F70: Articulation, Degree Approval, Transfer of Course Credit, and Approval of Credentialing Standards

Approved by: Faculty Senate
Effective: January 22, 2019
Responsible FS Committee: Policy Committee
Office Responsible for Administration: Office of the Provost

Policy Rationale

Branch community college degree offerings are approved by the University of New Mexico (UNM), and many of their courses carry transfer credit toward UNM baccalaureate degrees. The policies that govern the articulation of degree programs, the determination of course credit, and the approval of credentialing standards for UNM branch community colleges are presented below.

Policy Statement

A. Degree, Certificate, and Credential Approval

1. All associate degree programs are authorized to be offered at branch community colleges, upon approval by the appropriate college and department or program on the UNM main campus.

2. Branch community colleges are authorized to develop and offer programs leading to all associate degrees, as well as provide certificates and workforce credentials, provided the programs go through the required approval process for such programs at the UNM main campus. The transferability to the main campus of credit for courses in these programs will be determined in accordance with the policy statements B.1 and B.2 below.

B. Transfer of Course Credit

UNM main campus will accept baccalaureate credits and branch community colleges will accept transferable course, certificate, and workforce credential credits, earned by students at any UNM branch community college, in accordance with the following policy:

1. Lower-division courses within the New Mexico common course numbering system offered at UNM branch community colleges will be transferable anywhere within the UNM System. These courses will have consistent learning outcomes and competencies. Existing courses at the UNM main campus or a UNM branch community college may be adopted by another branch community college without going through curriculum workflow, as long as the branch community college has obtained permission to use the appropriate course prefix (if not already in use at that branch), and the course is 200 level or below.

2. Proposed new lower division courses must follow the same approval process as any other course offered at UNM main campus and, if designed for transfer credit, must be approved by the appropriate department or program and/or college.

C. Approval of Credentialing Standards for Course Delivery

Branch community college faculty shall be qualified to deliver courses under the current UNM accrediting body’s credentialing guidelines. Branch community colleges shall maintain adequate records to verify that appropriate accreditation credentialing guidelines are met.

Applicability

All UNM academic faculty, staff, and administrators.

Definitions

No specific definitions are required for the Policy Statement.

Who should read this policy

• Students
• Faculty
• Department chairs, academic deans, and other academic administrators and executives

Related Documents

UNM Regents’ Policy Manual

• Policy 2.14 “Branch Colleges and Off-Campus Education Centers”

Higher Learning Commission Faculty Credentialing Guidelines

Contacts

Direct any questions about this policy to the Office of the Provost or the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences.

Procedures

No specific procedures required at this time.

History

• September 9, 2022 - Updated title of Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, per Faculty Handbook Policy A53 procedures
• January 22, 2019 – Approved by the Faculty Senate
• April 2005--Approved by the Faculty Senate