Program Review for Business Technology: AST
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 following changes were made to the program since the last
program review cycle...
1. Math courses throughout the VCCS were redesigned with new courses; therefore, the Math requirement for this program has been updated to include MTH 130 in place of MTH 120.
2. Since Administrative Support Technology (AST) is a Career and Technical Education program, ENG 111, College Composition I, was changed to ENG 115, Technical Writing. ENG 112 was replaced with a Humanities Elective to satisfy SACSCOC requirements.
3. The Administrative Support Technology Advisory Committee recommended coursework in basic grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.; therefore, AST 107, Editing/Proofreading Skills was added. The Committee also recommended coursework in basic bookkeeping/recordkeeping; therefore, AST 136, Office Recordkeeping was added.
4. The BUS 125, Applied Business Math, course was removed from the program to provide space for the new courses recommended by the AST Advisory Committee.
5. In accordance with college policy, SDV 108 was removed and replaced with SDV 100.
6. Additional changes were made to the AST program to maintain the stackability of the programs; see below for a summary of the changes made, including those mentioned above, by program...
Administrative Support Technology, AAS
|
Replaced ENG 111 |
with ENG 115 |
Technical Writing |
|
Removed |
AST 238 (3) |
Advanced Microsoft Word |
|
Removed |
AST 244 (3) |
Office Administration II |
|
Removed |
BUS 125 (3) |
Applied Business Math |
|
Removed |
ITE 130 (3) |
Introduction to Internet
Services |
|
Removed |
SPA 103 (3) |
Basic Spoken Spanish |
|
Added |
AST 107 (3) |
Editing/Proofreading Skills |
|
Added |
AST 136 (3) |
Office Record Keeping |
|
Added |
AST 137 (3) |
Records Management |
|
Added |
AST 205 (3) |
Business Communications |
Clerical Studies Certificate
|
Replaced ENG 111 |
with ENG 115 |
Technical Writing |
|
Replaced SPA 103 |
with ACC 211 |
Principles of Accounting I |
|
Removed |
AST 238 (3) |
Advanced Microsoft Word |
|
Removed |
ITE 130 (3) |
Introduction to Internet
Services |
|
Added |
AST 107 (3) |
Editing/Proofreading Skills |
|
Added |
AST 136 (3) |
Office Record Keeping |
Office Assisting
Career Studies Certificate
|
Replaced ENG 111 |
with ENG 115 |
Technical Writing |
|
Replaced Approved Elective |
with AST 107 (3) |
Editing/Proofreading Skills |
Administrative
Support Technology Medical Office, AAS
|
Replaced ENG 111 |
with ENG 115 |
Technical Writing |
|
Removed |
AST 238 (3) |
Advanced Microsoft Word |
|
Removed |
SPA 103 (3) |
Basic Spoken Spanish |
|
Added |
AST 107 (3) |
Editing/Proofreading Skills |
|
Added |
AST 136 (3) |
Office Record Keeping |
Medical Transcription Career Studies Certificate
|
Replaced ENG 111 |
with ENG 115 |
Technical Writing |
|
Removed |
AST 271 (3) |
Medical Office Procedures |
|
Added |
AST 107 (3) |
Editing/Proofreading Skills |
Office Assisting
Career Studies Certificate
|
Replaced ENG 111 |
with ENG 115 |
Technical Writing |
|
Replaced Approved Elective |
with AST 107 (3) |
Editing/Proofreading Skills |
The credits for the AST AAS program were reduced from 65 credits to 62 credits. The credits for all other programs remained the same.
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.
The AST program is advertised in the Patrick & Henry Community College (PHCC) catalog as an Associate of Applied Science degree. Students who express interest in working in a general office setting, as well as offering skills in the medical office setting, are advised to enroll in the program. A few years ago, a brochure was developed which includes information about the duties of an administrative assistant, the qualities of a good administrative assistant, and estimated Employment Wage Statistics for a career in administrative assisting.
There is an Administrative Support Technology (AST) Advisory Committee
that meets twice a year. The committee
is requested to share the program in the community to recruit students to come
to Patrick & Henry Community College.
The committee is also helpful in recruiting students in that the committee members
often contact me when they hear of a job opening that would benefit our
students.
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 Administrative Support Technology program offers an AAS degree (62 credits), a Certificate in Clerical Studies (32 credits), and a Career Studies Certificate in Office Assisting (20 credits). Office Assisting stacks into Clerical Studies, which stacks into the parent degree, Administrative Support Technology, AAS.
