Notice- Farm Ranch Management

January 20-21, 2000

NOTICE OF INTENT:Approval of Proposal to implement a Two-Year, Farm/Ranch Business Management Certificate Program; Dawson Community College, Glendive, Montana.

THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes Dawson Community College to award a Certificate to any student who completed the two-year curriculum in Farm/Ranch Business Management approved by the Board.

EXPLANATION: The on-going, economic plight of farmers and ranchers throughout the United States requires supportive intervention on the part of higher education. Farm/Ranch Business Management programs of a similar nature in other states have helped to reduce the decline of family-owned/operated farms and ranches and increase their economic viability. The need to implement such a program in Montana is clear and should produce similar results. According to the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service, 27,500 farms and ranches in the State produced sales of $1,000 or more in 1998. This number has increased by one thousand since 1996. Subsequently, a substantial need and enrollment potential for this program exists. The purpose of the proposed program is to instruct farmers and ranchers how to use a personal computer and a double-entry accounting software to computerize their financial records. Being in immediate possession of up-to-date information on the financial status of the farm/ranch will provide immeasurable benefits to the owner/operator. Successful businesses are knowledgeable of their assets and liabilities and are able to assess the impact of decisions on their financial standing. This program will equip farmers/ranchers with the means to do likewise.

 ATTACHMENT A

 PROGRAM PROPOSAL

TWO-YEAR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

  DAWSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

GLENDIVE, MONTANA

I. PROPOSED PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

A. Introduction:

Dawson Community College - Glendive, proposes to initiate a Farm/Ranch Business Management Program to instruct farmers and ranchers how to use a personal computer and a double-entry accounting software to computerize their financial records. Being in immediate possession of up-to-date information on the financial status of the agricultural enterprise will provide immeasurable benefits to the owner/operator. Successful businesses are knowledgeable of their assets and liabilities and are able to assess the impact of decisions on their financial standing. This program will equip farmers and ranchers with the means to do likewise.

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II. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION:

A. Brief Description of the Proposal:

Through this proposal, Dawson Community College seeks to implement a two-year certificate program in Farm/Ranch Business Management. The curriculum will provide farmers and ranchers with the training to use a personal computer and a double-entry accounting software to computerize their financial records. The certificate will consist of 60 semester credits: fifty-four credit hours in Farm/Ranch Business Management courses and six credit hours in Agricultural Mathematics, Interpersonal Communications, and Employer-Employee Relations (two semester credits each).

B. Appropriate Within Mission and Goals Statement:

The addition of the two-year certificate program in Farm/Ranch Business Management will enhance the institution's ability to achieve two of its major goals: "To provide training to individuals in the community seeking to upgrade their job skills;" and "To provide special occupational training and skill upgrading programs responsive to the needs of local employers and service providers."

C. Need for the Program:

The on-going, economic plight of farmers and ranchers throughout the United States requires supportive intervention on the part of higher education. Farm/Ranch Business Management programs of a similar nature in other states have helped to reduce the decline of family-owned/operated farms and ranches and increase their economic viability. The need to implement such a program in Montana is clear and should produce similar results.

D. Student Demand for the Program:

According to the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service, 27,500 farms and ranches in the State produced sales of $1,000 or more in 1998. This number has increased by one thousand since 1996. Since the program is intended for individuals currently engaged in an agricultural production unit, substantial enrollment potential for this program exists.

E. Advisory Committee:

An Advisory Committee has been formed to provide input for the proposed program's development and implementation. Members of the Farm/Ranch Business Management Advisory Committee include:

F. Articulation with Public Secondary Schools:

Shortly after the program is initiated, a secondary school counterpart will be proposed to local area school districts offering agricultural education programs. As the lead, post-secondary institution of the Eastern Montana Tech Prep Consortium, Dawson Community College will be in the unique position to coordinate the creation of a "Young Farmers and Ranchers" program for high school students. Such a program will enhance the existing secondary agriculture curricula to emphasize the importance of both computing and accounting knowledge for students interested in agricultural careers.

