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 requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. 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 the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate degrees in arts and science. In addition, existing law authorizes the board of governors, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at not more than 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, to be determined by the chancellor and approved by the board of governors. Existing law requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 202223 academic year. Existing law requires the Legislative Analysts Office to conduct and report to the Legislature and the Governor the results of a final evaluation of the pilot program, as specified, on or before July 1, 2022. Existing law makes the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs inoperative on July 1, 2023, and repeals the authorization on January 1, 2024.

This bill would require that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program by the beginning of the 202223 academic year. The bill would instead require the Legislative Analysts Office to report the results of the final evaluation of the pilot program on or before July 1, 2021. The bill would extend the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by 3 years.

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 requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. 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 the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate degrees in arts and science. In addition, existing law authorizes the board of governors, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at not more than 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, to be determined by the chancellor and approved by the board of governors. Existing law requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 202223 academic year. Existing law requires the Legislative Analysts Office to conduct and report to the Legislature and the Governor the results of a final evaluation of the pilot program, as specified, on or before July 1, 2022. Existing law makes the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs inoperative on July 1, 2023, and repeals the authorization on January 1, 2024.

This bill would require that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program by the beginning of the 202223 academic year. The bill would instead require the Legislative Analysts Office to report the results of the final evaluation of the pilot program on or before July 1, 2021. The bill would extend the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by 3 years.

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 requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. 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 the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate degrees in arts and science. In addition, existing law authorizes the board of governors, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at not more than 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, to be determined by the chancellor and approved by the board of governors. Existing law requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 202223 academic year. Existing law requires the Legislative Analysts Office to conduct and report to the Legislature and the Governor the results of a final evaluation of the pilot program, as specified, on or before July 1, 2022. Existing law makes the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs inoperative on July 1, 2023, and repeals the authorization on January 1, 2024.

This bill would require that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program by the beginning of the 202223 academic year. This The bill would instead require the Legislative Analysts Office to report the results of the final evaluation of the pilot program on or before July 1, 2021. The bill would extend the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by 3 years.

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 requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. 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 the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate degrees in arts and science. In addition, existing law authorizes the board of governors, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at not more than 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, to be determined by the chancellor and approved by the board of governors. Existing law requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 202223 academic year. Existing law makes the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs inoperative on July 1, 2023, and repeals the authorization on January 1, 2024.

This bill would require that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program by the beginning of the 202223 academic year. This bill would extend the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by 2 3 years.

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 requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. 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 the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate degrees in arts and science. In addition, existing law authorizes the board of governors, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at not more than 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, to be determined by the chancellor and approved by the board of governors. Existing law requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 202223 academic year. Existing law makes the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs inoperative on July 1, 2023, and repeals the authorization on January 1, 2024.

This bill would require that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program by the beginning of the 202223 academic year. This bill would extend the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by 2 years.

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS  

Bill No: SB 1406

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 6-0, 4/4/18

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

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

SENATE FLOOR: 36-0, 4/30/18

AYES: Allen, Anderson, Atkins, Bates, Beall, Bradford, Dodd, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Lara, Leyva, McGuire, Mitchell, Monning, Moorlach, Morrell, Newman, Nguyen, Nielsen, Pan, Portantino, Roth, Skinner, Stern, Stone, Vidak, Wieckowski, Wiener, Wilk

NO VOTE RECORDED: Berryhill, Cannella, De León

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 8/28/18 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill extends the sunset date of the authorization for the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (CCC) to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years.

Assembly Amendments reduce, by one year, the length of time the independent evaluation required under existing law is to be conducted by the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Differentiates the missions and functions of public and independent institutions of higher education. Under these provisions:
   1. The primary mission of the California State University (CSU) is required to offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree. The CSU is authorized to establish two-year programs only when mutually agreed upon by the Trustees and the CCC Board of Governors. The CSU is also authorized to jointly award the doctoral degree with the University of California (UC), and with one or more independent institutions of higher education.
   2. The UC is authorized to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over graduate instruction in the professions of law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. The UC is also the primary state-supported academic agency for research.
   3. The independent institutions of higher education are required to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in accordance with their respective missions.
   4. The mission and function of the CCC is the offering of academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level and the CCC are authorized to grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degree. The community colleges are also required to offer remedial instruction, English as a Second Language instruction, and adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level. (Education Code § 66010.4)
2. Authorizes the Board of Governors (BOG) of the CCC, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC and as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC Completion of an independent evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office is also required and sunsets the program on July 1, 2023. (EC § 78040 et seq.)

