Assessment of Majors or
Concentrations
Contact: Charles Parker
Director of Academic
Planning and Reporting
Summary
Statement of 2004-2005 Assessment Study
Midlands Technical College (MTC)
assesses specific majors on a three-to-five year cycle that is designed to
coincide with the reaffirmation visit from external accreditation agencies,
where applicable. The assessment of majors determines the degree to which
specific programs provide specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes leading
to employment in the field or discipline and/or success in transfer to a
senior-level program.
The program review process,
which generates the assessment of majors, includes an analysis of the specific
data elements identified to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the
academic programs offered at MTC. The effectiveness component of the process
focuses on the learning outcomes, clients’ satisfaction, and the vitality of
each program. The efficiency component focuses on quantitative data that
indicates the programs’ cost, space utilization rate, and average size of
course section taught.
In 2003-2004 the Dental Hygiene (DHG), Medical Assisting (MED), Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT), Radiology Technology (RAD), Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), and Expanded Duty Dental Assisting (EDDA) completed the program assessment process and developed recommendations for program improvement. In 2004-2005, these programs completed the following actions:
·
The Nuclear Medicine Technology program was
successful in securing a full-time clinical coordinator which will enable the
program to operate at its full capacity of 23 students and to meet service area
employment demands.
·
Nuclear
Medicine added clinical competencies and rotations and implemented academic
changes in the clinical procedures and radiation safety portions of the
curriculum to enable the program to incorporate Positron Emission Tomography.
· Medical Laboratory Technology has intensified its recruiting efforts by developing a lab professional recruitment team staffed by practicing laboratory professionals. These individuals will assist in career fairs, health recruitment days, middle school/high school career activities and promoting the field of laboratory medicine within their communities. The program has also collaborated with industrial representatives to preview and purchase recruitment videos to be used for health career classes and other recruitment activities. Continued advisement of pre-health students has increased the number of students interested in MLT and improved courses placement so that more students are ready to start program courses earlier.
· Molecular theory has been incorporated into MLT 115- Immunology & Serology and MLT 104/205 Basic Microbiology and Advanced Microbiology to meet the changing demands of the work environment. The program is also in the process of obtaining supplies to incorporate techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, Protein electrophoresis, and PCR into selected MLT courses
· A local hospital donated a digital printer for the Radiography lab which will enable the program to view and print teaching images in the lab.
·
To provide better educational opportunities for
the students, three more clinical sites in the
Description of Assessment
of the Major
Assessment of the majors or concentrations in credit courses, through a complete program review process, is closely tied to the institutional effectiveness process at MTC. The program review outcomes are evaluated for consistency with the stated institutional mission and the results of the measures are used in conjunction with other institutional effectiveness measures to identify areas for institutional improvement. This review of Associate Degree programs is significant in that it evaluates and measures outcomes of the educational process, thereby assisting faculty and administrators to identify areas in need of institutional improvement and providing a basis for the development of strategic and annual planning initiatives.
The program review process includes the analysis of identified effectiveness measures that indicate the effectiveness and efficiency of MTC’s academic programs. These include: student goal achievement; mastery of capstone competencies; course progression; mastery of general education core competencies; success at senior institutions; current student, alumni (graduate) and employer satisfaction; employment in field of study; annual unduplicated program/major headcount and FTE; advisory committee participation; program full-time/part-time faculty; faculty credentials; number of graduates; student retention in program; annual program cost; space utilization; and average section size. The Education Divisions have developed appropriate standards for each of these measures. The program faculty coordinate with the Assessment, Research and Planning Department to develop data for these measures and any other measures appropriate for the individual program being reviewed. The product of this comprehensive assessment is the identification of areas for improvement and development of strategies to improve them.
While the program review process uses qualitative data representing MTC student, alumni, advisory committee member, faculty, and administrator perspectives the major focus of the process is the analysis of students’ learning outcomes and successes. This evaluation of student outcomes and successes reflects the mission of MTC as a teaching institution and the importance that the faculty, staff, and administration place on teaching excellence. The capstone competencies and the general education core components are representative of the data that indicates student learning outcomes and successes.
Capstone competencies are defined as stated expectation(s) of knowledge and skills in both occupational/technical and general education areas that a student demonstrates at the successful completion of a program. Capstone competencies serve as a major indicator of student outcomes, combining technical and general education knowledge and skills. Program faculty typically select one of the following methods of assessing capstone competencies: a capstone course, a capstone project, an internship, or a licensure examination and/or simulated licensure examination.
