Computer and Information Systems Department Mission Statement

CIS Program Review 2003Page 1

Quantitative Data

Student Demand

The data on the following seven pages has been provided by the Research and Planning Office.

The following notes apply to the following seven pages.

(1) Only Fall and Spring terms used

(2) Based on the 1st census enrollment

(3) Retention Rate based on a grade other than “W”

(4) Success Rate based on students who received “A, B, C or CR”

CIS/MIS (All Sections)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 2,786 / 2,854 / 2,421
Average Class Size (2) / 21 / 20 / 18
Student FTES / 264.57 / 252.60 / 215.35
Average FTES per Section / 2.0 / 1.7 / 1.6
Weekly Contact Hours / 727.4 / 810.1 / 885.7
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 12,944 / 13,317 / 12,941
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 98.1 / 91.2 / 98.8
Total Instructional FTES / 40.41 / 45.00 / 46.81
Total Number of Sections / 165 / 181 / 178
Day Sections / 67 / 77 / 83
Evening Sections / 98 / 104 / 95
On-Campus Sections / 100 / 110 / 112
Off-Campus Sections / 65 / 71 / 65
Sections Cancelled / 33 / 35 / 47
Sections Cancelled (%) / 20% / 19% / 26%
Sections Closed / 64 / 68 / 45
Sections Closed (%) / 39% / 38% / 25%
Departmental GPA / 2.903 / 2.973 / 2.906
A’s / 48.4% / 49.8% / 48.8%
B’s / 21.1% / 21.1% / 20.3%
C’s / 10.5% / 8.4% / 9.4%
D’s / 3.7% / 3.2% / 4.8%
F’s / 13.3% / 12.5% / 12.9%
Incompletes / 0.6% / 0.5% / 0.4%
Credit / 1.4% / 3.2% / 2.8%
Non-Credit / 1.0% / 1.2% / 0.5%
Drops / 11.8% / 15.7% / 14.0%
Retention Rate (3) / 88.2% / 84.3% / 86.0%
Success Rate (4) / 72.2% / 69.9% / 70.2%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $71,291 / $8,751 / $6,999
S/E Costs per FTE / $1,764 / $194 / $150
Average Student Age / 35 / 37 / 32
Female Students (%) / 59% / 58% / 55%
Male Students (%) / 41% / 42% / 45%
Minority Students (%) / 12% / 14% / 15%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 0 / 0
CIS/MIS (Business Admin – Information Systems AS)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 2,726 / 2,743 / 2,563
Average Class Size (2) / 21 / 20 / 20
Student FTES / 252.73 / 248.70 / 238.10
Average FTES per Section / 2.0 / 1.8 / 1.8
Weekly Contact Hours / 621.1 / 560.3 / 577.7
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 10,956 / 9,996 / 10,060
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 85.6 / 73.0 / 76.8
Total Instructional FTES / 32.90 / 33.69 / 34.54
Total Number of Sections / 155 / 158 / 157
Day Sections / 82 / 82 / 85
Evening Sections / 73 / 76 / 72
On-Campus Sections / 93 / 95 / 101
Off-Campus Sections / 62 / 63 / 56
Sections Cancelled / 27 / 21 / 26
Sections Cancelled (%) / 17% / 13% / 17%
Sections Closed / 44 / 51 / 48
Sections Closed (%) / 28% / 32% / 31%
Departmental GPA / 2.835 / 2.872 / 2.682
A’s / 44.0% / 46.0% / 39.6%
B’s / 23.6% / 23.1% / 24.5%
C’s / 13.7% / 13.0% / 14.6%
D’s / 5.0% / 4.6% / 6.2%
F’s / 12.2% / 12.1% / 14.8%
Incompletes / 0.5% / 0.3% / 0.1%
Credit / 0.3% / 0.4% / 0.2%
Non-Credit / 0.7% / 0.5% / 0.0%
Drops / 12.2% / 16.6% / 14.5%
Retention Rate (3) / 87.8% / 83.4% / 85.5%
Success Rate (4) / 72.0% / 69.0% / 67.5%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $0 / $0 / $0
S/E Costs per FTE / $0 / $0 / $0
Average Student Age / 34 / 34 / 32
Female Students (%) / 62% / 60% / 60%
Male Students (%) / 38% / 40% / 40%
Minority Students (%) / 14% / 14% / 18%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 4 / 0
CIS/MIS (CIS –Business Information Systems AS)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 1,496 / 1,744 / 1,350
