Kern Community College District

This study investigates the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) for evaluating course equivalency in higher education. We introduce an innovative approach that utilizes publicly available course descriptions and unmodified LLMs for pairwise course comparison. We selected Google PaLM2 and its successor, Gemini Pro v1.0, due to their accessible free-tier API and their ability to reliably generate structured data.The most challenging aspect of our methodology was extracting data from course descriptions. Nonetheless, Gemini Pro v1.0 demonstrated a serviceable ability to comprehend the context of unprocessed descriptions and effectively categorize their components. Notably, classification t asks u sing r aw text yielded better results compared to those based on extracted topics, indicating potential improvements in topic extraction.Our findings reveal that the model tends to exhibit a conservative bias, often leaning towards non-equivalence judgments. We introduced additional categories such as "unsure" and "inadequate data," which enhanced the statistical performance of the model in the equivalent/nonequivalent classes and simulated the possible decision-making processes of human advisors in ambiguous cases.This study underscores both the challenges and opportunities presented by LLMs in course equivalency evaluation. Key considerations include prompt sensitivity, computational costs, and API limitations. Future research will focus on comparing results across different models and prompt designs, exploring alternative techniques such as embeddings and instruction fine-tuning, and striving to develop a more precise and reliable course equivalency assessment system.

A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree denominated ‘Randy’ is described. This cultivar is an early flowering male that will be used as a pollenizer for ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’. It has excellent flowering synchrony with ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’ and can be used to cover the earlier part of the ‘Kerman’ flowering period during seasons in which ‘Kerman’ flowering is extended. This generally occurs during seasons of low chill, which are expected to become more frequent in the future due to continued global warming. ‘Peters’, the standard male used to pollenize ‘Kerman’, often flowers too late to cover the earlier part of the ‘Kerman’ bloom period under these conditions. ‘Randy’ was selected for high pollen viability, durability, and a high level of pollen production (based on visual evaluation). ‘Randy’ flowers 2 to 4 weeks earlier than ‘Peters’, the standard pollenizer for ‘Kerman’. ‘Peters’ flowers too late to be a very effective pollinator for the new cultivars.

Many students are troubled with percentage. The difficulty may lie in the way in which it is presented. Survey tests in Kern County and elsewhere have inclicated a lack of achievement in this particular field. Many teachers have indicated their awareness of the problem in teaching clear concepts in the field of percentage. Supervisors and consultants have observed that many teachers and pupils have difficulties in this field. In order to study the problem at some length and determine if possible, remedial measures, the following study was undertaken.