Mastery of the general education core component, evaluated in a separate report, indicates the degree of academic success experienced by associate degree students in the general education core course work. A variety of data is gathered on students’ academic success in course work that represents a specific competency within each stated general education value. Student performance that does not meet the stated success criterion leads to an evaluation of the process, seeking explanation that might indicate a revision in the course(s) to better represent the specific competency.
In the program review process, data for a three-year period are reviewed to determine trends and help make recommendations for program improvement. The program recommendations derived from a complete analysis of the quantitative and qualitative findings are linked to the institution’s annual and strategic planning process in terms of stated objectives and annual action strategies.
The tracking of program recommendations and follow-up action taken to ensure academic program improvement demonstrate the accountability built into the program review process at MTC. Through this annual activity of the assessment of majors or concentrations for specific programs and the generation of this report, the continued emphasis on institutional effectiveness through assessment is reinforced.
A formal presentation of the data, findings and recommendations is made to the Academic Vice-Presidents, the college’s Executive Council, and the MTC Commission. Feedback from this presentation may be incorporated into the final findings and recommendations.
Objective A: Continue to monitor the progress of program recommendations from completed program reviews. The progress on the recommendations for the programs reviewed was monitored by the Department Chair for each reporting program. Each program provided written documentation of the progress made on accomplishing each priority recommendation. Progress reports on Program Review recommendations are also included in the MTC Report Card which is distributed college-wide.
Objective B: Continue with the development of automated process to provide data to the program chairs on an annual basis. The development of the Vitality Study was revised to make the production more efficient. A program was developed that will provide the Department Chairs and program coordinators grades data for each section that will allow for easier analysis. The development of the college’s Fact Book is approximately 90% automated through a series of programs; this has reduced the need for manual editing and collating.
2005-2006 Action Plan Objectives
The Midlands Technical College 2005-2006 action plan to assess majors or concentrations consists of the following two objectives.
Objective A: Continue to monitor the progress of
program recommendations from completed program reviews.
Objective B:
Continue with the development of automated process to provide data to the
program chairs on an annual basis.
Program: Dental Hygiene (DHG)
Description
of Program/Background Information:
The Dental Hygiene program includes instruction in principles of preventive oral care, including teaching clients self-care, examining clients’ head and neck area for abnormal health status, nutritional counseling, applying sealants to the grooves of clients’ teeth, producing diagnostically acceptable intraoral radiographs (X-rays), managing pain and anxiety, and removing deposits from clients’ teeth with scaling procedures.
Employment opportunities in
Related career roles include dental product sales representatives, infection control consultants for private dental offices and dental hygiene educators.
Important Findings
Strengths:
1. Student-centered culture as reflected in the
high student and alumni satisfaction rates.
2. Effective competency-based curriculum that
yields high pre-licensing pass rates and employer satisfaction rates.
3. Excellent caring, veteran faculty (full-time
and part-time) and support staff.
4. Up-to-date clinical chairs and delivery
units.
5. Excellent dental community support.
Weaknesses:
1. Excessively long “wait period” (4 years)
for new students to enter.
2. Budget for dental programs has not been
increased during the past four (4) years.
3. Adjunct faculty pay has not increased in
over five (5) years.
4. Full retirement of over 50% of veteran
faculty is expected in two (2) years.
5. Layout of the reception room is not conducive
for ensuring privacy of client information.
6. Continued low utilization of dental
practice management software by students.
7. Faculty hesitance to experiment with
on-line delivery of instruction.
8. Cabinetry in dental clinic is too
confining after the installation of the new dental chairs.
9. Various small equipment is needed to keep
student care delivery up-to-date (prophy jets, etc.).
10. Water distiller, filter, autoclave and
incubator needed to meet CDC/OSHA/EPA compliance.
11. Aging of program supportive community
dentists.
12. Phase II curriculum layout as part-time
seems to cause financial assistance problems for students.
Priority Recommendations and Progress Made:
1. Re-negotiate out-of-county Pre-DHG
articulation contracts with ATC, CCTC, and OCTC.
Results:
The contracts have not been re-negotiated. They exist as they did in their original
format.
2. Revise Phase II of DHG curriculum.
Results: Phase II
of the DHG curriculum has been revised and is being well-accepted by students.
3. Secure curriculum development grants.
Results: An ADEP
faculty member has applied for an MTC curriculum development grant and is
currently awaiting the decision of the grants committee to implement the use of
the new equipment in teaching.
4. Initiate an ADEP organizational review and
create a “retirement-driven” transition plan.
Results:
The organizational review was completed this summer with preliminary
plans focusing on allowing remaining faculty to move laterally into content
area and coordinator positions of their choice and then filling predicted
vacancies with faculty members who have taught at MTC previously.
