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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on penalties for exceeding the new limit of baccalaureate degree programs.

Community College Baccalaureate Degree Program

The bill limits the number of baccalaureate degree programs community colleges in California can offer and sets conditions for starting new ones.

What This Bill Does

• Reduces the limit on the total number of baccalaureate degree programs offered by a community college district to no more than 15% of its associate degree programs.
• Prohibits community colleges from offering baccalaureate degree programs or curricula already provided by the University of California or certain campuses of the California State University, unless those programs have been impacted for three consecutive years.

Who It Names or Affects

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

Terms To Know

Baccalaureate degree program

A college-level program that leads to a bachelor's degree.

Impacted programs

College programs where there are more applicants than available spots, leading to restrictions on enrollment.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the consequences if community colleges exceed the new limit of 15% baccalaureate degree programs.
• It is unclear how this change will affect students currently enrolled in impacted programs at California State University campuses.

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