West L.A. College earned the Los Angeles Community College District’s recommendation to be a part of the state’s community college bachelor’s degree pilot program, edging out Pierce College and the seven other LACCD colleges.
LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez chose West L.A. and its Health Science in Dental Hygiene because he thought its degree positioned the district best, and all of the colleges in the district have lower division coursework that apply to it.
Each of the nine LACCD colleges submitted a proposal to Rodriguez.
Pierce College, East L.A. College, and L.A. Trade Tech College combined to propose a degree in Applied Transportation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, according to Pierce Vice President of Academic Affairs Sheri Berger.
Senate Bill 850 was signed by Gvnr. Jerry Brown on Sept. 28 to allow for 15 California community colleges to participate in its pilot program. But each district can have only one school participate.
“It is unfortunate that each district was limited to one proposal,” Berger said.
The state will make its decision on the program’s participants on Jan. 21, 2014.