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Plan aims to cut the cost of 4-year degrees
FLAGSTAFF - Arizona students wanting a four-year public-university degree have two options: They can enroll at one of the state's three research institutions or attend [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]community [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]college[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] for up to two years and transfer.
But momentum is building for a new alternative.
Ernest Calderón, incoming president of the Arizona Board of Regents, plans to unveil a proposal today that would allow community-college students in select majors to attend one of the big three universities for only their final year. <SCRIPT SRC="http://ad.adlegend.com/jscript?spacedesc=1130820_1062223_300x250_1182639_1130820&ML_NIF=Y&target=_blank&@CPSC@="> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://gannett.gcion.com/adlink/5111/330325/0/170/AdId=186521;BnId=6;itime=421903854;nodecode=yes;link=http://ad.adlegend.com/click?spacedesc=1130820_1062223_300x250_1182639_1130820&ML_NIF=Y" TARGET="_blank"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.adlegend.com/image?spacedesc=1130820_1062223_300x250_1182639_1130820&ML_NIF=Y" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=250 ALT="Click Here" BORDER=0> </A> </NOS
The change could save students thousands of dollars at a time when university tuition is rising sharply.
It also could encourage more students to work for a bachelor's degree rather than stopping their education after receiving a two-year associate's degree.
Not every academic major would be eligible. If he can sway Arizona State University, [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]University [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]of [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]Arizona[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and Northern Arizona University to back the plan, it's likely they would start with just a handful of high-demand majors, such as business and education.
"We can do this," said Calderón, who said he believes the universities could have a program in place with three or four community colleges by fall 2010.
The proposal is one of several the Board of Regents will consider over the next several months as it looks for ways to provide Arizona's college students with lower-cost education options.
[h3]A hard sell [/h3]
Calderón's plan is in many ways controversial.
For years, the universities have fought efforts to allow community colleges to grant four-year degrees, saying it would create competition for high enrollment numbers, which could result in less state funding for them.
But the universities and the regents are under increasing pressure from Gov. Jan Brewer and the state Legislature to make the cost of an education more affordable. Tuition at the universities rose as much as 54 percent from 2004 to 2008.New undergraduate students will pay 20 to 24 percent more in tuition and fees than in 2008-09: $6,627 at NAU, $6,842 at UA and $6,840 for new students at ASU's Tempe campus.
As a result, university leaders now seem increasingly receptive to a more generous credit-transfer program, although it's unlikely they would ever support four-year community-college degrees.
Under the proposal, students could earn up to 90 credits at a [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]local [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]community [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]college[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and then transfer to a state university for the final 30 credits.
Current rules allow students to transfer up to two years' worth of classes, or about 64 credits, although a few programs allow more.
The change could save students an average of $4,000 in just tuition and fees over four years. Community-college tuition is often one-third of what the universities charge.
In order to go forward, Calderón will need the backing of the regents, the community colleges and the universities.
The latter could be a tough sell because the plan would reduce university enrollments and the per-student funding they receive from the state at a time when budgets are already tight.
Calderón did not have any estimates on how much money the universities could lose.
Regardless, it's the right thing to do, he said.
Some community-college leaders seem receptive.
"We're definitely interested," said Rufus Glasper, chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges, the largest community-college district in the state.
[h3]Other advantages [/h3]
Cheaper tuition for college students isn't the only potential benefit.
Arizona is below the national average in terms the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor's degree. It's 25 percent in Arizona compared with 28 percent nationally.
To change this trend, the universities need to find new ways to encourage students to complete a four-year degree.
Some think a three-year credit-transfer program might help. It has been used in varying degrees in many other states, although it usually applies only to select programs.
"The goal is a bachelor's degree, not an associate's degree," Glasper said. "We're trying to make it as easy as possible."
He added that his college system would have room for students to stay an extra year because it's in the midst of adding 1.6 million additional square feet of space. The expansion was approved during a 2004 capital bond.
