The Challenges of Awarding the Associate Degree for Transfer

Transcription

1 The Challenges of Awarding the Associate Degree for Transfer Presented by Joanne Benschop, MiraCosta College Song Le Graham, Rio Hondo College Juliette Parker, San Diego Mesa College

2 Session Learning Outcomes Identify problems related to: Degree development Reciprocity Issues Interpreting Legislation Counselor/Evaluator issues Examine and clarify inconsistencies Work collaboratively with the CCCCO, CSU and AOs

3 Listserv Correspondences Due to 440's 18-month timeline for degree development, it was determined that new TMCs should only be made available for degree submission twice a year - February 1 and September 1. Currently, the "clock" has started for Economics and we anticipate chemistry for September 1. This should allow for CSU to introduce a CSU GE Breadth for STEM as another alternative - and provides ample time to develop guidance for what these degrees should look like (how the GE will be explained and such). If anyone has already figured that out, please share it. On a related note - it is looking increasingly like the CO's position is that if one of the transfer GE patterns at your CCC is configured such that the student CAN'T use it and get out in 60, then you can't have an ADT using that pattern. Yes, either version of IGETC has been the position since the start of policy discussions. CSU is also on record permitting this. Of course, if the student came their way they would want the G4 completed also.

4 Degree Development Identify the Problems C-ID requirements Degree designed for local feeder-using articulated coursework Using IGETC-without COMM? Unit issues related to IGETC/CSU-GE and degrees Resubmitting degrees/c-id to CCCCO (new 5 year review process for TMC s and descriptors) Propose Solutions Ability to use the CSU articulated course prerequisite Use of C-ID descriptor as justification for a new prerequisite Acknowldege that not all ADT s developed meet 60 unit maximum Give CCC local control to approve degrees/c-id Timeline for degree review from CCCCO

5 Reciprocity Issues ASCCC Guidelines The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) encourages colleges to apply courses successfully completed as part of a TMC-aligned degree at one college for requirements within their own degrees to the greatest extent deemed possible and reasonable (See ASCCC resolution Spring 2011). Local policies and practices may need to be revisited in light of the TMC system; senates and curriculum committees should lead such discussions, ensuring that discipline faculty are responsible for making decisions regarding course substitutions within the TMC-aligned degree requirements. While existing practices may permit colleges to substitute (or not) in any way they choose, for the sake of the TMC system and in the spirit of SB 1440, the ASCCC urges colleges to allow all reasonable course substitutions that are consistent with the parameters of the TMCs.

6 Listserv Correspondences Hi all, has anyone developed a policy on course substitutions for transfer degrees? We have many students petitioning to count courses that are not a part of the degrees. Our admissions office is looking for guidance here. With our nontransfer degrees, faculty have a lot of latitude in approving these petitions but that doesn't seem appropriate for transfer degrees. Let s say a student took Financial Accounting several years ago, before C-ID existed. Now they want to use that course in our Business Administration AS- T. However, our Financial Accounting course was denied by C-ID and had to be revised, so technically it is not the same course that the student took (and for some other courses, the revisions would include additions of prerequisites that previously were not required). Are we allowed to use this course in the AS-T?

7 Reciprocity Issues Identify problems Are Pass Along courses being evaluated against state template or against the College s version of the TMCaligned degree Are your college s own courses allowed to be substituted according to the state TMC? Status of C-ID courses to be passed along (what if denied?) Has a consistent Reciprocity Plan been developed? Propose Solutions Consistent guidelines for pass along courses for all community colleges Consistent guidelines within your college for all degrees being offered with regard to course substitutions

8 What the Legislation Says A student who has earned an associate degree for transfer is eligible for CSU admission if the also student meets the following requirements: Completion of 60 semester/90 quarter transferable units IGETC or CSU-GE A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0. A community college district shall not impose any requirements in addition to the requirements of this section, including any local college or district requirements, for a student to be eligible for the associate degree for transfer and admission to the California State University.

