Assemblymember David Alvarez addressed the Board of Governors on Jan. 13 to urge support for expansion of community college baccalaureate programs and for AB 664, a pilot bill he said would allow Southwestern College to propose a limited number (four) of workforce‑driven baccalaureate programs subject to board approval and a statutory sunset in 2035.

"Assembly Bill 664 offers a focused temporary solution that allows Southwestern College to propose a limited number of workforce driven baccalaureate programs ... and also a sunset of 2035," Alvarez said, framing the proposal as a response to documented regional workforce and geographic access challenges.

Chancellor’s Office staff presented an overview of the baccalaureate portfolio: 54 approved programs across 44 colleges, with application cycles and intersegmental consultation used to assess duplication concerns. Presenters described a multi‑step review process that returns many applications for revision; staff said 36 of 95 applications since 2022 were returned for revision and 59 were sent for intersegmental consultation, with duplication concerns resolved for some and remaining objections for others.

Public comment on the item filled much of the meeting record. Students and the Student Senate for California Community Colleges said local baccalaureate programs increase access for place‑bound students and workers. College leaders and labor or city officials (from Chula Vista, Torrance, Santa Monica, Cerritos, Moorpark and others) described programs in applied cybersecurity, physical therapy assistant, field ironworker supervision, regenerative medicine, and transborder environmental design as tailored to regional workforce needs and urged timely approvals. Several speakers noted duplication objections had relied on narrow course overlap comparisons rather than program intent and geography.

Presenters and board members acknowledged concerns about duplication and transferability, particularly acceptance by UC campuses, and told the board they would continue intersegmental discussions. Board members stressed the system’s workforce and rural access priorities and urged that local needs be a strong consideration in duplication reviews.

What happens next: Staff will continue the intersegmental duplication review process, convene campus‑to‑campus meetings where appropriate, and update the board on applications that have unresolved duplication objections. Assemblymember Alvarez said he would present AB 664 to the Assembly higher education committee later the same day and asked for the board’s support.