Expanding Competency-Based Instruction through an Online Consortium

Spring
2018
Resolution Number
13.01
 
Assigned to
President
Category
General Concerns
Status
Assigned

Whereas, The 2018-2019 Governor’s Budget Trailer Bill Language (February 20, 2018) calls for creation of a new California Online Community College District for “working adults to access high-quality, affordable and flexible opportunities to pursue postsecondary education that does not conflict with their work and familial obligations”;

Whereas, The faculty in the California Community College system (CCC) recognize the urgent need for expansion of career and technical curriculum offering nontraditional programs focusing on competency-based education that lead to industry recognized credentials, and many of the CCC districts already offer skilled-based, stackable certificates in program pathways identified by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office;

Whereas, The student population identified for the new California Online Community College District has a significantly wider success gap in the online learning modality [1] and therefore would benefit from access to local on campus student support services; and

Whereas, The primary focus of competency-based education is skills development and demonstration, and students would benefit from local access to physical laboratory space and equipment to practice skills relevant to their online education;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges create a task force that includes participation from system partners to explore the design and implementation of online, competency-based instruction by leveraging local resources and utilizing existing talent through a consortium-based approach; and

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges engage with system partners to explore the feasibility of leveraging local resources and talent at colleges accessible to online consortium students to provide on-campus student support services and physical laboratory space regardless of the location of the teaching college.

MSC


1. Jaggers (2011). Online Learning: Does It Help Low-Income and Underprepared Students? Community College Research Center Working Paper No. 26. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED515135.pdf