5. Pursue an increase in ADEP funding sources
to meet increased demand for human resources, supplies, space, equipment, client
privacy, and infection control compliance.
Results:
ADEP applied for an increase in funds for the Live Dental Clinic
operation in the 2005-06 budget, based on historical in-take of revenue
exceeding the budgeted allowance in operational line-items.
6. Explore a gift-giving campaign that
garners annual financial support from “new” dentists and MTC allied dental
alumni.
Results:
The October 2004 dental
hygiene alumni reunion garnered needed funding to purchase several small pieces
of equipment. An initial meeting took
place this summer to begin plans for MTC’s hosting a Women’s Dentist seminar
this fall 2005 which will have two objectives: (1) introducing this cohort to
MTC’s facilities and curriculum and (2) soliciting monetary support.
Program: Expanded Duty Dental Assisting (EDDA)
Description
of Program/Background Information:
The Expanded Duty Dental
Assisting program includes instruction in restorative dentistry and preventive
oral care, including teaching clients oral self-care, applying sealants to the
grooves of clients’ teeth, taking impressions of teeth, producing diagnostically
acceptable intraoral radiographs (X-rays), polishing teeth and fillings,
assisting the dentist, preparing the filling materials, scheduling clients and
managing health information and monitoring nitrousoxide.
Employment
opportunities in
Related
careers include dental product sales representative, infection control
consultant for private dental office, dental office business manager and
Expanded Duty Dental Assisting education.
Important Findings
Strengths:
1. Student-centered culture as reflected in the high student and alumni satisfaction rates.
2. Effective competency-based curriculum that yields high pre-licensing pass rates and employer satisfaction rates.
3. Excellent caring, veteran faculty (full-time and part-time) and support staff.
4. Up-to-date clinical chairs and delivery units.
5. Excellent dental community support.
Weaknesses:
1. Budget for dental programs has not been increased during the past four (4) years.
2. Adjunct faculty pay has not increased in over five (5) years.
3. Retirement of the one Expanded Duty Dental Assisting faculty member is expected in two (2) years.
4. Sterilization area is too congested to efficiently/effectively maintain infection control.
5. Layout of the reception room is not conducive for ensuring privacy of client information.
6. Continued low utilization of dental practice management software by students.
7. Faculty hesitance to experiment with on-line delivery of instruction.
8. Cabinetry in dental clinic is too confining after the installation of the new dental chairs.
9. Various small equipment is needed to keep student care delivery up-to-date.
10. Water distiller, filter, autoclave and incubator needed to meet CDC/OSHA/EPA compliance.
11. Aging of program supportive community dentists.
12. No continuing education offerings for OJT dental assistants in the community (except N20).
13. Percentage of course sections taught by adjunct faculty is too high.
Priority Recommendations and Progress Made:
1. Secure curriculum development grants.
Results:
An ADEP faculty member has applied for an MTC curriculum development
grant and is currently awaiting the decision of the grants committee to implement
the use of the new equipment in teaching.
2. Initiate an ADEP organizational review and create a “retirement-driven” transition plan.
Results:
The organizational review was completed this summer with preliminary
plans focusing on allowing remaining faculty to move laterally into content
area and coordinator positions of their choice and then filling predicted
vacancies with faculty members who have taught at MTC previously.
3. Pursue an increase in ADEP funding sources to meet increased demand for human resources, supplies, space, equipment, client privacy, and infection control compliance.
Results:
ADEP applied for an increase in funds for the Live Dental Clinic
operation in the 2005-06 budget, based on historical in-take of revenue
exceeding the budgeted allowance in operational line-items.
4. Explore a gift-giving campaign that garners annual financial support from “new” dentists and MTC allied dental alumni.
Results:
The October 2004 dental hygiene alumni reunion garnered needed funding to
purchase several small pieces of equipment.
An initial meeting took place this summer to begin plans for MTC’s
hosting a Women’s Dentist seminar this fall 2005 which will have two
objectives: (1) introducing this cohort to MTC’s facilities and curriculum and
(2) soliciting monetary support.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Program: Medical Assisting (MED)
Description
of Program/Background Information:
Medical assistants perform a wide
range of duties in physicians’ offices, clinics and emergency medical
centers. Duties include screening and
receiving patients, maintaining medical records, typing and medical transcription,
handling telephone calls and correspondence, data entry, filing insurance
claims, and maintaining patient accounts.
Clinical duties include preparing patients for examinations, obtaining
vital signs, taking medical histories, assisting with examinations and
treatments, performing routine office laboratory procedures (urinalysis,
phlebotomy, CBC, specimen collection and shipment), electrocardiograms, and
patient instruction for advanced procedures.
