Judgment of Compliance: The College certifies COMPLIANCE.
Narrative:
In accordance with the North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC), the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) has approved Wayne Community College to offer 74 academic programs, including 40 associate degrees (AA, AS, AFA, and AAS programs), 14 diplomas, and 20 certificates. These programs support the college's mission to provide students with personal, marketable, and/or basic learning skills; enable students to transfer to four-year institutions; provide for the training needs of local business and industry; and enhance the quality of life in the community. Each associate degree program offered at Wayne Community College complies with the North Carolina Community College System's Curriculum Standards (Link requires internet connection.) and is based on fields of study appropriate to higher education.
All degree requirements for WCC educational programs are defined and published annually in the WCC General Catalog, in program brochures, and as individual student degree plans. These degree requirements may also be found online in the WCC Online Catalog as well as in each academic department's area at the WCC website. The catalog gives information specifying the total number of credit hours to be earned for graduation, any specified distribution of general education credits needed, and other requirements that students must meet in order to receive a degree. These requirements vary by program. The college requires that 25% of the total hours required for the associate's degree be earned through coursework taken at the college.
The program approval process requires that each potential degree program support the mission and purpose of the college. A Program of Study is developed at the local college level (adhering to state Curriculum Standards) by the faculty, department heads, and division heads of respective departments. Advisory committees assist in ensuring necessary courses are included, content is appropriate, and students are prepared for successful employment upon graduation. The Business Administration – Operations Management curriculum is an example of how input from advisory committees and employers affect the course selection and ultimate Program of Study. The advisory committee members help to ensure that graduates gain the training and education they need to meet the workforce demands of the region. Once the instructional areas finalize the new or revised Program of Study, it is submitted to WCC's Curriculum Committee, which is composed of faculty and staff representing all areas of the campus. The Curriculum Committee reviews all curriculum proposals for adherence to state and local requirements and purposes. Once the college's Curriculum Committee approves the new or revised Program of Study, the Curriculum Committee of the Board of Trustees reviews all documents and presents the Program of Study request to the WCC Board of Trustees for its approval. When approved by the WCC Board of Trustees, the Program of Study is sent to the North Carolina Community College System for its review process (Programs of Study).
The annual WCC College Planning Process also ensures that educational programs maintain their link to the purpose and goals of the institution. Each departmental objective is based on a short-range goal, which is based on a long-range goal, which, in turn, is based on the college's mission statement. A more thorough description of this process can be found in the WCC Strategic Plan Guide: Manual for Institutional Effectiveness.
The college's curriculum, therefore, follows state-mandated guidelines and is reviewed by local faculty and experts in the field to ensure appropriateness to the diploma, certificate, or degree awarded. Each program and its constituent courses are linked to the college's mission statement through program outcomes and through individual annual planning objectives.
