AB 927: Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law, until July 1, 2026, 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. Existing law requires that program to consist of a maximum of 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree pilot program each. Existing law requires those pilot programs to commence no later than the 201718 academic year, and requires students participating in those programs to commence the program by the beginning of the 202223 academic year. Existing law requires the governing board of a community college district seeking authorization to offer a pilot program to submit certain items for review by the chancellor and approval by the board of governors, including documentation of unmet workforce needs specifically related to the proposed pilot program.

This bill would extend the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program indefinitely. The bill would remove the requirements that the program consist of a maximum of 15 community college district programs and for a student to commence a program by the end of the 202223 academic year. The bill would require a community college district seeking approval to offer a baccalaureate degree program to provide evidence of unmet workforce needs to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, as provided. The bill would require, as part of the application and review process, the chancellor to ensure that a community college district is provided with 2 timelines in which to apply for a baccalaureate degree program and receive notice of approval or rejection, as specified, that only 15 baccalaureate degree programs are approved during each application period allowing for a total of 30 baccalaureate degree programs per academic year, that the total number of baccalaureate degree programs offered by a community college district does not exceed 25% of the total number of associate degree programs offered by the community college district, as specified, and that a minimum of 30 working days is taken to validate the submitted information and assess the workforce value of the proposed baccalaureate degree program, as specified. The bill would require the chancellor to consult with and seek feedback from the Chancellor of the California State University, the President of the University of California, and the President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities on proposed baccalaureate degree programs, as specified. The bill would require a community college district to continue to offer an associate degree program in the same academic subject for which a baccalaureate degree program has been approved, unless the community college district has received approval from the chancellor to eliminate the associate degree program, as specified.