Required clinical experience (externship) is provided in a variety of outpatient settings including physician offices, clinics and emergency medical centers during the third semester of the program.
The Medical Assisting program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and graduates are eligible to take the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certification Examination. Upon successful completion of the examination, graduates receive the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) credential.
Important Findings
Strengths:
1. Availability of externship sites.
2. Support by MISYS for its CompuSystems
Medical System—computer program used by a majority of medical groups in the
3. Large number of students interested in the program not only to become medical assistants but also to become multi-skilled practitioners.
4. Hands-on experience in the classroom.
Weaknesses:
1. Lack of computer-aided courses.
2. Use of adjunct faculty for clinical courses.
3. Evaluation methods in the Basic Medical Laboratory Procedures course not stating the conditions under which the student is expected to perform the task.
4. Advisory committee not as viable as it should be.
Priority Recommendations and Progress Made:
1. Correct the deficiencies as noted by the accreditation peer review.
Results: The deficiencies have been corrected and a progress report was submitted to the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment. On April 8, 2005, the program received a letter from the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment stating that based on the Progress Report, the CRB-AAMAE “has maintained the date of the next comprehensive evaluation, including an on-site review, to occur in Spring 2010 for Certificate medical assistant program at Midlands Technical College in West Columbia, South Carolina.”
2. Make advisory committee more viable.
Results: Those committee members who had not attended advisory meetings were replaced. To improve attendance at the advisory meeting, the program director set the date and time for meetings based on the preferences of the members. She called to remind members of the meeting date and time. Only two members were absent at the most recent advisory meeting. Moreover, committee members are being invited to participate in classroom sessions to allow them to see how their contribution and input have a direct correlation to the success of the program. One committee member has provided training in job searching and interview techniques. Another member has provided a cash donation to help the top students pay for their national certification examination fees.
3. Seek funding for updating and expanding technology resources.
Results: The medical assisting computer
lab was updated during the spring break 2005.
The program plans to upgrade its MISYS medical software to a
windows-based system more aligned with today’s technology. Additionally, faculty members are utilizing
Program: Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT)
Description
of Program/Background Information:
Medical laboratory technicians
provide a wide range of information for physicians to use in diagnosis.
Technicians work in clinical settings under the supervision of medical
technologists and pathologists and are required to perform precise tests and
procedures to guarantee accurate information for patient care. Technicians analyze body fluids, isolate and
identify micro- organisms, study blood components, perform pretransfusion tests
and determine disease-related immune responses.
The program prepares students to operate computerized lab equipment in a safe, cost-effective manner and to use quality control methods of assigned procedures. Students acquire a working knowledge in the areas of hematology, urinalysis, parasitology, immunology, clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology and blood banking. In addition, they develop important communication skills to be used in translating reports, records and results.
Graduates of the program are eligible to take the examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) and the National Certification Agency (NCA) for Medical Laboratory Personnel and to earn the designation Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). The program is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Important
Findings
Strengths:
1. Quality graduates who are well-satisfied with the educational preparation and who have performed exceptionally well on the national certification examination.
2. Excellent clinical sites which support the program as evidenced by outstanding training of students during clinical rotations and hiring of graduates.
3. Well-organized program curriculum which provides students with didactic and skills training foundation before enrolling in clinical rotations.
4. New program facilities which provide state-of-the-art instructional technology, two-student laboratories, storage, and a well-designed prep room. The labs are equipped with appropriate instrumentation to provide students with quality learning/training experience on campus.
Weaknesses:
Recruitment of students into the MLT program.
Priority Recommendations and Progress Made:
1. Continue recruitment of students into the MLT program.
Results: Continued advisement of pre-health students has increased the number of students interested in MLT and getting them tracked into the right courses so they are ready to start program courses.
Results: Instituted a lab professional’s recruitment team by recruiting practicing laboratory professionals. These individuals will assists in career fairs, health recruitment days, middle school/high school career activities and promoting the field of laboratory medicine within their communities.
Results: Collaborated with industrial representative to preview and purchase recruitment videos to be used for health career classes and other recruitment activities.
2. Incorporate Molecular techniques into curricular courses where applicable.
Results: Molecular theory has been incorporated into MLT 115- Immunology & Serology and MLT 104/205 Basic Microbiology and Advanced Microbiology.
Results: In process of obtaining supplies to incorporate techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, Protein electrophoresis, and PCR into selected MLT courses
Program:
Nuclear Medicine (NMT)
Description
of Program/Background Information:
Nuclear medicine technologists
are trained in the safe handling and application of radioactive materials for
therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in the medical field. The applied skills of nuclear medicine
technologists complement nuclear medicine physicians by providing clinical
information pertinent to patient diagnosis and treatment.
