Associate Degree for Transfer.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT) , allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements. Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT and to achieve specified objectives relating to the ADT and transfer model curricula (TMCs) on or before December 31, 2024. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students. This bill, among other things, would extend the operation of the committee for two years. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee. This bill, among other things, would require TMC drafts to be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require community colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC, as specified. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would impose a state-mandated local program. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of an adopted TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.