Honors Advisory Council
Mission
As an advisory committee to the Office of Instruction, the mission of the MiraCosta Honors Advisory Council is to provide advice and counsel to the Office of Instruction regarding Honors education. The Honors Advisory Council's job is to recommend improvements that allow the program to fulfill its mission:
The mission of the MiraCosta Honors Program is to enhance the learning environment for MiraCosta students by stimulating the learning process, integrating in-class and out-of-class experiences, and promoting an environment conducive to development and discovery.
The council's goals include facilitating the intellectual, social, occupational, and cultural development of honors students. The program offers classes, cultural events, community service activities and a variety of events aimed at increasing students’ awareness of the world and the opportunities it offers. Honors students are encouraged to be actively involved in their own education and demonstrate a high level of interest, initiative, and ability.
Ultimately, the council works to enhance the overall quality of campus life, establish a sense of community in which all students can realize their fullest potential in their quest for academic, professional, and personal excellence.
Function
The Honors Advisory Council fulfills its mission through functions including: Advising and making recommendations to the Office of Instruction, Academic Senate, academic departments and faculty in general regarding Honors education as it relates to course and program development, teaching, counseling, conference preparation, themed learning communities and outside the class community and learning opportunities.
- Serving as a resource to administration, faculty and staff on issues concerning Honors education including
- Establishing standards of entrance to and exit from the Honors Program
- Faculty support
- Student support
- Engagement with regional, state and national Honors initiatives and professional organizations.
Serving as a resource to the Academic Affairs Committee as needed to update major initiatives and changes in the Honors Program.
Serving as a resource to the Courses and Programs Committee (C&P) on curriculum policies and procedures related to Honors education.
Serving as a resource to Professional Development Program (PDP) on needs particular to professional development of faculty in Honors education.
Reporting to the Academic Senate on any issues pertaining to Honors education and areas of Senate primacy.
Composition
The Honors Advisory Council (HAC) comprises 11-14 faculty serving two-year terms and up to three students serving one-semester terms. Terms are renewable. Terms should be staggered so that no more than 60% of the committee turns over in a given year. The chair of the Honors Advisory Council is the Honors Faculty Coordinator.
The HAC’s membership includes:
- Faculty Honors Coordinator (Chair)
- Honors Administrative Dean
- Honors Administrative Secretary
- Approximately 6-9 full-time faculty, at least 60% who are actively teaching in Honors education. Faculty should be picked from a diverse spectrum of academic disciplines teaching transfer-level classes. At least three faculty members from STEM majors are recommended. It is highly desirable, but not required if faculty from CTE or pre-transfer level faculty members are included in the composition of the committee.
- At least two counselors picked from both general and transfer center counseling are required.
- 1-2 associate faculty as appointed by Senate President or designee. Preferably one connected to STEM teaching areas.
- At least three active, good standing students from the Honors Program. At least one student should be from the general population. Students are picked by the Faculty Honors Coordinator in consultation with the Honors Administrative secretary.
Meetings
For 2015-2016, the Honors advisory council will have approximately two, but sometimes three, meetings per semester. The council usually has a meeting at the beginning of every semester in August and January and then holds a mid-semester meeting in October and March. The meetings last for approximately two hours. If it is necessary, additional meetings are scheduled in November and April. Meetings are usually held on the Oceanside Campus in Room 1054. Faculty often provide additional service to the Honors Program through participation in flex week workshops, Honors Program events and student conference mentoring. Agendas for upcoming meetings are published at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
Contact Info
Christopher Sleeper is the Honors Faculty Coordinator and can be reached at csleeper@miracosta.edu or by phone at 760.208.1784 x6514. See also the Honors Program homepage for a full list of committee members.
Perkins Planning Team
Function
Perkins IV Section 134(b)(5) requires that a group of individuals be involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of CTE programs that receive Perkins Title I, Part C funds. The Local Planning Team (Perkins Planning Team) is created to involve representatives from CTE programs, business and industry in the planning and decision making process to determine program funding every year.
The Perkins Planning Team reviews each proposal to ensure that the nine requirements are addressed and includes “reasonable” expenditures allowed under Perkins IV.
The focus of Perkins IV is on program improvements that help meet the following core indicators that the college is held accountable for to the state chancellor’s office:
- Technical skill attainment
- Credential, Certificate, Degree or Transfer Ready
- Persistence and Transfer
- Employment
- Nontraditional student participation
- Nontraditional student completions
Within each of these indicators the following are measured:
- Nontraditional students
- Displaced homemakers
- Economically disadvantaged students
- Limited English proficiency students
- Single parents
- Students with disabilities
- Migrant students
Composition
Required representation includes business, industry, labor organizations, special populations, academic and CTE faculty, career guidance and academic counselors, and students. The majority of faculty should be representatives of career and technical education. Additional representatives and individuals can be added as needed for additional planning advice and expertise. There is no limitation on the number of representatives that may be appointed from each group.
Meetings
The Perkins Planning Team meets twice a year in early spring. First they meet for an annual training on the Perkins Grant and allowable expenses. The Team reviews annual funding requests and then meets in early April to discuss and finalize the annual Perkins budget.
