Four-year degrees at community colleges one step closer to reality

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A bill authored by a San Diego lawmaker allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees when a local workforce need can be shown is on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk after being passed by the Senate Thursday.

State Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego, described SB 850 as a jobs bill.

“This is landmark legislation that is a game changer for California’s higher education system and our workforce preparedness,” Block said. “SB 850 boosts the focus of our community colleges on job training now when California faces a major skills gap in our workforce.”

Currently, only the University of California and the California State University systems can offer public four-year degrees. Block noted that by 2025, California will need a million more adults with four-year degrees.

“We need to use all of California’s resources — including our community colleges — to close that gap,” Block said.

Block said that more than 20 states already allow community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees.

SB 850 authorizes the community college system to establish a pilot program that would allow no more than 15 campuses from 15 different districts to offer one baccalaureate degree each starting Jan. 1, 2015, and ending July 1, 2023.

Programs would begin no later than the 2017-18 academic year.