Rule Index

Chapter 6A-10 - Continued

(1) Each state university president, community college board of trustees, and district school board shall plan and adopt policies and procedures to provide articulated programs so that students can proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their circumstances permit. Universities, community colleges, and school districts shall exchange ideas in the development and improvement of general education, and in the development and implementation of student acceleration mechanisms. They shall establish joint programs and agreements to facilitate articulation, acceleration, and efficient use of faculty, equipment, and facilities.

(2) Articulation Coordinating Committee. The Commissioner shall establish an Articulation Coordinating Committee which shall report to the Commissioner and consist of fifteen (15) members appointed by the Commissioner: three (3) members representing the state university system; three (3) members representing the state community college system; one (1) member representing vocational education; three (3) members representing public schools; two (2) members representing nonpublic postsecondary institutions; one (1) member representing students; one (1) member from the Commissioner's staff who shall serve as chairman; and one (1) additional member. The Committee shall:

(a) Function as the statewide pre-kindergarten through university, or K-16, council and accept continuous responsibility for community college-university-school district relationships, including recommending to the Commissioner plans for school district articulation relationships with community colleges and universities, including coordination of cooperative plans required by Section 229.814(5), Florida Statutes.

(b) Establish articulation accountability measures. Further, the Committee shall annually collect, analyze, and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Education on the accountability measures. Such report, at a minimum, shall address the provisions set forth in Section 240.1162, Florida Statutes. The articulation accountability report shall be included in the Commissioner's annual report on the status of education to the State Board of Education and the Legislature.

(c) Develop suggested guidelines for interinstitutional agreements between public schools, community colleges, and universities to facilitate interaction, articulation, acceleration, and the efficient use of faculty, equipment, and facilities.

(d) Establish groups of university-community college-school district representatives to facilitate articulation in subject areas.

(e) Conduct a continuing review of the provisions of Rule 6A-10.024, FAC.

(f) Review instances of student transfer and admissions difficulties among universities, community colleges, and public schools. Decisions shall be advisory to the institutions concerned.

(g) Recommend resolutions of issues and recommend policies and procedures to improve articulation systemwide.

(h) Recommend the priority to be given research conducted cooperatively by the Divisions of Community Colleges, Universities, and Public Schools with individual institutions. Such research shall be encouraged and conducted in areas such as admissions, grading practices, curriculum design, and follow-up of transfer students. Research findings shall be used to evaluate current policies, programs, and procedures.

(i) Review and make recommendations to institutions for experimental programs which vary from official transfer policy.

(j) Develop procedures to improve articulation systemwide.

(k) Collect and disseminate information on successful cooperative programs under Rule 6A-10.024(1), FAC.

(l) Perform such other duties as may be assigned in law or by the State Board or the Commissioner.

(3) General education.

(a) Each state university and community college shall establish a general education core curriculum, which shall require at least thirty-six (36) semester hours of college credit in the liberal arts and sciences for students working toward a baccalaureate.

(b) After a state university or community college has published its general education core curriculum, the integrity of that curriculum shall be recognized by the other public universities and community colleges. Once a student has been certified by such an institution on the official transcript as having completed satisfactorily its prescribed general education core curriculum, regardless of whether the associate degree is conferred, no other state university or community college to which he or she may transfer shall require any further such general education courses.

(c) If a student does not complete a general education core curriculum prior to transfer, the general education requirement becomes the responsibility of the new institution.

(4) The associate in arts degree is the basic transfer degree of the community colleges. It is the primary basis for admission of transfer students from community colleges to upper division study in a state university. Every associate in arts graduate of a Florida community college shall be granted admission to an upper division program offered by a state university institution except to: a limited access program; a teacher certification program; or a major program requiring an audition or portfolio. After admission has been granted to associate in arts graduates as specified above and to state university students who have successfully completed sixty (60) credit hours of course work and met the requirements of Section 240.107, Florida Statutes, admission shall then be granted to state university system and Florida community college students who have successfully completed sixty (60) credit hours of work.

(5) The associate in arts degree shall be awarded upon:

(a) Completion of at least sixty (60) semester hours of college credit courses exclusive of courses not accepted in the state university system, and including a general education core curriculum of at least thirty-six (36) semester hours of college credit in the liberal arts and sciences;

(b) Achievement of a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all courses attempted, and in all courses taken at the institution awarding the degree, provided that only the final grade received in courses repeated by the student shall be used in computing the average. The grade of "D" shall transfer and count toward the baccalaureate in the same way as "D" grades obtained by students in the state universities. Whether courses with "D" grades in the major satisfy requirements in the major field may be decided by the university department or college;

(c) Completion of the requirements in Rule 6A-10.030, FAC.; and

(d) Achievement of the minimum standards in Rule 6A-10.0312, FAC.

