|
|
|
REVISED SELF-EVALUATION REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION: G-101 THROUGH G-107 A. NAME AND ADDRESS OF INSTITUTION 1 B. ACCREDITATION 1 C. PROGRAM OPTIONS 1 D. PROGRAM LOCATION 1 E. EDUCATION OF PARALEGALS 3 F. CROSSLIST OF LEGAL SPECIALTY COURSES 3 G. PROGRAM STUDENTS AND GRADUATES 3 H. LAST APPROVAL DATE 4 I. PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS 4 SECTION II: ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION: G-201 THROUGH G-206 A. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 7 B. ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 7 C. RELATIONSHIP OF PROGRAM 7 D. PLANNING 9 E. SIMILAR PROGRAMS 9 F. ADVISORY COMMITTEE 10 G. EQUALITY OF H. BUDGET 13 SECTION III: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: G-301 THROUGH G-303 A. UPWARD MOBILITY OF STUDENTS 15 B. NEEDS ASSESSMENT (NOT APPLICABLE) 15 C. EVALUATION, REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT 16 D. TOTAL CURRICULUM 27 E. TECHNOLOGY SKILLS 32 F. GENERAL EDUCATION EXEMPTIONS 32 G. LEGAL SPECIALTY COURSES 32 H. LEGAL SPECIALTY COURSE MATERIALS 32 I. INTERNSHIPS 33 J. ETHICS 34 K. LEGAL RESEARCH 34 L. TRANSFER OF LEGAL SPECIALTY CREDITS 34 M. COURSE CHALLENGE OR EXAMINATION 34 N. ONLINE INSTRUCTION 34 SECTION IV: FACULTY: G-401 THROUGH G-403 A. PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND COORDINATOR 40 B. RESUMES OF DIRECTOR AND COORDINATOR 40 C. DUTIES OF DIRECTOR AND COORDINATOR 40 D. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH 41 E. FACULTY MEETINGS 41 F. ROSTER FOR ALL FACULTY TEACHING 41 G. FACULTY RESUMES 41 H. CLERICAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT 41 SECTION V: ADMISSIONS AND STUDENT SERVICES: G-501 THROUGH G-503 A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES 43 B. PROGRAM STANDARDS 43 C. ADVANCED PLACEMENT 44 D. STUDENT RECRUITMENT 45 E. CATALOG STATEMENTS 45 F. PROSPECTIVE STUDENT INFORMATION 46 G. NON-PARALEGAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT 46 H. TUITION AND FEES 46 I. NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION 50 J. STUDENT SERVICES 50 K. COMPLETION RATE 52 L. OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT 53 M. GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT 55 N. STUDENT VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS 55 O. CONTINUING EDUCATION 55 SECTION VI: LIBRARY: G-601 A. LIBRARY FACILITIES 57 B. EXTERNAL LIBRARIES 57 C. LIBRARY USE AND ACCESSIBILITY 58 D. MAINTAINING AND UPDATING OF THE LIBRARY 59 E. LIBRARY INVENTORY 59 F. ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION 59 G. INTERNET, WESTLAW AND LEXIS 60 H. LIBRARY STAFF ASSISTANCE 61 SECTION VII: PHYSICAL PLANT: G-701 THROUGH G-703 A. CLASSROOMS 62 B. STUDY STUDENT AREAS 62 C. EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY 62 D. FACULTY OFFICES 62 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION G-101 THROUGH G-107 A. Name, address, telephone number, fax number, and URL of
web site of the institution and program. http://www.sunysuffolk.edu Ammerman Campus (631) 451 4663 Fax (631)
451 4887 Grant Campus Crooked (631) 851 6751 Fax (631)
851 6346 B. Accrediting agency by which the institution is
accredited. Indicate date of most
recent reaffirmation
of accreditation and the current status of the institution’s
accreditation. (G-302(c)) York
State Department of Education. The
College is authorized to award the Associate in Arts Degree, the Associate in
Science Degree, and the Associate in Applied Science Degree as established by
the Board of Regents of the University of the State of The
College is a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools. The Ammerman Campus
