Discipline List Revision

September
2004
Executive Director

In March, you received a letter announcing that this fall begins the formal review of the Disciplines List. As you know, the Disciplines List establishes the minimum qualifications for the faculty of California Community Colleges. Every three years the Academic Senate reviews the list to permit faculty and professional organizations to propose changes. Below are important dates for you to remember.

October 15 or 16: Attend your area meeting to discuss proposed changes to the disciplines.
October 28: Attend a breakout on Discipline List revisions at the Fall Plenary Session.
October 29: Turn in your discipline list changes at the Fall Plenary Session before 5:00 p.m.
November 15: Revisions will be circulated to senate presidents, CIOs, CEOs, Curriculum Committee Chairs, discipline organizations, and personnel officers.
January/February: Attend a hearing on the revisions in the North or the South.
April: Attend the Spring Session to debate and vote on the adoption of proposed revisions.

A proposal to change a discipline can be submitted through two avenues: through a local or district academic senate or through a recognized organization.* Each proposed change should be accompanied by a brief explanation of the change and must offer a justification based on at least one of the following criteria:

1. changes within the profession or discipline;
2. clarification or elimination of confusion and ambiguity;
3. inclusion of new degrees;
4. continual use of the equivalency process to hire under a specific discipline;
5. ensuring the maximum degree of flexibility for the discipline while maintaining discipline integrity;
6. others, as justified in the proposal.

More information on the Disciplines List review process can be found by visiting our website at http://www.academicsena te.cc.ca.us. On this website you will also find the current Disciplines List as well as a recently adopted paper Qualifications For Faculty Service In The California Community Colleges: Minimum Qualifications, Placement Of Courses Within Disciplines, and Faculty Service Areas.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Snowhite, Standards and Practices Committee Chair, at (909) 389-3334.

* Recognized organization: an organization registered at the Chancellor's Office as representing a specific discipline or a regional, state, national, or international organization with a formally adopted constitution or by-laws.