Whereas, On September 29, 2014, the governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 850 (Block, 2014), authorizing a baccalaureate degree pilot program in which 15 community colleges in 15 separate districts can be authorized to develop and offer one baccalaureate degree if that degree is not offered by any California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus;
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges had previously taken a position opposing the community college baccalaureate degrees, but now that SB 850 been passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, the Academic Senate should participate in the implementation of the pilot in order to ensure the protection of faculty purview and the highest quality programs for students;
Whereas, Numerous questions regarding the implementation of the community college baccalaureate degrees remain to be answered before implementation can take place, including but not limited to questions regarding instructors’ minimum qualifications, articulation of upper division courses, determinations of similar programs at the university level, upper division general education, and appropriate funding; and
Whereas, The implementation of the baccalaureate degree pilot program may have significant implications for the CSU and UC systems as well as for the community college system, and thus faculty from all three segments should be included in the implementation process in order that all implementation issues are addressed and resolved clearly and successfully;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office and local senates to ensure that community college faculty are appropriately represented on all task forces and other bodies, including any local committees, involved with the development and implementation of the community college baccalaureate degree pilot program;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges request of the Chancellor’s Office that appropriate faculty representation from the California State University and University of California segments be included on task forces and other bodies involved with the implementation of the community college baccalaureate degree pilot program; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges collaborate with the Chancellor’s Office to establish parameters and standards for the California Community College Baccalaureate Degree before any degree is approved by the Chancellor’s Office.
MSC