Administrative Support Technology, AAS
Clerical Studies Certificate
Office Assisting Career Studies Certificate
The Administrative Support Technology: Medical Office Specialization offers an AAS degree (65 credits), a Career Studies Certificate in Medical Transcription (29 credits), and a Career Studies Certificate in Office Assisting (20 credits). The two Career Studies Certificates stack into the parent degree, Administrative Support Technology: Medical Office Specialization.
Administrative Support Technology: Medical Office Specialization, AAS
Medical Transcription Office Assisting
Career Studies Certificate Career Studies Certificate
Questions for consideration:
1.a. What is the employability (or transferability) of each credential?
Students who are seeking their first time employment or desire to qualify for a promotion in their present position may benefit from the AST and AST Medical Office (AST-MO) programs. The programs prepare students for work in a general office setting as well as offering skills in the medical office area. Students become proficient in administrative duties and skills that enable them to work in a variety of office settings, as well as a virtual assistant.
1.b. Do all credits from a sub-credential transfer into the parent credential?
Yes, they do as follows...
Administrative Support Technology: The credits from the Office Assisting Career Studies Certificate transfer into the Clerical Studies Certificate, which all transfer into the AAS parent degree.
Administrative Support Technology: Medical Office Specialization: The credits from the Medical Transcription Career Studies Certificate and the Office Assisting Career Studies Certificate transfer into the AAS parent degree.
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)?
The timeframe of completion for all credentials within the parent programs is two years. The sub-credentials are set up to be awarded prior to the parent credential.
2) Program enrollment, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization (Quantitative, IE)
|
Program |
18/19 (HC/FTE) |
19/20 (HC/FTE) |
20/21 (HC/FTE) |
21/22 (HC/FTE) |
|
Office Assistant |
2 / 1.13 |
1 / 0.70 |
1 / 0.33 |
2 / 0.73 |
|
Medical Transcriptionist |
-- |
2 / 0.40 |
2 / 0.60 |
1 0.4 |
|
Clerical Studies |
2 / 0.43 |
1 / 0.53 |
3 / 1.17 |
0/0 |
|
AST-Medical Office |
14 / 8.07 |
13 / 5.63 |
8 / 5.00 |
10 / 6.06 |
|
AST |
10 / 5.40 |
9 / 5.10 |
10 / 5.83 |
4 / 2.2 |
a. Annual program FTE and HC over the last review cycle (To include SCHEV program ratios and SCHEV class ratios)
Many of the classes in the AST and the AST-MO programs are the same because the AST-MO is a specialization within AST. The AST program has maintained; however, the AST-MO program has declined. Two courses in the AST-MO program require face-to-face instruction. Many students have been hesitant about attending face-to-face classes due to COVID-19.
Sub-credential enrollment is lower due to students being enrolled in associate programs and earning sub-credentials by way of being enrolled in the associate program.
III. Progress: Pathway advancement (Quantitative, IE)
1) Student learning outcomes data
| Program | Outcome | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 |
| AST | To demonstrate the supervisory role of the administrative professional | 100% | -- | -- |
| AST | To demonstrate acceptable workplace skills and attitudes | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| AST/CS | To conduct a payroll report | -- | -- | -- |
| AST/CS/OA/MO/MT | To create and produce business documents | 100% | -- | -- |
| AST/CS/OA | To prepare a formal report | -- | -- | -- |
| AST/CS/OA/MO/MT | To apply personal computer operations and applications | 100% | -- | -- |
| MO/MT | To apply appropriate medical vocabulary | 100% | 67% | -- |
| MO/MT | To effectively manage health information | 0% | -- | -- |
| MO/MT | To apply mathematical reasoning skills | 50% | -- | -- |
AST = Administrative Support Technologies (AAS)
CS = Clerical Studies (certificate)
OA = Office Assisting (CSC)
MO = Medical Office (AAS)
MT = Medical Transcriptionist
2) Program credit attainment (15/12 in one semester, 30/24 for those who enrolled in two consecutive semesters)
|
AST |
18/19 |
19/20 |
20/21 |
21/22 |
|
Cohort Size |
10 |
9 |
10 |
4 |
|
12 or less credits (1
semester only) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
13-15 credits (1
semester only) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
24 or less credits (2
semesters) |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
More than 24 credits
(2 semesters) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Total taking 2
semesters worth of credits |
4/10 |
2/9 |
3/10 |
0/2 |
|
AST-MO |
18/19 |
19/20 |
20/21 |
21/22 |
|
Cohort Size |
14 |
13 |
8 |
10 |
|
12 or less credits (1
semester only) |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
13-15 credits (1
semester only) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
24 or less credits (2
semesters) |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
|
More than 24 credits
(2 semesters) |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Total taking 2
semesters worth of credits |
1/14 |
2/13 |
4/8 |
3/10 |
3) Program retention and persistence relative to the start date of the program (subsequent term calculation)
AST | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Persistence | 100% | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| Retention | 100% | 0% | 100% | 0% |
AST-MO | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Persistence | 100% | 50% | 0% | 0% |
| Retention | 50% | 50% | 0% | 0% |
The numbers were strong in 18/19, then weakened in 19/20. The drop in numbers could have been in part due to COVID-19. The numbers appear to be trending upward slightly.