Average Class Size (2) / 23 / 20 / 18
Student FTES / 115.57 / 136.63 / 109.34
Average FTES per Section / 1.8 / 1.6 / 1.5
Weekly Contact Hours / 369.7 / 404.1 / 421.1
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 6,582 / 6,9903 / 5,896
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 101.3 / 80.3 / 79.7
Total Instructional FTES / 17.24 / 22.45 / 22.49
Total Number of Sections / 87 / 104 / 100
Day Sections / 38 / 44 / 45
Evening Sections / 49 / 60 / 55
On-Campus Sections / 48 / 59 / 61
Off-Campus Sections / 39 / 45 / 39
Sections Cancelled / 22 / 18 / 26
Sections Cancelled (%) / 25% / 17% / 26%
Sections Closed / 29 / 37 / 22
Sections Closed (%) / 29% / 36% / 22%
Departmental GPA / 2.910 / 3.015 / 2.686
A’s / 51.6% / 53.4% / 48.3%
B’s / 18.0% / 20.7% / 22.0%
C’s / 9.7% / 8.2% / 10.0%
D’s / 4.4% / 3.7% / 5.6%
F’s / 13.9% / 12.1% / 13.4%
Incompletes / 0.4% / 0.5% / 0.2%
Credit / 0.7% / 0.6% / 0.3%
Non-Credit / 1.3% / 0.7% / 0.1%
Drops / 12.7% / 16.5% / 13.4%
Retention Rate (3) / 87.3% / 83.5% / 86.6%
Success Rate (4) / 70.0% / 69.6% / 70.0%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $0 / $0 / $0
S/E Costs per FTE / $0 / $0 / $0
Average Student Age / 36 / 40 / 35
Female Students (%) / 57% / 58% / 53%
Male Students (%) / 43% / 42% / 47%
Minority Students (%) / 13% / 13% / 13%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 0 / 0
CIS/MIS (CIS – CCNP Option AS)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 612 / 754 / 713
Average Class Size (2) / 29 / 21 / 20
Student FTES / 71.47 / 79.81 / 76.28
Average FTES per Section / 3.4 / 2.2 / 2.2
Weekly Contact Hours / 113.9 / 220.8 / 319.5
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 2,770 / 4,004 / 5,555
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 131.9 / 111.2 / 158.7
Total Instructional FTES / 6.32 / 12.27 / 16.92
Total Number of Sections / 25 / 39 / 40
Day Sections / 6 / 18 / 21
Evening Sections / 19 / 21 / 19
On-Campus Sections / 20 / 33 / 35
Off-Campus Sections / 5 / 6 / 5
Sections Cancelled / 4 / 3 / 5
Sections Cancelled (%) / 16% / 8% / 13%
Sections Closed / 18 / 24 / 20
Sections Closed (%) / 72% / 62% / 50%
Departmental GPA / 2.607 / 2.642 / 2.530
A’s / 42.7% / 41.3% / 40.6%
B’s / 19.2% / 22.3% / 21.3%
C’s / 10.7% / 12.3% / 9.4%
D’s / 6.8% / 5.6% / 7.3%
F’s / 19.0% / 17.8% / 21.1%
Incompletes / 1.0% / 0.8% / 0.2%
Credit / 0.6% / 0.0% / 0.2%
Non-Credit / 0.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Drops / 16.0% / 18.4% / 12.8%
Retention Rate (3) / 84.0% / 81.6% / 87.2%
Success Rate (4) / 62.0% / 62.3% / 62.3%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $0 / $0 / $0
S/E Costs per FTE / $0 / $0 / $0
Average Student Age / 31 / 31 / 30
Female Students (%) / 29% / 38% / 26%
Male Students (%) / 71% / 62% / 74%
Minority Students (%) / 13% / 11% / 14%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 0 / 0
CIS/MIS (CIS – CCNA Option AS)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 612 / 981 / 868
Average Class Size (2) / 29 / 20 / 19
Student FTES / 71.47 / 109.22 / 94.15
Average FTES per Section / 3.4 / 2.2 / 2.0
Weekly Contact Hours / 113.9 / 340.8 / 443.6
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 2,770 / 5,976 / 6,957
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 131.9 / 119.5 / 151.2
Total Instructional FTES / 6.33 / 18.93 / 24.24
Total Number of Sections / 25 / 53 / 54
Day Sections / 6 / 24 / 25
Evening Sections / 19 / 29 / 29
On-Campus Sections / 20 / 47 / 47
Off-Campus Sections / 5 / 6 / 7
Sections Cancelled / 4 / 3 / 8
Sections Cancelled (%) / 16% / 6% / 15%
Sections Closed / 18 / 31 / 24
Sections Closed (%) / 72% / 58% / 44%