and the Grant Campus are fully accredited by the Middle States Association. The College received its reaffirmation of
accreditation in July 2007. C. List all program options in paralegal studies offered by
the institution (i.e., each course of study
that leads to the award of a degree, minor, certificate or other diploma.) (Note:
“Program option” is defined
in G-103A.) Upon
completion of the two-year, full-time legal assistant program, students
receive an associate in applied science degree (A.A.S.). Those students who already possess an
associate’s or bachelor’s degree and complete the one-year, full-time legal
assistant program receive a certificate of completion. D. Describe the location of the program and its courses. 1. Give
the location of the main site at which legal specialty courses are offered. The legal assistant program approved by the
American Bar Association is offered at
the Ammerman Campus in Selden and the Grant Campus in 2. Indicate
whether the program offers legal specialty courses at any location other than the main location shown in D.1 and
give the address of each location. a. For
each location, provide a list of all legal specialty courses offered there for each of the past three
years. 2007 Campus Campus Introduction to Law (BL40) Ammerman Grant Introduction to Paralegal Studies (BL41) Ammerman Grant Civil Litigation (BL43) Ammerman Grant Law Office Management & Practices
(BL47) Ammerman Paralegal Internship (BL50) Ammerman Grant International Law (BL51) Ammerman Law of Property (BL75) Ammerman Grant Legal Research (BL80) Ammerman Grant Partnership & Corporate Law (BL84) Ammerman Grant Estates, Trusts & Wills (BL86) Ammerman Grant 2006 Campus Campus Introduction to Law (BL40) Ammerman Grant Introduction to Paralegal Studies (BL41) Ammerman Grant Civil Litigation (BL43) Ammerman Grant Law Office Management & Practices
(BL47) Ammerman Paralegal Internship (BL50) Ammerman Grant Law of Property (BL75) Ammerman Grant Domestic Relations (BL78) Ammerman Legal Research (BL80) Ammerman Grant Partnership & Corporate Law (BL84) Ammerman Grant Estates, Trusts & Wills (BL86) Ammerman Grant 2005 Campus Campus Introduction to Law (BL40) Ammerman Grant Introduction to Paralegal Studies (BL41) Ammerman Grant Civil Litigation (BL43) Ammerman Grant Law Office Management & Practices
(BL47) Ammerman Paralegal Internship (BL50) Ammerman Grant Law of Property (BL75) Ammerman Grant Legal Research (BL80) Ammerman Grant Partnership & Corporate Law (BL84) Ammerman Grant Estates, Trusts & Wills (BL86) Ammerman Grant b. To
demonstrate that the offerings at multiple locations should be considered
one program for the purposes of approval, address all of the factors
set forth in G-104K subsection 1
and 2. (G-104.K) The legal specialty courses offered in the
degree and certificate programs are
offered on both the Ammerman and Grant campuses. The only exception is “Law Office
Management and Practices” (BL47) and “International Law” (BL51), which are
only offered at the Ammerman Campus.
There is one paralegal studies advisory board for both campuses. Faculty from all three campuses meet
periodically, and the syllabi are the same for all three campuses. Each
curriculum and course is part of the academic program of the College as a
whole, even though a course may be offered on only one of the three campuses. The
paralegal studies faculty teach at both the Ammerman and Grant Campuses. Admissions,
library and counseling services are available on all three campuses. The main placement office and the director
of the paralegal studies program are on the Ammerman Campus with placement
services available at the other two campuses.
