Fall 2016 Meta Majors Collaborative Work Team
The Charge
Make important baseline recommendations that will allow SLCC to move forward to a Guided Pathways model of academic structure, marketing, and advising. The intention of this work is to increase student intentionality, create clear pathways to Associate degree attainment or career entry, and help our students be successful after they leave SLCC. Specifically, the Meta Majors CWT will make recommendations on the following:
- Establishing a limited number of meta-major categories and organizing SLCC's transfer and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to accord with them.
- Revising or eliminating the General Studies Associates degree.
- Developing a plan for default pathways in each meta-major.
- Reviewing existing transfer program efficiencies.
The Initial Recommendations
Following discussion with executive cabinet, these recommendations became building blocks for the Pathways initiative:
- Academic offerings organized into six academies
- General Studies A.S. and A.A. pre-majors discontinued
- All academies (except for Health Professions) to develop at least one Area Studies A.S./A.A. degree (and associated structured pathway) to serve three purposes: 1) allow transfer students who can't commit to a specific A.S. or A.A. pre-major to graduate with a degree that they can—with intensive advising within the academy—tailor to their intended transfer major, 2) help students decide which specific pre-major program they want to choose in the academy, or a major upon transfer, 3) allow academies to eliminate some pre-major programs and absorb them into the Area Studies A.S./A.A. degree.
- All academy students take a 0-credit Academy Exploration course. Principles of the course were outlined.
- Transfer programs must be well-aligned with partner institutions.
- Advising model should be centered on academies.
- Organize SLCC's website, marketing and recruitment materials to help students understand the academy structure, commit to an academy, and complete a defined academic pre-major.
- Admission and intake processes support student placement into an academy and student completion of a defined program. Current application for admission to be restructured.
- Create a scheduling time slot without courses, allowing time for academies and clubs to offer events.
- Develop an academy-centric vision and consistent message to students: 1) SLCC is a place to pursue a defined academic program, housed in an academy, 2) Academies are welcoming places where students are challenged and supported to complete a degree or certificate, 3) Faculty and advisors work hand in hand within academiesto help students succeed, therefore, an academy is the hub of student life at SLCC
Committee
- David Hubert, Assistant Provost for Learning Advancement
- Craig Caldwell, Dean of the School of Science, Math and Engineering
- Rachel Lewis, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Articulation
- Lisa Bickmore, Faculty in English
- Paul Benner, Associate Dean of Accounting, Finance, and Economics
- Tamra Phillips, Faculty in Communication
- Mike Atkinson, Transfer Advisor
- Robyn Thompson, Faculty in Health Sciences