California Community College Chancellor's Office BDP Application

This section of the baccalaureate degree manual outlines the requirements and guidelines for obtaining approval for a new baccalaureate degree program in California Community Colleges. The legislation limits the approval to 15 degrees per application cycle. The eligibility requirements include:

Board of Governors Fee Waiver: The district must have a policy that mandates potential students applying for a fee waiver to submit either a FAFSA or a California Dream Act application. This ensures that students seeking financial aid complete the appropriate application.
Identification of Unmet Workforce Needs: The district must identify and document unmet workforce needs in the subject area of the intended baccalaureate degree program. The program should be offered in a community or region with such needs. This requirement ensures that the program aligns with local demand for skilled professionals.
Avoidance of Program Duplication: The district must ensure that the baccalaureate degree program does not duplicate existing programs or curricula at the California State University or the University of California. This ensures that the program is distinct and complements the current educational offerings.
Adequate Expertise, Resources, and Student Interest: The district must demonstrate that it possesses the necessary expertise, resources, and student interest to provide a high-quality baccalaureate degree program in the chosen field of study. This requirement ensures that the district has the capacity to deliver a rigorous and valuable program.

The application process for new baccalaureate degree programs is highly competitive. This section in the manual provides a comprehensive overview of the application process, step-by-step instructions, resources, and tips to develop a strong application. It emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the proposed program will lead to high-paying jobs for students and does not duplicate existing curricula offered at California State University or the University of California.

Click here for the current CCCCO Baccalaureate Degree Materials:

Application criteria and requirements are subject to change, use as a sample only for reference.

Cycle 2 Rubric

Cycle 3 Rubric

Cycle 5 Rubric

Application criteria and requirements are subject to change, use the rubric as a sample only for reference.

Image of CCCCO BDP Scoring Rubric

\uD83D\uDCD8 Instructions (Updated to align with Cycle 5)

Certification of Statutory Compliance and Readiness

The template forms are in Word format and will be downloaded in a separate window. The template form for Workforce Need has changed! You must use the most current forms.

Do not include embedded links to external documents. Additional documents must be attached separately rather than a link. Including links to outside documents may disqualify your application!

Colleges must certify the following:

We will not offer a baccalaureate degree program or curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California (Ed Code § 78042(d)(2).)

Our Institution completed all of the following

Workforce Need/Demand
Our district/college consulted with regional employers and regional workforce development boards Ed. Code § 78042 (f)(5).) We will will provide substantial evidence our proposed baccalaureate degree will fulfill unmet workforce need and provide high-wage jobs or promotions for graduates. Download the Summary of Workforce Need and Demand Template.
Program Description
Our college has completed the Proposed BDP Description Form and understand this form will be shared with CSU, UC, and AICCU for intersegmental analysis. Download the Proposed BDP Description Template.
Quality and Design.
Our district/college has completed the Program Quality and Curriculum Design Form.
Download the Program Quality and Curriculum Design Template.
Administrative and Funding Plan
Our district/college has the campus-wide expertise and resources to offer a quality baccalaureate degree program and have demonstrated that in the attached template. Ed. Code §78042 (d)(3)). Download the Administrative and Funding Plan Template.

Our Institution certifies the following:

Our district maintains the primary mission to advance California’s economic growth and global competitiveness through education, training, and services that contribute to continuous workforce improvement (Ed. Code § 78042(b).)
Our district has the additional mission to provide high quality undergraduate education at an affordable price for students and the state. (Ed. Code § 78042(b).

Tip: Click here for BP 1200 District Mission

Our district has a written policy that requires all potential students who wish to apply for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver to complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application in lieu of the California Promise Grant (Ed. Code § 78042(c).)

Tip: This URL may be used for documentation:
https://www.sdccd.edu/students/financial-aid-scholarship/

Our district maintains separate records for community college students enrolled in lower division courses and baccalaureate degree students enrolled in upper division courses (Ed. Code § 78042(e).)

Tip: SDCCD Colleges have a system in place to maintain separate records for upper division courses and a process to report lower-division and upper-division enrollment

Our district currently offers and will continue to offer an associate degree program in the same academic subject form which this baccalaureate program is proposed. (Ed. Code § 78042(j)(1).)

