Low-Unit Certificates Wheeler North, ASCCC Executive Committee Phil Smith, ASCCC Executive Committee
Pre-2005: The Big Three Associate in Arts (A. A. ) Degrees Associate in Science (A. S. ) Degrees Certificates of 18 or more units
Pre-2005: Flying Under the Radar
Pre-2005: Less-than-18 -unit Certificates
Post-2005: 12 is the new 18 Colleges must submit all 18+ unit certificates to CCCCO for approval Transcriptable? Yes, after approval. Called? Certificate of Achievement
Post-2005: 12 is the new 18 Colleges may submit 12 -18 unit certificates to CCCCO for approval Transcriptable? Yes, after approval. Called? Certificate of Achievement
Post-2005: 12 is the new 18 Colleges can offer less than 18 unit certificates without CCCCO approval if approved by curriculum committee & local board of trustees Transcriptable? No. Cannot be called: Certificate of Achievement, Certificate of Completion (noncredit), or Certificate of Competency (noncredit)
Wait…Is “transcriptable” a word?
Interests Met by Transcripting Trusted Clearing House for Educational Credentials Transcripts Easily Understood by Internal and External Audiences Employers and others can verify claims made on résumés Transcripts available for long periods of time Transcripts can be reissued if lost
Bureaucratic Thresholds 12 units 18 units
Beyond thresholds Is there an educational reason for having certificates the way they are? Is there a strategic reason (in terms of work placement) for having certificates the way they are?
Traditional Path 18 -unit certificate awarded 3 -units completed 6 -units completed But no certificate
Students with valuable skills… Even before they finish their certificates.
A different path… 18 -unit certificate awarded 3 -units completed 6 -units completed No certificate Low-Unit Certificate III completed Low-Unit Certificate I completed
Revisit? Should the Academic Senate revisit the issue of low-unit certificates?
Something to consider What is the lowest low for a low-unit certificate? 12 units 9 units 6 units 3 units 1 unit? !!
Something to consider
Is There a Way to Ensure Meaningful Low-Unit Certificates? Some Possibilities to Consider: Chancellor’s Office Approval Advisory Group Sign-Off Recursive approval: (If a high-unit (18+) certificate is CCCCOapproved, any subsequence of courses from it can be automatically approved as a low-unit certificate. )