2007 Minnesota Statutes

136F.32 DEGREES; DIPLOMAS; CERTIFICATES.
    Subdivision 1. Approval. The board may approve awarding of appropriate certificates,
diplomas, or degrees to persons who complete a prescribed curriculum.
    Subd. 2. Technical and consolidated technical colleges. (a) A technical college or
consolidated technical community college shall offer students the option of pursuing diplomas
or certificates in each technical education program, unless the board determines that a degree is
the only acceptable credential for career entry in a specific field. All vocational and technical
credits earned for a diploma or certificate shall be applicable toward any available degree in the
same program.
(b) Certificates and diplomas are credentials that demonstrate competence in a vocational
or technical area and, therefore, may include a general education component only as part of
an articulation agreement or to meet occupational requirements as established by the trade
or profession, or by the program advisory committee. Students shall be provided with applied
training in general studies as necessary for competence in the program area. Students who have
earned a certificate or diploma may earn a degree in the same field if they complete the general
education and other degree requirements.
    Subd. 3. Assessment. To reduce barriers to enrollment and to train a skilled workforce,
students may be assessed for skills necessary for competency in a technical or vocational field as
part of their program. The results of standardized assessment tests shall not prohibit enrollment
in a student's certificate or diploma program.
History: 1995 c 212 art 4 s 27; 1997 c 183 art 3 s 20; 1999 c 214 art 2 s 14,15; 2005 c
107 art 2 s 32