Professional Learning Support for Increased Faculty Understanding and Further Discussion on the Impact of AB928 (Berman, 2021) Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021 on Local Colleges

Spring
2022
Resolution Number
09.06
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Curriculum Committee
Category
Curriculum
Status
In Progress
Status Report

Fall 2022: Work is being done on multiple fronts related to AB 928. Following a survey to vet the proposed CalGETC pathway, an FAQ document was released to address some of the common questions surrounding the implementation of AB 928, including the proposed new CalGETC pattern. ASCCC leadership continues to advocate with system partners for CSU to include LLSD as a graduation requirement instead of an upper-division general education requirement and for other opportunities for CCC students to take Life Long Learning and Self-Development courses. 

 

Whereas, AB928 (Berman, 2021) presents unintended consequences for students in many disciplines, including kinesiology, within the California Community Colleges system;

Whereas, The mental and physical well-being of all California community college and university students continues to be of serious concern, with Area E [1] of the CSU transfer curriculum designed “to equip learners for lifelong understanding and development of themselves as integrated physiological, social, and psychological beings,” and therefore the retention of Area E is vital to any unified transfer curriculum;

Whereas, The California Master Plan for Higher Education (CMPHE) differentiates the distinct roles and respective missions of California’s three tier higher educational systems – California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California – and a single transfer curriculum should recognize these system differences without ignoring the physical and mental health needs of all students served by the CMPHE; and

Whereas, The possible exclusion of lifelong learning and self‐development courses due to streamlining the general education pattern will impact various disciplines, such as, kinesiology, social sciences, humanities, communications, nutrition, counseling, and health education and through the potential elimination of Area E could further perpetuate existing health disparities and may contribute to the success gaps in disproportionately impacted students;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee to communicate the importance of critical holistic needs of students in order to retain the lifelong learning category in the general education transfer curriculum;

Resolved, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges urge local academic senates to engage their faculty in a discussion on the impact of AB928 on their students’ holistic collegial experience; and

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges provide professional learning opportunities for faculty in order to increase dialog and understanding about both the impact of AB928 on local colleges and recommendations made by the subcommittee on AB928 to the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates.

MSC


1. “Area E requirement is designed to equip learners for lifelong understanding and development of themselves as integrated physiological, social, and psychological beings. Physical activity may be included, if it is an integral part of the study elements described herein and other content such as student success strategies, human behavior, sexuality, nutrition, physical and mental health, stress management, information literacy, social relationships and relationships with the environment, as well as implications of death and dying or avenues for lifelong learning.”