Procedure:     Degree Requirements Changes
Department:    Enrollment Services
Contact:          John Hamblin, (541) 463-5686             hamblinj@lanecc.edu

The Degree Requirements Review Committee will consider proposals to change degree requirements which meet one or more of the following criteria:
 

1. The proposed change enhances either the employability of students or their preparation for upper division work;

2. The proposed change increases congruence with degree requirements at other community colleges in Oregon, improves alignment with instruction at four-year institutions, or improves continuity of instruction with high school programs; or

3. The proposed change contributes to the well-being of the community.
 

2. The Degree Requirements Review Committee will advise the proposer whether to continue development.

3. A fully developed proposal must include all appropriate curricular supports (including all ways students can meet the requirement such as tests or lists of courses) and a proposed implementation date.  Such a proposal must also provide a careful estimate of the impact on:

 
a. FTE in affected departments;
b. Program completion rates;
c. The finances of the college;
d. Student tuition/fees; and
e. Other reasonably predictable outcomes.
 

5. The Degree Requirements Review Committee will publicize the proposed change through a minimum of two public hearings and additional presentations to the Curriculum Committee, Student Senate, and the Learning and Student Affairs Councils, or any other appropriate forum for discussion and recommendations.  Affected stakeholders (students, faculty, counselors) will have opportunity to give responses to the proposed change by attending a hearing, submitting written comments or sending e-mail to the committee chair.

6. The Degree Requirements Review Committee will summarize and consider all gathered responses before recommending changes in degree requirements to Lane administrators or governing bodies such as the board of education and state offices. (The approval of degree requirements is the legal prerogative of the board or its delegated local officers of instruction.)

7. Once the new requirement has been approved by the board or delegated officers, the requirement and a timeline for implementation will be widely publicized to all constituencies to allow departments, faculty, and students to become aware of the requirement in a timely way. The new requirement should be stated in terms of  “Students entering after XXxxxx and graduating after YYyyyy must meet this requirement.  Any student graduating after ZZzzzz must meet this requirement, regardless of the date when they entered Lane.” (XXxxxx, YYyyyy and ZZzzzz represent the effective term of the new requirement: FA1998 for fall term, 1998, SP2001 for spring term, 2001, etc.)

8. The Degree Requirements Review Committee will give a checklist of changes needed in the catalog to Marketing and Public Relations. For example, if a change applies to all professional/technical programs, it must appear on the list of degree requirements for associate of science or associate of applied science, and also must be congruent with the program listings within affected departments’ pages.

Departmental and Student Responsibilities

The Lane Community College department that makes a change in the graduation requirements of a major will post the new requirements in classrooms throughout the department, will have instructors announce the fact that there has been a change, and will make the new requirements available in the department office.  Continuing full-time students will not be responsible for additional requirements added after they began the program.  If the program has been changed so that the student cannot complete the original program, the department chair and Enrollment Services will work together to arrange reasonable requirements for graduation for the student(s).

Part-time (less than 6 credits per term) students are responsible for keeping themselves informed about changes in their programs.  Conferences with the director of Enrollment Services should be initiated by the student.  Students will be sent to department chairs if any agreement is necessary.  All agreements must be in writing. A copy of the agreement and any course substitution forms also must be on file at Enrollment Services.

Students reentering a program after a lapse in enrollment are responsible for enrolling under the newest degree requirements in effect.  Reentering students should have a conference with a counselor and the director of Enrollment Services.  Students will be referred to their department chairs concerning the program degree requirements if any problems exist.  Students have five years to complete a two-year degree or two-year certificate, and three years to complete a one-year certificate.

Entering transfer students should confer with a counselor to help determine their major and then request an evaluation of that major through Enrollment Services.  Department chairs will be contacted for assistance when necessary.

Appeals

See Grades: Academic and Degree Appeals.