SACS -- Online Compliance Certification

Standard 2.7.3: The Institution requires in each undergraduate degree program the successful completion of a general education component at the collegiate level that is (1) a substantial component of each undergraduate degree, (2) ensures breadth of knowledge, and (3) is based on a coherent rationale. For degree completion in associate programs, the component constitutes a minimum of 15 semester hours or the equivalent; for baccalaureate programs, a minimum of 30 semester hours or the equivalent. These credit hours are to be drawn from and include at least one course from each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts; social/behavioral sciences; and natural science/mathematics. The courses do not narrowly focus on those skills, techniques, and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession. The Institution provides a written justification and rationale for course equivalency. (General Education)

Judgment of Compliance
X	Compliance	Partial Compliance	Non-Compliance

NARRATIVE/JUSTIFICATION FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

The general education requirements for all associate degrees awarded by SKCTC are published in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Catalog [1]. General education requirements in the Associate in Arts [2] and Associate in Science [2] programs at SKCTC consist of 33 Core Transfer Component Hours in six areas. The components are Writing/Accessing Information, Oral Communication, Heritage/Humanities, Social Interaction, Science, and Mathematics. This core curriculum conforms to that mandated by KCTCS and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) [3], which also conforms to the SACS criterion listed above.

General education requirements in the Associate in Applied Science [4] programs at SKCTC consist of 15-27 semester hours in five areas. The components are Mathematics, Natural Science, Behavioral Science/Social Interaction, Humanities/Fine Arts, and Writing/Accessing Information.

The rationale for the general education program at SKCTC is specifically described in the KCTCS Catalog [5] and on the SKCTC website:

There must be sufficient breadth and depth in the curriculum to meet the needs, interest, and abilities of all students. A general education core curriculum will ensure that KCTCS colleges graduate well-educated men and women who are intellectually flexible, articulate, creative, and prepared for continuous growth. For all students, this implies some understanding of the world of work and career fields and an understanding of their own abilities, interests, and needs. The general education core curriculum will also help students to develop their own values, to pursue goals, and to contribute to the political, moral, social, and cultural enrichment of society.

SKCTC and KCTCS also follow Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education policy [6] with regard to transfer of core courses. Within Kentucky public higher education Institutions, the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree can be accepted to fulfill general education requirements at the other CPE Institutions, with minor exceptions given to program-specific requirements that cannot be fulfilled at SKCTC or other KCTCS Institutions.

Credit for courses taken for credit outside the KCTCS system is awarded based on the equivalency to courses in the KCTCS system. Transferred courses that are not obviously equivalent to courses offered at SKCTC are individually evaluated by qualified faculty and the chair of the particular division by examination of course descriptions and/or course syllabi. Judgments are then made based on the objectives of the general education curriculum.

Supporting Documents		Links to Supporting Documents
Supporting Documents		You must be connected to the World Wide Web to access the following links. (Click on the link to access the document.)
1	KCTCS Catalog General Education Requirements	http://www.kctcs.edu/catalog/index.cfm?action=display&cs_id=7&cc_id=71#cc
2	Associate in Arts, Associate in Science requirements	http://www.kctcs.edu/catalog/curric/index.cfm?action=s&cp_id=208&cpc_id=921
3	Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Transfer Policies	http://cpe.ky.gov/policies/academicinit/Transfer/
4	Associate in Applied Science	http://www.kctcs.edu/catalog/curric/index.cfm?action=s&cp_id=208&cpc_id=922
5	KCTCS General Education Rationale	http://www.kctcs.edu/catalog/index.cfm?action=display&cs_id=7&cc_id=71#cc
6	Kentucky Transfer Framework	http://cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D91C75F0-2C60-4A04-91A0-11918212A739/0/Gen_Ed_Transfer_Revised_20050927.pdf

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