Courses

• Degree/non-degree applicable
• Unit bearing (ex: 3.0 units)
• Designated lecture and lab hours
• Grades (A-F or P/NP)
• Transcripted
• Enrollment fees ($46/unit); apportionment
• Not repeatable (unless excepted)

• Limited to 10 categories per Education Code, Section 84757
• Hour bearing (ex: 75 hours); no units
• No enrollment fees ($0/unit); apportionment
• Re-enrollment allowed

Noncredit courses are available to members of the community, free of charge, and do not count toward the completion of a certificate or Associate degree. However, they follow the same curriculum approval process used for credit courses.

Many people refer to Community Services as noncredit (because the courses are not applicable toward a certificate or degree), but the State Chancellor's office does not. Community Service classes do not need the state application, and the college does not receive apportionment for them.

• Does not earn apportionment
• Cannot be supported by general funds (i.e. must be self-supporting)
• Subject to local approval process

Community colleges are authorized by statute and regulation to offer community services classes, which are defined as "classes in civic, vocational, literacy, health, homemaking, technical and general education, including, but not limited to, classes in the fields of music, drama, art, handicraft, science, literature, nature study, nature contacting, aquatic sports and athletics." Community services classes are not the same as noncredit courses. They do not require approval from the Chancellor's Office and are not connected with any approved program.

Community colleges do not collect any state apportionment for community services offerings. They must charge students in these classes a fee sufficient to cover the cost of maintaining the classes, or they may provide community services classes by contract, or with contributions or donations from individuals or groups.

Community college districts are also prohibited from spending state general fund moneys to maintain community service classes. Thus these classes must be fully self-supporting, but, conversely, fees are not permitted to exceed the cost of maintaining the classes. The Board of Governors, pursuant to statute, has adopted guidelines to define the acceptable costs for which a community services fee may be charged (BOG Agenda, May 1985, Item 5).

• The statutory authorization for community services offerings may be found at Education Code Section 78300
• The Title 5 reference is Section 55160
• Title 5 also includes a definition of community services classes and the standards they must meet 55002 Standards and Criteria for Courses and Classes (d)