The Computer Science Department houses multiple degree and certificate programs, serving both career and transfer students. For our career students, we offer multiple degree and certificate options in our Applied Computer and Networking Technologies program, including networking, programming, and system administration pathways. For our transfer students, we offer an A.S. in Applied Computer Graphics (fully articulated with CSU, Chico), an A.S. in Computer Science (fully articulated with CSU, Chico), and an A.S. for Transfer in Computer Science (aligned with Transfer Model Curriculum).
Applied Computer Graphics blends courses from Art, Computer Science, Multimedia Studies, and Radio-Television-Film to create a cutting edge multidisciplinary program. Students in Applied Computer Graphics learn to use art and technology to create interactive multimedia experiences such as video games and digital animations. The program prepares students for transfer to the Applied Computer Graphics program at California State University, Chico and provides a foundation for similar majors at other four-year colleges and universities. The Computer Networking program prepares students for industry standard certification exams and entry-level positions as computer networking professionals. The core curriculum covers networking fundamentals, WAN technologies, basic security and wireless concepts, routing and switching fundamentals, and configuring simple networks. The Computer Programming program prepares students for entry-level positions as computer programmers and web developers. The core curriculum covers the software development life-cycle, algorithms, fundamental data structures, database design, and the design, implementation, and testing of computer programs and dynamic websites. The Computer System Administration program prepares students for industry standard certification exams and entry-level positions as computer support technicians and computer system administrators. The core curriculum covers Microsoft server installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance. The Associate of Science in Computer Science for Transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor's degree in Computer Science at a CSU campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept this degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor's degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements. Students taking the required courses for this transfer major must also take the prerequisites for these courses. The combination of the required Computer Science courses and their prerequisites provide an excellent preparation for students majoring in Computer Science at the four-year university level.
New Monitors and Mounting for MC125:
A complete replacement of monitors was completed in MC125 through ICT DSN. One Large workstation monitor was best for the available space. $14,000 requested and approximately $9000 was allocated and used for new monitors. Monitors are functioning as intended.
Students are benefitting directly from the new monitors on the desktop. More workspace on screen and available area to conduct troubleshooting without having to minimize/maximize their work in progress.
Computer Science Program:
A total of 25 mobile computing devices and locked environment was acquired for mobility during training and laboratory assignments, collaborative programming and problem solving and mobility to inter-lab utilization without loss of real-time computing abilities while on campus.
Students are benefitting directly from the added devices and they are in use for multiple assignments inside many sections of CSCI courses. In addition, the devices have been made available through an check out process through the lab technician to afford added collaboration and development time outside of the classroom.
The Computer Science faculty have engaged in substantial and productive dialogue in review of our assessment results. In addition to our purposeful discussions at the start of each semester, as a follow up to the assessment activities of the prior semester, we discuss assessment plans, strategies, and results at our monthly department meetings. Finally, we have engaged in lengthy and focused discussion of assessments during two scheduled department meetings in the fall of 2017. The above information was taken from the Planned Improvement area of the Program Level Outcomes report from the SLO module. The Computer Science program has been engaged in ongoing improvements with curriculum review and with the hire of two new faculty, planned improvements have come to priority with focused assessments and new strategies to improve outcomes at the course level.
The CSCI program is in compliance with the standard. It is the intention of the Computer Science for transfer program to continue to work with the UC and CSU to align curriculum and to create as many articulation agreements as possible. From all involvement with the UC and CSU, it has been reported that Butte College has a good offering of lower division computer science curriculum that is relevant and that follows good education practice and it will continue to be the efforts of dedicated faculty to drive such results to continue building a favorable reputation. We expect that the projection and improvement goals to be very much something that can be met if not bettered in the coming academic years’ goal sets.
