Chapter 2. Community College Standards
Subchapter 1. Minimum Conditions.

51006. Open Courses.
(a) The governing board of a community college district shall adopt by resolution the following or a comparable statement: "The policy of this district is that, unless specifically exempted by statute or regulation, every course, course section, or class, reported for state aid, wherever offered and maintained by the district, shall be fully open to enrollment and participation by any person who has been admitted to the college(s) and who meets such prerequisites as may be established pursuant to regulations contained in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 55200) of Subchapter 1 of Chapter 6 of this Division."

(b) The statement of policy adopted by the board pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section shall be published in the official catalog, schedule of classes, and addenda to the schedule of classes for which average daily attendance⁽¹⁾ is reported for state apportionment. A copy of the statement shall also be filed with the Chancellor. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 70901 and 78020 et seq., Education Code.

51024. Matriculation Services.
The governing board of each community college district shall:

(a) adopt and submit to the Chancellor a matriculation plan as required under Section 55510;

(b) evaluate its matriculation program and participate in statewide evaluation activities as required under Section 55512(c);

(c) provide matriculation services to its students in accordance with Sections 55520 and 55521;

(d) establish procedures for waivers and appeals in connection with its matriculation program in a manner consistent with Section 55534; and

(e) substantially comply with all other provisions of Subchapter 6 (commencing with Section 55500) of Chapter 6 of this Division.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 78210-78218, Education Code. Chapter 6. Curriculum and Instruction
Subchapter 1. Programs, Courses and Classes
Article 1. Program, Course and Class Classification and Standards

55002. Standards and Criteria for Courses and Classes.
(a) Associate Degree Credit Course. An associate degree credit course is a course which has been designated as appropriate to the associate degree in accordance with the requirements of Section 55805.5, and which has been recommended by the district governing board as a collegiate course meeting the needs of the students eligible for admission.

(1) Curriculum Committee. The college and/or district curriculum committee recommending the course shall be established by the mutual agreement of the college and/or district administration and the academic senate. The committee shall be either a committee of the academic senate or a committee that includes faculty and is otherwise comprised in a way that is mutually agreeable to the college and/or district administration and the academic senate.

(2) Standards for Approval. The college and/or district curriculum committee shall recommend approval of the course for associate degree credit if it meets the following standards:

(A) Grading Policy. The course provides for measurement of student performance in terms of the stated course objectives and culminates in a formal, permanently recorded grade based upon uniform standards in accordance with Section 55758 of this Division. The grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in subject matter and the ability to demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of essays, or, in courses where the curriculum committee deems them to be appropriate, by problem solving exercises or skills demonstrations by students.

(B) Units. The course grants units of credit based upon a relationship specified by the governing board, between the number of units assigned to the course and the number of lecture and/or laboratory hours or performance criteria specified in the course outline. The course also requires a minimum of three hours of work per week, including class time for each unit of credit, prorated for short-term, laboratory, and activity courses.

(C) Intensity. The course treats subject matter with a scope and intensity that require students to study independently outside of class time.

(D) Prerequisites and Corequisites. When the college and/or district curriculum committee, determines, based on a review of the course outline of record, that a student would be highly unlikely to receive a satisfactory grade unless the student has knowledge or skills not taught in the course, then the course shall require prerequisites or corequisites that are established, reviewed, and applied in accordance with the requirements of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 55200) of this Subchapter.

(E) Basic Skills Requirements. If success in the course is dependent upon communication or computation skills, then the course shall require, consistent with the provisions of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 55200) of this Subchapter, as prerequisites or corequisites eligibility for enrollment in associate degree credit courses in English and/or mathematics, respectively.

(F) Difficulty. The course work calls for critical thinking and the understanding and application of concepts determined by the curriculum committee to be at college level.

(G) Level. The course requires learning skills and a vocabulary that the curriculum committee deems appropriate for a college course.

(3) Course Outline of Record. The course is described in a course outline of record that shall be maintained in the official college files and made available to each instructor. The course outline of record shall specify the unit value, scope, objectives, and content in terms of a specific body of knowledge. The course outline shall also specify types or provide examples of required reading and writing assignments, other outside-of-class assignments, instructional methodology, and methods of evaluation for determining whether the stated objectives have been met by students.

(4) Conduct of Course. Each section of the course is to be taught by a qualified instructor in accordance with a set of objectives and with other specifications defined in the course outline of record.

(5) Repetition. Repeated enrollment is allowed only in accordance with provisions of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 51000), Sections 55761-55763 and 58161 of this Division.

(b) Non-degree Credit Course. A credit course designated by the governing board as not applicable to the associate degree is a course which, at a minimum, is recommended by the college and/or district curriculum committee (the committee described and established under Subdivision (a)(1) of this Section) and is approved by the district governing board and falls within one of the categories described in Subdivision (1) of this Subsection.

