To provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills related to the science of human behavior that support both transfer and career pathways and inspire success in a complex and diverse global world.
FA2016 (1 semester) - 175.27 FTES, 53 sections, 1,710 students Faculty- 2 Full time (1 retiring May18); 12 Associate The Psychology Program at Butte College provides core curriculum for students working towards degrees across the college. Psychology courses meet General education transfer requirements and are part of the largest completion major at Butte College, Social and Behavioral Sciences. The Psychology AA-T was one of the first at Butte College and has graduated over 100 majors since it was established in 2012. Last May, 2017, 55 students completed the Psychology AA-T degree. We have a close alliance with Chico State and 85% of the 330 students who transferred to the Psychology Program at Chico State between 2009-2017 came from Butte College. Students working toward completion in Butte’s Nursing, EMT and other medical education programs comprise nearly half of the students in Psy1, as one-quarter of the questions on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) for nurses and medical professionals are now based on introductory psychology and sociology coursework. The Peace and Conflict Resolution Certificate program provides students with skills in mediation and communication highly valued by business. We also offer a concurrent enrollment course and have developed an Honors Psy1: Principles course course that will be offered SP19. Psychology continually works to stay abreast of ways to foster student success and are now developing a fully ONLINE AA-T major pathway as well as a zero-textbook cost pathway targeted for SP19.
Psychology assesses both course and program learning objectives regularly and uses the data for ongoing improvement. Outcomes currently being addressed include
FA2016 Program Review Data (1 semester, not including Winter or Summer)
175.27 FTES
53 sections, 1,710 students55 students graduated with a PSY AA-T major in May 2017
Psychology anchors program development in the Butte College Strategic Initiatives. A few highlights
1. e. Completion and g. Technology. Psychology fosters student completion and academic achievement by maintaining high standards of excellence in teaching, using learning outcome data to make effective changes to pedagogy and curriculum; and encouraging the use of Canvas to foster communication and technological competence.
1. f. Strategic Scheduling. Psychology responded to data and research findings by increasing online course offerings and is now developing a fully online AA-T
2.a. Student Engagement and 2.c, Wellness. Every semester for over 20 years, Butte students have had the opportunity to experience supervised peer counseling sessions with Chico State Masters students in Counseling Psychology who are at the internship stage of their training. An average of 15-20 Butte student participate each semester and report it as an valuable personal and educational experience. The Butte Psychology Club, active since 2016, meets regularly and connects students with educators, professionals and fellow students from CSUC and the surrounding community.
6. Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness, is always a core part of our coursework and professional praactices. We are making a converted effort as a department to improve access by offering a zero textbook cost AA-T pathway by Sp2019.
Our goal is to make signitifanct stides in 1.b, Connection, in the coming year.
RECOMMENDATIONS OUTSTANDING
- Hire a 4th Full-time Faculty. While a fourth full-time faculty was hired in 2014, the retirement of a senior member in May18 will bring the full -time faculty down back down to three.
- Increase the department budget to keep up with current prices and in alignment with the size and growth of the program
- Procure current teaching materials for BioPsychology
- Develop a way to support and track AA majors
Completed
1. Build enrollment and increase FTES by 3% in 2018/19
2. Increase AA-T major completion rates by 30%
3. Update equipment needs to meet currency in the the STEM science courses BioPsy and Research Methods
4. Develop and publicize Psychology career and transfer information to increase student retention and completion rates
5. Hire 2 full-time faculty essential to sustaining the strength of the program and support program growth
6. Increase online course offerings from 13 online courses offered in SP18 to16 by FA18, and 18 courses by SP19 when we roll out the fully ONLINE PsyAA-T
Strategy 1 - Build enrollment and Increase FTES by 3% in 2018/19
- Add 5 ONLINE course offerings 2018/19 to meet student demand (from 13 to 18 online courses by FA18)
- Launch the fully ONLINE Psychology AA-T program by Spring 2018
- Offer at least 1 section of every class in the major with zero textbook costs by Spring 2018
- Develop an outreach and recruitment program to visit local high schools with the goal of 10 visits each year
- Create 2-3 inviting instructional videos designed to inspire interest in PSY that can be shared in various venues (classes, on the Butte College website, YouTube, presentations, etc)
Increase access and enrollments by diversifying the ways students can meet GE requirements by offering at least course in the degree with zero textbook costs. This will enhance access for economically disadvantaged students. Using social media to connect with students and inform them about psychology activities will be a tool to both draw in new students and encourage the success of current students.
