|
CORE REQUIREMENT CR 7:
a. The institution offers one or more degree programs based on
at least 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the
associate level; at least 120 semester credit hours or the
equivalent at the baccalaureate level; or at least 30 semester
credit hours or the equivalent at the post-baccalaureate,
graduate, or professional level. The institution provides
a written justification and rationale for program equivalency;
| X |
Compliance |
| o |
Partial Compliance |
| o |
Non-Compliance |
Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) offers
three degree programs: the Associate of Arts, the Associate
of Science, and the Associate of Applied Science (Reference
1). Each degree program requires at least 60 semester
credit hours. Students must complete a minimum of 60 semester
credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average
of 2.0 in order to graduate with an associate degree in
the state of Texas (References 2, 3).
Supporting Documents:
|
|
b. The institution offers degree programs that embody a
coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated
purpose and is based upon fields of study appropriate to
higher education;
Collin County Community College District
(CCCCD) degree programs embody a coherent course of study, adhere
to common standards and practices, and adhere to specifications
of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) guidelines
( References 1, 2, 3). Programs offered
at CCCCD are compatible with the stated mission, goals, and
purposes of CCCCD ( Reference 4) and with
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) higher
education guidelines. Degree programs offered at CCCCD are internally reviewed
and approved (Reference 5), and externally
reviewed and approved by the THECB, as complying with state-mandated
program guidelines. In addition, curriculum revisions have
also been mandated by the THECB, via recently established
fields of study.
Most recently CCCCD curriculum has included a faculty-led
assessment of the core curriculum by the General Education
Outcomes (GEO) Forum (Reference 6).
Based on faculty assessment, recommendations have been made to expand CCCCD core
requirements with courses that meet specific standards mandated
by the THECB. The GEO Forum’s work ensures that the CCCCD
core curriculum continues to be appropriate to higher education,
guided by the principle that the role of general education
at CCCCD is to cultivate within students a common core of
knowledge in the liberal arts tradition, high-level cognitive
skills, and an educational foundation that facilitates and
encourages life-long learning.
Supporting Documents:
|
|
c. The institution offers a general education program at
the collegiate level that is (1) a substantial component
of each undergraduate degree, (2) ensures breadth of knowledge,
and (3) is based on a coherent rationale. For degree completion
in associate programs, the component constitutes a minimum
of 15 semester hours or the equivalent; for baccalaureate
programs, a minimum of 30 semester hours or the equivalent.
These credit hours are to be drawn from and include at least
one course from each of the following areas: humanities/fine
arts; social/behavioral sciences; and natural science/mathematics.
The courses do not narrowly focus on those skills, techniques,
and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession.
The institution provides a written justification and rationale
for course equivalency;
Each degree program offered by the Collin
County Community College District (CCCCD) contains a general
education core that comprises a substantial component of
each degree and whose content ensures a breadth of knowledge.
Rationale for core course content is based on a defined
purpose of general education at CCCCD developed by a faculty
task force appointed to review and assess the general education
core, the General Education Outcomes (GEO) Forum ( Reference
1). GEO Forum’s work was based on the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) core curriculum and field of
study guidelines ( Reference 2). The
core includes courses from the areas of humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics.
The Associate of Arts degree and the Associate of Science
degree require a 45 credit hour core curriculum ( Reference
3):
- 9 hours of Communications,
- 3 hours of Humanities,
- 3 hours of Mathematics,
- 8 hours of Natural Sciences,
- 3 hours of Social/Behavioral Sciences,
- 12 hours of Social Sciences,
- 3 hours of Visual/Performing Arts,
- 3 credits of Computer Science,
- 1 credit of Physical Education/Dance Activity.
The Associate of Applied Science contains a required 22
credit hour core curriculum. The core requires:
- 3 hours of English,
- 3 hours of Speech Communications,
- 3 hours of Mathematics,
- 3 hours of Computer Science,
- 3 hours of Economics,
- 3 hours of Humanities/Fine Arts
- 3 hours of Behavioral Science
- 1 credit of Physical Education/Dance
Workforce education programs, which may have additional
external professional accrediting bodies, such as Dental
Hygienist, Nursing, and Respiratory Care (Reference
4), must also incorporate core curriculum requirements
within the limited number of credit hours as specified by
the THECB guidelines for associate degrees (Reference
5). To ensure compliance with the THECB and the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) standards, while
complying with the mandates from required external bodies,
CCCCD provides written justification and rationale for course
equivalency and substitution, as needed (Reference
6). These justifications are kept on file in Division
Dean Offices and in the Academic Affairs and Transfer Programs
Offices.
Supporting Documents:
|
|
d. The institution makes arrangements
for some instruction to be provided by other accredited
institutions or entities through contracts or consortia,
where appropriate. The institution itself, however,
provides instruction for all course work required for
at least one degree program at each level at which it
awards degrees, or provides an alternative approach
to meeting this requirement. The alternative approach
is approved by the Commission on Colleges. In all cases,
the institution demonstrates that it controls all aspects
of its educational program.
Collin County Community College District
(CCCCD) provides instruction for all coursework required
for its degree programs at each level at which it awards
degrees. Collin County Community College District has
arrangements for select instruction to be provided by
other institutions accredited by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS) through the Virtual College
of Texas ( References 1, 2). CCCCD also uses Dallas County Community College District’s
(DCCCD) (a SACS-accredited institution) telecourses,
as a means of further enhancing student access to higher
education via distance learning. These courses adhere
to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
general academic and workforce education guidelines
(References 3, 4, 5, 6). DCCCD
telecourses are reviewed by CCCCD faculty members for
content and currency before they are offered. While
teaching telecourses, CCCCD faculty members often provide
supplemental instruction for the students.
CCCCD also provides clinical instruction for all its
health programs: Nursing, Respiratory Care, Emergency
Medical Services Professions, and Dental Hygienist.
These clinicals are instructed by and under the direct
instructional supervision of CCCCD faculty members,
but often are administered at area hospitals, dental
clinics, and fire stations. CCCCD has a contractual
agreement with each of these clinical sites (Reference
7).
Supporting Documents:
|
|
