a) Interview all students in Accounting 124 to determine their goals and objectives. Identify potential accounting majors and assign to one of the accounting faculty

Program Research Data Needed

1. 
   Annual Questionnaire/Survey of Industry, Kauai Community College, & Accounting
   

additions, & revisions.

2. Technology-based instruction is integrated throughout the curriculum.

1. 
   Partner with professional organizations to bring tax and accounting professional development courses to campus and allow students to attend space available
   
2. 
   Experiment with new technology to enhance delivery of courses. This can be done by use of publisher’s online supplements.
   
3. 
   Make the Income tax preparation class and service learning class by doing more tax returns for Kauai Community College Students
   

1. 
   Industry survey re: methodology every other year.
   
2. 
   Annual Student survey re: methodology.
   

1. Detailed course outline including but not limited to: Grading Criteria, Course Objectives/Competencies, Curriculum Comments, & General Education/Relation to Other Courses.

1. 
   The Course Objective/Competencies section is intended to answer the question: Upon completion of this course what should students be able to do?
   
2. 
   The General Education Relation to Other Courses section is simply a matrix of College-wide Liberal Arts courses, which are satisfied by a course. Selection of standards lacks a scientific base.
   
3. 
   Maintain membership in the AICPA (American Institute of CPA’s) Members in Education Division to be current with national themes that run through the Heart of every Accounting Program and are envisioned as both technical and personal skills needed for success in the Profession.
   
4. 
   Exams are both objective (multiple choice fill and in the blank) and performance based in which the students perform specific tasks or write essays about Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or the laws, ethics and regulations that guide the profession.
   

1. 
   Convert to Program, Course, & Student Learning Outcomes, & to Assessment Program methods to maximize communication & accountability.
   
2. 
   Establish relevant criteria for the selection of General Education standards which
   

1. 
   Use Peer Assistant in every qualifying Accounting course
   
2. 
   Encourage Accounting Majors to form study groups
   
3. 
   Send needy students to Learning Center for test-taking & reading comprehension enhancement, & private tutoring.
   

1. 
   Ensure that referred students take advantage of targeted Learning Center services, & use lessons during & succeed in course.
   
2. 
   Although the Peer Assistant Program is procedurally evaluated, little has been learned that can be used to improve Passer rates. The program has helped to form study groups
   
3. 
   The Instructors are proactive in getting the students involved in class activities
   

1. 
   Continue to require minimum English placement entry scores.
   
2. 
   Use Case Management to identify & monitor students.
   
3. 
   Encourage the students to seek help from other students and either of the Accounting instructors.
   

1. 
   Peer Assistant Program Success Rates
   
2. 
   Case Management Success Rates
   
3. 
   Graduate Rates (i.e. Pre & post Minimum Test Scores)
   

1. 
   Conduct “Recent Accounting Graduate & Current Major Survey” and competency-based exams are given after each chapter.
   

2. The instructors evaluate the students after each exam to determine changes that may need to be made in future offerings

2. Webct is currently used to supplement several of the Accounting courses. The publishers have quizzes on line and other helpful tools.

3. There is no current time line.

Data The spring semester catalog lists all of the classes available by distance.
Analysis
When the student are asked about the online help offered by the publishers only a small percentage has taken advantage of this help. The students having the need to work and a variety so of work schedules necessitates that the Accounting Program continue to look at alternative ways of offering classes including the adjust of class times to the offering of distance classes.
Program Action Plans
Monitor the distance class offerings and use them to supplement the in class offerings. Look for ways to encourage the students to use the online assistance from the publishers


2.3 Remedial/Developmental Education
2.3.1 How has your program addressed academic remediation for students? Has this been effective? What proposals for change in this area does your program have?
Methods
1. In addition to using the Peer Assistant Program, & referring identified students to the Learning Center for private tutoring &/or Assessment Learning Practices & Skills workshops, as previously mentioned:

2. The Learning Center’s programs promote learning attitudes, methodologies, and strategies to help students’ personal growth and academic success. The Learning Center’s Think/Write lab provides writing services to students.

3. Students are required to be at the English 22 or higher level upon entry into the accounting classes.

Analysis
The Peer Assistant program has helped. The filling of the peer assistant positions is not accomplished every semester so it has been hit and miss. Reading comprehension is very important in accounting and the English 22 requirement it is felt has help reduce failure by under prepared students.
Program Action Plans
The Accounting program needs to work more with the peer assistance program to ensure that the positions are filled. To address academically under prepared students, the Business Education Division is contemplating the idea of a pre-business program to better prepare students for entry and success in the business education program. The formation of successful learning habits, improvement of math, English, and critical thinking competencies in students are to be emphasized.
Institutional Research Data Needed
English 22 requirement and impact on reduction in failure rate.

2.4 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
2.4.1 How does your program encourage and assess student growth in areas such as: communication, cognition, information competency, social interaction, and personal development and responsibility? What are the results of the assessment and what plans do you have to improve SLO's in these areas?
Methods

1. 
   The Accounting has a long-standing use of collaborative learning, individuals forming cohorts working together on Accounting problems and planning their careers. Accounting is a discipline that is continually building on what you have learned in prior courses or chapters. The students working together learn to recognize the similarities between what they studying now and what they have learned in the past.
   
2. 
   Students are evaluated on their completed projects, their interaction with others and the successful completion of their projects.
   

The table below identifies the student learning outcomes for the Accounting program .

1. 
   The program needs to upgrade the facilities in room 104 for instructional purposes.
   
2. 
   Acquire an additional computer, printer and software for the Income tax preparation class to be able to increase the service base learning for that class.
   
3. 
   Continue to upgrade the software for the computerized accounting class.
   

2. The Learning Center’s programs promote learning attitudes, methodologies, and strategies to help students’ personal growth and academic success. The Learning Center’s Think/Write lab provides writing services to students.

On the National level according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to grow more slowly than average (less than 8%) for all occupations through 2014. More job openings will stem from replacement needs than from job growth. Each year, numerous jobs will become available as these clerks transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. The large size of this occupation ensures plentiful job openings, including many opportunities for temporary and part-time work.

1. 
   The Accounting faculty meet with their accounting advisory committee on a regular basis identifying the current skills that are required for entry level accountants is always an agenda item. The software used in the Computerized accounting class is sensitive to industry needs and therefore is always another topic and has resulted in a change in the software used in the Computerized Accounting Program.
   

The information that has been received is been positive but informal

1. 
   Several of the Accounting courses utilize the peer assistance program.
   
2. 
   Accounting classes encourage study groups as a learning process. Study groups form a bond that encourages “cooperate and graduate”.
   
3. 
   The Accounting faculty meets with the students to better understand their personal goals in order to help them with their goals and to create a relationship that encourages them to ask for help.
   
4. 
   The classes integrate Case studies, ethics and current events into every course in the Accounting program
   

1. 
   The faculty will continue to interact with the students and encourage students to work together.
   
2. 
   The faculty will need to develop logs to track individual students and their time spent with the students to get the data on results and outcomes by student.
   

1. 
   Students that complete the program will be ready for entry level accounting positions and account clerk positions. Those students with strong cognitive skills will be able to advance to full charge bookkeepers.
   
2. 
   The Accounting program at Kauai Community College is a vocational program, but it has articulated many of its courses with the baccalaureate programs in the University system. This enables a student to get their Associates degree and transfer up to 57 credits toward the four-year degree from UH West Oahu.
   
3. 
   There is now a Masters in Business Education offered by distance education to Kauai that several of the Accounting program graduates are now enrolled.
   

1. 
   Continue to monitor program to keep the competencies in line with industry expectations for entry level accounting positions.
   
2. 
   Continue to meet with the other accounting faculty in the UH System to explore opportunities to expand articulation agreements.
   
3. 
   Inform the students of the opportunities that exist on Kauai and encourage them to strive to be life long learners.
   

1. 
   Try to expand working with the Advisory committee by adding a spring student night.
   
2. 
   Meet with the advisory committee before the student nights
   

The accounting program does not keep data on the program graduates. With the current unemployment levels being vary low the program cannot fill community needs.

1. 
   Since the Accounting program is a vocational program there is no expectation of transfer.
   
2. 
   The Accounting program has established a career ladder with UH West Oahu and many graduates have opted for that program but there isn’t any data that has been kept on the numbers and success rate
   

The faculty are members of professional accounting organizations and receive weekly and monthly professional publications. They also have a professional development plan which includes attending workshops put on by various Professional Organizations and the State Hawaii Department of Taxation and the Internal revenue service.

Current status

1. 
   Currently the accounting program has been hosting a student night with the Hawaii Society of CPA’s. This is an evening that coordinates a professional development workshop and a student/professional mixer. This event has been valuable in helping student make career decisions that will affect them for many years to come.
   
2. 
   The income tax class has worked with the Internal Revenue Service to provide free tax return preparation for Kauai Community College students. This service-learning project has given the students hands on experience in preparing tax returns in a professional setting.
   

1. 
   The Accounting program should move to have two student nights per year. The fall event would help the students make career selection and a spring event that would enable them to network with prospective employers.
   
2. 
   Continue with the VITA program and look for other service learning projects. While internships would be good, it is difficult to overcome the confidentiality concern that is involve with financial data by employers.
   

1. 
   The Accounting Faculty have made significant contributions to the Accounting Profession
   
   1. 
      Provided expert testimony before the State Board of Accountancy on the educational requirement for CPA licensure.
      
