The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office pulled support for two bills aimed at expanding bachelor’s degree programs at community colleges.
Assembly Bill 2694 and Senate Bill 960 sought to increase access to community college bachelor’s degrees and remove a protest process controlled by the CSU and UC systems. That process allowed those universities to block career and technical education bachelor’s degrees from community colleges.
The bills had backing from the Chancellor’s Office and many community college districts, including Feather River College. The goal was to meet local workforce needs by allowing community colleges to offer degrees not available at nearby CSU campuses.
New language added to the bills created restrictions that limit how many bachelor’s degrees districts can offer. For example, the revised rules would cap the entire Los Angeles Community College District with nine campuses at the same number of degrees as Feather River College.
Chancellor Sonya Christian and her office opposed the changes. They said the additional rules moved the bills away from expanding access to affordable community college bachelor’s degrees. The new framework includes eligibility tiers, program caps, limits on online programs, outside workforce reviews, and a five-year ban on resubmitting similar programs.
The Chancellor’s Office said these rules could create barriers, especially for rural, single-college, and underserved communities. These groups might struggle to start new programs if judged against other districts statewide.
Both bills passed the Legislature and now await Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision. The Chancellor’s Office hopes the Governor understands how the amendments could limit opportunities for students and local economies.
You might ask how these restrictions affect your community college’s ability to respond to workforce demands. How can districts balance oversight with flexibility to serve students better? This debate will shape the future of bachelor’s degrees at California community colleges.
