Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Joan B. Murry
Committee Member
Delores M. Smiley
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
benchmarking, benchmarking activities, community colleges, course offerings, curriculum model, curriculum models, curriculum planning, decision making, evaluation criteria, evaluations, higher education, implementation strategies, marketing plan, membership model, one-stop registration, Paradise Valley Community College, program evaluation, registration, senior adult curriculum, senior adult education, senior adult programs, senior adults, Senior College, socialization, stakeholder input
Abstract
In response to the growing number of senior adults attending Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), the senior adult program (SAP) at PVCC, known as the “Senior College,” has increased its course offerings. The problem is that the Senior College is not maximizing its enrollment by offering courses needed and wanted by this growing market niche. The purpose of this study was to develop a curriculum model to identify such courses.
The five research questions used were (a) What are best practices in selected exemplary senior adult programs (SAPs), (b) What is the appropriate design of a senior adult curriculum model, (c) How can this model be used to identify which senior adult courses should be offered, (d) What strategies should be considered in an implementation plan, and (e) What criteria should be considered to evaluate its effectiveness. Development was the main research methodology. Procedures included reviewing literature on related topics, benchmarking SAPs, establishing formative and summative committees to assist in developing product criteria, implementation strategies, and evaluation criteria.
As a result, a curriculum model was developed and included (a) a membership model, (b) a marketing plan, (c) input from key stakeholders, (d) benchmarking activities, (e) identification of course offerings, (f) one-stop registration, (g) evaluations, and (h) socialization. Major conclusions were that curriculum model design criteria, implementation strategies, and evaluation criteria were all appropriate, reliable, and valid. Significant recommendations were to develop a marketing plan, adapt some of the identified best practices of other SAPs, use the developed curriculum model, and evaluate the program and its marketing plan to meet the needs and interests of senior adults. A copy of this report was given to the appropriate administrators at PVCC for their decision making process.