Jack Cundiff
Chuck Smith
John Gunter
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Box 1966
Conway, SC 29526
(803) 347-3186
cundiffj@sccoast.net

This paper presents a forum discussion on the competition of non-traditional and traditional educational training delivery methods.

The presenters of this paper have taken the position that many non-traditional students , those taking courses offered by mostly profit motivated competitors, may emerge from study programs with unexpected consequences including low comprehension, short material retention, low job satisfaction, and even with dis-enchantment of the entire educational process.

During this discussion we will outline two basic timing sequences, the normal degree or certificate program using the multi semester format (traditional), and the newer more compressed, higher paced, more seminar style schedule (non traditional), which we feel is at the heart of traditional and non-traditional discussions. We will also discuss the different methods and motivational tactics of the two instructional approaches.

For this discussion, we will refer to the newly created, often for-profit training entity as the non-traditional, while addressing the state or private college as the traditional.

At Horry-Georgetown Technical College we offer a wide variety of computer network educational programs. Our traditional timing is based upon the normal semester. Students choose and enter a particular program, typically lasting between two and five semesters, and steadily progress through coursework until all requirements and goals have been met. Our most common student completes one major course of study.

Currently we offer a wide variety of programs preparing students for certification in nationally recognized network areas such as MCP, CNA, MCSE, and CCNA., A+, Network+, as well as a number of additional certificate and degrees.

At HGTC, our primary instructional method is classroom lecture, which we integrate with intensive laboratory and homework assignments and exercises. Each assignment is designed to reinforce the topics and skills needed for certification success. During a typical semester a student is introduced to each selected topic, then are asked to perform a series of exercises and drills demonstrating knowledge of that subject area.

As each topic is mastered the student is then allowed to proceed to the next level of skill set acquisition. Using this process, a student always has a combination of theory and hands-on experience, which helps ensure practical as well as intellectual knowledge of the material.

Recently, non-traditional entities have started offering network training to our constituency on a for-profit basis. These organizations partner with traditional colleges or other existing facilities to offer their training at an extremely high cost to the student.. We believe that the true cost goes beyond simply the dollars charged and additionally is seen in a loss of the educational quality of the student skill set demanded upon completing the non-traditional training. It is our belief the student leaves those training programs lacking in both practical knowledge, and in the area of being able to apply learned book knowledge into practical workplace skills.

Realizing that we exist in an increasingly competitive market where it has become imperative that we as an educational institute stay focused on tomorrow and utilize consumer-oriented approaches, we now give a more aggressive emphasis to community involvement and staying in touch. All new key initiatives must be designed to address the needs and desires of students, businesses, and cooperative organizations. We have established that in order to prosper, we are mandated to provide our solutions using innovative approaches designed to satisfy the promise of quality education at an affordable price.

In acting in this manner, we feel we can guarantee ever-increasing growth , prosperity, and acceptance, in this time of scarce educational resources.

In order to accomplish our goals we first looked carefully and analyzed the methods these non-traditional entities are using.

We found that the majority of their appeal comes from their flashy Advertising campaigns, which emphasize speed of completion and immediate results. Often we have heard criticisms that these forms of shops simply "teach the test " which results in low long term retention rates and rarely, we feel, truly prepares students for actual challenges encountered once they enter the business world. Far too often theses operations have little, if any, hands on training associated with their solutions, and more often than not they have little or no hands on equipment to use.

Our college has responded to these challenges by embracing modern management initiatives, which have filtered down from top administrative layers allowing better coordination of traditional and non-traditional platforms. With these new guidelines have come organization directives signaling true support of the principal that students are our customers, and many successful business principals apply applying to customer satisfaction must also be applied in educational settings. Using this premise we have analyzed and fashioned a response model designed to counteract our competitions appeal by using our traditional physical structure, and demanding our solutions provide higher levels of satisfaction, retention, and understanding for our students.

We feel this inevitably leads to far more productive outcomes.

After many discussions, we found that by being creative we were able to develop a plan which allows hands on training while also providing students more value. We did this by fashioning a series of programs which parallel some of the non-traditional profit oriented offerings but utilize our existing infrastructure and facilities.

When looking at our programs, notice that we have realized more effective time utilization by extending class times, and by splitting the traditional semester in two "mini" mesters, (1 & 2) , allowing for more diversification of course loads while assuring uniform pricing based on hours covered.

