Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
SACRAMENTO, CA— According to a 2019 PPIC report, only 13% of community college freshmen earn their associate degree within two years. While these rates partly reflect the diversity of student goals, only about 48 percent of students aiming to receive an associate degree or certificate do so within six years.
In response to these findings, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton) introduced AB 2738: The Community Colleges Completion Act. This bill requires California Community Colleges (CCC) to reduce time to degree completion by increasing data transparency, publishing course schedules, and providing the classes necessary for students to complete their associate degrees or certificates within two years.
“Our community colleges play a key role in connecting California students, especially first-generation college students and those from low-income backgrounds to well-paying careers and four-year universities,” shared Majority Leader Reyes. “But two-year completion rates remain low, especially for our Latino and Black students. AB 2738 supports students’ goals of earning their degrees and certificates within two years by requiring colleges to take concrete steps to make this timeline possible.”
Completion rates vary by racial and ethnic groups and are particularly low for students of color. For example, while 78% of Latino students enroll with the goal of attaining a two-year degree or transferring to a four-year institution, two-thirds take six or more years to transfer.
Many students struggle to complete within two years, sometimes because of how difficult it is to plan their course schedules. While degree requirements are specified in course catalogs, students must often choose between hundreds of courses offered at inconsistent times and intervals. This makes it especially difficult for students with obligations outside of school, such as work or family, to plan for and complete their degrees.
“Because there is very little momentum through the community college pipeline, most California Community College students, especially those who are Latino, are being denied an opportunity for upward social mobility,” said Jose Fierro, President/Superintendent at Cerritos College and CALCCTA President. “AB 2738 is a data-driven, innovative effort to close equity gaps by increasing degree and transfer rates for students of color across the State of California, and is an essential step towards equitable economic vitality.”
“The urgency to help students get ahead educationally and economically has never been greater,” said Dr. Scott W. Thayer, Interim President of San Bernardino Valley College. “With direct student support, guided academic and career pathways, state investment in community colleges, and AB 2738, we will ensure more community college students get to the finish line of their college and career goals.”
AB 2738 requires California Community Colleges to take action to reduce time to completion for students. This bill will increase transparency of data surrounding completion rates and ensure colleges develop plans to make two-year completion an achievable goal for all students.