G. Articulation with Higher Education Institutions:

The Farm/Ranch Business Management courses may be transferable to a four-year college or university offering similar courses at the lower-division, undergraduate level or advanced courses at the upper-division, undergraduate level. Since programs of a similar nature are currently unavailable in Montana, articulated transfer agreements are not warranted at this time.

H. Coordination with Other Work Force Training Sources:

At present, Dawson Community College has been unable to identify other work force training sources to complement the development and delivery of this unique program.

I. Resources:

The curriculum for the proposed program builds on the college's tradition of serving Montana residents as an exemplary provider of agricultural education at the lower-division, undergraduate level. In the main, this new program addresses the needs of individuals already engaged in the agricultural industries. Due to the unique nature of program delivery (especially the co-op and on-site instructional components), several resources needed for this program will be new to the institution.

Current resources in support of the agriculture programs offered by Dawson Community College are appropriate for the addition of this new certificate program. Again, it is important to point out that substantial portions of the proposed program will be delivered to program participants at their respective farms and ranches, not at the campus. The courses to be taught at the campus (the three support courses and the large group presentations) will not place a burden on the institution. The large lecture hall in the Ullman Center and the existing microcomputer labs will accommodate the needs for these on-campus sessions. Library resources for agriculture programs are up-to-date and in ample number to meet an increased student demand. In addition, Farm/Ranch Business Management students will be taught the use of the Internet and how to maximize this resource for their own educational benefit. In other words, access to current information on the subject matter pertinent to this program will be readily available for all interested students.

To initiate this program, one full-time faculty member will be hired. Qualifications for this position will include: educational preparation from an accredited institution (minimally, an Associate Degree in Agri-Business; preferably a Bachelor's Degree in the same field); strong microcomputer skills; competence in accounting software (minimally "Quicken;" preferably FMS Harvest "Perceptions"); teaching experience (preferably at the community college level); farming and/or ranching experience.

New instructional resources will include a laptop computer, portable printer, and a vehicle for delivering on-site program instruction. Additional start-up costs include fifteen (15) microcomputers and printers for "loaners" to program students who currently do not own such equipment.

J. Community Participation:

The DCC Farm/Ranch Business Management Advisory Committee is representative of the constituencies that will benefit most from the program farmers and ranchers, members of lending institutions, and agriculture service/product vendors. Each of these individuals will provide unique viewpoints that will benefit the development and evolution of this unique program.

K. Impact on other programs at DCC:

The addition of this program will have minimal impact on the rest of the institution. However, it will be an enhancement to the current agricultural programming at this institution. Once the program has existed for a few years and produces the expected results, the college could experience increased enrollment in other agricultural programs.

L. Evolution of the Program Concept:

The program concept was presented to the Dawson Community College Academic Affairs Committee and the Board of Trustees by the current President at separate meetings during the late summer and early fall of 1999. Both the Academic Affairs Committee and the Board of Trustees unanimously supported the creation of the program, and encouraged the administration to pursue approval by the Montana Board of Regents. The program concept was brought to Dawson Community College from Colorado where it has been one of the more successful educational ventures for rural community colleges in that state.

M. Program Costs:

The following costs are based on one (1) full-time instructor and related expenses to initiate the program.

NOTE: If program demand requires additional full-time instructors, program costs will increase accordingly (faculty compensation, cell phone, laptop and printer, 4-wheel drive vehicle, loaner microcomputers and printers, etc.)

N. Enrollment Impact and Expected Revenues:

Expected Revenue (resulting from one full-time instructor):

III. CURRICULUM

A. Curriculum Design:

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* All certificate programs are required by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Colleges to contain "a recognizable body of instruction in three program-related areas: (1) communication, (2) computation, and (3) human relations"

Three of the four Agri-Business courses (AB 141, 142, and 151) are thirteen semester credit hours each. Each of these courses consists of 192 hours of co-op instruction (5.12 credits), 64 hours of classroom instruction (4.27 credits), and 24 hours of on-site instruction (3.84 credits). The fourth Agri-Business or capstone course (AG 152) is fifteen semester credit hours: 260 hours of co-op instruction (6.93 credits), 64 hours of classroom instruction (4.27 credits), and 24 hours of on-site instruction (3.84 credits).

