The Florida Senate

¹240.115  Articulation agreement; acceleration mechanisms.--

(1)(a)  Articulation between secondary and postsecondary education; admission of associate in arts degree graduates from Florida community colleges and state universities; admission of applied technology diploma program graduates from public community colleges or technical centers; admission of associate in science degree and associate in applied science degree graduates from Florida community colleges; the use of acceleration mechanisms, including nationally standardized examinations through which students may earn credit; general education requirements and common course code numbers as provided for in s. 229.551(1); and articulation among programs in nursing shall be governed by the articulation agreement, as established by the Department of Education. The articulation agreement must specifically provide that every associate in arts graduate of a Florida community college shall have met all general education requirements and must be granted admission to the upper division of a state university except to a limited access or teacher certification program or a major program requiring an audition. After admission has been granted to students under provisions of this section and to university students who have successfully completed 60 credit hours of coursework, including 36 hours of general education, and met the requirements of s. 240.107, admission shall be granted to State University System and Florida community college students who have successfully completed 60 credit hours of work, including 36 hours of general education. Community college associate in arts graduates shall receive priority for admission to a state university over out-of-state students. Orientation programs and student handbooks provided to freshman enrollees and transfer students at state universities must include an explanation of this provision of the articulation agreement.

(b)  Any student who transfers among postsecondary institutions that are fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that participate in the common course designation and numbering system shall be awarded credit by the receiving institution for courses satisfactorily completed by the student at the previous institutions. Credit shall be awarded if the courses are judged by the appropriate common course designation and numbering system faculty task force representing school districts, community colleges, public universities, and participating nonpublic postsecondary education institutions to be academically equivalent to courses offered at the receiving institution, including equivalency of faculty credentials, regardless of the public or nonpublic control of the previous institution. The Department of Education shall ensure that credits to be accepted by a receiving institution are generated in courses for which the faculty possess credentials that are comparable to those required by the accrediting association of the receiving institution. The award of credit may be limited to courses that are entered in the common course designation and numbering system. Credits awarded pursuant to this subsection shall satisfy institutional requirements on the same basis as credits awarded to native students.

(c)  The articulation agreement must guarantee the statewide articulation of appropriate workforce development programs and courses between school districts and community colleges and specifically provide that every applied technology diploma graduate must be granted the same amount of credit upon admission to an associate in science degree or associate in applied science degree program unless it is a limited access program. Preference for admission must be given to graduates who are residents of Florida.

(d)  By fall semester 1998, the articulation agreement must guarantee the statewide articulation of appropriate courses within associate in science degree programs to baccalaureate degree programs, according to standards established by the Articulation Coordinating Committee after consultation with the Board of Regents and the State Board of Community Colleges. Courses within an associate in applied science degree program may articulate into a baccalaureate degree program on an individual or block basis as authorized in local interinstitutional articulation agreements.

(e)  The Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the Florida Partnership for School Readiness, the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission, and the Education Standards Commission, shall conduct a statewide assessment to determine the extent and nature of instruction for those who work or are training to work in the fields of child care and early childhood education, as well as an assessment of the market demand for individuals trained at various levels. Based on this assessment, the Articulation Coordinating Committee shall establish an articulated career path for school readiness-related professions, which shall lead from entry-level employment in child care and early childhood education to a baccalaureate degree. The career path shall provide for the articulation of:

1.  Vocational credit to college credit for associate in science degrees;

2.  Credit earned in associate in science or associate in arts degree programs to credit in baccalaureate degree programs;

3.  Credit awarded by public and private institutions; and

4.  Credit for experiential learning associated with minimum training requirements for employment. The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall ensure that the articulation of such credit does not jeopardize the receiving institution's accreditation status.

Before the printing of the catalog for the fall semester 2002, the articulation agreement must guarantee the statewide articulation of appropriate coursework as established in the career path.

(2)  The universities, community college district boards of trustees, and district school boards are authorized to establish intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize this articulation. Programs may include upper-division-level courses offered at the community college, distance learning, transfer agreements that facilitate the transfer of credits between public and nonpublic postsecondary institutions, and the concurrent enrollment of students at a community college and a state university to enable students to take any level of baccalaureate degree coursework. Should the establishment of these programs necessitate the waiver of existing State Board of Education rules, reallocation of funds, or revision or modification of student fees, each college or university shall submit the proposed articulation program to the State Board of Education for review and approval. The State Board of Education is authorized to waive its rules and make appropriate reallocations, revisions, or modifications in accordance with the above.

(3)  The universities and boards of trustees of the community colleges shall identify their core curricula, which shall include courses required by the State Board of Education. The universities and community colleges shall work with their school districts to assure that high school curricula coordinate with the core curricula and to prepare students for college-level work. Core curricula for associate in arts programs shall be adopted in rule by the State Board of Education and shall include 36 semester hours of general education courses in the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. By January 1, 1996, general education coursework shall be identified by common course code numbers, consistent with the recommendations of the Articulation Coordinating Committee, pursuant to s. 229.551(1)(f)4. By fall semester 1996, degree program prerequisite courses and course substitutions shall be available at community colleges. With the exception of programs approved by the Board of Regents pursuant to s. 240.209(5)(f), degree program prerequisite courses shall be common across delivery systems and shall be identified by their common course code number consistent with the recommendations of the Articulation Coordinating Committee, pursuant to s. 229.551(1)(f)5.

(4)  The levels of postsecondary education shall collaborate in further developing and providing articulated programs in which students can proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their circumstances permit. Time-shortened educational programs, as well as the use of acceleration mechanisms, shall include, but not be limited to, the International Baccalaureate, credit by examination or demonstration of competency, advanced placement, early admissions, and dual enrollment.

(5)  By fall semester of 1995, each state university and community college shall offer to all students each semester, prior to drop-add, nationally standardized examinations listed in the articulation agreement, or institutionally developed examinations, through which students may earn credit in those general subject areas which are required or may be applied toward general education requirements for a baccalaureate degree at that university or associate degree at the community college. A student satisfactorily completing such examinations shall receive full credit for the course the same as if it had been taken, completed, and passed.

(6)  An associate in arts degree shall require no more than 60 semester hours of college credit, including 36 semester hours of general education coursework. Except for college-preparatory coursework required pursuant to s. 240.117, all required coursework shall count toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree. By fall semester of 1996, a baccalaureate degree program shall require no more than 120 semester hours of college credit, including 36 semester hours of general education coursework, unless prior approval has been granted by the Board of Regents.

(7)  A student who received an associate in arts degree for successfully completing 60 semester credit hours may continue to earn additional credits at a community college. The university must provide credit toward the student's baccalaureate degree for an additional community college course if, according to the common course numbering and designation system, the community college course is a course listed in the university catalog as required for the degree or as prerequisite to a course required for the degree.

History.--s. 65, ch. 79-222; s. 143, ch. 81-259; s. 5, ch. 83-325; ss. 5, 20, ch. 87-212; s. 1, ch. 90-302; s. 20, ch. 94-230; s. 2, ch. 95-243; s. 14, ch. 98-58; s. 8, ch. 99-357; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.