Current Program

Students enroll in Electronics Technology courses to meet requirements for transfer to a four-year institution, to obtain a degree or certificate, for retraining or upgrading employment skills and to receive industry certifications. In recent years many factors have influenced the course of the program, including changes in population, economic conditions and student interests, changes in the college's budget and in students' basic skill levels, changes in technology and the increasing use of technology, calendar changes and the addition of weekend classes at the college.

Degrees and Certificates - Associate in Science degrees are offered in Electronics Communications and Microcomputer Technology. Certificates of Completion are offered in Electronic Communications, Consumer Electronics Technician, Electronics Engineering Technology and Electronics Technology.

Personnel - At this time the following personnel are employed to support the Electronics Technology program: eight full-time faculty, eight part-time faculty, two full-time classified employees, one short-term classified employee and two student employees. There is an immediate and urgent need for an electronics (calibration lab) technician and laboratory assistants.

Teaching Methodologies - Lecture, lecture/lab, lecture/demonstration, lab, and some online teaching methods are used. Self-paced, service based and computerized instruction also are used, as industry certification programs require Internet access and are service based.

Technology -CISCO CCNA Networking classes are offered online at this time, and a new Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) / Computer Based Training (CBT) course is offered in "Electronics Workbench."

Equipment - The following items of equipment are in need of repair or replacement at this time: oscilloscopes, signal generators, multimeters, power supplies, function generators, spectrum analyzers, desk top computers, network cabling trainers and high tech routers.

Facilities - The location, size and condition of program facilities are adequate for the present offerings.

Future Program

The Electronics Technology program will need to adapt within the next ten years to changing conditions in curriculum development, technology, teaching methods, student academic preparation, the college's recruitment strategies and facilities.

Enrollment in the program is expected to increase at the same rate as the overall college enrollment, due to greater outreach and greater demand, and partnerships and articulation agreements with other institutions. See Program Projections.

Degrees and Certificates - No additional degrees or certificates are planned at this time.

Personnel - See Projected Faculty and Staff Needs.

Teaching Methodologies - In the future, greater use of multi-media and Internet based learning will be made.

Technology - Alternative delivery systems, such as online courses and interactive video, will become part of course offerings as the technology is more widely available.

Equipment - Desktop computers, C-Tech network and fiber optic cabling need to be replaced within five years. Labs need cordless phones, the workroom needs a color scanner, and the office needs a shredder, fax machine and high-volume copy machine.

Facilities - Within the next five years, all labs should be equipped with Internet access and e-mail capabilities. All offices, classrooms and large lecture rooms require Internet access e-mail capabilities, multi-media capabilities and electronic interactive whiteboards.

Staff Development - Opportunities for instructors to interface

with industry employers would be beneficial to staff and students.

Special Recommendation
The department should explore alternative delivery systems, including adding more convenient class times, to provide more opportunities for students to access the program. Staffing levels would vary depending on these changes.