Departmental GPA / 2.607 / 2.839 / 2.638
A’s / 42.7% / 48.1% / 41.9%
B’s / 19.2% / 21.4% / 23.2%
C’s / 10.7% / 10.5% / 10.0%
D’s / 6.8% / 4.8% / 5.7%
F’s / 19.0% / 14.6% / 18.9%
Incompletes / 1.0% / 0.6% / 0.1%
Credit / 0.6% / 0.0% / 0.1%
Non-Credit / 0.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Drops / 16.0% / 14.6% / 13.0%
Retention Rate (3) / 84.0% / 85.4% / 87.0%
Success Rate (4) / 62.0% / 68.6% / 65.6%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $0 / $0 / $0
S/E Costs per FTE / $0 / $0 / $0
Average Student Age / 31 / 31 / 30
Female Students (%) / 29% / 38% / 26%
Male Students (%) / 71% / 62% / 74%
Minority Students (%) / 13% / 12% / 14%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 0 / 0
CIS/MIS (CIS – CCNA Certificate)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 442 / 832 / 753
Average Class Size (2) / 28 / 20 / 19
Student FTES / 42.69 / 83.84 / 74.57
Average FTES per Section / 2.7 / 2.0 / 1.9
Weekly Contact Hours / 78.3 / 299.8 / 402.6
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 1,911 / 5,241 / 6,369
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 119.4 / 124.8 / 159.2
Total Instructional FTES / 6.33 / 18.93 / 24.24
Total Number of Sections / 25 / 53 / 54
Day Sections / 4 / 21 / 22
Evening Sections / 14 / 24 / 24
On-Campus Sections / 14 / 39 / 39
Off-Campus Sections / 4 / 6 / 7
Sections Cancelled / 2 / 3 / 6
Sections Cancelled (%) / 11% / 7% / 13%
Sections Closed / 15 / 29 / 23
Sections Closed (%) / 83% / 64% / 50%
Departmental GPA / 2.705 / 2.873 / 2.678
A’s / 43.4% / 49.4% / 42.6%
B’s / 21.6% / 21.5% / 23.5%
C’s / 10.8% / 9.6% / 10.3%
D’s / 6.2% / 5.1% / 5.7%
F’s / 16.5% / 14.1% / 17.7%
Incompletes / 0.8% / 0.4% / 0.1%
Credit / 0.8% / 0.0% / 0.1%
Non-Credit / 0.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Drops / 12.6% / 11.5% / 11.5%
Retention Rate (3) / 87.4% / 88.5% / 88.5%
Success Rate (4) / 67.4% / 71.5% / 67.8%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $0 / $0 / $0
S/E Costs per FTE / $0 / $0 / $0
Average Student Age / 31 / 32 / 30
Female Students (%) / 33% / 38% / 26%
Male Students (%) / 67% / 62% / 74%
Minority Students (%) / 13% / 12% / 18%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 0 / 0
CIS/MIS (CIS – CCNP Certificate)
2000-2001 / 2001-2002 / 2002-2003 (1)
Class Enrollments / 442 / 605 / 598
Average Class Size (2) / 28 / 22 / 20
Student FTES / 42.69 / 54.43 / 56.70
Average FTES per Section / 2.7 / 1.9 / 1.9
Weekly Contact Hours / 78.3 / 179.8 / 278.5
Weekly Student Contact Hours (2) / 1,911 / 3,269 / 4,967
Average WSCH per Section (2) / 119.4 / 116.8 / 165.6
Total Instructional FTES / 4.03 / 9.99 / 14.64
Total Number of Sections / 18 / 31 / 32
Day Sections / 4 / 15 / 18
Evening Sections / 14 / 16 / 14
On-Campus Sections / 14 / 25 / 27
Off-Campus Sections / 4 / 6 / 5
Sections Cancelled / 2 / 3 / 2
Sections Cancelled (%) / 11% / 10% / 6%
Sections Closed / 15 / 22 / 19
Sections Closed (%) / 83% / 71% / 59%
Departmental GPA / 2.705 / 2.653 / 2.538
A’s / 43.4% / 41.3% / 40.0%
B’s / 21.6% / 23.1% / 21.1%
C’s / 10.8% / 11.6% / 9.9%
D’s / 6.2% / 6.2% / 7.7%
F’s / 16.5% / 17.2% / 20.3%
Incompletes / 0.8% / 0.6% / 0.2%
Credit / 0.8% / 0.0% / 0.2%
Non-Credit / 0.0% / 0.0% / 0.0%
Drops / 12.8% / 14.8% / 10.4%
Retention Rate (3) / 87.4% / 85.2% / 89.6%
Success Rate (4) / 67.4% / 65.0% / 64.6%
Supplies/Equip. Budget / $0 / $0 / $0
S/E Costs per FTE / $0 / $0 / $0
Average Student Age / 31 / 31 / 30
Female Students (%) / 33% / 42% / 28%
Male Students (%) / 67% / 58% / 72%
Minority Students (%) / 13% / 11% / 14%
Cert/Degrees Issued / 0 / 0 / 0

