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 throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the campuses they operate.

Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, to determine, by July 1, 2015, for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

This bill would instead require the chancellor to establish, by March 31, 2019, an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the California Community Colleges for students with prior learning. The bill would require the chancellor to submit, by January 1, 2020, a report on the initiative to the Legislature.

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 throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the campuses they operate.

Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, to determine, by July 1, 2015, for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

This bill would instead require the chancellor to establish, by March 31, 2019, an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the California Community Colleges for students with prior learning. The bill would require the chancellor to submit, by January 1, 2020, a report on the initiative to the Legislature.

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 throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the campuses they operate.

Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, to determine, by July 1, 2015, for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

This bill would instead require a statewide articulation officer at the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, who would be designated by the chancellor under the bills provisions by March 31, 2019, to, using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, determine, by July 1, 2019, for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience. the chancellor to establish, by March 31, 2019, an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the California Community Colleges for students with prior learning. The bill would require the chancellor to submit, by January 1, 2020, a report on the initiative to the Legislature.

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 throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the campuses they operate.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation creating an articulation platform for the California Community Colleges to facilitate the transition of recent veterans to state institutions of higher education. instead require a statewide articulation officer at the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, who would be designated by the chancellor under the bills provisions by March 31, 2019, to, using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, determine, by July 1, 2019, for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

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 throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the campuses they operate.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation creating an articulation platform for the California Community Colleges to facilitate the transition of recent veterans to state institutions of higher education.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 1786

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 6/13/18

AYES: Allen, Wilk, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire, Pan, Vidak

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/16/18

AYES: Portantino, Bates, Beall, Bradford, Hill, Nielsen, Wiener

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 5/17/18 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for students with prior learning.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires the Chancellor of the CCCs, using common course descriptors and pertinent standards of the American Council on Education, to determine, by July 1, 2015, for which courses credit for prior military experience should be awarded. (Education Code § 66025.7)
   
2. Requires the Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education to use funds to make awards, and requires funds to be awarded for innovations that reduce the time it takes students to complete degrees and credentials or reduce the total cost of attendance for students, or both, through any of the following:
   
   1. Redesign of curriculum and instruction, such as implementation of three-year degrees.
      
   2. Programs that allow students to make progress toward completion of degrees and credentials based on demonstration of knowledge and competencies, including military training, prior learning, and prior experiences.
      
   3. Programs that make financial aid more accessible, including by increasing the number of students who apply for financial aid, or that reduce the costs of books and supplies. (EC § 66010.97)
      
3. Requires each state-level board to inquire in every application for licensure if the individual applying for licensure is serving in, or has previously served in, the military, and requires a board that authorizes veterans to apply military experience and training towards licensure requirements to post information on the board’s Internet Web site about the ability of veteran applicants to apply military experience and training towards licensure requirements. (Business and Professions Code § 114.5)
   
4. Requires the Board of Registered Nursing to adopt regulations by January 1, 2017, requiring schools of nursing to have a process to evaluate and grant credit for military education and experience. Existing law requires the Board of Registered Nursing to deny the application for approval made by, and revoke the approval given to, any school of nursing that does not give student applicants credit in the field of nursing for military education and experience by the use of challenge examinations or other methods of evaluation. (BPC § 2786.1)

This bill:

1. Requires the CCC Chancellor’s Office, by March 31, 2019, to establish an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the CCCs for students with prior learning.
   
2. Requires the initiative to do all of the following:
   
   1. Identify best practices for the use of course credit for students with prior learning.
      
   2. Locate and collect available resources.
      
   3. Provide professional development in connection with the identified best practices.
      
3. Requires the initiative to identify the best practices for purposes of establishing potential pilot programs and provide recommendations for internal systemwide policy changes to expand the use of course credit at the CCCs for students with prior learning.
   
4. Requires the Chancellor of the CCC, by January 1, 2020, to submit a report to the Legislature on the initiative, including but not limited to activities establish by the initiative. This bill requires the report to include recommendations for legislative policy changes necessary to implement the best practices identified by the initiative.
   
5. Sunsets the reporting requirement on January 1, 2024.

Comments

Not limited to veterans. Despite the title of this bill, its scope is not limited to prior learning for military experience. This bill relates to all prior learning experiences.

