Although our state capital is 500 miles away, MiraCosta College carefully monitors activities in Sacramento in order to weigh in on state legislation that affects our students and region. Most recently, the college supported California Senate Bill 1440 (SB 1440), also known as the Community College Transfer Bill. SB 1440 will help tens of thousands of community college students earn college degrees by simplifying the transfer process between the California Community College and California State University (CSU) systems. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed this bill in September, and when it takes effect in the next school year, it will decrease the time it takes students to earn a four-year degree and is also expected to generate approximately $150 million annually in statewide cost savings. These savings will be used to provide college access to roughly 40,000 additional community college students and nearly 14,000 CSU students each year.
The bill, authored by State Senator Alex Padilla, was co-sponsored by the California Community College System and was strongly supported by our system-wide chancellor, Jack Scott, as well as by California State University Chancellor Charles Reed. MiraCosta College was also in strong support of the bill and will continue to play a major role in its implementation. MiraCosta's Vice President of Instruction Pam Deegan is serving on the SB 1440 joint task force, and will help take the vision of the bill and translate it into reality by ensuring coordination between the CSU system and California community colleges. The governor also signed a companion Assembly bill, AB 2302, authored by State Assembly Member Paul Fong, which sets the groundwork for the University of California (UC) to develop a simplified admissions process for transfer students.
Each year, between 500 and 700 MiraCosta College students transfer to a CSU or UC school. These two bills are great news for students now beginning on their transfer pathways?the bills tremendously streamline the transfer process and save students significant time and resources so that they can earn their degrees and enter the workforce faster and with less financial debt.
MiraCosta's commitment to positively impacting education and business extended to two other Assembly bills passed this year, both of which will have a direct and positive impact on students:
• Assembly Bill 2385, known as the Accelerated Nursing and Allied Health Pilot Program, addresses one of California's most pressing workforce shortages. Written by State Assembly member John Perez, AB 2385 will help address the statewide nursing shortage by expediting students' completion of community college nursing programs. The bill establishes a pilot program at up to five campuses throughout the state that would allow students to take weekend, evening or summer courses while completing a nursing or health professional program.
• Improving student success within the California Community College system is the focus of the Student Success Task Force Bill (SB 1143), a bill sponsored by State Senator Carol Liu. This bill establishes a task force to examine best practices and models for accomplishing student success. The task force will develop and present specified recommendations to improve student success and completion within the California Community College System.
MiraCosta College is committed to educating students of this region in an exceptional academic learning environment that is accessible and affordable. We are also committed to being good stewards of the public's resources and trust. Being involved in the advocacy, passage and implementation of legislation that helps students achieve success is a major part of the college's pledge to serve our students and community. By looking to the future, MiraCosta College ensures that it will continue to accommodate the changing face and needs of higher education and the workforce of this region.
The bill, authored by State Senator Alex Padilla, was co-sponsored by the California Community College System and was strongly supported by our system-wide chancellor, Jack Scott, as well as by California State University Chancellor Charles Reed. MiraCosta College was also in strong support of the bill and will continue to play a major role in its implementation. MiraCosta's Vice President of Instruction Pam Deegan is serving on the SB 1440 joint task force, and will help take the vision of the bill and translate it into reality by ensuring coordination between the CSU system and California community colleges. The governor also signed a companion Assembly bill, AB 2302, authored by State Assembly Member Paul Fong, which sets the groundwork for the University of California (UC) to develop a simplified admissions process for transfer students.
Each year, between 500 and 700 MiraCosta College students transfer to a CSU or UC school. These two bills are great news for students now beginning on their transfer pathways?the bills tremendously streamline the transfer process and save students significant time and resources so that they can earn their degrees and enter the workforce faster and with less financial debt.
MiraCosta's commitment to positively impacting education and business extended to two other Assembly bills passed this year, both of which will have a direct and positive impact on students:
• Assembly Bill 2385, known as the Accelerated Nursing and Allied Health Pilot Program, addresses one of California's most pressing workforce shortages. Written by State Assembly member John Perez, AB 2385 will help address the statewide nursing shortage by expediting students' completion of community college nursing programs. The bill establishes a pilot program at up to five campuses throughout the state that would allow students to take weekend, evening or summer courses while completing a nursing or health professional program.
• Improving student success within the California Community College system is the focus of the Student Success Task Force Bill (SB 1143), a bill sponsored by State Senator Carol Liu. This bill establishes a task force to examine best practices and models for accomplishing student success. The task force will develop and present specified recommendations to improve student success and completion within the California Community College System.
MiraCosta College is committed to educating students of this region in an exceptional academic learning environment that is accessible and affordable. We are also committed to being good stewards of the public's resources and trust. Being involved in the advocacy, passage and implementation of legislation that helps students achieve success is a major part of the college's pledge to serve our students and community. By looking to the future, MiraCosta College ensures that it will continue to accommodate the changing face and needs of higher education and the workforce of this region.