Curriculum Committee AS/CIO Liaison Report

October
1998
Representative at Large

A number of curriculum concerns were discussed in the liaison group during the year, including curriculum alignment, review of certificates, definition of programs, compliance monitoring, and the role of the Chancellor's Office in curriculum oversight. The level of staffing in the Chancellor's Office affects the curriculum approval process, curriculum quality and the oversight process. The group acknowledged that the level of staffing is inadequate to carry out all of the curriculum functions. Possible Title 5 changes will be needed to deal with recent changes in curriculum.

Comparisons to the curriculum approval process at the CSU and UC levels were made. CSU and UC do not have a central office role in course approval, but only in program approval. It was noted that the delegation of authority for stand-alone courses allows the community college curriculum process to work.

The Summer Curriculum Institute planned for August, 1999 will address assistance to college curriculum committees and faculty on implementing effective curriculum process and quality. Recommendations for curriculum responses to CalWORKS and welfare reform were discussed. These include modularizing courses, and integrating basic skills, SCANS competencies and job content skills into the courses that are taught as part of welfare reform programs. These programs need comprehensive services, including child care, library skills, assessment, tutoring, advisement, and job placement.

The recommendations of the Skills Awards Task Force were discussed. When finalized, the Academic Senate will approve the final report and submit it to consultation.

The On-line Curriculum Resource Center was explained. This center was established based on a grant to Santa Barbara Community College. The center provides services that include resource materials, such as video clips, graphics, curriculum samples, and document retrieval capability. It also includes online software that facilitates asessmbling the elements of an online course. Its purpose is to serve both as a general curriculum resource and to help colleges develop on-line courses.