ECAC
Early College of Allegan County
Minutes
November 24, 2014
______
Present: AAESA: Linda Blankenship, Mark Dobias and Laurie Schmitt
LMC: Dr. Clint Gabbard, Chris Spradlin, Larissa Hunt and Doug Schaffer
Plainwell: Sue Wakefield
Otsego: Jeffery Haase
Recorder:Lisa Currie, Otsego
Attendees introduced themselves.
1.Minutes. Jeff distributed a copy of the Minutes from the last meeting.
2.Timeline. The proposed Timeline was provided.
3.Lake Michigan College. Information has been supplied to the LMC president. LMC will need to develop a statement/plan before a proposal can be presented to its Board in January. This includes further investigation into course offerings, location of instruction, and instructors. LMC emphasized its Board supports early college opportunities for high school students.
Jeff pointed out the success of the model in effect in Newaygo County through Muskegon Community College, wherein an Associate Degree is Business or Arts is offered. Additional programs are available and are taken on the campus of MCC.
LMC is gathering the information necessary tofile an HLC application. It expects to have the application filed at the end of January, and even taking into consideration the approximate six-month wait for approval, the program could be readyfor the fall 2015 session.
LMC will meet with its Deans in December and put together a proposal to present to faculty in January. LMC builds its fall schedule in February, and reaches out to adjunct instructors in the spring. If we decide to reach out to students and families in the spring, we would have to be open with the public that we are in the application process, finalizing coursework and will attempt to provide all courses at the ACATEC.
It was mutually agreed that the Deanfor the ECAC would serve as coach, mentor and principal, work with students and parents on course selection, and follow-upwith students on a weekly basis to provide the support needed to continue participation in the program. Eventually, an additional Dean/mentor may be needed, and LMC suggested we look to private funds to support that expense.
4.AAESA. Will work on internal steps -- speaking with county superintendents and local Boards.
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Regarding space, it is estimated the program will require six classrooms at the ACATEC, as well as a suggested computer room, area for student downtime and instructional space. The latter two items are currently available as well as some classrooms. As to space for the third year, an option would be to bus those students to the South Haven campus if necessary.
5.Local Districts. Jeff provided financial breakdown information with different scenarios (with and without Dean). Books would be retained by the local districts.
Information is currently calculated according to credit hours, but will need to be recalculated using “contact hours”. 3 credit hours translate to 4 contact hours. In addition, an Associate Degree typically requires 64 credits (our current financials are based on 59 credits).
6.Next Steps. Our next meeting will be held in mid-January. Local districts will need a guarantee on tuition rates prior to presenting the ECAC proposal to their Boards.
Discussion was held about possible resources for funding the primary Dean position – local districts may look to organizations such as Perrigo or Kellogg to offset this cost.