To assist Long Beach’s population of former college students working without a completed degree, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal recently announced the introduction of Assembly Bill (AB) 1858.
This proposed bill would create a new pilot partnership between California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Long Beach City College (LBCC) in which former CSULB students who left university before completing their bachelor’s degree are awarded joint associate degrees.
According to CalMatters, the bill would also authorize the chancellors of the California Community Colleges and California State University (CSU) to include three additional community college districts and CSU campuses in the pilot program. As it stands, only LBCC and CSULB would be required to participate in the program.
on April 30, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
“Too many Californians have completed significant college coursework but left without a degree to show for it,” said Lowenthal in a public statement. “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.”
Over 37 million Americans have attained some college experience without earning a degree or credential, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s 2025 Some College, No Credential report.
This statistic includes close to 6 million Californians. Reasons for students withdrawing from their studies range from the COVID-19 pandemic and family caregiving obligations to personal and financial challenges. Without a credential to show for their academic investment, these former students face additional challenges in an already competitive labor market.
Thus, AB 1858 would retroactively award joint associate degrees to former CSULB students who stopped within the past decade after finishing a minimum of 60 units and general education requirements. Through this pilot program an estimated 1,000 former students could receive a degree. Associate degree holders earn 18% more than individuals with only a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Building on the Long Beach College Promise and our longstanding partnership with Long Beach City College, we’re ready to address a challenge higher education has faced for years in a practical and student-centered way,” said CSULB President Andrew Jones in a public statement.
AB 1858 is sponsored by the CSU, Office of the Chancellor. Now that it has been announced, the bill will be referred to the relevant policy committees and be discussed later this year.
“The path to a commencement stage does not always follow a straight line, and this innovative pilot program recognizes each step of that life-changing journey,” said CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia. “The CSU is grateful to Assemblymember Lowenthal for his leadership in introducing AB 1858 which will allow us to meet students where they are and create greater access to the power and possibility of a college degree.”
What next?
Indeed, the insanity seems to be never ending.
So,
Another way to give away close to free stuff! What about all those other people who struggled beyond what others did and actually earned their degree. This is just another way to give away free things without having to have earned them with hard work.
This state is insane and the people that run it need to be run out of town on a rail.
You are right. You got to earn it. These demos want to give things away
So it’s like a participation trophy you showed up but you didn’t earn it. Absolutely ridiculous. Hey why even attend at all and pick a major that seems interesting and still receive a degree. Finish what you started…
So for those of us who did go to college and earned an associate’s degree, you make it meaningless by making the degree a participation award! Total Bullshit!
I was thinking the same thing. I am a single parent and went back to school during 2008. I took classes in the morning and night to get done in 2 years and managed to go back to work full time and rasisme a 4 year old.
I’d hate to think all that hustle was for nothing.
According to the article, they actually earned Meet the requirements; credits, 60, and coursework, gen ed classes, to complete an AA degree. The difference is these students did the work at a CSU instead of a Community College. Nothing is being given away to students who didn’t complete the requirements for an AA degree.
Yes, you are correct. It seems that other commentators do not understand that CSUs do not offer associate degrees; only community colleges do. People who go straight to a university that does not grant associate degrees (only higher degrees) and drop out halfway or more through their program end up without any degree despite devoting roughly the same (or perhaps more) time, energy, and money as those with associate degrees.
So now you dont even have to go to college full term and you can not work for the degree just drop out and still get a degree! What the heck! Ridiculous! The rest of us worked our degree and paid both in time and money for someone now to just step in and get the same degree!