Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 281 - Education Department › Title III - Community Colleges › Chapter 21 - Community Colleges › Rule 281-21.2 - Administration

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Policy
				manual.
A community college board of directors will develop and
				maintain a policy manual that adequately describes the official policies of the
				institution.
(2)
Administrative staff.
A community college will develop an
				administrative staff appropriate to the size and the purpose of the institution
				and one that permits the institution to function effectively and efficiently.
				This administrative staff will provide effective leadership for the major
				divisions of the institution including administrative services, adult and
				continuing education, career and technical education, college parallel
				education, and student services.
(3)
Chief executive officer.
A community college will have a chief executive officer who is also the
				executive officer of the board of directors. The executive officer is
				responsible for the operation of the community college with respect to its
				educational program, its faculty and student services programs, and the use of
				its facilities. The executive officer may delegate to the staff all necessary
				administrative and supervisory responsibilities to ensure an efficient
				operation of the institution.
(4)
Financial records and reports.
The community college will
				maintain accurate financial records and make reports in the form and pursuant
				to the timeline prescribed by the department and other state
				agencies.
(5)
Enrollment.
A community college will meet minimum enrollment
				requirements if it offers instruction as authorized in Iowa Code chapter 260C
				and if, to the satisfaction of the state board of education, it is able to
				provide classes of reasonable economic size as needed by students, meets the
				needs of the students, and shows by its past and present enrollment and
				placement record that it meets individual and employment needs.
(6)
Catalog.
The catalog is
				the official publication of the community college. It will include accurate
				information on institutional policies, admissions requirements, procedures and
				fees, refund policies, residency requirements, program enrollment and degree
				requirements, due process procedures, affirmative action, and other information
				as recommended by the department. Students' rights and responsibilities may be
				included in the catalog or in a separate document.
(7)
Admissions and program/course
				enrollment requirements.
The community college will maintain an
				open-door admission policy for students of postsecondary age. This admission
				policy will recognize that students should demonstrate a reasonable prospect
				for success in the program in which they are admitted. Applicants who cannot
				demonstrate a reasonable prospect for success in the program for which they
				apply should be assisted to enroll in courses where deficiencies may be
				remediated or into programs appropriate to the individual's preparation and
				objectives. The community college may set reasonable requirements for student
				enrollment in specified programs and courses. Admissions and program enrollment
				requirements established by each community college will be published in the
				community college catalog.
(8)
Academic year.
The academic year of the community college will
				consist of semester, trimester, or quarter terms, and will be a period of time
				beginning with the first day of the fall term and continuing through the day
				preceding the start of the next fall term as indicated in the official college
				calendar. A community college may offer instruction in units of length (i.e.,
				days and weeks) consistent with the identified scope and depth of the
				instructional content.
(9)
Award requirements.
The director will approve all new credit
				certificate, diploma, and degree award programs in accordance with Iowa Code
				section 260C.14. Awards from a community
				college will be certified by the issuance of appropriate recognition, pursuant
				to award approval requirement guidelines issued by the department, indicating
				the type of program the student has completed. The minimum number and maximum
				number of credit hours required for each award type contained within this
				subrule may be waived pursuant to paragraph 21.2(13)
"i."
Each
				award will meet the expectations of statewide articulation agreements between
				Iowa community colleges and public universities.
a.
Associate of arts (AA).
The degree is awarded upon completion of a college parallel (transfer) course
				of study that provides a strong general education component to satisfy the
				lower division general education liberal arts and sciences requirements for a
				baccalaureate degree. An associate of arts degree consists of a minimum of 60
				semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 64 semester (96 quarter)
				credit hours.
b.
Associate
				of science (AS).
The degree is awarded upon completion of a course of
				study that requires a strong background in mathematics or science. The degree
				is intended to prepare students to transfer and initiate upper division work in
				baccalaureate programs. An associate of science degree awarded upon completion
				of an arts and sciences course of study consists of a minimum of 60 semester
				(90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 64 semester (96 quarter) credit
				hours.
c.
Associate of
				general studies (AGS).
The degree is awarded upon completion of an
				individualized course of study that is primarily designed for the acquisition
				of a broad educational background rather than the pursuit of a specific college
				major or professional/technical program. The AGS is intended as a flexible
				course of study and may include specific curriculum in lower division transfer,
				occupational education, or professional-technical education. It will not
				include a marketed course of study. An associate of general studies degree
				consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of
				64 semester (96 quarter) credit hours.
d.
