This post was originally published on here
Porterville College’s proposed modern police science bachelor’s program has been in limbo ever since it was proposed in 2024 because the California State University system has objected to the proposal.
PC has been trying to navigate the process for final approval for the program so they can begin offering the toward a bachelor’s for those locally who want to enter or who are already in law enforcement. The effort includes navigating two pieces of legislation, Assembly Bill 927, which allows community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees and Assembly Bill 89, which has placed more requirements as far as qualifications for law enforcement is concerned.
PC’s modern police science bachelor’s program is one of 16 community college bachelor’s programs in the state CSU has objected to. The proposed programs go back as far as 2023 and community colleges have grown more frustrated over their inability to initiate the programs.
AB 927 passed in 2021 allows community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees to fulfill “unmet workforce needs.” Porterville College president Primavera Monarrez stressed her school isn’t just offering any bachelor’s degree and put a lot of effort into studying which bachelor’s program was needed, leading to modern police science.
Monerrez added PC also worked with Tulare County’s Workforce Investment Board, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and the Central Valley Mother Load, an organization consisting of K-12 educational institutions throughout the Valley advocating for career-ready education.
AB 927 allows the UC and CSU system to object to proposed bachelor’s programs they believe are “duplicative to theirs. Once an objection is raised community colleges must modify or drop their proposed program until an agreement has been reached.
That’s what Moorepark College was able to do with its biomanufacturing bachelor’s program as they were able to reach an agreement concerning objection to that program.
“There has been a lot of back and forth,” said Monarrez about PC trying to reach an agreement with CSU. She added PC has been working with a liaison from the CSU Chancellor’s office.
California Community Colleges contracted a nonpartisan education research agency, WestEd, as a neutral third party to review their proposed bachelor’s programs. There’s a debate over what’s “similar” and what’s “duplicative.”
WestEd concluded while some of the community college programs were similar, they were not duplicative and would meet workforce needs CSU could not. That’s a point Monarrez has made as she said many who would enroll in the police science program don’t have transportation to Cal State Bakersfield or Fresno State. Besides there are students who would prefer to stay in Porterville, Monarrez added.
What constitutes duplicative is at the heart of the agreement. And CSU also contends travel distance shouldn’t be considered when it comes to following AB 927.
For now the disputed programs will remain in limbo unless their modified and brought back for review by CSU.
Final approval rests with the state’s community college board which has been wrestling with the issue. When it comes to the issue specifically affecting PC, Monarrez said the board is still scheduled to discuss the issue but there’s no timeline.
A final decision on the bachelor’s programs can be made by the community college board or its president based on the recommendation of the community colleges chancellor. The community college chancellor is Sonia Christian, the former Kern Community College District chancellor and Bakersfield College president. Christian is known for her leadership on the issue as she helped develop a bachelors program at BC that was one of the 15 pilot programs authorized by the passage of State Senate Bill 850 in 2014.
AB 927 grants the authority to provide final approval for community college bachelor’s programs to the community college board. But any decision for final approval must include a determination the programs are not duplicative to CSU programs.
About navigating the process to get PC’s police science program going, Monarrez said, “it’s been a challenge.”
If the situation could be resolved so PC could begin offering a police science bachelor’s program at the beginning of 2026-2027, Monarrez said, “that would be great. It would be really helpful for Tulare County.”
Monarrez said the program is also necessary to meet the requirements of AB 89 passed in 2021 that made adjustments to requirements for employment in some law enforcement positions. The law requires a bachelor’s in modern policing and raises the age to 21 for some law enforcement positions.
PC maintains its program would help meet the requirements of AB 89. PC launched an associates modern police science program in 2023 and those who earned their AA could go right into the bachelor’s program.
PC and Tulare County law enforcement agencies have also stated with no local police science bachelor’s program it could prevent them from meeting the requirements of AB 89.