Application

The application is based on Education Code requirements. All questions must be answered, and all requested data and evidence must be supplied. If you receive an error message, it is likely you missed a question. You are encouraged to save your application content in a separate document. Please pay careful attention to the page limits imposed for your responses to each question. These page limits facilitate a timely review and scoring of applications. Responses to questions in excess of the stated page limits may not be considered.

District/College Contact Information

District Name
College Name
Name of Contact at College Completing this Application
Title of Contact at College Completing this Application
Email Address of Contact at College Completing this Application
Phone Number of Contact at College Completing this Application

Proposed Baccalaureate Degree Program Information

Name of proposed baccalaureate degree program
CIP Code of proposed baccalaureate degree program
Name of current associate degree program
Primary TOP Code for baccalaureate degree program (list no more than two)

Tip:

TOP Code should closely align with Associate Degree TOP Code (If an additional TOP Code, not listed in the CCCCO TOP Code Manual, is needed, use the most closely aligned code and contact Shelly Hess shess@sdccd.edu).

ACCJC Substantial Change Approval

ACCJC Substantive Change Approval. Our district has applied/received substantive change approval to offer the proposed baccalaureate degree program through the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Ed. Code § 78042 (a)). Note while an application may be submitted prior to receiving ACCJC approval, the Chancellor’s Office will only provide conditional approval until the evidence of ACCJC approval is received.

Upload substantive change approval letter if the college has received it.

Select one of the following options:

yes-approved
yes-applied, or
not yet

If your program is approved by ACCJC, please upload the approval letter.

Review Category (New for Cycle 5)

Full Review: New programs being considered for the first time
Streamlined Review: CCC previsoulsy approved programs where there is a quick review by intersegmental segments that the curriculum is the same. Streamlined Review programs do not receive program duplication objections.
Expedited Review: Clear career technical education (CTE) or applied degrees that are not in CSU or UC’s wheelhouse that have been previously approved.

List of Programs Approved for Expedited Review:

Airframe Manufacturing Technology
Automotive Career Education

Automotive Technology
Dental Hygiene
Dental Hygiene Administration
Equine and Ranch Management
Histotechnology
Industrial Automation
Mortuary Science
Occupational Studies/Occupational Therapy Assistant
Research Laboratory Technology
Respiratory Care

Non-Duplication Analysis

Our institution certifies it will not offer a baccalaureate degree program or curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California (Ed. Code § 78042 (d)(2))

Non Duplication Analysis

Submit a Non-duplication Analysis document for the proposed baccalaureate degree program that demonstrates it does not duplicate a program or program curricula offered by the CSU or UC. Documentation should include:

a summary of your search results;
an assessment of how the proposed BDP is not duplicative of any program offered at an CSU or US campus statewide;

Where potential duplication overlap exists documentation should include:

a summary of your search results;
an assessment of how the proposed BDP is not duplicative of any program offered at any CSU or UC campus statewide;
A side-by-side comparison of each course with course descriptions and student level-learning outcomes.

Required Documentation: Cycle 3 Non-Duplication Analysis Template
Cycle 5 Non-Duplication Analysis Template

Cycle 6 Non-Duplication Analysis Template

Application Question 7 (No page limit)

This template must be completed and uploaded as part of the pre-application process. It includes website resources to assist with your research.

Tip: Use the TOP to CIP Crosswalk as a guide to help you determine the appropriate TOP and CIP Codes.

Be prepared to cite and document which resources were utilized in your search

□ UC Majors (link provided by UC)

□ CSU Academic Master Plan (link provided by CSU)

□ WASC Programs Directory (link provided by AICCU)

□ COE CSU and UC Program Finder Tool

□ COE CSU and UC Program Finder Tool Instructions

□ Search Degrees at the CSU

□ CSU Majors by CIP Code

□ Guidance Searching CSU Degree Programs and Subprograms

□ CSU Degrees and CIP Codes Report 6/29/2023

□ CIP SOC Crosswalk

Resources:

Samples:

Sample of a non-duplication analysis.

SDCCD Sample Nonduplication Analysis (Cycle 2)

Tip: Provide response in a PDF Format. No Page Limits

Workforce Need/Evidence of Sufficient Demand

Evidence of Sufficient Demand

9. Evidence of unmet workforce needs
Upload the required BDP Labor Market Assessment Report produced by
your regional Center of Excellence. The assessment should document relevant workforce data and information about the occupations your program will prepare students to enter. The report must be submitted in its original form as an attachment. The report must include the following:

This is section has been updated for Cycle 6

Required Documentation: Upload Labor Market Assessment Report produced by your regional Center of Excellence.

