REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIPT OF TECHNICAL COMPETENCY AREAS (TCAs)

Policy No.

AA-1447.1D

POLICY & PROCEDURES MEMORANDUM

TITLE:

ACADEMIC DIPLOMAS

AND CERTIFICATES OF

COMPLETION

EFFECTIVE DATE:

May 17, 2005

CANCELLATION:

AA-1447.1C (12/20/94)

OFFICE:

Academic Affairs (AA)

POLICY STATEMENT

Diplomas are issued to students who have completed the general and program-specific

requirements for Board-of-Regents-approved Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science,

Associate of General Studies, Associate of Science, and Technical Diploma programs. Certificates

are issued to students who have completed the general and program-specific requirements for

Board-of-Regents-approved Certificate of Applied Science and Certificate of Technical Studies

programs. These requirements are contained in the

Delgado Community College Catalog

in effect

when the student enrolls, changes major, or graduates.

No other document/award issued by any unit of the College will be identified as a "diploma"

or a "certificate." Awards and acknowledgements of completion of other credit course work, non-

credit course work, or programs offered in cooperation with other agencies will be issued in

accordance with this memorandum.

The format for diplomas, certificates, and acknowledgements of completion will be approved

by the Vice Chancellor for Learning and Student Development and printed by Delgado under the

signature authority of the College Registrar only.

Academic diplomas and certificates of completion are issued in accordance with the

requirements of the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Louisiana Community and Technical

College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors policies, as well as the specific guidelines and

procedures outlined in this memorandum.

AA-1447.1D May 17, 2005

PROCEDURES & SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Purpose

To define the types of awards to be issued to students upon completion of

the various programs offered by Delgado Community College.

Scope and Applicability

This policy and procedures memorandum applies to all campuses and organizational

units of Delgado Community College.

Types of Awards

Diplomas and Certificates in Programs Approved by the Louisiana

Board of Regents and/or the LCTCS Board of Supervisors

Diplomas will be issued to students who have completed Associate of Arts, Associate

of Applied Science, Associate of General Studies, Associate of Science, and

Technical Diploma programs. Certificates of Applied Science and Certificates of

Technical Studies will be issued to students who have completed these certificate

programs. General requirements for these programs are contained in Section 4,

Requirements for Receipt of Diplomas and Certificates Approved by the Louisiana

Board of Regents,”

of this memorandum; specific program requirements are

contained in the

Delgado Community College Catalog

. No other document issued by

a unit of the College shall be identified as a "diploma" or a "certificate."

Diplomas and certificates will be signed by the Provost of the Campus and will be

printed with the signatures of the Chancellor, the System President of the LCTCS,

and the Chairman of the LCTCS Board of Supervisors. The diplomas and certificates

will be presented during commencement exercises at the end of each spring and fall

semester. The College Registrar shall be responsible for verifying students'

completion of program requirements and will maintain the official records of all

degrees and certificates awarded.

Technical Competency Area (TCA)

Technical Competency Areas (TCAs) will be issued to students who have

completed the requirements for these credit courses. General requirements for

TCAs are contained in Section 5, “

Requirements for Receipt of Technical

Competency Areas (TCAs) Approved by the LCTCS Board of Supervisors,”

of this

memorandum; specific program requirements are contained in the

Delgado

Community College Catalog.

May 17, 2005 AA-1447.1D

TCAs will be signed by the Chancellor and the Campus Provost. The College

Registrar shall be responsible for verifying students' completion of program

requirements and will maintain the official records of all TCAs awarded.

Acknowledgements of Completion

Acknowledgements of completion will be issued to students who have completed

College-approved programs that have not been sanctioned by the Louisiana Board of

Regents and/or the LCTCS Board of Supervisors.

Acknowledgements Based on Credit Course Work

Any acknowledgement of completion of a credit course or group of

courses will be verified by the College Registrar before the

acknowledgement is issued. Such acknowledgements will be signed

by the Division Dean/Director of the Program and the Campus

Provost; the instructor's signature may be included as appropriate.

However, such acknowledgements of completion issued by Workforce

Development and Education will be signed by the coordinator of the

program and the Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and

Education; the instructor's signature may be included as appropriate.