Central records is located on the Ammerman Campus and serves all three
campuses. Although component courses
may be taken at another campus, or even another college, for all practical purposes
the program is offered to the students at the Ammerman Campus and the Grant
Campus. The distance between the
Ammerman and the Grant Campuses is approximately twelve miles. E. Does the institution offer any programs for the education
of paralegals, as defined in G-103
of the Guidelines, that are not included in this report? If so, describe and explain (See G-106A.) The
College does not offer any programs for the education of paralegals that are
not included in this report. F. Does
the program cross-list any legal specialty course with other programs or
majors offered by the institution? If
so, list and explain. (G-103 and G-503) The
College does not cross-list any legal specialty course with other programs or
majors offered at the college. G. Provide
information about the following for each program option (i.e., each
certificate, degree) you offer. 1. Date students first admitted. Students
were first admitted to the legal assistant program in 1978. 2. Complete Exhibit 1, showing the number
of students enrolled in each program option
each year for the past three years, or
if this is a reapproval application, for each year since the date of the last
report. (Use actual headcount of students in the program; do not use FTE or
the total of headcount in all classes if that headcount would count a single
student more than once. You may use
your institution’s definition for full and part-time.) Please see Exhibit 1 – number of students enrolled
in each program option each year
for each year since the date of the last report. 3. Complete
Exhibit 2, showing the number of graduates in each program option for each
year since the inception of the program and the total number of graduates in
each program option since the inception of the program. Please
see Exhibit 2 – number of students graduated from each program option for
each year since the inception of the program. H. For reapproval applications, provide the effective date of
the last approval by the House of Delegates and the date of the last Interim Report. The effective date of the last approval by the House of
Delegates is February 2001. The last interim report was submitted to the American Bar
Association in February 2005. I. For reapproval applications, state verbatim each
recommendation from the site team report
of your last reapproval site visit and from any follow-up visits made in
connection with your reapproval, and after each recommendation state the
actions that the program has taken to address these recommendations. Responses
to the May 2002 site team’s recommendations for suggested improvements to our
program: 1. Advisory Committee: While the Advisory Committee provides
excellent guidance to
the program, it should become more pro-active and engage in such projects as
developing a long-term plan for the program and addressing potential new
programs like the creation of a nurse paralegal program (G-203(D)). The
advisory committee endorsed the creation of a new legal specialty course entitled,
“International Law,” to be taught for the first time in July 2007. The committee is also reviewing the
implementation of outcome assessment protocols for the program, using
electronic portfolios. 2. The
Advisory Committee should again review combining Introduction to Law and Introduction
to Paralegalism as they appear to be duplicative and should consider
replacing one with a Legal Writing course. (G-203(D)). The Advisory Committee has seriously
considered the combination of these two courses
and decided to consider dropping “Business Communications” (BA25) and
replacing it with a new legal specialty course entitled “Legal Writing.” 3. While presently the program has an
organized plan for graduate and employer surveys,
it should insure they are done timely and improve the number of responses to
these instruments. (G-301). The
surveys have been created in scantron format to facilitate obtaining
information on our recent graduates and from the employers of our
graduates. Despite the ease and brevity
of our survey instruments, we have found that we must follow up with personal
telephone calls to our graduates and their employers to obtain information. 4. While
the program has successfully emphasized computer skills, it should continue
to expand and improve the instruction especially in the area of technology in
the law office. The program should
consider acquiring access to Westlaw based on its use in the workplace. (G-301 (H), G-601) Much
greater use of the Internet in legal research has been incorporated into our
legal specialty courses. Arrangements
have also been implemented for our students to have free access to Westlaw
online from their own computers. 5. Faculty
meetings are poorly attended; attendance must be improved to ensure continued
compliance with G-401 and G-402.
Faculty members are urged to meet their obligations to the program in
this regard and should work with the administrators and the program director
to address this issue. (G-401 (E)) We
are strongly encouraging our full-time and part-time faculty to attend at
least one faculty meeting during the evening each semester. Faculty currently met each month for
meetings of the business department, which includes paralegal studies,
accounting, and business administration.
According to the college’s collective bargaining agreement, faculty
cannot be required to attend program meetings. 6. Appropriate evaluation must be
conducted so that the program director, faculty
and advisors can properly assess the effectiveness of legal specialty courses
and the program. (G-301 (E&F)) The
The
college has an organized program of evaluation of faculty, including student
evaluations of the faculty. All
college programs, including the paralegal studies program, must also
participate in a periodic program review. 7. The
program should strive to recruit and employ qualified minority faculty
members. (G-204). All
college faculty searches must comply with the college’s equal employment
affirmative action policy. 8. The
program director must be allowed adequate time to perform the
responsibilities of leadership and administration under G-402 of the
Guidelines. To this end the team urges
the college to restore the director’s six hours of reassigned time. (G-402) The
college administration considered this recommendation and decided not to
restore the six hours of reassigned time for the program director. This is consistent with the reassigned time
allocated to other program directors. 9. Language
in all catalogs and promotional materials must clearly identify that the program
is for training legal assistants and not lawyers or legal administrators, and
spell out the prohibition on the practice of law by non-lawyers. (G-501
(C&D)) Such
language currently appears on pages 166 and 167 of the 2006-2008 college
catalog. 10. The
attendance at the Advisory Committee is less than 50%. The list of members should be reviewed to
include those who have an active interest.