The report must include:

Summary Analysis of Evidence
Provide a summary analysis of the statewide and regional workforce data (LMI) and other evidence submitted in response to Application Question 9. Describe how your proposal and evidence fulfills the following:
Employers are having difficulty filling positions that require baccalaureate degrees
Employers are willing to pay baccalaureate degree holders more than those with a related associate degree or no postsecondary degree
Evidence of job placement and/or promotion opportunities for candidates with a baccalaureate degree
Evidence the occupation/field of the proposed baccalaureate degree will provide for higher-wage job opportunities.

Optional Documentation
Upload additional support from employers: minutes of industry advisory committee meetings and/or regional consortia recommendations, letters from partners or employers, and/or committee meeting minutes or recommendations

(See Pre-application Workforce Need)

10. Administrative Funding Plans
Provides an explanation of the factors that led to the development of the proposed degree, how it fits within the higher education master plan, faculty qualifications, student support services, impacts to resources, and budget

Required Documentation: Administrative and Funding Plan template

Response is limited to 12 pages

(See pre-application Administrative Funding Plan)

11. Chancellor’s Office recommends that districts adopt policies and practices consistent wit the Budgeting Best Practices published by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Foremost among these best practices is consideration of financial reserves.

The Chancellor’s Office recommends that districts adopt formal policies to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves with a suggested minimum of two months of total general fund operating expenditures. See Memo FS 22-03 Fiscal Forward Portfolio and Budget Architecture and Development Recommendations

Please provide a copy of your district's formal policy to maintain unrestricted reserves. *

Required Documentation: District’s Formal Policy to maintain unrestricted reserves.

BP 6300 Fiscal Management

Program Quality and Curriculum Design

Program Description

General information about the program including upper division and lower division courses

Required Documentation
Proposed BDP Description Template (Formerly known as the Duplication Analysis Form)

No page limit

(See Pre-application Non-Duplication Analysis and Program Description)

Program Description
Our college has completed the proposed BDP Description form and understand this form will be shared with CSU, UC, and AICCU for intersegmental Analysis.

Required Document: Proposed BDP Details Template (formerly the Duplication Analysis Form in Cycle 2.

Application Question 8. Response no page limit

Tip:
Include the following: College name; title of proposed program; award type (BA or BS); TOP Code; CIP Code; SOC Code/s (SDCCD allows up to 5 SOC Codes); program description; program outcomes; course descriptions and learning outcomes/objectives for all lower division and upper division courses.

Note: lower division GE is not required, upper division general education is required

Tip:

Develop sequence of courses for upper division curriculum: it is required for submission to COCI for final approval of the curriculum. Do not submit curriculum to COCI until the college has received Full Approval from the CCCCO.

Sample: SDCCD Public Safety Management Cycle 2

Program Quality and Curriculum Design
Submit curriculum and program details for the proposed baccalaureate degree program.

Required Documentation: Program Quality and Curriculum Design
Response is limited to 12 pages

(See Pre-application Quality and Design)

Samples:

Upper Division Curriculum Approval Process Template

Sample Section 24 Curriculum Development and Approval

Sample Final Section 23 Industry Standards

B. Catalog Description
Provide the catalog description for your proposal that includes:

Program requirements and prerequisite skills
Admission requirements and/or enrollment limitations
Program Goals
A listing of course requirements and sequencing
The general education pattern and the calculations used to reach the degree total
An explanation of how the proposed program fits into the college’s existing program inventory

Strong catalog description with well-defined program goals. Curriculum and achievement outcomes are certain, and pathways are clear with semester breakdown of courses and units. Articulation and alignment are addressed. Include program course sequencing.

All baccalaureate degrees offered by a California community college must meet the minimum requirements outlined in this section. These requirements are designed to ensure the baccalaureate degrees are equivalent or superior to other baccalaureate degrees offered by other regionally accredited community colleges or universities throughout the United States. Each degree program must include the following:

A combination of lower division and upper division coursework totaling a minimum of 120 semester or 180 quarter units that are applicable to a baccalaureate degree as defined within these guidelines. A minimum degree requirement of 60 semester credits or 90 quarter units at the associate level.
At least 36 semester or 54 quarter units of lower division general education is required
Completion of a minimum of 40 semester or 60 quarter units of upper division courses
At least nine semester or 13.5 quarter units of upper division general education coursework is required.
The general education requirements are integrated and distributed to both lower and upper division courses. Currently California community college baccalaureate degrees are required to CSU GE or IGETC lower division general education patterns.

