Vanessa Sahawi / Roundup
Any student who receives an associate’s degree at a community college and applies to transfer to any California State University will be guaranteed priority registration at that particular university, according to the newly proposed Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act.
The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act, or SB1440, is set to begin in Fall 2011. The bill will help expand programs regarding the increase in student transfer rates.
The bill will not guarantee a student’s admission for a specific major, but would give priority registration to “local” California State University campus.
According to articulation officer Elizabeth Atondo, the bill does not define “local” California State University and is still awaiting a particular definition.
“In 2011 there will be a brand new associate’s degree to CSU,” stated Atondo. “It requires a 2.0 G.P.A, completion of 60 units and 18 units of a minor.”
Pierce College has followed these procedures prior to the bill being considered, but for other college campuses it will be a big change.
Ultimately, if the bill is passed the goal is to have students guaranteed admission to local CSU’s, if they meet the required criteria.
“The real goal is to promote college attendance and for students to go to college,” said President Kathleen Burke-Kelly.
The new bill may remind some of Pierce’s current Transfer Admission Guarantee program, TAG, that is currently available for students to help with their journey of transferring into the UC or CSU system.
According to Sunday Salter, Transfer Center Director, seven UC campuses participate in the program.
For more information on the TAG program and other transfer programs go to http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/transfer_center/
—