COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD CS P7:

The institution ensures the quality of educational programs/courses offered through consortia relationships or contractual agreements, ensures ongoing compliance with the comprehensive requirements, and evaluates the agreement against the purpose of the institution.

As a means of further enhancing student access to higher education via distance learning, Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) has arranged for some instruction to be provided by other Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)-accredited institutions through the Virtual College of Texas (References 1, 2, 3), as well as through the use of Dallas County Community College District’s telecourses (References 4, 5). These institutions adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education (GIPWE) and the Academic Course Guide Manual (References 6, 7).

In addition, CCCCD faculty often provide supplemental instruction for each telecourse offered. Before telecourses are offered by the College and annually thereafter, the courses are reviewed for content and currency by departmental faculty. CCCCD also provides clinical instruction for all health programs: Nursing, Respiratory Care, Emergency Medical Services Professions, and Dental Hygienist. These clinical sections are taught by CCCCD faculty to ensure quality and SACS compliance. Agreements for clinical instruction are established with area hospitals, dental clinics, and fire stations (References 8, 9) to further the College’s purpose by providing technical programs to develop marketable skills.

In addition, through the use of transfer guides, articulation agreements, the Texas Common Course Numbering System (Reference 10), the Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) and the Workforce Education Course Manual, CCCCD ensures that the transfer credits earned from other accredited institutions are equivalent to the quality and content of the courses taught by CCCCD faculty.

Other agreements allow high school students to enroll in college-level courses via concurrent enrollment programs (Reference 11). CCCCD faculty members teach these courses either on the high school or CCCCD campuses. In addition, these courses follow approved course syllabi and utilize the same textbooks as all other CCCCD courses. All classes are reviewed through classroom visits and the student evaluation of instruction, as are on-campus programs/classes. Specific guidelines are compiled in the Special Admissions Advising Manual (Reference 12).

Global EDGE, the Tech Prep Consortium, has established nine agreements (Reference 13) with area high schools to allow students to apply for articulated credit in select technical courses and programs. The high school student receives high school credit. However, upon transfer to CCCCD, the student may petition to receive articulated college credit and have earned six hours of credit in a selected technical program (Reference 14). In Texas, high school teachers must have a baccalaureate degree and pass a state content exam in the discipline to be certified to teach.

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