Proposed Revision to Title 5 related to the Associate Degree and American Institutions and Ideals
Whereas, history and political science courses teach the nuts and bolts of our government as well as the fragility and importance of our democratic institutions. And at this time in our nation’s history, where our democratic institutions are under attack, the importance of civic engagement with our democratic institutions, processes, and each other;
Whereas, in Spring 2019, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) adopted resolution 15.02, Support for the CSU United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirement, Commonly Known as the American Institutions Requirement, resolving to “explore possibilities for adding a requirement similar to the California State University’s United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirement to the associate’s degree requirements for the California Community Colleges” [1]; and
Whereas, in Spring 2023, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) adopted resolution 01.05, Higher Education and the Health of Democracy: In Solidarity with CSU Faculty Colleagues to Preserve the American Institutions Requirement, resolving to “renew its commitment to the importance of the current United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirement” [2];
Resolved, that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, through existing processes, to recommend that the Requirement for California community college associate degrees established California Code of Regulations title 5, Section 55061(c), be further amended to add the following: “(7) U.S. History and U.S. Government (minimum 6 semester/ 8 quarter units). Courses fulfilling this requirement include a baccalaureate-level course in U.S. history offered within the discipline of history and a baccalaureate-level course in U.S. government offered within the discipline of political science” [3];
Resolved, that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, through existing processes, to recommend that the Requirement for California community college associate degrees established in California Code of Regulations title 5, Section 55061(c)(4), be further amended to update the following: “(4) Social and Behavioral Sciences (minimum of 3 6 semester / 4 8 quarter units)” [4]; and
Resolved, that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, through existing processes, to recommend that the Requirement for California community college associate degrees established in California Code of Regulations title 5, Section 55061(c) be further amended to update the following: “(c) A minimum of 21 30 semester units (28 44 – 31 47.5 quarter units) of general education in the areas described below.” And Title 5, Section 55062(a)(3) be further amended to update the following: “(3) Completion of a minimum of 21 30 semester units (28 44 – 31 47.5 quarter units) general education pattern pursuant to section 55061, or completion of the requirements for an approved intersegmental lower-division general education pattern used for transfer to the University of California or the California State University” [5]
Contact: Josue (Josh) Franco, Ph.D., Cuyamaca College, josue.franco@gcccd.edu
[1] Resolution SP19 15.02 Support for the CSU United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirement, Commonly Known as the American Institutions Requirement: https://www.asccc.org/resolutions/support-csu-united-states-history-constitution-and-american-ideals-requirement-commonly
[2] Resolution SP23 01.05 Higher Education and the Health of Democracy: In Solidarity with CSU Faculty Colleagues to Preserve the American Institutions Requirement: https://www.asccc.org/resolutions/higher-education-and-health-democracy-solidarity-csu-faculty-colleagues-preserve
[3] On September 26th, 2023, California Community Colleges Board of Governors approved changes to Requirement for California community colleges associate degrees established by California Code of Regulations Title 5, Section 55061(c): https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/cccchan/Board.nsf/files/CVMMH55A2519/$file/2023-09-06-proposed-reg-text-for-associate-degree-requirements-2nd-read-v3-a11y.pdf
[4] Ibid.
[5] On September 26th, 2023, California Community Colleges Board of Governors approved changes to Requirement for California community colleges associate degrees established by California Code of Regulations Title 5, Section 55061(c) and Section 55062(a)(3): https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/cccchan/Board.nsf/files/CVMMH55A2519/$file/2023-09-06-proposed-reg-text-for-associate-degree-requirements-2nd-read-v3-a11y.pdf