Accounting Department

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Accounting Department is to provide occupational and transfer business students with the contemporary business skills and the knowledge to succeed as active members of our society and economic system. In addition, the Department’s intent is to spark student interest in accounting and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit.

Business Information Technology Department

Mission Statement: The mission of the Business Information Technology Department is to provide comprehensive and meaningful instruction and advising to students that will result in students obtaining the business skills and knowledge required so that they can succeed both personally and professionally as contributing members of society.

Department Objectives:
1. Revise curricula and course content to meet the changing needs of industry;
2. Update technology and software to stay relevant with the trends of industry;
3. Provide top-quality career advising and course work for students;
4. Maintain high quality instruction;
5. Encourage Business Information faculty to pursue opportunities to enhance professional growth;
6. Maintain and monitor a competent and caring staff of adjunct instructors; 7. Utilize advisory committees to help keep curriculum up-to-date; and
8. Acknowledge and respect diverse student populations and encourage awareness and respect for diversity in the workplace.

(updated 2006)

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Hotel and Tourism Management Department is to prepare students to enter the growing hospitality industry with business skills broad enough to be applicable in multiple fields and specific enough to meet the entering supervisory level needs of the hotel and tourism industry.

Department Objectives:
1. Provide a standardized curriculum that includes basic understanding and management perspectives in the areas of hotel operations and business management and necessary communication skills to be effective.
2. Augment the curriculum with topic area classes specific to the hospitality industry that will broaden student exposure to the industry as a whole and examine specific topics in greater detail;
3. Provide training in preparation for and assistance in obtaining multiple internships in industry that provide practical application experiences for students in the operation of hospitality businesses. The number of credits will meet or exceed such standards at four-year hospitality programs;
4. Participate fully with high school programs designed to transition students into college hospitality programs;
5. Through articulation agreements, provide opportunities for students to transition their AAS degree into four-year hospitality programs around the world;
6. Use case analysis, team development practice, project presentation, and situation analysis in all classes to develop communication and analytical skills necessary to be an effective manager, and
7. Maintain and expand industry contacts and relationships to continue to provide educational opportunities for students.

(updated 2006)

Interior Design

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Interior Design program is to provide students of interior design with the knowledge, skills and experiences required to succeed in the creative business of interior design with an emphasis on functional and aesthetic design solutions.

Department Objectives:
1. Support the Highline Community College mission statement; 2. Provide curriculum for career placement and career advancement in the interior design profession;
3. Employ qualified faculty that exemplify the highest professional industry standards;
4. Develop relationship with business and industry to promote and support the educational opportunities for students;
5. Develop cooperative education internship positions; and
6. Prepare students to become certified through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).

(updated 2006)

Medical Assisting Department

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Medical Assisting Department is to provide a diverse population of students with the knowledge and skills to become credentialed in their disciplines and prepared to succeed both personally and professionally as paraprofessionals in the medical community working within our economic system.

Department Objectives:
1. Keep current on program content and skills taught to meet the changing needs of the medical industry;
2. Increase the potential number of students who can avail themselves of the program by creating a flexible schedule;
3. Enhance the student’s potential to proceed efficiently through required course work and exit the program with the knowledge and skills necessary for their career goal;
4. Incorporate new technology into classroom pedagogy and be a role model for students;
5. Enhance medical assistant students’ potential to successfully pass the Certified Medical Assistant examination; and
6. Enhance all students’ potential to secure employment within the medical community.

(updated 2006)