The GEAC ESL Task Force convened in October and came to consensus on updates to the GE Guiding Notes, which are now reflected in the December 2020 updated Guiding Notes released by CSUCO last week: https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/administration/academic-and-student-affairs/academic-programs-innovations-and-faculty-development/geac/documents/GE-Reviewers-Guiding-Notes.pdf.
Additional information is forthcoming regarding the second resolved.
Whereas, AB 705 (Irwin, 2017) and AB 1805 (Irwin, 2018) recognize that “Instruction in English as a second language (ESL) is distinct from remediation in English” and that
English Language Learners (ELLs) “enrolled in credit ESL coursework are foreign language learners who require additional language training in English, require support to successfully complete degree and transfer requirements in English, or require both of the above” [1];
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopted Resolution 15.02F18 “Approval and Backdating of CSU-GE Area C2 and IGETC Area 3B Submissions of Advanced ESL Coursework for Fall 2018” [2] in support of the approval of ESL courses to satisfy transfer general education (GE) requirements; and
Whereas, Many advanced ESL courses contain high rigor and richness of cultural content and demand of ELLs a level of engagement that meets and often far exceeds that of courses for native English speakers in elementary or intermediate foreign language courses, and are therefore appropriate to satisfy the expectation for transfer general education credit as acknowledged in the October, 2018 Guiding Notes for General Education Course Reviewers: “Courses in English as a Second Language may – despite their focus on proficiency and the acquisition of skills – be advanced enough to meet the objectives of the CSU-GE Humanities Subarea C2 and IGETC Area 3B.”; and
Whereas, Recent submissions of credit ESL courses for fulfillment of transfer GE have resulted in approvals for some colleges and the denials for other colleges with substantially similar course outlines under seemingly inconsistent review that does not seem to align with the Guiding Notes for General Education Course Reviewers for credit ESL courses, thereby causing concern for equitable evaluation of all courses to ensure that no students are unduly harmed;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges work with representatives from the California State University and University of California to establish clear criteria to ensure consistency in applying the Guiding Notes for the approvals of advanced credit English as a Second Language courses for general education fulfillment; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges work with representatives of the California State University and University of California to ensure the proper training of course evaluators and to ensure that established criteria are applied in a manner consistent with those applied to the approvals of elementary or intermediate foreign language courses.
MSU
[1] Assembly Bill AB 705 (Irwin), Section 1(a)(7). Retrieved from https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=2…
[2] Approval and Backdating of CSU Area C2 and IGETC Area 3B Submissions of Advanced ESL Coursework for Fall 2018. Retrieved from https://www.asccc.org/resolutions/approval-and-backdating-csu-area-c2-a…