MEMBERS PRESENT

Annie Hunt Burriss
Don Chapman
Ben Copeland
Cedric Johnson
Rhubarb Jones
McGrath Keen
Ann Purcell
Tyre Rakestraw
Otis Raybon
Sandra Reed
Harold Reynolds
Steve Rieck
Earl Smith
Larry Snellgrove
Carl Swearingen
Ben Tarbutton

III. U. 8. Holidays

Holidays are non-work days with pay when so proclaimed by the Governor of Georgia. All employees on pay status at the time of a designated holiday will be paid for the holiday. Employees required to work on a designated holiday or whose normal time off falls on a holiday will receive equivalent time off within ninety days of the holiday.

At the central office, holidays will normally be observed on the dates designated by the Governor or as otherwise determined by the Commissioner.

At the Technical Colleges, holidays will be observed as designated by the college's academic calendar.

Georgia law provides for the recognition and observance of twelve (12) holidays each calendar year. Through individual proclamations, the Governor specifies the day state offices and facilities shall be closed for each observance.

Holidays will normally be observed on the dates designated by the Governor; however, in a technical college setting, one or more holiday(s) may be moved to a date later in the calendar year consistent with a college’s approved academic calendar.

Eligible employees who are required to work, who remained in pay status through the use of paid leave or accumulated compensatory time, or whose normal/regularly scheduled day off falls on a holiday proclaimed by the Governor, shall receive equivalent time off to be scheduled consistent with a technical college’s approved academic calendar.

References
Technical College Calendar
Procedure: Holidays
O.C.G.A. §1-4-1

Adopted: April 2, 1987
Revised: March 14, 2001
Code: 03-04-09
Approved

II. C. 10. Weapons

It is the intent of this policy: (1) to create a safe educational environment; (2) to prohibit the carrying of weapons within school safety zones as prohibited by law; (3) to create an awareness of this policy and related penalties; (4) to establish definitions; and (5) to establish procedures for disposition of violations.

Definitions
"School safety zone" means in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the Technical College campus or of any public gathering by the Technical College.

"Weapon" means and includes any gun pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of three or more inches, straight-edge razor, spring stick, metal knucks, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star, oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, any stun gun or laser. This definition shall exclude any of these instruments used for classroom work authorized by an instructor. "Weapon" also means and includes any instrument as defined by law as a weapon. (For a full list of prohibited weapons, see O.C.G.A. §16-11-127.1(a)(2))

"Public gathering" means and includes, but is not limited to, any function or event of or at any Technical College, its campus, satellites, buildings, vehicles or involving its employees or students. Such buildings include any public-owned, -leased or -operated building which houses any governmental or educational function on or off campus.

It is unlawful for any person to carry to or to possess or have such person's control while within a school safety zone or at a Technical College building, function, or property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by any Technical College any weapon or unlawful explosive compound (O.C.G.A. §16-11-127.1).

1. The provisions of this prohibition shall not apply to those individuals who are specifically exempted by law. O.C.G.A. §16-11-127.1(c) and (d).

Unless otherwise allowed by law, it is unlawful for an individual to bring to, possess, or have under such person's control, any explosive compound, firearm, or knife designed for the purpose of offense or defense while at a public gathering. (O.C.G.A. §16-11-127).
Each Technical College shall post signage notifying those who enter its property that weapons are prohibited.

The Technical College is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented and to develop procedures to inform employees and students on a routine basis of the following:

1. The implications of State law prohibiting weapons on campus or at public gatherings;

2. Possible penalties to be imposed upon employees or students who violate this weapons policy; and

3. Reporting procedures to notify appropriate law enforcement agencies of potential violations.

References
Procedure: Weapons Procedure
O.C.G.A. §16-11-127
O.C.G.A. §16-11-127.1

Adopted: May 6, 1993
Revised: February 8, 1996
Revised: August 16, 2001
Code: 05-04-12
Approved

IV. P. Programs for Adult Literacy

The Office of Adult Literacy shall distribute on an annual basis to all interested parties a Request for Application (RFA) package to apply for state and/or federal funding for adult literacy programs. The application package shall contain guidelines, procedures and assurances required to operate adult literacy programs.

Adult literacy program funding is available for:
1) Adult Basic Education (ABE);
2) Institutionalized settings;
3) English literacy (ELP);
4) English literacy/civics education; and
5) Recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The Commissioner shall develop a process for objectively evaluating and awarding grants based upon merit. After completion of the evaluation process, the State Board shall approve the allocation of federal and state grant funds.

Each Every service delivery area county with an Adult Literacy program shall have a one or more local advisory committees for adult literacy services. The State Board shall approve nominations for local advisory committee membership.

Created: July 10, 2001
Approved

IV. M. Instructional Live Work Projects

Certain occupational areas require specific skills or competency mastery that can best be obtained or demonstrated in a laboratory environment with real items or projects. A laboratory environment introduces the "customer dimension" into personal service occupations such as cosmetology and provides real-world working conditions to such industrial and technical occupations as auto mechanics, auto body repair, welding, building construction and others.
Instructional Live Work Projects, when carefully managed and controlled, provide a needed dimension to laboratory learning for certain occupations as a planned and integrated component of the curriculum.

Examples of such activities include nursery schools operated by students as a practicum for child care courses; barber and beauty shops operated by students as an instructional component of their coursework; and house construction built by classes when learning construction techniques.

Appropriate procedures for the implementation of this policy shall be developed by each Technical College. The procedures shall include but need not be limited to:

1) A formalized project approval process.
2) Written Agreement and signature for patrons/clients.
3) An outline for the local accounting procedures of funds involved.
4) A listing of approved clientele and the priority in which they may be served.

Permissible Projects

1) Instructional Live Work Projects may be conducted on or off school property to enhance learning and skill development as an integral part of an approved program curriculum.

2) Persons or organizations for whom Instructional Live Work Projects may be performed shall, in general, be a restricted and select group. Technical Colleges shall make reasonable efforts to avoid direct competition with local private enterprise.

Financial Administration

1) Technical Colleges must normally be fully reimbursed for all direct costs associated with the delivery of Instructional Live Work Projects. The Technical Colleges may generate a reasonable profit.

2) The individual Technical Colleges shall determine the amount to be charged for each product or service provided.

3) All monies associated with Instructional Live Work Projects shall be subject to state fiscal and accounting policies but excess revenues may be carried forward to successive fiscal years.

4) Monies generated by instructional services project activities shall be classified as special revenue funds.

5) Monies generated by instructional services project activities shall be considered as a source of revenue when developing annual budgets.

6) Monies generated by instructional services project activities shall not be used to supplant existing state, federal, or local funding.

7) Instructional services project revenues exceeding budgeted estimates shall be amended into the annual operating budget during the course of the fiscal year.

8) Excess monies or "profits" generated by instructional services project activities shall be used only to enhance instructional programs.

9) Employees of Technical Colleges shall be assigned to Instructional Live Work Projects within the scope of their employment and shall not receive extra compensation except as may be warranted by normal overtime or overload policies.

10) Tips or gratuities to students working on Instructional Live Work Projects, while not expected or encouraged, may be permitted at the discretion of the Technical College President depending, inter alia, on the nature of the service provided.

Liability, Defense and Indemnification
Although instructional service projects, as an integral part of the Department's academic curriculum, are governed by the State of Georgia's constitutional doctrine of sovereign immunity and its related statutes, each Technical College shall take all necessary steps to ensure that its instructional service projects are managed in a way so as to minimize or eliminate the risk of harm to patrons, students and employees. Moreover, the Commissioner and the presidents of each Technical College shall take appropriate steps to legally protect the Department and the Technical Colleges from legal liability arising out of instructional service project activities. This may include requiring potential patrons and other recipients of instructional service project services to sign declarations of assumption of risk and waivers of liability.

Reference
This includes what was formerly Sales and Service of Educational Activities, 07-04-04

Adopted: November 5, 1987/Live Work
Revised: June 1991
Revised: May 7, 2001
Code: 04-01-04
Approved

IV. J. Articulation and Transfer

In order to ensure that students are served in accordance with the philosophy and mission of the State Board, each individual Technical College shall develop a comprehensive policy that outlines Advanced Placement for that institution.

Advanced placement allows a student to receive course credit based on previous experience, formal or informal, and results in advanced standing within a diploma/degree program.

Advanced Placement includes the following:

Transfer Credit
Traditional - Course credit may be awarded for courses completed with a "C" or better from a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Full credit will be awarded for courses taken under approved standards within the system, subject to the receiving institution assuring that accreditation requirements are met.

Non-Traditional - Course credit may be awarded for military training or corporate courses where appropriate.

Residence Requirements for Degree/Diploma
Each Technical College shall require that a minimum of fifty twenty-five percent (50 25%) of the course work of a particular program of study be completed at the Technical College granting the degree/diploma award, provided, however, that the 50% requirement may be waived if the student has completed a program for which standards have been implemented within the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education System.

Secondary School Articulation
Technical Colleges are required to establish articulation agreements with interested area high schools to ensure that students receive course credit when established competencies have been achieved.

Formal Articulation Agreement - Technical Colleges are required to develop formal written agreements with interested area high schools that give credit based on competencies achieved in selected courses.

Technical Colleges should participate in articulation advisory committees with members from both secondary programs and Technical College programs to develop articulation agreements.
Validation of Credit - Technical Colleges must validate student competencies before awarding articulated credit for competencies learned in high school through one of the following processes: holding the credit in escrow until the student enrolls at the Technical College and completes one quarter of study successfully; holding the credit in escrow until the student enrolls at the Technical College and completes a designated course successfully; or administering the final examination/exemption examination for the course to be articulated.

Transferability of Credit - Technical Colleges must honor local articulation agreements statewide when students move from one area of the state to another. Each Technical College can determine its preferred method of competency validation.

Local articulation agreements between Technical Colleges and secondary schools shall determine the length of time students have to use articulated credit processes.

Designation of Credit
Technical Colleges within the system should indicate exemption credit awarded by use of the letters "EX" on transcript/permanent records.

Transfer credit awarded should be indicated on transcript/ permanent records by the use of the letters "TR."

Articulated credit awarded should be indicated on transcript/permanent records by use of the letters "AC."

Standardized Exam Credit
Technical Colleges will award credit based on nationally normed exams including, but not limited to, the following:

CLEP - Credit will be awarded for successful completion of any appropriate CLEP (College Level Examination Program) subject area examinations. Credit should be awarded based on score recommendations of the Council on College Level Services.

PEP - Credit will be awarded for successful completion of appropriate examinations under PEP (Proficiency Examination Program). The Proficiency Examination Program is offered by the American College Testing Service.

Advanced Placement Examinations - Credit will be awarded to students who have taken appropriate courses (determined equivalent to courses offered at a Technical College) in high school and achieve a score of 3 or more on the Advanced Placement Examination. The Advanced Placement Examinations are offered by the College Entrance Examination Board.

Military Training Credit
Technical Colleges may award credit for training received in the Armed Forces. The training should be certified by the Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education or by the official catalog of the Community College of the Air Force or some similar document. Credit should be given when training experience meets required competencies of courses offered at the institution.

Institutional Exemption Exam
Technical Colleges may allow students to exempt courses by demonstrating thorough mastery of written and/or performance tests that have been developed locally and adequately demonstrate achievement of the necessary competency level. Each Technical College should publish information as to which courses have exemption tests and how to apply for them.

Each Technical College may charge a per credit hour fee, not to exceed 25 per cent of tuition for the course, to administer an exemption exam. No fee shall be charged to students taking an exam to validate articulated credit from high school.

Adopted: November 2, 1989
Revised: March 4, 1999; April 23, 2001, October 14, 2004
Code: 04-03-03

IV. I. Warranty of Degree, Diploma, and Technical Certificate of Credit Graduates

As a demonstration of our confidence in the quality of our Technical College programs, the Department of Technical and Adult Education warrants every graduate of our Technical College programs offering a technical certificate of credit, diploma, or associate's degree as follows:

The warranty guarantees that the graduate has demonstrated the knowledge and skills and can perform each competency as identified in the industry-validated Standard or Program Guide. Any program graduate who is determined to lack such competence shall be retrained at no cost to the employer or the graduate for tuition or instructional fees.

A claim against the warranty may be filed by either an employer in conjunction with a graduate or a graduate if the individual is unable to perform one or more of the competencies contained in the industry-validated Standard or Program Guide, including failure to pass a State of Georgia required licensing examination.

This warranty is applicable only to graduates of a technical certificate of credit, diploma, or degree program who entered the program subsequent to the mandated standards implementation date.

The warranty shall remain in effect for two years immediately following the date of graduation and shall be honored by any state governed Technical College that offers the program from which the individual graduated.

This warranty shall be issued in writing to each graduate entering a program on or after the mandated standards implementation date for the applicable program standard.

Any Technical College under a local board of education may choose to participate in this warranty program by submitting, from its governing board to the State Board, a resolution so requesting in the form specified by the Commissioner.

The Commissioner shall develop procedures for implementing this policy such that the Technical College conducting the retraining under the warranty may recover the institutional costs of retraining from the Technical College that conducted the original program.

In accordance with the Complaint Resolution Policy the Commissioner shall resolve any disputes pertaining to this warranty policy.

References
Claim Report Procedures
Guarantee of Training to Georgia's Employers

Adopted: October 5, 1989
Revised: December, 1995; September 5, 1996; April 23, 2001
Code: 04-01-05
Approved

IV. F. Service Delivery Areas

The Department is charged with the performance of planning, operation, evaluation and maintenance of viable programs that shall ensure our State's continued economic well-being and that shall provide its citizens with meaningful, quality vocational education programs which shall enable them to be gainfully employed.

To ensure promotion of economic development in the state and to establish the highest possible level of training and services for business and industry through the Technical College system, it is necessary to assign "service delivery areas" to the Technical Colleges within this system.

Due to the fact that populations shift, economic factors change, new Technical Colleges are built, and transportation corridors change over a period of time, it shall be necessary to allow for anticipated future changes in assigned service delivery areas as the various parameters vary. However, it is critical that service delivery area assignments are consistent with existing needs.

Each Technical College shall have an assigned "service delivery area" defined by the Department.

The service delivery area assignment defines the counties, or portions thereof, for which each Technical College has responsibility and accountability for delivery of training services to business and industry via on-campus or in-plant training. Responsibilities and services to be delivered include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) Training consultation and assisting business and industry with training needs assessments and analysis

2) Conducting supplementary, retraining, and upgrading training for existing businesses and industries

3) Conducting appropriate training for new and expanding businesses and industries

4) Development and maintenance of a system for aggressively pursuing contacts with businesses and industries within the assigned service delivery area in order to identify their current and future training needs

5) Development and maintenance of an annual plan for meeting the technical training needs of the businesses and industries within the assigned service delivery area utilizing short-term funding, tuition monies, resources of the companies served, and other available means, and

6) Conducting Quick Start programs, as assigned.

Service delivery area assignments are not for the purpose of defining recruitment zones or areas from which enrollees may attend a given Technical College.

Service delivery areas are counties, or portions thereof, assigned to each Technical College to delineate areas of responsibility and accountability for delivery of appropriate training services to business and industry.

The Commissioner shall develop and issue guidelines and procedures to implement this policy, to include:

1) A transition timeline for changing from "existing" to "new" service delivery area assignments

2) A service delivery area operational guidelines document, and

3) A means of verification of the level and quality of consultative and training services being provided by each Technical College within its service delivery area.

The Commissioner shall periodically review the service delivery area assignments and make necessary reassignments as deemed appropriate.

Technical Colleges shall have responsibility and accountability for delivering services to business and industry within their assigned "service delivery area."

Adopted: March 6, 1986
Revised: May 14, 2001
Code: 05-01-02
Approved

IV. E. Technical Advisory Committees

The State Board in consultation with appropriate agencies and organizations shall establish a limited number of technical committees to advise the Board on the development of curricula to address labor market needs.

The Commissioner or designee shall:

1) Define the purpose, objectives and criteria for membership on technical committees.

2) Select and appoint members to technical committees.

3) Establish procedures for the operation of technical committees to include roles and responsibilities, terms of appointment, and process for replacement of members.

4) Establish steering committees, as needed, to provide coordination of two or more technical committees and establish procedures for their selection, appointment, terms, replacement, roles, and responsibilities.

Adopted: May 7, 1987
Revised: April 23, 2001
Code: 04-05-02

 

V. H. Academic Standards, Evaluations, and Appeals

The Technical Colleges shall maintain academic standards that are, to the maximum extent feasible, uniformly applied among all students.

Absent extraordinary circumstances, instructors shall provide a copy of the course syllabus to all students in each class by the end of the first full week of class for every term.

Instructors' evaluations of student work should be periodic, measure the achievement of the objectives or competencies, have clear directions, be reasonable in difficulty, and be comprehensive. Instructors shall allow students to review all graded tests and other academic evaluations within a reasonable time to allow feedback and remedial instruction. Instructors shall maintain documentation sufficient to justify the grade a student earns. This documentation shall be maintained for two quarters following the quarter the grade was conferred or until any grade appeal is resolved, whichever occurs last.

A student who engages in academic misconduct such as cheating shall face disciplinary charges under the Code of Student Conduct in addition to any loss of academic credit or standing that may result from their having failed to meet a course's academic requirements.

Academic Probation, Suspension and Dismissal
In the absence of a local policy, a student who fails to maintain the required grade point average in a particular program may be placed on academic probation. A student who fails to improve his or her academic performance after being placed on probation shall be suspended or dismissed from either the academic program or the Technical College.

In appropriate circumstances, a student may be dismissed from an academic program or Technical College without first being placed on probation.

A student who is dismissed from the Technical College may appeal their suspension or dismissal in accordance with their Technical College policy. In the absence of a local policy, the student may file a written appeal with the Vice President for Instructional Services within two weeks from the date the student learns or reasonably should have learned of their suspension or dismissal grade.

Grade and Other Academic Appeals
A student may appeal a final grade or other academic decision in accordance with their Technical College policy. In the absence of a local policy, the student may appeal by raising the issue with the instructor who awarded the grade or made the academic decision. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the appeal must be filed within two weeks from the date the student learned or reasonably should have learned of the grade or other action complained of. If the consultation with the instructor does not resolve the appeal a student may appeal to the instructional dean or director by filing a written request for review. Absent extraordinary circumstances, this request for review must be filed within four weeks from the date the student learned or reasonably should have learned of the grade or other action complained of. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the dean or director, the student may appeal in writing to the Vice President for Instructional Services. Absent extraordinary circumstances, this request for review must be filed within six weeks from the date the student learned or reasonably should have learned of the grade or other action complained of.

The decision of the Vice President for Instructional Services shall be final.

Created: July 10, 2001
Approved: June 2002

IV. Q. General Education Development (GED) Testing and Diplomas

The Department is responsible for providing adult education at the basic, general and specialized levels throughout the State of Georgia. The Department shall administer the General Educational Development (GED) testing program and issue General Educational Development (GED) Diplomas in accordance with the policies of the American Council on Education.

Requirements for Testing

1) An applicant must submit an application on forms developed by the Department.

2) An applicant need not be a resident of Georgia to be eligible to take the GED Test.

3) An applicant must meet the minimum age requirements or be approved by the GED Administrator.

a) An applicant shall be 18 years of age or older and not enrolled in school (K-12); or
b) An applicant who is 16 or 17 years of age and not enrolled in school (K-12) may be eligible if:

i. the applicant has a "Special Need" approved by the GED Administrator;
ii. the applicant is enrolled full time in a regionally accredited college or university;
iii. the applicant is on active duty in the Armed Forces;
iv. the applicant is enrolled in a federally funded job training program; or
v. the applicant is under a Court Order.

4) Official photo identification is required for admission to take the GED Test. (U.S. Drivers' licenses, passports, military I.D, or government identification cards.)

Requirement for Retesting

1) If the average standard score is 430 or better, the applicant may retake the test at anytime, but remedial study is recommended.

2) If the average standard score is 400-429, a wait of three months or evidence of remedial study is necessary before being retested.

3) If the applicant's average standard score falls below 400, a wait of six months, or evidence of remedial study is necessary before being retested.

4) A retest at a center other than the original testing site requires that an applicant provide the new test center a report containing the applicant's previous test scores. This report is a available from the original testing center upon applicant request.

Requirements for Issuance of a GED Diploma

A GED Diploma will be issued when an applicant scores a minimum standard of 410 on each of the five tests and an average standard score of 450 on all five tests (total 2250 points).

Photographic identification may be required for the issuance of a GED. (U.S. Drivers' licenses, passports, military I.D, or government identification cards.)
To be eligible for a Georgia GED diploma, an applicant must either be a current resident or have taken the GED tests in Georgia.

Official Report of Test Scores (Transcripts)

A transcript may be accepted as an Official Report of Test Scores only when reported by one of the following:

1) Georgia Department of Technical and Adult education/Office of Adult Literacy
2) Official GED Testing Centers
3) Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Support (DANTES)
4) Veterans Administration hospitals and centers
5) GED Testing Service of the American Council of Education

Fees
The State Board shall approve fee schedules for taking the GED test, for taking retests on one or more components of the GED test, for a replacement of the GED Diploma, or for an Official Report of Test Scores.

References
GED Transcript/Diploma Request Form


Adopted: January 1992
Revised: March 5, 1992; March 14, 2001, January 15, 2002; and March 6, 2002
Code: 04-03-14
Approved

IV. H. Structure of Associate Degree, Diploma, and Technical Certificate of Credit Programs

Fundamental to the Mission of the State Board is to encourage students to achieve their potential in occupational programs requiring credentials below the baccalaureate degree.

