New OFTC degree, certificate earn approval
Two new Office Systems Technology (OFTC) offerings received approval Tuesday and will be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for action. These are a new Associate in Applied Science Degree - Office Systems Technology Specialist - and a new occupational certificate - Office Technologies Assistant. A new OFTC course, Communication in Technical Services, also received approval.
The new Specialist degree will provide students with the background and technical skills needed for a career as an administrative assistant, technical services associate or similar position. Students will focus on the concepts and methods used to organize and manage information as well as the development or enhancement of skills necessary to effectively implement technology into the office or business setting. This may include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, information management software, web page editors and social media.
The new Assistant certificate will give students the introductory skills necessary to work as an office assistant and is designed to introduce the various skills and technologies needed for entry-level positions.
In other curriculum-related matters, A new computer science class, Integrating Technologies, was approved, Cultural Anthropology was approved for online development, and the existing Computer Programming degree was granted permanent approval.
Massage Therapy program to close, two instructor contracts not renewed
The board granted permission to close the Therapeutic Massage program effective at the end of the Spring 2016 semester. The recommendation to close the program was based on low enrollment and poor job prospects and earning potential for graduates, and the situation is further magnified by the lack of state funding and tuition reimbursement. Per Illinois Community College Board and Higher Learning Commission guidelines, a teach-out plan will be submitted to ensure that all students currently enrolled have completed the program before its closure.
Due to the closure, the board approved the non-renewal of the contract of Michael Adamson, Therapeutic Massage Associate Professor, effective May 6, 2016. The move is considered an honorable dismissal and a reduction in force, and is a result of the state's budget impasse and lack of funding to the college.
In addition, the contract for Dr. Vincent Hustad, temporary full-time biology instructor, will not be renewed when it expires on May 6. This also is due to reductions and spending cuts resulting from the state budget impasse and lack of funding.
In other business, the board ...
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