Also the team suggests the sub-committees have chairs to meet and
report their findings. (G-203 (D)) The
membership of the Advisory Committee has been reviewed; some members have
been replaced. Sub-committee chairs
are appointed when necessary. 11. A
specific formal orientation program for paralegal students should be
implemented. (G-502) Orientation
for students in the paralegal studies program is conducted through the Legal
Society Club and the College/Workplace Skills Seminar (BU15). SECTION II ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION G-201 THROUGH G-206 A. State the specific goals and explicit objectives of the
program. Indicate where these goals and objectives are published, e.g., college
catalog and program brochures. (G-201, G-201A) This
program is designed to prepare individuals as legal assistants in law-related
occupations. Such individuals will be prepared for
employment opportunities in private law offices, the insurance industry,
governmental agencies and court systems, as well as the contract or legal
departments of various business enterprises.
The goals and objectives of the paralegal program are described on
pages 166 and 167 of the college catalog. B. Provide an organizational chart showing the relationship
of the program to the institution. The
chart should include major academic units and support departments in the
institution, including, for example, admissions, registration, student
records, student services, and placement.
The chart must show where the program fits within the structure of the
institution, the titles of administrators, including the president or other
chief executive and others, and the reporting relationships among
administrators. Include as Exhibit
3. (G-201B and E) Please
see Exhibit 3 – organizational charts. C. Describe the relationship of the paralegal program to: 1. Administration
of the institution offering the program.
Indicate the academic unit within
the institution in which the paralegal program is situated and the title of
the person to whom the program director reports. The
legal assistant program is in the Business and Accounting Departments on the
Ammerman and Grant campuses. The
program director on the Ammerman campus reports directly to the academic
chair of the Business and Accounting Department, and indirectly to the
Ammerman campus Executive Dean. The coordinator on the Grant campus reports
to the academic chair of the Business and Accounting Department, and
indirectly to the Grant campus Executive Dean. 2. Other
academic and support units of the institution. Legal assistant faculty and other faculty
have close working relationships and frequently
refer to each other for consultation.
Equipment for instructional purposes has been shared by the faculty
within the Business and Accounting Department. Representatives
from the Career Services Department regularly address students in the legal
assistant program. Development
of new courses and course revisions are done in consultation with appropriate
academic chairs. In the spring 1999
semester, the program director and a professor of mathematics developed a new
course entitled, “Math for Law” (MA53) as an elective for our legal assistant
students. The The
library provides an appropriate and ample collection of educational materials
and equipment to support the program.
Librarians assist faculty members in the selection and use of
educational materials for courses.
They supply film and slide projectors, overhead and opaque projectors,
tape recorders, filmstrips, slides, etc.
Internet services are provided in the classrooms. Library staff instruct faculty on the use
of equipment and provide many services to students. Students use the audio-visual services of
the library on an individual basis and in scheduled groups. Librarians also provide seminars on Westlaw
and assistance with legal research. Faculty
members may refer individual students to the math learning center, as well as
to the reading and the writing centers.
Faculty members make referrals for academic, financial, health and
psychological counseling as needed. The
faculty work closely with the Office of Admissions to periodically review and
revise, if necessary, the criteria for admission to the program. Ad hoc committees of faculty and admissions
officers are formed when necessary.
