Program Review-Agriculture & Food Technology

AP Full Official:Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture and Food Technology

Campus: Pohnpei Campus

Completed by: Charles Aiseam

AP Review Submission Date:March 28 2014

AR Review Cycle: Fall 2012- 2014

Program Mission

The mission of the Agriculture and Food Technology (AFT) certificate program is to prepare students to become farmers or for employment in different various agriculture and food technology related areas or for the pursuit of advanced degrees in agriculture or food technology at COM-FSM or abroad by educating them in the fundamental concepts, knowledge, and laboratory/field techniques and skills of agriculture and food technology.(Recommended)
Program Goals
1. Demonstrate an overall knowledge of the crop production process,
2. Practice good agricultural management and marketing skills,
3. Identify and demonstrate the fundamentals of food processing, preparation techniques, the relationship between the scientific principle and cooking procedures
4. Identify and demonstrate the basic skills and principles of swine and poultry production techniques, including breed selection, feed, housing, management techniques and animal health,
5. Apply the basic skills and knowledge of nursery micro-propagation practices, transplanting, harvesting, and maintenance,
6. Identify the proper use of land for agriculture purposes, local ornamental, and turf management.
Program History

The Agriculture and Food Technology Certificate of Achievement (AFT) was dormant for many years even though the program already existed. Students were not interested in getting a certificate in the program. Farming was considered dirty and parents talked their kids out of enrolling into the program. As the AFT lay dormant it also affected the degree program at COM-FSM National Campus.
In 2008 program started again with the assistant of the US Department of Agriculture Resident Instruction in the Insular Areas CariPac project which funded the Coordinator. The program re-opened with 10 students. This has progressed over the years and so far 53 students have graduated with a certificate in AFT from 2010 to 2013.
Program Descriptions

Agriculture and Food Technology Certificate of Achievement offers courses that are aligned with the degree program offered at COM-FSM National Campus. The program focuses on training of students to continue on to the degree program and it also prepares student for the work force. Students will be able to take on jobs such as technicians or farming depending on their choices for the future.
With the increasing complexity of technology and the competitiveness of the export market, trained agriculture technicians are in demand. The program aims to prepare individuals to enter the agriculture profession in the public or private sector
Knowledge of agricultural production processes and good communication and management skills will enable students, to become extension agents and farmers that will be able work in all phases of food production.
Program Admission Requirements

As per college policy for admission to Certificate of Achievement programs.
Program Certificate/Degree Requirements

Certificate of Completion
        General Education Requirements....................13 credits

                 CA 095 Basic Computer Applications (3)
                 ESL 050 Technical English 050 (3)
                 MS 104 Technical Math I (4)
                 SC 098 Survey of Science (3))

Technical Requirements..........................21 or 22 credits
         AG 084 Basic Crop Production (4)
         AG 096 Field Internship (5)

Plus a minimum of 12 credits from the following:

                 AG 086 Micro-Propagation (4)
                 AG 088 Landscaping (3)
                 AG 090 Principles of Food Processing (3)
                 AG 092 Swine and Poultry Production (3)
                 AG 094 Farm Management and Marketing (3)

TTotal Requirements.........................34 -35Credits

Program Courses and Enrollment

Course#	Course Title	# of Sections	# of Students	Semester offered
AG 084	Crop Production:	2	25-30	fall
AG 096	Ag. Internship	1	20-30	Summer
AG 088	Landscaping:	2	25-30	fall
AG 092	Poultry Production:	2	25-30	Spring
AG 094	Farm Management:	2	25-30	Spring
AG 086	Micro-Propatation:	2	25-30	Spring
AG 090	Food Processing:	2	25-30	Fall

Program Faculty

Instructor	Position	Degrees Held	Status
Charles Aiseam	Instructor	AS in Gen. Agriculture (COM-FSM) BS in Tropical Agriclture (University of Guam)	Full time Faculty

Engly Ioanis	Instructor	BS in Agriculture MS in Animal Science	Part-time Faculty

Instructor to Student ratio:
Fall 2012: 2 instructors for 98 students
Spring 2013: 1 instructor for 130 students
Fall 2013: 1 instructor for 126 students
Spring 2014: 1 instructor for 130 students

Program Indicators

1. Assessment of course student learning outcomes of program courses

https://comfsm.tracdat.com/tracdat/faces/assessment/reports/au.jsp

2. Assessment of program student learning outcomes

https://comfsm.tracdat.com/tracdat/faces/assessment/reports/au.jsp

3. Program enrollment (historical enrollment patterns, student credits by major)

Course	Fall 2012	Spring 2013	Summer 2013	Fall 2013	Spring 2014	Total
AG 084: Basic Crop	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered	26	27	53
AG086: Micro-propagation	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered	N/A
AG088: Landscaping	55	Not offered	Not Offered	24	23	102
AG090: Food Processing	28	29	Not Offered	Not Offered	55	112
AG094: Farm management and marketing	Not Offered	28	Not offered	54	Not offered	82
AG092: Swine and Poultry production	Not Offered	57	Not Offered	22	Not Offered	79
AG096: Field Internship	15	16	2	Not Offered	25	58
Total Enrollment	98	130	2	126	130	486

None is provided by IRPO. Overall total enrollment in the program is increasing e.g., 98 in fall2012 to 130 in spring 2014. Course enrollment appears to fluctuate, but this is simply a result of course not being offered for several courses.

