In the News

By Karin Klein

In a state that desperately needs more nurses, the Legislature is expected to approve a commonsense pilot program to let 15 community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing. This would make it cheaper and easier for nursing students to get their degree and allow them to get good jobs sooner.

As small and reasonable as the change would be, Senate Bill 895 sent a jolt through the California State University administration because it would slightly disturb the Master Plan for Higher Education.

Community college leaders will once again attempt to offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing, renewing a fight with the state’s universities over whether expanding to the two-year sector eases California’s nurses shortage or increases competition.

The bill, authored by state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, would allow 15 yet-to-be-selected community college districts that already provide associate degrees in nursing to offer bachelor’s degrees in the field. 

Sacramento — To help address California’s shortage of registered nurses Sen. Richard D Roth (D-Riverside) has introduced Senate Bill 895 which creates a pilot program that authorizes the chancellor of the Community Colleges to select up to 15 community college districts, with existing nationally accredited Associate Degree in Nursing or ADN, programs to offer a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing or BSN degree to 25% of existing ADN classes, or 35 students, whichever is greater. 

By  Sara Weissman

California community colleges could begin offering bachelor’s degree programs in nursing under a new pilot program proposed in a recent state Senate bill.

Community college leaders are celebrating the bill as a way to expand access to more affordable bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.) programs and fill critical nursing shortages in the state. California State University officials, however, have expressed concerns that new programs will cause undue competition.