BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 440
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 440 (Padilla)
As Amended September 3, 2013
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :39-0
HIGHER EDUCATION 11-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Williams, Chávez, Bloom, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Fong, Fox, Levine, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Linder, Olsen, | |Calderon, Campos, |
| |Quirk-Silva, Weber, Wilk | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, |
| | | |Hall, Holden, Linder, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Amends the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR)
Act (SB 1440, Padilla, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010) to require
California Community Colleges (CCC) to create specified
associate degrees for transfer within specified timelines and to
require California State University (CSU) to accept these
degrees in majors and concentrations that meet specified
requirements. Additionally, requires CCC and CSU to provide
outreach regarding the STAR Act transfer pathway.
EXISTING LAW : Establishes the STAR Act and requires CCC to
develop two-year (60 semester unit) associate degrees for
transfer, which deems the student eligible for transfer into
CSU. CSU is required to guarantee admission with junior status
to CCC students who meet the aforementioned requirements.
Unless enrolled in a high unit major, students are required to
complete only two additional years (60 semester units) of
coursework at the CSU campus to earn a bachelor's degree.
Students that utilize the associate transfer degree process
receive priority over all other CCC transfer students, except
for CCC students who have entered into a transfer agreement
between a CCC and the CSU prior to the fall term of the 2012-13
academic year.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
SB 440
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1)One-time General Fund (GF) (Prop 98) costs of $100,000 and GF
costs of $40,000 for CCC and CSU faculty, respectively, to
create four transfer model curriculums (TMCs) in areas of
emphasis.
2)One-time costs for all CCC districts and campuses to implement
outreach efforts would be significant on a statewide basis.
Assuming all districts participate in these activities and
have costs ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 per campus, statewide
costs would be $280,000 to $560,000, and would come out of
base district budgets.
3)The bill mandates that all CCC develop TMC-aligned associate
degrees for transfer within specific timeframes following
approval of the TMC. This requirement should not entail
additional costs, except to the extent that meeting the
mandate would require additional release time for faculty
beyond that normally anticipated by the colleges.
COMMENTS : This bill addresses several major recommendations of
the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), issues raised by the
Campaign for College Opportunity (Campaign), and amendments
requested by CCC and CSU:
1)Statutory recognition of TMC process . Existing law deems a
student eligible for transfer into the CSU under the
provisions of the STAR Act when a student has completed 1) the
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
or the CSU General Education-Breadth Requirements; and, 2) a
minimum of 18 semester units in a major or area of emphasis,
as determined by the CCC. This bill specifies that the 18
semester units in a major or area of emphasis must meet the
requirements of an approved TMC. This change is consistent
with STAR Act implementation to date and with the LAO
recommendation.
2)CCC degree adoption timelines . Existing law does not
establish a minimum number of associate degrees for transfer
or a timeline for adoption at CCC campuses. This bill would,
consistent with the CCC Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) internal
goal, require each CCC to create an associate degree for
transfer in every major and area of emphasis offered by the
college for which an approved TMC has been finalized.
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Consistent with the LAO recommendation, this bill would
establish an 18 month deadline for adoption, following the
approval of the TMC. According to the CCCCO, 18 months is
consistent with the current timeline for creation of degrees.
3)Development of TMC in areas of emphasis . Under the STAR Act
provisions, CCC were required to create associate degrees for
transfer that included 18 semester units within a major or
area of emphasis. The term "area of emphasis" is not defined
in statute; it is generally accepted as a less-specialized
degree program, one with a broader curriculum within an
academic subject area. This bill would require, by the
commencement of the 2015-16 academic year, the development of
TMC in at least two areas of emphasis, and by the 2016-17
academic year, the development of TMC in at least four areas
of emphasis.
4)CSU similar degrees . Existing law provides students priority
admission to CSU degree programs that are deemed by the CSU
campus as "similar" to their TMC-aligned associate degree.
This bill would require CSU to accept TMC-aligned associate
degrees for transfer in every major offered by that CSU campus
that is deemed "similar" or where degree completion can occur
within 60 semester units. Further, this bill would require
CSU campuses to make every effort to accept TMC-aligned
associate degrees for transfer in each of the CSU
concentrations within a major degree program.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0002126