Some Cal State Long Beach students who attended college but weren’t able to finish their bachelor’s degrees may be getting some help from the state with the introduction of a new bill.
The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, hopes to address certain gaps in the higher education system impacting millions of students across California, according to a Thursday, Feb. 12, news release from the assemblymember’s office.
Lowenthal represents California’s 69th Assembly District, which includes Long Beach, Carson, Signal Hill, Catalina Island and Los Angeles.
Assembly Bill 1858, if enacted, would allow CSULB and Long Beach City College to create a new pilot program that would retroactively award joint associate degrees to former CSULB students who finished some college, but weren’t able to complete their bachelor’s programs.
Across the U.S., according to the news release from Lowenthal’s office, more than 37 million people have completed some college without earning a degree or credential.
“In California alone, that figure approaches 6 million. Many of these students withdrew due to circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, family caregiving obligations, or personal and financial challenges,” Lowenthal’s office said. “As a result, they face an increasingly competitive labor market without a credential that reflects their academic progress or investment.”
The pilot program that would be established under AB 1858 would apply to former CSULB students who completed at least 60 units and general education requirements but didn’t finish their bachelor’s degrees. It would only apply to students who stopped their schooling in the past decade, the news release said.
“Too many Californians have completed significant college coursework but left without a degree to show for it,” Lowenthal said in the release. “AB 1858 recognizes that progress and turns it into opportunity. This pilot will help former students earn a meaningful degree that supports better jobs, higher wages and economic mobility, while showing how institutions can work together to close California’s ‘some college, no degree’ gap.”
The bill is sponsored by the CSU Chancellor’s Office, according to the news release, and local officials, including Mayor Rex Richardson and LBCC Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz, say the pilot program would build on the Long Beach College Promise — an ongoing collaboration between the city and its local educational institutions aimed at bettering opportunities for residents.
“Building on the Long Beach College Promise and our partnership with Long Beach State, we are addressing a long-standing challenge in higher education through a practical, student-centered approach,” Muñoz said. “At LBCC, we understand that unfinished degrees often reflect life circumstances, not ability. By intentionally reengaging students and honoring the work they have already completed, we can help more learners return, finish strong, and reconnect with their goals.”
The bill will be heard later this year after it is referred to relevant policy committees, Lowenthal’s office said.