Public postsecondary education: community college districts: baccalaureate degree pilot program.

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 requires the board of governors to appoint a chief executive officer, to be known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts, administered by governing boards, throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction to students at the community college campuses maintained by the districts. Existing law requires community colleges to offer instruction through the 2nd year of college and authorizes community colleges to grant associate degrees in arts and science. In addition, existing law authorizes the board of governors, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at not more than 15 community college districts, with one baccalaureate degree program each, to be determined by the chancellor and approved by the board of governors. Existing law requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 2022–23 academic year. Existing law requires the Legislative Analyst's Office to conduct and report to the Legislature and the Governor the results of a final evaluation of the pilot program, as specified, on or before July 1, 2022. Existing law makes the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs inoperative on July 1, 2023, and repeals the authorization on January 1, 2024. This bill would require that a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program commence his or her degree program by the beginning of the 2022–23 academic year. The bill would instead require the Legislative Analyst's Office to report the results of the final evaluation of the pilot program on or before July 1, 2021. The bill would extend the inoperative and repeal dates for the authorization to establish pilot baccalaureate degree programs by 3 years.