Division Goal 1: Maintain a high level of instruction by providing access to continuing professional development activities.

Program Goal: Early Childhood Instructors will stay current on state regulations and issues that impact the EC program and child care providers.

Objectives: The Early Childhood Program Head will participate in at least 10 hours of professional development training including one meeting/seminar at the state level.

Action Plan: 

• Program Head will attend conferences and/or workshops related to current changes and issues in education
• Provide instructors with updated copies of NC state regulations and requirements for NC childcare providers.
• Share copies of information from professional documents and training seminars that pertain to specific courses to share with all Early Childhood instructors.
• All new part time instructors will participate in at least 2 hours of orientation and training with full time instructors.  

Assessment Strategy:

• Copies of documented professional development hours.
• Copies of updates on NC state regulations added to handbook in classroom.
• Documentation of meeting with other instructors to discuss information.
• Documentation of orientation, training hours and outline of topics discussed.

Assessment Outcomes:

• Program Head attended 19.5 hours of professional development training.
• State regulations guidelines have been updated in handbook.
• Part time instructors were given copies of information from workshops that related to their classes and students.
• Program Head provided 2 hours of orientation for all part time instructors.

Use of Results:

• Continue to keep update regulations handbook.
• Continue professional development and share information with other instructors.
• Continue to provide at least 2 hours of training/orientation for all adjunct faculty

Division Goal 2: Meet training needs for expanding employment opportunities of the service area as a result of changing workforce demographics.

Program Goal: Enhance program through new course delivery methods.   

Objectives: Early Childhood Program will offer 4 additional classes to accommodate working students.

Action Plan:

• Offer at least three Saturday mini-mester courses.
• Offer at least one course off campus.
• Offer at least one fully on-line course.
• Complete a student survey to find out number of evening students that wish to complete an Associate Degree.        

Assessment Strategy: Semester curriculum schedules

Assessment Outcomes:
A total of 7 additional courses were offered. One course was offered on Saturday; two courses were offered off campus; one course was offered on line; one course was offered in the summer semester; two coop seminars were offered in the evening.

Use of Results: Continue to offer additional classes to accommodate working students as the budget permits.

Division Goal 3: Provide facilities that meet current and future instructional program needs.   

Program Goal: Course delivery and equipment will reflect an integration of media and technology

Objectives:

• The Early Childhood curriculum will deliver course material via innovative technology methods.
• Early Childhood students will have opportunities to create educational materials using innovative technology.

Action Plan:

• Purchase a digital camera for curriculum use.
• Obtain copy of approved equipment justification form for multi-media unit.
• Purchase necessary equipment to complete unit.
• Request that the IT department and maintenance staff install a multi-media unit in classroom.
• Plan student use of equipment in their final project presentations in EDU 271.

Assessment Strategy:

• Purchases and installations complete.
• Completed educational and curriculum projects using technology.

Assessment Outcomes:

• Digital camera has not yet been purchased.
• Multi-media center has been approved. Installation has begun. Students should be able to use multimedia equipment in Summer 08.

Use of Results:

• Determine need for a digital camera and its use in the Educational Technology course this summer.
• Complete installation of multimedia center.

Division Goal 2: Meet training needs for expanding employment opportunities of the service area as a result of changing workforce demographics.

Program Goal: Students will be able to successfully perform professional tasks and demonstrate a professional attitude at the time of graduation.   

Objectives: The Early Childhood curriculum will provide instruction in, and opportunities to practice, professional oral and written communication skills.

Action Plan:

• Instructors will create assignments that require students to write essays or reports in at least 4 EC courses.
• Instructors will create, and provide students with, a scoring rubric for these writing assignments that will include grading points on writing skills.
• Instructors will invite guest speakers, provide other resources, and/or encourage students to attend any available seminars in order to improve professional oral and written communication skills.

Assessment Strategy:

• Writing assignment descriptions will be included in course syllabi.
• Documentation signed by guest speaker
• Copies of publications related to professionalism seminars

Assessment Outcomes:

• Essays or reports were assigned in at least 4 courses.
• A rubric was created for use in EDU 280 for reading and writing.
• Students were encouraged to attend professionalism seminars offered through Continuing Education department.
• Early Childhood students attended a Diversity presentation in March.

Use of Results: Continue to provide learning opportunities to enhance communication skills. Provide scoring rubrics that address these skills.

College Goal: Develop and implement instructional programs and services, both traditional and distance learning offerings, that are consistent with the assessed needs of the constituent groups in the College’s service area and with state and national standards, including training and retraining of the workforce.

Division Goal 1:  Respond to service area economic trends by providing continued training and/or upgrading for current workforce needs and by pursuing new programming in potential expansion areas.

Program Goal: Expand the schedule of courses offered to accommodate working students.

Objectives:  Early Childhood Associate Degree 2nd year courses will be made available for working students.

Action Plan:

1. Investigate budget needs for additional adjunct faculty.
2. Plan schedule of courses to be offered. 
3. Present plan to administration for approval.
4. Create and distribute new schedules to students and community.

Person(s) Responsible:  Program Head Early Childhood, Administration

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective:  May 2009

Assessment Strategy:

1. Requested budget complete
2. Course schedule complete 
3. Administrative approval to begin offering courses.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective:  Salary for additional adjunct faculty.

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2009

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2009

College Goal:  Provide facilities for student learning that capitalize on state-of-the-art instructional applications.

Division Goal 2:  Provide facilities, staffing, and services that support educational program delivery.  

Program Goal: Expand the number of online offerings to increase availability of courses for all students.

Objectives:  Early Childhood Program will offer at least 2 classes primarily online.

Action Plan:

1. Full time faculty will participate in at least 1 hour of computer training to enhance skills.
2. Syllabi will be revised for these courses.

Person(s) Responsible:  Early Childhood Program Head, Full time Instructor.

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective:  May 2009.

Assessment Strategy:

1. Documentation of computer training
2. Courses offered primarily online.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective:  NA

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2009

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2009

College Goal:  Provide an environment that supports employing and retaining a quality faculty and staff and promotes enhanced student learning, achievement, and development.

Division Goal 3:  Provide access to and guidance in professional development opportunities to strengthen instructional delivery and to prepare for accreditation initiatives.

Program Goal: The Early Childhood Program will remain current with industry standards and accreditation.

Objectives:  Early Childhood Program will study NAEYC accreditation standards and begin aligning program with these standards.

Action Plan:

1. Program Head will study NAEYC documents  
2. Meet with other community college EC faculty to discuss process of accreditation.
3. Align program with at least one standard guide.

Person(s) Responsible:  Program Head, full time EC instructor

Anticipated Date for Achieving Objective:  May 2009

Assessment Strategy:

1. Notes from study.
2. Meetings documented
3. Documents of changes to program if needed.

Budget Needs to Accomplish Objective:  Travel for meetings.

Assessment Outcomes: Will be completed in May 2009

Use of Results: Will be completed in May 2009