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?)
| Office Assisting CSC | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Graduates | 0/2 | 1/1 | 0/1 | 1/2 |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe | -- | 0/1 | -- | 1/1 |
| Medical Transcription CSC | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Graduates | -- | 0/2 | 0/2 | 0/1 |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Clerical Studies Cert | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Graduates | 0/2 | 1/1 | 0/3 | -- |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe | -- | 0/1 | -- | -- |
The stack ability of the AST and AST-MO programs is to allow
students the opportunity to obtain credentials along the way to receiving an
associate degree. The sample schedule in
the P&HCC catalog is designed to help advisors and students follow a
pattern of coursework so that students can receive sub-credentials while
working toward attaining an associate degree.
Unfortunately, due to many students self-advising and due to some
advisors not having full knowledge of the programs, students may be unaware of
the credentials that are available to them that are in addition to the
associate degree. It is, and has been,
my desire to be the sole advisor for the AST and AST-MO programs; however, that
has not been implemented.
2) Parent credential attainment and timeframe, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization
| AST AAS | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Graduates | 0/10 | 1/9 | 4/10 | 2/4 |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe | -- | 0/1 | 3/4 | 1/2 |
| AST-MO AAS | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Graduates | 2/14 | 2/13 | 0/8 | 3/10 |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe | 2/2 | 2/2 | -- | 3/3 |
a. Are students completing within 6 semesters (150% of graduation time)?
Since the overwhelming majority of program students are part-time, completion in 150% of time is not feasible for these students. While there were 2 AST-MO graduates for 18/19, 2 AST and 3 AST-MO for 19/20, and 4 AST and 1 AST-MO for 20/21, these students reflect a longer time to graduate due to their part-time status.
V. Transition: Employment or transfer post-credential (Quantitative, IE)
1) Transfer outcomes (students who transfer with associate degree, students who transfer without)
N/A as the credentials are non-transfer.
2) Student perspective/satisfaction
| Question | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
| The courses I took at P&HCC prepared me for my educational goals. | 89.0 | |||
| The faculty at P&HCC are fair and supportive of students. | 88.3 | |||
| The faculty at P&HCC demonstrate thorough knowledge of the subject matter. | 88.7 | |||
| In the courses I took at P&HCC, classroom activities and outside assignments were appropriate and meaningful. | 89.3 | |||
| I would recommend the faculty at P&HCC | 88.7 |
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)
I do
not anticipate any major expenditures or changes with the Administrative
Support Technology program. However, based upon the feedback from
the advisory committee, appropriate and pertinent changes will be made to the
programs. I am hopeful that our students will be better prepared for
the workforce.
Since I
am the only full-time faculty for both the Administrative Support Technology
programs and the Legal Assisting program, I rely on adjunct faculty to teach in
the programs. Personnel needs are my greatest challenge.
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.)
b. Employment forecast for program (Analyst data)
| Occupation data for Patrick & Henry Service Region | Total Employed | Mean Wage | Projected Demand (5 years) |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 5,311 | $33,900 | 2,621 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 627 | $36,100 | 272 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | 32 | $28,300 | 22 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 106 | $35,200 | 60 |
| All Occupations | 47,606 | $42,000 | 25,599 |
Some
students prefer to work from home, if possible, due to various reasons, i.e.
child care, transportation, taking care of parents, etc. The Medical Transcription Career Studies
Certificate could allow students to work from home. Medical Transcription and other medical
office responsibilities have become available as remote jobs. Salary may not be
a priority. Many students can choose to
work from home, for a lower wage, in order to maintain their household.