| 2012FA | 62.85% | |
| 2013FA | 68.21% | |
| 2014FA | 76.87% | |
| 2015FA | 71.84% | |
| 2016FA | 68.92% | |
Success rates for CSCI are at the high end of the range over the past four years (62.8%76.9%). From program review, industry input and work with the UC and CSU, it is clear that the success rates are in line with the rigor and depth mandated by good practice but the limitation to available resources including improved computing and lab facility is impeding success. Degree production is increasing for both programs and is driven by sustained demand in the market place AND is mimicked in our own need for additional support. CSCI is NOT a boutique or nice-to-have program but a vibrant and necessary skills-producing, job-producing and transfer producing success. Degree and certificate completions can be and will be increased as we are able to grow resources proportionally with demand. Focused Persistence and fill rates for CSCI are high but continue to be a challenge with the nature of everchanging landscapes in the computing industry. We see many whom we consider “surgical” completers – that is that they take a necessary class to fulfill an immediate need or employment improvement then leave. We are now paying attention to data supplied by the Completers/Leavers Survey. The rates for software development completions and employment rates remain at a sustained high level. Infrastructure and Support data are relatively low and suggest that the lower rates may reflect a high degree of self-employment among alumni in this area but also reflect the low density of computing infrastructure need due to geographic proximity or lack thereof and that infrastructure support has improved dramatically over time. WE continue to study and will be making all efforts to adjust and align with outcome needs as we complete scheduled program review in 2018-19.
The college supports students in their progress toward their educational goals by collaborating with industry, external agencies, and other institutions of higher education to ensure that programs are relevant and meeting current needs. The Computer science program is working directly with the UC and CSU Schools of Computer science to provide a shared guidance and oversight of curriculum that is relevant and meeting the needs of higher education rigor. Computer science is working with local and regional industries to develop computer science programming that is relevant and needed to assure that local candidates for employment as prepared, ready and able to succeed in an employment outcome. Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness: Improving access, success, and completion of targeted student populations through the implementation of the Student Equity Plan. The Computer science program is working closely with MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) and the STEM pathways at Butte College and local high schools to develop connections and achievements of target populations identified in the current District Student Equity Plan including outreach, intern opportunities and transfer successes into computer science pathways.
The Computer Science program was subject to a complete program review in 2015-2016 as its own program. Previous results were aggregated with Computer Science and Drafting Technology and are difficult to disaggregate and stand out except the following items from previous program review:
- Replacement full time faculty to replace retiring full time faculty (Couch and Harvey).
- Continued work to develop pathways with local high schools and programs such as ROP, and recruit and retain under-represented students in our programs.
- Maintain our laboratory software and hardware so that students can be trained to industry standards, to maximize their employment potential.
- Constantly maintain and update our curriculum to ensure we are aligned with industry standards and adequately prepare our students for professional certification.
The efforts of faculty, staff and industry supporting CSCI are to be appreciated for aligning the curriculum, developing ADT degrees for transfer and a place of relevance and effectiveness. It is the intention of CSCI, Sustainable Technologies and Design department to build on the good work previously accomplished to ensure that CSCI remains in a position of prominence and importance to Butte College and the surrounding Computer Science community within higher education.
Computer Science as an instructional program has the overarching goals that include:
- Augment instruction capacity to CSCI faculty by (2) full time instructors (minimum) to reduce persistent waitlists and chronic overload condition of all current CSCI faculty.
- Conversion/transition of current full-time Lab Technician (Tasha R. Spirk) for CSDX (CSCI, DFT, SUST and ENGR) Department area from Perkins grant funded position to district/division funded position by start of academic year 2018-2019.
- Add additional lecture and laboratory spaces to every extent possible to synergize all instructional delivery with ENGR and DFT programs.
- Replace all equipment and instrumentation to current technology standards of practice for transfer and technology-based completion strands.
- Attend professional development events, education opportunities, externships and trade shows.
Strategy 1 - Full Time Faculty Positions (2) for CSCI
The Computer Science ICT and transfer program areas is currently impacted with recurring waitlists and limitations to enrollments due to a lack of full time faculty to teach additional sections. Hire full time faculty to overcome this shortfall of resources.
The Computer Science program is experiencing a sustained increase in enrollments driven by a multitude of opportunities such as guided pathways development at the high school level, an ever increasing need for effective programming, software development, development operations and ICT sustained interests by students to complete to industry and transfer with the new ADT degree transfer system Computer Science is a documented program that is very difficult to hire and find qualified associate faculty locally. The density of programming and software development is very low in the district's service region. Due to contractual limitations and despite having many programs supported by the CCCO within district facilities, we are prohibited from using the resources of these professionals to assume associate faculty roles. Academic year 2017-2018 has started with (4) full time tenured and tenure-track faculty along with (0) associate faculty in Computer Science – Programming and Software Development and (1) full time tenured and tenure-track faculty along with (1) associate faculty in Computer Science – Information Technology. The lack of associate faculty is a sustained condition that has not relented since the retirement of two computer science faculty in 2014. Most recently, this program has lost its last available associate faculty to an adjunct faculty position in the Computer Science Department at CSU Chico. It must be noted that the position taken by the previous associate faculty at Butte is a position that is assigned five active sections. The CSCI – Programming and Software Development program is seeing a sustained wait-list of 10 or more students in multiple sections of key transfer courses such as (but not limited to) CSCI-4, CSCI-20 and CSCI-21. With resources limited to current laboratory space and pedagogical caps set to 25, we cannot meet current demand for courses and continue to delay student completions. The lack of associate faculty is also indicative of the current employment in the local and regional service areas from Sacramento to Weed. Employment demand and current employment is not facilitating the retention of associate faculty and in fact at present the associate faculty “pool” is dry with no candidates in queue. Distance from population centers such as Chico, Redding and Yuba City along with professionals employed during a normal business day have made filling available sections in CSCI with associate faculty all but impossible.
