The Academic Programs Section provides leadership, assistance, and consultation to colleges in the areas of curriculum development, approval, criteria and standards, and competencies for academic and technical curriculum programs. A major function also includes consultation to colleges concerning professional development and faculty/staff training. In addition, this section coordinates the dissemination of curriculum materials and information and assists colleges in the implementation of degree-credit, diploma-credit, and certificate-credit curriculum programs which serve the educational needs of students desiring to enter or reenter the workforce. The primary objectives of this section are:

1. To assist colleges in the development and implementation of degree-credit, diploma-credit, and certificate-credit curriculum programs which serve the educational needs of the students.
2. To advise and assist colleges in developing curriculum programs and services in accordance with established and identified state priorities.
3. To assist colleges with curriculum programs to remain in compliance with state/federal regulations.
4. To plan and coordinate the development of competency-based curriculum materials through Curriculum Improvement Projects to be used by the colleges as guides when establishing or reviewing curriculums.
5. To consult with business and industry to determine training needs and to develop, in conjunction with the colleges, educational offerings.
6. To effect policies and procedures for offering curriculum courses throughout the System.
7. To provide leadership, assistance, and oversight to improve the quality of the arts and sciences and general education programs, the general education component of all curriculum programs, and developmental education offered throughout the System.
8. To provide statewide coordination of faculty and staff development efforts to improve instructional and organizational effectiveness.
9. To provide policy and administrative leadership, assistance and oversight to increase the regional collaboration of program offerings among the 58 institutions, eliminating unnecessary duplication of curriculum programs and services.
10. To provide leadership in the development of policies and procedures for colleges providing contractual services to maintain compliance with state/federal regulations.
11. To formulate and recommend to the State Board of Community Colleges policies and guidelines that affect all programs.
12. To interact with representatives of governing agencies, business and industry, and public and private secondary and post-secondary educational institutions to establish effective working relationships for program planning and implementation.