ASU President Michael Crow said a lot of details would have to be worked out in any program that would allow students to spend three years at the community-college level.
But, he said, the university supports the idea of finding ways to increase the number of bachelor's degrees awarded to Arizona adults.
"We are looking at every possible way to enhance bachelor's-degree production," he said.
[h3]Hurdles and options [/h3]
Calderón's proposal is far from a done deal.
Even if he is able to garner support, there are many logistics that would need to be worked through.
One of the largest is just who would be responsible for teaching third-year students. Under the plan, the universities would control the curriculum but students would still be taking classes on community-college campuses.
It also is likely that regents will consider and pursue multiple options for lower-priced four-year degrees.
On Thursday, for example, presidents of the three universities presented their previously announced plans for opening a fourth, lower-priced campus as soon as next year and four additional, similar campuses by 2020.
All would offer only bachelor's degrees and would rely on partnerships with cities and community colleges.
Under that plan, the universities would form more partnerships with community colleges, which would allow students to transfer more easily between the two.
"The short and long-term key is the community colleges," [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]NAU [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]President [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]John [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]Haeger[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] said.
NAU has worked for years with Yavapai Community College and plans to set up a new location in Prescott Valley in August where students could earn four-year degrees.
ASU is working on a proposal called the Colleges@ASU, which is envisioned as a group of lower-cost campuses that would operate similar to the university's downtown Phoenix campus, which was funded with voter-approved bond funding.
Regents are expected to discuss any and all possible options for lower-priced degrees over the next several months, with the goal of having proposals ready for public input by December.
The regents will likely face several challenges, no matter which option they choose, including coming up with funding for new staff and operations during a tight budget year, as well as building support and consensus among the state's many community colleges.
Arizona has 10 community-college districts, and each has its own governing board.
"I don't think we'll succeed unless we have a strong relationship with the community colleges," Calderón said to the presidents on Thursday. "Whatever we do, they have to be part of the plan."
FLAGSTAFF - Arizona students wanting a four-year public-university degree have two options: They can enroll at one of the state's three research institutions or attend [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]community [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]college[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] for up to two years and transfer.
But momentum is building for a new alternative.
Ernest Calderón, incoming president of the Arizona Board of Regents, plans to unveil a proposal today that would allow community-college students in select majors to attend one of the big three universities for only their final year. <SCRIPT SRC="http://ad.adlegend.com/jscript?spacedesc=1130820_1062223_300x250_1182639_1130820&ML_NIF=Y&target=_blank&@CPSC@="> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://gannett.gcion.com/adlink/5111/330325/0/170/AdId=186521;BnId=6;itime=421903854;nodecode=yes;link=http://ad.adlegend.com/click?spacedesc=1130820_1062223_300x250_1182639_1130820&ML_NIF=Y" TARGET="_blank"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.adlegend.com/image?spacedesc=1130820_1062223_300x250_1182639_1130820&ML_NIF=Y" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=250 ALT="Click Here" BORDER=0> </A> </NOS
The change could save students thousands of dollars at a time when university tuition is rising sharply.
It also could encourage more students to work for a bachelor's degree rather than stopping their education after receiving a two-year associate's degree.
Not every academic major would be eligible. If he can sway Arizona State University, [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]University [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]of [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]Arizona[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and Northern Arizona University to back the plan, it's likely they would start with just a handful of high-demand majors, such as business and education.
"We can do this," said Calderón, who said he believes the universities could have a program in place with three or four community colleges by fall 2010.
The proposal is one of several the Board of Regents will consider over the next several months as it looks for ways to provide Arizona's college students with lower-cost education options.
[h3]A hard sell [/h3]
Calderón's plan is in many ways controversial.
For years, the universities have fought efforts to allow community colleges to grant four-year degrees, saying it would create competition for high enrollment numbers, which could result in less state funding for them.
