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Community College Accreditation and
KCTCS Degrees
Questions and Answers
Call us at our new toll-free number, 1-877-KCTCS4U. KCTCS is a new name and a major player in Kentucky’s postsecondary education system. The system actually combined two existing systems — 13 community colleges and 15 technical colleges. KCTCS is first in the number of students served, and third in the amount of funding provided by the state. What is a KCTCS degree? As of July 1, 2004, all students completing a University of Kentucky Community College System (UKCCS) associate degree program will be awarded a degree by the KCTCS Board of Regents. Why will all UKCCS associate degrees be awarded by KCTCS? The agreement to have all degrees awarded by the KCTCS Board of Regents by July 1, 2004 was prompted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the agency that accredits all colleges and universities in the Southeast. SACS criteria collectively state that "the governing board of an institution of higher education must have among its responsibilities the granting of degrees." The criteria also state that this responsibility cannot be shared by two boards.It is necessary to clearly distinguish between the KCTCS Board and the UK Board to meet the basic criteria for SACS accreditation. Why is accreditation important? Accreditation of a college or university by SACS assures students, parents, employers, and the public in general that the institution meets a set of quality standards that are applied to all institutions in the region served by SACS. For students two benefits of accreditation are especially important: accreditation assures access to federal and other financial aid programs for students who meet the eligibility requirements of the aid programs, and accreditation eases the transfer of credit to other institutions. How does the KCTCS degree differ from the current UK degree? Basically there will be no difference, except for the signatures on the diploma. Martha Johnson, member of the KCTCS Board of Regents, has pledged the Board’s commitment that the quality of education students receive is the key element of all decisions. "This agreement allows us to do what is best for our students—ensure that they are attending a college that is fully accredited and meets high standards," Johnson said. "The key . . . is that this change in governance does not change the quality of education that students receive and our commitment to excellence." Is a KCTCS degree equal to a UK community college degree? A college degree awarded by the KCTCS Board of Regents carries with it all the rights and privileges of any similar degree awarded by any board that governs a public and/or private postsecondary institution in Kentucky. What if I only have a few more hours left to complete my degree requirements? Can I still get a UK degree? In essence, the Memorandum of Understanding between UK and KCTCS provides a "grandfather clause" for current students. Students who complete the requirements of a UK program by June 30, 2004 will receive a degree conferred by the UK Board of Trustees. The complete text of the Memorandum of Understanding can be found on the KCTCS web site, http://www.kctcs.edu. Will the colleges continue to be known as the UK Community College System? The 13 community colleges in KCTCS are officially known as the University of Kentucky Community College System. This will not change unless the Kentucky General Assembly changes the name. Will my degree and/or classes still transfer to another school? Yes. If you complete the requirements for any of the 185 Baccalaureate Program Transfer Frameworks as outlined by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), these courses are guaranteed to transfer to any public university in the state. What is a Transfer Framework? The transfer frameworks are an extension of the General Education Transfer Policy that became effective in 1996. This policy guarantees that general education credits, when distributed among the five categories identified in the policy, will be accepted when students transfer to another public institution – either a university or a community college.Transfer frameworks add specialized courses needed for each of the 185 baccalaureate majors to the general education component. How can I guarantee that my classes will transfer? First, check with your college adviser to make sure you are on the right track to complete the requirements for transferring credits from one school to another. Or, check the web under "Student Information" at the CPE web site, http://www.cpe.state.ky.us. The 1998-99 edition of Baccalaureate Program Transfer Frameworks can be found at: http://www.cpe.state.ky.us/students/trans_99/transfer.htm Please note that there is an underscore between trans and 99 in this web site address. After July 1, 1999, will the programs currently offered as UK programs be removed from the community colleges’ degree offerings? No. Community colleges will continue to offer the same programs as they do now. Programs – and/or classes – are removed from the college’s curriculum only when they become obsolete and students no longer need these courses to complete degree requirements. Will our faculty and classes stay the same? The programs offered by UKCCS are changed only to update them to include new technology and information. Program updates are part of the normal process to keep programs and courses current. The UKCCS faculty is basically the same. As happens every year, some faculty retired, others were promoted, and new faculty members were hired. What is a KCTCS program? In July 1998, the CPE approved five new degree programs and designated them as KCTCS programs. This means that the KCTCS Board of Regents will now approve all new UKCCS degree programs and submit them for approval by the CPE. New curriculums must pass through the same approval steps as before with one exception – the board that approves it. This five-step approval process begins with a proposal from the faculty who plan to teach the classes and proceeds through the steps outlined in the above chart. Besides those listed in the box at right, other new programs have been approved by the KCTCS Board and are awaiting CPE approval.
New programs now offered through KCTCS Since January 1998, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education has approved 11 new programs for the community college system. These are:
Will we continue to have Community College Princesses at UK’s Homecoming? The right to have community college princesses introduced at UK’s annual homecoming celebration is guaranteed by legislation (House Bill One), and will not change unless the Kentucky General Assembly removes this provision. What will happen to other programs and activities like scholarships that come from UK, the Great Teacher awards, and the Donovan Scholars program? The first priority of the new system is to ensure that each community college can continue to offer its degree programs and other basic services to students, faculty, and staff at the same level of excellence without interruption. This includes the assurance that every effort is being made to maintain each college’s accredited status with SACS. As has been true with the Donovan Scholars program, KCTCS will continue its commitment to provide tuition scholarships for senior citizens. KCTCS will explore the effect that the new system will have on other well-established programs and activities such as UK scholarships and the Great Teacher award. The UK and KCTCS Boards have demonstrated that they are working for the welfare of students. This spirit of cooperation will continue as we move forward. Our priority is to do what is best for you – our students! |