Course/Program Staffing

During the Fall 2003 semester, seven full-time instructors taught in the CIS program. Three of them are full-time CIS instructors, the other four teach in additional programs. The CIS program utilized 13 adjunct instructors. 56.9% of the scheduled classes for Fall 2003 were to be taught by full-time instructors. FTE faculty is 9.5 and the WSCH/FTE faculty is 819.05.

Cost Benefit

The cost/benefit of the CIS program is difficult to calculate due to the majority of the facilities being shared by a number of programs within the Center for Business, Mathematics, and Technology and other Centers. The CIS program utilizes the three computer classrooms in the 2200 building approximately 50% of the available time. Room 1301B is utilized 100% by the CIS program. Room 1301A is shared with the Electronics program with CIS using approximately 10% of the available time. Room 1102 is an open lab utilized by many students in many programs across campus; a best guess is that the computer usage by CIS students would be less than 30% of the total utilization. Each of the rooms in the 2200 building and lab 1102 should be updated (have the equipment replaced) every three to four years. The cost is about $36,000 per room. At one room per year, this would result in the CIS program having a share of approximately $16,500 per year. The computers in rooms 1301A and B are trickled down from other rooms being upgraded. Based on an FTES of 215.35 (2002/2003) the cost per FTE for the CIS program would be $72.62.

Qualitative Data

CIS Program Mission and Function

Computer and Information Systems Department Mission Statement

The mission of the Computer and Information Systems (CIS) department is to teach skills in the computer technology and information management fields which will: a) lead to a functional level of skill and literacy in the technical areas and software applications; b) qualify our students for jobs which utilize these skills; c) prepare our students to take and pass industry standard certification examinations and/or; d) prepare and qualify our students to transfer to a four-year college or university with an information systems related major. Our programs also address human relations, communication, team building, critical thinking, and other “soft” skills valued by employers.

Relationship of the CIS programs to the Shasta College Strategic Planning Goals 2002-2003

Improve the retention of students and their success rates of completion in developmental, occupational, and university transfer programs. (Goal #4)

In addition to a faculty who strongly support student success, the CIS department has provided an open lab for use by the CISCO, Microsoft and A+ students. This lab is staffed by a paid student tutor and a volunteer adjunct faculty member. Several of the full-time faculty will drop by during lab hours to provide additional help. Due to the number of hours in the various programs the instructors frequently develop a rapport with the students that promotes a spirit of teamwork in which the student does not want to let the class or instructor down by failing or quitting.

Improve and update curriculum to meet the needs of our students, their communities and a changing global society. (Goal #5)

The CIS Advisory Committee meets once or twice each academic year to determine local and industry trends which may influence the content of existing courses, suggest additional courses based on emerging or evolving technologies and/or suggest the deletion of courses that are no longer relevant.

The CIS faculty monitor a variety of publications (print and electronic) and attend conferences/seminars (online and in person) to maintain an awareness of the relationship between our curriculum and the extremely dynamic technology industries.

We also solicit student input through occasional formal surveys and through frequent informal discussions.

Improve instructional quality and effectiveness through expansion of facilities and infrastructure. (Goal #7)

A number of classes in the CIS program are offered online or during evening/Saturday time periods. Shasta College has partnership agreements with CISCO Systems and Microsoft to assist in providing our students with some of the most current training and most widely accepted industry certifications.