   2. 
      Coordinated the first ever Neighbor Island Student night. (Although our enrollment is less than the other campuses we have continually had the highest numerical participation rate of any of the Neighbor Islands. (Per the HSCPA)
      

2. 
   The professionals feel that this is a good opportunity to meet our student’s look for workers and give something back to the College.
   
3. 
   Continue to be involved with the Professional organizations as its member’s hirer Kauai Community College Students and working with them professionally you develop a better understanding of their needs.
   

2. 
   Collaboration
   

1. 
   Diversity
   

The Accounting Standards are standardized by nation and therefore there is limited opportunity to include diversity directly in the curriculum in the accounting classes. Fortunately the students themselves come from a diverse background and the collaborative learning style used in all of the classes facilitates a cultural awareness. Currently there are students from Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Japan and the Philippines enrolled in accounting classes.

2. 
   International Education
   

• 
  Comment on data provided and indicate the reasons you selected specific benchmarks (minimum and satisfactory)
  
• 
  Indicate any concerns and positive indications of the data.
  

KAUAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1. 
   Are you currently working in the field of your college major?
   

• 
  Bookkeeping, small business
  
• 
  Escrow, small business; previous 2 positions have had more direct accounting
  

2. 
   What components of the program, overall, were most useful to you?
   
   • 
     ACC 124 BC, fundamentals
     
   • 
     Basic accounting was so good, I feel I could have gotten a basic accounting job with one year of courses
     

3. 
   What components of the program, overall, were least helpful to you?
   
   • 
     Eng 100 – BUS 175 was applicable but Eng 100 was a waste of time
     

4. 
   What particular courses were most useful to you?
   
   • 
     Basic accounting classes, Quickbooks, Excel, BUS 120 very interesting, payroll & taxes
     
   • 
     BUS 143 got me ready for job interviews, I had very little exposure before
     

5. 
   What particular courses were least useful to you?
   
   • 
     ACC 128 - Peach Tree was not useful, most companies using Quickbooks
     
   • 
     ENG 100
     

6. 
   Do you feel the program has adequately prepared you to enter or advance in the accounting industry?
   
   • 
     Definitely. I want to go on for my Bachelor’s degree from UH West Oahu. I don’t really need a BBA for advancement in my field right now. I just want to complete it for personal satisfaction. I have been thinking of calling Alison but just haven’t done it!
     
   • 
     Yes, I was also enrolled at UH Manoa but came home for personal reasons. I still want to complete my Bachelor’s degree.
     

7. 
   Do you feel the software used in your classes prepared you to be successful on the job? Why/why not?
   
   • 
     Most of them, especially Excell and Quickbooks (not Peach Tree – out of date)
     
   • 
     Feel I learned enough about software that I can adapt to using almost any software
     

8. 
   Did you utilize services outside the classroom to help you succeed in college (ie: tutoring, office hours, open lab hours)?
   
   • 
     Because I had accounting background and wanted to complete my degree as soon as possible, I chose to take ACC 201/202 instead of ACC 124BC/124/126. I regretted that and had to go to tutoring a lot to keep up.
     
   • 
     Sometimes asked instructors for help and they were always helpful.
     

9. 
   Do you feel Cooperative Education (on the job training) should be a requirement for the program?
   
   • 
     I did a summer internship at the Dept. of Water which really taught me new accounting skills; enjoyed it a lot and recommend it for others who have limited work experience.
     
   • 
     I didn’t realize Co-Op was an option, I was working and going to school so maybe I could have received Co-op credits for that job had I known about it. I don’t think I really needed additional job experience because I was working in the field.
     

10. 
    Do you feel you received the proper information to get you through the required sequence of courses in a timely manner? With the new Banner system, students are not required to seek academic advising after their first semester. Can you comment on this new procedure?
    
    • 
      Advising definitely helped me finish on time.
      
    • 
      I would have been lost and probably not graduated in 2 years without advising.
      
    • 
      I recommend advising beyond the first semester – hard to know the prerequisites and not all courses are offered every semester.
      

11. 
    Were courses offered at times that were convenient for you?
    
    • 
      Yes, I was a day student and didn’t have problems scheduling my classes.
      
    • 
      Yes, only required to take one night course because the teacher (BLAW) was available only at night and that was okay.
      

12. 
    What would you recommend to improve the accounting program?
    
    • 
      Nothing.
      

13. 
    Imagine that a friend of yours is thinking about entering the program next year. What would you recommend so that he/she is well prepared for the program?
    
    • 
      Yes.
      

14. 
    What would you recommend so that he/she will be able to succeed in the program?
    
    • 
      Be ready to work, be organized.
      
    • 
      Ask for help.
      

• 
  Yes.
  
• 
  Definitely.
  

16. 
    If you could make any changes, what would they be?
    

• 
  None that I could think of.
  

• 
  Yes.