|
Agriculture
Ron Nishinaka, Lead Discipline Faculty
Reedley College
Summary of Identified
Issues
As reported in last year's IMPAC Annual Report, five discipline
areas of Agriculture- Agribusiness, Animal Science, Environmental
Horticulture, Mechanized Agriculture, and Plant Science-have
written and updated statewide model curriculum since the early
1990's with grants from the California Community College Chancellor's
Office. Through additional grants, a Course Articulation Number
System Project was initiated by Modesto Junior College that
identified specific course articulation for each curriculum
area with assigned California Community Colleges Agriculture
Course Articulation Numbering System (CCCAgCAN Number).
At this year's Regional Meetings in Oakland, Fresno, Sacramento,
and Cerritos, and the Statewide Conference, participants were
given an opportunity to review last year's Annual Report along
with an update on the on-going work of the California Community
College articulation and curriculum projects. The process
and requirements for obtaining California Articulation Numbers
were discussed with IMPAC Lead Faculty Coordinator Kate Clark
and Articulation Officer Russell Mitchell at the regional
meeting, and CAN Director Jose Michel at the Statewide Conference.
Identified Trends/Future
Directions
As an outcome of the California Post-Secondary Agriculture
Articulation Collaborative (CPAAC) Meeting in Monterey on
November 29, 2001, one-third of the statewide model curriculum
(23 of the 68 total courses) is currently being updated and
edited. These courses include:
Agri-Business
Farm Management (CCCAgCANS 125)
Agriculture Economics (130)
Agricultural Accounting (135)
Animal Science
Introduction to Animal Science (CCCAgCANS 205)
Beef Cattle Science (210)
Dairy Cattle Science (215)
Equine Science (220)
Livestock Feeds and Nutrition (240)
Environmental Horticulture
Introduction to Environmental Horticulture (CCCAgCANS 305)
Plant Materials and Usage I (310)
Plant Materials and Usage II (315)
Plant Propagation and Production (320)
Landscape Maintenance (335)
Mechanized Agriculture
Introduction to Mechanized Agriculture (CCCAgCANS 405)
Tractor Operation (410)
Farm Machinery (415)
Agriculture Welding (420)
Small Engines (425)
Plant Science
Agronomy/Field Crops (CCCAgCANS 610)
Vineyard Production and Management (630)
Soil Science (635)
Fertilizers and Soil Amendments (645)
Introduction to Fruit Science (685)
Each of the discipline chairs and their committee members
will be meeting with CSU and UC representatives at the Second
Annual CPAAC Conference on June 23, 2002 at Cal Poly SLO.
They will be reviewing the course outline updates and current
articulation agreements with continued discussion on new agreements.
The group will also be asked to identify any intersegmental
issues that may exist in the Agriculture discipline. Modesto
Junior College, through a California Community College Chancellor's
Office grant, will facilitate this activity.
Other discussion at the Regional Meetings included the California
Community College Chancellor's Office Curriculum Grants in
Forestry/Natural Resources, Viticulture, Vegetable Production,
Enology, and Equine Science; Agriculture-Natural Resources-Horticulture
Courses for General Education Requirements; and High School
Coursework/Pathways for College Credit.
Comments from Statewide Meetings and the General Field
One college shared an interest in developing Agriculture Issues
and Policies, and Environmental Laws Courses. Another suggested
that we look into developing a transfer grid sheet listing
biology, chemistry, and math course requirements for each
of the four-year universities. And one felt that Articulation
Officers should be invited to the CPAAC Conference at Cal
Poly SLO in June.
There were several questions on the California Community
College Agriculture Course Articulation Numbering System Grant
Grid Sheet and the status of articulated courses with the
respective CSUs and UCs. It was noted that over 60 courses
have been articulated and are in the process of finalization
by the four-year institutions, and that the community colleges
need to individually follow-up with their traditional articulation
process to complete the overall process.
In cross discipline discussions, our group joined Biology,
Science Cluster I, and SCIGETC sessions and had the opportunity
for dialogue on their subject areas. The Lead Discipline Faculty
also attended the Chemistry, Business, Geography, Nursing,
and the new Engineering discipline sessions. No key intersegmental
issues surfaced during these discussions.
Recommendations
for the Discipline
It was recommended that the 13 courses on the Descriptors
List that meet the CAN guidelines be submitted to CAN for
official numbers. This is an important item and will be completed
with the assistance of the director of CAN.
Recommendation
for Support Courses
See Identified Trends/Future Directions for new Curriculum
projects and activities.
Topics for Further
Discussion
Several are listed above, but discipline chairs, committee
members, and UC representatives will be surveyed at the June
CPAAC Conference; discuss topic as an agenda item at the CATA
Community College Division curriculum session; and review
and obtain input from the State Agriculture and Natural Resources
Advisory Committee. Agriculture faculty will continue to meet
in these alternative venues and will forward, as necessary,
any additional findings for review at IMPAC's statewide meeting
in April.
Recommendations
Forwarded / To Be Forwarded To:
The 13 courses on the Descriptors List that meet the CAN guidelines
will be forwarded to CAN for official numbers.
IMPAC Outreach Presentations Made By Members of This Group
Organization Date/Place Presenter's Name Number Present
Calif. Post-Secondary Agriculture 11/29/01 Hilton Hotel Ron
Nishinaka 20 Articulation Collaborative Meeting Monterey
Calif. Community College Midwinter 12/1/01 -Hilton Hotel
Ron Nishinaka 60
Institute Monterey Jeff Tassey
State Agriculture & Natural Resources 2/8/02 - Marie
Callenders Ron Nishinaka 15
Advisory Committee Meeting Fresno
Calif. Post-Secondary Agriculture 6/23/02 -Cal Poly SU Ron
Nishinaka 25 (Est.)
Articulation Collaborative Conference San Luis Obispo
Calif. Ag. Teachers Assn. Summer 6/24/02 - Cal Poly SU Ron
Nishinaka 20 (Est.)
Conference - Community College Division San Luis Obispo
Curriculum Session
|