Below, you will find a comparison chart showing our traditional degree program (Appendix G) against our non traditional fast track plan (Appendix A-F)

Realize that our fast track courses, are billed at using our normal semester hourly rates, which normally allow in-state students to enjoy 15 hours, sometimes more, at well below $1000 per semester.

Some of our offerings include our 1 semester - 6 hour - Network Plus (Appendix C), our 1 semester -9 hour- MCP program (Appendix A), or -9 hour- CNA program (Appendix B), and our 1 or 2 semester -12 hr- group which includes CISCO CCNA (Appendix D), or A+ (Appendix E) , and even our 2 semester -15 hour- offerings including MCSE (Appendix F).

Even when considering a full 2 semester program, the anticipated cost to the student is expected to be below $2000 , not to mention that this blend of traditional structure, and non traditional time-frames offers hands-on exposure to a multitude of equipment, with far less pressure and less stressful environments.

We feel using this method we can effectively utilize our resources more fully., as you can see by the looking at the previous timetable. Additionally we located, and were able to utilize additional financial sources that helped deserving students enter these programs by locating and receiving NSF funding. This allowed many of our less privileged students to complete their education when it may not have otherwise been possible.

Also we have partnered with major organizations such as Microsoft, to offer additional certifications not shown.

Additionally we have recently become a certified testing center supporting testing from many of these organizations and are expecting to offer programs which coordinate an opportunity (a ticket of sorts) to take many of the tests into course packages from the bookstore allowing disadvantaged students utilizing loans or grants the same opportunity to have a equal opportunity for succeeding and becoming certified in these programs as their more affluent counterparts.

Appendix A
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Certificate
Credit requirements: 9 credit hours

The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certificate courses prepare the student for a network administration profession. It is designed primarily for a student employed or seeking employment in an organization that will use networking in its work environment. This program is designed to prepare the student for the MS Certified Professional certification exams on MS Windows 2000 Server and MS Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure. These courses will provide the student with theory and hands-on administration of a network. All classes in this certificate transfer to the Network Certificate and to the Networking Career path in the Computer Technology Associate Degree program. Students must maintain a C or better in all Information Technology courses to complete the certificate.

Courses in this certificate require prerequisites which can also be satisfied through completion of our Network + Certificate program.

First Semester Courses

First Half

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
IST 243 Networking Architecture III 3

Second Half

IST 244 Networking Architecture IV 3

Total Semester Credit Hours 9

IST 243 Network Architecture III

This course covers a cohesive and logical explanation of the IBM-created designs for end-to-end communications network Systems Network Architecture (SNA). Topics include an overview of SNA, its operational characteristics and physical and logical structure. Prerequisite: CPT 176 or CPT 257, and IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

IST 244 Network Architecture IV

This course is a study of the installation, use and monitoring of Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC) network architecture and appropriate operating system. Emphasis is placed on interfacing with the Network Control Program (NCP), defining user interface, effecting inter-task communications and the relationships among various system components. Prerequisite: IST 243

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology

This course focus provides software-specific concepts of Local Area Network (LAN) communication, networking and connectivity. Prerequisite: IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

Appendix B
Certified Novell Administrator
Certificate (CNA)
Credit requirements: 9 credit hours

The Certified Novell Administrator (CNA) courses prepare students for a network administrator position. It is designed primarily for a student employed in an organization that will use networking in its work environment. This program is designed to prepare students for the Novell CNA Certification for NetWare 5.0 (course 560). These courses will provide students with hands on administration of a network. All classes in this certificate transfer to the Network Certificate and to the Networking Career path in the Computer Technology Associate Degree Program. Students must maintain a C or better in all Information Technology courses to complete the certificate.

Semester Courses Credit Hours

First Half

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
IST 241 Networking Architecture I 3

Second Half

IST 242 Networking Architecture II 3

Total Semester Credit Hours 9

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology
This course focuses provides software-specific concepts of Local Area Network (LAN) communication, networking and connectivity. Prerequisite: IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

IST 241 Network Architecture I
This course is a study of how computer architecture relates to the interconnecting of the various network components, the environment in which the applications processes execute and the overall plan defining services to be provided in a distributed environment. Prerequisite: CPT 114, CPT 176, and IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

IST 242 Network Architecture II
This course is a study of internal operations of packet switching networks and their implementation, as well as the numerous international standards applicable to such systems. Several models of these networks and current interfaces are covered. Prerequisite: IST 241

