SDCCD : Community College Baccalaureate Bill Approved By California Legislature

Press release from San Diego Community College District:

September 10, 2021

California lawmakers have approved historic legislation that would expand and make
permanent the California community college bachelor’s degree pilot program. Assembly
Bill 927 now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk with the backing of educational
leaders and dozens of businesses and trade organizations.

AB 927 seeks to eliminate the 2026 sunset date on existing baccalaureate degree programs
at 15 California community colleges in workforce fields with high demand and unmet
need, in addition to allowing for up to 30 community college baccalaureate degree
programs statewide per year. The bill is sponsored by the Chair of the Assembly Higher
Education Committee, Jose Medina (D-Riverside).

“Community colleges are the founding pillars of higher education; offering critical
baccalaureate degree programs will create greater accessibility to higher education,”
said Assemblymember Medina. “The baccalaureate degree program will play a pivotal
role in building back our State’s economy.”

A recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) identified the
need for more than 1 million bachelor’s degree holders in California in the coming
decade, especially in critical workforce fields. The PPIC found that, in order to
keep up with the demand for a college-educated workforce, the state would need to
increase the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded by 40%.

The bill mandates the California Community Colleges Chancellor to consult with and
seek feedback from the California State University and University of California systems
on proposed baccalaureate degrees and would require individual districts seeking approval
to provide evidence of unmet workforce needs.

The baccalaureate degree pilot program was established when Governor Jerry Brown in
2014 signed Senate Bill 850, sponsored by then state Senator Marty Block. The bill
allowed 15 colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in specific workforce fields. The
program was set to end in 2023, but subsequent legislation from state Senator Jerry
Hill extended the program’s sunset date to July 2026.

Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D., president and CEO of the California Community Colleges
Baccalaureate Association, said the bill is urgently needed to address the state’s
workforce demands. Carroll co-chairs statewide legislative efforts advocating for
the baccalaureate program with Foothill-De Anza Community College District Chancellor
Judy C. Miner, Ed.D. She said the fact that the bill moved through the Legislature
without a single “no” vote is evidence that it enjoys strong bipartisan support.

“Twenty-five states in the nation authorize their community colleges to offer bachelor’s
degrees in workforce fields recognizing that many employers and fields now require
baccalaureate-level education rather than associate degrees,” said Carroll, who recently
retired after serving 17 years as chancellor of the San Diego Community College District.
“This legislation addresses that in a manner that provides for local access, high
quality, and affordability, without duplicating programs at public universities. We
hope that the governor will sign it to benefit our local communities and students.” 

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office has found that more than half of students
surveyed would not have pursued a bachelor’s degree if their community college program
had not been offered. Approximately 60% of students enrolled in a community college
baccalaureate program come from communities of color and disadvantaged backgrounds
and are paying a little more than $10,000 — a fraction of what it would cost them
at private institutions.

Business organizations that support the bill include: California Dental Hygienists’
Association, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego East County Chamber
of Commerce, San Diego Water Works Workforce Development Group, National Association
of Social Workers, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, California Society for Respiratory
Care, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Cupertino
Chamber of Commerce among others.

Supporters of the bill are encouraged to email letters of endorsement to Governor
Newsom at leg.unit@gov.ca.gov.

This press release was produced by San Diego Community College District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.