As the level and quality of instructional offerings of Georgia's Technical Colleges reach standards recognized by appropriate regional accrediting commissions, students are entitled to earn credentials offered by the system including not only the traditional diploma and technical certificate, but also the Associate in Applied Technology degree.

Associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs shall be available in approved occupational areas.

Individual Technical Colleges shall determine, based on the needs and desires of students and business and industry, the appropriate credential or credentials needed.

The structure of associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates offered at the Technical Colleges shall conform to the following standards and shall be subject to annual program evaluation.

The Commissioner shall develop implementation procedures for the submission, review, and approval of new program requests and for annual review and evaluation.

Associate Degrees
Associate Degree programs must be approved by the State Board, either as a new addition to the System or to the individual Technical College. The range of quarter credit hours required for graduation is 90 to 110.

With special approval of the State Board, certain associate degree programs may be extended to meet requirements of (1) formal cooperative arrangements (combining course work and on-the-job training), (2) certification, (3) licensure, (4) accreditation, or (5) unique situations for which training at the associate degree level is appropriate. With State Board approval, the range of quarter credits hours may be extended to 144 hours.

Associate degree programs shall be organized to conform to system wide models developed through the program standards phases and approved by the State Board. Compliance with the models shall ensure minimum standardization of associate degree programs within the technical education system. The models shall require associate degree programs to be organized in general education and occupational courses.

Associate degree programs shall be composed of courses listed in the system wide Catalog of Courses. Only courses numbered 100 or above shall be credited toward degree requirements.

Each associate degree program shall require a minimum basic core of 30 quarter credit hours in general education courses. One component of this core must be courses designed to develop oral and written communication skills, and another component must be designed to develop computational skills. Other components of the core must be drawn from each of the areas specified in the applicable institutional accreditation criteria.

A minimum of 60 quarter credit hours shall be required in technical areas.

Diploma Programs
Diploma programs must be approved by the State Board, either as a new addition to the System or to the individual Technical College. The range of quarter credit hours required for graduation is 60 to 90.

With special approval of the State Board, certain diploma programs may be extended to meet requirements of (1) formal cooperative arrangements (combining course work and on-the-job training), (2) certification, (3) licensure, (4) accreditation, or (5) unique situations for which training at the diploma level is appropriate. With State Board approval, the range of quarter credits hours may be extended to 160 hours.

Diploma programs shall be organized to conform to system wide models developed through the program standards phases and approved by the State Board. Compliance with the models shall ensure minimum standardization of diploma programs within the technical education system. The models shall require diploma programs to be organized in general education and occupational courses.

Diploma programs shall be composed of courses listed in system wide Catalog of Courses. Only courses numbered 100 or above shall be credited toward diploma requirements.

Each diploma program shall require a minimum basic core of 11 quarter credit hours in general education courses. One component of this core must be courses designed to develop oral and written communication skills. Another component must be designed to develop computational skills. A third component must be drawn from the social or behavioral sciences.

A minimum of 47 quarter credit hours shall be required in occupational courses.

Technical Certificate of Credit Programs
Technical certificate of credit programs must be approved by the State Board, either as a new addition to the System or the individual Technical College. The range of quarter credit hours required for graduation is 15-59.

Technical certificate of credit programs shall be organized as a coherent set of competencies that correspond to identifiable exit points which match positions in a field of work, and the credential issued as a technical certificate will describe this area of specialization by a name which is clearly descriptive of the area of specialization. The technical certificate may be used to provide programs in areas of specialization that do not require study of sufficient length to award a diploma or degree or to add on areas of specialization after the completion of a diploma or degree. Technical certificates of credit may require any combination of general core courses, fundamental occupational courses, specific occupational courses, or approved elective courses. Up to 20 percent of the course of study may be unspecified elective courses.

Technical certificate of credit programs shall be composed of courses listed in the system wide Catalog of Courses, including elective courses developed specifically for a certificate program. A Technical College is limited in the courses it may offer in certificate programs to the level of accreditation it holds, i.e., diploma or degree. Only courses numbered 100 or above shall be credited toward technical certificate requirements.

Adopted: May 4, 1989
Revised: July 2, 1992; January 7, 1993; September 5, 1996; May 7, 2001
Code: 04-02-13