Program Recommendation

Introduction

If you are you a Career Education (CE) faculty member who has been tasked with developing a new CTE certificate or degree (program) for your college, you will need to secure regional consortium recommendation from the Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC) before you submit your program approval documents to the State Chancellor’s Office for formal approval (chaptering).

Your College Resource Leadership Council (CRLC), (i.e. Voting Member or CTE Dean) can advise you on the regional recommendation process for submitting new and/or modified CE program to align with your college’s curriculum approval process. You should also consult your college’s curriculum committee chair (or designee) early in the new and/or modified CE program development process.

Chancellor’s Office Program and Course Approval Handbook (PCAH), 7th Edition

The OC Consortium

The OCRC is comprised of the nine community colleges and one continuing education center in the Orange County Region. The California Community College Chancellor’s Office requires that all requests for new CTE program approvals include a recommendation from the “appropriate CTE Regional Consortium” (PCAH 6th Edition, page 17). This recommendation ensures program offerings meet regional labor market needs and do not unnecessarily duplicate programs.

In accordance with the OCRC’s Bylaws, the OCRC vested responsibility for recommending new programs, program revisions, and other program matters with its College Resource Leadership Council composed of Voting Members. 

Colleges seeking regional recommendation must submit their request online at RegionalCTE.org. The process is described on the next tab, "Process".

Guiding Principles for OCRC Recommendation

• Format for Submitting a Request: Colleges seeking regional recommendation of new or substantially changed programs must do so by completing the online request form. Before submitting the request form, they must obtain LMI information from the region’s Center of Excellence (COE).
• Timeline: The region is committed to review and act on all requests for regional recommendation within 30 days, provided the request is complete at the time it is submitted. The College Resource Leadership Council (CRLC) Members, also known as Voting Members, hold regular monthly meetings between September and June. Meeting dates, meeting format (online or in-person) and agendas can be found on this page under the “Meetings” tab.
• Voting: A vote to recommend a new program will occur at the CRLC Business meeting. Each college present at the meeting will receive one vote. The college’s Voting Member (or their alternate) will place the vote for their college. A minimum of seven colleges must participate in any meeting where a vote is to be taken. Seven votes are required to pass any action. The college requesting recommendation should be present at the CRLC Business meeting in order to discuss their request. College faculty responsible for the development or revision of the program are also encouraged to attend the meeting.
• Minutes: Minutes will be reviewed and approved at the beginning of each business meeting and will be posted to the OCRC website within five (5) business days. The outcome of the vote, along with any discussion, including any substantive comments or concerns voiced by the CRLC members, will be recorded in the meeting minutes. The college’s CRLC member is responsible for communicating those comments and/or concerns to their college’s appropriate program personnel. Minutes for the current academic year can be found on this page under the "Minutes" tab. 

Submission Process

Step 1: Request Labor Market Information from the Center of Excellence (COE)

Labor Market Information for Program Recommendation Request Form

The PCAH 6th Edition (page 86) states: “Pursuant to Education Code section 78015 Labor Market Information (LMI) data is specifically required for all new CTE program proposals, where available. Current LMI and analysis, or other comparable information, must show that jobs are available for program completers within the local service area of the individual college and/or that job enhancement or promotion justifies the proposed curriculum.”

The OCRC relies on consistent LMI data provided by the region’s COE in order to make a recommendation for a program. A subcommittee of the CRLC has agreed upon the LMI endorsement criteria to be used in the COE’s labor market brief. This includes identification of whether or not a labor supply gap exists, whether or not the occupations for which the proposed program will train students have entry-level wages above the current self-sufficiency standard living wage, and whether or not said occupations require educational attainment congruent with a community college education.

Once issued, a labor market information brief for program recommendation is valid for one year from its publication date for which it may be submitted as a valid part of the Program Recommendation Application. If a year has elapsed, a new labor market request must be submitted and analyzed using current data.

Each individual proposed program and/or certificate must be submitted individually and must include the exact program or certificate name that will be submitted to the Chancellor’s Office.

All labor market information briefs for program recommendation will be published on the Statewide COE website: coeccc.net and will be archived after two years from publication date. If a college sees a published labor market information brief for program recommendation on the website that they think would work for one of their proposed programs or certificates, that college must still complete a formal request for labor market information and include their specific program or certificate name(s). If the TOP and SOC codes match and new data is not available, the COE, at its discretion, may reissue the report under the new college’s request.  

Step 2: Complete the “Program Recommendation Application” using the Regional CTE website

Complete and submit the Program Application using RegionalCTE.org website. Please click on calendar below for more information and submission deadlines.

College Resource Leadership Council (CRLC) 2024-2025 Calendar

The region is committed to review and act on all requests for regional recommendation within 30 days, provided the request is complete at the time it is submitted. The CRLC members hold regular monthly meetings between September and June. Meeting dates can be found on the OCRC website under Meetings.

Program Recommendation Resources 

1. Program Recommendation Process Step-by-Step
2. Program Recommendation Chart
3. Short Video: Summary of the process  
4. Short Video: How programs are reviewed for the regional consortium agenda 

Minutes

Voting Overview Regional Consortia Voting Member Roles and Responsibilities

The Regional Consortia (RC) Voting Member is the official representative of their college. Each college designee is selected by their College President or Chief Instructional Officer.

The RC Voting Members’ responsibilities may include recommending for approval new, expanded, or revised Career Education (CE) programs to the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges. The RC voting member will represent their college in addressing the needs of business and industry, educational systems and other stakeholders within the region’s workforce development community.

The Voting Members will also engage in policy discussions on the work of the Regional Consortia. As needed, small taskforces may be organized to discuss and resolve issues for the RC.

RC Voting Member Responsibilities:

1. Represent their college as its voting member
2. Serve as campus liaison between their college and the Regional Consortia and other Key Talent
3. Act as the first point of contact at their college for regional CTE funding opportunities
4. Assist campus CE faculty in preparing programs for regional approval
5. Assist the Regional Consortia with building regional partnerships
6. Communicate with their college leadership on the work of the Regional Consortia

Pending Recommendation

Visit the “Process” tab on this page to read about the process.

Recent Recommended Program Proposals

Program Data Requests

Pre-Approved Programs

1. Submit a Program Recommendation using the sample provided below via the Regional CTE website (www.regionalcte.org).

a. When submitting the application choose "Pre-Approved" as reason.

2. Attach the Cloud Computing Regional Minutes below.

3. Attach the Regional LMI provided Below. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact ruiz_marbella@rsccd.edu

Cloud Computing Sample Regional CTE Website Application

Cloud Computing Information Report

Cloud Computing Minutes

Cloud Computing LMI