Appendix C
Network +
Certificate

Credit requirements: 6 credit hours

Network+ is a CompTIA vendor neutral certification that measures the technical knowledge of networking professionals with some experience in the IT industry. Earning the Network+ certification means that the candidate possesses the knowledge needed to configure and install the TCP/IP client. Realizing the importance of the Internet in our information economy, this program is designed to prepare the student to take the Network + exam which covers a wide range of vendor and product neutral networking technologies and may also serve as a prerequisite for other independent and vendor-specific IT certifications

In order to be successful, the student is expected to have some prior knowledge of information technology basic terms and concepts, and some degree of hands on experience.

Students are expected to maintain a C or better in all Information Technology coursework in order to receive this certificate.

Semester Courses Contact Hrs Credit Hours

This course is a one half term only certificate and is also designed to provide a framework for continuing certifications such as A+

CPT 257 Operating Systems 3 3

IST 251 Lan Networking Technology 3 3

Total Semester Credit Hours 6

CPT 257 Operating Systems
This course examines the theories and implementations of operating systems in Information technology.

This course focuses provides software-specific concepts of Local Area Network (LAN) communication, networking and connectivity. Prerequisite: IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

Discussion:
Comp TIA (Computing Technology Industry Association)

The computing and communications industries continue to grow at a staggering rate. And with the growth come new rewards and challenges. A global association representing more than 8,000 computing and communications companies, CompTIA provides vendor-neutral standards in certification, e-commerce, customer service, and workforce development to meet these industry-wide challenges. Certification provides credibility, recognition of achievement, and quality assurance providing a competitive advantage in highly competitive technology markets. This advantage applies to both the certificate holder and the hiring organization

Major computing vendors including Novell and INtel incorporate CompTIA certification curriculum in their own certification training.

Appendix E
A+
Certification
Certificate

Credit requirements: 9 credit hours

A+ Certification is a CompTIA-sponsored testing program that certifies the competency of entry-level computer service technicians. Our program is a combination of lecture and hands on training designed to prepare the student to take the A+ test certification test demonstrating proficiency in broad range of hardware and software technologies not bound to any vendor-specific products.
In order to be successful, the student is expected to have some prior knowledge of information technology basic terms and concepts, and some degree of hands on experience.
Students are expected to maintain a C or better in all information technology coursework in order to receive this certificate.

Semester Courses Contact Hrs Credit Hours

First Half

CPT 257 Operating Systems 3 3
IST 251 Lan Networking Technology 3 3

Second Half

CPT 209 Computer Systems Management 5 3

Total Semester Credit Hours 9

CPT 257 Operating Systems
This course examines the theories and implementations of operating systems in Information technology.

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology
This course focuses provides software-specific concepts of Local Area Network (LAN) communication, networking and connectivity. Prerequisite: IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

CPT 209 Computer Systems Management
This course is a study examining the methods and procedures used in maintaining microcomputer systems. Topics include hardware and software installation, configuration, operations, and troubleshooting with emphasis on A+ certification goals.

Discussion:

Comp TIA (Computing Technology Industry Association)

The computing and communications industries continue to grow at a staggering rate. And with the growth come new rewards and challenges.

A global association representing more than 8,000 computing and communications companies, CompTIA provides vendor-neutral standards in certification, e-commerce, customer service, and workforce development to meet these industry-wide challenges.

Certification provides credibility, recognition of achievement, and quality assurance providing a competitive advantage in highly competitive technology markets. This advantage applies to both the certificate holder and the hiring organization

Major computing vendors including Novell and INtel incorporate CompTIA certification curriculum in their own certification training.

The receiving of A+ certification signifies that the certified individual possesses the knowledge and skills essential for a successful entry-level (6 months experience) computer service technician, as defined by experts from companies across the industry.

Appendix F
Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) Certificate
Credit requirements: 15 credit hours

The Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certificate courses prepare the student for a network administration position. It is designed primarily for a student employed or seeking employment in an organization that will use networking in its work environment. This program is designed to prepare the student for the MS Certified System Engineer certification exams leading to MCSE certification. These courses will provide the student with theory and hands on administration of a network. All classes in this certificate transfer to the Network Certificate and to the Networking Career path in the Computer Technology Associate Degree program. Students must maintain a C or better in all Information Technology courses to complete the certificate.

