Curriculum FAQ Issue #2
Question: So what did the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges
(ACCJC) say about all the course outline updating and course inventory clean-up we did
in Fall 2007? Were they impressed?
Answer: Yes, they were impressed, and this is apparent in their November 5, 2007
“Progress Visit Report:”
“The college is commended for the progress made to date to meaningfully
address [recommendation 1 of the ACCJC’s 2005 report]. In particular,
the [Program Review Committee] and Curriculum Committee deserve
much recognition for their efforts.”
Because the Curriculum Committee believes that the work it does is in direct response to
the work faculty do, we believe the ACCJC’s commendations extend to every person
across the College of the Redwoods district who worked hard to update official course
outlines during the Fall 2007 semester. We believe further that the work you did was a
significant factor in the ACCJC’s judgments that 1)“College of the Redwoods has
accomplished significant and meaningful work toward resolution” of the Accrediting
Commission’s recommendations and that 2) there is “good cause” to extend CR’s
probation while it completes this important work. So our deepest appreciation and
admiration goes to all of those involved in this massive undertaking.
Question: Does this mean the big push is over and CR can now focus on maintaining its
course inventory?
Answer: No, we’re not quite there yet. While our progress has been great and deserves
recognition, CR must continue to update its course outlines and clean up its course
inventory. This is important not just because this work helps CR maintain a legallycompliant, high-quality inventory of courses, but also because the ACCJC is looking at
our continued work in this area as evidence of our long-term curricular commitment. As
the ACCJC Team says,
“While impressed with the magnitude of the effort made…the team has some
unease about the college's long-term commitment to regularly update the
curriculum in accordance with best practices and the expectations of transfer
institutions, students, and business/industry/employers. Again, the only
affirmation of this commitment will be the college's future actions in this
regard”(italics mine).
CR must deliver to the ACCJC a follow-up progress report by April 1, 2008 that includes
evidence of our sustained commitment to course outline updating. We will provide
further evidence still when the Team makes another site visit to CR sometime after April
1, 2008.
Question: So what exactly should we do now?
Answer: The Curriculum Committee suggests that faculty district wide continue
updating outdated course outlines and inactivating courses that will not be offered in the
near future. Remember that a course that is inactivated is NOT “deleted,” and if you
inactivate a course now because your department doesn’t plan to offer it in the near
future, you can decide next semester, next year, two years from now, five years from
now, etc. to bring the course back. A sample course inactivation memo is attached to this
email.
Question: How do I find out which courses in my area need to be updated or
inactivated?
Answer: The easiest way is to use the handy Excel file attached this email. It lists all the
currently-active courses that became outdated at the end of Fall 2007. You can check for
outdated courses in any area by clicking the appropriate discipline tab at the bottom of
the screen. Please check this list (let me know of inaccuracies) and make plans for
updating and inactivating ASAP. I will send an updated list at the end of Spring 2008
that includes courses that will have become outdated at that time.
Question: What if my course updating skills feel a bit rusty? How should I proceed?
Answer: Talk with your Curriculum Committee representative. This person is
knowledgeable of the course outline form and skilled at working through the updating
process. You can also ask your division chair or area coordinator to request of the
Curriculum Committee a course outline revision workshop for faculty in your discipline.
If you’d like further explanation of any answers included here or if you have questions
you’d like to see addressed in Curriculum FAQ Issue #3, please send me your requests.
Respectfully,
jj
John Johnston
Professor of English
Curriculum Chair
Humanities Area Coordinator
College of the Redwoods--Mendocino Coast Campus
1211 Del Mar Drive
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707)962-2688
FAX (707)961-0943