Texas State Technical College Harlingen offers 32 Associate of Applied Science degree awards [Ref 1] that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated purpose and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education.
The TSTC Harlingen administrator primarily responsible for Core Requirements 2.7.2 is the Vice President for Student Learning Pat Hobbs [Ref 2]. Instructional administrative staff reporting to the Vice President for Student Learning also associated with responsibilities for this Principle is the Curriculum Coordinator.
All degree programs at Texas State Technical College meet the requirement outlined in The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education (GIPWE): "A workforce education program consists of a coherent sequence of courses designed to prepare students for employment in a career field" [Ref 3].
All degree programs at Texas State Technical College are carefully reviewed both internally and externally, not only at their inception but also on a regular basis thereafter. These reviews, as stipulated in COP 3.20, Application and Approval of New Technical Programs [Ref 4], COP 3.78, Curriculum Committee [Ref 5], and COP 3.28, Curriculum Revision Review [Ref 6], incorporate the three criteria in Core Requirement 7(b):
- Coherence as discrete programs,
- Compatibility with the mission of the institution, and
- Appropriateness as a proper field of inquiry in higher education.
The Flowchart for Starting New Programs [Ref 7] illustrates the process followed at TSTC Harlingen for getting new programs approved. The Flowchart for Preparing New Program Applications [Ref 8] illustrates the process for preparing the program application to THECB. The Flowchart for Curriculum Improvements [Ref 9] illustrates the process for approving curriculum revisions.
