BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A bill signed by Gov. Brown on Sunday could lead to a four-year program being offered at Bakersfield College.
Senate Bill 850 (SB 850) will create a program to allow 15 community colleges in the state to offer a vocational-specific four-year degree. The initiative is a temporary program designed to test the viability of California's two-year colleges offering a Bachelor's Degree.
The program is slated to begin during the 2017-18 academic year and end in 2024.
BC is applying to be one of the 15 colleges to take part in the program, though the college has yet to release official information regarding the nature of the degree program they want to offer, according to public relations officer Amber Chiang.
Chiang said the proposed program will be something unique to the area and benefit the educational needs of the community.
One stipulation colleges have to follow is that proposed programs cannot compete with four-year degree programs already offered by four-year universities in California. The reason is to not create competition for universities already offering those programs.
Advocates have argued there is a strong need for more qualified, skilled workers in the community and that many community college programs, such as the technical certification programs, could benefit the community more as baccalaureate programs.
Senate Bill 850 (SB 850) will create a program to allow 15 community colleges in the state to offer a vocational-specific four-year degree. The initiative is a temporary program designed to test the viability of California's two-year colleges offering a Bachelor's Degree.
The program is slated to begin during the 2017-18 academic year and end in 2024.
BC is applying to be one of the 15 colleges to take part in the program, though the college has yet to release official information regarding the nature of the degree program they want to offer, according to public relations officer Amber Chiang.
Chiang said the proposed program will be something unique to the area and benefit the educational needs of the community.
One stipulation colleges have to follow is that proposed programs cannot compete with four-year degree programs already offered by four-year universities in California. The reason is to not create competition for universities already offering those programs.
Advocates have argued there is a strong need for more qualified, skilled workers in the community and that many community college programs, such as the technical certification programs, could benefit the community more as baccalaureate programs.