9 Listserv Correspondences The statement in the PCAH is currently being discussed. It was never intended to penalize a student s ability to apply credit by exam, and such would contradict one of the objectives of this new program. Until further resolved my recommendation is that you follow regulation, title 5 section Just be sure your P/NP policy is a C or better. Bob Q. I am not aware of any reason a college couldn t have two degrees with the same major requirements and different GE requirements. I checked with our Academic Affairs folks and they agreed. Linda M. Our college has had the practice of giving pass/no pass grades to students who earn credit by exam for courses - i.e. test out of a course. Can we use this credit by exam towards major requirements for an ADT?

10 Listserv Correspondence If the requirement you are seeking to "enforce" is a local one, it is a local requirement and it is not permitted in the context of ADT degrees. As stated, that sounds like a local residency requirement - and, therefore, it is not permitted. Thanks for the reply, Michelle. We do understand the legislation, yet we were prompted to ask the question because 1. Many colleges do require both residency and major unit completion even with their ADTs. and 2) We were hoping that someone would have some tangible evidence that this requirement is indeed (as you suggest) not allowed

11 Interpreting the Legislation and what is considered Local Identify Problems Pass/No Pass in PCAH Awarding of multiple degrees within the same discipline Requiring units beyond Title 5 residency requirement Use of credit by exam Issuing degrees that contain more or less units than College s ADT in catalog Propose Solutions Revise PCAH to reflect Title 5 (immediately) When PCAH is modified, have information related to ADTS vetted by AO Advisory Group Clear guidelines from CCCCO that address all the local scenarios that have come up A designated contact at the CCCCO for college issues or concerns

12 Listserv Correspondences the CSUs could not hold these students (who apply to a similar major) for any specific courses for admission purpose, however after admission each CSU will determine which 60 units the student will need to take to complete the similar bachelor degree (upper division course work and possibly lower division if the course was not similar per that CSU as long as it fits in the 60 units). I have a grad who was awarded the AA in Business Administration before he found out that he needed the ADT in Business Administration. He is saying the Fullerton needs him to have the ADT in Business Admin for admission. Is there any way that I can revoke the AA in Business Admin for Fall and put him in for Spring 14 w/ the new degree?

13 Counseling/Evaluator Issues Identify problems ASSIST reference to C-ID articulation: If a current articulation agreement is not available, additional articulation might exist based on C-ID numbers. Please check the C-ID Search and Reports section below. Counselor/student confusion about what guarantee means Inconsistency with publications of templates and approved ADT degrees Propose Solutions Language should be modified on ASSIST to prevent less confusion - CCC courses are approved for C- ID descriptors not articulated The GPA bump and/or admission priority should be published so that it is understood. Are both in play/only one/ Local priority needs to be communicated more clearly One repository for templates and approved degrees for colleges-- CCCCO

14 Summary of Solutions Ability to use the CSU articulated course prerequisite Use of C-ID descriptor as justification for a new prerequisite Acknowldege that not all ADT s developed meet 60 unit maximum Give CCC local control to approve degrees/c-id Timeline for degree review from CCCCO Consistent guidelines for pass along courses for all community colleges Consistent guidelines within your college for all degrees being offered with regard to course substitutions Revise PCAH to reflect Title 5 (immediately) When PCAH is modified, have information related to ADTS vetted by AO Advisory Group Clear guidelines from CCCCO that address all the local scenarios that have come up A designated contact at the CCCCO for college issues or concerns Language should be modified on ASSIST to prevent less confusion - CCC courses are approved for C-ID descriptors not articulated The GPA bump and/or admission priority should be published so that it is understood. Are both in play/only one/ Local priority needs to be communicated more clearly One repository for templates and approved degrees for colleges--cccco

15 Next Steps Forward summary of issues and proposed solutions to Bob Quinn and he will route questions to appropriate people for answers and guidance.