Career Pathway Certificate of Completion Approval Process

Transcription

1 Effective: July 1, 2007 Career Pathway Certificate of Completion Approval Process The Career Pathway Certificate of Completion pertains to a grouping of credits that are wholly contained in an approved Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree/Option or an independent Certificate of Completion (45+ credits). Because a Career Pathway Certificate (12 to 44 credits) provides credentials to acknowledge proficiency in technical skill groupings contained in courses already approved in the program approval process these certificates follow a more streamlined approval process. This approval process is effective July 1, In general, the purpose and intent for a Career Pathway Certificate is as follows: The Career Pathway Certificate of Completion is a grouping of 12 to 44 credits that provides a credential for a course of study that: Acknowledges a specific technical skill proficiency to help a student qualify for a job or enhance employment opportunities; Is centered on needs of students by providing educational options; Provides the flexibility to achieve specific competencies within a longer term career path; and Meets minimum financial aid requirements (12 credits) as part of an approved Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree/Option. Because Career Pathway Certificates of Completion courses are wholly contained within a larger approved AAS degree or independent certificate of completion, their purpose/intent and program outcomes are most effectively presented within the context of the AAS Degree/Option or Certificate of Completion (45+ credits). A Career Pathway Roadmap graphic is used to efficiently and effectively present this context and to fulfill the requirement that a Career Pathway Certificate provide skills in high demand, high skill, and/or high wage occupations in state and local economies. Assumptions that guide Career Pathway Certificate approvals: 1. Community colleges accept full responsibility to assure that requirements are of collegiate level instruction, and incorporate any general education and related instruction as required by a local community college board, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, or the Oregon State Board of Education. 2. Occupational objectives/entry points for Career Pathway Certificates may be less than fulltime, e.g., temporary, seasonal, but must align with the overall employment opportunities of the overarching AAS Degree/Option or Certificate of Completion (minimum of 45 credits), and it must be likely and evident that there will be employment advancement opportunities as a student gains additional experience and additional education. CCWD/ODE July 1, 2007 Page 1 of 5

2 3. All Career Pathway Certificates provide collegiate level instruction and assessments for state or regional high skill, high wage and/or high demand occupations. 4. Community colleges list credits and courses or skills, competencies or outcomes on the Career Pathway Certificate of Completion to communicate the size and scope of the technical skill attainment of the student and to the employer. 5. Certificates of Completion 45 credits and above are evaluated according to the existing rules and guidelines described in the Community College Handbook. Submission Requirements for Career Pathway Certificate Approval 1. The Career Pathway Certificate of Completion approval replaces the current approval process for all Certificate of Completion program applications in the credit range that are wholly contained in a larger AAS/Option or Certificate of Completion (45+ credits). 2. The authority to award Career Pathway Certificates is totally dependent on an approved, active AAS degree, Option or qualified Certificate of Completion (45+ credits). If an overarching AAS Degree/Option or Certificate of Completion is suspended; the integral Career Pathway Certificates are also suspended or deleted. Community colleges submit the following for the approval of a Career Pathway Certificate: a. Notice of Intent Form (including a brief labor market need description on the NOI form) as required by the Office of Degree Authorization for the purposes of Adverse Impact. b. Cover Letter or message request/transmission; Hard Copy Submission Brief letter indicating request Enclosed Amendment Form with signature Roadmap with common element information provided (can be provided on multiple pages) Electronic Submission Brief message indicating request Attached Amendment Form with electronic signature or hard copy submission of signature Roadmap link must be directly to the roadmap CCWD/ODE July 1, 2007 Page 2 of 5

