By Sindy Salmeron and Viviana Garcia, Chronicle Staff Writers
Bill 928, also called the student transfer Achievement reform (START) act of 2021, introduced by the assembly member Marc Berman on March 10, aims to improve the transfer process from California community colleges to a 4-year institution.
AB 928 intends to institute changes in the transfer system, specifically the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) which would improve the pathway to applying to both University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) with requirements applicable at both institutions.
According to a press release from California Assemblymember Berman, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education, the bill would transform the transfer process by
Creating an intersegment committee to provide greater state-level accountability for ADT implementation while setting ambitious transfer attainment goals to significantly increase transfer and close racial equity gaps.
Setting a target date for The UC and CSU to consolidate the two general education pathways intersegmental general education transfer curriculum (IGETC) and CSU Breadth -into one pathway that satisfies the requirements for transfer admission to both the CSU and UC.
Requiring California Community college students to be put on an ADT pathway where one exists for their intended major, as opposed to a local associate’s degree in the same academic major.
The bill has received support from 27 organizations among Cerritos Community College and Kid City Hope Place. Members that opposed the bill included The Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges (FACCC) and the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.
Penny Gabourie, the Transfer Center Director of Cypress College, said that there is already a common GE established called IGETC that will go to either Cal State or UC for students who are undecided about where they want to go.
“That’s where we put them to IGETC because we know that’s got the broadest amount appeal. So it’s a good plan for students who really don’t know where to go. So I know it’s kind of like, do we really need to reinvent the wheel?” said Gabourie.
Students at Cypress reacted to the news, Ailyn Bahena, a Dental Hygiene student said that she doesn’t support the bill because it will limit the choices of the students.
“It’s going to simplify it, but in a bad way in terms of limiting the choices, that student can take,” said Bahena
Proponents of the bill said that AB 928 will strengthen the Associate degree for transfer (ADT) and it will simplify the transfer process, save costs, and increase the number of students that receive an associate’s degree before they transfer.
Community college students are “confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before obtaining a degree.” said Berman in a press release.
“AB 928 will help streamline and improve the transfer process, making it easier for California students to accomplish their educational goals. Now more than ever. It is critical to increase degree attainment, improve time to degree and close racial equity gaps,” said Berman
Bill AB 928 was read for the second time and amended on April 27, 2021. The next committee hearing will be on May 20, 2021, the goal of the bill is to be approved by the California state assembly and state senate and sent to Governor Gavin Newson for his signature.
To learn more about the Transfer process, visit https://www.cypresscollege.edu/services/counseling/online-counseling/
And For more information about the bill, you can head over to https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB928