Appropriate documentation of program completion will be maintained

in the student's permanent academic record. Acknowledgements of

Completion based on credit course work are listed in Attachment A,

“

Acknowledgements of Completion.”

Acknowledgements of Completion of Programs Offered in

Cooperation with Other Agencies

Acknowledgements of completion of programs offered in cooperation

with external agencies will clearly indicate the name of both the

outside agency and Delgado Community College; the number of

semester hours of credit course work; and the number of clock hours

of non-credit instruction included in the program. Titles of the

programs will be descriptive and will not be the same as Board of

Regents approved degree or certificate programs except as specifically

approved by the Vice Chancellor for Learning and Student

Development or when required by the appropriate external regulatory

agency.

AA-1447.1D May 17, 2005

These acknowledgements of completion will be signed by the Division

Dean, the Director of the Program and the Campus Provost; however,

such acknowledgements of completion issued by Workforce

Development and Education will be signed by the coordinator of the

program and the Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and

Education.

The College Registrar will be provided with a list of students who

have completed programs and verification that each student has

completed the requirements for the program.

Acknowledgements Based on Non-credit Course Work

Acknowledgements of completion of non-credit courses and programs

will clearly indicate the contact hours of participation and the number

of Continuing Educations Units (CEUs) awarded. Such

acknowledgements will be signed by the instructor, the Director of the

Program, and the Division Dean; however, such acknowledgements of

completion issued by Workforce Development and Education will be

signed by the instructor, coordinator of the program and the Vice

Chancellor for Workforce Development and Education.

Grades of "P" for successful completion of the course(s) and "NC" for

non-completion will be recorded on the students' Non-credit Academic

Record. The College Registrar will be provided with a list of students

who have completed programs each semester. Acknowledgements of

Completion based on non-credit course work are listed in

Attachment A, “

Acknowledgements of Completion.”

Requirements for Receipt of Diplomas and Certificates Approved by the

Louisiana Board of Regents

At the end of each fall and spring semester, Delgado Community College will hold its

commencement exercises to present diplomas to students completing the associate degree,

technical diplomas and certificates to students completing the certificate programs. To

qualify, a student must meet the specific program requirements contained in the

Delgado

Community College Catalog

in effect when the student enrolls, graduates, or changes majors

and the general requirements listed in Attachment B, “

General Requirements for Receipt of

Diplomas and Certificates Approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents

.”

May 17, 2005 AA-1447.1D

Requirements for Receipt of Technical Competency Areas (TCAs) Approved

by the LCTCS Board of Supervisors

A Technical Competency Area is an applied course or a series of courses that has a

focus on workforce development. These may be free-standing courses or they may be

part of a certificate and/or degree program. Many of the TCAs prepare students for

certification or licensure. To qualify a student must meet the requirements

listed in Attachment C, “

Requirements for Receipt of Technical Competency Areas

(TCAs) Approved by the LCTCS Board of Supervisors

.”

Format for Diplomas, Certificates and Acknowledgements of Completion

All diplomas, certificates, and acknowledgements of completion will be printed at

Delgado. The format of each document will be in accordance with requirements of LCTCS

Board of Supervisors policy and approved by the Vice Chancellor for Learning and Student

Development. However, when required, the format for acknowledgements of completion of

programs offered in cooperation with other agencies will meet the requirements of the

appropriate external regulatory agency. No Delgado Community College employee may

design, print, reproduce or distribute any degree, certificate or acknowledgement of

completion not approved and produced through the above process.

Other Awards and Acknowledgements

Individual programs and organizations may produce and distribute honor awards,

attendance awards, scholarship acknowledgements, acknowledgements of appreciation, etc.

However, it is recommended that the College seal, Chancellor’s signature, official paper, and

the term "certificate," must not be used, unless specifically required. Such awards and

acknowledgements must be approved through the appropriate Campus Provost or Vice

Chancellor, prior to their distribution.

Cancellation

This policy and procedures memorandum cancels DCI 1447.1C,

Academic Diplomas

and Certificates of Completion

, dated December 20, 1994.

AA-1447.1D May 17, 2005

Policy Reference:

Louisiana Board of Regents,

Academic Policy 2.15, “Definitions of Undergraduate

Certificates and Degrees”

Board of Supervisors for Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges, Policy I.1.002,

“Delegation of Authority to Chancellors to Sign and Distribute Degrees, Diplomas

and Certificates”

Board of Supervisors for Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges,

Policy #I.1.001,

“Wording Utilizing on LCTCS Degrees, Diplomas and Other

Awards”

Review Process:

Curriculum Committee 3/11/05

Academic Affairs Council 4/14/05

College Council 5/17/05

Distribution:

Electronic distribution via the College’s Internet and Email Systems

Attachments:

Attachment A- Acknowledgements of Completion

Attachment B- General Requirements for Receipt of Diplomas and Certificates

Approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents

Attachment C- Requirements for Receipt of Technical Competency Areas

(TCAs) Approved by the LCTCS Board of Supervisors

May 17, 2005 AA-1447.1D

Attachment A

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF COMPLETION

CREDIT: Acknowledgements of Completion Based on Credit Course Work

Credit programs include but are not limited to the following:

Interior Design Professional Licensure (course work to

meet licensure requirements; not the Delgado Associate of Arts

degree program in Interior

Design)

Cook's Practical Certification Exam (course work to meet

exam requirements only; not the Delgado Associate

of Applied Science degree program in Culinary Arts)

E.K.G. I - Introductory Electrocardiography

E.K.G. II - Intermediate Electrocardiography

English as a Second Language

Jewelry Manufacturing and Repair

NON-CREDIT: Acknowledgements of Completion Based on Non-credit Course Work

Non-credit programs include but are not limited to the following:

Non-credit/continuing education courses

Professional Certification

Basic/Advanced Ship Firefighting

U.S. Coast Guard Approved Marine Firefighting

Maritime Fire and Industrial Training

Radar Simulator Refresher Courses

- Three-day Inland Waters

- Three-day Ocean Waters

Comprehensive Observer Renewal Certification

- One-day Course

Business and Industry Customized Training

Approved May 17, 2005

AA-1447.1D May 17, 2005

Attachment B

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR

RECEIPT OF DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

APPROVED BY THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS

To qualify to receive a diploma or certificate, a student must meet the specific program

requirements contained in the

Delgado Community College Catalog

in effect when the

student enrolls, graduates, or changes majors and the following general requirements:

(1) Earn at least a 2.0 ("C") grade point average on all work attempted at Delgado

Community College (excluding grades for courses deleted through academic

renewal or repeat/delete).

(2) Earn at least a 2.0 ("C") in each course in the major and have a grade point

average of 2.0 on all courses required in the degree, technical diploma or

certificate curriculum.

(3) Complete 12 of the final 15 hours (excluding hours gained through

non-traditional credit) required in the degree, technical diploma or certificate

program in residence at Delgado Community College.

(4) Earn at least 25 percent of the hours needed for the certificate/technical

diploma/degree in residence at Delgado Community College, of which 9 must

be in the major field of study.

(5) Earn no more than a total of 24 credit hours from non-traditional sources, with

no more than 1/3 of the major course credit requirements being earned from

these sources.

(6) Apply for graduation by in accordance with the dates published in the

Delgado Community College Catalog.

(7) Earn at least the number of credits stipulated in the degree, technical diploma

or certificate program. If a program requires a course but the course is no

longer available or a course substitution has been made, completion of the

total number of credit hours required in the program curriculum, as listed in

the catalog being followed, is mandatory.

(8) Fulfill all other obligations and regulations including financial obligations to

the College prior to established dates.

Approved May 17, 2005

May 17, 2005 AA-1447.1D

Attachment C

REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIPT OF

TECHNICAL COMPETENCY AREAS (TCAs)

APPROVED BY THE LCTCS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

To qualify to receive a Technical Competency Area (TCA) approved by the Louisiana

Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors, a student must meet the

following requirements:

(1) Earn a “C” or better in all courses required in the TCA;

(2) Complete the following percentage of credit hours in residence at Delgado

Community College:

1-6 Credit Hours - 100%

7-9 Credit Hours- 66%

10 or more Credit Hours- 75%;

(3) Earn no more than 50% of credit hours from non-traditional sources; and

(4) Earn at least the number of credits stipulated in the TCA. If a TCA requires

a course but the course is no longer available or a course substitution has been

made, completion of the total number of credit hours required in the TCA,

as listed in the catalog being followed, is mandatory.

Approved May 17, 2005