Accounting Program Review, 2011 Evergreen Valley College

1. 
   Identify all courses in the program and describe how the courses offered in the program meet the needs of the students and relevant discipline(s).
   

There are about 10 courses currently in the division, and one additional course being developed. (See course list on pages 16-17). The majority of the courses that are taught are part of a certificate or degree program. The courses that are not part of the certificate or degree programs are standalone courses that could be taken as an elective. The courses also serve as review courses for students who return to school, change their major, or want to upgrade their skills.

The division has a number of students who take courses for personal use or for job advancement. These students usually do not enroll for certificates or degrees.

(See the Attachment 6 for the Accounting major sheet.)

2. 
   State how program has remained current in the discipline(s).
   

The faculty remains current in their discipline by attending workshops and conferences or continuing education. They seek out workshops and professional credit courses, which help faculty remain current in the latest accounting developments.

Textbooks and materials are regularly reviewed to ensure that the most recent editions are being used in the course. The evaluation of the course content is also done regularly to align program changes and to keep courses current with needs for business and the community. Programs and certificates are reviewed on a regular basis for validity to industry requirements and demands. Advisory committees are very helpful in decisions regarding changes to these programs and certificates.

3. 
   All course outlines in the program should be reviewed and, if appropriate, revised every six years. If this has not occurred, please list the courses and present a plan for completing the process. (curriculum recency)
   

The majority of the courses have been revised and updated. Courses that are no longer being taught have been deactivated.

The degree and certificate programs are being updated for the deletion of one course in the BIS department.

4. 
   Identify and describe innovative pedagogy your department/program developed/offered to maximize student learning and success. How did they impact student learning and success?
   

Course outlines now include Student Learning Outcomes. The course requirements, course content, and testing tools have been revised to assist students in meeting the Student Learning Outcomes.

Accounting Lecture courses: Most accounting courses offered are lecture courses that are offered to meet the degree program requirements. Two such courses are Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting. These two courses are vital in preparing the students for employment, and are transferable to both the CSU and UC systems. Financial Accounting is taught using a hands-on approach. Realistic accounting situations are covered to provide opportunities for students to complete the accounting cycle for a fictitious company. Managerial Accounting develops the students’ analytical skills by teaching decision making using accounting information .

Accounting Lecture/Lab courses: There are two Accounting lecture/lab courses. One, Computerized Accounting, is designed to teach students software that is used in industry.  The other, Bookkeeping for Small Business, teaches accounting princip[les and procedures using simulation activities. 

5. 
   Discuss plans for future curricular development and/or program (degrees & certificated included) modification. Use the Curriculum Mapping form to lay out your plan.
   

Recently, two courses were approved by the All College Curriculum Committee. One, Bookkeeping for Small Business, was updated, and will soon be modified to make it available as a hybrid course. The second, International Financial Accounting Standards, has been created to address new accounting standards that will be adopted for use in the United States by the 2015.

6. 
   Describe how your program is articulated with the High School Districts, CCOC (if applicable), and /or other four year institutions. (Include articulation agreements, common course numbering, etc.)
   

An articulation agreement exist between Evergreen Valley College and local high schools and 4-year institutions. Plans are being made to initiate articulation agreements with? and is being investigated for the Central County Occupational Center.

(See Attachment 7 for articulation agreement information)

7. 
   If external accreditation or certification is required, please state the certifying agency and status of the program.
   

None.
Part C: Student Outcomes

1. 
   On the course level, list all the courses that have current student learning outcomes (included in the course outline) and provide link to the course outlines for review purpose. Provide a plan and timeline to include student outcomes for the courses that do not have one.
   

ACCTG 020 Financial Accounting 2007

ACCTG 021 Managerial Accounting 2007

ACCTG 022 Payroll Accounting 2009

ACCTG 030 Computerized Accounting 2010

ACCTG 041 Accounting for Governmental and Non-Profit 2008

ACCTG 062 Cost Accounting 2009

ACCTG 063 Intermediate Accounting 2009

ACCTG 095 Individual Income Tax CTEC Approved 2009

ACCTG 097 Accounting for Income Taxes 2009

ACCTG 101 Bookkeeping for Small Business 2011

2. 
   On the program level, list all programs (and degrees) that have current student learning outcomes and provide the culture of evidence.
   

