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Letters to the editor: Transfer bill wonʼt transfer to every school
Thank you for your article, “Transfer made easy.”
Unfortunately, SB1440 does not magically make transfer easy. It is an ambiguous, feelgood bill—and far from the “clear pathway” it claims to be.
This bill states that students are “eligible to transfer…when the student meets prescribed requirements.”
Wait—“Prescribed requirements”? What are those? Such details have not been specified by CSUs/UCs.
For years, the CCs and the CSUs/UCs have attempted to identify universally-accepted course sequences for transfer. We have tried—and failed— each time.
Until we succeed at that complex endeavor, this bill has no teeth and guarantees nothing.
One thing is “clear,” however: Senator Padilla is running for re-election in November, and likely wants to be California Governor in the future. The bill “clearly” helps his re-election hopes but it does little else.
Finally, I’d like to side with the CSUs and UCs: not every CC student should automatically be granted transfer after completing a “prescribed” course sequence. The quality of CCs varies widely across our state. Some CCs are marginal, or on probation. Slamming the 4-years by “mandating” they take all students does them disservice.
Pierce and other colleges should compete for spots at these campuses. Let the universities pick our best students, and this will raise the bar and encourage improved performance at all colleges.
