2016

Prioritize Data Integrity

Whereas, The state and federal education and labor agencies use several data collection systems (i.e., Taxonomy of Programs, TOP; the Classification of Instructional Programs, CIP; and the Standard Occupational Classification, SOC) to collect data about the populations they serve and to determine the allocation of resources for those services provided along with the fulfillment of any accountability requirements;

Academic Senate Guidelines on Course Substitutions for Associate Degrees for Transfer

Whereas, Community college districts have traditionally established local policies and procedures that permit students to request course substitutions for degree major requirements to allow students to complete their degrees without being required to repeat or complete additional coursework, including cases where students have transferred between community colleges;

Z-Degrees and Faculty Primacy

Whereas, The Department of Finance has introduced budget trailer bill language to incentivize California Community Colleges to develop “Z-Degrees” designed so that students can complete a degree with zero costs for textbooks;

Whereas, The development and review of curriculum and degree programs, as well as the selection of textbooks and other instructional materials, are items of faculty primacy under the 10+1; and

Guidance on Using Noncredit Courses as Prerequisites and Co-requisites for Credit Courses

Whereas, Recent legislative action to equalize the apportionment funding rate for career development and college preparation noncredit instruction with that of credit instruction may make the use of noncredit courses as prerequisites and co-requisites for credit courses an attractive option for colleges that are developing alternative curricular pathways designed to prepare students for college-level work;

Student Learning Outcomes Assessment is a Curricular Matter

Whereas, The ASCCC paper “Guiding Principles for SLO Assessment,” approved in Fall 2010, states, “SLOs are instruments of curriculum development, and therefore both the design and the assessment of SLOs clearly are curricular matters”;

Whereas, Outcomes assessment is a form of research that may inform improvements in course curriculum, program curriculum, and teaching methodologies with the goal of improving student achievement; and

Whereas, Curriculum is an academic and professional matter;

Modify Regulations on Certificates of Achievement for Greater Access to Federal Financial Aid

Whereas, Title 5 §55070(a) defines a Certificate of Achievement as “Any sequence of courses consisting of 18 or more semester units or 27 or more quarter units of degree-applicable credit coursework,” and these certificates must be submitted to the Chancellor’s Office for approval and are included on a student’s transcript upon completion;

Whereas, Any state-approved educational program that consists of 16 or more semester units or 24 quarter units is eligible for federal financial aid;

Flexibility in Awarding Unit Credit for Cooperative Work Experience

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.

Criteria for Recording Low-Unit Certificates on Student Transcripts

Whereas, Title 5 §55070 states that certificate programs of 18 or more semester units or 27 quarter units require Chancellor’s Office approval and must be designated “certificates of achievement” and also allows colleges the option of seeking Chancellor’s Office approval and certificate of achievement designation for certificate programs of 12 or more semester units or 18 quarter units but less than 18 semester units or 27 quarter units with Chancellor’s Office approval required in order for the certificates to be listed on student transcripts;

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