Schools Forge Biz Degree Partnership

Beginning next fall, Santa Barbara City College students looking to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in business won’t even have to leave campus.

On Wednesday, September 29, SBCC President Andreea Serban and Richard Rush, President of California State University Channel Islands, inked a five-year deal that will allow CSUCI to bring its services to SBCC.

“Why go anywhere else?” Serban asked, looking out the windows of the new Luria Press and Conference Center atop the La Playa Stadium.

The alliance will allow a cohort of up to 30 students to enroll in Saturday-only classes – run by CSUCI but to take place in SBCC facilities – for an intensive 12-week term.

Rush said that if the partnership works out, CSUCI could potentially expand its services further than a business degree program.

Rush also elaborated on the demand of community colleges to provide this service to students who are having a difficult time getting into state universities to complete their degrees.

“To get into any campus for a business degree is very hard these days,” Rush said. “By coming onto the City College campus, we’ll have wiped away some of these obstacles.”

SBCC students that meet CSUCI’s admission criteria will be granted guaranteed admissions into the Bachelor of Science business program.

The partnership is part of Extended University, a nonprofit organization that is attached to a public institution but not funded by the state.

Nancy Gill, Director of Communication and Marketing at CSUCI, said that on average, students can expect to earn their degree in two years. Cost of attending the Channel Islands extension is about $16,000. A Bachelor degree at Channel Islands University – after completing lower division requirements – costs about $5,000.

“There’s increased accessibility to a business degree,” Gill said. “With increased accessibility, there comes a cost.”

As a degree completion program, the lower division requirements will not be offered by Channel Islands at SBCC. Students will be required to complete the lower division requirements either at SBCC, at the CSU Channel Islands Camarillo campus or elsewhere. Financial aid is available.