Program Review for Bookkeeping
Program Review Framework & Criteria
I. Connection: From interest to application (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of any changes to the program since the last cycle and the appropriate updates to the catalog (general education changes, program requirement changes, ancillary program costs for students, hours/credits of credentials, etc.).
The only change to the Bookkeeping certificate was to remove BUS 125-Applied Business Mathematics, this course is not used in any of the 2 year business programs anymore. This course was replaced with MTH 130-Fundamentals of Reasoning, since this was the replacement for the 2 year business programs. This will allow students to obtain the certificate while working towards a 2 year degree. It removed the requirement that was essentially requiring a student to take 2 math classes of the same level for a degree and certificate.
2) How do students find out about the program? Please provide examples of advising activities, marketing materials, or other outreach and engagement events designed to recruit students to the program.
This program is not traditionally marketed. Most students that complete the certificate while obtaining a two year degree in Business Technology Accounting. There are a few students that will take the certificate after completing one of the other two year Business Technology degrees.
II. Entry: From application to pathway entry (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of your program credentials and how they stack into one another.
The Bookkeeping certificate does not stack into the Accounting degree so that a student can complete the certificate in year one and the degree in year two. Do to the timing of when classes are offered, and prerequisites required to enroll in some of the required courses. It will generally take a student a year and a half in order to complete the certificate, for this reason most students switch to taking the two year Accounting degree instead, and obtaining the certificate while completing the degree.
Questions for consideration:
1.a. What is the employability (or transferability) of each credential?
This is not designed to be a transfer program. This program is designed to give a student the skills necessary to work as a bookkeeper/tax preparer in a small accounting office.
1.b. Do all credits from a sub-credential transfer into the parent credential?
N/A
1.c. What is the timeframe of completion for all credentials within the program (i.e. is the program setup to award sub-credentials prior to the parent credential)?
Do to the timing of when classes are offered, and prerequisites required to enroll in some of the required courses. It will generally take a student a year and a half in order to complete the certificate. Therefore, they will obtain this certificate and the Business Technology Accounting Degree in the same Academic Year.
2) Program enrollment, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization (Quantitative, IE)
| Type | 14/15 | 15/16 | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 |
| Headcount | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| FTE | 1.67 | 2.03 | 0.00 | 1.70 | 0.57 | 1.00 | 1.73 |
Most students are enrolled in the Business Technology Accounting program. They apply for the bookkeeping certificate when graduating in order to receive both credentials. This certificate program remains small, because there are very few students that complete a two year business degree and chose to add the bookkeeping certificate. I anticipate this to continue due to the challenging nature of accounting.
a. Annual program FTE and HC over the last review cycle (To include SCHEV program ratios and SCHEV class ratios)
III. Progress: Pathway advancement (Quantitative, IE)
1) Student learning outcomes data
| Outcome | Assessment | Benchmark | Prior Changes | Outcome Trend |
| Conduct a payroll report | Payroll project (ACC 124) | 75% will earn a C or better on report | Revised assessment (14/15), New administration tool (16/17), Changed textbook (17/18) | Increased from 70% to 100% meeting benchmark |
| Prepare complex tax returns | Tax return (ACC 261) | 70% will score a C or better on the Tax return | New faculty redesign (13/14), Assessment change to Tax Return (14/15), Assessment modification (16/17), Changed book (18/19) | Increased from 58% to 83% meeting benchmark |
| Apply concepts of financial accounting principles | Post-closing trail balance assessment (ACC 211) | 75% will score a 75% or higher on assessment | VCCS course changes (14/15), Assessment change (15/16) | Increased from 23% to 67% meeting benchmark |
2) Program credit attainment (15/12 in one semester, 30/24 for those who enrolled in two consecutive semesters)
Not applicable due to this being a certificate.
3) Program retention and persistence relative to the start date of the program (subsequent term calculation)
Insufficient data to report.
IV. Completion: Credential attainment (Quantitative, IE)
1) Sub-credential attainment and timeframe (are students completing sub-credential prior to or at the same time as parent credential?)
Not applicable
2) Parent credential attainment and timeframe, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization
| Type | 14/15 | 15/16 | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 |
| Number in Cohort | 2 | 3 | -- | 4 | -- | 3 | 4 |
| % who graduated in cohort | 50% | 33% | -- | 0% | -- | 0% | 0% |
| Number who graduated | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Out of those who graduated, % who completed within 150% of program time | 100% (1) | 100% (1) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
a. Are students completing within 6 semesters (150% of graduation time)?
V. Transition: Employment or transfer post-credential (Quantitative, IE)
1) Transfer outcomes (students who transfer with associate degree, students who transfer without)
Transfer data are not tracked for non-associate credentials.
2) Student perspective/satisfaction
| Question | 2018-19 Rating | 2019-20 Rating |
| The courses I took at PHCC prepared me for my educational goals. | -- | -- |
| The faculty at PHCC are fair and supportive of students. | -- | -- |
| The faculty at PHCC demonstrate thorough knowledge of the subject matter. | -- | -- |
| In the courses I took at PHCC, classroom activities and outside assignments were appropriate and meaningful. | -- | -- |
| I would recommend the faculty at PHCC. | -- | -- |
VI. Sustainability: Future Program Outlook (Mixed methods, IE, program head and dean)
1) Program forecast (major expenditures, changes, personnel needs, etc.); any future costs should be explained in this section)
There are no future anticipated costs. All of the courses taught in this certificate are also part of the Business Technology Accounting program.
a. Any other pertinent information relevant to the review process should be provided here (e.g. community need, state/federal requirements, external accreditation, SCHEV low enrollment warning, etc.)
N/A
b. Employment forecast for program (Analyst data)
No narrative should be provided by the program head, nor should P & E evaluate this response. Bookkeeping is culled together with the Accounting forecast and should be reviewed together in the Accounting program review.