Request Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to Readdress Bachelor’s Degree Program Requirements

Fall
2017
Resolution Number
02.01
 
Contact
Assigned to
Accreditation Committee
Category
Accreditation
Status
Completed
Status Report

On January 10, 2018 at the ACCJC Open Session meeting, ASCCC shared the ASCCC Resolution 2.01 Fall 2017 requesting that the ACCJC consider modification of the ACCJC Policy on the Accreditation of Baccalaureate Degrees, June 2016 and readdress the minimum thresholds of upper division units for bachelor’s degree programs to reflect the variety of curricular designs required by different programs of study, and to be more consistent with the WSCUC standards. Following the open session, one of the vice presidents shared that the ACCJC will reconsider this language after March 2018.

Whereas, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) at its June 2016 meeting adopted requirements of a minimum of 40 upper division units and 9 upper division general education units for bachelor’s degrees granted by the California Community Colleges resulting in the most prescriptive policy in the country for baccalaureate level education;

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors have recommended that 24 units of upper division and 6 units of general education are more appropriate for the variety of programs of study;

Whereas, Students enrolling in the California Community College Bachelor’s Degree Program are seeking bachelor’s level degrees to provide professional advancement in areas with demonstrable industry need in programs of study that require significant lower division preparation to enroll in upper division courses similar to typical science and engineering programs of study; and

Whereas, Healthcare and other career education associate degree programs require a high number of units to ensure competency, meet external accreditation requirements, and adequately prepare for national credentialing/licensing exams for entry to the profession, and other systems of higher education with different regional accreditors do not adhere to ACCJC’s requirements without sacrificing quality or rigor;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges engage the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to readdress the minimum thresholds of upper division units for bachelor’s degree programs to reflect the variety of curricular designs required by different programs of study.

MSC