The Board of Governors on Jan. 13 approved second‑reading Title 5 regulatory updates to strengthen credit for prior learning (CPL) and to clarify rules for high‑school course articulation.

Vice Chancellor James Todd and visiting executive Ginny May said the regulations align local CPL policies with recent changes in the Education Code and with CalGETC transfer standards, emphasize faculty authority in assessment and course equivalency decisions, and require minimum publication and transcript‑notation practices. "One of the things we felt very confident about that helps us align with statute and moves our credit for prior learning initiative forward," Todd said.

Board members pressed staff on transferability concerns and rural college impacts. Member Pamela Haines and others asked how CPL awards would be treated by UC campuses and whether students could rely on consistent credit across the 116 colleges; staff said intersegmental conversations with UC and CSU are underway and proposed a task force and a 4‑ to 6‑month follow‑up with field stakeholders.

Members also discussed allowing local campuses to count CPL toward residency (the 12‑unit requirement for awarding degrees) at the campus or district level as a local decision. Staff said the revision provides permissive authority for districts to adopt CPL counting toward residency and that further consultation and guidance will follow.

Public commenters, including Latonya Parker Purnell (Academic Senate for California Community Colleges), supported the changes while urging clearer guidance and consistent awarding. The board voted to adopt the proposed regulations and the motion carried by roll call.

What happens next: Staff will publish the adopted regulatory language and convene intersegmental work (task force with colleges, academic senates, CIOs) to study transferability and transcript notation; guidance and potential further regulatory refinements are anticipated.