The state legislation would expand a pilot program that allowed community college districts in California to provide baccalaureate degrees, opening the doors for Palomar College and others to participate.
SAN MARCOS, CA (April, 2021) — The Palomar College Governing Board passed a resolution by unanimous vote at its April 6, 2021 meeting in support of California Assembly Bill 927, which would allow the college to provide targeted bachelor degrees focused on workforce development.
Introduced to the California Assembly on Feb. 17, 2021 by Assemblymember Jose Medina, D-Riverside, the bill is entitled, “Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program.”
Under the referenced pilot program that began in 2015, 15 community college districts in the state were eligible to develop bachelor’s degree programs. AB 927 would extend the program indefinitely and open it to all of California’s community college districts.
“I fully support this piece of legislation, as it will enable all of our state’s community colleges to better serve the needs of our students,” said Governing Board President Brian Olson.
Acting Superintendent/President Dr. Jack Kahn added: “We look forward to seeing this bill passed in order to open many more opportunities for community college students, including our own here at Palomar College.”
According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest of the bill, it would remove the 15-district limit and the requirement that participating students commence their baccalaureate program by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.
The proposed legislation would require participating community college districts to “provide evidence of unmet workforce needs” in order to begin offering a bachelor’s degree.
RESOLUTION OF THE PALOMAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD
Resolution in support of Assembly Bill 927 (Medina): Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program RESOLUTION No. 20-21588
WHEREAS, the Palomar Community College District Governing Board affirms that workforce education is one of the most important missions of California’s community colleges; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Board recognizes that a growing number of workforce fields and employers now require a bachelor’s degree in their job qualifications; and
WHEREAS, California’s public universities either do not offer or lack the capacity for providing adequate baccalaureate instruction in these high-demand workforce fields; and
WHEREAS, students who need programs that are not provided in California’s public universities in these workforce fields are compelled to leave the state in order to obtain their degrees, or to enroll in high-cost nonprofit institutions or expensive for-profit institutions that results in significant student debt; and
WHEREAS, community colleges are able to provide high-quality, readily accessible baccalaureate level programs, at the affordable cost of $10,560 for all four years; and
WHEREAS, in 2014. the Governing Board adopted Resolution 13-21168 in support of SB 850, which created a pilot project for fifteen (15) California community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in a specific career/technical fields; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 927 has been introduced by Assemblymember Medina and proposes to make the existing baccalaureate pilot programs permanent and expand the opportunity of offering baccalaureate programs to all California community colleges.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Governing Board of the Palomar Community College District supports Assembly Bill 927, which would make permanent
RESOLUTION NO 20-21588 Page 2 of 2 and expand the state’s baccalaureate pilot program, thereby supporting continued student recruitment and participation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Governing Board authorizes the Acting Superintendent/President or designee, to provide the Board’s Resolution to members of the legislature, statewide, community, and business organizations and leaders, and others who can assist in implementing this important expansion of opportunity for students in California higher education.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the Governing Board of the Palomar Community College District on the _____ day of ________ 2021, by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: ______________________
Brian E. Olson, President,
Governing Board Palomar Community College District
