Career Technical Education

Whereas, Occupational Programs need full-time faculty to maintain the quality, consistency and continuity of their programs; to consistently build the programs, do program review, build and update curriculum, build and maintain links to the community, industry, and advisory committees;

Whereas, Occupational full-time faculty must meet outside accrediting agency requirements, respond to VTEA (Vocational and Technical Education Act) requirements, and participate in governance on campus;

Whereas, The effectiveness of work experience coordinators in collaborating with college committees and the academic senates varies widely by district;

Whereas, The faculty understanding of and support for work-based learning varies widely across the state; and

Whereas, The Academic Senate by resolutions 20.05 F98, 21.03 F99 supports the goals of work-based learning, and 6.03 S00 supports the goals of service learning that parallels the ideals and value of work based learning experiences;

Whereas, Workforce preparation is one of the missions of California community colleges;

Whereas, The Economic and Workforce Development Program (EWDP) is a pivotal organization for the development of new curriculum and programs;

Whereas, Faculty participate in EWDP minimally, as advisory board members; and

Whereas, The faculty expertise (via the Academic Senate) is an underused resource that could serve as a statewide liaison between the faculty and EWDP;

Whereas, Workforce preparation is one of the missions of California community colleges;

Whereas, The System Office routinely researches and sets direction for vocational programs, resulting in budgetary proposals; and

Whereas, Faculty do not appropriately/routinely participate in System Office planning of budgetary proposals, where their perspectives and expertise would be useful;

Whereas, The vocational education programs in California community colleges continue to depend heavily on the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Technical Economic Act (VTEA) dollars as their major funding source;

Whereas, Without the substantial financial resources provided by VTEA funding, vocational education departments would be seriously compromised in their ability to purchase equipment and other essential materials that enable students to be prepared for today's workplace; and

Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges encourage the Chancellor's Office and Board of Governors to support funding for the Vocational Faculty In-service Development Program, in the format of AB 3938.

Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges direct the Vocational Education Committee to offer to assist the appropriate administrator of the Chancellor's Office to develop ways to alleviate current serious understaffing in the vocational education unit of the Chancellor's Office until additional staff can be hired, and

Whereas colleges are being encouraged to establish transfer centers to assist in the transfer process, and

Whereas career centers serve both academic and vocational students in the same capacity,

Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges encourage local senates to recommend the establishment of career centers and reentry centers to complement the transfer center in serving reentry students in order to insure student success.

Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges direct the Vocational Education Committee to conduct a survey to determine the variation in graduation requirements at each campus/district compared to minimum graduation requirements as established by the recommendations of the Master Plan, Section 55805.5, and to report the results at the 1987 Fall Conference.

Whereas accurate career advisement is essential for all curricula, and particularly essential for vocational students, and

Whereas rapid changes in many vocational areas make it difficult for counselors to remain current in all fields,

Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges encourage vocational faculty to participate in faculty advisement, and

Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges support adequate reassigned time to permit vocational faculty participation in instructor advisement.