• 
  Accounting
  

• 
  Accounting
  

• 
  Small Business Accounting
  

1. 
   Current faculty and staff members, area of expertise, how positions contribute to program success
   
2. 
   List major professional development activities completed by faculty and staff in this department/program in the last six years and state proposed development and reasoning by faculty in this program.
   

Melody has worked extensively in industry, and taught in several community colleges. Her area of expertise is in accounting and taxation. She taught as an adjunct faculty member at Gavilan, Mission/West Valley, and San Jose/Evergreen districts. She is currently working full time at Evergreen Valley College since fall of 2008.

1. 
   Revised and updated Accounting courses and programs.
   
2. 
   Attended accounting and technology workshops.
   
3. 
   Participated in presentations to regional occupational center.
   
4. 
   Participated in diversity related activities.
   
5. 
   Participated in college accreditation process
   

1. 
    Pursue the establish an internship for accounting students This will provide real world experience and establish a connection and viable relationship with the employment sector.
   
2. 
   Attend additional seminars and workshops in order to stay current with the changing accounting standards.
   
3. 
   Visit local high schools to promote programs. This will help make the transition to college easy for the students, and reap benefits for both the students and the college.
   
4. 
   Develop a relationship with the accounting program at San Jose State University. This will help our transfer students, which is the majority of the accounting students, make a smooth transition to the University.
   

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude in June 1975, including 2 years of chemistry (inorganic and organic), physics and calculus.

Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, consistently recognized by U. S. News and World Report as the number one graduate accounting program in the United States (above Wharton School of Business).

My work background relating to teaching includes the following:

San Jose City-Evergreen Valley Community College District (Fall 2007 through Present)

Los Altos Town Crier (October 2005 through Present): As a Freelance Journalist, I write a column called “Many Happy Returns” for the “Los Altos Town Crier”. My column addresses Federal Income Tax Issues.

Internal Revenue Service (over 22 years)

Arthur T. College II
My work experience includes 20 years in local government where I have served as City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Executive Director for the Redevelopment Agency (RDA), Assistant Director for the RDA, Director of Finance, Human Resources Director, Data Processing Manager, Risk Manager and Purchasing Agent. I was also Certified as a California Certified Municipal Treasurer. I have served as the Executive Director of a Non-Profit and as the Controller for a Non-Profit. In addition, I have been a teacher since 1977 and I have taught part-time and full-time over the years. I developed a “Certificate Program” in Accounting for Governmental and Non-Profit Organizations in the 1980’s that is still in existence at the University of California at Riverside California. I also have 15 years in private industry as a machinist, Quality Control Manager and partner. I have an MBA in Accounting and Finance from California State University, San Bernardino, CA.

I believe that my background and experience helps to bring the real world to the classroom as I can share many of my personal experiences with my students and my background in Accounting for Governmental and Non-Profits brings an additional dimension to the curriculum for business and accounting majors at Evergreen Valley College.

Bob has a B.S. degree in Mathematics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California Secondary Teaching Credential, and M.B.A. from Santa Clara University. Six years teaching experience at the high school level. Over 25 years experience working for several high tech companies in a variety of accounting and finance positions, including executive positions at Novell, Legato Systems, and Amphire Solutions. He is experienced managing both financial, managerial, and cost accounting departments in small and large sized companies. 7 years as an adjunct accounting instructor at several community colleges.

His teaching goals in all my classes are 1) to interest the students, and 2) provide an opportunity for them to succeed. His experience working in accounting enables me to give the students a feel for what working in a business is really like. I try to relate the lessons to actual experiences, both good and bad but always interesting. His teaching experience, both at the high school and community colleges has enabled me to understand all types of students, and help them be successful.

George Chow
George earned his M.S. (Tax) from Golden Gate University.  He completed his B.B.A. from The University of Toledo.

He has been operating his G C Tax Institute tax practice since 1986.  He offers continuing education classes for real estate and tax preparer licenses, as well as updates for IRS auditors.  His firm provides all aspects of tax service and ancillary support, including tax preparation, audit and planning.

