15-1410. Credit and noncredit courses; definition

A. A course that is offered for credit shall satisfy at least one of the following:

1. Satisfy one or more of the following purposes:

(a) Qualify students for a community college certificate or degree.

(b) Be acceptable for transfer to a regionally accredited public or private college or university.

(c) Prepare students with skills to seek entry-level jobs in the field of specialization.

(d) Improve the student's job skills or prepare the student for promotion in fields of employment.

(e) Provide skills necessary for success in other college courses.

(f) Provide continuing education and lifelong learning.

2. Satisfy all of the following requirements:

(a) Have a formal course outline that defines the objectives and content of the course on file and available for audit.

(b) Evaluate and grade students based on their mastery of the objectives and content of the course.

(c) Require faculty teaching the course to meet the standards set by the district to teach in the subject area of the course.

(d) Base the credit hours or contact hours awarded for completion of the course on the effort required of, and the competencies gained by, the students in accordance with policies adopted by the district governing board.

(e) Require students, before enrollment in the course, to achieve prerequisite competencies as defined in the syllabus or approved course guidelines.

(f) Be developed using the district's formal curriculum review procedure.

(g) Have an evaluation component, the results of which are used for the purposes of formative and summative evaluation by the institution.

(h) Meet other requirements adopted pursuant to district governing board policies, including national standardized examinations and credit by evaluation or examination.

B. A noncredit workforce training or career and technical education course that meets the criteria established in subsection A of this section and that is offered for contact hours instead of credit hours shall satisfy one or more of the following:

1. Be consistent with the Carl D. Perkins Career and technical education improvement act of 2006, as amended by the strengthening career and technical education for the 21st century act.

2. Be included on the eligible training provider list maintained pursuant to the workforce innovation and opportunity act.

3. Be requested pursuant to a formal agreement or contract with a business or entity.

C. Noncredit courses are courses that do not meet the criteria established in subsection A of this section. Noncredit courses are the financial responsibility of the district.

D. A community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board may not offer a course with a prerequisite for enrollment that requires a student to be a member of a labor organization, a trade organization or a trade guild or to participate in an industry apprenticeship program.

E. For the purposes of this section, "contact hour" means sixty minutes of instructional time that is provided to students in a noncredit workforce training or career and technical education course.