuickBooks every year as it is too costly. We have polled other colleges and businesses and they also update periodically due to cost. After discussion with faculty we have concluded we will not need QuickBooks 2017 until Fall 2017. Completed: Action Discontinued Update Year: 2015-2016 Impact on District Objectives/Unit Outcomes: impact; not implemented 10/21/2015 12:18 PM Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive. Page 2 of 3

Actions Add Resource Request for Action & Why is this resource required for this action? / Tasks Updates Update on Resource Allocation Effectiveness & Additional Comment External Mandate: Program Review - Accounting - Track Intern Student Success - Implement a system to track internships resulting in permanent job placements. Implementation Timeline: Start Date: 08/27/2014 Completion Date: 05/27/2016 Status: Continued Action Identify related course/program outcomes: At the end of this program, students will be able to actively assist in the bookkeeping, general accounting functions, and financial statement preparation of an employer. This will be assessed by testing/assessments requiring the above functions. Person(s) Responsible (Name and Position): Janell Spencer Rationale (With supporting data): Additional hours are needed for the internship assistant to implement the tracking of permanent placements. By having this process in place, internship placement success can be validated as well as data analyzed toward continuous internship improvement. This increase in hours will be shared with the business and paralegal departments. The total hours will be increased from 10 hours per week to 16 hours per week. The work experience program, though not a part of the business division, currently shares this part-time position. Priority: Medium Safety Issue: External Mandate: 08/26/2015 - Will implement a process to track internships resulting in permanent job placements. We will request additional hours for intern assistant to help accomplish this goal. Completed: Update Year: Impact on District Objectives/Unit Outcomes: impact 10/21/2015 12:18 PM Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive. Page 3 of 3