(1) Types of Courses. Non-degree applicable credit courses are:

(A) precollegiate basic skills courses as defined in Section 55502(d) of this Division;

(B) courses designed to enable students to succeed in college-level work (including, but not limited to, college orientation and guidance courses, and discipline-specific preparatory courses such as biology, history, or electronics) that integrate basic skills instruction throughout and assign grades partly upon the demonstrated mastery of those skills;

(C) precollegiate occupational preparation courses designed to provide foundation skills for students preparing for entry into college-level occupational courses or programs;

(D) essential occupational instruction for which meeting the standards of Section 55002(a) is neither necessary nor required.

(2) Standards for Approval. The college and/or district curriculum committee shall recommend approval of the course on the basis of the standards which follow. In order to be eligible for state apportionment, such courses must be approved (as courses not part of programs) by the Chancellor's Office as provided by Section 55100 of this Division.

(A) Grading Policy. The course provides for measurement of student performance in terms of the stated course objectives and culminates in a formal, permanently recorded grade based upon uniform standards in accordance with Section 55758 of this Division. The grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter and the ability to demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of written expression that may include essays, or, in courses where the curriculum committee deems them to be appropriate, by problem solving exercises or skills demonstrations by students.

(B) Units. The course grants units of credit based upon a relationship specified by the governing board between the number of units assigned to the course and the number of lecture and/or laboratory hours or performance criteria specified in the course outline. The course requires a minimum of three hours of student work per week, per unit, including class time and/or demonstrated competency, for each unit of credit, prorated for short-term laboratory, and activity courses.

(C) Intensity. The course provides instruction in critical thinking and generally treats subject matter with a scope and intensity that prepare students to study independently outside of class time and includes reading and writing assignments and homework. In particular, the assignments will be sufficiently rigorous that students completing each such course successfully will have acquired the skills necessary to successfully complete college-level work upon completion of the required sequence of such courses.

(D) Prerequisites and corequisites. When the college and/or district curriculum committee deems appropriate, the course may require prerequisites or corequisites for the course that are established, reviewed, and applied in accordance with Article 2.5 (commencing with section 55200) of this Subchapter.

(c) Noncredit Course.

A noncredit course is a course which, at a minimum, is recommended by the college and/or district curriculum committee (the committee described and established under subdivision (a)(1) of this section) and approved by the district governing board as a course meeting the needs of enrolled students.

(1) Standards for Approval. The college and/or district curriculum committee shall recommend approval of the course if the course treats subject matter and uses resource materials, teaching methods, and standards of attendance and achievement that the committee deems appropriate for the enrolled students. In order to be eligible for state apportionment, such courses are limited to the categories of instruction listed in Education Code section 84711, and must be approved by the Chancellor's Office as noted in Title V, section 55150.

(2) Course Outline of Record. The course is described in a course outline of record that shall be maintained in the official college files and made available to each instructor. The course outline of record shall specify the scope, objectives, contents, instructional methodology, and methods of evaluation for determining whether the stated objectives have been met.

(3) Conduct of Course. All sections of the course are to be taught by a qualified instructor in accordance with the set of objectives and with other specifications defined in the course outline of record.

(d) Community Service Class, A community services class is a class which meets the following minimum requirements:

(1) Is approved by the local district governing board.

(2) Is designed for the physical, mental, moral, economic, or civic development of persons enrolled therein.

(3) Provides subject matter content, resource materials, and teaching methods which the district governing board deems appropriate for the enrolled students.

(4) Is conducted in accordance with a predetermined strategy or plan.

(5) Is open to all members of the community.

(6) May not be claimed for apportionment purposes.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 70901, Education Code. Article 2.5. Prerequisites, Corequisites, and Recommended Preparation
55200. Definitions.
For the purposes of this Division, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Prerequisite" means a condition of enrollment that a student is required to meet in order to demonstrate current readiness for enrollment in a course or educational program.

(b) "Corequisite" means a condition of enrollment consisting of a course that a student is required to simultaneously take in order to enroll in another course.

(c) "Advisory on recommended preparation" means a condition of enrollment that a student is advised, but not required, to meet before or in conjunction with enrollment in a course or educational program.

(d) "Satisfactory grade" means that, for the course in question, the student's academic record has been annotated with the symbol A, B, C or "CR" as those symbols are defined in Section 55758 of this Division.

(e) "Necessary and appropriate" means that a strong rational basis exists for concluding that a prerequisite or corequisite is reasonably needed to achieve the purpose that it purports to serve. This standard does not require absolute necessity.

(f) "content review" means a rigorous, systematic process developed in accordance with Sections 53200 to 53204, approved by the Chancellor as part of the district matriculation plan required under Section 55510, and is conducted by faculty to identify the necessary and appropriate body of knowledge or skills students need to possess prior to enrolling in a course, or which students need to acquire through concurrent enrollment in a corequisite course.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 70901, Education Code.

55201. Policies for Prerequisites, Corequisites, and Advisories on Recommended Preparation.
(a) The governing board of a community college district may establish prerequisites, corequisites, and advisories on recommended preparation, but must do so in accordance with the provisions of this Article 2.5 §55200-55202. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require a district to establish prerequisites, corequisites or advisories on recommended preparation; provided however, that a prerequisite or corequisite shall be required if the course is to be offered for associate degree credit and the curriculum committee finds that the prerequisite or corequisite is necessary pursuant to Section 55002(a)(2)(D) or 55002(a)(2)(E).