Strategy 2 - Increase AA-T major completion rates by 30%
- Maximize the Psychology Club as a tool to support student success with mentoring, community building and educational opportunities
- Establish methods and utilize technology to track, connect with and encourage retention of current and graduating PSY AA-T majors
- Establish a Psychology Department webpage as a regular tool to connect and communicate with PSY majors and students interested in the program
Supports Strategic Direction 2. Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff success by creating a culture of meaningful interactions with students, engaging students in campus life, maximizing social media to connect with students and empowering students to be active agents in their educational experience.
Strategy 3 - Update equipment and technology for courses in BioPsy and Research Methods
Bio pacs that include brain models, a nervous system skeleton, sheep brains for dissection and brain games and standard curriculum tools in BioPsychology classes.
Brain models and research toolkits are needed to stay current in best practices in teaching PSY 7, Biological Psychology and Research Methods.
Strategy 4 - Develop and share career pathway information that increases student retention and completion rates
- Create a department website that provides students with clear direction on careers in the field, transfer information for specific schools and ways connect and encourage students
- Host an annual Psychology Career Day that provides opportunities for current students to interface with representatives from CSUC and local health professionals
- Develop a plan to provide students with work-experience opportunities in the field
- Organize annual advisory meetings with Nursing, Criminal Justice and Child Development to stay abreast of evolving needs and requirements
- Continue to regularly meet with CSUC Psychology Department to coordinate programs and opportunities for students
- Build new connections with other local colleges such as Sacramento State and Sonoma State
Meets Strategic Direction 1. Enhancing a culture of completion and acadmic achievement by using guided pathways to assist and encourage students; collaborating with industry and external agencies to ensure programs are relevant and meeting current needs.
Strategy 5 - Hire two-full time faculty essential to sustaining the strength of the program and support program growth.
1. One who specializes in Biological Psychology and Research Methods. These areas require special exptertise that is very difficult to find. The Psychology program at Chico State has asked that we increase sections of these courses. Our offerings of Psy3, BioPsy and Psy7, Research Methods are at capacity. Technical career opportunities in neuroscience are increasing. We could offer additional sections but associate faculty with expertise in Biological Psychology are not often available.
2. One faculty member with skills in General Psychology, Sociocultural Studies and Conflict Resolution to replace the retirement of senior faculty member Christine Wood.
Psychology has long been stretched to maintain a large and productive division with a lean full time faculty ratio. Increasing offerings in BioPsy and Research Methods and achieving the growth outlined will require an adequate number of full time faculty dedicated to the program and student success.
Strategy 6 - 6. Increase online course offerings from 13 online courses offerd in SP18 to 16 by FA18, and 18 courses by SP19
Supports Strategic Directive to increase access and opportunities for student success, support goals to increase enrollments by +4% in 2018-2019 and maximizng the use of technology for learning.
Psychology is working with Suzanne Wakim and the Open Education Resource program to provide an AA-T degree pathway for students with zero-textbook cost courses by SP19. The grant provides stipend funds for individual faculty members who are curating open source texts and shifting course curriclum to an open source modality.
