Community colleges: degree audit system.

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 public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts, administered by a governing board, throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction to students at the community college campuses maintained by the districts. This bill would require every community college district to develop and implement an online degree audit system to provide students and counselors the ability to monitor student progress toward completion of a degree, a certification, or the credits required to transfer to the California State University or the University of California. The bill would require every community college office of admissions to preform an inquiry before the beginning of a semester or a quarter to identify students who are within 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units of completing a degree, a certification, or transfer requirements and notify those students by e-mail and mail of the courses they still need for completion. By requiring community college districts to develop and implement an online degree audit system, this bill would impose a state mandated local program. 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 these statutory provisions.