(b) A governing board choosing to establish prerequisites, corequisites or advisories on recommended preparation shall, in accordance with the provision of Sections 53200-53204 of this Division, adopt policies for the following:

(1) The process for establishing prerequisites, corequisites, and advisories on recommended preparation. Such policies shall provide that in order to establish a prerequisite or corequisite, the prerequisite or corequisite must be determined to be necessary and appropriate for achieving the purpose for which is it being established. District policies shall also specify the level of scrutiny that shall be required in order to establish different types of prerequisites, corequisites, and advisories on recommended preparation. At a minimum, prerequisites, corequisites, and advisories on recommended preparation shall be based on content review, with additional methods of scrutiny being applied depending on the type of prerequisite or corequisite being established. The policy shall provide that the types of prerequisites described in Subsection (e) may be established only on the basis of data collected using sound research practices. Determinations about prerequisites or corequisites shall be made on a course-by-course or program-by program basis.

(2) Procedures to assure that courses for which prerequisites or corequisites are established will be taught in accordance with the course outline, particularly those aspects of the course outline that are the basis for justifying the establishment of the prerequisite or corequisite.

(3) The process, including levels of scrutiny, for reviewing prerequisites and corequisites to assure that they remain necessary and appropriate. These processes shall provide that at least once each six years all prerequisites and corequisites established by the district shall be reviewed. These processes shall also provide for the periodic review of advisories on recommended preparation.

(4) The bases and process for an individual student to challenge the application of a prerequisite or corequisite.

(c) Prerequisites or corequisites may be established only for any of the following purposes;

(1) the prerequisite or corequisite is expressly required or expressly authorized by statute or regulation; or

(2) the prerequisite will assure, consistent with Section 55002(a)(2)(D), that a student has the skills, concepts, and/or information that is presupposed in terms of the course or program for which it is being established, such that a student who has not met the prerequisite is highly unlikely to receive a satisfactory grade in the course (or at least one course within the program) for which the prerequisite is being established; or

(3) the corequisite course will assure, consistent with Section 55002(a)(2)(D), that a student acquires the necessary skills, concepts, and/or information, such that a student who has not enrolled in the corequisite is highly unlikely to receive a satisfactory grade in the course or program for which the corequisite is being established; or

(4) the prerequisite or corequisite is necessary to protect the health and safety of a student or the health and safety of others.

(d) Except as provided in this Subsection, no prerequisite or corequisite may be established or renewed pursuant to Subsection (b)(3) unless it is determined to be necessary and appropriate to achieve the purpose for which it has been established. A prerequisite or corequisite need not be so scrutinized until it is reviewed pursuant to Subsection (b)(3) if:

(1) it was established prior to July 6, 1990, and is part of a sequence of degree-applicable courses within a given discipline; or

(2) it was established between July 6, 1990, and the effective date of this regulation, in accordance with regulations in effect during this period of time; or

(3) it is required by statute or regulation; or

(4) it is part of a closely-related lecture-laboratory course pairing within a discipline; or

(5) it is required by four-year institutions.

(e) A course in communication or computation skills may be established as a prerequisite or corequisite for any course other than another course in communication or computation skills only if, in addition to conducting a content review, the district gathers data according to sound research practices and shows that a student is highly unlikely to succeed in the course unless the student has met the proposed prerequisite or corequisite. If the curriculum committee initially determines, pursuant to Section 50002(a)(2)(E), that a new course needs to have a communication or computation skill prerequisite or corequisite, then despite Subsection (d) of this Section, the prerequisite or corequisite may be established for a single period of not more than two years while the research is being conducted and the final determination is being made, provided that all other requirements for establishing the prerequisite or corequisite have been met.

(f) Any prerequisite or corequisite may be challenged by a student on one or more of the grounds listed below. The student shall bear the initial burden of showing that grounds exist for the challenge. Challenges shall be resolved in a timely manner and, if the challenge if upheld, the student shall be permitted to enroll in the course or program in question. Grounds for challenge are:

(1) The prerequisite or corequisite has not been established in accordance with the district's process for establishing prerequisites or corequisites;

(2) The prerequisite or corequisite is in violation of this Article;

(3) The prerequisite or corequisite is either unlawfully discriminatory or is being applied in an unlawfully discriminatory manner;

(4) The student has the knowledge or ability to succeed in the course or program despite not meeting the prerequisite or corequisite;

(5) The student will be subject to undue delay in attaining the goal of his or her educational plan because the prerequisite or corequisite course has not been made reasonably available; and

(6) Such other grounds for challenge as may be established by the district governing board.

(g) In the case of a challenge under Subsection (f)(3) of this Section, the district shall, upon completion of the challenge procedure established pursuant to this Section, advise the student that he or she may file a formal complaint of unlawful discrimination pursuant to Subchapter 5 (commencing with Section 59300) of Chapter 10 of this Division. Completion of the challenge procedure shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of Section 59328(b) that the district and the student attempt informal resolution of the complaint.

(h) District policies adopted pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the Chancellor as part of the district's matriculation plan pursuant to Section 55510 of Subchapter 6 of Chapter 6 of this Division. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 70901, Education Code. 55202. Additional Rules.
The following additional rules apply to the establishment of prerequisites and corequisites:

(a) Prerequisites, corequisites, and advisories on recommended preparation must be identified in college publications available to students as well as the course outline of any course for which they are established.

(b) Prerequisites establishing communication or computational skill requirements may not be established across the entire curriculum unless established on a course-by-course basis.

(c) The determination of whether a student meets a prerequisite shall be based on successful completion of an appropriate course or on an assessment using multiple measures. Any assessment instrument used shall be selected and used in accordance with the provisions of Subchapter 6 (commending with Section 55500) of Chapter 6 of this Division.

(d) If a prerequisite requires precollegiate skills in reading, written expression, or mathematics, the governing board of a district shall ensure that precollegiate basic skills courses designed to teach the required skills are offered with reasonable frequency and that the number of sections available is reasonable given the number of students who are required to meet the associated skills prerequisites and who diligently seek enrollment in the prerequisite course.

(e) Whenever a corequisite course is established, sufficient sections shall be offered to reasonably accommodate all students who are required to take the corequisite. A corequisite shall be waived as to any student for whom space in the corequisite course is not available.

(f) No exit test may be required to satisfy a prerequisite or corequisite unless it is incorporated into the grading for the prerequisite or corequisite course.

(g) The determination of whether a student meets a prerequisite shall be made prior to his or her enrollment in the course requiring the prerequisite, provided, however, that enrollment may be permitted pending verification that the student has met the prerequisite or corequisite. If the verification shows that the student has failed to meet the prerequisite, the student may be involuntarily dropped from the course if the applicable enrollment fees are promptly refunded. Otherwise a student may only be involuntarily removed from a course due to excessive absences or as a result of disciplinary action taken pursuant to law or to the student code of conduct. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 70901, Education Code. Subchapter 6. Matriculation Programs
Article 1. Scope and Definitions 55500. Scope and Implementation.
(a) This chapter implements and should be read in conjunction with the provisions of the Seymour-Campbell Matriculation Act of 1986, c. 1467, Stats. 1986, codified as Education Code Sections 78210, et seq. The purpose of this chapter is to further equality of educational opportunity and success for all students in the California Community Colleges.

(b) The requirements of this chapter apply only to districts receiving funds pursuant to Education Code Section 78216 for the period of time during which such funds are received. The Chancellor shall, in consultation with districts and other interested parties, adopt a schedule for implementing the provisions of this chapter as expeditiously as possible within the constraints of available funding. The schedule shall be coordinated with the implementation and funding of the systemwide management information system and the accountability mechanisms established pursuant to Education Code Section 71020.5.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 71020.5 and 78210-78218, Education Code. 55502. Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "matriculation" means a process that brings a college and a student who enrolls for credit into an agreement for the purpose of realizing the student's educational goal through the college's established programs, policies, and requirements. This agreement is to be implemented by means of the student's individual educational plan developed pursuant to Section 55525.

(b) "assessment" means the process of gathering information about individual students to facilitate student success. Assessment may include, but is not limited to, information regarding the student's study skills, English language proficiency, computational skills, aptitudes, goals, learning skills, career aspirations, academic performance, and need for special services. Assessment involves the collection of such information at any time, before or after enrollment, except that the process of assigning a grade by an instructor shall not be considered part of the assessment process. Once a grade has been assigned and recorded in a student's transcript it can be used in the assessment process.

(c) "assessment instruments, methods or procedures" means one or more assessment instruments, assessment methods, or assessment procedures, or any combination thereof. These include, but are not limited to, interviews, standardized tests, holistic scoring processes, attitude surveys, vocational or career aptitude and interest inventories, high school or college transcripts, specialized certificates or licenses, educational histories and other measures of performance. The term "assessment instruments, methods or procedures" also includes assessment procedures such as the identification of test scores which measure particular skill levels, the administrative process by which students are referred for assessment, the manner in which assessment sessions are conducted, the manner in which assessment results are made available, and the length of time required before such results are available.

(d) "precollegiate basic skills courses" are those courses in reading, writing, computation, learning skills, study skills, and English as a Second Language which are designated by the community college district as nondegree credit courses pursuant to Section 55002(b) of this Part.

(e) "disproportionate impact" occurs when the percentage of persons from a particular racial, ethnic, gender, age or disability group who are directed to a particular service or placement based on an assessment instrument, method or procedure is significantly different than the requesentation of that group in the population of persons being assessed and that discrepancy is not justified by empirical evidence demonstrating that the assessment instrument, method or procedures is a valid and reliable predictor of performance in the relevant educational setting.

(f) "exemption" means waiving or deferring a student's participation in orientation, assessment, counseling or advisement required pursuant to subsections (b), (c), and (d) of Section 55520.

(g) "matriculation services" are those services listed in Section 55520.

(h) "matriculation practices" means one or more instruments, methods or procedures, or any combination thereof, used in providing any of the matriculation services listed in Section 55520.

(i) "student" means a person enrolled in at least one credit course.

(j) "orientation" is a process which acquaints students and potential students with college programs, services, facilities and grounds, academic expectations, and institutional procedures.

