AGSC HANDBOOK
Last Updated 02/23/2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
[To go directly to a specific section within the handbook click the links provided in the table of contents.]1. HISTORY OF AGSC/STARS
State Legislation
In March of 1994, State Legislation was passed that created the Articulation and General Studies Committee (AGSC) and expanded the Statewide Transfer and Articulation Reporting System (STARS) to include all public two-year and four-year institutions in Alabama.Legislative Charge to the AGSC
- Develop no later than September 1, 1998, a statewide freshman- and sophomore-level general studies curriculum to be taken at all public colleges and universities;
- Develop and adopt by September 1, 1999, a statewide articulation agreement for the freshman and sophomore years for the transfer of credit among all public institutions of higher education in Alabama;
- Examine the need for a uniform course numbering system, course titles, and course descriptions; and
- Resolve problems in the administration or interpretation of the articulation agreement of the general studies curriculum.
Five Guiding Principles Established by the AGSC
- Aim to permit flexibility among institutions in the specific courses they may offer to enable students to fulfill general studies requirements.
- Avoid increasing credit hour requirements for completion of baccalaureate degrees.
- Develop the credit hour distribution requirements rather than specific course requirements.
- Achieve a balance between general studies requirements and pre-professional or pre-major studies.
- Set up faculty committees (now called Academic Committees) that will be responsible for course/template specifications, review, and approval.
Important Dates and Milestones
AGSC Makeup (as prescribed by the legislation)
- 3 Two-Year Representatives (represent all public two-year institutions)
- 2 Regional University Representatives (chosen from UNA, TSU System, UWA, JSU and UM)
- 1 Auburn University System Representative
- 1 University of Alabama System Representative
- 1 University of South Alabama Representative
- 1 Alabama State Representative
- 1 Alabama A&M Representative
- TOTAL OF TEN MEMBERS
Note: Each member has an alternate.
Students select courses from the AGSC approved course listings to fulfil general studies requirements in Areas I-IV. Some choices may be restricted by the major. Such restrictions are listed under Areas I-IV on the ratified template for the various majors. Course requirements or choices in Area V are also listed on the ratified template.
GENERAL STUDIES
(approx. 2/3 of Freshman/Sophomore Years)AREA I Written Composition 10 qh or 6 sh AREA II Humanities and Fine Arts 20 qh or 12 sh AREA III Natural Sciences and Mathematics 15 qh or 11 sh AREA IV History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences 20 qh or 12 sh TOTALS 65 qh or 41 sh
PRE-PROFESSIONAL/PRE-MAJOR STUDIES
(approx. 1/3 of Freshman/Sophomore Years)AREA V Pre-Professional, Pre-Major and Electives 31 qh or 19-23 sh 31 qh or 19-23 sh
TOTALS SUMMARY 65 qh or 41 sh 31 qh or 19-23 sh 96 qh or 60-64 sh 2. PURPOSE OF THE AGSC
The AGSC was created to simplify the transfer of course credit between public institutions of higher education. To accomplish this task, the AGSC has developed and has implemented a statewide articulation program that governs transferability of coursework among all Alabama public colleges and universities. The AGSC continues to serve as a monitoring committee for the articulation program. They oversee and maitain the program on an on-going basis. Finally, the AGSC works to resolve any student appeals related to transfer of coursework as it relates to the articulation program.
3. AGSC ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
4. PURPOSE OF STARS
The STARS System is a web-based database that allows students, advisors, faculty, and administrators to obtain the most current AGSC approved transfer information. Prospective transfer students can log onto the STARS system and obtain a transfer guide for their chosen major that prescribes the coursework needed in the first 60-64 SH of their degree program. If a student follows the guide and does not change majors, he/she should receive degree credit upon transfer to the receiving institution.
Stars System Links:
5. AGSC ACADEMIC COMMITTEES
AGSC Academic Committees are divided into two groups: 1) General Studies Academic Committees (GSACs), and 2) Professional Academic Committees (PACs).
General Studies Academic Committees (GSACs)
The twenty-one General Studies Academic Committees (GSACs) are as follows:
GSACs
- Anthropology
- Area/Ethnic Studies
- Art and Art History
- Biological Science
- Chemistry
- English
- Economics
- Foreign Language
- Geography
- Geology and Earth Science
- History
- Interdisciplinary/Honors/Innovative
- Mathematics
- Music and Music History
- Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Physics, Physical Science, Astronomy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Speech
- Theatre and Dance
Composition and Terms of Appointment of GSACs
Each GSAC consists of a representative from each baccalaureate institution with a major program in the discipline appointed by the chief academic officer and an equal number of representatives from the non-baccalaureate institutions appointed by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education.
All GSAC members must be qualified to teach in the particular discipline as defined by SACS standards and must be actively teaching in the discipline.
The AGSC will set no limit on the length of terms of GSAC members, for this will be determined by the baccalaureate institution, the Department of Postsecondary Education, or the professional organization.
