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AB-661 Public postsecondary education: community college districts: baccalaureate degree pilot program.(2011-2012)

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Amended  IN  Assembly  April 28, 2011

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 661

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Block
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Hill)

February 16, 2011

An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 78040) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 661, as amended, Block. Public postsecondary education: San Diego Community College District: community college districts: baccalaureate degree pilot program.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts, administered by governing boards, throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction to students at the community college campuses maintained by the districts.
Existing law requires community colleges to offer instruction through, but not beyond, the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate in arts and science degrees.
This bill would authorize the San Diego Community College District the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and the San Mateo County Community College District to establish one baccalaureate degree pilot programs program per campus. This bill would require a baccalaureate degree pilot program to expire 8 years after the establishment of the program. If the San Diego Community College District establishes one or more of the authorized districts establish a baccalaureate program, this bill would require the district districts to meet specified requirements, including, but not limited to, offering baccalaureate degrees in a limited number of fields of study, and submitting a report to the Legislature within one year prior to the expiration of the baccalaureate degree pilot program that would evaluate specified factors.
This bill would also require, if the San Diego Community College District establishes one or more of the authorized districts establish a baccalaureate program, the governing board boards of the district districts to perform certain functions and would authorize the governing board boards to charge baccalaureate degree-seeking students a fee for enrollment in specified courses, which would be required to be expended for the purpose of providing a pilot program. This bill would authorize the governing board boards of the district districts to enter into agreements with local businesses and agencies to provide educational services to students participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) For nearly 50 years, California’s higher education system has been the envy of the world. The University of California and the California State University campuses have produced groundbreaking research and millions of professionals. The California Community Colleges are an often overlooked, yet essential, part of this system.
(b) California needs to produce one million more baccalaureate degrees than the state currently does to remain economically competitive in the coming decades.
(c) It is time to change community colleges in a way that will address job shortages in California’s most vital employment areas that require baccalaureate degrees. Community colleges can help fill the gaps in the system by granting baccalaureate degrees for a limited number of specific areas in order to meet a growing demand for workforce need.
(d) These baccalaureate programs will be limited and will not detract from the community colleges’ mission to advance California’s economic growth and global competitiveness through education, training, and services that contribute to continuous workforce improvement, nor will the programs unnecessarily duplicate similar programs offered by nearby schools.
(e) Community colleges can provide a quality baccalaureate education with lower costs to their students than a traditional four-year university, enabling lower income and part-time local students to earn the baccalaureate degree needed for new job opportunities and promotion.
(f) Seventeen other states, from Florida to Hawaii, already allow their community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees. California is one of the most innovative states in the nation, and the California Community Colleges will use that same innovative spirit to produce more health, biotechnology, and other needed professionals.
(g) The purpose of the baccalaureate degree pilot program is to promote economic development by preparing people for occupations that are in demand and require a baccalaureate degree.

SEC. 2.

 Article 3 (commencing with Section 78040) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  3. Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program

78040.
 For the purposes of this article, “district” means the San Diego Community College District “districts” means the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and the San Mateo County Community College District. The district districts may establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs pursuant to Section 78041.

78041.
 Notwithstanding Section 66010.4, the San Diego Community College District districts may establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs that meet all of the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 78042. A pilot program established pursuant to this section shall expire eight years after the establishment of the program. For purposes of this section, a pilot program is established when the first class of students begins the program.

78042.
 (a) The district districts shall seek accreditation as a baccalaureate degree granting college.
(b) The district districts shall maintain the primary mission of the California Community Colleges specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 66010.4. The district districts, as part of the baccalaureate degree pilot program, shall have the additional mission to provide high-quality undergraduate education at an affordable price for students and the state.

(c)The district shall offer baccalaureate degrees in a limited

(c) The districts shall offer one baccalaureate degree per campus in a limited number of fields of study subject to the following requirements, as determined by the governing board of the district boards of the districts:
(1) The district districts shall identify and document unmet workforce needs in the subject areas of the baccalaureate degrees to be offered and offer baccalaureate degrees in those subject areas possessing unmet workforce needs in the local community.
(2) The baccalaureate degree pilot program shall not unnecessarily duplicate similar programs offered by nearby public postsecondary educational institutions.
(3) The district districts shall have the expertise, resources, and student interest to offer a quality baccalaureate degree in the chosen field of study.
(d) The district districts shall maintain separate records for students who are enrolled in courses classified in the upper division and lower division of a baccalaureate program. A student shall be reported as a community college student for enrollment in a lower division course and as a baccalaureate degree program student for enrollment in an upper division course.
(e) The governing board of the district boards of the districts shall do all of the following:
(1) Determine the appropriate governance system for the baccalaureate degree pilot program.
(2) Make decisions regarding the baccalaureate degree pilot program’s curriculum, faculty, and facilities.
(3) Establish the level of matriculation, tuition, and other appropriate costs for students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program.
(f) (1) The governing board of the district boards of the districts may charge baccalaureate degree-seeking students a fee, of an amount to be determined by the governing board boards, that covers the additional costs imposed by providing a baccalaureate degree pilot program, for enrollment in courses that are not transfer core curriculum courses, as defined in Section 66720.
(2) All fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited in the designated fund of the district districts in accordance with the California Community Colleges Budget and Accounting Manual, and shall be expended for the purpose of providing a baccalaureate degree pilot program.
(g) The governing board of the district boards of the districts may enter into agreements with local businesses and agencies to provide educational services to students participating in the baccalaureate degree pilot program.
(h) The district shall submit a report districts shall submit reports to the Legislature within one year prior to the expiration of the baccalaureate degree pilot program pursuant to Section 78041. The report shall examine the success of the baccalaureate degree pilot program by evaluating all of the following factors:
(1) The percentage of students who complete a baccalaureate degree, calculated by dividing the number of students who graduate from the baccalaureate degree pilot program by the number of students who enrolled in the program.
(2) The extent to which the baccalaureate degree pilot program is self-supporting, such that the student fees charged pursuant to subdivision (f) cover the costs of the program.
(3) Whether there is a problem with finding and paying instructors for the baccalaureate degree pilot program.
(4) Whether there was a decline in enrollment in the California State University and the University of California as a result of the baccalaureate degree pilot program.
(5) The number of students who received jobs in the area in the field of study of their baccalaureate degree.
(6) The amount of student fees charged pursuant to subdivision (f) compared to the amount of student fees charged for courses at the California State University and the University of California.