The language does not require a different process for these courses than others.The Curriculum Committee chair is attending Chancellor's Office Task Force on the revision of the Handbook.
Whereas the Chancellor's Office has asserted that it needs to resume review of stand-alone courses and has proposed language in the Program and Course Approval and Reporting Handbook that would exclude "courses in study skills and college orientation, and other guidance, counseling, or personal development courses" from blanket approval accorded to other stand-alone courses, and
Whereas local curriculum processes are generally sound and local curriculum committees are most familiar with and capable of reviewing counseling and guidance courses to ensure that such courses meet Title 5 Requirements, and
Whereas there is no evidence to suggest that guidance or counseling courses in particular lack rigor or credibility as compared to other categories of stand-alone courses that are automatically approved, and
Whereas counseling and guidance courses may be both Associate and Baccalaureate degree applicable, and such courses do meet standards of content and academic rigor, and include critical thinking and comprehensive written assignments,
Resolved that the Academic Senate request that the Chancellor's Office omit from the proposed language in the Program and Course Approval and Reporting Handbook the requirement that stand-alone courses "in study skills and college orientation, and other guidance, counseling, or personal development courses" be separately reviewed and approved by the Chancellor's Office.