1 The ASCCC Curriculum CommitteeTuning Up Your Curriculum Approval Process: Improving Effectiveness and Efficiency The ASCCC Curriculum Committee Curriculum Institute July 7, 2016 Anaheim
2 ASCCC Curriculum Committee 2015-16John Freitas—Chair, ASCCC Treasurer (Los Angeles City College) Ginni May, ASCCC North Representative (Sacramento City College) Lori Bennett, Moorpark College (CIO Representative) Michael Heumann, Imperial Valley College Diana Hurlbut, Irvine Valley College Bernard McFadden, Copper Mountain College (Student Senate for CCC Representative) Toni Parsons, San Diego Mesa College Sofia Ramirez Gelpi, Allan Hancock College Tiffany Tran, Irvine Valley College Vivian Varela, Mendocino College
3 Road Map for Today This is an Interactive session where participants will: Respond to questions throughout using their mobile devices; Learn about required and optional curriculum processes; Have an opportunity to reflect on your college’s curriculum processes with an eye for improvement. Not sure of the thought behind this slide.
4 Quiz Time! If your curriculum approval process was a car, which car would best describe it?Ferrari Formula One race car 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Honda Accord Ford Pinto
5 Quiz Time! Who represents your ideal curriculum leader?a. Batman b. Wonder Woman c. The Hulk d. Captain America
6 Quiz time! How long does it take to approve new curriculum at your college, on average, from submission to the curriculum committee to approval by the board? Less than 3 months 3-6 months 6-12 months >12 months
7 Curriculum Approval Processes: Perception vs. RealityPerception – It’s way too slow! Reality – 2015 Curriculum Efficiency Survey asked how long it takes to approve, from curriculum committee to board: 6 months or less from – 77% 6-11 months – 18% 1-2 years – 3% >2 years – 2%
8 Unfortunately, sometimes…
9 Workforce Task Force Recommendations (1 of 25)8. Evaluate, revise, and resource the local, regional, and statewide CTE curriculum approval process to ensure timely, responsive, and streamlined curriculum approval:
10 Workforce Task Force Recommendations8.a. Provide state-level coordination to ensure a streamlined curriculum approval process at the Chancellor’s Office. 8.b. Provide sufficient staffing and resources in the Chancellor's Office to accelerate the state-level curriculum approval process. 8.c. Identify and disseminate effective practices in local curricula adoption and revision processes and provide technical assistance for faculty and colleges.
11 Budget Act (SB 830) Includes implementation of Strong Workforce Task Force recommendations; Requires Chancellor’s Office to develop and implement a plan to streamline the course and curriculum approval process, both at the state and local levels.
12 What is the ASCCC doing? ASCCC regional meetings ASCCC institutesAdopted the paper Ensuring Effective Curriculum Approval Processes: A Guide for Local Senates at Spring 2016 plenary session Curriculum technical assistance program (joint with CCCCIO) Model curriculum and C-ID descriptors for CTE When will the paper be available on the ASCCC website?
13 “Ensuring Effective Curriculum Approval Processes: A Guide for Local Senates”Paper adopted by the Academic Senate at the Spring 2016 Plenary Session Focus is on effective practices for implementing efficient and responsive local curriculum approval processes while ensuring high quality curriculum A resource for local senates and curriculum committees to assist in initiating local approval process reviews Goal - curriculum submitted to the curriculum committee at the beginning of an academic term should be approved by the board by the end of the same term (3 months or less) Note: curriculum approval process means the governance process
14 Curriculum Committee – Role and AuthorityEducation Code 70902(b)(7) – senates have “primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.” Title 5 §53200 – curriculum (including policies and procedures) is an academic and professional matter Title 5 §55002 – curriculum committees may make curriculum recommendations directly to the governing board (if delegated by the academic senate)
15 Quiz Time! What is your perception of how faculty approach curriculum at your college? Aloof Aware but hoping someone else will do it Involved and collegial Possessive Give up in exasperation
16 Quiz Time! What is your perception of how administrators approach curriculum at your college? Aloof Aware but hands-off Involved and collegial Micromanaging Give up in exasperation
17 Role of Administrators – Deans and CIOs are IntegralCurriculum development should be a collegial process Administrator colleagues should be involved early in the process CIO and academic deans: knowledgeable about compliance requirements recognize issues of concern before too much time and effort has been expended CTE Dean: Knowledgeable about regional consortium issues Assist in timely approval of programs
18 The CIO Plays a Crucial Role in Curriculum!Accountable for compliance of curriculum with all laws and regulations; Ensures that steps for approval are properly followed, and certifies to the Chancellor’s Office that proposals are legally compliant; Ensures that proposed curriculum is within the scope of the mission; Ensures that proposed curriculum meets a legitimate need, is supported with resources, and meets standards for approval; Works closely with the Curriculum Chair and the Curriculum Committee; Is an active, collegial participant in the curriculum approval process. (See the CIO Manual, 1st Edition, 2012)
19 Role of Administrators – Deans and CIOsCIO review assures new course or program proposal: Aligns with the mission, Meets an identified need, Can be supported with adequate resources, Are legally compliant (see CIO Manual, adopted by CCCCIO, 2012) While it isn’t required that the CIO approve curriculum prior to board approval, it is not wise to ignore the CIO’s concerns and force curriculum through. Nor is it wise for the CIO: Not collegial and creates an unhealthy “us vs. them” dynamic The CIO and President can express their concerns to the board The CIO may refuse to schedule the course
20 Quiz Time! Which best describes the role of your students in the curriculum approval process? Attend curriculum meetings but not engaged Engaged in curriculum meetings and provide thoughtful input Belligerent and tend to complain to the board Students involved in curriculum? That’s crazy talk!
21 Include the Students! Ed Code section 70902(b)(7) – students have the right to effectively participate in college governance Title 5 section – students “shall be provided an opportunity to participate in formulation and development of district and college policies and procedures that have or will have a significant effect on them”, including curriculum Students are welcome and should serve on the curriculum committee Governing boards will take student complaints seriously – upset students can derail curriculum approval!
22 Assess the Effectiveness of Your Process
23 Quiz Time ! How many steps in your approval process? Less than 5 5 –6 – 8 8 – 10 Lost count
24 Assess - Are There Unnecessary Steps?Do you require too many approvals relative to what is actually required by Title 5? Does the process contain steps that are redundant or that could be completed simultaneously rather than sequentially?
25 Assess - Are There Structural Barriers?Are local course and program submission and deadlines too infrequent or restrictive? Is the process impeded by problems caused by ineffective technology, or even a lack of technology, at the local level?
26 Assess - Is It Too Bureaucratic?Does the process focus too much on complying with course outline formatting instructions and too little on course and program quality?
27 How long should it take? The ASCCC recommends 3 months or one primary academic term* Rule of thumb –curriculum submitted to the curriculum committee at the beginning of a primary term should be considered for approval by the governing board by the end of the same term (approximately 3 months). *See Ensuring Effective Curriculum Approval Processes: A Guide for Local Senates, ASCCC, adopted Spring 2016
28 Improving Your Process!Six Steps to Improving Your Process!
29 Improve Your Process Make Sure the Process is Clear to EveryoneFlow chart with important dates Curriculum website Curriculum handbook Minimize Approval Time While Assuring Quality Technical review simultaneous with development Expedite minor changes through the tech review process
30 Improve Your Process Make Curriculum Meetings EfficientPrepare well-organized and thorough agendas Use consent calendars Assign committee members to act as “readers” for proposals Engage in detailed review of new curriculum during 1st Reading Allow CTE curriculum changes are required by external agencies to be approved without a 2nd reading Give all curriculum committee members access to the curriculum management system
31 Improve Your Process Streamline the Approval ProcessEliminate unnecessary (i.e. not legally required) steps in the process Increase curriculum committee authority by allowing it to make recommendations directly to board, with final review of proposals by CIO to ensure legal compliance Increase the Frequency of Curriculum Approvals Consideration of curriculum at all board meetings Biweekly/weekly curriculum committee meetings
32 Improve Your Process 6. For Multi-College Districts: Consider Curriculum Autonomy Eliminate district-wide approvals/campus consensus requirements College autonomy over all course attributes Use C-ID and articulation agreements to “align” curriculum
33 Congratulations! But not so fast…You have tuned up your approval process! Now you can offer your students the new curriculum immediately, right? Or not… Still needs Chancellor’s Office approval! Still needs to be published in your catalog!
34 Quiz Time! The average time it takes to publish new curriculum in your college catalog after final approval is: Immediately upon Chancellor’s Office approval 6 months or less 6 months to one year More than one year Huh?
35 Catalog Catalog rights - the catalog is a contract with the studentTitle 5 requirements (§55005) – specific course information ACCJC requirements (2014 Standards) Standard I.2.C: “The institution provides a print or online catalog for students and prospective students with precise, accurate, and current information on all facts, requirements, policies, and procedures listed in the “Catalog Requirements” (see endnote). (ER 20)” List of catalog requirements on p.18 of 2014 Standards Courses and programs in catalog must match what is in the Curriculum Inventory
36 Possible Solutions Review catalog production schedules.Catalog addendum each primary term? Online catalog that can be readily updated to include new curriculum. Beware of unintended consequences, such as effect on student catalog rights, accreditation requirements Publish course standards information required by Title 5 in the schedule of classes. SACC to address catalog publication practices in
37 Q&A Time
38 Resources Program and Course Approval Handbook, 6th EditionCIO Manual, 1st Edition, July 2012 Office of Administrative Law (www.oal.ca.gov) For searching Ed Code and Title 5 The Curriculum Committee: Role, Structure, Duties, and Standards of Good Practice (ASCCC, Fall 1996) Effective Curriculum Approval Processes: A Guide for Local Senates (ASCCC, Spring 2016) Beyond Efficient Curriculum Approval Processes – Timely Catalog Publication, Rostrum (March 2016)
39 Thank you!