4.10A      Programs In This Cluster

·     Introductory (High school) Chemistry

·     Transfer 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year Chemistry courses

4.10B       Overall Goals For This Cluster

Short Term:  

·     Implementing electronic/distance instructional curriculum.

·     Developing vocational/community chemistry courses.

·     Developing more efficient use of resources.

·     Developing curriculum for multi-ethnic student learning needs.

Long Term:  

·     Flow with changing State and Federal directions.

·     Flow with changing student needs (academically, vocationally and ethnic diversity).

4.10C       Specific Goals, Objectives And Resource Needs For This Cluster

Short Term Objectives:  

·     Develop instructional computer based materials.

·     An active web page.

·     Interactive remedial material.

·     Integrate multimedia in the curriculum.

·     Distance tutoring services.

·     Use the Internet to deliver the lecture portions of some classes.

Long Term Objectives:  

·     Investigate the impact of computer based curriculum on the learning processes of different individuals.

·     Investigate possible mechanisms for delivering laboratories for a complete Internet course.

·     Investigate the impact of delivering courses through California's Virtual University.

·     Provide distance tutoring/Mr. Wizard programs to K-12 to enhance articulation and community service.

·     Collaborate with area high schools to achieve seamless K-14 curriculum.

Resources Required - Short Term:  

Personnel  

·     There is an immediate need for staff with advanced computer/electronic literacy to meet program demands.

·     A mini webmaster/mistress for the development and continued maintenance of a web page and to service the fifteen computers, six printers, assorted "minor" equipment- electronic balances, spectrophotometers- and five "major" analytical pieces of equipment.

·     One student tutor for distance delivery.

·     One student aide to monitor chemistry's small computer lab.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     Finalize computer related provisions.

Other Requirements  

·     Faculty release time for software development/review or staff development monies.

·     Faculty release time for vendor training of "major" analytical instrumentation.

Professional Development  

·     Technology by definition continually reinvents its self.  Today the turnaround time is galloping towards infinity (or the apocalypse).  It is imperative that faculty attend, at least state wide, (California is the leader of course) technology/distance learning meetings.

·     Internet courses.

·     Chemistry/educational meetings.

Resources Required - Long Term:  

Personnel  

·     The department is redefining its self to meet changing student/community needs and governmental directives.  Future support personnel will need advanced computer and technological knowledge.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     The department, housed in the new science building, presently has extensive state of the art equipment/instrumentation.

·     Computer related equipment up grades plus more computers.

Other Requirements  

·     Software upgrades.

Professional Development  

·     Technology/distance learning meetings.

·     Internet courses.

·     Chemistry/educational meetings.

Short Term Objectives:  

·     Nutritional chemistry course for Restaurant Management, Allied Health and Child Development students.

·     Forensic chemistry in conjunction with the department of administration of justice.

·     Several courses in hazardous materials for a certificate in conjunction with the department of fire science.

Long Term Objectives:  

·     "HazMat" certificate approved by the state.

·     New vocational/community courses as demands dictate.  For example, we could be delivering a course on the biochemistry of AIDS as a professional development course for employees in allied health fields.

Resources Required - Short Term:  

Personnel  

·     Instructional personnel with chemistry and vocational knowledge.

·     An additional student teaching assistant for vocational courses.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     Laboratory space, at present, is sufficient.

·     Specialized vocational equipment.

·     Additional safety equipment.

Other Requirements  

·     None identified.

Professional Development  

·     Vocational meetings.

Resources Required - Long Term:  

Personnel  

·     Continue with short term goals.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     Continue with short term goals.

Other Requirements  

·     Continue with short term goals.

Professional Development  

·     Continue with short term goals.

Short Term Objectives:  

·     Reduce the ratio of adjunct to full-time faculty.  This will dramatically reduce the drop rate for adjunct taught courses, decrease the number of student repeating classes and result in a rigorous increase in FTE's.  This semester, two adjunct taught courses that started with 30 students currently have enrollments of 6 and 10 respectively.

·     Unify laboratory and lecture curriculum by courses.

·     Investigate alternative methods for preparing laboratory materials–i.e. outside contracting, pre "boxed" or packaged.

Long Term Objectives:  

·     None identified.

Resources Required - Short Term:  

Personnel  

·     New faculty as needed for growth.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     As a technical building, the "new science" building has many good qualities and a few "contractor/architectural flaws.”  These need to be addressed.

·     The current organization of equipment and supplies is exceptionally cumbersome, inefficient and potentially hazardous.  If a professional designed this, then the "front line" faculty and student laboratory assistants should address this.

·     The "inner" doors from the laboratory classrooms to the stock/prep area on the west side of the building do not remain permanently unlocked when unlocked.  If an instructor does not have immediate possession of his/her key (a student is using it in the Xerox room etc.) this blocks an alternative safety escape route.  It is also a barrier for instructors' "line of sight" supervision of student teaching assistants in the stock/prep area.

·     There is extensive data on the excessively harmful effects of fluorescent lights.  In addition to detrimental physical and mental health effects, it is also detrimental to learning processes.  These should immediately be replaced by incandescent lighting.  From a cost-effective view, it is quite possible that this would increase student retention and grades.  Fewer students would have to repeat classes.

Other Requirements  

·     Possibly contract-out some laboratory prep.

Professional Development  

·     Short safety courses.

Resources Required - Long Term:  

Personnel  

·     Continue with short term goals.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     The floor plan of the "new science" building devotes an inordinate amount of space to equipment and supplies.  We're filling it with tiny little test tubes so no one will know just how much space is there.  With growth and increased "people demands" some remodeling may be recommended.

Other Requirements  

·     Continue with short term goals.

Professional Development  

·     Continue with short term goals.

4.10D       Summary Of Requirements For This Cluster

Short Term (1998-2000):  

Personnel  

·     New faculty as needed for program growth.

·     Webmaster/mistress technical support personal.

·     Two student assistants.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     Finalize computer related provisions.

·     Prep/stock area remodeling for safety and utility.

·     Permanent unlock of "inner" doors.

·     Remove fluorescent lights & replace with incandescent lights.

Other Requirements  

·     Faculty release/time or staff development monies.

·     Software.

Professional Development  

·     Internet/distance learning courses/meetings.

·     Chemistry/educational meetings.

·     Vocational meetings.

Long Term (2001-2005+):  

Personnel  

·     New faculty as needed for growth.

·     3 additional student laboratory assistants.

Facilities/Equipment  

·     Computer related up-grade equipment.

·     Specialized vocational equipment.

·     Additional safety equipment.

Other Requirements  

·     None identified.

Professional Development  

·     Internet/distance learning courses/meetings.

·     Chemistry/educational meetings.

·     Vocational meetings.