3 c. Program Amendment Form that provides course listing/credits, by term (as appropriate), of proposed Career Pathway Certificate and the overarching AAS degree, Option or Certificate of Completion (45+ credits) program d. Program Pathway Roadmap graphic showing how the Career Pathway Certificate is aligned/coordinated for next steps in education, training and employment success. Common elements in all roadmaps include: Occupational objective and documented labor market indicators leading to high skill, high wage and/or high demand, including wage forecasts; Competencies, skills or outcomes; College courses/credits associated with the program pathway as well as any state approved credential or local award; Industry-recognized standards or certification (if applicable) that students may acquire; Participating employers. e. Assures that the State Board of Education standards are met within the context of the entire AAS degree, Option or overarching Certificate of Completion (45+ credits) by a sign-off by chief academic officer on the Program Amendment form. Career Pathway Certificate Approval Process ODE/CCWD approves the Career Pathway Certificates of Completion, the courses of which are wholly contained within a State Board approved AAS degree, Option or Certificate of Completion program. The CCWD staff, Statewide Pathways Director, and Curriculum Specialist supports the community colleges in the development of the Career Pathway Certificates, especially as they pertain to the development of Career Pathway Roadmaps and curriculum alignment. ODE staff reviews the Career Pathway Certificate request against the checklist to affirm that the required documents have been submitted and completed, and sign-off on the Approval. Effective December 1, 2007: If documents are missing from the submission or there are questions about the submission, ODE staff s the POC at the college and copies the Statewide Pathways Initiative Director on the outlining the specific information that is needed or question or issue to resolve. The Pathways Initiative Statewide Director is available to assist colleges in developing Career Pathways Certificates. The Community College completes the following for a Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: 1. Identifies workforce needs of employers in the local labor market for occupation through labor market and gap analysis. 2. Compiles from community college faculty and staff, employers and labor market information sources and competencies required for the occupation and respective Career Pathway Certificate of Completion. 3. Identifies courses (between credits) to be included in certificate of completion. CCWD/ODE July 1, 2007 Page 3 of 5

4 4. Conducts internal college Curriculum Review Process to assure quality management such as addressing standards for curriculum review, program review, and/or accreditation. Each college manages its own internal quality management and curriculum development processes and assures that the general education requirements and pre-requisites continue to be met as a standard for the approved Associate of Applied Science degree or Certificate of Completion and Career Pathway Certificate of Completion. 5. Complete cover letter of request/transmission. The title of the certificate is included on cover letter using the following format: Name of program: Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: occupation/job title For example: Facilities Management: Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: HVAC Installer. 6. Complete program amendment form that provides course listing/credits, by term (as appropriate), of proposed related certificate(s). 7. Compile Career Pathway Roadmap graphic. Common elements of roadmap include: a. Occupational objective and documented labor market indicators demonstrating local labor market demand including wage forecasts; b. Competencies, skills or outcomes for the occupation; c. College courses/credits associated with the Career Pathway Certificate of Completion; d. Industry-recognized standard or credential (if applicable) associated with Career Pathway Certificate of Completion. e. Participating employers or Employer Advisory Board participation in development of certificate. NOTE: The LMI Worksheet is not required for the Career Pathway Certificate Approval process since this information is included in the roadmap. NOTE: Career Pathway Certificates cannot be approved for Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees at this time. 8. Complete Office of Degree Authorization Adverse Impact Notification requirement (Notice of Intent). 9. Forward paperwork compiled in steps 5-8 to the State of Oregon. The Oregon Department of Education reviews and completes the following review check list. Career Pathway Certificate approval process begins when the College has submitted all the required information for the certificate (identified below) and the Notice of Intent Process is completed. The Oregon Department of Education completes the Career Pathway Certificate approval Process within 30 days of completion of the Notice of Intent process. 1. The program for the Certificate is active and that the courses identified are wholly contained within the stated Associate Degree or Certificate of Completion (45+ credits). 2. The title of the certificate follows the format: CCWD/ODE July 1, 2007 Page 4 of 5

5 Name of Program: Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: Occupation/job title. 3. The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code is the same as the AAS degree. 4. The state and/or regional labor market information provided with the occupational roadmap is complete including the competencies/skills or outcomes identified for the specified occupation. 5. The information for next steps progression to other occupations, either laterally or vertically; and pre (high school) and post (university) educational opportunities are identified 6. The courses included in the Certificate are aligned to industry-recognized credential, if applicable. 7. Participating employers or Employer Advisory Board participants are identified. 8. The Notice of Intent has been submitted and completes Notice of Intent process. 9. Contacts community colleges POC (Point of Contact) for any questions, requests for additional information, or clarifications in a timely manner. 10. Notifies community college POC of completion of process. June 18, 2007 Rev. December 1, 2007 CCWD/ODE July 1, 2007 Page 5 of 5