Legal Basis for the Curriculum Committee

Education Code section 70902(b)(7) states, “The governing board of each district shall establish procedures to ensure . . . the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.” The basis for establishing a Curriculum Committee of the Academic Senate lies in title 5 section 55002(a)(1) which states a college and/or district curriculum committee “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.” Additional details of the responsibilities and duties of the Curriculum Committee as granted to it by the Academic Senate are available in the Academic Senate by-laws.

Mission of the Curriculum Committee

The purpose of the Curriculum Committee is to review and approve new and revised curriculum and academic policies to ensure compliance with the Academic Senate 10+1, title 5 and California Education Code prior to submission to the District Governing Board for final approval. In addition, the Southwestern College Curriculum Committee provides guidance and oversight to ensure that all curriculum is sound, comprehensive and responsive to the evolving needs of our students as well as the academic, business, and local communities and helps the college to fulfill its mission.