Finally, some professional educators are beginning to think about students, instead of growing empires on the back of young people. The Butte College President believes we should look at using community colleges to create four year degrees. The shock is why it took so long for such an obvious decision. This is an opportunity to provide quality education, job training and a BA or BS degree. Importantly it saves tens of thousands of dollars. Not bad for a degree.
“A key aspect of Senate Bill 850 is the establishment of a pilot program. Not all community colleges will be part of the pilot program, she said. The pilot program would be for eight years.
Asked if the proposed bill is promising for Butte, Perry answered, “It’s certainly intriguing to explore the possibility. Butte College is fortunate, we’re in a fairly rural environment yet have a great college 20 minutes from ours.”
Butte College president interested in bachelor’s idea, but says extensive analysis necessary
College president interested, but says extensive analysis would be necessary
By Barbara Arrigoni, Chico Enterprise Record, 3/15/14
Butte College President Kimberly Perry said Wednesday the idea of having community colleges meet the needs of some baccalaureate candidates is a little complicated, but interesting.
The college is interested in exploring the option.
One aspect of Senate Bill 850 is that for a community college to offer a B.A. or B.S., there must be an unmet workforce need in the area, she said.
“For Butte College, it would mean CSU Chico either didn’t have a (certain) program or is not putting out enough graduates,” Perry explained.
She has no idea at this time whether Butte could offer bachelor’s degrees or what impact it would have. The extensive analysis necessary to determine that hasn’t been done.
Perry said some of the occupations other community colleges are talking about to offer bachelor’s degrees include registered nursing, respiratory therapy and mainly other health-related occupations.
A key aspect of Senate Bill 850 is the establishment of a pilot program. Not all community colleges will be part of the pilot program, she said. The pilot program would be for eight years.
Asked if the proposed bill is promising for Butte, Perry answered, “It’s certainly intriguing to explore the possibility. Butte College is fortunate, we’re in a fairly rural environment yet have a great college 20 minutes from ours.”
Butte and Chico State University share a unique dynamic. Butte sends many transfer students to Chico State and the colleges work closely, Perry said.
“Not all rural colleges have that kind of dynamic,” she continued. “For rural colleges to offer a baccalaureate it might be a benefit for them as well as it might be for Butte College.”
