Several community colleges throughout California are now set to become the first in the state to offer bachelor's degrees, however schools on the Central Coast are not currently among them.
A list of 15 pilot program schools was introduced Tuesday at the California Community Colleges Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento.
Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo County chose not to formally apply, based on the program's restrictions.
Cuesta President Gill Stork says the plan falls short because it doesn't let colleges offer a degree if that same program is offered at any UC or CSU campus.
In a recent interview with KCBX, Stork said Allan Hancock and Cuesta—both of which have two-year nursing programs—lose out with the caveat that inserted into the final legislation.
"We want to offer a baccalaureate in nursing," said Stork. "So, all of these two year nurses that are working within the industry in the Central Coast have no local upward mobility aspect, which hospitals are now moving toward, and that's hiring the BSN person rather than the ADN person."
Monterey County's Hartnell College and Santa Barbara City College are also not being considered for the pilot program.
The Board of Governors is expected to take a final vote on the 15 recommended colleges this March.
There are a total of 112 community colleges in the state.