This bill:

1. Extends the July 1, 2023, inoperative and January 1, 2026, repeal dates of the authorization for the BOG of the CCC to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years.
2. Requires that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program no later than the 2022-23 academic year.
3. Repeals an existing requirement that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program complete his or her degree program by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.
4. Reduces, by one year, the length of time the independent evaluation required under existing law is to be conducted by the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “the challenge with the sunset is that colleges are working with local high schools and prospective students on recruiting efforts. A large part of those efforts are focused on working with local industries to identify incumbent workers who can move into programs. If the sunset remains, colleges will not be able to recruit past spring of 2018 since the program currently ends in 2022-2023 (academic year). Students are unlikely to choose programs that have no guarantee of continuing, thus program viability would be in jeopardy.”
2. Status of existing pilot. As outlined in the Master Plan for Higher Education and by state statute, the CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. However, authorization to offer baccalaureate degrees on piloted bases was granted under Senate Bill 850 (Block, Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014). Specifically, SB 850 authorized the BOG, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish a baccalaureate degree pilot program. The pilot program allows up to 15 participating community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree program each to meet local workforce needs as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC. SB 850 sunsets on July 1, 2023.

Under SB 850, the four-year degree programs must be up and running by the 2017-18 academic year. Below is the list of colleges that were selected to participate in the pilot:

• 1. Antelope Valley College (airframe manufacturing technology)
  2. Bakersfield College (industrial automation)
  3. Cypress College (mortuary science)
  4. Feather River College (equine industry)
  5. Foothill College (dental hygiene)
  6. Mesa College (health information management)
  7. Mira Costa College (biomanufacturing)
  8. Modesto Junior College (respiratory care)
  9. Santa Ana College (occupational studies)
  10. Shasta College (health information management)
  11. Skyline College (respiratory care)
  12. West Los Angeles College (dental hygiene)
  13. Rio Hondo College (automotive technology)
  14. Santa Monica College (interaction design)
  15. Solano Community College (biotechnology)

According to the Community College Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office), of the 15 colleges, 10 started offering classes for their baccalaureate degree pilot programs in fall 2016: The 5 remaining colleges began offering classes fall 2017. The Chancellor’s Office reports that for the fall 2016, 206 students are enrolled in the baccalaureate degree pilot program.

1. Interim evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). SB 850 additionally directs the LAO to conduct interim and final evaluations of the pilot program, which are due on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2022, respectively, before the pilot program sunsets on July 1, 2023. The interim evaluation was released ahead of schedule in December 2017. SB 850 directed LAO to include in its report, among other things, an evaluation of completion rates, the impact of baccalaureate degree pilot program on underserved and underprepared students, information on job placement of graduates and recommendations on whether and how the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program can or should be extended and expanded. Findings and recommendations relevant to the provisions of this bill include the following:
   1. Under the existing sunset date and timeline, very little graduation and workforce outcome data will be available at the final evaluation date to help ascertain whether the program is effective.

• 1. Extension of the sunset to permit participating districts to continue enrolling new students to enter the pilot would result in additional years of student outcome data and a more rigorous final program evaluation. However, LAO recommends that the Legislature exercise caution in extending the bachelor’s degree pilot program. Extending the enrollment period too long would further engrain a program, making terminating the pilot more difficult.
  2. Expansion of the pilot in advance of its final evaluation is not recommended given the numerous concerns about program selection and consultation, a lack of any graduation or workforce outcomes and problems in financial reporting.

The proposed three-year extension seems to strike an appropriate balance between heeding the concern raised by the LAO evaluation relative to sunset provisions and allowing for additional student-outcome data to become available. Additionally, changes to the timeline may afford existing participants more time to complete their respective programs.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, there are minor annual costs to CCC Chancellor's Office to oversee the program for three additional years. Since implementation of the program, the chancellor's office indicates its role has declined in terms of offering technical assistance and collecting data, however, there would still be costs at the chancellor's office to oversee the program for an additional three years.

There are also estimated to be minor annual costs to 15 community college districts to extend the date by which pilot programs can enroll students by three years. Although ongoing costs for operating a pilot program have been low, according to participating colleges, costs would be cumulative for 15 college districts for additional three years

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/28/18)

Board of the Community College League of California

California Community College Chancellor’s Office

California Community College Trustees

Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges

Feather River College

Foothill- De Anza Community College District

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Imperial Community College District

Imperial Community College District

Kern Community College District

Los Rios Community College District

MiraCosta Community College District

North Orange County Community College District

Peralta Community College District

San Diego Community College District

San Diego Mesa College

San Francisco Community College District

South Orange County Community College District

Southwestern Community College District

Yuba Community College District

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/28/18)

California Faculty Association

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 8/28/18

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

NO VOTE RECORDED: Chu, McCarty

Prepared by:

8/28/18 22:55:48

**** END ****

SENATE THIRD READING

STR Bill Id:SB 1406

Author:(Hill)

As Amended Ver:August 6, 2018

Majority vote

SENATE VOTE: 36-0

SUMMARY: This bill extends the sunset date of the authorization for the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (CCC) to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years. Specifically, this bill:

1. Extends the July 1, 2023, inoperative and January 1, 2026, repeal dates of the authorization for the Board of Governors (BOG) of the CCC to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years.
2. Requires that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program no later than the 2022-23 academic year.
3. Repeals an existing requirement that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program complete his or her degree program by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Differentiates the missions and functions of public and independent institutions of higher education. Under these provisions:
   1. The primary mission of the California State University (CSU) is required to offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master's degree. The CSU is authorized to establish two-year programs only when mutually agreed upon by the Trustees and the CCC Board of Governors. The CSU is also authorized to jointly award the doctoral degree with the University of California (UC), and with one or more independent institutions of higher education;
   2. The UC is authorized to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over graduate instruction in the professions of law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. The UC is also the primary state-supported academic agency for research;
   3. The independent institutions of higher education are required to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in accordance with their respective missions; and,
   4. The mission and function of the CCC is the offering of academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level and the CCC are authorized to grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degree. The community colleges are also required to offer remedial instruction, English as a Second Language instruction, and adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level. (Education Code (EDC) Section 66010.4)
2. Authorizes the Board of Governors (BOG) of the CCC, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC and as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC Completion of an independent evaluation by the Legislative Analyst's Office is also required and sunsets the program on July 1, 2023. (EDC Section 78040 et seq.)

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, there are minor annual costs to CCC Chancellor's Office to oversee the program for three additional years. Since implementation of the program, the chancellor's office indicates its role has declined in terms of offering technical assistance and collecting data, however, there would still be costs at the chancellor's office to oversee the program for an additional three years.

There are also estimated to be minor annual costs to 15 community college districts to extend the date by which pilot programs can enroll students by three years. Although ongoing costs for operating a pilot program have been low, according to participating colleges, costs would be cumulative for 15 college districts for additional three years

COMMENTS: Need for the bill. According to the author, "the challenge with the sunset is that colleges are working with local high schools and prospective students on recruiting efforts. A large part of those efforts are focused on working with local industries to identify incumbent workers who can move into programs. If the sunset remains, colleges will not be able to recruit past spring of 2018 since the program currently ends in 2022-2023 (academic year). Students are unlikely to choose programs that have no guarantee of continuing, thus program viability would be in jeopardy."

Status of existing pilot. As outlined in the Master Plan for Higher Education and by state statute, the CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. However, authorization to offer baccalaureate degrees on piloted bases was granted under Senate Bill 850 (Block), Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014. Specifically, SB 850 authorized the BOG, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish a baccalaureate degree pilot program. The pilot program allows up to 15 participating community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree program each to meet local workforce needs as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC. SB 850 sunsets on July 1, 2023.

Under SB 850, the four-year degree programs must be up and running by the 2017-18 academic year. Below is the list of colleges that were selected to participate in the pilot:

1. Antelope Valley College (airframe manufacturing technology)
2. Bakersfield College (industrial automation)
3. Cypress College (mortuary science)
4. Feather River College (equine industry)
5. Foothill College (dental hygiene)
6. Mesa College (health information management)
7. Mira Costa College (biomanufacturing)
8. Modesto Junior College (respiratory care)
9. Santa Ana College (occupational studies)
10. Shasta College (health information management)
11. Skyline College (respiratory care)
12. West Los Angeles College (dental hygiene)
13. Rio Hondo College (automotive technology)
14. Santa Monica College (interaction design)
15. Solano Community College (biotechnology)

According to the Community College Chancellor's Office (Chancellor's Office), of the 15 colleges, 10 started offering classes for their baccalaureate degree pilot programs in fall 2016: The five remaining colleges began offering classes fall 2017. The Chancellor's Office reports that for the fall 2016, 206 students are enrolled in the baccalaureate degree pilot program.

Interim evaluation by the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO). SB 850 additionally directs the LAO to conduct interim and final evaluations of the pilot program, which are due on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2022, respectively, before the pilot program sunsets on July 1, 2023. The interim evaluation was released ahead of schedule in December 2017. SB 850 directed the LAO to include in its report, among other things, an evaluation of completion rates, the impact of baccalaureate degree pilot program on underserved and underprepared students, information on job placement of graduates and recommendations on whether and how the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program can or should be extended and expanded.

Findings and recommendations relevant to the provisions of this bill include the following:

1. Under the existing sunset date and timeline, very little graduation and workforce outcome data will be available at the final evaluation date to help ascertain whether the program is effective.
2. Extension of the sunset to permit participating districts to continue enrolling new students to enter the pilot would result in additional years of student outcome data and a more rigorous final program evaluation. However, LAO recommends that the Legislature exercise caution in extending the bachelor's degree pilot program. Extending the enrollment period too long would further engrain a program, making terminating the pilot more difficult.
3. Expansion of the pilot in advance of its final evaluation is not recommended given the numerous concerns about program selection and consultation, a lack of any graduation or workforce outcomes and problems in financial reporting.

The LAO recommends that, to allow for a more robust evaluation without entrenching the program for many years, the Legislature could allow students to enroll through the fall 2021 term, while moving up the final evaluation by one year. This bill instead opts to keep the final evaluation in 2022, and instead allows for enrollment through the fall 2022 term. The proposed three-year enrollment extension seems to strike an appropriate balance between heeding the concern raised by the LAO evaluation relative to sunset provisions and allowing for additional student-outcome data to become available. Additionally, changes to the timeline may afford existing participants more time to complete their respective programs.