Courses in this certificate require prerequisites which can also be satisfied through completion of our Network+ Certificate program.

First Semester Courses

First Half

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
IST 243 Networking Architecture III 3

Second Half

IST 244 Networking Architecture IV 3

Total Semester Credit Hours 9

Second Semester Courses

IST 253 LAN Services & Support 3
IST 260 Network Design 3

Total Semester Credit Hours 6

IST 243 Network Architecture III

This course covers a cohesive and logical explanation of the IBM-created designs for end-to-end communications network Systems Network Architecture (SNA). Topics include an overview of SNA, its operational characteristics and physical and logical structure. Prerequisite: CPT 176 or CPT 257, and IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

IST 244 Network Architecture IV

This course is a study of the installation, use and monitoring of Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC) network architecture and appropriate operating system. Emphasis is placed on interfacing with the Network Control Program (NCP), defining user interface, effecting inter-task communications and the relationships among various system components. Prerequisite: IST 243

IST 251 LAN Networking Technology

This course focus provides software-specific concepts of Local Area Network (LAN) communication, networking and connectivity. Prerequisite: IST 220 or permission of the Information Technology department head based upon the student's previous experience.

IST 253 LAN Services & Support

This course focuses on installing, maintaining and troubleshooting Local Area Networks in a lab environment. Prerequisite: IST 243

IST 260 Network Design

This course is a study of processes and techniques required to identify the most attractive design solution of a telecommunication network, combining creativity, rigorous discipline, analysis and synthesis while emphasizing the solution in terms of cost and performance. Prerequisites: IST 243

Appendix G
Traditional Offerings
(Some Revisions Pending)

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATE DEGREE: COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Credit Requirements: 75 Credit Hours

This curriculum prepares students for entry-level positions in several computer-related professions. After completing a year in general computer courses, students may select a Career Path in Programming, Networking or Software Applications. Students selecting a career path in Programming will be skilled in COBOL, Visual Basic, RPG and C programming languages, which will provide them the potential to work in positions as business application programmer, database manager, and system analysis. The Networking career path provides students skills in network architecture, network design and LAN services and support. The Software Applications career path provides students skills in popular microcomputer database, spreadsheet, word processing, Internet and graphic software as well as current microcomputer operating systems, making them qualified as microcomputer application specialist. Students must have a C or better in all Information Technology classes to graduate.

APPLICATION CAREER PATH

FIRST SEMESTER (Fall)
CPT 114 Computers & Programming 3
CPT 168 Programming Logic and Design 3
CPT 176 Microcomputer Operating Systems 3
MAT 101 Beginning Algebra* 3
OST 105 Keyboarding 3
TOTAL 15

SECOND SEMESTER (Spring)
IST 220 Data Communication 3
CPT 212 Visual Basic Programming 3
IST 225 Internet Communications 3
CPT 170 Microcomputer Applications 3
MAT 122 Finite College Math 3
TOTAL 15

THIRD SEMESTER (Summer)

CPT 270 Adv. Microcomputer Applications 3
PSY 103 Human Relations* 3
CPT 162 Introduction to Web Page Publishing 3
ENG 155 Communications I* 3
IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
TOTAL 15

FOURTH SEMESTER (Fall)

CPT 163 Intro to Multimedia for Web Pages 3
ENG 160 Technical Communications* 3
CPT 172 Microcomputer Database 3
CPT 209 Computer Systems Management 3
CPT 260 Operating Systems & Web Servers 3
TOTAL 15

FIFTH SEMESTER (Spring)

PHI 103 Workplace Ethics* 3
CPT 262 Adv. Web Page Publishing 3
CPT 264 Systems and Procedures 3
IST 226 Internet Programming 3

CPT 220 E-Commerce 3
TOTAL 15

*Students interested in the Transfer & University Parallel Programs may substitute the following courses:
MAT 110 College Algebra for MAT101 Beginning Algebra
PSY 201 General Psychology for PSY 103 Human Relations
ENG 101 English Composition I
and SPC 205 Public Speaking for ENG 155 Communications I
ENG 102 English Composition II for ENG 160 Technical Communications
PHI 110 Ethics for PHI 103 Workplace Ethics

NETWORKING CAREER PATH

FIRST SEMESTER (Fall)
CPT 114 Computers and Programming 3
CPT 168 Programming Logic and Design 3
CPT 176 Microcomputer Operating Systems 3
MAT 101 Beginning Algebra* 3
OST 105 Keyboarding 3
TOTAL 15

