The Curriculum Committee

October
2001
Chair

Since curriculum is the center around which faculty activities circle, the Curriculum Committee is at the heart of the Academic Senate's work. As with all Academic Senate committees, resolutions approved by delegates in session are the engine that drives the work of the Curriculum Committee.

This academic year promises a number of challenges and opportunities for the Committee. The annual Curriculum Institute for 2001 was held in July at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City. It was an enormous success, challenging the Curriculum Committee and the Academic Senate to plan a high quality program for next summer. Since the last institute was held in the South, the 2002 Summer Curriculum Institute will be held in the North at the San Jose Hyatt on July 11 - 13, 2002. Visit our website for more information.

A new curriculum handbook, issued by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, has been approved, and contains a number of welcome changes. Some forms have been shortened and others clarified, and now the local senate president must sign off on programs being submitted to the Chancellor's Office for approval. The timeline for program approval by that office has been shortened by half from 120 to 60 days. The application process for program approval has been clarified and helpful examples provided. Altogether, the handbook should be a significant improvement over past efforts, thanks in great part to the work of the Academic Senate. Look for a breakout on the curriculum handbook, which is titled Program and Course Approval Handbook, during fall session.

A fall session breakout will also review a new agreement on college credit for courses taken in high school. Under this agreement, local curriculum committees will have to develop processes for articulating high school and college courses. A breakout on this topic will also occur during fall session.

Information competency as a graduation requirement remains an ongoing discussion, and the Committee is reflecting on a best practices paper on the subject of information competency in response to a resolution approved last spring.

Despite changes in the new curriculum handbook, the Committee will continue its efforts to persuade the Chancellor's Office to empower local curriculum committees to approve all stand alone courses. The Committee will examine the feasibility of establishing credit courses in leadership for student leaders. And, as always, the Committee is ready to provide technical assistance to local curriculum committees. For assistance, contact the Academic Senate Office at info [at] asccc.org or (916)445-4753.