(6) The associate in science degree is the career education degree of the community colleges. It is a two-year degree intended to prepare students for the workforce. The following provisions allow for articulation from an associate in science to a baccalaureate degree.

(a) The associate in science degree shall be awarded upon:

1. Completion of the minimum number of semester hours of college credit courses as required in Rule 6A-14.030(2)(a), FAC., including,

2. Completion of at least fifteen to eighteen (15-18) semester hours in the general education core curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences comprised of courses which meet the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges criteria. English and math courses must meet the requirements of Rule 6A-10.030, FAC. No physical education credit will be included in the general education block of credit.

3. Achievement of the minimum standards in Rule 6A-10.0312, FAC., will be required by the time the student earns 36 semester hours at the senior institution in upper division work.

4. Completion of common prerequisites will be required for the baccalaureate degree or as otherwise outlined in program-specific statewide agreements.

5. Courses taken as part of the associate in science degree to meet the general education requirements will transfer and apply toward the 36 credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree. No additional general education credit hours can be required except to complete the total 36 general education hours or for remediation.

(b) The Interdisciplinary Capstone Agreement. Every associate in science degree graduate of a Florida community college program that articulates with an interdisciplinary capstone degree program in a Florida public or private university shall be guaranteed admission to that program except for limited access programs and those requiring specific grades on particular courses for admission. All associate in science degree graduates who articulate under the interdisciplinary capstone agreement shall be treated equally, regardless of the community colleges from which they receive their degrees.

1. The general education component of the A.S. degree will maintain its integrity upon transfer to the interdisciplinary capstone program.

2. The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall maintain a current listing of interdisciplinary capstone programs which will be published on an annual basis.

(c) The Career Ladder Agreement -- Beginning fall term 2000, all graduates of a Florida community college associate in science degree program listed in the Statewide Articulation Manual shall be granted admission to any of the universities in the State University System in the program designated to articulate with their degree, except for limited access programs and those requiring specific grades on particular courses for admission. Each State University System institution shall develop admissions criteria to ensure that associate in science degree students are evaluated on an equal basis with associate in arts degree graduates and native university students for admission into programs designated as limited access and those requiring specific grades on particular courses for admission.

1. The associate in science degree shall be awarded based

on all of the requirements contained in subsection (6)(a)of this rule and in accordance with the articulation agreement provisions contained in the Statewide Articulation Manual.

2. General education courses not taught in accordance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges criteria for programs designed for college transfer shall not be included in the associate in science degree.

3. The associate in science to bachelor of arts/bachelor

(7) The Applied Technology Diploma (ATD) consists of a course of study that is part of an associate in science (A.S.) Or an associate in applied science degree (A.A.S.), is less than sixty (60) credit hours, is approximately fifty (50) percent of the technical component (non-general education), and leads to employment in a specific occupation. An applied technology diploma program may consist of either vocational credit or college credit.

(a) Students must have a high school diploma or the equivalent to be admitted to an applied technology diploma program. Within six (6) weeks of entry, students must be tested pursuant to Rule 6A-10.040, FAC., and, if below minimum standards for completion from the program as defined in the program standards document adopted in Rule 6A-6.0571, FAC., must receive remedial instruction. The minimum standards must be at least the equivalent of a score of ten (10) on all sections of any basic skills test approved in Rule 6A-10.040, FAC. Students must successfully complete all remedial instruction before completing the Applied Technology Diploma.

(b) Community colleges may offer either college or vocational credit toward the applied technology diploma. Vocational-technical centers may offer only vocational credits.

(c) All faculty providing instruction must have at least an associate degree in the specific instructional program area or meet the criteria for "exceptional cases" as defined by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.

(d) The information related to the guaranteed transfer of credit between an applied technology diploma program and associate in science or an associate in applied science degree must be documented and maintained in the Statewide Articulation Manual and the Vocational Education Program Courses Standards, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-6.0571, FAC. The Statewide Articulation Manual and the Vocational Education Program Courses Standards shall include the following:

1. The total number of clock or credit hours within the program.

2. The associate degree into which the applied technology diploma is guaranteed to transfer.

3. The number of college credit hours guaranteed to transfer.

4. An effective date.

(e) The transfer of the applied technology diploma to an associate degree is guaranteed for a period of three (3) years following the date of the award of the applied technology diploma.

