If you are you a CTE faculty member who has been tasked with developing a new CTE certificate or degree (program) for your college, you will need to secure regional consortium recommendation from the Inland Empire/Desert Regional Consortium (IE/DRC) before you submit your program approval documents to the State Chancellor’s Office for formal approval (chaptering).
Your college CTE Dean can advise you on the regional recommendation process and your college’s own curriculum approval process. You should also consult your college’s curriculum committee chair (or designee) early in the development process.
Chancellor’s Office Program and Course Approval Handbook (PCAH), 7th Edition
The Inland Empire/Desert Regional Consortium is comprised of the 12 community colleges in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The California Community College Chancellor’s Office requires that all requests for new CTE program approvals include a recommendation from the “appropriate CTE Regional Consortium” (PCAH 7th Edition, page 22). This recommendation ensures program offerings meet regional labor market needs and do not unnecessarily duplicate programs.
The IE/DRC vested responsibility for recommending new programs, program revisions, and other program matters with its CTE Deans subcommittee (click here to see IE/DRC Governance).
Regional recommendation should occur at the beginning of new program development. Colleges seeking regional recommendation must submit their request online at RegionalCTE.org. The process is described on the next tab, "Process".
The PCAH 7th Edition (page 93) states: “Pursuant to Education Code section 78015 Labor Market Information (LMI) data is specifically required for all new CTE program proposals, where available. Current LMI and analysis, or other comparable information, must show that jobs are available for program completers within the local service area of the individual college and/or that job enhancement or promotion justifies the proposed curriculum.”
The IE/DRC relies on consistent LMI data provided by the region’s COE in order to make a recommendation for program approval. At their discretion, colleges may submit other LMI data in addition to the LMI provided by the COE.
In addition to general program information, you will provide a narrative response to the topics listed below. These narrative responses should be the SAME responses you will provide to the CCCCO when you are ready to submit your program for formal approval (chaptering).
In addition to the narrative responses above, you will also attach the following to your submission:
The region is committed to review and act on all requests for regional recommendation within 30 days, provided the request is complete at the time it is submitted. CTE Deans hold regular monthly meetings between September and May. Meeting dates can be found on the IE/DRC website Meeting's page. Requests received after the May and before the September meeting will be reviewed electronically in order to honor the 30-day turn-around.
What is a program?
An educational program is defined in Title 5, section 55000(g), as “an organized sequence of courses leading to a defined objective, a degree, a certificate, a diploma, a license, or transfer to another institution of higher education.”
When does a new certificate or degree program require regional recommendation and state approval?
If it is in a CTE program area AND...
*Chancellor’s Office approved Certificates of Achievement are the only credit certificates that may appear by name on a student transcript, diploma, or completion award.
Does a program modification require regional recommendation?
No, modifications do not require regional recommendation. See CCCCO memo date 10-18-18 for Chancellor’s Office process.
CTE Dean's Meeting Date | Last Day to Submit a Program |
---|---|
August 24, 2020 | August 20, 2020 11:59pm |
September 14, 2020 | September 10, 2020 11:59pm |
October 12, 2020 | October 8, 2020 11:59pm |
November 16, 2020 | November 12, 2020 11:59pm |
December 7, 2020 | December 3, 2020 11:59pm |
January 11, 2021 | January 7, 2021 11:59pm |
February 8, 2021 | February 4, 2021 11:59pm |
March 8, 2021 | March 4, 2021 11:59pm |
April 5, 2021 | April 1, 2021 11:59pm |
May 10, 2021 | May 6, 2021 11:59pm |
June 7, 2021 | June 3, 2021 11:59pm |
If you have a program requiring regional recommendation, please visit RegionalCTE.org.
To submit a program for regional recommendation, please visit RegionalCTE.org.