Note: Include any opportunities for credit for prior learning.

Sample: Cycle 2 Final Section 22 Program and Curriculum Design

C. Program Articulation and Transfer

Describe how the proposed program allow for students to transition to other associate degree programs or transfer to other four-year institutions if desired. Describe how lower division and upper division coursework articulate to comparable programs or graduate programs where available.

Sample: Sample Final Section 27 Program Articulation and Transfer

D. Industry Standards

Describe how the proposed program aligns with external industry standards and/or is in good standing with any programmatic accreditation certifications.

Sample: Program Quality Design, including Industry Standards

Administrative and Funding Plans

Administrative and Funding Plan

The Chancellor’s Office recommends district’s adopt policies and practices consistent with Budgeting Best Practices published by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Among the best practices is consideration of financial reserves. The Chancellor’s Office recommends districts adopt formal policies to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves with a suggested minimum of two months of total general fund operating expenditures. See Memo FS 22-03 Fiscal Forward Portfolio and Budget Architecture and Development Recommendations. Provide a copy of your district’s formal policy to maintain unrestricted reserves.

Required Documentation: Administrative and Funding Plan Template

Application Question 15 (Response is limited to 12 pages). Provide in PDF Format.

A. Planning
Describe the systemwide planning process that led to the proposed baccalaureate degree.

Master Planning. Please describe how this proposed baccalaureate degree program fits into the mission, curriculum, and master planning of the college and higher education in California, as well as the additional mission to provide high-quality undergraduate education at an affordable price for students and the state.

Cycle 3 Sample Section 17 Master Planning

Resources:

BP 1200 District Mission

B. Staffing Plan
Provide your staffing plan to support the proposed program. Include a discussion of faculty, staff, and administration

C. Faculty Qualifications
Please identify all faculty who will teach the courses in the proposed program and provide background and qualifications for those faculty who are qualified to teach upper-division courses and continuously improve the curriculum. All faculty teaching upper division courses must have a master’s degree at a minimum. (This is an ACCJC requirement.) (CV’s, Biosketch, certifications, etc. are not required but may be attached as a separate document in response to this question.)

Sample Section 20 Qualified Faculty

D. Support Services

Tip: Include a comprehensive discuss of all support services. Consider including a discussion on:

sufficient human administrative support (i.e., adequate faculty, support staff, counselors, student services);
necessary financial and administrative processes, including updates to systems (to initiate, maintain, and monitor the proposed program); and
sufficient library and learning resources (quality, currency, variety, quantity, and depth).

E. Affordability

Address financial considerations and strategies to ensure the baccalaureate degree programs remain accessible and affordable for students.

Tips: Consider financial aid and scholarships, tuition and fee structures, cost reduction strategies such as open educational resources (OER), grants, partnerships, and fundraising.

Sample: Final Section 21 ZTC and OER Availability

F. Impact:
Include a discussion regarding the impact on the following resources: physical resources; technology; equipment, and financial.

Tips:
Physical Resources: consider a discussion regarding existing infrastructure to accommodate the needs of the program, potential expansion, renovation, classroom space, laboratories, libraries, and study areas, etc. Consider the following:

Technology: Highlight existing or needed computer labs, software, online learning platforms, internet connectivity, or specialized technology

Equipment: Discuss any need for state-of-the-art equipment and equipment for the program.

Financial: Thoroughly explain and examine the financial implications associated with offering the baccalaureate degree program. Address program development costs, faculty, staff and administrator compensation, funding sources, financial plan

G. Budget

Include a budget that provides evidence your district/college has the capacity to start and maintain the proposed program.

Tip: Include a detailed Administrative Plan with identified facilities, resources, services, library resources, tutoring, student support services, and qualified faculty. Demonstrate a Funding Plan is thoughtful and clear with estimated costs, i.e., funding for faculty compensation, facilities and equipment, and library and other student learning resources.

Use the Budget Calculation Tool to calculate these costs.

Budget Calculation Tool

Sample: Section 19 Administrative and Funding Plans

SDCCD Shelly L. Hess Dean Instructional Services and Victor DeVore Dean Student Services