The institution’s curriculum is directly related and appropriate to the mission and goals of the institution and the diplomas, certificates, or degrees awarded.

JUDGMENT: Compliant

STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

The mission of Southwest Texas Junior College is as follows:

Southwest Texas Junior College is a comprehensive, public college serving eleven counties in Southwest Texas. The College provides accessible, affordable, high-quality education that prepares students to successfully transfer to senior colleges and universities; enter the job market; pursue their professional and personal goals; and contribute to the economic growth of the region.

Southwest Texas Junior College’s mission statement reflects the statutory Role and Mission of Texas public two-year colleges, which is provided in Title 3 of the Texas Education Code and includes: “Texas public junior colleges shall be two-year institutions primarily serving their local taxing districts and service areas in Texas and offering vocational, technical, and academic courses for certification or associate degrees.”

In support of its mission, SWTJC offers the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science, the Associate of Arts Teaching, a number of Associate of Applied Science degrees, as well as a number of Certificates. All degree and certificate programs are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

To be awarded the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Arts Teaching, or the Associate of Science degree, a student is required to complete 60 semester credit hours, 42 hours of which are chosen from the College’s General Education Core Curriculum. SWTJC policy EFAA (Legal) includes the Legislative and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board definitions, policies, and guidelines that were used to shape the College’s General Education Core Curriculum. By State statute  and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Policy, a student completing the 42-hour Core curriculum at a Texas public institution of higher education can transfer the entire block of courses to any other Texas public college or university toward fulfillment of its Core requirements. To complete transfer degree requirements at SWTJC, the student completes 18 semester hours of electives, which are chosen with the assistance of an academic advisor and tied to the student’s interests and transfer intent.

Southwest Texas Junior College offers a large number of Technical/Vocational programs leading to either Certificates or to an Associate of Applied Science Degree. While these programs are designed to provide students with education and experiences that lead to employment, some SWTJC Associate of Applied Science degrees are taken in transfer by specific Texas senior colleges via transfer articulation agreements. To earn an Associate of Applied Science degree, a student must successfully complete 60 semester credit hours; fifteen of those hours must be chosen from general education courses.

Appropriate to Higher Education

All transferable courses taught at SWTJC are described in the Texas Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) . This document is compiled and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. It lists all courses which SWTJC, as a public two-year community college, is authorized to offer; it lists all required course pre-requisites and foundational student learning outcomes. SWTJC adheres to standards provided under the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and described in Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule 9.183 and in TAC Rule 9.73 for the development of its degree programs.

SWTJC develops all Technical courses and programs according to the Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education (GIPWE). This document, provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, describes State guidelines, including program elements, general institutional and personnel requirements, the new program approval process, and components of program revision applications. All technical/vocational courses which SWTJC is eligible to offer are listed and described in the Texas Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM). This Manual is developed and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for all State colleges. Course descriptions include pre-requisites as well as basic learning outcomes.

All academic and technical degree programs at SWTJC are aligned with post-secondary programs throughout Texas and the United States.

Evidence

Texas Education Code 130.0011, Public Junior Colleges
SWTJC Catalog 2014-2016, p.107
SWTJC Policy EFAA (Legal) Instructional Programs and Courses Academic Courses
Texas Administrative Code 9.183 Degree Titles, Program Length, and Program Content
Texas Education Code 61.821 Definitions
SWTJC Catalog, 2014-2016, pp. 130-184
Transfer Articulation Agreements
SWTJC Catalog, 2014-2016, p.130
Academic Course Guide Manual
Texas Education Code 9.183, Degree Titles, Program Length, and Program Content
Texas Education Code 9.73, General Provisions
Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education
Workforce Education Course Manual