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AB 1858

California State University: Joint Associate's Degree Pilot Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Fong and 1 co-sponsor

Pilot allows CSU and a partner college to jointly confer a no-cost general education associate degree to former CSU students who completed eligible coursework, by 2032.

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
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Bill Summary · AB 1858

Summary of AB 1858 (2025-2026) – California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program

Purpose and Intent

AB 1858 proposes the creation of a limited-time pilot program to allow an associate degree in general education studies to be jointly conferred by a California State University (CSU) campus and a community college or independent institution that awards associate degrees. The program targets former CSU students who previously completed coursework equivalent to an associate degree but did not formally earn one, and who are no longer enrolled at a CSU campus. The core idea is to re-aggregate eligible past coursework toward an earned associate degree at no cost to the student, leveraging cross-institution collaboration.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Pilot Program Creation: The CSU Chancellor would establish a pilot program to offer a joint associate degree in general education studies.
  • Joint Conferment: The degree would be jointly conferred by a CSU campus (initially CSU Long Beach) and a partner community college or independent institution that awards associate degrees.
  • Eligibility for Former CSU Students:
    • Must have previously completed coursework equivalent to the requirements for an associate degree.
    • Must be former CSU students who are no longer enrolled at a CSU campus.
    • Must not have previously earned an associate degree.
  • Funding: The associate degree under the pilot would be awarded at no cost to the former student.
  • Participation:
    • CSU Long Beach is specifically named to participate in the pilot.
    • The Chancellor may include additional CSU campuses in the pilot.
  • Evaluation and Reporting:
    • The Chancellor must submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the pilot’s effectiveness on or before January 1, 2032.
  • Temporal Provisions:
    • The program is inoperative after June 30, 2032.
    • The provisions would be repealed as of January 1, 2033, if not extended or made permanent by subsequent action.

Affected Entities and Stakeholders

  • Primary Beneficiaries: Former CSU students who left CSU without earning an associate degree but who have completed eligible coursework, who would receive an earned associate degree at no cost.
  • Institutions:
    • California State University system (initially CSU Long Beach as the pilot site; expansion allowed to additional CSU campuses).
    • Partner community colleges or independent institutions that award associate degrees.
  • State Oversight: The CSU Chancellor’s Office, with accountability to the Legislature through mandatory evaluation reporting.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Implementation Timeline:
    • Pilot to be established following appropriation by the Legislature.
    • Initial participation by CSU Long Beach; potential expansion to additional CSU campuses.
  • Evaluation Schedule:
    • A comprehensive report evaluating the pilot’s effectiveness due by January 1, 2032.
  • Sunset and Repeal:
    • The pilot provisions become inoperative on June 30, 2032 and would be repealed as of January 1, 2033, absent further legislative action.

Additional Context

  • The bill is sponsored in part by Mike Fong and Josh Lowenthal as co-sponsors and has undergone amendments during the 2025-2026 session.
  • The policy aligns with broader higher education goals of improving degree attainment, leveraging prior coursework, and offering affordable pathways to degrees for returning or former CSU students.

If you’d like, I can add a quick comparison to related existing programs (e.g., prior transfer/articulation policies or other joint degree initiatives) or provide a plain-language FAQ based on this summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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