Strategy 2 - Laboratory Technician
Demonstrated need for technical supprt for labs proved by program improvement funds supporting staff augmentation over past three years. Convert/transition current full-time Lab Technician (Tasha R. Spirk) for CSDX (CSCI, DFT, SUST and ENGR) Department area from Perkins grant funded position to district/division funded position by start of academic year 2018-2019.
The programs of Computer Science, Drafting Technology and Engineering are sustained by a high technology high touch of computer desktops, network interconnects within the CIT subdomain and all associated development environments, support platforms, hybridized learning environments and associated servers to support programs. This is an expansive set of responsibilities and will continue as we broaden and deepen the alignment of Engineering program and instruction to meet rigor and breadth requirements of aligned curriculum within a computer science and engineering for transfer and engineering technology based strands. Augmenting support staff including a Lab Technician already proved by staff augmentation using grant funds.
Strategy 3 - Computer Science Facilities
Augment and configure additional laboratory space necessary to resolve impacted program and lack of resource space in which to teach sections that would make with added lab space. The addition of one lab space environment would also centralize the locations of programs such as ENGR and DFT to maximize effectiveness and would synergize all instructional delivery.
CSCI program growth is limited by facility circumstances and require one additional dedicated laboratory area be added to meet growth. In addtion, centralize location of Engineering program lecture and laboratory spaces to every extent possible to synergize all instructional delivery with ENGR and DFT programs. Currently, ENGR has NO dedicated facility and shares space with Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Drafting Technology. One more properly equipped laboratory space is necessary.
Strategy 4 - Update Instructional Equipment and Computing Resources
Replace all equipment and instrumentation to current technology standards of practice of a contemporary computer science, drafting technology, sustainable technologies, engineering for transfer and engineering technology based completion strands.
Contemporary computer science and engineering programs demand the very most in equipment and computing performance including desktops, networking, interconnects and distribution and storage in server-based environments. Current equipment and computing resources DO NOT meet minimum requirements for effective programming. Replace all equipment and instrumentation to current technology standards of practice of a contemporary computer science, drafting technology, sustainable technologies, engineering for transfer and engineering technology based completion strands.
Strategy 5 - Professional Development
Faculty and staff professional development including events, workshops, training, externships and trade shows.
STEM programs mandate a continued pursuit of professional development that extends beyond local resources. Professional development keeps faculty and staff at the leading edge of development of relevant instructional programming, courses, certificates and degrees.
Facilities are the limiting factor for the CSCI program. The schedule of CSCI classes is primary to the Main campus and the Chico Center campus however the use of facilities by the DFT and ENGR programs makes scheduling a fundamentally difficult issue term over term. In addition, the limitation of scheduling to avoid current Mathematics Department and the collective Physical Sciences Department makes the limitation of computer-based laboratory space the most critical issue to solve for the Department of Computer Sciece, Sustainable Technologies and Design to solve in 2018-19.
With the continued development of technology-based programming to CSCI, TOPS codes matched to offerings allowing the potential funding sources including: Perkins funding for CTE program improvement and development, SB1070 mini-grant funding for regional program development, Proposition 39 funding to introduce energy-based programming including solar energy and wind energy course development and Stron Work Force funding for Integrated Computer Technology (ICT) STEM-based pathway development with regional K-12 districts and high schools.