(f) Applied technology diploma students entering an associate degree program shall meet the admissions standards stipulated in Section 240.321, Florida Statutes. Additional admissions requirements for limited access programs may be established by the community college boards of trustees.

(8) Credit by examination.

(a) For examination programs listed in subsections (9) through (13) of this rule, examination specifications and content information shall be submitted to the Statewide Course Numbering System for course equivalency recommendations.

(b) A list of examinations, minimum scores for guaranteed transfer credit, maximum credits guaranteed to transfer, and recommended course equivalents shall be maintained by the Articulation Coordinating Committee and reviewed annually.

(c) Transfer of credit by examination is guaranteed for up to forty-five (45) credits, provided that credit was awarded in accordance with the Articulation Coordinating Committee's recommended minimum scores and course equivalents.

(d) Transfer of examination credit over forty-five (45) credits is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

(e) Credit by examination may not duplicate ordinary credit, dual enrollment credit or other credits earned through examination.

(f) No grades or grade points shall be assigned for credit by examination.

(g) Institutions may award credit for examinations that are not listed in this rule or that do not have recommended course equivalents, minimum scores, and maximum credits. Acceptance of transfer credit so awarded is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

(9) The College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

(a) The transfer of credit awarded on the basis of scores achieved on examinations in the College Level Examination Program is protected by this rule only for examinations taken in an administration authorized by CLEP.

(b) For examinations taken after July 2001, transfer of credit is mandatory for all CLEP examinations, except for foreign languages, on which students achieved a scale score of fifty (50).

(c) For examinations taken prior to July 1, 2001, transfer of credit under the terms of this rule is mandatory provided that the institution awarding the credit did so on the basis on CLEP recommendations or scaled scores determined to represent student achievement at or above the fiftieth (50) percentile on the combined men-women sophomore norms in use prior to 1978, with no letter grade or grade points assigned.

(d) For foreign language CLEP examinations, transfer of credit for examinations taken after July 1, 2001, is mandatory provided that credit was awarded on the basis of the Articulation Coordinating Committee's recommended minimum scores and maximum credit guaranteed to transfer.

(10) College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP). Transfer of Advanced Placement credit under terms of this rule is mandatory, provided that the institution awarding the credit did so on the basis of the Articulation Coordinating Committee's recommended minimum scores and maximum amount of credit guaranteed to transfer.

(11) International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. The award of credit based on scores achieved on IB Diploma program examinations and the transfer of such credit are mandatory under the provisions herein.

(a) Students who have not been awarded the IB Diploma shall be awarded six (6) semester credits in the subject areas of each IB higher level examination on which they scored five (5) points or above.

(b) Students who have been awarded the IB Diploma shall be awarded up to thirty (30) semester credits in the subject areas in which they scored four (4) or above on IB Diploma program examinations. The credits shall be awarded as follows:

1. Six (6) semester credits for each IB examination on which they scored five (5) or above.

2. Three (3) semester credits for each IB examination on which they scored four (4).

(c) For students who completed IB Diploma program examinations before April 1993:

1. Three (3) semester credits shall be awarded in the subject areas of each IB higher level examination on which they scored four (4).

2. Six (6) semester credits shall be awarded in the subject areas of each IB higher level examination on which they scored five (5) or above.

3. One (1) semester credit shall be awarded in the subject areas of each IB subsidiary level examination on which they scored four (4).

4. Three (3) semester credits shall be awarded in the subject areas of each IB subsidiary level examination on which they scored five (5) or above.

(12) Excelsior College Examinations, formerly known as the Regents College Examinations or the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP). Transfer of credit under terms of this rule is mandatory provided that the institution awarding the credit did so on the basis of the Articulation Coordinating Committee's recommended minimum scores and maximum amount of credit guaranteed to transfer with no letter grades or grade points assigned.

(13) Defense Activity of Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs). Transfer of credit under terms of this rule is mandatory provided that the institution awarding the credit did so on the basis of the Articulation Coordinating Committee's recommended minimum scores and maximum amount of credit guaranteed to transfer with no letter grades or grade points assigned.

