Texas Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) 1995 – 2012

Before the WECM Approximately 33,000 CTE courses were individually approved and on college “inventories” across the state. Difficulties with portability of credits to and from Texas community and technical colleges. Difficult for employers to determine levels and content of training received by students from various colleges. Other state agencies had to individually approve courses

What is the WECM? Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) The WECM is a web accessible database of preapproved courses for use by the State’s community and technical colleges. Housed and funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Managed by the WECM Project Staff Overseen by the WECM Leadership Committee Maintained by community and technical college faculty at Annual Course Review WECM Workshops

Why Do We Need the WECM? Consolidation and standardization of workforce courses across the state (33,000 then, 17,000 now) Ensure that curriculum remains current and aligned with industry needs Allow for portability of credit between Texas community and technical colleges Provide for a mechanism to allocate state contact hour reimbursement dollars Provide assurances and accountability to the legislature for workforce training dollars

What is the WECM Project? An ongoing evolving process A “field driven” process A website and database maintained by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board A catalog of courses, not programs A network of workforce higher education professionals from across the state of Texas

What is the WECM Protocol? A document published on the WECM website that reflects decisions made in the creation of the WECM and those made by both the THECB and the WECM Leadership Committee since that time. It addresses course structure and course types, course review workshop models, the roles of professionals in the WECM maintenance, and the composition and operation of the WECM Leadership Committee. http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/UndergraduateEd/WorkforceEd/wecm2000/WECMProtocolManual.pdf

Who Keeps it Going? WECM Project Staff–daily operation & WECM Workshops WECM Leadership Committee – oversee maintenance and maintain WECM Protocol TACE WECM Committee–review CE ST & LN WECM Workshops – review courses within a CIP code approx. every 3 years, typically in the summer Facilitators – college administrators (CE or credit) Instructional Specialist – college faculty (CE or credit) Data Specialist THECB – assist in maintenance, maintain database

Why Review a WECM Course? The review, revision, creation and archiving of WECM courses is done consistently and according to the WECM Protocol. Triggers for a WECM Course Review include the number of local need and special topics courses submitted since last review, changes in technology, changes in external agency requirements, State curriculum initiatives, etc.

WECM Course Review Workshops Past course selection method Three-year rotation for courses within a CIP. Special Topics/Local Needs courses within the CIP. CIPs that were affected by the various triggers were added as appropriate. A “mish-mash” of courses being reviewed any given year.

WECM’s Purpose Ongoing maintenance of a catalog of courses for career and technical programs in community and technical colleges in Texas.

WECM Task Force Develop a better process to group courses for review Career Clusters Career Pathways Programs of Study

WECM Task Force Within a Career Cluster: (Ruffling, 2010). the foundation level knowledge and skills extend to all pathways within the cluster then at the pathway level there is another common group of knowledge and skills the specialty level the skills are unique to a pathway. (Ruffling, 2010).

16 Career Clusters- The sixteen career clusters provide an organizing tool

WECM Task Force Career Clusters and Programs of Study Develop a better process to group courses for review Career Clusters and Programs of Study Allow review of Common Courses with Instructional Specialists from Programs of Study Data evaluation required

Common Course Example

WECM Task Force Develop a better process to group courses for review Career Clusters and Programs of Study Allow review of Common Courses with Instructional Specialists from Programs of Study Continue to use triggers ST/LN submissions Certification/Licensure changes WECM Comments Emerging Technologies Etc.

WECM Task Force Develop a better process to group courses for review Career Clusters and Programs of Study Allow review of Common Courses with Instructional Specialists from Programs of Study Continue to use triggers 2. Evaluate the workshop format New Format – begin 2012

WECM Task Force New Format – begins 2012 Workshop format - Day 1 Half–day facilitator training

WECM Task Force Workshop format - Day 2 – Instructional specialists arrive 1. Orientation to workshop review procedures Protocol CIP Codes Rubrics Course Titles Course Descriptions End – of – Course Outcomes Career Clusters Programs of Study Common Course Review 2. Course review begins

WECM Task Force Workshop format - Day 3 Course Review TEKS Review – assist Texas Education Agency with mandated task of making changes to TEKS standards

WECM Task Force 1. Develop a better process to group courses for review Career Clusters and Programs of Study Allow review of Common Courses with Instructional Specialists from Programs of Study Continue to use triggers 2. Evaluate the workshop format New Format – begin full implementation with 2012 workshops Assist Texas Education Agency with mandated task of making changes to TEKS standards – began with 2011 workshops

WECM Task Group Questions? Jeffrey Parks Dean of Industrial and Applied Technology San Jacinto College jeffrey.parks@sjcd.edu Garry Tomerlin Director of Academic Analysis Tarrant County College garry.tomerlin@tccd.edu Dawn Finley WECM Project Director Midland College dfinley@midland.edu