Support, Principles, and Processes for a New CSU Course Articulation Number System

AS-2698-05/AA - May 5-6, 2005

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) endorse the development of a CSU Course Articulation Numbering System; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge the Chancellor, Board of Trustees (BOT), and legislature to recognize that the development and approval of course descriptors and approval of courses for articulation to the CSU remain the responsibility of the CSU faculty; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU recommend to the Chancellor the following principles and processes for implementation of a new system:

1. Use of existing California Articulation Numbering System (CAN) descriptors:
   1. Existing courses in the CAN system should be initially adopted into the CSU system when included in the Lower Division Transfer Pattern Program (LDTP) agreements (either statewide or campus-specific) if those groups have not recommended any changes in the CAN descriptor.
   2. Where the faculty, through the LDTP process, have recommended changes in the CAN descriptor, these changes will be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Course Descriptor Development Panel (CDDP) prior to being incorporated into the new CSU articulation numbers system.
2. Development and approval of course descriptors:
   1. Course descriptors should be developed by a CDDP composed of approximately five CSU faculty from the discipline offering the course along with one community college faculty member. It is assumed that this group will rotate its membership among the various CSU campuses over time. Articulation officers should be involved as a non-voting resource as needed in the descriptor development and approval process.
   2. Course descriptors should include the knowledge base (content) of the course as well as any skills students would be expected to acquire. Learning objectives are encouraged but optional.
   3. Course descriptors, once developed, will be submitted for approval to the CSU campus departments offering the course. In the event that the course descriptor is not approved by all voting departments, the descriptor approved by at least three-fourths of the voting departments will be adopted.
3. Course approval and periodic review:
   1. All articulated courses will typically be reviewed on a five-year cycle.
   2. Existing course proposals or resubmissions from the community colleges will be reviewed by the CDDP who will either continue or discontinue approval of the course; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU appoint an ad hoc committee to develop the necessary policies and procedures to implement this system; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge the Chancellor to provide adequate funding and support to faculty involved in the ongoing implementation of the CSU Articulation Number System.

RATIONALE: The CSU Chancellor's Office has taken action to end CSU's participation in the California Articulation Number (CAN) system. This resolution proposes principles for the development of a similar process within the CSU.