Recognition of prior learning. The determination for awarding credit for prior learning is within the purview of the faculty of CCCs. As such, policies and practices for awarding credit for prior learning varies widely across CCCs. The one exception to this variation relates to policies established under SB 466 (Hill, Chapter 489, Statutes of 2015) governing nursing programs. SB 466 required nursing programs in California to offer students credit for prior military experience or risk negative action by the Board of Registered Nursing (see existing law above).

Currently underway? According to the Chancellor’s Office, “in Fall of 2017, the Chancellor’s Office received a $1 million grant to develop a supportive structure for instituting credit for prior learning (CPL) throughout the CCC system. By recognizing previously acquired knowledge and experience, more students can receive an industry-valued credential or transfer to a university. Offering CPL will help both returning adults (such as returning military veterans) and students with no recognized postsecondary education by decreasing the number of units they must take to finish, thereby making completion of degrees and certificates quicker and more affordable. This bill creates a framework for this effort.

Local effort. Saddleback Community College earned an Innovation award grant to develop an online credit translator that will help military veterans identify and determine which credits they may qualify for at the college. The primary goal of the project is to increase the number of prior learning credits awarded to veteran students through existing articulation methods and by establishing systems, policies and process to recognize the types of military occupations, experiences, skills, education and training, prior certifications, and examinations that may count toward college credit. Saddleback Community College partnered with area California State University (CSU) campuses to establish a pathway from military service to community college and ultimately to a four-year-degree.

American Council on Education guide (ACE). The military issues academic transcripts for active-duty service members and veterans. The transcripts issued by the various service branches are endorsed and periodically evaluated by ACE and bear its seal. ACE also publishes the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, which provides recommendations to colleges for evaluating these transcripts. The Guide’s credit transfer recommendations are based on reviews of military coursework by a panel of university faculty members convened by ACE. These faculty members review military coursework and occupational training descriptions pertaining to their own academic disciplines, evaluating them according to disciplinary standards and expectations. Both the University of California and the CSU have adopted the American Council and Education’s standards for evaluating the academic credit or prior service of veterans, and in 2011 the CCC Academic Senate passed a resolution urging local academic senates to award credit in accordance with ACE standards.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

1. This bill could create cost pressure for the state to fund efforts by local community college districts that elect to implement the initiative as part of a pilot program. A precise estimate would vary depending on the program’s requirements to be developed by the Chancellor’s Office, but one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs could be in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
2. This bill would not result in additional costs to the Chancellor’s Office since they received a $1 million grant from the Lumina Foundation, in partnership with the Success Center at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, to develop the infrastructure and resources needed to improve credit for prior learning.

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/16/18)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/16/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 5/17/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Gallagher, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Cristina Garcia, Melendez, Muratsuchi, Santiago, Steinorth

Prepared by:

8/18/18 14:14:26

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

AB 1786 (Cervantes) - Community colleges: academic credit for prior military experience

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

This bill requires the California Community College (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for students with prior learning.

Fiscal Impact:

• This bill could create cost pressure for the state to fund efforts by local community college districts that elect to implement the initiative as part of a pilot program. A precise estimate would vary depending on the program’s requirements to be developed by the Chancellor’s Office, but one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs could be in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• This bill would not result in additional costs to the Chancellor’s Office since they received a $1 million grant from the Lumina Foundation, in partnership with the Success Center at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, to develop the infrastructure and resources needed to improve credit for prior learning.

Background:

Existing law establishes a matriculation process at the community colleges with the purpose of realizing a student's educational objectives. Matriculation services to be made available by the colleges include, but are not limited to (a) processing of admission applications, (b) orientation and pre-orientation services concerning academic expectations and financial assistance, and (c) assessment and counseling upon enrollment, as specified.

Existing law also requires the California State University (CSU) and CCC to grant priority registration for enrollment to former members of the Armed Forces of the United States within two years of leaving active military duty.

Existing law requires, by July 1, 2015 the Chancellor’s Office, using common course descriptors and pertinent standards of the American Council on Education (ACE), to determine for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

The American Council on Education (ACE) is an organization that has, since 1945, provided a collaborative link between the U. S. Department of Defense and higher education through the review of military training and experiences for the award of equivalent college credits for members of the Armed Forces. The military issues academic transcripts for active-duty service members and veterans. The transcripts issued by the various service branches are endorsed and periodically evaluated by ACE and bear its seal. ACE also publishes the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, which provides recommendations to colleges for evaluating these transcripts. Both the University of California (UC) and the CSU have adopted the ACE standards for evaluating the academic credit or prior service of veterans, and in 2011 the California Community College Academic Senate passed a resolution urging local academic senates to award credit in accordance with ACE standards.

Proposed Law:

This bill requires the CCC Chancellor’s Office, by March 31, 2019, to establish an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the CCCs for students with prior learning. The initiative would be required to do all of the following: identify best practices for the use of course credit for students with prior learning; locate and collect available resources; and provide professional development in connection with the identified best practices.

This bill also requires the initiative to identify the best practices for purposes of establishing potential pilot programs and provide recommendations for internal systemwide policy changes to expand the use of course credit at the CCCs for students with prior learning.

This bill requires the Chancellor of the CCC, by January 1, 2020, to submit a report to the Legislature on the initiative, including but not limited to activities establish by the initiative. This bill provides that the report shall include recommendations for legislative policy changes necessary to implement the best practices identified by the initiative.

Related Legislation:

SB 1071 (Roth) requires the Office of the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges, in collaboration with the Academic Senate, to develop a uniform policy for awarding course credit for prior military education, training and service. This bill is pending in the Assembly Higher Education Committee.

AB 2462 (Block, Chapter 404, Statutes of 2012) requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to determine for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience, by July 1, 2013.

Staff Comments:

According to the Chancellor’s Office, most community college districts have a policy in place to accept credits using the ACE guidelines. Generally, the districts will grant at least elective units towards the 60 units required for an associate degree. In addition, many districts will clear some general education requirements using military credit (and some clear major requirements for specific majors), either through an evaluation of military credit based on ACE guidelines or via student petition. The determination for awarding credit for prior learning including for military experience is under the purview of the college’s faculty. As such, credit for prior learning policies and practices vary widely across the state. The one exception relates to policies established under SB 466 (Hill, Chapter 489, Statutes of 2015) governing nursing programs. SB 466 mandates that nursing programs in California offer students credit for prior military experience or risk negative action by the Board of Registered Nursing.

According to the Chancellor’s Office, “in Fall of 2017, the Chancellor’s Office received a $1 million grant to develop a supportive structure for instituting credit for prior learning throughout the CCC system. By recognizing previously acquired knowledge and experience, more students can receive an industry-valued credential or transfer to a university. Offering credit for prior learning will help both returning adults (such as returning military veterans) and students with no recognized postsecondary education by decreasing the number of units they must take to finish, thereby making completion of degrees and certificates quicker and more affordable.

This bill creates a framework for this effort and requires the Chancellor’s Office to establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for students with prior learning. This could create cost pressure for the state to fund efforts by local community college districts that elect to participate in a potential pilot program. A precise estimate would vary depending on the program’s requirements to be developed, but one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs could be in hundreds of thousands of dollars. As an example, the Saddleback Community College earned an Innovation award grant of $2 million to develop an online credit translator to help military veterans identify and determine which credits they may qualify for at the college. The primary goal of the project is to increase the number of prior learning credits awarded to veteran students through existing articulation methods and by establishing systems, policies and processes to recognize the types of military occupations, experiences, skills, education and training, prior certifications, and examinations that may count toward college credit. The grantee partnered with local CSU campuses to establish a pathway from military service to community college to ultimately a four-year-degree.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Benjamin Allen, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 1786 Hearing Date: June 13, 2018

Subject: Community colleges: academic credit for prior military experience.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for students with prior learning.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Requires the Chancellor of the CCCs, using common course descriptors and pertinent standards of the American Council on Education, to determine, by July 1, 2015, for which courses credit for prior military experience should be awarded. (Education Code § 66025.7)
   
2. Requires the Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education to use funds to make awards, and requires funds to be awarded for innovations that reduce the time it takes students to complete degrees and credentials or reduce the total cost of attendance for students, or both, through any of the following:
   
   1. Redesign of curriculum and instruction, such as implementation of three-year degrees.
      
   2. Programs that allow students to make progress toward completion of degrees and credentials based on demonstration of knowledge and competencies, including military training, prior learning, and prior experiences.
      
   3. Programs that make financial aid more accessible, including by increasing the number of students who apply for financial aid, or that reduce the costs of books and supplies. (EC § 66010.97)
      
3. Requires each state-level board to inquire in every application for licensure if the individual applying for licensure is serving in, or has previously served in, the military, and requires a board that authorizes veterans to apply military experience and training towards licensure requirements to post information on the board’s Internet Web site about the ability of veteran applicants to apply military experience and training towards licensure requirements. (Business and Professions Code § 114.5)
   
4. Requires the Board of Registered Nursing to adopt regulations by January 1, 2017, requiring schools of nursing to have a process to evaluate and grant credit for military education and experience. Existing law requires the Board of Registered Nursing to deny the application for approval made by, and revoke the approval given to, any school of nursing that does not give student applicants credit in the field of nursing for military education and experience by the use of challenge examinations or other methods of evaluation. (BPC § 2786.1)

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for students with prior learning. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the CCC Chancellor’s Office, by March 31, 2019, to establish an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the CCCs for students with prior learning.
   
2. Requires the initiative to do all of the following:
   
   1. Identify best practices for the use of course credit for students with prior learning.
      
   2. Locate and collect available resources.
      
   3. Provide professional development in connection with the identified best practices.
      
3. Requires the initiative to identify the best practices for purposes of establishing potential pilot programs and provide recommendations for internal systemwide policy changes to expand the use of course credit at the CCCs for students with prior learning.
   
4. Requires the Chancellor of the CCC, by January 1, 2020, to submit a report to the Legislature on the initiative, including but not limited to activities establish by the initiative. This bill requires the report to include recommendations for legislative policy changes necessary to implement the best practices identified by the initiative.
   
5. Sunsets the reporting requirement on January 1, 2024.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author’s office, “Although this bill looks at credit for prior learning for multiple subgroups of students (nurses, firefighters, etc.) it is especially important for our veteran students. Veterans leave the United States Armed Forces with a Military Occupation Code, Rating, or Air Force Specialty code, depending on their branch. These classifications are associated with each veteran’s job in the military and corresponding training. Individual colleges and universities may grant college credit for military work experience and training, but there is not a comprehensive articulation process. This bill will reduce the amount of time veterans spend in college and significantly improve career attainment for California Veterans.”
   
2. Not limited to veterans. Despite the title of this bill, its scope is not limited to prior learning for military experience. This bill relates to all prior learning experiences.
3. Recognition of prior learning. The determination for awarding credit for prior learning is within the purview of the faculty of California Community Colleges (CCCs). As such, policies and practices for awarding credit for prior learning varies widely across CCCs. The one exception to this variation relates to policies established under SB 466 (Hill, Chapter 489, Statutes of 2015) governing nursing programs. SB 466 requires nursing programs in California to offer students credit for prior military experience or risk negative action by the Board of Registered Nursing (see existing law in the Background section of this analysis).
4. Currently underway? According to the Chancellor’s Office, “in Fall of 2017, the Chancellor’s Office received a $1 million grant to develop a supportive structure for instituting credit for prior learning (CPL) throughout the CCC system. By recognizing previously acquired knowledge and experience, more students can receive an industry-valued credential or transfer to a university. Offering CPL will help both returning adults (such as returning military veterans) and students with no recognized postsecondary education by decreasing the number of units they must take to finish, thereby making completion of degrees and certificates quicker and more affordable. This bill creates a framework for this effort.
   
5. Local effort. Saddleback Community College earned an Innovation award grant to develop an online credit translator that will help military veterans identify and determine which credits they may qualify for at the college. The primary goal of the project is to increase the number of prior learning credits awarded to veteran students through existing articulation methods and by establishing systems, policies and process to recognize the types of military occupations, experiences, skills, education and training, prior certifications, and examinations that may count toward college credit. Saddleback Community College partnered with area California State University (CSU) campuses to establish a pathway from military service to community college and ultimately to a four-year-degree.
   
6. American Council on Education guide (ACE). The military issues academic transcripts for active-duty service members and veterans. The transcripts issued by the various service branches are endorsed and periodically evaluated by ACE and bear its seal. ACE also publishes the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, which provides recommendations to colleges for evaluating these transcripts. The Guide’s credit transfer recommendations are based on reviews of military coursework by a panel of university faculty members convened by ACE. These faculty members review military coursework and occupational training descriptions pertaining to their own academic disciplines, evaluating them according to disciplinary standards and expectations. Both the University of California and the CSU have adopted the American Council and Education’s standards for evaluating the academic credit or prior service of veterans, and in 2011 the California Community College (CCC) Academic Senate passed a resolution urging local academic senates to award credit in accordance with American Council on Education (ACE) standards.
7. Fiscal impact. According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill would impose minor and absorbable costs to the CCC Chancellor’s Office to continue the work of expanding the use of credit for prior learning at CCC and submit a report on credit for prior learning. The majority of this work already is funded through a $1 million grant (see Comment # 4).
8. Prior legislation. SB 1071 (Newman, 2017) requires the CCC Chancellor’s Office, in collaboration with the Academic Senate, to develop a uniform policy for awarding course credit for prior military education, training and service. SB 1071 is pending in the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
   
   AB 372 (Hernandez, 2011) required CCCs, as part of the matriculation process, to assess prior college-level learning gained by military service personnel and veterans through non-college credit means, as determined by relevant faculty, and that the related credit awarded meet the standards of the ACE, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, or other equivalent standard for awarding academic credits. AB 372 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SUPPORT

None received

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: May 9, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1786

Author:(Cervantes) – As Amended Ver:April 26, 2018

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY: This bill requires, by March 31, 2019, the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for prior learning (CPL) in CCCs. It also requires, by January 1, 2020, the chancellor to report on the progress of the initiative and make recommendations regarding policy changes necessary to implement the best practices identified by the initiative. Specifically, this bill directs the CCC Chancellor’s Office, as part of the initiative, to identify best practices in the provision of CPL, curate resources and provide professional development related to CPL best practices, identify emerging practices in CPL for potential pilot programs, and provide recommendations for system-wide policies governing the provision of CPL.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Minor and absorbable costs to the CCC Chancellor’s Office to continue the work of expanding the use of CPL at CCC and submit a report on CPL. The majority of this work already is funded through a $1 million grant, as described in more detail below.

COMMENTS:

1. Credit for Prior Learning. CPL allows students to demonstrate college-level knowledge and competencies to earn credit toward a college degree. Some common examples of prior learning for which colleges may grant credit are military and workforce training.
2. Credit for Prior Learning at CCC. Currently, the determination to award credit for prior learning, including for military experience, is the purview of a CCC’s faculty. As a result, credit for prior learning policies and practices varies widely across CCC. The one exception relates to policies established under SB 466 (Hill), Chapter 489, Statutes of 2015, governing nursing programs. SB 466 mandates that nursing programs in California offer students credit for prior military experience or risk negative action by the Board of Registered Nursing.
3. Recent Efforts. The Foundation for California Community Colleges received a $1 million grant from the Lumina Foundation in fall 2017 to develop a structure for instituting CPL throughout the system. The office indicates CPL is valuable tool to help more students earn degrees and certificates. The work the Foundation for CCC is completing is closely aligned with the requirements of this bill.
4. Related Legislation. SB 1071 (Newman), of this session, requires the CCC Chancellor’s Office, in collaboration with the Academic Senate to develop a uniform policy for awarding course credit for prior military education, training and service. This bill also requires each community college district to adopt and implement that policy, as specified. The bill is current pending on the Senate Appropriations suspense file.

AB 2462 (Block) Chapter 404, Statutes of 2012, requires the CCC Chancellor’s Office, by July 1, 2015, to determine for which course credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

Analysis Prepared by: Natasha Collins / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 24, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1786 (

Author:Cervantes) – As Amended Ver:March 20, 2018

SUBJECT: Community colleges: academic credit for prior military experience

SUMMARY: Requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges (CCCCO), by March 31, 2019, to designate a statewide articulation officer at the CCCCO and requires that the statewide articulation officer determine for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes a matriculation process at CCCs with the purpose of realizing a student's educational objectives. Matriculation services to be made available by the colleges include, but are not limited to, (a) processing of admission applications, (b) orientation and pre-orientation services concerning academic expectations and financial assistance, and (c) assessment and counseling upon enrollment, as specified. (Education Code (EDC) Section 78212)
2. Requires, by July 1, 2015 the CCCCO, using common course descriptors and pertinent standards of the American Council on Education (ACE), to determine for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience. (EDC Section 66025.7)
3. Requires the California State University (CSU) and CCC to grant priority registration for enrollment to former members of the Armed Forces of the United States within the two years after their having left active military duty. (EDC Section 66025.8)
4. Requires the Board of Registered Nursing to adopt regulations by January 1, 2017, requiring schools to have a process to evaluate and grant credit for military education and experience. (Business and Professions Code Section 2786.1)

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS: Need for the bill. According to the author, “AB 1786 will establish an articulation officer within the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to develop a program to facilitate the transition of recent veterans to institutions of higher education.

Upon this implantation, military-to-college articulation can happen much more effectively state-wide. This program will enable community colleges to speak more directly to our veterans and will allow these individuals and colleges to leverage military training more effectively.

Additionally, it will reduce the amount of time veterans spend in college and significantly improve career attainment for California Veterans.”

Veterans in CCC. California has an estimated 1.8 million veterans residing in the state. According to the CCC, the number of veterans utilizing veteran education benefits at CCC grew from 44,000 in 2010-11 to approximately 70,000 in 2014-15 and will continue to increase dramatically. In addition, there are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 active duty personnel enrolled annually at community colleges across the state, not including dependents.

American Council on Education Guide (ACE). The military issues academic transcripts for service members and veterans. The transcripts issued by the various service branches are endorsed and periodically evaluated by ACE and bear its seal. ACE also publishes the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, which provides recommendations to colleges for evaluating these transcripts. The Guide’s credit transfer recommendations are based on reviews of military coursework by a panel of university faculty members convened by ACE. These faculty members review military coursework and occupational training descriptions pertaining to their own academic disciplines, evaluating them according to disciplinary standards and expectations. Both the University of California (UC) and CSU)have adopted the ACE standards for evaluating the academic credit or prior service of veterans, and in 2011 the CCC Academic Senate passed a resolution urging local academic senates to award credit in accordance with ACE standards.

CCC recognition of prior learning. The determination for awarding credit for prior learning including for military experience is the purview of a college’s faculty. As such, credit for prior learning policies and practices varies widely across CCC. The one exception relates to policies established under SB 466 (Hill, Chapter 489, Statutes of 2015) governing nursing programs. SB 466 mandates that nursing programs in California offer students credit for prior military experience or risk negative action by the Board of Registered Nursing

Focus on general education. A report by the Chancellor’s Office related to AB 2462 (Block, 2012), recommends that credit for prior learning should apply toward a student’s major or general education program rather than as an elective, as elective credits “will generally be of limited value for a CTE certificate or a transfer degree.” There is a general concern of over awarding elective credits for prior military experience that could have unintended consequences. The report notes that there are caps on the number of units veterans can earn and still receive financial aid, and providing them with additional unnecessary elective credit can push them over those caps without getting them closer to their academic goals.

Renewed effort and funding. Saddleback Community College earned a grant to develop an online credit translator that will help military veterans identify and determine which credits they may qualify for at the college. The primary goal of the project is to increase the number of prior learning credits awarded to veteran students through existing articulation methods and establish systems, policies and processes to recognize the types of military occupations, experiences, skills, education and training, prior certifications, and examinations that may count toward college credit. The grantee partnered with local CSU campuses to establish a pathway from military service to community college and ultimately to a four-year-degree.

Committee comments. According to the Chancellor’s Office, “in Fall of 2017, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office received a $1 million grant to develop a supportive structure for instituting credit for prior learning (CPL) throughout the system. By recognizing previously acquired knowledge and experience, more students can receive an industry-valued credential or transfer to a university. Offering CPL will help both returning adults (such as returning military veterans) and students with no recognized postsecondary education by decreasing the number of units they must take to finish, thereby making completion of degrees and certificates quicker and more affordable. This is an important step in building the Chancellor’s Office capacity to achieve the goals in the Vision for Success and better serve more Californians.”

Committee staff recommends, and the author has agreed, to amendments aligning this bill with the efforts already underway at the Chancellor’s Office to expand the use of credit for prior learning, as follows:

66025.7. (a)  By March 31, 2019, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish an initiative to expand the use of credit for prior learning in the California Community Colleges.  The initiative shall identify best practices in the provision of credit for prior learning, curate resources and provide professional development related to credit for prior learning best practices, identify emerging practices in credit for prior learning for potential pilot programs, and provide recommendations for system-wide policies governing the provision of credit for prior learning.   designate a statewide articulation officer at the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(b)  By July 1,  2019, January 1, 2020, the officer designated pursuant to subdivision (a) Chancellor shall, report to the Legislature regarding the activities of the initiative and make recommendations regarding policy changes necessary to implement the best practices identified by the initiative.   using common course descriptors and pertinent recommendations of the American Council on Education, shall  determine for which courses credit should be awarded for prior military experience.

Prior legislation. SB 1071 (Newman), of 2017, pending in Senate Appropriations, requires the CCCCO, in collaboration with the Academic Senate to develop a uniform policy for awarding course credit for prior military education, training and service. This bill also requires each community college district to adopt and implement that policy, as specified.

AB 2462 (Block) Chapter 404, Statutes of 2012, required CCCCO to determine for which course credit should be awarded for prior military experience by July 1, 2015.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Kevin Powers / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960