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Staff Advisory

Common Course Numbering Information for Staff.
Beginning summer quarter 2008, 356 course prefix, number and/or titles have changed!

• View the course change list

What is Common Course Numbering (CCN)?

It is a state-mandated program requiring Washington community and technical colleges to share identical course prefix, number and/or titles for selected courses.  The intent of the program is to facilitate student transfer between the community and technical colleges in the state (the state’s four-year schools are not participating in the CCN program).  For example, Chemistry 101 Introduction to Chemistry is now Chemistry 121: CHEM 101 is now CHEM& 121. The ampersand is the CCN indicator attached to the course prefix.

Why is this important for staff to understand? 

1. 356 BCC course prefix, number and/or titles have changed, beginning Summer 2008.
2. Many, if not most, students will initially be confused by the 356 course numbering changes.
3. Staff (and faculty) knowledge of CCN is vital to ensure a smooth transition to this state-mandated system and to not confuse or cause frustration with our students.
4. The online registration system will not recognize if the student is mistakenly enrolling in the same course twice.
5. Student Services will have an influx of students needing clarification and assistance.
6. Without staff (and faculty) assistance, students will run a much higher risk of mistakenly enrolling in the wrong class thinking it is a new course due to the number and/or title change.
7. Without staff (and faculty) knowing answers to basic CCN questions, advisors will become overloaded with students.
8. The college is using multiple means to notify students about CCN, but staff dialogue and accurate CCN explanations regarding the 356 affected courses are one of the crucial means of ensuring all students will receive correct information about common course numbering changes (faculty are making scheduled classroom announcements and syllabus revisions).

How will a course number, title and/or prefix change be noted?

BCC has created a master list of all courses that have changed. In addition, the catalog, schedule, and degree and certificate planning sheets have the symbols ▲ and/or &.

• The “&” is a CCN identifier to note that it is part of Washington State’s Common Course Numbering program.

• The “▲” indicates that the course number, title and/or prefix was changed because the new CCN course number collided with an existing course or that the course prefix had to be changed to keep a standard naming or numbering convention with other CCN courses.
  • Here is an example of a course prefix change. SPCH 202 was not identified by the State as common; however, since SPCH 100 was identified as CMST, all SPCH prefixes were change to CMST to keep a standard naming convention.
  • Here is an example of course number that “collided”. ENGL 270 Report Writing was identified as a common course by the State and became ENGL& 235; however, the college already had this number in use. As a result, the existing course, ENGL 235 Writing Fiction II, became ENGL 239▲.

Our message to students:

• Staff information imparted to students on CCN must be consistent in order to ensure that each student has a clear understanding of how to accurately manage their future course selections.
• Students need to be assured that CCN course changes will not impact applicability of prior coursework toward degree and certificate completion, nor will it negatively affect course transferability to other colleges and universities. 
• Advisors (both faculty and staff) are available for one-on-one assistance with their questions about CCN.

Students need to know:

• CCN will affect how they choose their future coursework because they may accidently repeat a course or take the wrong course based on the number and/or title change thinking it is a new course and they won’t receive credit for both.
• Courses taken under the old numbering system are still valid and will continue to fulfill BCC degree and certificate requirements.
• They should meet with a faculty or staff advisor as soon as possible to review possible revisions in their educational plan due to course numbering changes.
• Information is available at www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn

Staff needs to know:

• The CCN purpose and rationale explaining the change clearly and accurately.
• The FAQs which we anticipate students will ask so we can answer general student questions regarding CCN.
• How to interpret the new course identifiers and symbols (the “&” and “▲”) on all degree/certificate planning worksheets and quarterly schedules.

Faculty will integrate CCN information in each class affected by CCN during the three-year transition period (summer ’08 to summer ’11). They will be requested to:

• Write the “old” prefix, number and/or title and its CCN equivalent on the whiteboard for the first three days of class.
• For the first three days of class tell students that if they have taken the old-number class they need to withdraw.
• Write the CCN URL on the whiteboard: www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn.
• Revise all syllabi, degree planning sheets and websites to reflect course numbering changes.
• Assure students who took the old-number class that it will still apply toward BCC degrees/certificates, still meet prerequisite requirements, and still transfer to four-year schools.
• Have copies of the course change list, student FAQs and faculty FAQs on hand at all times to ensure that students receive accurate answers to their questions regarding CCN.

Faculty will note on all syllabi of affected courses: Beginning summer quarter 2008, all relevant syllabi will adjusted to reflect CCN and note the course’s former prefix, number and title. Here are boiler plate statement examples for course syllabus that students will see:

BIOL& 260 Microbiology
(Formerly BIOL 250)
Note: If you took Microbiology as BIOL 250 it still counts.
Credit will only be given for one microbiology course, either BIOL 250 or BIOL& 260)
For complete listing of affected courses and student FAQs, visit: www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn

Communication Studies 210
 (Formerly SPCH 200)
Note: If took Interpersonal Communication as SPCH 200, it still counts.
Credit will only be given for one of the courses either SPCH 200 or CMST& 210.
For complete listing of affected courses and student FAQs, visit: www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn

Faculty will be making classroom announcements using the following timeline:

When	What
April 2008 forward	General announcement in preparation for CCN Beginning now, faculty will make a general CCN announcement that; course prefix, number and/or titles are changing as of summer 2008 so to be aware when registering for summer, fall and beyond. Faculty should recommend that students meet now with an advisor to update and/or modify any existing coursework they have planned for summer/fall and direct them to the website: www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn.
Beginning May through the last week of the quarter	Registration Announcement Student begins to register the last week of May for summer and fall (they register for both and/or one of the quarters simultaneously). They need to be reminded (as a follow up to your general announcement) that they will be faced with 356 courses that have undergone a change. Have students meet with an advisor (now) and to reference the course change list (available online and in print in the CCN student advisory pamphlet) when choosing coursework.
Days 1-10 During the beginning of each quarter beginning with summer 2008 to Summer ”11	Course Change Announcement In addition to writing the “old” and new “number” (title and/or prefix) on the whiteboard, an announcement should be made that the course number and/or title has changed through day 10 (as students “blue card” in who may not have attended class). It is crucial that students are verbally reminded that the course number and/or title have changed.

Department information:

All staff initiated and departmental information, both print, electronic and online, must be updated and direct students and other staff to the official CCN site (www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn) which will house all student and staff/faculty FAQ’s, a complete list of changed courses and an explanation of new course symbols. The 08-09 catalog, credit class schedule, and other identified areas will be updated and modified by the Curriculum Information Management Committee (CIM)*

Marketing Material:

There are Student Advisory Pamphlets with the course change list information and thousands of bookmarks along with the CCN website. Material is available in the Advising Department.

CCN Resource Team: the CIM

You may have questions regarding CCN when working with students, updating your program/department website, etc. if so; BCC has a CCN resource team whom you can feel free to call:

For the official CCN website, call Celinda Smith x5728 or Juan Ulloa x2487
For BCC website questions, call Juan Ulloa, x2487
For transfer worksheets/advising/equivalencies and general questions, call Celinda Smith x5728
For evaluations/assessment/equivalencies, call Catherine Kwong x4306
For Curriculum development/catalog and general questions, call Susan Roselle x2369
For Professional/technical worksheets and general questions, call Emily Fisher x4145
For marketing material and publications, call Sharon Berg x2283

Official Degree and certificate planning worksheets and FAQs: www.bellevuecollege.edu/worksheets
State Board of Community & Technical Colleges: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/e_commoncoursenumbering.aspx

CCN Publication Information:

All staff-initiated and departmental information, both print, electronic and online, must be updated to direct students and other faculty to the official CCN site (www.bellevuecollege.edu/ccn) which will house all student and faculty FAQ’s, a complete list of changed courses and an explanation of new course symbols. The Curriculum Information Management CAC subcommittee officially oversees all CCN publications.