Reminder: New Master Plan Needed

Gov. Pat Brown signs law implementing
the Master Plan (1960)

From time to time, we like to remind folks of the need to establish a new Master Plan for Higher Ed process. The old 1960 Master Plan emerged as a way to provide a division of labor between the three segments of higher education: UC, the state colleges (now CSU), and the community colleges. At present, absent guidance, there are ad hoc moves under pressure from the legislature or due to pressure on the legislature. A recent example below:

California has approved two new bachelor’s programs at community colleges, including a bachelor of science degree in biomanufacturing at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar. Dean of Academic Affairs Farisa Morales said offering a bachelor’s degree was a logical next step for LAMC, since biotechnology companies are already recruiting students from the school’s certificate program.  “It's so inspiring to work at a community college - where I went to, by the way, as a student – and see how our community gets revitalized,” Morales said...

Full story at https://laist.com/news/education/la-mission-college-joins-growing-number-of-community-colleges-offering-bachelors-degrees.

I haven't seen the UC Regents discuss this issue, probably because most of the ad hoc development involves the community colleges encroaching on CSU. But UC is in fact depending on having transfer students from the community colleges and some may not appear if bachelors degrees are provided locally.