George has been an instructor for the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District since 1988.
David Pan

David Pan started his teaching career at Evergreen Valley College in the fall of 2000. Currently he teaches at both Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College. He has taught Intermediate Accounting, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting and Bookkeeping for Small Business.

3. 
   Identify current schedule for tenure review, regular faculty evaluation, adjunct faculty evaluation, and classified staff evaluation.
   

Currently, there is one in the Accounting Department full-time faculty, and she is currently in her tenure review. In regard to regular faculty evaluations, tenured faculty members are evaluated every three years; adjunct faculty members are evaluated every six semesters of employment at EVC.

1. 
   Identify the facilities allocated to the program (including the facilities often used by the department/program). Discuss the quality and accessibility of the facilities, equipment, equipment maintenance, and materials available to the program. (Faculty and staff can use the Instructional Equipment request form and process here as part of the information.) Identify facility needs and its rationale.
   

Although improvements can be made, with the completed renovation of the Cedro Building, the current quality of the facilities meets the program needs. As the department is currently structured, the classroom space and equipment meet the needs of the faculty and students.

2. 
   Describe the use and currency of technology used to enhance the department/ program. Identify projected needs and rationale.
   

EVC has upgraded and renovated the Cedro Building so that the Smart classrooms are equipped with computers, overhead projection as well as online access. This makes it possible for students to access and share a wealth of information from around the world and aid in their personal and professional growth. The renovation of the Roble building, when complete, will expand this updated access to include all of our accounting students.

The QuickBooks program will need to be continuously updated as new versions of the software are released. Furthermore, the computers running the software will need to be regularly maintained and upgraded to insure proper functionality of the software. Also, the accounting tutorials that were previously used in the Business computer lab (RG-240) cannot run under the Windows 7 operating system. New tutorials will need to be purchased to replace these outdated tutorials. In light of the ever increasing cost of textbooks, funds should be made available to purchased accounting textbooks to place on reserve the EVC’s library.Part F: Future Needs

1. 
   What faculty positions will be needed in the next six years in order to maintain or build the department?
   

It is critical to the existence of the Accounting department to hire at least one more full-time faculty. The department was formerly run by two full-time tenured faculty, with one other full-time tenured faculty from the ACCOUNTING department teaching 2 accounting courses per semester. The department currently has one full-time faculty who has not yet reached tenure. Because of the budget cuts that are taking place throughout the California Community College system, plans to hire new faculty has been put on hold until the economy becomes more stabilized. However, relying too heavily on adjunct faculty will stifle the growth and perhaps cause contraction to this department. It is imperative that plans be made to hire one a new full-time faculty member for the Accounting department are restored at the earliest possible date.

2. 
   What staff positions will be needed in the next six years in order to maintain or build the department? (Staff, facilities, equipment, and supplies will be needed in the next six years?) Provide rationale.
   

3. 
   Identify budget allocated for the department/program through the division budget (fund 10). Discuss its adequacy and needs if applicable along with rationale. Identify any external (fund 17) funding the department/program receives and describe its primary use.
   

General fund (fund 10) allocations for Accounting are $354,870 in the current college’s budget. With State budget cuts, cost of living allowances are not projected to be in the budget for the next few years. This funding is needed to keep current employees. Additional funding is needed for step increases for faculty and staff. Extra sections of classes, established and new, could be offered with additional budget.

Currently, EVC’s VTEA allotment is approximately $200,000. This money goes to vocational programs across campus, including ACCOUNTING. For the 2008-2009 school year, Accounting was allotted $4,500. Most of this amount was used to update the QuickBooks program to the current year’s version.

4. 
   What equipment will be needed in the next six years in order to maintain or build the department? Provide specific purpose and rationale.
   

The computers that are currently being used to teach the Computerized Accounting course will need to be regularly maintained and upgraded in order to efficiently run the most current computer software being taught. A desired technology enhancement is the use of Smart Boards. These are interactive whiteboards which aid PowerPoint presentations. The Smart Boards can enhance student learning especially for different learning styles such as visual-spatial and kinesthetic learners. The approximate cost of the white board is between $1500 to $3000. If these are portable, the division would purchase one and the faculty would check them out of the division office.

5. 
   What facilities will be needed in the next six years in order to maintain or build the department? Provide specific purpose and rationale.