Associate of applied science
				(AAS).
The degree is awarded upon completion ofa state-approved
				program of study that is intended to prepare students for entry-level career
				and technical occupations. An associate of applied science degree consists of a
				minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a maximum of 86 semester
				(129 quarter) credit hours. The general education component of the associate of
				applied science degree program consists of a minimum of 15 semester (22.5
				quarter) credit hours of general education and include at least one course from
				each of the following areas: communications, social science or humanities, and
				mathematics or science. A maximum of 3 semester (4.5 quarter) credit hours of
				the required 15 general education credits may be documented through an
				integrated, embedded, and interdisciplinary model adopted by the chief academic
				officers of the 15 community colleges in consultation with the department. The
				technical core of the associate of applied science degree will constitute a
				minimum of 50 percent of the course credits.
e.
Associate of applied arts
				(AAA).
The degree is awarded upon completion of a state-approved
				program of study that is primarily intended for career training in providing
				students with professional skills for employment in a specific field of work,
				such as arts, humanities, or graphic design. An associate of applied arts
				degree consists of a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours and a
				maximum of 86 semester (129 quarter) credit hours. The general education
				component of the associate of applied arts degree program will consist of a
				minimum of 15 semester (22.5 quarter) credit hours of general education and
				include at least one course from each of the following: communications, social
				science or humanities, and mathematics or science. A maximum of 3 semester (4.5
				quarter) credit hours of the required 15 general education credits may be
				documented through an integrated, embedded, and interdisciplinary model adopted
				by the chief academic officers of the 15 community colleges in consultation
				with the department. The technical core of the associate of applied arts degree
				will constitute a minimum of 50 percent of the course credits.
f.
Associate of professional studies
				(APS).
The degree is awarded upon completion of a state-approved
				program of study that is intended to prepare students for transfer and upper
				division coursework in aligned baccalaureate programs or immediate entry into
				the workforce.
(1) To be eligible to offer
				this award type, a college shall demonstrate that other award types cannot meet
				needs and the associate of professional studies award is appropriate.
(2) An associate of professional studies
				degree will consist of a minimum of 62 semester (93 quarter) credit hours and a
				maximum of 68 semester (102 quarter) credit hours. The general education
				component of the associate of professional studies degree will consist of a
				minimum of 30 semester (45 quarter) credit hours of general education including
				3 semester (4.5 quarter) credit hours of each of the following: speech,
				mathematics, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, science; 6 semester (9
				quarter) credit hours of writing; and 9 semester (13.5 quarter) credit hours
				distributed among mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and
				science. The technical core of the associate of professional studies degree
				will consist of a minimum of 16 semester (24 quarter) credit hours of career
				and technical coursework accepted by a receiving baccalaureate degree-granting
				institution with an aligned program as applying toward a specific major or
				program of study. The technical core of the degree will also consist of a
				minimum of 16 additional semester (24 quarter) credit hours of career and
				technical coursework accepted by the receiving institution as
				electives.
(3) An associate of
				professional studies degree program of study will have a minimum of three
				program-to-program articulation agreements with baccalaureate degree-granting
				institutions, at least one of which must be a public institution. A program
				will have a minimum of one articulation agreement effective prior to program
				implementation, provided all three agreements are effective within the
				program's first year of student enrollment. The agreements will provide for the
				application of no fewer than 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours toward the
				graduation requirements of each articulated baccalaureate degree
				program.
g.
Diploma.
The diploma is awarded upon completion of a
				state-approved program of study that is a coherent sequence of courses
				consisting of a minimum of 15 semester (22.5 quarter) credit hours and a
				maximum of 48 semester (72 quarter) credit hours including at least 3 semester
				(4.5 quarter) credit hours of general education. The general education
				component will be from any of the following areas: communications, social
				science or humanities, and mathematics or science. The technical core of the
				diploma will constitute a minimum of 70 percent of the course credits. A
				diploma may be a component of and apply toward subsequent completion of an
				associate of applied science or associate of applied arts degree.
h.
Certificate.
The
				certificate is awarded upon completion of a state-approved program of study
				that is designed for entry-level employment and consists of a maximum of 48
				semester (72 quarter) credit hours. A certificate may be a component of and
				apply toward subsequent completion of a diploma or associate of applied science
				or associate of applied arts degree and may be developed in rapid response to
				the needs of business and industry. A certificate may consist of only career
				and technical courses and no general education course requirements.