Curriculum

Effective Practices for Educational Program Development

The most important components of an academic institution are the educational programs it offers. California Education Code and accreditation standards emphasize the essential nature of a college’s educational programs to that college’s existence, and often a college’s programs reflect the individual personality of the college and the uniqueness of the community it serves.

Effective Practices in Online Lab Science Courses

Whereas, California Code of Regulations Title 5 §55202 states that distance education courses must adhere to the “same standards of course quality” as traditional classroom courses and that determinations of course standards and quality must be made “with the full involvement of faculty,” and given that the separate course review and approval of distance education courses required by Title 5 §55206 maintains districts’ local authority to determine if courses will “be provided through distance education”;

Effective Practices in Online Communication Courses

Whereas, California Code of Regulations Title 5 §55202 states that distance education courses must adhere to the “same standards of course quality” as traditional classroom courses and that determinations of course standards and quality must be made “with the full involvement of faculty,” and given that the separate course review and approval of distance education courses required by Title 5 §55206 maintains districts’ local authority to determine if courses will “be provided through distance education”;

Adopt the Paper Effective Practices for Educational Program Development

Whereas, Resolution 9.02 S16 directed the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to “develop a paper on effective practices for developing and revising all educational programs and bring the paper to the Spring 2017 Plenary Session for approval”;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopt the paper Effective Practices for Educational Program Development[1] and disseminate to local senates and curriculum committees upon its adoption.

MSU

Inclusion of Information Competency in College Institutional Learning Outcomes

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopted the following definition of information competency for California Community Colleges: "Information competency is the ability to find, evaluate, use, and communicate information in all its various formats. It combines aspects of library literacy, research methods, and technological literacy. Information competency includes consideration of the ethical and legal implications of information and requires the application of both critical thinking and communication skills" (Resolution 16.02 S98);

Expand System-wide Online Educational Opportunities

Whereas, The May 11, 2017 letter from Governor Brown to Chancellor Oakley spoke only of exploring options for a 115th college, an entirely online college; and

Whereas, The target population of “adults with some college and no certification” as well as “working adults with vocational needs” was defined by Chancellor Oakley[1] without input from system partners, including the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges despite the fact that designing programs and developing curriculum is an academic and professional matter; and

College Autonomy and Faculty Purview for Determining Meta Majors or Areas of Focus

Whereas, Title 5 §53200 defines academic and professional matters to include degree and certificate requirements and educational program development, and Title 5 §53203 requires “the governing board or its designees will consult collegially with the academic senate when adopting policies and procedures on academic and professional matters;”

The Course Outline of Record: A Curriculum Reference Guide Revisited

The course outline of record (COR) is central to the curricular processes in the California community colleges.  The COR has evolved considerably from its origins as a list of topics covered in a course. Today, the course outline of record is a document with defined legal standing that plays a critical role in the curriculum of the California community colleges. The course outline has both internal and external influences that impact all aspects of its content, from outcomes to teaching methodology, which, by extension, impact program development and program evaluation.

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