Academic Senate Alert -- Board of Governors
Unanimously Approves Graduation Changes
Board Action
At their September 11, 2006, meeting in Sacramento
the Board of Governors voted unanimously in favor of
the Academic Senate’s academic and professional
recommendation to change the Title 5 regulations on
minimum competencies required to receive an associate
degree. The new mathematics minimum will become a course
with the level and rigor of intermediate algebra. The
new English minimum will become a course with the level
and rigor of freshman composition. Following discussions
with the Chief Executive Officers and the System Office
the change will affect students who enter the system
in Fall 2009. The resolution adopted by the Board includes
a 75-day waiting period before the regulations become
effective.
Background Materials
Considerable background material is available on the
Academic Senate website at Math/English
Requirements Resources
Material includes:
- Full text of the Board of Governors 9/11/06 resolution;
- Full text of the changes to Title 5 language contained
in July 2006 Board of Governors agenda item (but notice
implementation has been changed from Fall 2008 to
Fall 2009);
- Academic Senate Digest for January 2006 Consultation
Council
- Assorted Academic Senate articles, testimony and
presentations on the issue;
- Academic Senate resolutions on the issue;
- Academic Senate preliminary background paper.
There has also been material in a variety of local
newspapers such as the September 12, 2006 Sacramento
Bee
What should local senates do now?
- If your college has already implemented the new
requirements, then look at the “Good Practices”
section below.
- If you are already in the process of local discussions
you still have the authority to take new requirements
and catalog changes to your local board of trustees
at any time. You don’t have to wait until 2009.
- If you have not yet started local conversations,
the Academic Senate encourages you to do that immediately.
CEOs argued that some colleges needed additional time
to prepare (hence Fall 2009). We suggest you don’t
wait until the end of the 75-day public notice period
(November 25).
- Your catalog should list the new requirements and
the courses that satisfy them.
- If you permit the use of a test to satisfy these
competency requirements, ensure that the test is at
the level of the new requirements.
Good Practices for Student Success
The Academic Senate has consistently said that the
new requirements must not become a barrier to student
success. This suggests a variety of important activities
that must happen, even though they are not part of the
regulation mandate.
The Academic Senate strongly encourages the creation
of alternative courses to satisfy the new requirements.
Existing examples include business or journalism/media
writing courses and math courses targeted to particular
vocational programs. Such courses must be approved by
the local curriculum process, and determined to have
the same level and rigor as intermediate algebra and
freshman composition. The math course must have elementary
algebra as a prerequisite.
Recall that in addition to the development of alternative
courses by the Math and English departments, existing
Title 5 language permits the local curriculum process
to approve courses taught in or on behalf of other departments.
The Academic Senate also strongly encourages a college-wide
examination and discussion of support mechanisms to
ensure student success not only in the new requirements
but also in the basic skills courses that are vital
preparation.
Basic Skills Initiative
In separate actions, the Board of Governors has endorsed
the concept of a system-wide basic skills initiative.
This was originally a joint proposal of the Academic
Senate, the Chief Instructional Officers and the Chief
Student Services Officers. Implementation is occurring
within the parameters of the system strategic plan.
Funds have already been provided this year to initiate
research into successful principles, techniques and
programs.
It is anticipated that in Spring 2007, the Academic
Senate will participate in widespread professional development
activities resulting from this research.
The 2007-2008 system budget proposal requests funds
for local implementation of successful programs.
Academic Senate Activities
The Academic Senate is planning a variety of activities
in the coming year.
- Participation in the Basic Skills Initiative;
- Identification of successful alternative courses
and techniques by the Senate’s newly created
Math/English Implementation Ad Hoc Committee;
- Sessions at Senate activities: Plenary Sessions,
Teaching Institute, Vocational Institute, Curriculum
Institute.
This is an exciting opportunity for our system and
we look forward to working with all of you to make it
successful for our students and their future in California.
Julie Adams
CAE, Executive Director
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