(14) Advanced International Certificate of Education Program (AICE). Transfer of Advanced International Certificate of Education credit under terms of this rule is mandatory, provided that the institution awarding the credit did so on the basis of the Articulation Coordinating Committee's recommended minimum scores and maximum amount of credit guaranteed to transfer.

(15) United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI).

(a) Credit earned through correspondence courses sponsored by USAFI may, but need not, be included under standard policies of the institutions. The standard policies of the institution prohibiting credit for overlapping courses shall apply.

(b) Credit may be awarded for tests of General Education Development (GED) only when verified by CLEP scores.

(c) Credit awarded on the basis of subject tests (USST) in collegiate subjects may be included provided that the scores are at the fiftieth (50th) percentile or above.

(d) The institution awarding credit on the work sponsored by USAFI may, but need not, specify the course for which credit is being awarded. The standard policies of the institution prohibiting credit for overlapping courses shall apply.

(e) No grade or quality points are to be assigned for credit awarded on the basis of work sponsored by USAFI.

(f) No credit is to be awarded on work sponsored by USAFI which is duplicative of credit awarded by CLEP, College Board AP, or courses taken in the institution or received in transfer.

(16) Alternatives to the College-Level Academic Skills Test. For purposes of Section 240.107(9)(a), Florida Statutes, the recentered Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT-I) or its equivalent on the original SAT, and the Enhanced American College Testing Program (ACT), or its equivalent on the original ACT, may be used to exempt the College-Level Academic Skills Test, as specified in Rule 6A-10.0311, FAC.

(17) Pre-professional course responsibility. Lower division programs in state universities and community colleges may offer introductory courses to enable students to explore the principal professional specializations available at the baccalaureate level. Such courses shall be adequate in content to count toward the baccalaureate for students continuing in such specialization. However, deciding major course requirements for a baccalaureate, including courses in the major taken in the lower division, shall be the responsibility of the state university awarding the degree.

(18) Limited access programs. Community college transfer students shall have the same opportunity to enroll in university limited access programs as native university students. University limited access program selection and enrollment criteria shall be established and published in catalogs, counseling manuals, and other appropriate publications. A list of limited access programs shall be filed annually with the Articulation Coordinating Committee.

(19) A state university may accept non-associate in arts degree credit in transfer based on its evaluation of the applicability of the courses to the student's program at the university.

(20) State universities and community colleges shall publish with precision and clarity in their official catalogs the admission, course, and prerequisite requirements of the institution, each unit of the institution, each program, and each specialization. Any applicable duration of requirements shall be specified. The university catalog in effect at the time of a student's initial collegiate enrollment shall govern upper division prerequisites, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment as defined in that catalog.

(21) Standard transcript. The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall maintain a standard format for universities and community colleges to record the performance and credits of students. Each such transcript shall include all courses in which a student enrolls each term, the status in each course at the end of each term, all grades and credits awarded, College-Level Academic Skills Test scores, and a statement explaining the grading policy of the institution. The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall collaborate with the Division of Public Schools in the development of a standard format on which district school systems shall record the performance and credits of students.

(22) By December 1, 1991, the Department and all public universities, community colleges, and school districts shall have implemented the electronic exchange of student transcripts and associated educational records, including acquisition of and access to test scores of students, using the Florida Information Resource Network and following the procedures in the Florida Automated System for Transferring Educational Records section in "DOE Information Data Base Requirements: Volume I--Automated Student Information System," which is incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-1.0014, FAC.

(23) When a student transfers among postsecondary institutions that are fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that participate in the common course designation and numbering system, the receiving institution shall award credit for courses satisfactorily completed at the previous participating institutions when the courses are judged by the appropriate common course designation and numbering system faculty task forces to be academically  equivalent to courses offered at the receiving institution including equivalency of faculty credentials regardless of the public or nonpublic control of the previous institution. The award of credit may be limited to courses that are entered in the course numbering system. Credit so awarded shall satisfy institutional requirements on the same basis as credits awarded to native students.

(24) All postsecondary courses offered for college credit, vocational credit, or college preparatory credit, as they are defined in Rule 6A-10.033, FAC., shall be entered in the common course designation and numbering system. Each course shall be assigned a single prefix and a single identifying number in the course numbering system.

