The District Academic Senate (DAS) is charged under Title 5, Section 53200 of the California Educational Code with representing the faculty of the Los Angeles Community College District in all academic and professional matters (10+1). The 10+1 areas include the following policy development and implementation matters:

1. Curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placing course within disciplines;

2. Degree and certificate requirements;

3. Grading policies;

4. Educational program development;

5. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success;

6. District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles;

7. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self-study and annual

reports;

8. Policies for faculty professional development activities;

9. Processes for program review;

10. Processes for institutional planning and budget development;

11. Other academic and professional matters as are mutually agreed upon between the

governing board and the academic senate.

The DAS Executive Committee is composed of six officers and the Senate presidents from the nine colleges. Three additional representatives are selected from each college as campus representatives, and combined with the members of the Executive Committee, constitute the full District Academic Senate.

As set forth in the DAS Constitution, the Exec Committee brings issues, resolutions and other matters from the Educational Services Center and the nine college senates to the full District Academic Senate for discussion and action. If approved, the Exec then sends approved motions to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees, where depending on the type of issue, and through the shared governance process, the Senate and the Board will seek mutual agreement or rely primarily on the Senate's recommendations.

The Board through the collegial consultation process shall rely primarily on the District Academic Senate concerning the following District level academic and professional matters:
1. Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines;
2. Degree and certificate requirements;
3. Grading policies;
4. Policies for faculty professional development activities;
5. Processes for program review; and
6. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self-study and annual reports.

B. The Board shall reach mutual agreement with the District Academic Senate on District level academic and professional matters by written resolution concerning the following policy areas:

1. Educational program development;
2. District and college governance structures as related to faculty roles;
3. Processes for institutional planning and budget development;
4. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success; and
5. Other academic and professional matters as are mutually agreed on by the Board of Trustees and the District Academic Senate.

Key Terms

Rely Primarily

Recommendations of the Senate will normally be accepted
Only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will the recommendations not be accepted
If not accepted, board/designee communicate its reasons in writing if requested
Title 5 53200

Mutual Agreement

If agreement is not reached, existing policy remains in effect unless it exposes the district to legal liability or substantial fiscal hardship.

If no policy or existing policy creates exposure to legal liability or substantial fiscal hardship the board may act if agreement is not reached: if a good faith effort first or for compelling legal, fiscal or organizational reasons.