4.Average class size

Program	Term	Section	EnrollMax	Enrollment	EnrollRatio	Avg Class Size
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Fall 2011	14	343	253	73.8%	18.1
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Fall 2012	16	362	289	79.8%	18.1
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Fall 2013	16	384	316	82.3%	19.8
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Spring 2011	11	289	207	71.6%	18.8
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Spring 2012	16	386	250	64.8%	15.6
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Spring 2013	15	381	242	63.5%	16.1

This is a data provided by IRPO. It shows the results of all state campuses that offered AFT certificate programs. Data trend doesn’t increases and decreases but it fluctuates.

5.Course completion rate

Course Completion & Withdrawals (Major)

Major	Degree	Term	Students	ABC or P%	ABCD or P%	W %
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	Fall 2012	480	70.0%	81.5%	7.1%
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	Fall 2013	411	67.4%	79.6%	5.6%
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	Fall 2013	507	68.2%	83.0%	4.1%
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	Spring 2012	366	60.4%	71.9%	8.2%
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	Spring 2013	414	58.5%	71.5%	15.5%

Course Completion & Withdrawals (Program)

Program	Term	Students	ABC or P%	ABCD or P%	W %
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Fall 2011	264	68.9%	81.8%	6.8%
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Fall 2012	302	74.5%	84.1%	5.5%
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Fall 2013	329	68.1%	82.7%	4.4%
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Spring 2011	216	65.3%	80.6%	8.1%
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Spring 2012	270	63.7%	73.3%	11.5%
Agriculture and Food Technology (CA)	Spring 2013	295	60.0%	70.8%	12.7%

Data provided by IRPO and is based on results from all state campuses. It shows that number of students completing the program is increasing from Fall 2011 to Spring 2013. As well as number of withdrawals. Number of withdrawals increases as a result of students passing the COMET. For instance, students who pass the COMET while majoring in AFT tends to transferred immediately down to degree program and never complete the certificate program.

6. Student persistence rate (semester to semester) & Student retention rate (Fall-to-Fall for two-year programs; Fall-to-Spring for one-year programs)

Major Description	Degree	New Student FT 2011_3	Students 2012_1	Students 2012_3	Persistence Spring 2012%	Retention Fall 2012
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	26%	32	20	123.1%	76.9%

Major Description	Degree	New FT Fall 2012	Persisted Spring 2013	Retained Fall 2013	Persistence Spring 2013	Retention Fall 2013
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	56	57	40	101.8%	71.4%

Data is provided by IRPO and also based on all State campuses. Data shown that persistence and retention rate is decreasing as a result of students on academic probation and were unable to continue next semester. It could also be affected by number of students passing the COMET test.

7. Success rates on licensing or certification exams (CTE, TP, Nursing, etc)

N/A

8. Graduation rate based on yearly number

Major	Degree	Cohort	New Full Students	Graduation Rate 100%	Graduation Rate 150%	Graduation Rate 200%
AFT	CA	Fall 2008FT	18	11.1	33.3%	33.3%
AFT	CA	Fall 2009FT	17	23.5%	41.2%	47.1%
AFT	CA	Fall 2010FT	33	18.2%	33.3%

Graduates

Major	Degree	AY2010/11	AY2010/11	AY2012/13
Agriculture and Food Technology	CA	10	15	28

Data is provided by IRPO and also based on results from all State Campus that offered AFT certificate program. Since after re-opening the program, number of students graduated have increased over the years.

9.Students seat costk

Term	# of Credits	$/Credit	# of Students	Total
Fall 2012	14	105	98	$144,060
Spring 2013	17	115	130	$254,150
Summer 2013	5	115	2	$1,150
Fall 2013	13	115	126	$188,370
Spring 2014	18	115	130	$269,100
Grand Total				$856,830

Formula for calculating seat cost is provided by IRPO.

10. Cost of duplicate or redundant courses, programs or services

N/A

11. Students' satisfaction rate

Awaiting data from IRPO

12. Alumni data

N/A

13. Employment data and employer feedback (employer survey)

None is provided by IRPO. Data is collected through surveys completed by AFT graduates. Overall, data is insufficient as result of students didn’t show up or failed to complete or submit surveys. The survey is a form of questionnaires asking students their current situations and their plans of furthering their education.

