Associate Degree in One Year Completion By Design

An Enrollment Management Reminder What class schedule produces the most success for students? What effect on learning and student success might occur in any given scenario? Is the decision to schedule course in a particular mode or time frame based on academic judgment? Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees” and ASCCC website: “Enrollment Management in Very Challenging Times.” Jane Patton, March 2011

Concepts worth considering An accelerated scheduling of a sequence of courses may exacerbate the problems with time constraints faced by many of our students: when a course moves twice as fast as normal, students must do twice as much work in any given week. Without taking into consideration the realities of our students’ lives, accelerated programs have the potential to set them up for failure. Implementation and scaling of an accelerated AA degree pathway has financial and human resource implications and can require substantial changes to policy regarding placement, course content, or course sequencing as well as shifts in expectations for students and faculty. Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees” and ASCCC website: “Enrollment Management in Very Challenging Times.” Jane Patton, March 2011

Let’s Converse. . . What advantages might this degree provide students? How might the degree disadvantage students? Do we have a population of students who will benefit from earning a degree in an accelerated manner? The Liberal Arts degree was chosen because it is the degree that the highest number of students complete More students transfer than complete degrees Does this matter?

Additional questions Will there be an inability to enroll students in second-eight week coursework when they drop first 8-week course? Would second 8-week sessions fill prior to semester start? What happens when a student does not complete a course within the module? Do they have to wait a year to repeat? Are they “out” of this accelerated format? How do we enroll them in coursework mid-semester? Does the prescriptive nature of GE coursework (limited or no choice) allow for exploration and introduction to new disciplines? Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees”

Concerns with Student success Assumes students know major at start of college, without change. Ambitious summer start High potential for attrition Potential for higher numbers of students on probation due to intensive schedule and high number of units each 8 weeks Impact of burn-out on high achievers. Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees”

Concerns continued Level of preparation for upper-division coursework? Development of critical thinking and study skills is necessary Development of poor study skills / crash learning Which university is going to accept these students? University acceptance of students without demonstrated ability to succeed at college level. Impacted campus / major status? Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees”

One Year degree resources Course selection is not always appropriate Impact on Learning Resources/Tutoring and Library Resources without additional funding Impact on Counseling without additional funding Increased number of students needing additional probation specific counseling. Re-establishment of intersession? What about the general student population? Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees”

Taking a Broader Look How do we meet the needs of a diverse population of students? How do we know that we’re meeting their needs? We have an extensive GE course menu; ought we to narrow the GE offerings and enhance major preparation courses? Is there a student population who will benefit from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday classes?

Ch-CH-Changes When looking at the proposed One Year Degree concept, what might you suggest to improve it? Any alterations that can be made to better serve our students? One faculty member suggests creating a signature program that enables students to earn an accelerated AA or AS in one of our most sought after degrees or to create one that would give students a chance to be job ready upon completion.

Would CTE be a starting place? Those that need a degree quickly are displaced workers, need training for employment Why not start with a CTE program with employment options? Work with faculty to develop program based on workforce needs and student demand Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees”

College/District Policy Do we have college or district policy and procedures regarding how new “programs” or “initiatives” are created?

Legalities Citation: Title 5 §53200 identifies curriculum, educational program development, standards and policies for student success, degree and certificate reviewed as an academic and professional matter. Board Policy 2410 requires collegial consultation with the Academic Senate regarding these matters; the BOT will rely primarily upon the advice of the Senate.

Ed Code Section 70902 (b)(7) “The Governing Board shall … ensure … the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendation in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.” Requires procedures for responding to Academic Senate recommendations that include: 1. When rely primarily, the recommendation of the Academic Senate will normally be accepted, and only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will they not be accepted.

Student input needed Title 5 §51023.7(a)(2) states, “Except in unforeseeable, emergency situations, the governing board shall not take action on a matter having a significant effect on students until it has provided students with an opportunity to participate in the formation of the policy or procedure or the joint development of recommendations regarding the action.” It is the responsibility of all parties, the academic senate, CEO, and administration, as well as the board of trustees, to assure that students and staff participate effectively in the development of recommendations on matters that affect them, such as the development or elimination of programs, degrees, student success etc.

Additional faculty research We need to research how a one year degree will influence: student retention course completion student success in lecture and lab courses, pedagogy budget curriculum change processes class conflicts the scheduling of instructional and non-instructional faculty instructional support services student access to child care. Source: Golden West College “Accelerated AA Degrees”

Where Do we Go From Here? No implementation plans before Summer 2014 Continued Faculty Due Diligence Discuss, discuss, and discuss some more! Feel free to share any suggestions, questions, comments, and/or concerns with your CIC Chair Craig Rutan and me. Thanks to those of you who already have.

Go Forth and Enjoy the day!