Community colleges: statewide 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, until July 1, 2026, 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. Existing law requires a community college district baccalaureate degree pilot program to commence no later than the 2017–18 academic year, and requires students participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to commence their degrees by the beginning of the 2022–23 academic year. Existing law prohibits a participating community college district from offering more than one baccalaureate degree program or a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California. This bill would make the baccalaureate degree pilot program established by the Antelope Valley Community College District under these provisions a permanent baccalaureate degree program. The bill would authorize the Antelope Valley Community College District to offer a baccalaureate degree program and program curricula to meet local needs unmet by the same California State University or University of California baccalaureate degree program that is regularly at enrollment capacity. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Antelope Valley Community College District.