But the universities and the regents are under increasing pressure from Gov. Jan Brewer and the state Legislature to make the cost of an education more affordable. Tuition at the universities rose as much as 54 percent from 2004 to 2008.New undergraduate students will pay 20 to 24 percent more in tuition and fees than in 2008-09: $6,627 at NAU, $6,842 at UA and $6,840 for new students at ASU's Tempe campus.
As a result, university leaders now seem increasingly receptive to a more generous credit-transfer program, although it's unlikely they would ever support four-year community-college degrees.
Under the proposal, students could earn up to 90 credits at a [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]local [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]community [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]college[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and then transfer to a state university for the final 30 credits.
Current rules allow students to transfer up to two years' worth of classes, or about 64 credits, although a few programs allow more.
The change could save students an average of $4,000 in just tuition and fees over four years. Community-college tuition is often one-third of what the universities charge.
In order to go forward, Calderón will need the backing of the regents, the community colleges and the universities.
The latter could be a tough sell because the plan would reduce university enrollments and the per-student funding they receive from the state at a time when budgets are already tight.
Calderón did not have any estimates on how much money the universities could lose.
Regardless, it's the right thing to do, he said.
Some community-college leaders seem receptive.
"We're definitely interested," said Rufus Glasper, chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges, the largest community-college district in the state.
[h3]Other advantages [/h3]
Cheaper tuition for college students isn't the only potential benefit.
Arizona is below the national average in terms the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor's degree. It's 25 percent in Arizona compared with 28 percent nationally.
To change this trend, the universities need to find new ways to encourage students to complete a four-year degree.
Some think a three-year credit-transfer program might help. It has been used in varying degrees in many other states, although it usually applies only to select programs.
"The goal is a bachelor's degree, not an associate's degree," Glasper said. "We're trying to make it as easy as possible."
He added that his college system would have room for students to stay an extra year because it's in the midst of adding 1.6 million additional square feet of space. The expansion was approved during a 2004 capital bond.
ASU President Michael Crow said a lot of details would have to be worked out in any program that would allow students to spend three years at the community-college level.
But, he said, the university supports the idea of finding ways to increase the number of bachelor's degrees awarded to Arizona adults.
"We are looking at every possible way to enhance bachelor's-degree production," he said.
[h3]Hurdles and options [/h3]
Calderón's proposal is far from a done deal.
Even if he is able to garner support, there are many logistics that would need to be worked through.
One of the largest is just who would be responsible for teaching third-year students. Under the plan, the universities would control the curriculum but students would still be taking classes on community-college campuses.
It also is likely that regents will consider and pursue multiple options for lower-priced four-year degrees.
On Thursday, for example, presidents of the three universities presented their previously announced plans for opening a fourth, lower-priced campus as soon as next year and four additional, similar campuses by 2020.
All would offer only bachelor's degrees and would rely on partnerships with cities and community colleges.
Under that plan, the universities would form more partnerships with community colleges, which would allow students to transfer more easily between the two.
"The short and long-term key is the community colleges," [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]NAU [COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]President [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]John [/COLOR][COLOR=#2573C2 ! important]Haeger[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] said.
NAU has worked for years with Yavapai Community College and plans to set up a new location in Prescott Valley in August where students could earn four-year degrees.
ASU is working on a proposal called the Colleges@ASU, which is envisioned as a group of lower-cost campuses that would operate similar to the university's downtown Phoenix campus, which was funded with voter-approved bond funding.
Regents are expected to discuss any and all possible options for lower-priced degrees over the next several months, with the goal of having proposals ready for public input by December.
The regents will likely face several challenges, no matter which option they choose, including coming up with funding for new staff and operations during a tight budget year, as well as building support and consensus among the state's many community colleges.
Arizona has 10 community-college districts, and each has its own governing board.
"I don't think we'll succeed unless we have a strong relationship with the community colleges," Calderón said to the presidents on Thursday. "Whatever we do, they have to be part of the plan."
