Resolution Opposing Abbreviated Time Frames for English Courses

Spring
2002
Resolution Number
09.03
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Category
Curriculum
Status
Completed
Status Report

The BasicSkills Committee defers to Curriculum Committee to respond. However, webelieve it has been completed with input from vocational faculty in thestudy.

Whereas, College writing courses are skill-building courses that require sufficient time for reading, critical reflection, instructor assessment, and instructor-student communication;

Whereas, The trend to offer community college writing courses in ever-shorter terms has been judged by English faculty, as expressed through the English Council for California Two-Year Colleges, to create pressures on students and instructors that inhibit effective student learning;

Whereas, Offering writing classes in abbreviated time frames to students who are eager to complete a class for which they may be substantially unprepared in a short time seems a misguided way of creating greater convenience for students; and

Whereas, The California State University English Council "views with concern " any college-level composition course taught in fewer than six weeks, a view that might affect the articulation of writing courses taught in an abbreviated time frame;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate urge community colleges to refrain from offering writing courses of three or more semester units in time frames of fewer than six weeks, except under unusual circumstances and then only with the consent of the English faculty and the local academic senate.