Contact hours for on-site and co-op components are based on a 60-minute hour, whereas the contact hours for the lecture component are based on a 50-minute hour. The number of clock hours per credit hour is 6.25 for on-site instruction and 37.5 for co-op.

Credit hours to be awarded will be supported by a course syllabus indicating the time required for each phase of the course. This will indicate the number of hours spent in class, in on-site instruction, and in co-op. Each student will be required to document time spent in the co-op phase; this can be in the form of a diary or daily log. The documentation by the instructor will include class meeting times, attendance records, one-to-one/on-site meeting dates and notes from the discussion.

For students successfully completing the two-year curriculum and desiring professional renewal/upgrade in this field, a four-credit course (AB 175 Professional Renewal) will be offered each term (after the first group completes the program). This latter course can be repeated as needed by the students.

B. Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Farm/Ranch Business Management courses, students will be able to:

Upon successful completion of the three support courses (Agricultural Mathematics, Employer-Employee Relations, and Interpersonal Communications), the student will be able to:

C. Course Descriptions:

Students will apply practical math skills specifically to assure competency in maintaining accurate accounting records. Topics will include the mathematics of buying and selling, calculation of interest, banking, payroll, workman's compensation, taxes, installment buying, partial payments, and depreciation. In addition, students will learn to use the 10-key pad on a personal computer.

The goal of the first year of the Farm/Ranch Business Management program is to data enter farm/ranch records on a personal computer using a double-entry accounting method and to continue adding month-to-month records throughout the year. Students will gain familiarity with the different financial statements and their use in making sound business decisions. This course is the first of a two-course sequence constituting the first year of the program.

The goal of the first year of the Farm/Ranch Business Management program is to data enter farm/ranch records on a personal computer using a double-entry accounting method and to continue adding month-to-month records throughout the year. Students will gain familiarity with the different financial statements and their use in making sound business decisions. Students will also become familiar with profitability and efficiency analysis by enterprise. Interactions between enterprises are stressed. This course is the second of a two-course sequence constituting the first year of the program.

The goals of the second year of the Farm/Ranch Business Management program are a continuation of the computerized record keeping process developed during the first year and consider changes to assure future viability for the production unit. Competition for limiting resources, resource improvement effects, and complimentary enterprises are identified. Alternative combinations are considered and encouraged where advantageous. This course will continue to include one-on-one work on the client's farm or ranch. This course is the first of a two-course sequence constituting the second year of the program.

The goals of the second year of the Farm/Ranch Business Management program are a continuation of the computerized record keeping process developed during the first year and consider changes to assure future viability for the production unit. In addition to the topics initiated in the first course of this sequence, students will develop a comprehensive marketing plan for their production/business unit. This course will continue to include one-on-one work on the client's farm or ranch. This course is the second of a two-course sequence constituting the second year of the program.

Professional Renewal is a class for farmers and ranchers who have successfully completed the two-year Farm/Ranch Business Management certificate program and who desire to upgrade their knowledge and skills in this rapidly-changing business environment. Topics will cover current livestock and crop production practices, marketing techniques, new products and processing procedures. Private on-site instruction will address individual needs and accounting records.

The study of the interaction of people in business is the focus of this course. Topics will include organizational designs and issues, building and maintaining effective working relations with employees, maximizing employee productivity, employer and employee rights.

This course is a practical study of personal communication between people. Discussions cover perception, the verbal and nonverbal tools of communication, listening, personal disclosure, conflict management, and relationship development. The overall goal of the course is to increase the range of choices students can make in their personal and professional interactions.