These pages were updated 5 February 2010
SDCCD Policy 0001 November 10, 1980SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT GOVERNANCEEDUCATIONAL MASTER PLAN
CONDITION An Educational Master Plan, adopted in policy form, is necessary in order to guide the Board of Trustees in the review and adoption of educational programs and services relevant to the needs of the District's Population. POLICY The Board believes that the effectiveness of District educational programs depends fundamentally upon an acceptable philosophic base, a set of agreed- upon goals, and detailed objectives consistent with those goals. To guide the efforts of those participating under the leadership of the Chancellor, the Board adopts the following definitions: PHILOSOPHY--A composite statement of the relationship between the individual and society based upon beliefs, concepts and attitudes from which the goals and objectives of the District are derived; GOALS--Statements of broad direction or intent which are general and timeless. Goals transcend current problems, environments and economic constraints; OBJECTIVES--Specific accomplishments to be reached. They can be measured in a given time and under specifiable conditions. When attained, objectives advance the District toward corresponding goals. The Chancellor shall cause the San Diego Community College District Educational Master Plan to be developed, documented and distributed as follows: PHILOSOPHY The San Diego Community College District encompasses a multiplicity of people, activities and locations; yet beneath this diversity exists a core of basic beliefs-a shared philosophy that must shape and unify all the programs and services, that the District offers. Central to our philosophy is the concept that the maintenance of a democratic society depends upon the existence of an educated citizenry. This concept gives rise to a series of principles that may guide any institution charged with public education, but what characterizes a given institution and differentiates it from others is a question of which principles it emphasizes. For us in the San Diego Community College District, the following statements constitute the philosophic base from which we operate. First, since a democratic society stresses above other considerations the value and interests of the individual, we encourage our students and staff to appreciate themselves and others as individuals and to understand the complex processes by which individuals function successfully in groups. We believe also that to foster such understanding we must ourselves acknowledge our students as individuals by creating a climate that is both hospitable to people of all backgrounds and one that accommodates the diversity of our students' aspirations. Second, since an educated citizenry is vital, we believe that we must offer our services to all who desire them, not just to an intellectual or economic elite, or to those whose educational needs fall into strictly defined traditional patterns. Further, since educational needs are not static, we recognize the necessity to continually tailor our programs to the changing educational, cultural, and economic requirements of the community we serve. Finally, we believe that those who teach and learn must cherish and protect the traditions of academic freedom and responsibility. MISSION in defining our role in the educational community, we have undertaken to carry out a series of missions--broadly conceived statements of purpose that make operative our basic beliefs and fulfill our mandate as a segment of California higher education. We conceive our missions to be these: to function as a locally governed segment of California higher education with responsibility for comprehensive occupational and lower-division college and adult education instructional programs and community services--as provided by state law and board policies to meet each student at the point of the individual's need; to provide excellence in teaching and learning; to provide a climate that is open and caring and in which students and staff share the joy and excitement of intellectual pursuit; to provide programs that meet the broad educational needs of the community: --knowledge of the many heritage's of the past, --the ability to think analytically and feel honestly, --knowledge and skills to provide for economic survival and intellectual stimulation to satisfy the need for growth and creativity, --the ability to plan for the future; to maintain a close relationship with the community, both in terms of rapport and in assessment of and responsiveness to needs; to ensure that our programs are offered at times and locations that are maximally convenient to students and are offered in such a manner as to accommodate differences in preparedness and styles of learning. In general, our attitude is that education is not something that "happens" only to the young and only in specially designed rooms, but rather that education is a lifelong process, its requirements varying with an individuals age and circumstance. As a consequence, we feel that the District must maintain its sensitivity to change and must remain flexible to permit rapid response to that change. GOALS The Board adopts the following goals as guidance in the development and implementation of the District's educational programs and services: TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS I. To minimize any situation that acts as a barrier to education; II. To create a climate that fosters learning and elicits the best performance from each individual; III. To provide easy access to a full range of counseling, guidance and placement services so that students are enabled to make the wisest educational, vocational, and avocational decisions; IV. To improve students' thinking, learning, and survival skills; V. To provide a transfer program that prepares students, by its breadth and quality, for success at other educational institutions; VI. To provide an occupational education program that prepares students to upgrade their skills in their present occupations, to enter and succeed in existing or new occupations, or to transfer to a more advanced program;- VII. To provide educational programs designed to increase students' cultural, political, and economic awareness; VIII. To provide educational programs and opportunities for students to satisfy individual needs for good health and physical well-being. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STAFF AND THE INSTITUTION IX. To maintain a climate of cooperation and dedication to the goals of the District; X. To recruit, employ, and retain staff members of a high degree of competence and provide them with the opportunities to grow during their association with the District; XI. To ensure that the organizational structure and administrative procedures are so designed as to provide quality service and economical use of resources. TO MEET THE NON-INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY XII. To participate and share actively in the cultural, intellectual, and recreational life of the community. IMPLEMENTATION This Educational Master Plan is conceptualized as the very core or center of the District and shall be used as a basis for identification of appropriate criteria for evaluation, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. From its philosophy and goals radiate all the many operations of each of the components of the District. Implementation will always start with the current assessment of needs of the target population and the subsequent analysis of the effectiveness of current programs in meeting those needs. The Board will periodically review: The District's mission and goals in light of current needs; and the expected level of attainment of current objectives for programs and services in light of the economic conditions of the District. SUPERSEDES: Policy 000l, 2/24/77
