California community colleges have withdrawn their support for two bills that would expand their authority to grant bachelor's degrees. The reversal came after lawmakers added restrictions on how many new programs each district could create.
The legislation, Senate Bill 960 and Assembly Bill 2694, cleared the Legislature with wide margins this week and now await action by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Community college leaders cited insufficient time to review the final provisions as a primary concern.
Under the revised measures, districts would gain eligibility for two to 12 additional degrees beginning in 2028 based on completion rates for certificates, associate degrees and transfers. No district could propose more than three new degrees annually, and each would need to demonstrate regional workforce demand.
Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, a Democrat from Napa, described the process as a step forward. He stated, “This is the first time that we've been able to engage in productive conversation between the houses and the executive branch.”
Cabaldon also said the bills would end prolonged disputes. “This will give us peace,” he said in an interview. “That doesn’t mean everybody’s going to agree all of the time, but it does mean the endless war and bickering and fighting and more and more legislation will come to an end.”
Larry Galizio, president and CEO of the Community College League of California, criticized the timing of the amendments. “We're being asked to … support a process that is not completely understood or vetted at the last minute, and so that's just not great policymaking,” he said.
Chancellor Sonya Christian noted in a letter that eligibility would partly hinge on how a district's performance compares with statewide averages, potentially penalizing improvement if other districts advance faster.
Some leaders see workable outcomes for their own campuses. Jose Fierro, president of the Cerritos Community College District, expects his institution could add six to eight new degrees starting in 2028, consistent with current plans.
According to LAist, the shift in position reflects ongoing tensions over duplication of programs offered by California State University campuses and the balance between local access and systemwide standards.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/education/community-colleges-suddenly-oppose-plan-to-let-them-offer-more-bachelors-degrees