Arguments in Support. The Community College League of California notes that "The 15 community college pilot baccalaureate programs have discovered that the current pilot sunset date of 2023 creates programmatic obstacles for current and future students, and it taints the analysis of the pilots by introducing a variable affecting enrollment and related operational issues. The 2023 sunset date deters students from enrolling since they are concerned with completing the programs in advance of the deadline. This not only deters future enrollment in the programs, it contaminates the analysis of the pilot program by introducing an artificial barrier to enrollment. Moreover, extension of the registration period would offer more data for the LAO analysis of the pilot programs."

"SB 1406 provides a necessary modification to the existing community college baccalaureate pilot program. These degrees will increase student access to career education programs and benefit local employers and communities. Further, by extending the enrollment date, colleges can continue essential partnerships with local high schools to recruit prospective students without the fear of the program being eliminated in four years."

Arguments in Opposition. The California Faculty Association, California Labor Federation, Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges, and SEIU California jointly write that, "Last December, the [LAO] issued an interim evaluation of the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program and while it noted that the California Community College Chancellor's office made rapid progress in implementing it, there was limited review and consultation with the CSU. Also, some degree programs were approved over the CSU's objections, contradicting both the letter and spirit of the initial implementing legislation."

"It's important to note that the LAO found a majority of the fields selected for the pilot program did not require a bachelor's degree for licensure or certification. The report also found that little student outcome data would be available by the final date to help determine the effectiveness of the program. As noted in the report 'extending the sunset date, however, would have a major drawback. A longer enrollment period would work to further engrain the program in the status quo, potentially making terminating the pilot more difficult even if the outcome data show that the pilot was ineffective.'"

Prior legislation. SB 769 (Hill) of 2017 would extend the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program until July 1, 2028, and would extend the time by which a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program is required to complete his or her degree to the end of the 2027–28 academic year. SB 769 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 850 (Block) Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014, authorized the Board of Governors of the California Community College (CCC), in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC.

Analysis Prepared by: Kevin J. Powers / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0004222

Date of Hearing: August 8, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1406

Author:(Hill) – As Amended Ver:August 6, 2018

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

SUMMARY:

This bill requires a community college student participating in a Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program commence their degree program by the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year. This bill extends the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by three years. It also moves up the final evaluation of the report to be completed by the Legislative Analyst’s Office from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2021.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. Minor annual costs to California Community College (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to oversee the program for three additional years. Since implementation of the program, the chancellor’s office indicates its role has declined in terms of offering technical assistance and collecting data, however, there would still be costs at the chancellor’s office to oversee the program for an additional three years.
2. Minor annual costs to 15 community college districts to extend the date by which pilot programs can enroll students by three years. Although ongoing costs for operating a pilot program have been low, according to participating colleges, costs would be cumulative for 15 college districts for additional three years.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author:

The challenge with the sunset is that colleges are working with local high schools and prospective students on recruiting efforts. A large part of those efforts are focused on working with local industries to identify incumbent workers who can move into programs. If the sunset remains, colleges will not be able to recruit past spring of 2018 since the program currently ends in 2022-2023 (academic year). Students are unlikely to choose programs that have no guarantee of continuing, thus program viability would be in jeopardy.

1. Background. California’s Master Plan of Education differentiates functions between the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and CCC. Under the Master Plan, UC and CSU provide upper-division and graduate-level coursework, while CCC provides lower-division coursework. Specifically, UC provides bachelor and graduate degrees, including doctoral degrees. CSU provides bachelor and graduate degrees, and may award doctoral degrees jointly with the UC. CCC provides associate’s degrees, certificates, and remedial instruction (such as noncredit adult education).
2. CCC Bachelor Degree Pilot Program. Senate Bill 850 (Block) Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014, authorized the CCC, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish the pilot to allow up to 15 participating community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree program each to meet local workforce needs. The programs may not duplicate a bachelor’s degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC. SB 850 sunsets on July 1, 2023, with two program evaluations from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO)—an interim evaluation due July 1, 2018, and a final evaluation due July 1, 2022.

According to the author of the pilot’s authorizing legislation, the state needs to increase the number of individuals with a bachelor’s degree, and the purpose of legislation was to find new methods for producing more individuals with bachelor’s degrees.

1. Pilot Update. According to the CCC Chancellor’s Office, 15 colleges have established programs. Ten began offering courses in the 2016-17 school year and five began offering courses in the 2017-18 school year. 206 students were enrolled in the pilot program in 2016-17. The bachelor’s degrees programs range from mortuary science to dental hygiene.

The LAO released its interim report in late 2017 and found, under the existing sunset date and timeline, very little graduation and workforce outcome data will be available at the final evaluation date to help ascertain whether the program is effective. The LAO also found a majority of the fields selected for the pilot program did not require a bachelor’s degree for licensure or certification. It also noted CSU’s concerns about how pilot programs were selected.

The LAO recommended that the Legislature extend the length of the pilot to allow for a more robust final evaluation of the program. However, the LAO cautioned expanding the pilot program in advance of its final evaluation, given the CSU’s concerns with the program and a lack of data available for review as part of the interim report.

1. Support and Opposition. The CCC Chancellor’s Office and the Community College League of California, as well as various colleges and others, support the bill. The Community College League indicates:

These degrees will increase student access to career education programs and benefit local employers and communities…by extending the enrollment date, colleges can continue essential partnerships with local high schools to recruit prospective students without the fear of the program being eliminated in four years.

The California Faculty Association, California Labor Federation, Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges, and SEIU California are opposed to the bill. They note that in the implementation of the pilot “some degree programs were approved over the CSU’s objections, contradicting both the letter and spirit of the initial implementing legislation.”

1. Prior Legislation. SB 769 (Hill) extends the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program until July 1, 2028, and extends the time by which a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program is required to complete his or her degree to the end of the 2027-28 academic year. The bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 850 (Block) Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014, authorized the Board of Governors of the CCC, in consultation with the CSU and UC, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the chancellor of the CCC.

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

Date of Hearing: June 26, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1406

Author:(Hill) – As Amended Ver:April 10, 2018

SENATE VOTE: 36-0

SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: community college districts: baccalaureate degree pilot program

SUMMARY: This bill extends the sunset date of the authorization for the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (CCC) to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years. Specifically, this bill:

1. Extends the July 1, 2023, inoperative and January 1, 2026, repeal dates of the authorization for the Board of Governors (BOG) of the CCC to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years.
2. Requires that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program no later than the 2022-23 academic year.
3. Repeals an existing requirement that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program complete his or her degree program by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Differentiates the missions and functions of public and independent institutions of higher education. Under these provisions:
   1. The primary mission of the California State University (CSU) is required to offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree. The CSU is authorized to establish two-year programs only when mutually agreed upon by the Trustees and the CCC Board of Governors. The CSU is also authorized to jointly award the doctoral degree with the University of California (UC), and with one or more independent institutions of higher education;
   2. The UC is authorized to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over graduate instruction in the professions of law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. The UC is also the primary state-supported academic agency for research;
   3. The independent institutions of higher education are required to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in accordance with their respective missions; and,
   4. The mission and function of the CCC is the offering of academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level and the CCC are authorized to grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degree. The community colleges are also required to offer remedial instruction, English as a Second Language instruction, and adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level. (Education Code (EDC) Section 66010.4)
2. Authorizes the Board of Governors (BOG) of the CCC, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC and as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC Completion of an independent evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office is also required and sunsets the program on July 1, 2023. (EDC Section 78040 et seq.)

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill passed out of the Senate Committee on Appropriation pursuant to Rule 28.8.

COMMENTS: Need for the bill. According to the author, “the challenge with the sunset is that colleges are working with local high schools and prospective students on recruiting efforts. A large part of those efforts are focused on working with local industries to identify incumbent workers who can move into programs. If the sunset remains, colleges will not be able to recruit past spring of 2018 since the program currently ends in 2022-2023 (academic year). Students are unlikely to choose programs that have no guarantee of continuing, thus program viability would be in jeopardy.”

Status of existing pilot. As outlined in the Master Plan for Higher Education and by state statute, the CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. However, authorization to offer baccalaureate degrees on piloted bases was granted under Senate Bill 850 (Block, Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014). Specifically, SB 850 authorized the BOG, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish a baccalaureate degree pilot program. The pilot program allows up to 15 participating community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree program each to meet local workforce needs as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC. SB 850 sunsets on July 1, 2023.

Under SB 850, the four-year degree programs must be up and running by the 2017-18 academic year. Below is the list of colleges that were selected to participate in the pilot:

a) Antelope Valley College (airframe manufacturing technology)

b) Bakersfield College (industrial automation)

c) Cypress College (mortuary science)

d) Feather River College (equine industry)

e) Foothill College (dental hygiene)

f) Mesa College (health information management)

g) Mira Costa College (biomanufacturing)

h) Modesto Junior College (respiratory care)

i) Santa Ana College (occupational studies)

j) Shasta College (health information management)

k) Skyline College (respiratory care)

l) West Los Angeles College (dental hygiene)

m) Rio Hondo College (automotive technology)

n) Santa Monica College (interaction design)

o) Solano Community College (biotechnology)

According to the Community College Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office), of the 15 colleges, 10 started offering classes for their baccalaureate degree pilot programs in fall 2016: The 5 remaining colleges began offering classes fall 2017. The Chancellor’s Office reports that for the fall 2016, 206 students are enrolled in the baccalaureate degree pilot program.

Interim evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). SB 850 additionally directs the LAO to conduct interim and final evaluations of the pilot program, which are due on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2022, respectively, before the pilot program sunsets on July 1, 2023. The interim evaluation was released ahead of schedule in December 2017. SB 850 directed the LAO to include in its report, among other things, an evaluation of completion rates, the impact of baccalaureate degree pilot program on underserved and underprepared students, information on job placement of graduates and recommendations on whether and how the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program can or should be extended and expanded.

Findings and recommendations relevant to the provisions of this bill include the following:

1. Under the existing sunset date and timeline, very little graduation and workforce outcome data will be available at the final evaluation date to help ascertain whether the program is effective.
2. Extension of the sunset to permit participating districts to continue enrolling new students to enter the pilot would result in additional years of student outcome data and a more rigorous final program evaluation. However, LAO recommends that the Legislature exercise caution in extending the bachelor’s degree pilot program. Extending the enrollment period too long would further engrain a program, making terminating the pilot more difficult.
3. Expansion of the pilot in advance of its final evaluation is not recommended given the numerous concerns about program selection and consultation, a lack of any graduation or workforce outcomes and problems in financial reporting.

The LAO recommends that, to allow for a more robust evaluation without entrenching the program for many years, the Legislature could allow students to enroll through the fall 2021 term, while moving up the final evaluation by one year. This bill instead opts to keep the final evaluation in 2022, and instead allows for enrollment through the fall 2022 term. The proposed three-year enrollment extension seems to strike an appropriate balance between heeding the concern raised by the LAO evaluation relative to sunset provisions and allowing for additional student-outcome data to become available. Additionally, changes to the timeline may afford existing participants more time to complete their respective programs.

Arguments in Support. The Community College League of California notes that “The 15 community college pilot baccalaureate programs have discovered that the current pilot sunset date of 2023 creates programmatic obstacles for current and future students, and it taints the analysis of the pilots by introducing a variable affecting enrollment and related operational issues. The 2023 sunset date deters students from enrolling since they are concerned with completing the programs in advance of the deadline. This not only deters future enrollment in the programs, it contaminates the analysis of the pilot program by introducing an artificial barrier to enrollment. Moreover, extension of the registration period would offer more data for the LAO analysis of the pilot programs.”

“SB 1406 provides a necessary modification to the existing community college baccalaureate pilot program. These degrees will increase student access to career education programs and benefit local employers and communities. Further, by extending the enrollment date, colleges can continue essential partnerships with local high schools to recruit prospective students without the fear of the program being eliminated in four years.”

Arguments in Opposition. The California Faculty Association, California Labor Federation, Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges, and SEIU California jointly write that, “Last December, the [LAO] issued an interim evaluation of the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program and while it noted that the California Community College Chancellor’s office made rapid progress in implementing it, there was limited review and consultation with the CSU. Also, some degree programs were approved over the CSU’s objections, contradicting both the letter and spirit of the initial implementing legislation.”

“It’s important to note that the LAO found a majority of the fields selected for the pilot program did not require a bachelor’s degree for licensure or certification. The report also found that little student outcome data would be available by the final date to help determine the effectiveness of the program. As noted in the report ‘extending the sunset date, however, would have a major drawback. A longer enrollment period would work to further engrain the program in the status quo, potentially making terminating the pilot more difficult even if the outcome data show that the pilot was ineffective.’”

Prior legislation. SB 769 (Hill) of 2017 would extend the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program until July 1, 2028, and would extend the time by which a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program is required to complete his or her degree to the end of the 2027–28 academic year. SB 769 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 850 (Block) Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014 authorized the Board of Governors of the California Community College (CCC), in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Association of California Community College Administrators

California Community College Chancellor’s Office

College of the Canyons

Community College League of California

Foothill-De Anza Community College District

Kern Community College District

League of Women Voters of California

Los Angeles Community College District

Los Rios Community College District

North Orange Community College District

Peralta Community College District

San Diego Community College District

San Francisco Community College District

San Jose-Evergreen Community College District

Santa Monica College

South Orange Community College District

Yuba Community College District

Opposition

California Faculty Association

California Labor Federation

Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges

SEIU California

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

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 1406

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 6-0, 4/4/18

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

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill extends the sunset date of the authorization for the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (CCC) to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Differentiates the missions and functions of public and independent institutions of higher education. Under these provisions:
   1. The primary mission of the California State University (CSU) is required to offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree. The CSU is authorized to establish two-year programs only when mutually agreed upon by the Trustees and the CCC Board of Governors. The CSU is also authorized to jointly award the doctoral degree with the University of California (UC), and with one or more independent institutions of higher education.
   2. The UC is authorized to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over graduate instruction in the professions of law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. The UC is also the primary state-supported academic agency for research.
   3. The independent institutions of higher education are required to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in accordance with their respective missions.
   4. The mission and function of the CCC is the offering of academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level and the CCC are authorized to grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degree. The community colleges are also required to offer remedial instruction, English as a Second Language instruction, and adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level. (Education Code § 66010.4)
2. Authorizes the Board of Governors (BOG) of the CCC, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC and as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC Completion of an independent evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office is also required and sunsets the program on July 1, 2023. (EC § 78040 et seq.)

This bill:

1. Extends the July 1, 2023, inoperative and January 1, 2026, repeal dates of the authorization for the BOG of the CCC to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by three years.
2. Requires that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program no later than the 2022-23 academic year.
3. Repeals an existing requirement that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program complete his or her degree program by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “the challenge with the sunset is that colleges are working with local high schools and prospective students on recruiting efforts. A large part of those efforts are focused on working with local industries to identify incumbent workers who can move into programs. If the sunset remains, colleges will not be able to recruit past spring of 2018 since the program currently ends in 2022-2023 (academic year). Students are unlikely to choose programs that have no guarantee of continuing, thus program viability would be in jeopardy.”
2. Status of existing pilot. As outlined in the Master Plan for Higher Education and by state statute, the CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. However, authorization to offer baccalaureate degrees on piloted bases was granted under Senate Bill 850 (Block, Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014). Specifically, SB 850 authorized the BOG, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish a baccalaureate degree pilot program. The pilot program allows up to 15 participating community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree program each to meet local workforce needs as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC. SB 850 sunsets on July 1, 2023.

Under SB 850, the four-year degree programs must be up and running by the 2017-18 academic year. Below is the list of colleges that were selected to participate in the pilot:

• 1. Antelope Valley College (airframe manufacturing technology)
  2. Bakersfield College (industrial automation)
  3. Cypress College (mortuary science)
  4. Feather River College (equine industry)
  5. Foothill College (dental hygiene)
  6. Mesa College (health information management)
  7. Mira Costa College (biomanufacturing)
  8. Modesto Junior College (respiratory care)
  9. Santa Ana College (occupational studies)
  10. Shasta College (health information management)
  11. Skyline College (respiratory care)
  12. West Los Angeles College (dental hygiene)
  13. Rio Hondo College (automotive technology)
  14. Santa Monica College (interaction design)
  15. Solano Community College (biotechnology)

According to the Community College Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office), of the 15 colleges, 10 started offering classes for their baccalaureate degree pilot programs in fall 2016: The 5 remaining colleges began offering classes fall 2017. The Chancellor’s Office reports that for the fall 2016, 206 students are enrolled in the baccalaureate degree pilot program.

1. Interim evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). SB 850 additionally directs the LAO to conduct interim and final evaluations of the pilot program, which are due on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2022, respectively, before the pilot program sunsets on July 1, 2023. The interim evaluation was released ahead of schedule in December 2017. SB 850 directed LAO to include in its report, among other things, an evaluation of completion rates, the impact of baccalaureate degree pilot program on underserved and underprepared students, information on job placement of graduates and recommendations on whether and how the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program can or should be extended and expanded. Findings and recommendations relevant to the provisions of this bill include the following:
   1. Under the existing sunset date and timeline, very little graduation and workforce outcome data will be available at the final evaluation date to help ascertain whether the program is effective.

• 1. Extension of the sunset to permit participating districts to continue enrolling new students to enter the pilot would result in additional years of student outcome data and a more rigorous final program evaluation. However, LAO recommends that the Legislature exercise caution in extending the bachelor’s degree pilot program. Extending the enrollment period too long would further engrain a program, making terminating the pilot more difficult.
  2. Expansion of the pilot in advance of its final evaluation is not recommended given the numerous concerns about program selection and consultation, a lack of any graduation or workforce outcomes and problems in financial reporting.

The proposed three-year extension seems to strike an appropriate balance between heeding the concern raised by the LAO evaluation relative to sunset provisions and allowing for additional student-outcome data to become available. Additionally, changes to the timeline may afford existing participants more time to complete their respective programs.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 4/24/18)

Board of the Community College League of California

California Community College Chancellor’s Office

California Community College Trustees

Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges

Feather River College

Foothill- De Anza Community College District

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Imperial Community College District

Kern Community College District

Los Rios Community College District

North Orange County Community College District

Peralta Community College District

San Diego Community College District

San Diego Mesa College

San Francisco Community College District

South Orange County Community College District

Southwestern Community College District

Yuba Community College District

OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/24/18)

California Faculty Association

Prepared by:

4/25/18 16:36:39

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Benjamin Allen, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: SB 1406 Hearing Date: April 4, 2018

Subject: Public postsecondary education: community college districts: baccalaureate degree pilot program

SUMMARY

This bill extends the sunset date of the authorization for the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (CCC) to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by two years.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Differentiates the missions and functions of public and independent institutions of higher education. Under these provisions:
   1. The primary mission of the California State University (CSU) is required to offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree. The CSU is authorized to establish two-year programs only when mutually agreed upon by the Trustees and the CCC Board of Governors. The CSU is also authorized to jointly award the doctoral degree with the University of California (UC), and with one or more independent institutions of higher education.
   2. The UC is authorized to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over graduate instruction in the professions of law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. The UC is also the primary state-supported academic agency for research.
   3. The independent institutions of higher education are required to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in accordance with their respective missions.
   4. The mission and function of the CCC is the offering of academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level and the CCC are authorized to grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degree. The community colleges are also required to offer remedial instruction, English as a Second Language instruction, and adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level. (Education Code § 66010.4)
2. Authorizes the Board of Governors (BOG) of the California Community Colleges (CCC), in consultation with the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC), to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC and as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC Completion of an independent evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office is also required and sunsets the program on July 1, 2023. (EC § 78040 et seq.)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Extends the July 1, 2023, inoperative and January 1, 2026, repeal dates of the authorization for the BOG of the CCC to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs by two years.
2. Requires that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program no later than the 2022-23 academic year.
3. Repeals an existing requirement that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program complete his or her degree program by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “the challenge with the sunset is that colleges are working with local high schools and prospective students on recruiting efforts. A large part of those efforts are focused on working with local industries to identify incumbent workers who can move into programs. If the sunset remains, colleges will not be able to recruit past spring of 2018 since the program currently ends in 2022-2023 (academic year). Students are unlikely to choose programs that have no guarantee of continuing, thus program viability would be in jeopardy.”
2. Status of existing pilot. As outlined in the Master Plan for Higher Education and by state statute, the CCCs are designated to have an open admission policy and bear the most extensive responsibility for lower-division undergraduate instruction. However, authorization to offer baccalaureate degrees on piloted bases was granted under Senate Bill 850 (Block, Ch. 747, Stats. 2014). Specifically, SB 850 authorized the BOG, in consultation with the CSU and the UC, to establish a baccalaureate degree pilot program. The pilot program allows up to 15 participating community college districts to offer one baccalaureate degree program each to meet local workforce needs as long as it does not duplicate a baccalaureate degree program already offered by the CSU or the UC. SB 850 sunsets on July 1, 2023.

Under SB 850, the four-year degree programs must be up and running by the 2017-18 academic year. Below is the list of colleges that were selected to participate in the pilot:

1. Antelope Valley College (airframe manufacturing technology)

2. Bakersfield College (industrial automation)

3. Cypress College (mortuary science)

4. Feather River College (equine industry)

5. Foothill College (dental hygiene)

6. Mesa College (health information management)

7. Mira Costa College (biomanufacturing)

8. Modesto Junior College (respiratory care)

9. Santa Ana College (occupational studies)

10. Shasta College (health information management)

11. Skyline College (respiratory care)

12. West Los Angeles College (dental hygiene)

13. Rio Hondo College (automotive technology)

14. Santa Monica College (interaction design)

15. Solano Community College (biotechnology)

According to the Community College Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office), of the 15 colleges, 10 started offering classes for their baccalaureate degree pilot programs in fall 2016: The 5 remaining colleges began offering classes fall 2017. The Chancellor’s Office reports that for the fall 2016, 206 students are enrolled in the baccalaureate degree pilot program.

1. Interim evaluation by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). SB 850 additionally directs the LAO to conduct interim and final evaluations of the pilot program, which are due on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2022, respectively, before the pilot program sunsets on July 1, 2023. The interim evaluation was released ahead of schedule in December 2017. SB 850 directed LAO to include in its report, among other things, an evaluation of completion rates, the impact of baccalaureate degree pilot program on underserved and underprepared students, information on job placement of graduates and recommendations on whether and how the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program can or should be extended and expanded. Findings and recommendations relevant to the provisions in this bill include the following:
   1. Under the existing sunset date and timeline, very little graduation and workforce outcome data will be available at the final evaluation date to help ascertain whether the program is effective.

• 1. Extension of the sunset to permit participating districts to continue enrolling new students to enter the pilot would result in additional years of student outcome data and a more rigorous final program evaluation. However, LAO recommends that the Legislature exercise caution in extending the bachelor’s degree pilot program. Extending the enrollment period too long would further engrain a program, making terminating the pilot more difficult.
  2. Expansion of the pilot in advance of its final evaluation is not recommended given the numerous concerns about program selection and consultation, a lack of any graduation or workforce outcomes and problems in financial reporting.

The two-year extension being proposed in this measure seems to strike the appropriate balance between concern raised in the evaluation and making more student-outcome data available. Additionally, the timeline changes in this bill would allow current students additional time to complete their program and allow for enrollment of several new cohorts into the existing pilots.

1. Amendment. This bill requires a student to commence his or her degree by fall of 2022 and at the same time sunsets the program on July 1, 2025. Under this time frame a student who begins the program fall 2022 would need to graduate in three years. This would be a nearly unattainable target for a first-time freshman as completion of a bachelor’s degree would take at least four years. To address this issue the bill could be amended to either push up the deadline to commence the program fall of 2021 or extend the sunset date by an additional year. The author requests, staff agrees, that the bill be amended to extend the sunset date for three years rather than two.
2. Related and prior legislation.

SB 769 (Hill, 2017) would extend the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program until July 1, 2028, and would extend the time by which a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program is required to complete his or her degree to the end of the 2027–28 academic year. SB 769 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 850 (Block, Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014) authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community College (CCC), in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs, at up to 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, as specified, to be determined by the Chancellor of the CCC.

SUPPORT

California Community College Chancellor’s Office

Community College League of California

Feather River College

Foothill-De Anza Community College District

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Kern Community College District

Los Rios Community College District

MiraCosta Community College District

North Orange Community College District

Peralta Community College District

San Diego Community College District

San Diego Mesa College

San Francisco Community College District

South Orange County Community College District

Southwestern Community College District

Yuba Community College District

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --