If approved by Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate Bill 1440 or the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act will provide a clearer, more convenient academic path for community college students to follow in hopes of successfully transferring by fall 2011.
Under the Star Act, students in community colleges have the opportunity to work toward a transfer Associate of Arts Degree.
According to section 1 of bill 1440, “many transfer students leave the community college system having completed transfer requirements, but are unable to participate in community college graduation ceremonies, do not have a degree to show for their work and are ineligible for some awards and scholarships because they did not fulfill current requirements for an associate degree.”
“Essentially, the transfer degree lays out a clear path for a student to follow in the community college and have 60 units to transfer to the CSU as well as be granted junior status and a guaranteed spot in the CSU system,” CSU media relations specialist Erik Fallis said.
Bill 1440 will not only ease the transferring process for community colleges around California, but it will also work as a means to save money. By eliminating “excess units” or classes that do not apply for transfer credits, students would cut costs, take fewer classes and propel their careers forward, sooner.
“I agree that this bill will be highly beneficial to California’s transfer students in that now they can graduate in a more timely manner without being forced to jump through old hurdles. In my opinion, this is a great victory for students, and proof that the shared governance process does exist, system-wide,” Associated Students Inc. President James Ahumada said.
The act is also projected to save millions for the CSU and community colleges, which means additional funding for course sections and access, according to Fallis.
Meanwhile, in regards to universities accepting transfer students, Fallis said the transfer degree guarantees admission to the system, but individual campuses and programs may still be impacted.
Authored by California Senator Alex Padilla, the STAR Act is co-sponsored by organizations such as the California State Student Association, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges and the Campaign for College Opportunity.
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