California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not specify that California State University, Long Beach must participate in the pilot program. This claim was removed as it is unsupported by the official source material.

California State University Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program

This law requires the Chancellor of California State University to create a pilot program offering an associate degree in general education studies jointly with community colleges or other institutions for former CSU students who have completed equivalent coursework but did not earn an associate degree.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Chancellor of California State University (CSU) to start a pilot program offering joint associate degrees in general education studies with community colleges or independent higher education institutions.
• Specifies that this program is for former CSU students who have completed coursework equivalent to an associate degree but did not earn one previously.
• States that the associate degree must be awarded at no cost to the student.
• Requires California State University, Long Beach, to participate in the pilot program.
• Allows the Chancellor to include other CSU campuses in the pilot program.

Who It Names or Affects

• Former students of California State University who have completed coursework equivalent to an associate degree but did not earn one previously.
• California State University, Long Beach and potentially other CSU campuses.
• Community colleges or independent institutions that award associate degrees.

Terms To Know

Pilot Program

A small-scale trial of a program to test its effectiveness before full implementation.

Chancellor

The chief executive officer and educational leader of the California State University system.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill requires appropriation by the Legislature for funding.
• The program will be evaluated with a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2032.
• Provisions become inoperative after June 30, 2032, and are repealed as of January 1, 2033.

Official Summary Text

AB 1858, as amended, Lowenthal.
California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program.
Existing law sets forth the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education, and details the ways in which their respective institutions are to be differentiated. Existing law specifies that the California State University shall offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences and professional education.
This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the Chancellor of the California State University to establish a pilot program to offer an associate degree in general education studies that is jointly conferred by a California State University campus and a community college or independent institution of higher education that awards associate degrees to former California State University students who are no longer enrolled at a
California State University campus but have successfully completed coursework equivalent to the requirements for an associate degree and not previously earned an associate degree.
The bill would require the associate degree to be awarded at no cost to the former student.
The bill would require California State University, Long
Beach
Beach,
to participate in the pilot program and would authorize the chancellor to include additional California State University campuses in the pilot program. The bill would require the chancellor, on or before January 1, 2032, to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, as provided.
The bill would make these provisions inoperative on June 30, 2032, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2033.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF