Community college students have just been given an easier path to the California State University system thanks to The Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, also known as SB 1440.
Although it is not scheduled to take effect until Fall 2011, members of the Ventura County Community College District are enthusiastic about what SB 1440 will bring to students.
“I see SB 1440 as being an important step in the right direction and I’m happy that students will be able to benefit from this significant educational reform legislation,” said Ventura College President Dr. Robin Calote.
Members from the California Community College and California State University system are working together on a model program to implement transfer degrees.
Community college students that earn the new transfer degree will be guaranteed admission in the CSU system as a junior.
The goal is to create a more clear and streamlined process, making it easier for students to succeed in transferring and graduating in a shorter timeframe.
“SB 1440 calls for coordination and agreement on a state level between the community college system and the CSU system on a common lower-division (2-year) pattern for majors, and that the student’s lower division units should not exceed 60,” said Dr. Pam Eddinger, Moorpark College President.
“The student’s transfer status is given priority once all the requirements are fulfilled. In simpler terms, students will be given a clear roadmap on requirements, a roadmap that is uniform statewide,” Eddinger added.
A study done by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office states that most transfer students complete a total of 80 units of coursework when only 60 units are required to transfer.
“The phenomenon of taking many units beyond 60, and have them not count, or only count as electives, should be a rare occurrence,” said Eddinger. “Time, money, and effort—all of those factors will be streamlined, and that will speed the student along the path to completion.”
A key barrier to student transfer is the inconsistent, duplicative and ever-changing coursework requirements that students face. These barriers frustrate and discourage students and add expense to students and inefficiency to the college system according to a fact sheet released by Senator Alex Padilla, the author of SB 1440.
“It will be nice to know exactly what classes I need to transfer. Knowing that I am not wasting time taking classes that don’t apply will hopefully make things a bit easier,” said 19 year-old Haleigh Salvage, a biological sciences major at Moorpark College.
Arizona, Florida, North Carolina and Oregon have all implemented transfer degree programs that make it easier for students to transfer.
The result has been a more prosperous transfer rate to four-year universities.
Students have been able to save time and money while obtaining a bachelors degree and moving into the work force, allowing the university system a much higher turn over rate for students.
“SB 1440 has the tremendous potential to facilitate the transfer process so that students can better plan their academic programs and reduce the potential of taking courses that will not transfer, thus saving valuable time and money,” said Oxnard College President Dr. Richard Duran. “I’m looking forward to it succeeding.”
