Flexibility in Awarding Unit Credit for Cooperative Work Experience

Spring
2016
Resolution Number
09.04
 
Assigned to
5C
Category
Curriculum
Status
Assigned

Whereas, Cooperative work experience education, as defined in Title 5 §55252, allows students to earn college credit while gaining work experience either related or not related to their educational goals;

Whereas, Title 5 §55256.5 states that the course credit for cooperative work experience is granted according to the following formula:

(1)   Each 75 hours of paid work equals one semester credit or 50 hours equals one quarter credit.

(2)   Each 60 hours of non-paid work equals one semester credit or 40 hours equals one quarter credit.

Whereas, Title 5 §55002.5 allows increments of 0.5 units or less if local policy permits, but §55256.5 is ambiguous on the allowance of increments of less than one unit for cooperative work experience; and

Whereas, The consensus of the System Advisory Committee on Curriculum is that colleges should be allowed to offer credit for cooperative work experience in increments of less than one unit in order to provide flexibility to colleges in their efforts to develop cooperative work experience programs that meet the specific needs of their students;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office and other system partners to revise Title 5 §55256.5 to allow unit credit in increments of less than one unit for cooperative work experience.

MSC