Credit where Credit is Due: Understanding NonCredit

1
Credit where Credit is Due Understanding
Non-Credit
Leadership Institute 2005

• Mark Wade Lieu, Ohlone College
• Paul Starer, Foothill College

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Non-Credit in the CCC System

• Education Code 66010.4(a)(2) 
• In addition to the primary mission of academic
  and vocational instruction, the community
  colleges shall offer instruction and courses to
  achieve all of the following
• (A) The provision of remedial instruction for
  those in need of it and, in conjunction with the
  school districts, instruction in English as a
  second language, adult noncredit instruction, and
  support services which help students succeed at
  the postsecondary level are reaffirmed and
  supported as essential and important functions of
  the community colleges.
• (B) The provision of adult noncredit education
  curricula in areas defined as being in the
  states interest is an essential and important
  function of the community colleges.

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Authorized Non-Credit Areas

• Education Code section 84757(a)
• Parenting
• Elementary/Secondary Basic Skills
• English as a Second Language
• Courses for immigrants (e.g. citizenship)
• Courses for those with substantial disabilities
• Short-Term Vocational
• Courses for older adults
• Home Economics
• Health and Safety Education

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What is Non-Credit?

• Non-Credit
• Non-Degree-Applicable Credit
• Non-Transferable Credit

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Some Non-Credit Statistics

• 831,841 non-credit students in CCCs
• 1,171,780 non-credit in adult schools
• CCCs receive 26 of federal/state funding for
  non-credit
• 29 of CCC students enrolled in some form of
  non-credit
• 17 of CCC students are ONLY enrolled in
  non-credit

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More Statistics

• 53 enrolled in ESL, Basic Skills or Citizenship
• 17 enrolled in short-term Vocational
• 30 enrolled in remaining areas, the majority in
  programs for older adults

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How Wide-Spread is Non-Credit?

• 98 out of 109 colleges offer at least one
  non-credit course
• Vocational offers the largest variety of classes
• Older Adults comprise largest number of class
  sessions

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The Big Three

• San Diego (87,905 students)
• San Francisco (61,817 students)
• North Orange (60,038 students)
• 22 colleges comprise 68 of all Non-Credit
  students and generate 76 of Non-Credit FTES

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Who Does What?

• Parenting (24 colleges)
• Elementary/Secondary Basic Skills (87 colleges)
• English as a Second Language (49 colleges)
• Courses for immigrants (e.g. citizenship) (21
  colleges)
• Courses for the substantially disabled (42
  colleges)
• Short-Term Vocational (58 colleges)
• Courses for older adults (58 colleges)
• Home Economics (19 colleges)
• Health and Safety Education (35 colleges)

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Funding for Non-Credit

• 1.9 million out of General Fund (Prop 98) note
  this info from the system office seems wildly low
• 3.3 million for apprenticeships (Montoyo Fund)
• 10 million in Federal Funds (WIA, Title II, Adult
  Education and Family Literacy Act)

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Non-Credit Apportionment

• Collected through positive attendance (vs.
  census)
• Attempt to change Title 5 to use census was
  blocked by Department of Finance
• Non-Credit rate is approximately 56 of Credit
  rate (varies by district)
• Generates 10 of System FTES

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System Funding Proposal

• Apportionment funding should be increased for
  non-credit enrollmentin a series of incremental
  improvementsto an equivalent amount of the state
  support rate for credit enrollment.
• Finally, any improvement in non-credit funding
  should include standards to ensure that
  non-credit programsmore closely align with the
  requirements of credit programs.

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Standards

• Non-Credit has its own standards
• Many differ from those for Credit
• Some may have more or less impact on your college
  or district

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Instructor Minimum Qualifications

• Essentially the same for short-term vocational
  courses BA 2 years relevant experience
• Significant difference for Basic Skills and
  English as a Second Language BA vs. MA

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Instructor Full-Time Load

• Locally bargained
• Credit generally 15 lecture hours, 22 lab hours,
  or combination
• Non-Credit ranges from 20 to 30 classroom
  contact hours
• Variations in expected office hours and committee
  participation
• Class sizes for Non-Credit generally larger

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7525 FT to PT Faculty Ratio

• Education Code 87482.6
• Title 5 51025, 53308, 53309
• ONLY apply to Credit instruction

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Accreditation

• Accreditation through the Accrediting Commission
  for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) is
  required only for credit programs. Noncredit
  community college programs can be accredited by
  the Schools Commission of the Western Association
  of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which is
  responsible for accrediting all schools below the
  college level, including adult schools.

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Curriculum Approval

• Title 5 55150 and 55002(c)
• Courses considered part of an approved program
  are those required for the achievement of an
  approved degree or certificate. Since neither of
  these are available for non-credit, ALL
  non-credit courses are subject to curricular
  review by the Chancellors Office.
• May change under SACC

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What are the Implications?

• Faculty Load
• Designation of classes as Credit or Non-Credit
• Class Size
• Curriculum

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Local Discussion

• Involve Non-Credit faculty in your local senate
• Learn about the role Non-Credit plays at your
  college
• Discuss the Non-Credit funding proposal with all
  faculty, collective bargaining agent,
  administration, and local board