Determining When Pre-transfer English and Mathematics Meets the Needs of a Defined Student Population

Fall
2022
Resolution Number
07.11
 
Assigned to
Curriculum Committee
Data and Research Committee
Category
Consultation with the Chancellor's Office

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges resolved to support the right of any student to choose to take pre-transfer level English or mathematic[s] courses for the purpose of academic preparation, meeting non-transfer degree/certificate requirements, reskilling, or life-long education [1];

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges resolved to oppose AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022) (Resolution 06.03 Upholding the California Community College Mission–Oppose AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022) as of April 9, 2022 Unless Amended) unless specified amendments were enacted to protect the mission and serve the students of the California community colleges, including that “placement and enrollment of students in a transfer-level English or mathematics course should not prevent students from enrolling in a pretransfer-level English or mathematics course when a student determines a course fulfills their academic needs” [2];

Whereas, In response to amendments suggested by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, and other faculty leaders, AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022) was amended to include the following reaffirmation of the importance of pretransfer-level English and mathematics for the mission of the California community colleges: "Pretransfer-level mathematics and English courses may be appropriate to meet the needs of a defined student population in order to achieve the broader community college mission or if these courses are shown to be the best option to help students progress toward their academic goals" [3]; and

Whereas, The Standing Orders of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors provide that “the advice and judgment of the Academic Senate will be primarily relied upon whenever the policy involves an academic and professional matter,” [4] and determining whether pretransfer-level mathematics and English courses may be appropriate to meet the needs of a defined student population is an academic and professional matter as it pertains to “curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines” and “standards or policies regarding student preparation and success” [5];

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors by providing its advice and judgment in the formation of state policies and related implementation guidance for determining whether pretransfer-level mathematics and English courses may be appropriate to meet the needs of a defined student population in order to achieve the broader community college mission.

M/S/U


[1] Resolution S22 06.04 Students’ Right to Choose to Take a Pre-Transfer Level English
or Mathematics Course: https://asccc.org/resolutions/students-right-choose-take-pre-transfer-level-english-or-mathematics-course.
[2] Resolution 06.03 Upholding the California Community College Mission–Oppose AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022) as of April 9, 2022 Unless Amended: https://asccc.org/resolutions/upholding-california-community-college-mission-oppose-ab-1705-irwin-2022-april-9-2022.
[3] AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1705.
[4] Procedures and Standing Orders of The Board of Governors, California Community Colleges (July 2022) can be found at https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/Files/BOG/Procedures-and-Standing-Orders/july-2022-procedures-standing-ordersv2-a11y.pdf?la=en&hash=9E4EEC96C433281D9FCD44C60D52A1BF5889CD8C (see p. 42).  
[5] California Code of Regulations, title 5, §53200, Definitions.
https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I604256434C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&amp%3BoriginationContext=documenttoc&amp%3BtransitionType=CategoryPageItem&amp%3BcontextData=%28sc.Default%29&transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29&bhcp=1.