Internal Articulation
(Workforce Credit, Continuing Workforce Education (CWE), or College Credit Articulation)

Description

This section outlines the policies and procedures for articulation between college credit and non-credit programs and courses offered by Florida Community College, including Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) programs, Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Applied Science (AAS), College Credit Certificates (CCC), and Continuing Workforce Education (CWE) courses.

Currently, there is no charge for articulating non-credit programs to credit programs.

Process

I. Developing internal articulation agreements to award credit for Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) certificate programs toward degree programs (AS/AAS) - Policies

1. Program managers and faculty from the PSAV program and the AS/AAS program will review program standards and course frameworks to establish technical course equivalencies between vocational certificate programs and degree programs. This information will be incorporated into an Internal Articulation Agreement following a standard model. Please contact the Registrar's Office for information about the standard model.

2. The Internal Articulation Agreement will specify:

• The vocational certificate program requirements covered by the Agreement


• The degree program requirements covered by the Agreement


• The credit to be awarded based on successful completion of the vocational certificate program


• A statement that students must meet current College admissions requirements and any program-specific admissions requirements

A faculty representative and the program manager from the PSAV program and the AS/AAS program, the relevant Dean of Workforce Development and Executive Dean, and the Associate Vice President for Workforce Development will sign the agreements documenting review and approval.

3. A supporting document will be included with the agreement showing specific course equivalencies between the vocational certificate program and the degree program, and documenting the processes used to determine course equivalencies and assessing students' achievement of required college-level competencies. This documentation will meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requirements for the award of credit for non-credit or vocational training.

4. General policies covering the determination of course equivalencies and program-to-program articulation include:

• Course equivalencies are based on comparison of course competencies.


• Several vocational courses may be grouped and equated to one or a group of credit courses.


• Agreements that provide credit toward programs that may articulate into a four-year program must be carefully reviewed for transfer issues.


• In general, a maximum of one half of the degree program's technical or professional core may be awarded toward a degree program under this type of articulation agreement. Agreements that award more than this maximum may be reviewed on a program-by-program basis.

5. Program managers may award credit for partial completion of a vocational certificate program at their discretion based on the course equivalencies chart included with the internal articulation agreement.

6. In vocational programs that award letter grades, credit may be awarded for courses in which the student received a grade of "C" or better. In programs that give only "S" grades, letters from two faculty members documenting the student's successful attainment of program competencies must accompany the request. In all cases, credit will be posted to the student's transcript with a "P" grade.

7. Completed and approved articulation agreements will be maintained in the Program Development Office; copies will be furnished to the Registrar's Office.

8. Completed internal articulation agreements will be distributed to counselors and advisors, publicized by including/describing them in program fact sheets, the College Catalog, and other materials available to workforce deans, advisors, and counselors, and updated on the website.

9. In their last term of a vocational program, students should be sent a "recruiting" letter letting them know that if they wish to continue their education toward a college degree, they may receive (x) credits based on successful completion of their vocational certificate and meeting program admission requirements. Information on procedures to be followed should be included.

10. Prior to credit being awarded, the student must have been accepted into the degree program and met all entrance requirements, and have completed at least 9 credit hours as a degree-seeking student at the College.

11. Upon completion of these requirements, the program manager will complete the Application for Credit for Prior Learning (using Section 3, "Other Formal Education or Training"), obtain necessary signatures, attach required documentation, and forward to the Registrar for input. Credit will be posted to the student's transcript with a "P" grade.

II. Awarding credit for Continuing Workforce Education (CWE) toward degree and certificate programs (AS/AAS/CCC) - Policies and Process

1. Program managers and faculty from the degree program will review the objectives and content of the CWE course and compare these with degree/certificate program standards and course frameworks to determine course equivalencies.

2. Based on the course equivalency determination, an exam or assessment will be developed for the appropriate college credit course(s). This exam will be developed, approved, and administered, and credit will be awarded in accordance with the College's Credit by Assessment policies and procedures.

3. Information on CWE-credit course equivalencies and the required exam(s) will be distributed to counselors and advisors. The opportunity to receive credit for CWE courses will be publicized in schedules, CWE promotional materials, and other materials available to workforce deans, advisors, counselors, and students.

4. Students enrolled in a CWE course for which there is an equivalent college/vocational credit course should be advised of the opportunity to take the exam or assessment for the course and receive credit as well as the procedures for doing so.

Note: "Bridge" programs - AS/AAS programs that are designed for students who have completed a PSAV or other training program prior to entering the degree program and award a block of credit for completion of the PSAV program - already exist in the following areas:

• Practical Nursing PSAV - Nursing R.N. (Bridge Option) AS


• Law Enforcement Officer PSAV - Criminal Justice Technology AS


• Correctional Officer PSAV - Criminal Justice Technology AS


• Aircraft Airframe & Power Plant Mechanics PSAV - Aviation Maintenance Management AS/AAS


• Industrial Automation - Industrial Management Technology (Electronics Engineering Technology)