We enclose information intended to stimulate discussion on your campus that will be vital to decisions made at our forthcoming Academic Senate Plenary Session (May 1-3, 2003 at the San Francisco Westin Hotel).

Last Fall's Action on Raising the Requirements for Mathematics and English
At last fall's Academic Senate Plenary Session, two resolutions were introduced to raise Title 5 Regulations for minimum levels of English and mathematics required for the associate's degree.

• Resolution 9.05R would raise the required level of mathematics from a course in elementary algebra to intermediate algebra or the equivalent and after five years to college algebra or the equivalent.
• Resolution 9.06R called for raising the English composition requirement from a course one level below transfer-level English composition to transfer-level English composition (referred to as 1A) or the equivalent.
• A third resolution (9.04R) called for making no changes to these requirements, leaving such decisions to local determination.

This Spring's Actions

These three resolutions were "referred to the Executive Committee" to allow time for discussion by local senates before these resolutions, or similar ones, are re-introduced for vote this spring.

The Executive Committee will also introduce a resolution asking that the Academic Senate body

• support no change in these requirements at this time,
• prepare a paper examining the issue of the appropriate levels for English and mathematics required for graduation, and
• conduct a breakout session at spring 2004 session.

The brief arguments we include were provided by those who wrote the fall resolutions and those who expressed their views via the counseling list serve. Here is what we ask of you now:

1. Share these materials with all faculty on your campuses so they may participate in discussing these issues.

2. Although students, administrators, and classified staff on your campuses should also be invited to weigh in on these issues, keep in mind that degree requirements are defined in Title 5 as an "academic and professional matter," and therefore your academic senate is recognized as having the authority to make recommendations supporting or opposing any changes in degree requirements at both the state and local levels.

3. Ask your senate to provide direction to your delegate on these and other matters to be taken up at

• your Area meeting, scheduled for April 11 or 12 in your area)
• our Spring Plenary meeting in San Francisco.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Hoke Simpson
  President

Raising Title 5 English and Math Requirements for AA/AS Degrees: Background and Arguments