(k) "student follow-up" is the process of monitoring a student's progress toward his or her educational goals and providing the student with appropriate advice based on the results of such monitoring. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 78212 and 78213, Education Code.

55510. Matriculation Plans.
(a) Each community college district shall adopt a matriculation plan describing the services to be provided to its students. The plan shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) a description of the methods by which required services will be delivered;

(2) the district's budget for matriculation;

(3) plans for faculty and staff development;

(4) computerized information services and institutional research and evaluation necessary to implement this Chapter;

(5) criteria for exempting students from participation in the matriculation process;

(6) procedures for establishing and validating prerequisites pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 55200) of Subchapter 1 of Chapter 6 of this Division; and

(7) in districts with more than one college, arrangements for coordination by the district of the matriculation plans of its various colleges.

(b) The plan shall be developed through consultation with representatives of the academic senate, students, and staff with appropriate expertise, pursuant to Sections 51023 et seq.

(c) Such plans shall conform to the requirements of this Chapter and shall be submitted to the Chancellor for review and approval. Plans submitted prior to the effective date of this Section need not be revised or resubmitted if the Chancellor finds that they meet the requirements of this Chapter. Regardless of when plans are initially submitted, the Chancellor may require periodic updates of such plans.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference Section 78216, Education Code.

55512. Evaluation and Audits.
(a) Each community college district shall establish a program of institutional research for ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of its matriculation process to ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

As part of this evaluation, all assessment instruments, methods or procedures shall be evaluated to ensure that they minimize or eliminate cultural or linguistic bias and are being used in a valid manner. Based on this evaluation, districts shall determine whether any assessment instrument, method or procedures has a disproportionate impact on particular groups of students described in terms of ethnicity, gender, age or disability, as defined by the Chancellor. When there is a disproportionate impact on any such group of students, the district shall, in consultation with the Chancellor, develop and implement a plan setting forth the steps the district will take to correct the disproportionate impact. The evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the degree to which the matriculation program:

(1) impacts on particular courses, programs, and facilities;

(2) helps students to define their educational goals;

(3) promotes student success, as evidenced by outcome and retention data such as student persistence, goal attainment, skill improvement, and grades;

(4) assists the district in the assessment of students' educational needs;

(5) matches district resources with students' educational needs; and

(6) provides students with the support services described in Section 55520(g).

(b) Each district shall also, as part of its annual financial audit, provide for a review of the revenue and expenditures of the matriculation program.

(c) The Chancellor shall establish a system for evaluation of the matriculation program on a statewide basis, including procedures for monitoring compliance with district plans and the requirements of this chapter.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 78214 and 78217, Education Code. 55514. Data Collection.
Each community college district shall submit an annual report describing the district's efforts to implement its matriculation plan and expenditures made for that purpose. In this report, or through the established management information system or otherwise, the district shall submit to the Chancellor the data to be collected for evaluation purposes pursuant to Education Code Section 78214 and Section 55512 of this Part. Such data shall specifically include, but is not limited to, the information necessary to permit the Chancellor to determine the following:

(a) the proportion of students from various ethnic, gender, age or disability groups, as defined by the Chancellor, who are placed in precollegiate, associate degree applicable, or transfer level courses in reading, writing, computation or English as a Second Language;

(b) the proportion of ethnic, gender, age and disability groups, as defined by the Chancellor, who enter and complete precollegiate basic skills courses;

(c) the proportion of ethnic, gender, age and disability groups, as defined by the Chancellor, completing precollegiate basic skills courses who subsequently enter and complete courses applicable to the associate degree;

(d) outcome and retention data, as described in Section 55512(a), indicating the effectiveness of matriculation;

(e) the basis on which the use of particular assessment instruments, methods or procedures was validated by a district;

(f) the numbers of students exempted, pursuant to Section 55532, from participation in the district's matriculation program by category of exemption;

(g) the number of students filing complaints pursuant to 55534 and the bases of those complaints;

(h) the particular matriculation services, as listed in Section 55520, which each student received; and

(i) any other matter the Chancellor, after consultation with community college districts, deems necessary for the effective evaluation of matriculation programs. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78214, Education Code.

55516. Training and Staff Development.
55518. Funding.

(a) The Chancellor shall adopt a funding formula, consistent with the requirements of this Section, for allocating matriculation funds to community college districts complying with the requirements of this chapter.