Each GSAC will elect a chair and a vice-chair, one of whom must be from a baccalaureate institution and the other from a non-baccalaureate institution. Officers will serve two-year terms, and the vice-chair will succeed the chair in that office.
Recommendations of the GSAC require a two-thirds majority vote, and members may vote by written proxy or by representative. In all matters regarding discipline templates, only representatives in the discipline from baccalaureate institutions will vote.
Roles and Responsibilities of GSACs
The General Studies Academic Committees will be responsible for the following:
- On-going review and recommendation for approval or disapproval of new courses from two-year and four-year institutions. NOTE: (In evaluating a course, a Committee is not to mandate a specific model, but to determine that the course is within the general parameters that the Committee has established and that it is broad enough in scope to meet the general studies designation.)
- On-going review of revised courses proposed by institutions as general studies courses in the discipline.
- Review all previously approved courses in the discipline every three year period. (1/3rd of courses in first year, 1/3rd in second year, and 1/3rd of the courses in the third year and so forth).
- Annual review of the established discipline specific guidelines for their discipline.
- Bi-annual review of the discipline templates and development of new discipline templates, as necessary (Note: Only representatives in the discipline from baccalaureate institutions will vote on issues pertaining to templates).
- Continuing dialogue with the faculty in their discipline, campus curriculum committee(s), departments, and discipline organizations at their respective institution.
- Communicate with state professional organizations in the discipline where one exists.
- Provide an annual report to the Executive Director of the AGSC/STARS recapping activities and decisions of the committee for that academic year (Must be submitted annually by June 1).
- Other tasks as may be assigned by the AGSC.
Procedures and Meetings
For each of the roles and responsibilities listed above, the STARS Office will initiate and monitor the procedure/process to see that these objectives are met. In most cases, STARS will send out requests to the chairs and the committee members in an electronic format. Chairs are strongly encouraged to use e-mail to facilitate action by committee members.
GSAC's are not required to hold face-to-face meetings in order to take action on proposals and templates. Chairs and committee members can use e-mail, telephone, faxes, or other electronic means to conduct their work.
Chairs of committees should maintain records of actions taken during the year so that they can provide an annual report to the Executive Director of the AGSC/STARS.
Pre-Professional Academic Committees (PACs)
The twelve Pre-Professional Academic Committees (PACs) are as follows:
PACs
- Allied Health
- Business
- Communication
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Engineering
- Human Sciences/Home Economics
- Nursing
- Social Work
- Speech Pathology
- Technology
Composition and Terms of Appointment of PACs
Each PAC consists of a representative of each baccalaureate institution that offers a program in the discipline appointed by the chief academic officer and two non-voting representatives from non-baccalaureate institutions appointed by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education.
All voting PAC members must be qualified to teach in the particular discipline as defined by SACS standards and must be actively working in the discipline.
The AGSC will set no limit on the length of terms of PAC members, for this will be determined by the baccalaureate institution, the Department of Postsecondary Education, or the professional organization.
Each PAC will elect from the baccalaureate members a chair and a vice-chair, who will serve two-year terms. The vice-chair will succeed the chair in that office. (The current Pre-Professional Committee chair will serve the first term as chair of the corresponding PAC.)
Recommendations of the PAC will require two-thirds majority vote, and members may vote by proxy or by representative. The two non-baccalaureate representatives serve as non-voting members.
Roles and Responsibilities of PACs
The Pre-Professional Academic Committees will be responsible for the following:
- Annual review of the discipline templates, including consideration of specific proposals from institutions offering the program, and development of new templates, as necessary.
- Continuing dialogue with the faculty in their discipline, campus curriculum committee(s), and discipline organizations at their respective department/institution.
- Communicate with state professional organizations in the discipline where one exists.
- Provide an annual report to the Executive Director of the AGSC/STARS recapping activities and decisions of the committee for that academic year (Must be submitted annually by June 1).
- Other tasks as may be assigned by the AGSC.
Procedures and Meetings
For each of the roles and responsibilities listed above, the STARS Office will initiate and monitor the procedure/process to see that these objectives are met. In most cases, STARS will send out requests to the chairs and the committee members in an electronic format. Chairs are strongly encouraged to use e-mail to facilitate action by committee members.
PAC's are not required to hold face-to-face meetings in order to take action on proposals and templates. Chairs and committee members can use e-mail, telephone, faxes, or other electronic means to conduct their work.
Chairs of committees should maintain records of actions taken during the year so that they can provide an annual report to the Executive Director of the AGSC/STARS.
6. HELPFUL LINKS
AGSC Approved Courses
AGSC Course Approval Links
AGSC Course Requirements/Guidelines
AGSC Course Proposal Procedure
AGSC Course Proposal Form
AGSC Template Deadlines
AGSC Template Ratification Process
AGSC Template Proposal Form
AGSC Ratified Templates
Alabama Higher Education Links
Members of the AGSC
Minutes of AGSC Meetings
AGSC Meeting Schedule
AGSC/STARS Coordination Office
