On Oct. 4, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1440, which enables students to earn a transfer degree and making them eligibile for automatic transfer to a California State University. Under the bill, students will be able to view a specified set of requirements for their desired major and be automatically eligible for transfer, once the requirements are satisfied.
According to a fact sheet submitted by Senator Alex Padilla, the bill will streamline the process at California Community Colleges and 4-year state institutions. Officials hope that there will be an increase in workforce education as the impending baby boomer generation begins to retire en masse.
According to a CCC Chancellor’s Office report, an average of eighty semester units are completed by successful transfer students, while only sixty are required. This translates to not only more funds siphoned from the pockets of students, but also months of unnecessary study. The fact sheet explained that the speed of transfering will be integral to the replacement of the baby boomers with fresh, young and educated minds. Currently, Arizona, Florida, Oregon and North Carolina all have transfer degree programs similar to those expressed in SB1440 and have seen an increase in transfer and graduation times.
Students had mixed reactions; “It’s a good idea but who will decide what we need?” said Jennie Yoo, English major. “Like a lot of new things, they’ll need time to perfect it.”
“[I want] everyone on the same page,” said Britney Pinkham, English major. “I took classes for State that I learned I didn’t need later!”
Current law requires no coordination between community colleges and universities, resulting in student confusion.
SB1440 ensures students will no longer be misinformed to take more units than they actually need. The institution granting the certification will not be able to ask for additional requirements to graduate.
The bill is scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2011, giving officials time to convene and students time to adjust to the changes.