(b) Each dollar of state matriculation funding shall be matched by three dollars of other district resources devoted to the matriculation program.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78216, Education Code. Article 3. Matriculation Services
55520. Required Services.
At a minimum, each community college district shall provide students, except as exempted pursuant to Section 55532, all of the following services:

(a) the processing of applications for admission;

(b) orientation and pre-orientation services designed to provide nonexempt students and potential students, on a timely basis, information concerning college procedures and course scheduling, academic expectations, financial assistance, and any other matters the college or district finds appropriate;

(c) assessment for all nonexempt students pursuant to Section 55524;

(d) counseling or advisement for nonexempt students pursuant to Section 55523;

(e) assistance in developing a student educational plan, pursuant to Section 55525, which identifies the student's educational goals and the courses, services, and programs to be used to achieve them;

(f) post-enrollment evaluation, pursuant to Section 55526, of each student's progress; and

(g) referral of students to:

(1) support services which may be available, including, but not limited to, counseling, financial aid, health services, campus employment placement services, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, campus child care services, tutorial services, and Disabled Student Programs and Services; and

(2) specialized curriculum offerings including but not limited to, precollegiate basic skills courses and programs in English as a Second Language.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78212, Education Code. 55521. Prohibited Practices.
(a) In implementing matriculation services, community college districts shall not, except as provided in subdivision (b), do any of the following:

(1) use an assessment instrument which has not been approved by the Chancellor pursuant to Section 55524, except that the Chancellor may permit limited field-testing, under specified conditions, of new or alternative assessment instruments, where such instruments are not used for placement and are evaluated only in order to determine whether they should be added to the list of approved instruments;

(2) use any assessment instrument in a manner or for a purpose other than that for which it was developed or has been otherwise validated;

(3) use any single assessment instrument, method or procedure, by itself, for placement, required referral to appropriate services, or subsequent evaluation of any student; provided however that, in the case of assessment instruments, the use of two or more highly correlated instruments does not satisfy the requirement for use of multiple measures;

(4) use any assessment instrument, method or procedure to exclude any person from admission to a community college;

(5) use any assessment instrument, method or procedure for mandatory placement of a student in or exclusion from any particular course or educational program, except that districts may establish appropriate prerequisites pursuant to Sections 55002 and 58106 of Division 9 of this Part; or

(6) use any matriculation practice which has the purpose or effect of subjecting any person to unlawful discrimination prohibited by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 59300) of Division 10 of this Part.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (a)(1) and (2), assessment instruments approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education may be used to determine "ability to benefit" in the process of establishing a student's eligibility for federal financial aid pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1091 of Title 20 of the United States Code.

NOTE : Authority cited: Section 11138, Government Code; Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 11135, Government Code; Sections 72011, 78211, and 78213, Education Code.

55522. Special Accommodations.
Matriculation services for ethnic and language minority students and students with disabilities, shall be appropriate to their needs, and community college districts shall, where necessary, make modifications in the matriculation process or use alternate instruments, methods or procedures to accommodate the needs of such students. Districts may require students requesting such accommodations to provide proof of need. Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) are authorized, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 56000) and Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 56200) of Division 7 of this part, to provide specialized matriculation services and modified or alternative matriculation services to their respective student populations. Notwithstanding this authorization, participation in the EOPS and DSP&S programs is voluntary and no student may be denied necessary accommodations in the assessment process because he or she chooses not to use specialized matriculation services provided by these programs. Modified or alternative matriculation services for limited or non-English-speaking students may be provided in English as a Second Language programs. NOTE : Authority cited: Section 11138, Government Code; Sections 66700, 70901 and 84500.1, Education Code. Reference: Section 11135, Government Code; Sections 72011, 78211, 78213, and 84500.1, Education Code.

55523. Counseling and Advisement.
(a) If not already required to do so by the minimum standards for counseling services set forth in Section 51018 of Division 1 of this Part, each community college district shall do all of the following:

(1) make reasonable efforts to ensure that all nonexempt students who are on probation participate in counseling as provided in Section 55759 of this Part;

(2) make reasonable efforts to ensure that all nonexempt students who have not declared a specific educational goal participate in counseling to assist them in the process of selecting a specific educational goal pursuant to Section 55525;

(3) make reasonable efforts to ensure that all nonexempt students who are enrolled in precollegiate basic skills courses participate in counseling or advisement;

(4) make available to all students, as defined in Section 55502(I), advisement or counseling on general academic requirements and the selection of specific courses by counselors or appropriately trained instructor/advisors and/or other appropriately trained staff working in consultation with counselors.

(b) Counseling by appropriately trained counselors or advisement by appropriately trained staff may also be made available in any other area the district deems appropriate, including but not limited to, the interpretation of assessment results and the development of a student's educational plan as required by Section 55525.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78212, Education Code. 55524. Assessment.
The Chancellor shall establish and update, at least annually, a list of approved assessment instruments and guidelines for their use by community college districts. These guidelines shall identify modifications of an assessment instrument or the procedures for its use which may be made in order to provide special accommodations required by Section 55522 without separate approval by the Chancellor. Such guidelines shall also describe the procedure by which districts may seek to have assessment instruments approved and added to the list. The Chancellor shall ensure that all assessment instruments included on the list minimize or eliminate cultural or linguistic bias, are normed on the appropriate populations, yield valid and reliable information, identify the learning needs of students, make efficient use of student and staff time, and are otherwise consistent with the educational and psychological testing standards of the American Educational Research association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78213, Education Code. 55525. Student Educational Plan.
(a) Each community college district shall establish a process for assisting students to select a specific educational goal within a reasonable time after admission as required by Section 55530(d). This shall include, nut not be limited to, the provision of counseling as required by Section 55523(a)(2).

(b) Once a student has selected a specific educational goal, the district shall afford the student the opportunity to develop a student educational plan describing the responsibilities of the student, the requirements he or she must meet, and the courses, programs, and services required to achieve the stated goal.

(c) The student educational plan developed pursuant to subsection (b) shall be recorded in written or electronic form. The plan, and its implementation shall be reviewed as necessary to ensure that it continues to accurately reflect the needs and goals of the student.

(d) If a student believes the district has failed to make good faith efforts to develop a plan, has failed to provide services specified in the student educational plan, or has otherwise violated the requirements of this Section, the student may file a complaint pursuant to Section 55534(c).

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78212, Education Code. 55526. Student Follow-up.
Each community college district shall establish a student follow-up process to assist the student in achieving his/her educational goal. The follow-up system shall ensure that the academic progress of each student is regularly monitored to detect early signs of academic difficulty and students shall be provided with advice or referral to specialized services or curriculum offerings where necessary. Districts shall also identify and refer to counseling or advisement, as appropriate pursuant to Section 55523(a), any students who have not declared a specific educational goal as required by Section 55530, who are enrolled in precollegiate basic skills courses, or who have been placed on probation. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 78212, Education Code. Article 4. Appeals, Waivers, Student Rights and Responsibilities
55530. Student Rights and Responsibilities.
(a) Nothing in this Subchapter shall be construed to interfere with the right of a student admitted to a community college in accord with district admission policies adopted pursuant to Education Code Section 76000 et seq. To enroll in any course for which he or she can meet necessary and appropriate prerequisites, if any, which have been established pursuant to the requirements of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 55200) of Subchapter 1 of Chapter 6 of this Division.

(b) Community college districts shall take steps to ensure that information is available in written form to all students during or prior to enrollment (e.g., during orientation) and is included in class schedules, catalogs, or other appropriate publications, describing their rights and responsibilities under this Chapter.

(c) Districts shall also take steps to ensure that the matriculation process is efficient so that students are not discouraged from participating in college programs. Whenever possible, students should be permitted to avoid additional testing by submitting scores on recently taken tests that correlate with those used by the district.

(d) Students shall be required to express at least a broad educational intent upon admission; declare a specific educational goal within a reasonable period after admission; participate in counseling or advisement pursuant to Section 55523(a)(1), (2), and (3); diligently attend class and complete assigned coursework; and complete courses and maintain progress toward and educational goal according to standards established by the district, consistent with the requirement of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 55750) of Division 6 of this Part. The governing board of each community college district shall adopt clear written policies not inconsistent with law, specifically defining these responsibilities of students and the consequences of failure to fulfill such responsibilities. This policy shall define the period of time within which a student must identify a specific educational goal as required by this Subsection, provided however, that all students shall be required to declare such a goal during the term after which the student completes 15 semester units or 22 quarter units of degree-applicable credit course work, unless the district policy establishes a shorter period. Once the student has developed a specific educational goal, the district must provide the student with an opportunity to develop a student educational plan pursuant to Section 55525. Student responsibilities shall also be identified in the student's educational plan developed pursuant to Section 55525. If a student fails to fulfill the responsibilities listed in this Subsection, fails to cooperate with the district in the development of a student educational plan within 90 days after declaring his or her specific educational goal, or fails to abide by the terms of his or her student educational plan, the district may, subject to the requirements of this Chapter, suspend or terminate the provision of services authorized in Section 55520, provided however, that nothing in this Section shall be construed to permit a district to suspend or terminate any service to which a student is otherwise entitled under any other provision of law.

(e) Information obtained from the matriculation process shall be considered student records and shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 54600) of Division 5 of this Part. NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 76000, 76001, 76001.5 and 78212, Education Code. 55532. Exemptions.
(a) Community college districts may elect to exempt certain students from participation in orientation, assessment, counseling or advisement as required by subsections (b), (c), or (d) of Section 55520. Each such district shall establish policies specifying the grounds for exemption. Such policies shall be identified in the matriculation plan required under Section 55510 and the number of students so exempted shall be reported, by category, to the Chancellor pursuant to Section 55514.

(b) District policies may exempt from orientation, assessment, counseling, or advisement any student who has completed an associate degree or higher.

(c) Any student exempted pursuant to this Section shall be notified that he or she is covered by an exemption and shall be given the opportunity to choose whether or not to participate in that part of the matriculation process.

(d) District policies may not use any one of the following as the sole criterion for exempting any student who does not wish to participate:

(1) the student has enrolled only in evening classes;

(2) the student has enrolled in fewer than some specified number of units;

(3) the student is undecided about his or her educational goals; or

(4) the student does not intend to earn a degree or certificate.

(e) As part of the statewide evaluation provided for under subsection © of Section 55512, the Chancellor shall analyze and recommend necessary changes regarding the impact on the matriculation program of the exemption policies adopted by community college districts.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700, 70901, and 78215, Education Code. Reference: Section 78215, Education Code.

55534. Violations, Waivers and Appeals.
(a) Each community college district shall establish written procedures by which students may challenge any alleged violation of the provisions of this Subchapter. Districts shall investigate and attempt to resolve any such complaints in a timely manner. Such complaint procedures may be consolidated with existing student grievance procedures by action of the governing board. Records of all such complaints shall be retained for at least three years after the complaint has been resolved and shall be subject to review by the Chancellor as part of the statewide evaluation required under Section 55512(c).

(b) When a challenge contains an allegation that a community college district has violated the provisions of Subsection (f) of Section 55521, the district shall, upon completion of the challenge procedure established pursuant to this Section, advise the student that he or she may file a formal complaint of unlawful discrimination pursuant to Subchapter 5 (commencing with Section 59300) of Chapter 10 of this Division. Completion of the challenge procedure shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of Section 59328(b) that the district and the student attempt informal resolution of the complaint.

NOTE : Authority cited: Section 11138, Government Code; Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 11135-11139.5, Government Code; Sections 78211 and 78213, Education Code.

Article 5. Attendance Accounting Standards
58051.5 Reports of Apportionment; Prohibited Classes.
Except as otherwise provided in Article 11 (commencing with Section 76170) of Chapter 1 of Part 46of the Education Code, no community college district may claim for purposes of state apportionment any classes:

(a) if the district receives full compensation for direct education costs for the class from any public or private agency, individual or group of individuals, or

(b) if such classes are not located in facilities clearly identified in such a manner, and established by appropriate procedures, to ensure that attendance in such classes is open to the general public, except that students may be required to meet prerequisites which have been established pursuant to Section 58106 of this Chapter.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 70901, Education Code. Subchapter 2. Limitation on State Aid
Article 1. Open Classes 58106. Limitations on Enrollment.
In order to be claimed for purposes of state apportionment, all courses shall be open to enrollment by any student who has been admitted to the college, provided that enrollment in specific courses or programs may be limited as follows:

(a) Enrollment may be limited to students meeting prerequisites and corequisites established pursuant to Sections 55200-55202 of this Division,

(b) Enrollment may be limited due to health and safety considerations, facility limitations, faculty workload, the availability of qualified instructors, funding limitations, the constraints of regional planning, or legal requirements imposed by statutes, regulations, or contracts. The governing board shall adopt policies identifying any such limitations and requiring fair and equitable procedures for determining who may enroll in affected courses or programs. Such procedures shall be consistent with one or more of the following approaches:

(1) limiting enrollment to a "first-come, first-served" basis or using other nonevaluative selection techniques to determine who may enroll; or

(2) limiting enrollment using a registration procedure authorized by Section 58108; or

(3) in the case of intercollegiate competition, honors courses, or public performance courses, allocating available seats to those students judged most qualified; or

(4) limiting enrollment in one or more sections of a course to a cohort of students enrolled in one or more other courses, provided, however, that a reasonable percentage of all sections of the course do not have such restrictions; or

(5) with respect to students on probation or subject to dismissal, the governing board may, consistent with the provisions of Sections 55754-55755 of this Part, limit enrollment to a total number of units or to selected courses, or require students to follow a prescribed educational plan.

(c) A student may challenge an enrollment limitation established pursuant to Subsection (b) of this Section on any of the following grounds:

(1) the enrollment limitation is either unlawfully discriminatory or is being applied in an unlawfully discriminatory manner;

(2) the district is not following its policy on enrollment limitations;

(3) the basis upon which the district has established an enrollment limitation does not in fact exist; or

(4) any other criteria established by the district.

(d) The student shall bear the burden of showing that grounds exist for the challenge. Challenges shall be handled in a timely manner, and if the challenge is upheld, the district shall waive the enrollment limitation with respect to that student.

(e) In the case of a challenge under Subsection (c)(1) of this Section, the district shall, upon completion of the challenge procedure established pursuant to this Section, advise the student that he or she may file a formal complaint of unlawful discrimination pursuant to Subchapter 5 (commencing with Section 59300) of Chapter 10 of this Division. Completion of the challenge procedure shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of Section 59328(b) that the district and the student attempt informal resolution of the complaint.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Section 70901, Education Code.

Subchapter 6. Student Fees
Article 1. Enrollment Fee and Differential Enrollment Fee
58508 Refunds.
(a) A community college district governing board shall refund upon request any enrollment fee paid by a student in excess of that computed pursuant to Section 58501 for program changes made during the first two weeks of instruction.

(b) A community college district shall not refund any enrollment fee paid by a student for program changes made after the first two weeks of instruction unless the program change is a result of action by the district to cancel or reschedule a class or to drop a student pursuant to Section 58106(g) where the student fails to meet a prerequisite.

(c) When refunding an enrollment fee pursuant to subsection (a), a community college district may retain once each semester or quarter an amount not to exceed $10.00.

(d) If the district has adopted a withdrawal policy pursuant to Section 55758 of this Division, any student who is a member of an active or reserve United States military service, and who has withdrawn from courses due to military orders, may file a petition with the district requesting refund of the enrollment fee. The district shall refund the entire enrollment fee unless academic credit has been awarded.

NOTE : Authority cited: Sections 66700, 70901 and 72252, Education Code. Reference: Section 72252, Education Code.

1. The reference to average daily attendance (ADA) rather than full-time equivalent student (FTES) is being retained in this Section to accommodate prior year recalculations. Title 5, Section 58782, provides the transition from ADA to FTES.