Spring 2009
Committee:
President, Consultation Council and BOG Representatives
Whereas, According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the total number of seats used for Basic Skills courses in Spring 2008 was 135,696; only 71.57% were retained and merely 51.04% succeeded;
Whereas, Title 5 §55035 states that, “…no student shall receive more than 30 semester units (or 45 quarter units) of credit for remedial coursework,” making California the only state with a unit cap on remedial coursework (as defined as “nondegree-applicable courses” and that “the governing board of a district may provide a waiver of the limitation on remedial coursework with respect to any student who shows significant, measurable progress toward the development of skills appropriate to his or her enrollment in degree-applicable credit courses…” but the wording “…may provide a waiver…” is ambiguous and does not guarantee students the opportunity to access such a waiver;
Whereas, Many community college districts specify up to 22 basic skills courses, which while designed to help students succeed, may also result in students surpassing the 30-unit semester threshold and are then being “restricted to taking only noncredit courses, nondegree-applicable courses which do not involve remediation, and those degree-applicable credit courses which do not have prerequisites or advisories on recommended preparation”; and
Whereas, Underprepared students must already navigate other restrictions to achieving the coursework, such as repetition limits, withdrawal limits, and financial aid limits;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the removal of the 30-unit cap on credit basic skills courses; and
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to urge the Board of Governors, Consultation Council, and all statewide bodies, committees, and ad-hoc groups to amend Title 5 §55035.
Whereas, Title 5 §55035 states that, “…no student shall receive more than 30 semester units (or 45 quarter units) of credit for remedial coursework,” making California the only state with a unit cap on remedial coursework (as defined as “nondegree-applicable courses” and that “the governing board of a district may provide a waiver of the limitation on remedial coursework with respect to any student who shows significant, measurable progress toward the development of skills appropriate to his or her enrollment in degree-applicable credit courses…” but the wording “…may provide a waiver…” is ambiguous and does not guarantee students the opportunity to access such a waiver;
Whereas, Many community college districts specify up to 22 basic skills courses, which while designed to help students succeed, may also result in students surpassing the 30-unit semester threshold and are then being “restricted to taking only noncredit courses, nondegree-applicable courses which do not involve remediation, and those degree-applicable credit courses which do not have prerequisites or advisories on recommended preparation”; and
Whereas, Underprepared students must already navigate other restrictions to achieving the coursework, such as repetition limits, withdrawal limits, and financial aid limits;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the removal of the 30-unit cap on credit basic skills courses; and
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to urge the Board of Governors, Consultation Council, and all statewide bodies, committees, and ad-hoc groups to amend Title 5 §55035.
Status
Completed. The Academic Senate worked to remove the unit cap from Title 5 regulations.