The Senate gave breakouts at plenary sessions and the Curriculum Institute regarding the impact of athletics and physical education programs based on the Los Rios report. In addition, a presentation was conducted at the Board of Governors. The Senate will assist any college desiring assistance to conduct a simple report locally.
Whereas, Courses in the visual and performing arts and in physical education are commonly perceived and referred to as “recreational” courses, with the implication that these courses have little relevance to the core priorities of the California community colleges - transfer, basic skills, and career/technical education;
Whereas, This perception has resulted in challenges to programs and courses in the areas of physical education and visual and performing arts by legislative, regulatory, and policy-making entities across the state;
Whereas, Faculty in the Los Rios Community College District have collaborated in the development of a well-documented, data-driven response to these challenges in the form of reports focusing on the enormous positive regional economic impact and transfer outcomes of the visual and performing arts and physical education programs, which was developed at the request of their Board of Trustees to help trustees better articulate the value of these programs and better advocate for the needs of their district; and
Whereas, This process and a summary of these reports were presented at the Spring 2011 plenary in the form of a breakout session to wide faculty acclaim;
Resolved¸ That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Los Rios Community College District to present information about the economic and transfer impacts of visual and performing arts and physical education programs to the Board of Governors, Consultation Council and other regulatory and policy-making bodies and that the Academic Senate share this information with local senate leaders, administrators, and governing boards around the state to inform discussions with their local governing boards; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges assist local senates and discipline faculty in the collection, compilation, and widespread distribution of data on the economic and transfer impacts of the arts and physical education.
MSC Disposition: Local Senates, Los Rios CCD