Recommendation in Support of the New California Articulation Number (CAN) Model

AS-2597-03/AA - January 23-24, 2003

ATTACHMENT TO AS-2597-03/AA

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) commend the multi-system collaborative process that produced the new California Articulation Number (CAN) System Articulation Model dated September 2002; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU strongly endorse the DRAFT new articulation model (attached) with the following qualification.

With reference to the Validation of Institutional CAN Courses, the CAN System solicit both lead faculty representatives and discipline review faculty through the academic senates of the participating systems and institutions of higher education;

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU encourage the CAN Board to:

1. continue efforts to develop web-based CAN descriptor templates



2. extend the CAN process to elective courses recommended for preparation within a major



3. continue collaboration with other articulation projects, (e.g., CSU-Core Alignment, IMPAC) to facilitate student transfer between institutions of higher education.

RATIONALE: The DRAFT of the new CAN Articulation Model, designed to improve transfer and articulation among segments of California higher education, is the result of nearly two years of study by the CAN Board, involving thorough assessment and input by representatives of all three California higher education systems. This revision effort relied heavily on intersegmental collaboration and emphasizes the primacy of a discipline-faculty review process to replace the current process whereby four 4-year institutions are needed to approve a CAN course. The new CAN model will allow for the introduction of complementary faculty articulation concepts into the CAN process that originate in other forums, including the CSU Core Alignment Project and IMPAC. The new model also allows for the expansion of CAN from a system that focuses only on required courses within a major or discipline to elective courses, prerequisite to the completion of a major. Further advantages include:

1. a statewide rather than regional approach to articulation



2. a five-year review cycle for all courses within all disciplines



3. a renewal of institutional commitments to CAN



4. increased specificity in official CAN course descriptors, and



5. development of a web-based template for further descriptor development.

Finally, the new model will create an appeal process and establish a specific timeline for course review to make participation in CAN both effective and efficient during campus articulation efforts.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY -- March 6-7, 2003