SB 1440 + AB 2320 : A SIMPLE DEGREE PATH

Legislation would direct both the community college and CSU systems to establish a streamlined process by which students have a clear path to a bachelor's degree.

LA Times Editorial

August 2, 2010 -- It makes sense for students at any community college in the state to know that if they take a certain sequence of rigorous courses, they will qualify to transfer to the four-year California State University. And once they're deemed eligible to transfer, it also makes sense for them to receive their associate's degree as graduates of the community college.

In fact, it makes so much sense that you would expect it to be true, but it's not. Instead, each community college sets its own requirements for graduation, and each of CSU's 23 campuses draws up its own prerequisites for accepting transfer students. Those requirements and prerequisites can change each year.

Amid this maze, students are supposed to figure out an academic path that will lead them to a bachelor's degree. But if they're planning to apply to a few CSU schools, or if they want to major in a particular subject, the requirements often are so diverse that the applicants need to tack on extra semesters at community college to qualify. Too few of them do so. In fact, nearly 70% of students who enter community college seeking a degree or certificate end up leaving without it. Many quit in frustration. Others can't afford to support themselves through extra years of college.

SB 1440 by state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) would put a welcome end to the confusion by directing both the community college and CSU systems to establish a streamlined process by which students have a clear path to a bachelor's degree. That same path would grant them an associate's degree from their community college. Students who achieve at least a 2.0 grade-point average would be guaranteed admission as juniors to CSU, though not necessarily to the campus of their choice.

Another bill, AB 2302, introduced by Assemblyman Paul Fong (D- Cupertino), asks the University of California to study and report back on what it can do to streamline the transfer process for community college students. (Unlike CSU, UC cannot be forced to make such changes via legislative mandate.) As the state's elite public university, UC must of course maintain a higher standard for admission, and its schools should be given more leeway on setting their own requirements. Still, there are too many disconnects. Students who transfer to UC do as well academically as students who begin as freshmen, but they take an average of 33% more units than the minimum required to graduate in order to fulfill various requirements. That means they spend more time in college, which unnecessarily raises the costs for everyone — students, UC and taxpayers. California, which heavily subsidizes all three public college systems, cannot afford this inefficiency.