Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on consequences for exceeding the new limit of 15%.

Community College Baccalaureate Degree Program

The bill restricts community colleges in California from offering certain baccalaureate degree programs and sets a limit on the number of such degrees they can offer.

What This Bill Does

• Prohibits community colleges from offering baccalaureate degree programs that are already offered by the University of California or specific campuses of the California State University unless those programs have been impacted for three consecutive years.
• Allows community colleges to start offering certain baccalaureate degrees starting July 1, 2030, if similar programs at nearby state universities have been impacted for three straight years.
• Reduces the limit on the number of baccalaureate degree programs a community college can offer from 25% to 15% of its total associate degree programs.

Who It Names or Affects

• Community colleges in California
• Students seeking baccalaureate degrees at community colleges

Terms To Know

Baccalaureate Degree Program

A program that allows students to earn a bachelor's degree.

Impacted Programs

University programs where there are more applicants than available spots, leading to restrictions on admissions.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if community colleges exceed the new limit of 15%.
• It is unclear how this change will affect students already enrolled in impacted programs at state universities.

Official Summary Text

SB 960, as amended, Cabaldon.
Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.
Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to authorize the establishment of community college district baccalaureate degree programs, as provided. Existing law prohibits a community college district baccalaureate degree program from offering a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California.
This bill would instead prohibit a community college district from offering a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the University of California, or a campus of the California State University whose local
admission
service
area includes, or overlaps with, the territory of the community college
district, unless the California
State University program has been impacted for 3 consecutive years before the date the program is approved.
district. Beginning July 1, 2030, the bill would authorize a district to offer a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula offered by a campus of the California State University whose local service area includes, or overlaps with, the territory of the district if the California State University program has been impacted for 3 consecutive years before the date the program is approved, as provided.
Existing law requires, as part of the application and review process, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to ensure, among other things, that the total number of baccalaureate degree programs offered by a community college district does not exceed 25%
of the total number of associate degree programs offered by the community college district, as specified.
This bill would reduce that limitation from 25% to 15%.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF