Business Programs Program Review Summit Bill Zannini Program Coordinator May 18, 2007

NECC Confidential2 Program Review  Business Programs encompass two majors – Business Management and Business Transfer  Although there are differences in the curricula, the review of each program highlighted some clear similarities in strengths and weaknesses  Program Review started in June 2006 Business Management completed in Dec ‘06 Business Transfer completed in Apr ‘07

NECC Confidential3 Business Management  The Business Management Program is designed to prepare students for working in a variety of organizations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit - by providing them with general management skills training and coursework with a significant concentration in the field of business.

NECC Confidential4 Business Management  Student Enrollment Academic Year 2003–04: 294 Academic Year 2004–05: 289 Academic Year 2005–06: 280  New to program (3 yr avg.): 140  Completion Rate AY03-04:26; AY04-05:42; AY05-06:24 3 yr average: 31 (10.6%) Note: For an accurate completion rate, better data is needed to determine number of students enrolled in program who are actually degree-seeking.

NECC Confidential5 Business Management  Retention rates 41% (Program) vs. 43% (College)  Positive College Outcome rates 63% (Program) vs. 70% (College) Program Retention = (Graduated from This Program + Still Enrolled in This Program)/Fall Cohort Positive College Outcome = (Graduated from Any Program + Still Enrolled in Any Program + Transferred to a 4 Year College)/Fall Cohort

NECC Confidential6 Business Management  Minority Students Percent of population  Academic Year : 21%  Academic Year : 25%  Academic Year : 22%  College (3yr avg.): 22% Retention rate: 33% (Fall cohort) Positive college outcome rate: 53% (Fall cohort)  Females vs. Males Females have higher retention and positive college outcome rates

NECC Confidential7 Business Management  Strengths Program mission supports College mission Program emphasizes diversity Students experience success Curriculum strongly supports student learning outcomes Excellent quality of instruction Newly formed Advisory Committee

NECC Confidential8 Business Management  Areas for Improvement Lack of accreditation Insufficient numbers of full-time faculty Curricular offerings Comparatively lower rates of enrollment, retention and positive college outcomes for males and minorities Inadequate follow-up of program graduates

NECC Confidential9 Business Transfer  The Business Transfer Program is designed to prepare students for further study toward the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Business by providing coursework in business administration and liberal arts.

NECC Confidential10 Business Transfer  Student Enrollment Academic Year : 326 Academic Year : 369 Academic Year : 443  New to Program (3 yr avg.): 123  Completion Rate AY03-04: 52; AY04-05: 50; AY05-06: 65 3 yr average: 56 (14.7%) Note: For an accurate completion rate, better data is needed to determine number of students enrolled in program who are actually degree-seeking.

NECC Confidential11 Business Transfer  Retention rates 53% (Program) vs. 43% (College)  Positive College Outcome rates 84% (Program) vs. 70% (College) Program Retention = (Graduated from This Program + Still Enrolled in This Program)/Fall Cohort Positive College Outcome = (Graduated from Any Program + Still Enrolled in Any Program + Transferred to a 4 Year College)/Fall Cohort

NECC Confidential12 Business Transfer  Minority Students % of population  Academic Year : 26%  Academic Year : 24%  Academic Year : 19%  College (3yr avg.): 22% Retention rate: 47% (Fall cohort) Positive College Outcome rate: 77% (Fall cohort)  Females vs. Males Females have higher retention and positive college outcome rates

NECC Confidential13 Business Transfer  Strengths Program mission supports College mission Consistent and strong enrollment Curriculum strongly supports student learning outcomes Program supports NECC’s Core Values, for example Diversity Students experience success Newly formed Advisory Committee

NECC Confidential14 Business Transfer  Areas of Improvement Lack of accreditation Insufficient numbers of full-time faculty Curricular offerings Lack of effective sequencing and/or specification of course prerequisites Inadequate follow-up of program graduates

NECC Confidential15 Business Programs Action Plans  Lack of Accreditation Advisory Committee sees accreditation as a plus for recruiting students to NECC and transferring students to four- year schools of study Recommend attending a regional conference of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) to determine value of ACBSP to NECC students

NECC Confidential16 Business Programs Action Plans  Full-time Faculty Currently, 1.6 full-time faculty members in Business Programs >70% of all credits in Business Programs are taught by DCE faculty Advising of students is better served by full- time faculty Course and program development to meet future needs of students is hindered by lack of full-time faculty Growth of Business Programs is also at risk

NECC Confidential17 Business Programs Action Plans  Curricular Offerings Need to develop a follow-on to the successful Intro to E-ship course  Entrepreneurship II Course  Business Plan Competition Students need assistance with managing their career (employment or college)  Career Success: Managing Your Career ~60% of our students work in retail  Retail Management course Develop ‘Fast-Track’ program for workers to obtain their degree in less than 2 years  Accelerated Business Program

NECC Confidential18 Business Programs Action Plans  Follow-up of students Need to develop a better method for tracking students after they leave the college Data can be valuable in learning why  Graduation rates are low  Retention rates are low  Needs of the students (not being met) Continued support of the college through fund raising, involvement in activities, etc.

NECC Confidential19 Conclusion  Learned a lot about my programs  Identified strengths and weaknesses  Action plans show a need to make changes to the department and the programs to better meet the needs of the students  Couldn’t have done it without the help of Ellen, Bill, and my team  Concern: Assessing outcomes in the next semester without assistance from ???