OAR 589-006-0300: Approval of Career and Technical Education Courses, Certificate of Completion, Associate of Applied Science Degree, Bachelor of Applied Science Degree, and Bachelor of Science: Nursing Degree Programs

(1) The Commission delegates to the Office the authority to approve Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. (2) Career and Technical Education courses are defined as either occupational preparatory courses or occupational supplementary courses. (3) The Office will use the appropriate Career and Technical Education Approval Procedures to approve Career Technical Education courses and programs. (4) Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses are approved by the Commission or its designee, either as a component of the curriculum for a state-approved certificate of completion, associate of applied science, associate of applied science degree option, a bachelor of applied science degree, and a Bachelor of Science: Nursing degree or through an individual course approval process as identified in the CTE Approval Procedures. (5) Commission standards for approval of occupational preparatory courses are included in the CTE Course Approval Procedures and include but are not limited to: (a) Courses are delivered under the direct control of the college and are either: (A) Approved as part of a community college certificate of completion program, associate of applied science degree program, associate of applied science degree option, bachelor of applied science degree program, or Bachelor of Science: Nursing degree program. (B) Approved as a stand-alone occupational preparatory course. (b) Courses are collegiate-level and provide education and training directed to the development of abilities, skills, understanding, and attitudes needed to enter into an occupation. (c) Courses are designed for occupational employment and are not necessarily directed toward completion of baccalaureate degree requirements. (d) Courses are developed and operated with the advice and counsel of employers, industry members, or other persons knowledgeable about the requirements of the occupations involved. (e) Courses will not unnecessarily duplicate similar intersegmental courses offered locally. (6) Occupational preparatory courses may not be offered by the local community college prior to the approval of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission or its designee. (7) Commission standards for approval of occupational supplementary courses are included in the CTE Course Approval Procedure and include but are not limited to: (a) Courses are delivered under the direct control of the college and may or may not be components of a certificate of completion or degree program. (b) Courses are not necessarily directed toward the completion of requirements for a baccalaureate degree. (c) Courses are collegiate-level and provide education and training designed to develop or enhance abilities, skills, understandings, and attitudes needed to improve occupational skills in order to achieve employment stability or advancement. (d) Courses are developed and operated with the advice and counsel of employers, industry members, and other persons knowledgeable of the requirements of the occupation involved. (8) Occupational supplementary courses may be offered by the local community college prior to final approval by the Office as identified in the CTE Course Approval Procedures under conditions that include the following: (a) The local community college has a local course approval process in place and assures that the occupational supplementary standards have been met. (b) The community college is willing to take the risk that the course may not be approved and may be non-reimbursable. (9) Career and Technical Education courses will be numbered using course numbering conventions as approved by the Office. (10) Career and Technical Education programs will be approved by the Commission based on meeting the general and specific community college program requirements for certificates of completion programs, associate of applied science degree programs, associate of applied science degree options, bachelor of applied science degree programs, or Bachelor of Science: Nursing degree programs as identified in 589-006-0100. (11) Commission standards and criteria for approval of Career and Technical Education are included in the Approval Procedures and include but are not limited to: (a) The program is developed and will be implemented, operated, and evaluated as a joint venture with business, industry, and labor; and (b) The college demonstrates the capacity to offer the program and will provide the necessary resources and services to assure that students can attain the skills and knowledge necessary to fulfill the stated objectives of the program, and (c) The curriculum for the program demonstrates a cohesive instructional system that will lead to the attainment of the academic and Career and Technical Education exit proficiencies needed for success in the occupational field; and (d) The instructional design for the program provides the appropriate access, flexibility, and evaluation components to provide appropriate instruction for students within the program; and (e) The program provides access to all students and provides the necessary additional and supplemental services for special populations and protected classes; and (f) Program need is based on local, regional, state, and national statistics and forecasts documenting that an employment demand for family wage occupations is not or cannot be met through existing programs; and (g) The program provides direct connections to appropriate certificates of advanced mastery as well as other programs in the college, other institutions of postsecondary education, or future training opportunities; and (h) The program has continuous improvement systems in place that provide for program input through evaluation based on instructor, employer, and student follow-up data. (12) Career and Technical Education programs will include the sequence of courses for the program including but not limited to the areas of general education or related instruction, Career and Technical Education requirements, and elective and specialization courses. Program approval materials will also include course numbers, credit/non-credit designations, and clock/contact hours for the courses. (13) Provisions will be made within the Approval Procedures to allow for the development, approval, implementation, and evaluation of certificate of completion programs, associate of applied science degree programs, associate of applied science degree options, bachelor of applied science degree programs, and Bachelor of Science: Nursing degree programs for statewide or regional consortium of community colleges. Statewide and regional consortia certificates and degrees will address specific program needs through a cohesive and transferable curriculum among and between participating colleges. (14) Provisions will be made within the Approval Procedures to allow for the development, approval, implementation, and evaluation of Business and Industry programs that are designed for employers to meet specific occupational and educational needs of their current employees. (15) New Career and Technical Education programs will be submitted for approval following the processes outlined in the Oregon Community College Policy and Process Book.