The legal assistant program faculty vote on all revisions of the
paralegal admissions criteria. 3. Governing
bodies, committees, academic or faculty senates, etc. Include a description of the representation
of the paralegal program on or to these entities. (G-201B, C,
D, E) Members of the various academic departments elect
representatives to the campus
governance bodies and their standing committees, which include the Curriculum
Committee and the Academic Standards Committee. These committees study proposals in their
respective jurisdictions and recommend appropriate action to the governing
body. After deliberation, the
governing body may make recommendations to the President of the College, who,
in turn, may recommend proposals to the Board of Trustees for approval or
rejection. The
College has many college-wide, campus and departmental committees. Members of the paralegal faculty are active
participants in the college community and are members of committees at all
levels. Current memberships include,
but are not limited to: COLLEGE
COMMITTEES Academic Standards Student Club Advisors Academic Appeals Curriculum Committee Professional Development General Education Committee Distance Education Committee CAMPUS
COMMITTEES Faculty Assembly Faculty Senate Faculty Congress Curriculum Committee Student Advisement Peer Evaluation Committee Commencement Committee Child Care Committee Academic Dismissal Committee DEPARTMENTAL
COMMITTEES Peer Personnel Textbook Adoption D. Describe the process for planning, including long-range
planning, in the institution and in the program. (G-201F) PLANNING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL
RENEWAL The primary planning document at SCCC is the Strategic
Plan, 2004-2009. This Plan provides
a means by which SCCC specifies institutional priorities, monitors and
assesses its progress toward attaining its goals, and recommends adjustments
as necessary. The
Plan consists of priorities/goals, identified by a college-wide group of
faculty and administrators, which are integrated with the mission and vision
statements. These priorities/goals are
broad-based, and related action plans provide strategies for achieving them
within a specific timeframe. The
Strategic Planning Council (SPC) monitors the progress of the institution
toward meeting the goals identified in the Plan. As part of this process, the Council responds
to areas of concern brought to its attention through various means, including
national benchmarking studies and other external data, visioning sessions,
literature reviews, College assessment activities, and appraisal of progress
in achieving the goals of the 1998-2003 Strategic Plan. Each priority/goal has at least one
administrator responsible for tracking its progress, and action plans may be
assigned to numerous personnel. Action
plan progress reports are submitted to the Vice President for Planning and
Institutional Assessment, who monitors their implementation and compliance
with College policy and reports progress or any concerns to the College
President. Goals
identified through the strategic planning process are tied into the budgetary
cycle. Thus, the College is able to
ensure that budgeting, acquisition and utilization of resources support the
achievement of institutional goals. At
both the Ammerman and Grant campuses the Business and Accounting Department
must state its goals for its programs, including the Paralegal Studies
Program, each academic year. At the
end of each academic year, the academic chair, and assistant academic chair
at the Ammerman campus, of the department must report to the Campus Executive
Dean on the status of the goals. E. Explain how the paralegal program is comparable to other
similar units within the institution. Identify one or more similar units
according to size, nature of program, specialized approval/accreditation, and
other relevant matters and use the following factors in the analysis. (Describe
how the similar programs are treated comparably or differently for each
factor; do not simply conclude that the treatment is comparable.) (G-202) 1. Responsibilities, treatment and
status of faculty, program director, and staff. 2. Enrollment. 3. Amount and kind of staff support. 4. Technical and other supporting
services. 5. Physical resources including office
space, classrooms, laboratories, and the library. 6. Support for professional development. 7. Participation in academic affairs,
governance, and decision making. 8. Any other factors that may be
relevant to assessing comparability.
F. Provide information on the advisory committee: 1. Complete
the chart at Exhibit 4, showing the members of the paralegal program’s advisory
committee. As indicated on the chart,
show for each member the professional affiliation including title/position
and the name and nature of the entity with which affiliated; whether the
member is 1) a practicing lawyer, 2) a public sector paralegal, 3) a private
sector paralegal, 4) a paralegal manager, 5) a faculty member, 6) a school
administrator, 7) a representative of the general public, or 8) other; the
date of appointment to the advisory committee; any affiliation with the
program and/or institution in addition to service on the advisory committee,
e.g., if a person listed as a practicing attorney also teaches in the
program. Please
see Exhibit 4 – advisory board membership. 2. Provide
copies of written guidelines or procedures governing advisory committee activities, if any. Include as Exhibit 5. Please see Exhibit 5 – advisory committee
guidelines. 3. How are
advisory committee members appointed, and what is the appointment term?
|