Cal State System to Launch Dual Enrollment Program for Community College Students

California State University–Fullerton on Aug. 28, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The California State University (CSU) system is creating a program that allows community college students to enter a dual-admission agreement with one of CSU’s campuses—a program that the system is also hoping will boost its community college transfer enrollment numbers.

The so-called Transfer Success Pathway program guarantees students’ admission to a CSU campus once they complete general education requirements at the community college and grants students early access to university resources such as academic advisors and libraries.

Eligible students must have graduated high school in 2023 or later and must be first-time community college students who were either ineligible or unable to attend one of CSU’s 23 campuses for financial reasons at the time of their graduation, according to the program’s webpage.

Students in the program must have an intent to transfer to a CSU campus within three years—either by successfully completing an associate degree or enrolling in a course of study for CSU transfer.

CSU’s Board of Trustees discussed the program at a March 21 board meeting, though no formal vote was needed.

Some officials said during the meeting they hoped the program would streamline the transfer process for community college students.

“The Transfer Success Pathway is the CSU’s promise and commitment to those who don’t take a direct route to a four-year degree, particularly those who face academic, geographic, or financial barriers,” said April Grommo, CSU’s assistant vice chancellor of strategic enrollment management.

Officials also said they anticipated the program giving the system a boost in enrollment numbers, which have declined in recent years—particularly among community college transfer students.

“Our transfer population faces unique challenges, including a steep decrease in the number of students attending California’s community colleges. This enrollment decline is having a domino effect on transfer student applications and admissions rates across the CSU,” said Laura Massa, the interim associate vice chancellor of CSU’s Academic and Faculty Programs.

CSU’s transfer enrollment numbers fell 15 percent in the past three years—from about 58,500 in 2019 to about 49,500 in fall 2022, according to the system’s enrollment dashboard.

CSU, along with the University of California (UC) was required to create a dual admission program by the fall of 2023 after Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021 signed Assembly Bill 132.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at California State University–Long Beach, in Long Beach, Calif., on March 3, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

UC announced in September it would launch its pilot program for community college and high school students this spring.

The first cohort of students in the program will be announced after all freshman admission decisions are out at the end of this month, a spokesperson for UC told the Epoch Times in an email.

Participating UC campuses include Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.

The governor has made efforts to boost enrollment for CSU and UC in recent years.

Students walk through the University of California–Irvine campus in Irvine, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

In 2022, Newsom’s state budget pledged to give both systems five percent annual budget increases for the next five years if they agreed to work toward improving graduation and enrollment rates, particularly among California residents.

Newsom kept his promise in his 2023–24 budget proposal released Jan. 10. If approved later this year, both the UC and CSU systems will receive a 5 percent boost in funding, amounting to $216 million for UC and $227 million for CSU, when the fiscal year commences July 1.