SECOND SEMESTER (Spring)
IST 220 Data Communication 3
CPT 212 Visual Basic Programming 3
CPT 124 AS/400 Operation 3
CPT 170 Microcomputer Applications 3
MAT 122 Finite College Math 3
TOTAL 15

THIRD SEMESTER (Summer)
IST 241 Network Architecture I 3
CPT 255 Operating Systems Fundamentals 3
PSY 103 Human Relations* 3
ENG 155 Communications I* 3
IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
TOTAL 15

FOURTH SEMESTER (Fall)
PHI 103 Workplace Ethics* 3
IST 242 Network Architecture II 3
ENG 160 Technical Communications* 3
CPT 242 Database 3
IST 243 Network Architecture III 3
TOTAL 15

FIFTH SEMESTER (Spring)

IST 244 Network Architecture IV 3
IST 260 Network Design 3
CPT 264 Systems and Procedures 3
IST 226 Internet Programming 3
IST 253 LAN Services & Support 3
TOTAL 16

*Students interested in the Transfer & University Parallel Programs may substitute the following courses:
MAT 110 College Algebra for MAT101 Beginning Algebra
PSY 201 General Psychology for PSY 103 Human Relations
ENG 101 English Composition I
and SPC 205 Public Speaking for ENG 155 Communications I
ENG 102 English Composition II for ENG 160 Technical Communications
PHI 110 Ethics for PHI 103 Workplace Ethics

PROGRAMMING CAREER PATH

FIRST SEMESTER (Fall)
CPT 114 Computers & Programming 3
CPT 168 Programming Logic & Design 3
CPT 176 Microcomputer Operating System 3
MAT 101 Beginning Algebra* 3
OST 105 Keyboarding 3
TOTAL 15

SECOND SEMESTER (Spring)
IST 220 Data Communication 3
CPT 212 Visual Basic Programming 3
CPT 124 AS/400 Operation 3
CPT 170 Microcomputer Applications 3
MAT 122 Finite College Math 3
TOTAL 15

THIRD SEMESTER (Summer)
CPT 213 Advanced Visual Basic 3
CPT 255 Operating System Fundamentals 3
CPT 115 COBOL Programming I 3
ENG 155 Communications I* 3
IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
TOTAL 15

FOURTH SEMESTER (Fall)
CPT 215 COBOL Programming II 3
PHI 103 Workplace Ethics* 3
ENG 160 Technical Communications* 3
CPT 242 Database 3

CPT 209 Computer Systems Management 3
TOTAL 15

FIFTH SEMESTER (Spring)
PSY 103 Human Relations* 3
CPT 121 RPG Programming I 3
CPT 264 Systems & Procedures 3
CPT 234 C Programming 3
IST 226 Internet Programming 3
TOTAL 16

*Students interested in the Transfer & University Parallel Programs may substitute the following courses:
MAT 110 College Algebra for MAT101 Beginning Algebra
PSY 201 General Psychology for PSY 103 Human Relations
ENG 101 English Composition I
and SPC 205 Public Speaking for ENG 155 Communications I
ENG 102 English Composition II for ENG 160 Technical Communications
PHI 110 Ethics for PHI 103 Workplace Ethics

NETWORKING
CERTIFICATE
Credit Requirements: 30 credit hours

The Network Certificate prepares a student for a network administrator or network engineer position. It is designed primarily for a student employed in an organization that will use networking in its work environment. This program of study is designed to prepare the student for network certification. This certificate program starts with the spring semester. All classes in this certificate transfer to the Networking Career Path in the Computer Technology Associate Degree program. Students must have a "C" or better in all Information Technology classes to graduate

FIRST SEMESTER (Spring)
IST 220 Data Communications 3
CPT 176 Microcomputer Operating Systems 3
Or
CPT 257 Operating Systems 3
CPT 114 Computers & Programming 3
Total 9

SECOND SEMESTER (Summer)
IST 241 Network Architecture I 3
IST 251 LAN Networking Technology 3
Total 6

THIRD SEMESTER (Fall)
IST 242 Network Architecture II 3
IST 243 Network Architecture III 3
Total 6

FOURTH SEMESTER (Spring)
IST 260 Network Design 3
IST 244 Network Architecture IV 3
IST 253 LAN Services & Support 3
Total 9