3.4.10  

The institution defines and publishes general education requirements for its undergraduate programs and major program requirements for all its programs. These requirements conform to commonly accepted standards and practices for degree programs.

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Nashville State Technical Community College publishes an annual college catalog that is available to students in hard copy and online [1]. The college catalog provides general education requirements, program outcomes, program descriptions, career opportunities, and major program requirements for all degree programs. There is a catalog template for program coordinators to use to ensure consistency and completeness in their program’s catalog copy. [2]

Program websites for degree programs and technical certificates provide additional information to help students make informed decisions. To ensure consistency and completeness in each program’s website, program coordinators complete a program website checklist. A copy of this checklist is provided [3]. Recruitment materials such as program brochures and flyers are also available. Examples of program brochures are provided as documentation. [4]

General education requirements comply with SACS Comprehensive Standard 2.7.3, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) policy on degree requirements [5], and the college’s commitment to providing general education skills and knowledge needed for both students desiring to enter the workplace upon graduation and for those desiring to pursue additional education [6].  The A.A.S. programs require a minimum of 15 hours or 25% of all hours in general education and 45 hours in program requirements, while the A.A. and A.S. degrees require 41 hours in general education and 19 additional hours, usually completed in the intended university major (area of emphasis). Any new general education course added to the TBR common core requires approval of the Nashville State Curriculum Committee and the TBR Statewide General Education Committee.

The College receives input for curriculum changes in the A.A.S. major program requirements from faculty members, program advisory committees, and local industry. For the A.A. and A.S. degrees, the required statewide general education core of 41 hours is a common core for colleges and universities in the TBR system. The remaining 19 hours typically consists of courses that will count toward the baccalaureate major at the university or college where the student will transfer. Students who intend to transfer to complete a baccalaureate degree are assigned to, and encouraged to work with, an advisor in their intended major area in selecting their courses.

As stated in the College’s Curriculum Committee Manual [7], “The Nashville State Curriculum Committee plays a major role in the overall planning, assessment, and approval of the college curriculum.  The Committee is responsible for:

§         setting strategic directions and procedures for curriculum development;

§         acting on proposals for major curriculum change; and

§         reviewing results from the assessment of Nashville State's instructional program, including Performance Funding information.”

The Curriculum Manual also notes that “the institution places principal responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with the faculty (SACS Comprehensive Standard 3.4.12).”  Minutes from Curriculum Committee meetings of September, October, and November 2006 are provided as documentation [8].

As part of Tennessee’s Performance Funding program, career programs are assessed through a program accreditation review, formal program review with an external consultant, or an academic audit. A listing of accredited programs is published in the catalog [9].