Column Advancement - Course Requirements

1.         All courses taken for column advancement on the salary schedule after a unit member is an employee of the District, must have the prior approval, in writing, of the Vice President for Academic Services or Vice President for Student Services, as appropriate. Unit members should request such approval as early as possible, but at least two weeks prior to the start of the course.

2.         Courses taken for advancement on the salary schedule and/or for the purpose of attaining a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctor’s degree must be completed at a college or university recognized as accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

3.         For purpose of advancement on the salary schedule, courses taken for column advancement must be related to the unit member’s primary work assignment, and/or his/her field of instruction, and shall be upper division and/or graduate level courses with the following exceptions:

a.         In certain classes and programs, members of the unit could function more effectively if they had basic training in computers or a basic command of Spanish or sign language.  Accordingly, in selected situations, unit members will be given credit for salary purposes when they have completed basic courses, including lower-division courses in computers, Spanish or sign language.

b.         Lower division courses in Alcohol and Drug Studies shall be eligible for purposes of column advancement on the salary schedule.

4.         A vocational instructor may advance to Column B on the salary schedule for obtaining a Bachelor’s degree plus thirty (30) approved units, or to Column C on the salary schedule for obtaining a Bachelor’s degree plus forty-five (45) approved units provided that her or his teaching field is one in which a Master’s degree is not offered.

5.         No restriction shall be placed on the number of semester units, or their equivalent that may be earned by unit members during an academic year or during winter intersession or summer session.

6.         Continuing education or extension units are eligible for approval for advancement provided such courses meet the other requirements of this section.  No restriction shall be placed on the number of units of extension credit at upper division or graduate level that may be granted for salary schedule advancement.

7.         Upper division or graduate level courses in education, that teach pedagogical methods, techniques or strategies appropriate to the education or counseling of community college level students are defined as related to the primary work assignment of all unit members.

8.         Units of credit may be granted for work experience that is related to the teaching field.  The work experience must clearly be related to the unit member’s primary work assignment, and must occur during a session or semester in which the member is not rendering paid service to the district.  An application for approval must be made, in writing, to the Vice President for Academic Services no later than thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated beginning of work.  Units of credit for the purposes of advancement will be granted in accordance with the following provisions:

a.         One (1) unit per fifty (50) clock hours of work with satisfactory performance.

b.         A minimum of fifty (50) clock hours must be completed before credit is granted.  Fractions in excess of fifty (50) clock hours shall not be carried forward to any subsequent application for work experience credit.

c.         A maximum of six (6) units of credit for work experience will be allowed within each fifteen (15) unit increment period.