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Psychology | Personnel | 11-000-612-1-200100 | 51110 | $0.00 | $109,877.00 |
| New Full Time Faculty Hires | Hire one full-time faculty who specializes in Biological Psychology and Research Methods. These areas require special expertise that is very hard to find. The Psychology program at Chico State has asked that we increase sections of these courses. Our offerings of Psy3, BioPsy and Psy7, Research Methods are at capacity. Technical career opportunities in neuroscience are increasing. We could offer additional sections but associate faculty with expertise in Biological psychology are very difficult to find. 2. One faculty member with skills in General Psychology, Sociocultural Studies and Conflict Resolution to replace the retirement of senior faculty member Christine Wood. |
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| 2 | Psychology | Personnel | 11-000-612-1-200100 | 51110 | $0.00 | $109,877.00 |
| Hire Full time Faculty member | Hire one full-time faculty member with skills in General Psychology, Sociocultural Studies and Conflict Resolution to replace the retirement of senior faculty member Christine Wood. In Fall 2016, Psychology offered 53 sections with 1.710 students and generated over 50 FTES. We have implemented new programs like the online AA-T and have outlined a growth strategy that meets Strategic Directives. The new hire will ensure that the program maintains high quality standards of student focus and provide the leadership to move the program forward. |
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| 3 | Psychology - Social & Behavioral Sciences | 11-000-612-1-200100 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Increase Chair reassigned time | An increase in Chair reassigned time by 20% is very important to ensure the ongoing strength of this large and highly productive department. The program is growing with new programs including AA-T degrees, online courses and Career Guided Pathways to manage. The requirements of the job done well are well beyond the allocated time already. |
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| 4 | Psychology | Equipment | 11-000-612-1-200100 | 56410 | $4,400.00 | $0.00 |
| Computer equipment | Life cycle replacement for faculty Dell computer (1 ea. @ $1200), Mac computer monitor (1 ea. @ $400), Dell laptop computer (1 ea. @ $1200) for department outreach events and concurrent enrollment course at Willows High School (where there is no technology available), (4 ea. @ $400) iPads for use by instructors of the online AA-T and select research programs for the Psy7 Research class. |
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| 5 | Psychology | Operating Expenses | 11-000-612-1-200100 | 51240 | $4,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Career Pathway Map, Promotion and Outreach | Develop Psychology Career Map and transfer Guided Pathway promotion materials; produce a Psychology Career Day to build awareness about career paths and connect students to local educators and local professionals; develop a Psychology Department website to connect with and support student success; Organize an "easy outreach booth" to take to high schools and campus events. Materials: banners, and promotional materials; brain games, student assistants, associate faculty stipends for research and web site development. Strategies include: - Maximize the Psychology Club as a vehicle to support student success with mentoring, community building and educational opportunities of the Butte College community - Establish methods and utilize technology to track, connect with, and encourage retention of current and graduating PSY AA-T majors - Establish a Psychology Department website as a regular tool to connect and communicate with majors and students interested in the program |
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| 6 | Psychology | Operating Expenses | 11-000-612-1-200100 | 56411 | $900.00 | $0.00 |
| Development and Equipment for launching Online AA-T | Increase access and recruit students who might not be able to attend college by developing online courses at the pace of demand and launching the online Psy AA-T by Sp 2019. Conduct 1-day training symposium with faculty who are part of the online AA-T degree to coordinate and strategize ensuring retention, ways to build a cohort experience for students and hybrid options - faculty stipends and refreshments - $500 Develop promotional materials and Identify unique markets to share with students who may not be aware of this the opportunity - $400 Outcome: increase NEW student enrollments through high quality online AA-T program launched in Sp 2018 |
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| 7 | Psychology | Equipment | 110006121200100 | 54300 | $1,500.00 | $0.00 |
| BioPack lab equipment standard in BioPsychology course | BIOPac classroom kits for use in the PSY3, Biological Psychology are common tools used in Biological Psychology courses to adequately prepare students for upper division study. Funds would also be used to purchase a skeletal representation of the nervous system, brain model puzzle kits and large-scale neuroanatomy posters. |
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