RVCC 2019 NECHE Self-Study

Certificates that do not have the option of an associate degree can be made into an A.S.
degree through the General Studies program. Other programs, such as early childhood,
offer stackable credentials such as Level I & II certificates that can also be turned into an
associate degree. Although there are no general education requirements, all certificate
programs employ outcomes that identify mastery of the specific discipline, some of which
may include skills learned in liberal arts core courses.
RVCC follows the CCSNH BoT policy with regards to general education requirements (as
outlined above in Table 4.1) and which are identified in the College Catalog (page 19). The
Associate of Arts degree, by definition, has a greater emphasis on general education
requirements. The only Associate of Arts degree offered at RVCC is the Liberal Arts
degree. This can also be used as a transfer degree for students who wish to continue their
education at a 4-year institution. The Liberal Arts degree affords the student the most
choice in electives. Most Associate of Science degrees are more restrictive and the
remaining credit loads are filled with required program specific courses; very few of the
A.S. degrees offer unrestricted electives, but students are allowed some choice in their
Liberal Arts Core.
Students graduating from RVCC have met the requirements of each course in their
program, met the graduation requirements of the College, and for associate degree
earners, have successfully completed the Liberal Arts core. As the Philosophy of the
College is threaded through all programs, they have also met the outcomes for the
educated person. One CCSNH initiative that RVCC hopes will bring our completion rates
even higher is the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative. Currently, the Associate
Professor of Biological Science represents RVCC at the system level. Lowering textbook
costs for students may help them take more classes, and may encourage them to
complete in a timely manner.
Appraisal of Undergraduate Degree Programs
Many of the A.S. degrees are designed with a specific employment goal in mind or are
subject to the requirements of national accreditation standards which restricts the amount
of choice that can be given to a student with regards to electives. These programs are
designed to ensure that the student meets the educational and technical standards
required for employment. Credits beyond the Liberal Arts Core are designed specifically to
meet the needs of the program while still keeping the credit load within a reasonable
number for an associate degree. Students who wish to transfer to a four-year institution
can pursue the Liberal Arts degree which is modeled after the first two years of most fouryear
liberal arts colleges.
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