| 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 | Computer Science Program | Personnel | $0.00 | $219,600.00 | ||
| Add (2) Full Time CSCI Faculty | The Computer Science program is experiencing a sustained increase in enrollments driven by a multitude of opportunities such as guided pathways development at the high school level, an ever increasing need for effective programming, software development, development operations and ICT sustained interests by students to complete to industry and transfer with the new ADT degree transfer system Computer Science is a documented program that is very difficult to hire and find qualified associate faculty locally. The density of programming and software development is very low in the district's service region. Due to contractual limitations and despite having many programs supported by the CCCO within district facilities, we are prohibited from using the resources of these professionals to assume associate faculty roles. Academic year 2017-2018 has started with (4) full time tenured and tenure-track faculty along with (0) associate faculty in Computer Science – Programming and Software Development and (1) full time tenured and tenure-track faculty along with (1) associate faculty in Computer Science – Information Technology. The lack of associate faculty is a sustained condition that has not relented since the retirement of two computer science faculty in 2014. Most recently, this program has lost its last available associate faculty to an adjunct faculty position in the Computer Science Department at CSU Chico. It must be noted that the position taken by the previous associate faculty at Butte is a position that is assigned five active sections. The CSCI – Programming and Software Development program is seeing a sustained wait-list of 10 or more students in multiple sections of key transfer courses such as (but not limited to) CSCI-4, CSCI-20 and CSCI-21. With resources limited to current laboratory space and pedagogical caps set to 25, we cannot meet current demand for courses and continue to delay student completions. The lack of associate faculty is also indicative of the current employment in the local and regional service areas from Sacramento to Weed. Employment demand and current employment is not facilitating the retention of associate faculty and in fact at present the associate faculty “pool” is dry with no candidates in queue. Distance from population centers such as Chico, Redding and Yuba City along with professionals employed during a normal business day have made filling available sections in CSCI with associate faculty all but impossible. |
|
|
|||
| 2 | Computer Science Program | Personnel | $0.00 | $45,000.00 | ||
| Lab Technician | The programs of Computer Science, Drafting Technology and Engineering are sustained by a high technology high touch of computer desktops, mobile devices, and an increasingly complex array of applications such as those from Autodesk, Solidworks, NetLabs and UC Davis C-STEM requiring continued support of hybridized learning environments and multiple lab spaces, purchasing of supplies and materials for the programs and to support programs. This is an expansive set of responsibilities and will continue as we broaden and deep n offerings in CSCI/DFT/ENGR program areas increase. |
|
|
|||
| 3 | Computer Science Department | Facilities | $25,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Additional Laboratory Space | CSCI program growth is limited by facility circumstances and require one additional dedicated laboratory area be added to meet growth. In addtion, centralize location of Engineering program lecture and laboratory spaces to every extent possible to synergize all instructional delivery with ENGR and DFT programs. Monies requested will support the remodel of space to accommodate need. |
|
|
|||
| 4 | Computer Science Program | Equipment | $75,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Netlabs Licensing | Augment NetLabs online licensing to assure adequate access to support continued Cisco networking education and associated certification preparations. |
|
|
|||
| 5 | Computer Science Program | Operating Expenses | $25,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Professional Development for CSCI Faculty and Staff | STEM programs mandate a continued pursuit of professional development that extends beyond local resources. Professional development keeps faculty and staff at the leading edge of development of relevant instructional programming, courses, certificates and degrees. |
|
|
|||
| 6 | Computer Science Program | Equipment | $25,967.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Add Dual Boot and Removable Hard Drive Bays to MC125 Computers | We are scheduled for a lab refresh of computer hardware in MC125 but the specification for the district supported refresh does not provide sufficient hardware accommodation for dual boot and hard drive bays. We require additional support to facilitate bringing new machines up to the same specification as current machines. |
|
|
|||
| 7 | Computer Science Program | Equipment | $13,353.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Add Provision for Customized Environment for CSCI Programming in MC146 | We are scheduled for a lab refresh of computer hardware in MC146 but the specification for the district supported refresh does not provide sufficient customized programming environment. We require additional support to facilitate bringing new machines up to the same specification as current machines. |
|
|
|||
| 8 | Computer Science Program | Equipment | $1,876.00 | $0.00 | ||
| HDMI KVM Switches for MC125 | We are scheduled for a lab refresh of computer hardware in MC125 but the specification for the district supported refresh does not provide sufficient hardware accommodation for HDMI KVM switches for dual boot progression. We require additional support to facilitate bringing new machines up to the same specification as current machines. |
|
|
|||
| 9 | Computer Science Program | Equipment | $5,067.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Replace Monitors in MC146 | Lab refresh for MC146 does not allow specification for sufficient monitor size for multi-window programming. Request upgrade to monitors to 27" |
|
|
|||