Last year, less than half of new students in the California State University system transferred from state community colleges.
But in light of recent budget cuts and enduring systematic flaws, it has become increasingly difficult for this large segment of the college population to attain higher education.
The Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy at CSU Sacramento reported that as the highly educated baby-boomer generation retires, the state’s population is on the road to become less educated. If the current rate is not altered, by 2025 there will be 1 million fewer California college graduates than jobs that require such levels of education.
“We have more students than funds available,” said Sofia Beas, a counselor at Long Beach City College. She said that more than 4,000 students met with counselors this summer at the LBCC main campus alone, a large increase from the previous year.
Beas attributed the increase in numbers to decreased enrollment at universities.
Only a small percentage of all community college students successfully transfer to four-year universities, but the institute said that it is not entirely the students’ fault. Deficiencies within the community college transfer system create unnecessary complications and could ultimately deter students from reaching their four-year college aspirations.
One problem identified in the report is the sheer complexity of the transfer process. There are no universal transfer requirements among California’s community colleges and public universities, with the largest discrepancy coming between the CSU system and the University of California system. Some lower-division requirements vary within the same university systems and the same majors.
This causes a lot of confusion for community college students. The institute notes that several states have universal lower-division transfer requirements have higher rates of community college transfers. It suggests that standardizing the transfer process is a much needed reform.
Another problem, according to the institute, is an insufficient number of counselors to advise the large number of community college students.
“The counselors have been hard to get a hold of,” said LBCC student Breeana Waratjes.
Statewide budget cuts have added extra hurdles. In the 2008-09 school year, 49,770 students transferred from California community colleges to the CSU campuses, more than 15,000 in the spring semester alone. This coming spring semester, the CSU system is hardly accepting any.
In the face of a $584 million budget reduction next year, the CSU system will endeavor to cut enrollment by 40,000 systemwide for 2010-11.
Community colleges have an open registration policy, accepting every student who applies, but with admissions cuts at universities and class schedules cut at community colleges, it has become more difficult for students to take the classes necessary to transfer.
Completing two years in the community college system may be less expensive for the student and the state than attending a four-year university directly out of high school, but the institute said the process must become more efficient to adequately fulfill its role.
Students on campus felt the pressures of community college students who are trying to enroll at Cal State Long Beach.
“As a transfer student you’re more willing to show your dedication and pursue your education,” said Aley Parks, a senior history major who transferred from Golden West Community College. “I think this [reducing transfers] is unethical. Transfer students show that they’ve been in school and want more.”
Gabriela Rosario, a junior journalism major, has friends who are waiting to transfer and thinks it is not fair for students who have already gone through community college and want more from their education.
“I find it discouraging and think it will shift the students focus to somewhere else,” she said.
Sophomore kinesiology major Daniel McKenna expressed her frustrations.
“I’m pretty pissed off,” McKenna said. “I heard they only let 4,000 students transfer, and next year it’s going to be 3,700. College is the foundation of the American dream and now these people aren’t getting that chance.”
David Cowan contributed to this article.