The Florida Senate

240.115  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; 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)(f)4.; 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 regionally accredited postsecondary institutions 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 if the courses are judged by the appropriate common course designation and numbering system faculty task force to be equivalent to courses offered at 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.

(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, 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.