Signed by Governor Kate Brown

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes community colleges to offer applied baccalaureate degree programs under specific conditions.

Highlights:

• Authorizes community colleges to offer applied baccalaureate degrees (Sec. 2).

• Requires for each applied baccalaureate degree program that a community college wants to offer that the community college submits to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (Sec. 3):

• A description of the program;

• The methods through which the program will be created;

• Documentation of local unmet workforce needs that the program will address; and

• Documentation that proves the community college has the expertise, resources and student interest necessary for the success of the program.

• Defines “applied baccalaureate degree” as a bachelor’s degree designed to incorporate applied associate courses and degrees with additional coursework emphasizing higher-order thinking skills and advanced technical knowledge and skills (Sec. 2).

• Requires approval by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for any baccalaureate degree program implementation (Sec. 2). 

Full Bill Text