Expand and improve access to technology in learning and operational environments through a solid technology foundation. (Goal #8)

The Center for Business, Mathematics and Technology has three classrooms with 30 computer stations each, an open lab with 30 computer stations, a 20 station CISCO classroom/lab, and a 20 station classroom/lab shared between Microsoft networking classes and electronics classes. Almost all classrooms have computer/internet/projection systems for instructors and there are notebook computers and portable projections systems available for instructors to check out. Scanners, digital cameras and CD/DVD writers are also available. There are also computer facilities available in the downtown mall complex and on the Red Bluff campus. All classrooms and labs have at least one station that is wheelchair accessible, and through the DSPS office support is available for students with variety of accessibility issues.

Curriculum Update

The CIS faculty in conjunction with the CIS Advisory Committee determine changes that are needed to maintain up-to-date CIS programs. The CIS Advisory Committee meets once or twice each academic year and the CIS faculty meets in whole or in part several times each semester. These groups suggest revisions to current courses, courses which should be added or courses which should be deleted. A lead instructor then prepares the required documentation for review by fellow instructors prior to presentation to the Curriculum Committee for approval.

CIS course offerings and the date each was last reviewed.

Course Number and Name / Former Number / Date Last Reviewed
CIS 1 Computer Literacy / MIS 19 / 12/02
CIS 2 Introduction to Computer Science / MIS 20 / 12/02
CIS 3 Systems Analysis Methods / MIS 29 / 12/02
CIS 4 Business Data Communications / MIS 30 / 1/03
CIS 5 Help Desk – Level 1 / MIS 90 / 12/02
CIS 9 Microcomputer Workshop / MIS 40 / 12/02
CIS 10 Excel for Windows – I / MIS 73 / 2/03
CIS 11 Excel for Windows – II / MIS 74 / 2/03
CIS 12 Excel for Windows – III / MIS 75 / 2/03
CIS 20 Access for Windows – I / MIS 53 / 12/02
CIS 21 Access for Windows – II / MIS 54 / 12/02
CIS 23 Access for Windows – III / MIS 54 / 12/02
CIS 31 CISCO Networking CCNA – 1 / MIS 1 / 12/02
CIS 32 CISCO Networking CCNA – 2 / MIS 2 / 12/02
CIS 33 CISCO Networking CCNA – 3 / MIS 3 / 12/02
CIS 34 CISCO Networking CCNA – 4 / MIS 4 / 12/02
CIS 35 CISCO Networking CCNP – 1 / MIS 5 / 12/02
CIS 36 CISCO Networking CCNP – 2 / MIS 6 / 12/02
CIS 37 CISCO Networking CCNP – 3 / MIS 7 / 12/02
CIS 38 CISCO Networking CCNP – 4 / MIS 8 / 12/02
CIS 39 CISCO Networking Fundamentals of Network Security / 8/03
CIS 47 Managing a MS Windows 2000 Network Environment / 9/02
CIS 50 Install, Configure and Administer MS Windows XP Professional / 9/03
CIS 51 Manage and Maintain a MS Windows Server 2003 Environment / 9/03
CIS 52 Manage and Maintain Windows 2003 Network Infrastructure / 9/03
CIS 53 Plan and Maintain Windows 2003 Network Infrastructure / 9/03
CIS 54 Plan, Implement and Maintain Windows 2003 AD Infrastructure / 9/03
CIS 55 Designing a Windows Server 2003 AD and Network Infrastructure / 9/03
CIS 56 Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network / 9/03
CIS 60 Visual Basic Programming / MIS 27 / 12/02
CIS 61 C++ Language Programming / MIS 25 / 12/02
CIS 62 Java Programming / MIS 17 / 10/02
CIS 63 Assembler Language Programming / MIS 24 / 12/02
CIS 70 Windows – I / MIS 45 / 12/02
CIS 71 Windows – II / MIS 46 / 12/02
CIS 72 Fundamentals of UNIX / 10/02
CIS 80 Internet Basics / MIS 81 / 10/02
CIS 81 WEB Page Design – I / MIS 80 / 11/03
CIS 82 WEB Page Design – II / 11/03
CIS 84 HTML – Beginning / 10/02
CIS 85 HTML – Intermediate / 12/02
CIS 90 CISCO IT Essentials PC Hardware and Software / 9/03
CIS 92 Introduction to Computer Security Security + / 9/03
CIS 94 Computer Information Systems Work Site Learning / 10/02
CIS 97 Special Topics in Management Information Systems / Not Required
CIS 98 Special Lab Topics in Management Information Systems / Not Required
CIS 197 Special Topics in Computer Technology / Not Required
CIS 198 Special Lab Topics in Computer Technology / Not Required

All program and course outlines are on file, up-to-date, and in compliance with Title V.

