FAQs

1. How does a college add a new course to the system?
   Step 1 – Review the CCN website for courses that may have common content.
   Step 2 – If a course is found that may have common content, contact the offering institution(s) and share information to determine if an 80 percent or higher overlap exists. If so, submit that common name and number to the CCN contact, Beth Meyer, via email.
   Step 3 – If a course with common content is not found, select the appropriate discipline area. Then select a number that is consistent with the numbering scheme for that discipline. Then select a title that is not the same as any other course with the same number of credits in the discipline. (A course may have the same name as another course in a discipline as long as they have separate numbers.) Then submit the new name and number to the CCN contact, Beth Meyer, via email.
   Step 4 – If an appropriate discipline is not found, propose a new discipline and prefix. Submit this to the CCN contact from the Chief Academic Officers, Verlyn Fick (fickv@witcc.edu), via email.
   Note – We are considering the development of a system of discipline contacts that could aid in the alignment of courses within disciplines. Please check this website for further information.
2. As in the past, will the community colleges continue to send course guides for new courses to the Regents for their determination of transferability?
   This process has not changed with the new CCN system.
3. Although the credit values vary, it appears that a number of different courses in our curriculum have been given identical course titles. Are we supposed to use those identical titles for what are different courses in our catalog, in Datatel, on the AS28's, etc.
   The courses that will have identical titles should have different credits and different course numbers. The intention is that the course titles would be used in your systems. If you have an unworkable issue with course titles, please email Verlyn Fick (fickv@witcc.edu) with the issue.
4. We understand the designation to be used for developmental courses. However, we also understand that some of the colleges plan to use internal transfer/non-transfer designations on their course numbers and/or sections. Would you please clarify this issue, as those designations would be a tremendous help in specifying degree requirements, in assuring that program requirements are met, and in making program documents clear and concise.
   As the system was initially developed, it was decided that the numbering system would not indicate course transferability. Some of the disciplines do have a scheme that indicates transferability while others do not. It is up to an individual college if additional designators, such as section numbers, would be used for clarification.
5. At what point in time will the CCN numbers be finalized on the website so they can be entered into Datatel?
   Any numbers currently on the website are considered active numbers and should be able to be used.
6. What is the specific academic term that the CCN is to be implemented by the community colleges in Iowa for registration?
   Fall Semester 2006
7. I heard several colleges are having two numbers for a course—the common course and their own--- is that true?
   The goal of the CCN is to have all of the colleges using common names and numbers. A college would increase effort required and confusion by running two separate systems.
8. At the Administrators conference today, one of the presenters referenced a need to cross – reference-- in education example Math for Teachers--- Math and Education—is anything like that even built into the system???
   Many cross-reference notations are found in the final column for notes.
9. Must course names be adopted in addition to the common course number?
   The system is designed to use both common numbers and common names.
10. What does the "v" mean for credit hours?
    The “v” indicates that the number of credits may vary.
11. What, if anything, does a course numbered in the 100’s, 200’s, 300’s, etc. mean?
    Each discipline has developed its own scheme for numbering. In some disciplines, such as psychology, courses numbered in the 100’s are typically freshman transfer courses, and the 200’s are typically sophomore transfer courses. In other disciplines, such as practical nursing, the 100’s are fundamentals, the 200’s are pharmacology and nutrition, and the 300’s are professional, and so on. Sometimes these patterns are noted in the final notes column of the spreadsheets.
12. What do we do with courses that we no longer offer?
    Most colleges have not been introducing them into the common course numbering system.
13. What does an ‘x’ in a column mean?
    This may indicate that the specific current numbering information for that course has not yet been provided. In a few cases it may indicate that some other comparison or extra information is needed.
14. Some colleges have the same course listed under two different disciplines. Will those colleges consider those as dual listings?
    The system is only listing a course at a college under multiple listings if the college intends to regularly list the course in multiple places in their catalog and other publications.
15. How can you tell when a spreadsheet has been updated? How can you tell what has been updated?
    Each spreadsheet should have a date at the bottom indicating the last date of modification. At this time, there is not a way to tell what has been recently updated.
16. What if there is more than one special topics course in a discipline?
    If multiple special topics courses for a college cover unique parts of the discipline, then it is recommended that numbers be found in the 800’s, instead of using the generic 949 number.