California joins 21 other states that offer community
college baccalaureates in workforce and technical fields
Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law a historic
measure that for the first time enables a limited number of California
community colleges to offer four-year degrees.
Senate Bill (SB) 850, authored by State Senator Marty Block
(D-San Diego), drew overwhelming bipartisan and business support because it
addresses a growing need for the state to become more competitive in areas of
high workforce demand.
The pilot program authorized under SB 850 allows up to 15
different community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree each in
select workforce majors starting on Jan. 1, 2015 and ending on July 1, 2023.
SB 850 stipulates that the four-year programs offered may
not duplicate any currently available at the University of California (UC) or
California State University (CSU). Regardless, the bill represents one of the
most significant changes in the California Master Plan for Higher Education
since its adoption in 1960. Until now, only the University of California (UC) and
California State University (CSU) systems could offer public, four-year
degrees.
San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance
M. Carroll served on the state’s baccalaureate study group and has chaired the
statewide coalition that provided advocacy for the passage of SB 850.
“Our entire coalition of supporters is delighted by this
good news,” said Carroll. “It is imperative for community colleges to ensure
that students are well prepared and competitive for the many jobs and careers
that now require bachelor’s degrees as entry-level preparation. Education for
the workforce is one of the top community college missions and, thanks to
Senator Block and Governor Brown, we have an important new pathway for that
mission.”
Chancellor Carroll says programs which might be offered include dental hygiene, radiologic technology, health information science/infomatics, and automotive technology. She says some of the new four-year programs could be offered as early as the fall 2015 semester. Students enrolled in upper-division coursework will pay an additional $84 per unit fee – which is still less than fees paid by CSU students.
First, however, community college districts interested in
offering baccalaureate programs will be submitting proposals to the California
Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Selected programs will then be
accredited by Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).
In anticipation of the bill being signed, many college districts have already
begun planning and budgeting for the new programs.
“This is landmark legislation that is a game changer for
California’s higher education system and our workforce preparedness,” Senator
Marty Block (SD-39) said. “SB 850 boosts the focus of our community colleges on
job training and increasing the accessibility and affordability of our state’s
higher education system.”
California now joins 21 other states that allow community
colleges to offer four-year degrees. Increasingly, community college graduates
are finding that professions that once required a certificate or an associate
degree now require baccalaureate-level preparation as a prerequisite for
hiring. With the state’s public universities either being too crowded or
failing to offer bachelor’s degrees in these fields, many students are being
challenged in trying to secure the education they need.
Meanwhile, demand for graduates with bachelor’s degrees
is increasing. In California, several studies have found that the state needs
to produce 60,000 more graduates each year by 2025 to meet employer demands.
One study, by the Public Policy Institute of California, concluded that 41
percent of jobs in the state will require a bachelor’s degree, but just 35
percent of working-age adults will have one.
SB 850 has enjoyed considerable support since it was introduced
in January. Over the summer, it was passed with unanimous votes in both the
California Senate and Assembly. The bill is backed by an array of business
groups, veterans organizations, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s
Office and the CSU system.
Dr. Frank Talamantes, Ph.D,
Professor of Endocrinology (Emeritus)University of California
Santa Cruz, California, 95064
Residence: 83 Sierra Crest Dr.
El Paso, Texas 79902
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