D-1. STATEMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Value Statement:

                Austin Community College is committed to the belief that in a free and democratic society, all persons should have a continuing opportunity to develop skills and knowledge as well as to enhance their understanding of the responsibilities in that society. The College takes as its guiding educational principle the proposition that, insofar as available resources permit, instruction should be adapted to student needs. This principle requires both flexibility in instructional strategies and maintenance of high academic standards. The implementation of this philosophy implies the following:

               [1] Pre-assessment measures, where appropriate, so that students can be advised to enroll in courses at their present skill level, subject to provisions of Board Policy D-4, Assessment, Placement, & Developmental Courses;

               [2] Statement of course objectives and standards so that the student is aware of the requirements for successful completion of the course;

               [3] Recognition that the responsibility for learning rests with both the student and the instructor; therefore, where appropriate, students may participate with the instructor in planning their progress through a course and in exercising some choice among learning objectives and activities, as determined by the instructor;

               [4] Repeated opportunities, where appropriate, for the student to achieve the course objectives;

               [5] Use of student evaluations to improve or revise learning objectives and activities;

               [6] Substantial consistency of objectives and standards for all sections of the same course, wherever that course may be offered by the College; and

               [7] Design of courses appropriate for the diverse backgrounds of community college students.


The Austin Community College Board of Trustees adopted this policy on March 3, 1980 and amended it on July 2, 1990, August 4, 1997, March 31, 2003, and July 7, 2008.

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