NEW PROGRAM PROPOSAL: ACTION AAS IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Agenda Item I-3c BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE December 2, 2016 Recommendation That the Board of Regents approve an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Supply Chain Management for Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) to be implemented in fall 2017. Rationale The proposed AAS degree is consistent with the missions of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and BCTC and supports the statewide postsecondary education strategic agenda and the statewide strategic implementation plan. The AAS in Supply Chain Management is a work ready degree that prepares students to directly enter into the job market. Graduates of the Supply Chain Management program will be qualified to work as first-line supervisors and completing this degree can provide an opportunity for material and stock handlers to advance to first-line supervisors. Data from the Kentucky Workforce Education and Development Cabinet anticipate 250 job openings each year in the Bluegrass region. With International companies such as Toyota, Amazon, and UPS in the area and easy access to major highways and airports, the need for employees in the supply chain area will be constant with competitive wages for workers exiting with this degree. BCTC has the facilities, equipment, and faculty available to support the program. No additional funding is required for the AAS in Supply Chain Management program implementation. Background According to the Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Diversity Policy and Framework for Institution Diversity Plan Development, BCTC has automatic eligibility. An executive summary of the proposal is attached. A copy of the full proposal has been forwarded to each member of the Board s Academic Affairs and Curriculum Committee. 125
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Associate in Applied Science in Supply Chain Management Bluegrass Community and Technical College A Proposal for Initiation of a New Degree Program A. Centrality to the Institution s Mission and Consistency with State s Goals The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Supply Chain Management (SCM) degree program is designed to teach students about the sourcing, procurement, conversion, quality, and logistics concepts associated with production, coordination, and delivery of goods and services. The program will prepare students to perform functions in the modern logistics and supply chain management environment as well as give the preparation to obtain two national industry credentials, the Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) and the Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) as a result. The AAS in SCM degree program will meet the needs of BCTC students and the 16 counties the college services. With distribution facilities for companies such as Amazon, McClane, and ecampus and warehousing and logistics services being offered by Total Quality Logistics, UPS Global Freight Services, Vascor, and W.T. all within the BCTC service area, the program will be integral in meeting employment needs. The AAS in SCM supports the institutional mission and strategic priority of the Council for Postsecondary Education (CPE) and Kentucky Community and Technical College (KCTCS) in a number of ways. The program will provide a ready-to- work education for Supply Chain Management employees, decrease financial barriers by providing high level jobs for students completing the AAS degree, and provide a challenging and rewarding learning environment that prepares students for the supply chain management industry. The AAS in SCM will work to improve the quality of life and employability of students by preparing them to enter the workforce in the freight, logistics, and warehousing areas. Though this degree is primarily meant to prepare the students to enter directly into the workforce where jobs are readily available, our plan is to contact area colleges offering bachelor s degrees in this area, such as Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), for potential articulation agreements. The AAS in SCM program meets CPE Strategic Policy Objective 4.1 regarding high-quality, low-cost education for jobs that are competitive with university level graduates. This program includes industry credentials, college certificates, and an associate in applied science degree program. In addition, under Policy Objective 4.6, internships are currently being proposed to area businesses. The opportunity for students to work in the field alongside industry leaders will improve the overall student experience. The AAS in Supply Chain Management is designed to 127
meet the KCTCS strategic objective to increase student access and success. It would provide a skill focused degree option that is convenient, economical, and academically sound. B. Program Quality and Student Success The Supply Chain Management foundation courses will provide an understanding of critical competencies such as problem solving, collaboration, time management, and critical thinking as well as specific courses in business, logistics, supply chain management, and project management. Students will be required to complete an internship or cooperative education course that will allow them to experience, first hand, the area that they are entering. C. Program Demand/Unnecessary Duplication The AAS in Supply Chain Management is a work ready degree that prepares students to directly enter into the job market. Graduates of the Supply Chain Management program will be qualified to work as first-line supervisors and completing this degree can provide an opportunity for material and stock handlers to advance to first-line supervisor. Completing this degree will improve the quality of life for employees and promote economic vitality and competitiveness for these businesses in the counties serviced by BCTC. Data from the Kentucky Workforce Education and Development Cabinet anticipate 250 job openings each year in this field in the Bluegrass region. With International companies such as Toyota, Amazon, and UPS in the area and easy access to major highways and airports, the need for employees in the supply chain area will be constant with competitive wages for workers exiting with this degree. This same degree is offered at Gateway Community and Technical College, however it is inaccessible to BCTC students without having to relocate. Additionally, there is a degree similar at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, however their program objects are customized to fit their local needs and students would have to relocate should they want to complete that program. Offering the Supply Chain Management program at BCTC will fit a need by employers in the 16 counties serviced and will allow students to stay local for their educational needs. D. Cost and Funding of the Proposed Program BCTC has the facilities, equipment, and faculty available to support the program. No additional funding is required for the AAS in Supply Chain Management program implementation. E. Program Review and Assessment BCTC s annual review and assessment of the AAS in Supply Chain Management will include, but not be limited to, the following. Graduation/completion rate data Graduate transfer/employment data Individual class performance scores 128
Assessment of student learning outcomes Production/performance/evaluations by a production group, responders, and/or professional staff Student satisfaction surveys Employer satisfaction surveys Advisory board and/or institution feedback Internal peer review The data will be used to identify program effectiveness including the success of student learning outcomes. The program coordinator and Assistant Dean of the Division, in partnership with Institutional Research, will work to evaluate the success of the program. At that point if there is any need for program improvement or increased performance, it can be addressed and a plan made for the following academic year. BCTC follows strict policy regarding program review processes and this program will be held to the same standards. As a new degree program, the results of the annual college program review will also be forwarded to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) staff for review after three years. Upon a successful Council review, the program will be placed on the regular five year CPE institutional program review cycle. F. Conclusion The proposed AAS in Supply Chain Management program is consistent with the missions of the KCTCS and BCTC and supports the strategic agenda and implementation plan of the Council for Postsecondary Education. The curriculum has been approved by the college and systemlevel curriculum committees and supports the growing supply chain workforce needs of the counties serviced by BCTC and the state of Kentucky. The program will be a welcome addition to the choices offered to students in a low-cost, student-friendly collegiate environment. 129
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