The Role of Noncredit in California Community Colleges

Educational Policies CommitteeASCCC Plenary Session

Fall 2006

The Role of Noncredit in Calif. Community Colleges

Spring 2005 Resolution 13.03

. . . Resolved the Academic Senate produce a paper on the status of and current issues concerning noncredit courses and programs within the CCC system.

Definitions

• What is Noncredit?• Alternative Instructional Delivery System• 9 instructional areas• Noncredit is NOT

-Non-degree applicable credit-Non-transferable credit-Not-for-credit

History

• Public Education for Adults began 1856• CC System, Noncredit, and K-12 Adult Ed

evolved from this• 1960 Master Plan - CC’s and noncredit• Growing interest in Noncredit statewide

Fast Facts

• 10% of CCC• 800,000+ students• Changing demographics• Students: HS drop outs, immigrants, parents,

older adults, persons with disabilities, underemployed, undereducated

• Gateway to higher education, employment, community, lifelong learning

Law and Regulations

• Noncredit part of CCC Mission• 9 Areas of Instruction (incl. apprenticeship)• Noncredit Standards and Criteria• Minimum Quals• System Office providing clearer definitions

and guidelines (“Noncredit Alignment Project”)

9 Noncredit Apportionment Areas

6 Subject Areas:

• ESL• Short term vocational (incl.

Apprenticeship)• Basic Skills• Parenting• Health and Safety• Home Economics

3 Target Population Areas:

• Older Adults• Persons with Disabilities• Immigrants (incl.

Citizenship)

Similarities

• Overseen by System Office/BOG• Mission of the CCC• Educational Continuum• Overlap in Basic Skills, ESL, Short Term Voc• Diverse student population and needs• Course approval process• Shared Governance

Differences• Funded lower than credit• Different student needs and intent• Minimum Quals• FT/PT Faculty 1:20• No FT Faculty in some programs• Instructional delivery system

(Differences cont.)Courses:

-No fees, no grades-Open entry/open exit-Repeatable-”Certificates of Completion”-Positive attendance-Start at lowest level-Accessible: in your neighborhood, by your work, on college campus

Some Research Findings

22 colleges serve 68% of noncredit students

Noncredit serves more students of color

90 - 95% of faculty are part-time

Top 4 areas: Older Adults, Short-Term Voc., ESL, and Basic Skills

Why Consider Noncredit

• 29% high school dropout rate (urban as high as 60%)

• California’s demographics: diverse and aging• Fewer students “college ready”• Bridge to credit programs• Supports credit students• Increases access to education and jobs

Credit Students use Noncredit

• More than 1 in 4 California college students who receives an AA degree needed one or more noncredit classes

• More than 1 in 3 Latinos did

Source: California Community Colleges, MIS Data.

Noncredit Important to California Community College Degree Earners Fall 2004

25%

27%

28%

29%

29%

30%

31%

31%

35%

30%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

WHITE NON-HISP

PAC ISLDR

NAT AMER

FILIPINO

UNKNOWN

OTHER

AFR AMER

ASIAN

HISPANIC

TOTAL

Prior Noncredit

Noncredit Increases Probability of Earning a Degree for California Community College Students

Source: California Community Colleges, MIS Data.

25%

28%

29%

31%

30%

31%

35%

30%

14%

17%

17%

15%

17%

19%

20%

16%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

White Non-Hisp.

Amer. Ind./ Alas. Nat.

Filipino

Asian PI

Other Nonwhite

African-American

Hisp./Latino

All Groups

All Credit

AA/AS Degree

The Survey

• 26 colleges interviewed/surveyed

• Biggest needs identified:– Funding– More FT faculty– Facilities/resources/expanding programs

Recommendations

State Academic Senate

• Noncredit inclusion• FT Faculty• Pathway to credit• Funding• Ad Hoc Committee

Local Senates

• Noncredit inclusion• FT Faculty• Coordinate linkages• Funding increase used

for noncredit• Noncredit data

What we hope this paper will do:

• Tool to Educate • Understand noncredit role in CCC• Use for local senate discussions• Invite local senates and colleges to consider

starting or expanding noncredit to support their college mission

Discussion

• Questions about the paper?

• Next Steps for noncredit

Thank you!

(To Be Continued!)