Job Description	Number
Farm Technican	1
Government Sectors	0
Private Sectors	4
Farmer (Family-own)	4
Total	4

14.Program added or cancelled at nearby regional institutions (PCC, GCC, Hawaii schools, UOG, CMI, NMC)

N/A

15. Transfer Rate

College/Universary	# of Students
College of Micronesia-FSM	15
Universary of Guam	0
NMC, Saipan	0
GCC, Guam;	0
PCC, Palau	1
UH, Hawaii	0

None is provided by IRPO, however, the coordinator of the program and other program faculties have personal contact via email and social network with transferred alumni.

Analysis and Recommendation

Finding
This section provides discussion of information discovered as a result of the evaluation such as problems or concerns with the program and what part of the program is working well and meeting expectation.

Although total enrollment and graduation rate are rising in this program, it has become apparent that the program and course student learning outcomes needs to be revised to better suit the requirements of the program and the students. For example: Furthermore, a number of the courses SLOS are not explained well and require modifications specifically for;
ESL 050, AG 084, AG 086, AG 088, AG 090 and AG 092.

Students who completed ESL050 have shown little knowledge in writing lab reports. Lab reports is 30% of their grades in all major require courses, and failing to complete a vast majority of lab reports can result in withdrawal or failing the course. This is very evident in the increases of withdrawal rate and decreases in persistence and retention rate. Other major required courses needs modification so it can better equipped students with the needed knowledge for advance level. AFT graduates who transferred to higher level of education find it really difficult to cope with the materials being taught at higher level.

Recommendation:

This section provides recommendations from the program on what to do to improve or enhance the quality of program and course learning outcomes as well as program goals and objectives. This section should also include suggestions that describe how the program might be able to create opportunities for a better program in the future. Some examples are exploring alternate delivery mechanisms, forming external partnerships, or realigning with other programs.

Recommendations for requested courses
1. ESL 050: The required technical English needs to be modified to meet the need of the program. Preferred a higher English level to suit the program. Most of the students have tough time reading science books. Agriculture is an applied science. Most of the works used in this program are not easy to comprehend by students who completed ESL 050. To better equip students for the AS degree or work force the program needs a higher English level.
2. AG 084 Basic Crop production: - change to Crop production so it can be aligned with AG 110 and AG 128 at COM-FSM degree level which crop production.
3. AG 086 Micro-Propagation: This course is really hard for the level of students that we get in the AFT certificate. The language that is used and the lab materials that are needed for this class are expensive. We have no lab for students to actually practice what is required by the course and so we do not meet the SLO for this particular course. I recommend that we modified this course and change its title to Greenhouse management. This can be aligned with AG281 at the degree level.
4. AG 088 Landscaping:-change to Plant propagation. Landscaping is a very complex area that requires basic knowledge of engineering and architecture. For instance, reading and drawing blue print in class was difficult for students to comprehend. Since they’ve never seen a blue print or worked on a blue print before. Therefore, it is highly recommended that AG88 should change the title from Landscaping to Plant propagation, which is one of the areas that we rarely covered under Basic Crop Production. Plant propagation has more areas that are essential that cannot be covered in less than 2 weeks. Plant propagation can be aligned with AG 281 at degree level.
5. AG 092 Swine and Poultry Production: change the course title to Principle of Animal Science. It is better to understand basic parts of animal before advancing into more specified parts of any specified animals.
6. AG 090: Food Processing: Change the course title to food security. Since our kitchen lab at Pohnpei Campus is too small to accommodate both AFT and HTM students, therefore, we fail to meet the course SLO and PLO. So it is recommended to change the name of the course.
7. Other recommendations for Program Learning Outcomes:
  - Some course learning outcomes did not link with the Program Learning Outcomes thus need modification.
  - All major required courses need modification so that they can be aligned with the degree program. For instance, current courses taught in AFT are missing certain areas that are also taught at the degree level.
  - Include a lab section to all agriculture courses at certificate level. Giving students more change to practice materials being taught in class hands-on.
  - Include AG 101: Introduction to Agriculture, to be part of Certificate level major requirement. The certificate level needs an introductory course to agriculture before they can advance to more specific areas in agriculture.
  - Modify SLO for SC098 to include basics to chemistry. Students having hard time understanding plant nutrients when chemistry is common in these areas. Program coordinator can work with the science department to modify SC098 before the end of Fall 2014
  - Include a higher level of English, like ESL 089 for instance, to General requirements for Certificate program. Another important part of agriculture is to report your findings. Completing only ESL 050, it was tougher for students to present their findings or even write a lab report. Program coordinator can work with the English department to modify ESL050 before the end of fall 2014.
  - Need to purchase lab equipments for lab activities. Due to lack of lab equipments, the program fail to satisfy some of their course learning outcomes that requires full understanding of performing lab experiment.
  - Create poster and brochures for program awareness. Since agriculture farmers and technicians are very demanding, it is highly recommended that the program created brochures and posters to promote the program and also improve number of enrollment.

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