The California State University Board of Trustees approved three new reduced-credit undergraduate degrees this week, responding to a national trend to make it easier for students to complete degrees that directly relate to jobs and to earn academic credit for professional experience.
While some faculty members spoke in opposition to the proposal and urged the board to delay their vote, trustees approved new education, professional studies and applied studies course programs, clearing the way for campuses throughout the system to develop the degrees that require less than the traditional 120 units for completion. These options are already available at universities in other states, including New Mexico, Hawaii and Minnesota.
“We have some catching up to do,” said trustee Julia Lopez, a former president and CEO of the College Futures Foundation. “This is an incredible idea as we look to the future.”
Trustees discussed the reduced-credit degree proposal at their March meeting but didn’t vote to approve the new majors until Wednesday. The vote amended Title V of CSU policy to allow campuses to offer undergraduate degrees requiring 90 to 119 units to complete them, and opened the possibility of giving students credit toward a degree for their work experience.
Faculty from liberal studies departments across the CSU system spoke against the change, expressing concern that offering reduced-credit bachelor of education degrees will have “sweeping effects on teacher preparation in California.”
April Bullock, professor and department chair of liberal studies at Cal State Fullerton, said her campus offers four programs across three colleges that prepare future educators, including multiple subject and special education bachelor’s degrees. She said a lower-credit degree option would have a “devastating impact on those programs.”
”It seems wise to leverage existing programs rather than launching an entirely new set of degrees,” Bullock said during the board’s public comment period. “We need a coordinated statewide plan.”
Some faculty members asked the board to delay voting until campuses have assessed ways to ensure that lower-degree bachelor’s of education sufficiently prepare teachers, “increasing the likelihood that they will actually remain in the profession,” said Teresa Lloro, chair of the department of liberal studies at Cal Poly Pomona.
“Low teacher retention rates and inadequately prepared teachers are an especially acute problem in under-resourced and underserved communities that already stand to lose the most,” she said.
Other critics questioned how the new degree programs would affect students’ eligibility for the federal Pell Grant. If a campus already offers a graduate teacher preparation program that is Pell-eligible and develops a reduced-credit bachelor of education program, the campus will only be able to offer Pell Grants to the undergraduate students.
“In general, Pell programs are only for undergraduate students,” said Nathan Evans, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.
The new Bachelor of Education degree, combined with a teaching credential, meets requirements to teach in California.
6 million Californians have college credit but no degree
Members of the CSU Academic Senate also urged a delay. Elizabeth Boyd, professor at Chico State and Academic Senate president, said faculty are concerned about the impact of reduced-credit degrees on financial aid and applicability to graduate programs.
Trustees approved changes to Title V on Wednesday without further discussion, and said the new degrees are “career-integrated” and align with the system’s mission to create more flexible and affordable pathways for students to earn degrees that employers require.
About 6 million Californians have some college credit but no degree, according to research by the National Student Clearinghouse. CSU staff said reduced-credit degree programs will give campuses the option to assess “credit for prior learning” — a process already in effect at California Community Colleges — which awards course credit after administering competency tests and reviewing portfolios, military transcripts or industry certifications.
The CSU’s accrediting agency, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, provides guidance for universities applying to offer reduced-credit degrees. The approval process takes from six to nine months. With the academic year coming to a close, CSU campuses interested in developing one of the three new degree programs are likely to begin that process in the fall, according to Evans.
Faculty on many campuses expressed support for the new degree programs, and have plans in development. Kristiina Hackel, a professor in Cal State LA’s department of Television, Film and Media, said her department wants to offer a 90-unit applied studies degree in arts, media, entertainment and technology.
“There is an ongoing need for graduates who can create content across a wide variety of production environments,” she said. “This should appeal to adult learners and high schoolers in arts and media CTE programs who want to break into careers now and in future.”
Mandy Hillstrom, professor of nutrition science at Cal State LA, said that students want “more direct entry” into careers. In addition to the undergraduate and graduate nutrition programs the campus already offers, Hillstrom said her department plans to propose an applied bachelor’s in coaching that would include professional certification.
“Our goal is to create a streamlined, cost-effective pathway into the workforce,” she said, “while also giving students a strong academic foundation and the flexibility to pursue advanced degrees in the future.”
This story was originally published by EdSource.