The
Nuclear Medicine certificate program is a full-time program. Admission is limited to those who meet the
specific admissions criteria. Each class
in
Students will receive clinical education in the nuclear medicine departments and radiopharmacies of major area hospitals, with didactic instruction given at the Health Sciences facility located on the Airport Campus.
Important Findings
Strengths:
1. Faculty is dedicated, qualified, and experienced in the real clinical setting. Instructor is very challenging.
2. Very professional and knowledgeable graduates.
3. Clinical affiliate support - provides students with a variety and quantity of nuclear medicine procedures. Additional sites of PET imaging and cyclotron.
4. Since this is the only accredited school offering NMT, the distance sites of Greenville, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Florence have allowed us to train South Carolinians to work in these excellent paying job opportunities (due to continued shortage and expansion of the field) instead of hiring out-of-state nuclear medicine technologists. Using our own state residents instills pride, improves retention of employment, and overall improves job and career opportunities for our community.
Weaknesses:
1. Accreditation standards require a clinical coordinator for the program. Standards allow the program director to function in both roles. Due to the large size of the program at MTC, and due to the structure at our distance offerings, the role cannot be carried out by the single faculty member.
2. More statewide help.
3. Need to add PET and PET/CT training.
4. Some students feel that full venipuncture and EKG courses are needed prerequisites.
Priority Recommendations and Progress Made:
1. Seek funding to hire a full-time clinical coordinator.
Results: A full-time clinical Coordinator was hired January 2, 2005.
2. Make curriculum changes to incorporate PET.
Results: Curriculum changes to incorporate PET are underway by adding clinical competencies and clinical rotations. Academic changes have been added this year in the area of clinical procedures and radiation safety (Fall of 2004 and Spring of 2005).
3. Consider adding full venipuncture/EKG course.
Results: Consideration is underway for EKG course to be instructed in a lab format for fall of 2005 in the course of NMT 101 – Introduction to Nuclear Medicine. A book has been purchased. The venipuncture issue is still being considered.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Program: Radiologic Technology (RAD)
Description
of Program/Background Information:
Radiographers (X-ray technologists) assist radiologists (MDs) in performing examinations of the body to rule out or confirm and identify fractures or disease. To accomplish this, radiographers must be well-trained in using highly technical X-ray equipment and applying specialized techniques, positioning, darkroom procedures, fluoroscopic procedures, radiation protection, trauma and mobile radiography. Elective topics in radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and ultrasound are also provided.
The Radiologic Technology program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology and graduates are eligible to take the ARRT examination. Upon successful completion, students receive the designation of Registered Radiologic Technologist RT(R).
Required
rotations through various hospitals, offices, trauma centers and immediate care
areas of radiology are scheduled for certain days, evenings, and weekends.
Important Findings
Strengths:
1. Clinical affiliations—Palmetto Richland
Memorial Hospital (PRMH),
2. Dedicated, qualified faculty—all instructors are professional educators and are involved in professional society activities which promote learning and role modeling.
3. Supportive administration on the college and hospital level—this program has been active for 32 years with a 100% pass rate overall on the National Board Exam and a 100% placement rate within one month of graduation.
Weaknesses:
1. Having to acquire additional clinical sites
due to the changing role of the hospital.
Hospitals are not performing as many radiographic procedures. Other State Tech radiography programs are
taking clinical sites in the
2. The Radiography budget is underfunded in the
following areas: educational, office
supply, local travel, maintenance, and copying.
The reasons for an increase are two-fold: (1) prior to moving to the new
3. Due to the major change in imaging technology over the last five years, the program needs equipment in digital imaging with the capabilities of producing images in the lab from previously exposed images at the clinical sites. A laser printer and computer attachment to existing Internet connections would be needed.
Priority Recommendations and Progress Made:
1. Continue to add clinical sites that can add a variety and quantity of radiographic procedures to the student’s competency evaluation system. The National Accrediting and State Licensing agencies require specific radiographic procedures to be performed prior to graduation.
Results: There have been 3 additional clinical sites added with
Doctor’s Care in the
2. Attempt to stop/limit other Radiography
programs from taking needed clinical sites from
Results: An agreement is currently being developed which will limit other Radiography students from coming into our area.
3. Seek to increase the Radiography budget as to previously proposed amounts in line items such as educational supplies, local travel, copying, and maintenance/contract areas for the processor/X-ray machines.
Results: A small increase was approved and has been implemented.
4. Procure funding sources for digital printers and accessory items to print radiographic images in lab settings.
Results: