Why new limits on bachelor’s degrees worry some California community colleges – Times of San Diego

Why new limits on bachelor’s degrees worry some California community colleges  Times of San Diego

Some community college leaders say caps on bachelor's degrees will keep them from responding to local workforce needs. Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed laws that will place new limits on how many bachelor’s degree programs California’s community colleges can offer, with stricter caps for districts with lower graduation and transfer rates. But a key part of the overhaul remains unresolved: It’s unclear where each district will fall under the five-tier system that will determine the caps, and preliminary analyses show different results. That’s left some college leaders apprehensive about whether their college districts could be placed in lower tiers, limiting their ability to add bachelor’s degree programs to meet local workforce needs.

“I think there would be districts that, very quickly, this could restrict their ability to bring new programs,” said Gregory Smith, chancellor of the San Diego Community College District. Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2694 and Senate Bill 960 despite protests from many community college presidents and chancellors. Under the legislation, which takes effect in 2028, districts will be placed into one of five tiers based on graduation and transfer rates. Districts with higher rates will be allowed to offer more degrees — up to a maximum of 12. The state chancellor’s office is conducting an analysis of the tiers that “should be completed in the coming months,”