Courtesy of SRJC

The first Santa Rosa Junior College Academic Senate meeting of the Fall Semester was held on Sept. 4. 

Santa Rosa Junior College reflected its values by updating local degree requirements and prioritizing the Ethnic Studies department’s requests at the Oct. 16 Academic Senate meeting. 

Updates to Local Degree Requirements

The Academic Senate discussed and unanimously moved to update local degree requirements to include two new areas of study: student success and wellness, and American institutions. 

These two non-transferable courses will be required for students pursuing their associate’s degree (AA) at SRJC but not students working towards an associate’s degree for transfer (AA-T).

California’s community college code of regulations, Title V,  mandates that local GE patterns must accomplish a minimum of 21 units. This gives individual schools some freedom to assign different classes, according to SRJC articulation officer Kate Blackwell.

“These are value statements that we are making,” said Academic President John Stover. 

“They reflect the commitments of this institution. We are sending a message when we say these are important enough to be considered part of the educational experience.”

UC/CSU Level Courses For Ethnic Studies

The Senate discussed adjustments to the CAL-GETC education pattern and moved to make the Ethnic Studies department’s request to make its area six Ethnic Studies courses UC/CSU transferable an action item for the next meeting. 

To fulfill area six on the state general education pattern, SRJC could require UC/CSU level classes that are specific to the Ethnic Studies department or allow pre-existing classes like History 21 or Social Studies 30 to fulfill the education requirement. 

“There is an unstated concern here coming from the Ethnic Studies Department that if we don’t choose option one it could undermine their fledgling department,” said Ivan Tircuit, who’s concern was echoed by other members of the senate.

“The establishment of Ethnic Studies was one of the most successful things that we did out of the  post George Floyd moment,” said senator Micheal Hale. “I am so happy that I live in a state that’s requiring these courses both at the high school level and the college level, unlike states like Florida and others that are banning curriculum like this.”

The senate voted to move the Ethnic Studies department’s recommendation as an action item for the next meeting and reject the second option that would have let other related classes fulfill the area six requirement. 

The next academic senate meeting will take place from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the senate chamber, Room 4638, in Bertolini Hall.