1. George Bradshaw, Dean Enrollment Management
Helping or Hurting Students? The Case for Auto-Awarding Degrees and Certificates to College Students
George Bradshaw, Dean Enrollment Management
Mt. San Antonio College Rita Grogan, Associate Vice Chancellor West Hills Community College District Trista Haggard, Evaluation Coordinator West Hills Community College District

2. 34 CFR 668.32 & CCR 555063 Funding Limits Access Equity
The Intersection of Legal Considerations, Statewide Initiatives and Institutional Philosophies
Federal
Title IV Regulations
Access
Equity
SSSP (Ed Plans)
Scorecards
Program – Review
SLO
California Educational Code, Title 5
34 CFR &
Funding Limits
CCR

3. FEDERAL LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
Student must be in an eligible program of study
Student must meet academic progress
Student must meet general eligibility rules
If graduating a student, does this end their options at your college?
No!

4. California Community College Underpinnings & Statewide Initiatives
Student Equity plans focus on creating Access to higher education and the promotion of course completion.
SSSP (Educational Plans) that provide a pathway for degree and certificate attainment.
Statewide Student Scorecard metrics used to assess the relative progress of colleges in helping students achieve their goals.
College-wide Program Review and Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) require that campuses evaluate all of their programs and services.
Leading to performance-based funding initiatives.

5. CALIFORNIA LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
5 CA ADC § Minimum Requirements for the Associate Degree
The governing board of a community college district shall confer the associate degree upon a student who has demonstrated competence in reading, in written expression, and in mathematics, and who has satisfactorily completed at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of degree-applicable credit course work (as defined in section 55002(a)) which falls into the categories described in section A college may also accept toward satisfaction of this requirement courses that were not completed at a California community college that would reasonably be expected to meet or exceed the standards of section 55002(a).

6. Origins of the Auto-Awarding Process at Mt. San Antonio College
Natural outgrowth of campus-wide budget retrenchment conversations in 2011 – 2012.
Campus began to look at redirecting campus resources to promote growth and innovation in certain programs that warranted growth (i.e., moving money away from others).
Budget retrenchment necessitated the review of all programs and their ability to show “successes” (i.e., graduates/program completers).
These internal pressures created an environment conducive to finding ways to support student goals and streamlining bureaucracies.

7. What is a Mt. SAC Auto-Award?
Somewhat of a Misnomer
It is really an Auto-Petition
We use a reporting tool to generate lists of students who appear to meet graduation requirements
Evaluators run degree audits for students on the list
If students meet all requirements we award the degree/certificate

8. Local Mt. SAC AA Degree Audit Continued

9. Local Mt. SAC AA Degree Audit Continued

10. Mt. SAC Degrees Awarded via Auto-Awarding
Associate in Arts (121)
Associate in Science (92)
Associate for Transfer (3)
2013
2014
2015
2016
TOTALS
Summer 22 19 9 50
Fall 18 37 24 79
Winter 5 16 27 48
Spring 39 45 72 99
216

11. MT. SAC Certificates Awarded via Auto-Awarding
Skills Certificates (75)
Achievement Certificates (125)
2013
2014
2015
2016
TOTALS
Summer 3
Fall 32 21 25 78
Winter 16 2 24 42
Spring 12 23 77 52 50 66
200

12. Current Statewide Issues and Considerations
Senate Bill 478 (Portantino) 2017
This bill would require California Community Colleges to identify students who have completed all requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), notify these students of their completion of ADT requirements and automatically award the qualified students with the ADT degree unless the student affirmatively opts out of being included. The bill would also require CCC to add all students with an awarded ATD degree to an identification system that is electronically available for California State University and the University of California enrollment systems.

13. …and at West Hills Colleges
Similar method as Mt. Sac.
Began “auto-awarding” certificates in
Note:
The year is in process and reflects numbers to date. Text description of chart on next slide

14. …and at West Hills Colleges (Text Description)
▪ Associate of Arts for Transfer - 0 Students
▪ Associate of Science for Transfer - Approximately 5 Students
▪ Associate of Arts - Approximately 370 Students
▪ Associate of Science - Approximately 200 Students
▪ Certificate of Achievement - Approximately 180 Students
▪ Local Certificate - Approximately 100 Students
▪ Associate of Science for Transfer - Approximately 10 Students
▪ Associate of Arts - Approximately 490 Students
▪ Associate of Science - Approximately 220 Students
▪ Certificate of Achievement - Approximately 400 Students
▪ Local Certificate - Approximately 150 Students
▪ Associate of Science for Transfer - Approximately 20 Students
▪ Associate of Arts - Approximately 440 Students
▪ Local Certificate - Approximately 550 Students
▪ Associate of Arts for Transfer - Approximately 20 Students
▪ Associate of Science for Transfer - Approximately 40 Students
▪ Associate of Arts - Approximately 550 Students
▪ Associate of Science - Approximately 180 Students
▪ Certificate of Achievement - Approximately 200 Students
▪ Local Certificate - Approximately 230 Students
(Note: The year is in process and reflects numbers to date.)
▪ Associate of Arts for Transfer - Approximately 10 Students
▪ Associate of Science for Transfer - Approximately 20 Students
▪ Associate of Arts - Approximately 200 Students
▪ Associate of Science - Approximately 30 Students
▪ Certificate of Achievement - Approximately 120 Students
▪ Local Certificate - Approximately 110 Students

15. Auto Awarding Summary
There are both federal and state regulations that support the auto-awarding of degrees/certificates.
There are statewide initiatives and accountability metrics that encourage auto-awards.
Although campus climates vary, there may be strong internal support for auto-awarding processes.
The issue of students receiving the degrees they’ve earned continues to be a topic of discussion at the highest levels of government.

16. Questions????