Specific Authority 1007.01(2), 1007.27(9) FS. Law Implemented 1007.01(2), 1007.23(1), 1007.27(9) FS. History - New 5-5-75, Amended 10-7-75, 6-8-76, 8-22-77, 12-26-77, 3-28-78, 5-10-78, 7-2-79, 2-27-80, 5-27-81, 1-6-83, 4-5-83, 6-28-83, 1-9-85, Formerly 6A-10.24, Amended 8-4-86, 5-18-88, 5-29-90, 7-30-91, 10-4-93, 5-3-94, 1-2-95, 9-30-96, 6-15-9, 12-13-99, 8-14-2000, 10-16-2001, 9-22-2003.

(1) The competence to be demonstrated by students upon successful completion of two (2) credits of secondary instruction in one (1) foreign language is:

(a) Modern languages.

1. The ability to understand, with some repetition, simple questions and statements.

2. The ability to read and understand the information presented in a simple paragraph.

3. The ability to pronounce the language well enough to be intelligible to native speakers.

4. The ability to ask and answer questions and maintain a simple conversation in areas of immediate need on very familiar topics.

5. The ability to deal with everyday situations such as greetings, leave-takings, buying food, and asking directions.

6. The ability to write a short paragraph on a familiar topic.

7. The ability to demonstrate limited social competence in the foreign culture by showing comprehension of common rules of etiquette, customs and sensitivities, and a knowledge of contributions to the arts and humanities by the people who speak the target language.

(b) Classical languages.

1. The ability to read and understand materials ranging from low to medium levels of difficulty; that is, adapted text.

2. The ability to give a reasonably accurate account of the contents of the reading material by answering questions, paraphrasing, translating, or summarizing.

3. The ability to demonstrate knowledge of history, culture, and contributions to the arts and humanities of ancient civilizations.

(2) Eight (8) to ten (10) semester credits in one (1) foreign language at the postsecondary level shall be considered to produce the competence specified in Subsection (1) herein. Therefore, students who have earned at least eight (8) semester credits in one (1) foreign language at the postsecondary level shall have met the foreign language requirement for university admission. Credit awarded on the basis of scores on the foreign language subject matter examinations in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) pursuant to Rule 6A-10.024(6)(b), FAC., shall count toward the eight (8) to ten (10) semester credits. The examination, minimum scores for awarding credit, and maximum credit to be awarded are:

Examination	Minimum Score	Maximum Credit
French	50	12
	46	9
	42	6
German	55	12
	52	9
	43	6
Spanish	55	12
	48	9
	45	6

(3) An alternate method for students to demonstrate equivalent foreign language competence is by means of a minimum score of four hundred forty-three (443) on the Latin examina tion published under the title of MAPS by The College Board, which represents the 1985 national mean of college bound seniors minus one (1) standard deviation. For students to demonstrate equivalent foreign language competence by examination in foreign languages not listed herein, the examinations and standards may be determined by the institution.

Specific Authority 229.053(1), 240.2333 F.S. Law Implemented 229.053(2)(c), 240.233(1), 240.2333 F.S. History - New 2-23-88, Amended 10-17-89, Amended 11-13-90, 10-4-93.

(1) Baccalaureate upper-lower divisions. The following procedure shall be followed to distinguish lower division (freshman or sophomore) courses from upper division (junior or senior) courses. University and community college curriculum committees shall deliberate course proposals. Institutional procedures for study, review, and decision making shall be followed. The procedures shall include deciding the level at which the courses shall be classified.

(a) Criteria to identify baccalaureate lower division shall include:

1. General education courses required to earn an associate of arts degree and for which there is consensus that the courses should be offered within the first two (2) years of baccalaureate programs.

2. Introductory courses open to all students.

3. First course in a sequence and in which nonmajors may enroll.

4. General survey courses open to all students.

5. Courses designated to meet requirements of Rule 6A-10.030, FAC.

6. Courses designated to teach the skills identified in Rule 6A-10.031, FAC.

7. Physical education activity courses.

8. Courses offered in the first two (2) years of a required four-year sequence program major and the first year of a required three-year sequence program major.

(b) While not exhaustive, the criteria establish intent, which further guides decision making. The institution's decision regarding upper and lower division classification shall be indicated in the submission of the course for entry in the uniform course numbering and designation system. Should another institution object to the level designated, it may appeal to the Articulation Coordinating Committee after first attempting resolution directly with the subject institution.

Specific Authority 229.053(1), 229.551, 240.115(2) FS. Law Implemented 229.053(2)(c), 240.115(2), 240.203(2), 240.301, 240.325(3)(4) FS. History - New 7-13-83, Formerly 6A-10.242, Amended 1-4-94.

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