Whereas, Resolution 9.12 F15 “urge[s] local academic senates and colleges to create formal processes and policies that require the local academic senate, in consultation with its curriculum committee, to evaluate and endorse any proposed curricular pathways offered by an external organization before such a program is institutionalized;”
Whereas, A guided pathways framework is an intentional and integrated construct including principles built on evidence-based practices that provide flexibility to allow faculty and colleges to determine, design, and implement those practices best suited to, and in service of, their local student population and communities, and the California Community College system has 114 colleges all at different stages of investigating, discussing, designing, and implementing a guided pathways framework;
Whereas, In recognizing that the academic senate and faculty leadership and involvement is critical if any guided pathways effort is to succeed, the legislature required in California Education Code §88920 that colleges participating in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program submit “a letter to the chancellor’s office signed by, and expressing the commitment of, the president of the governing board of the community college district, the chief executive officer of the college, and the president of the college’s academic senate to adopt a guided pathways model” and that colleges may use the grant funds for “[f]aculty and staff release time to review and redesign guided pathways programs, instruction, and support services;” and
Whereas, Participation in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program is not mandated by the legislature, and colleges may apply for grant funds in year two if the timeline established by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office does not allow sufficient time in the first year for colleges and academic senates to engage in meaningful and deliberative decision making;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges urge local academic senates to engage in thoughtful and considered deliberation in determining if their colleges will participate in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges call on its administrative colleagues, including the Chief Executive Officers, Chief Instructional Officers, Chief Student Services Officers, and Chief Business Officers to support local senates by providing the time required to engage in genuine dialogue and deliberation to determine the best course of action in investigating, designing, and implementing a guided pathways framework at their college.
MSC