Curriculum Articulation

Shasta College has articulation agreements with a number of local high schools for the following courses:

CIS 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 31, 32, 33, 34, 60, 70 and 71.

The articulation agreements are on file with the articulation officer. An articulation meeting is held with high schools annually in the fall semester. The last meeting was October 29, 2003. The next meeting is planned for April 15, 2004

Shasta College has articulation agreements with a number of schools in the UC and CSU systems. The articulation agreements are on file with the articulation officer and can be found at The CIS department attends an annual articulation meeting with CSU Chico and occasionally with other state schools. Three examples of articulated classes are provided below.

CSU Chico

CIS 1, 2, 60, 61, 63 and 72

Humboldt State University

CIS 1, 2, 3 and 61

CSU Sacramento

CIS 2, 61 and 63

CIS degree and certificate programs are supported by other departments in the Center for Business, Mathematics and Technology and by other Centers throughout Shasta College. The degree programs require general education courses and students frequently take additional courses of interest to them that are not required for a degree or certificate program. See the Shasta College catalog for a listing of all the courses required for CIS degree or certificate programs.

Curriculum Diversity

Female/Male students with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and interests are provided opportunities and open access to the CIS curriculum. Inclusivity and participation are encouraged.

The number of sections of each course is adjusted to meet the changing number of students enrolling in specific programs. In general, the CIS course offerings are “internationalized” by the nature of the technology being taught. The CISCO, Microsoft and A+ courses are designed to lead to internationally recognized, industry standard certifications. The courses being offered online could be taken by a student living anywhere.

Curriculum Competencies

Students in the CIS programs are prepared for a variety of positions or to continue their education. Some programs, such as CISCO, Microsoft and A+, prepare students for specific jobs. The A+ program, for example, prepares a student to be a computer repair technician. The A+ program can also work in conjunction with CISCO or Microsoft programs to provide a more well-rounded employee. The CISCO and Microsoft programs prepare students to work with computer networks, from a very small local network to a world-wide corporate network. Students taking a variety of the CIS classes are well prepared to continue their education at a four year college or university. The standards for the CISCO, Microsoft and A+ programs are dictated by the industry standard certifications for each program. The standard for other courses, such as a programming language, are frequently based on articulation with CSU and UC systems schools.

Curriculum Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the major strengths of the CIS programs is in preparing our students for employment. Anecdotal data would indicate that about one of five students becomes employed in a technical position while still a student. This is also a concern in that some students drop out of the program after becoming employed. Another major strength of the programs is the students become certified by one or more industry recognized certification organizations. Our students have also done very well after transferring to four-year colleges or universities.

A weakness in the program is the need for the continual upgrading of the equipment used by the classes. The equipment becomes obsolete every four to five years and needs to be replaced. Shasta College does not currently have a program to plan for this replacement. A solution to this problem would be for Shasta College to implement a planned equipment replacement cycle.

With the current budget situation and severe limits on travel and training expenses there could be a problem keeping instructors current in their specialties. This could lead to the program becoming outdated.

Text Analysis

Texts are selected by the full-time faculty with adjunct faculty providing input. Texts for a course which is taught by a single instructor (full-time or adjunct) are selected by that instructor and are subject to review by the CIS department. Texts for courses taught by multiple instructors are selected by a consensus of the instructors involved. All sections of the same course use the same text.

The CIS instructors are very aware of the cost of materials. The cost of a text is one of the criteria used in the selection process. The “buy-back” value of a text is not a factor we can influence. By using a text for as many semesters as possible, we make it possible for students to sell their unwanted books. However, in the CIS area we frequently have to use newer editions due to the extremely dynamic nature of the field. One solution to the problem of high text cost would be to make the books lists available to students several weeks before classes begin. This would enable students to purchase the books online at a price that is frequently 30% to 80% lower than the bookstore on campus.