4-Year Concord College

Contra Costa Times 3/1/07

Cal State East Bay's request to establish four-year academic programs at its Concord campus is a significant step in the right direction. There is no good reason why the Concord campus should not be allowed to have the same programs as are offered at the Hayward campus.

State policies prohibit branch campuses from offering lower-division courses. The rationale is that California education officials do not want the state university system to conflict with local community courses.

However, Cal State East Bay President Mo Qayoumi and Concord campus Dean Peter Wilson say that leaders of the Contra Costa Community College district support the university's expansion.

Besides, the Concord campus has been underused since it opened in 1992. Adding lower-division courses would be a significant attraction for students seeking bachelor's degrees. That is particularly true in nursing. Schools across the state are struggling to meet the growing demand for nursing programs.

Currently, the Concord campus offers upper-division courses in nursing, but students have to go to Hayward or community colleges for lower-division classes.

The Concord campus has plenty of room to accommodate considerably more students than it does. The more area locations that offer lower-division courses, the better for students in the East Bay.

Continued cooperation between the university and community colleges is essential for developing four-year programs at the Concord campus. Contra Costa is the largest county in the state without a four-year college and deserves to have one.

Fortunately, the county does have a fine campus in Concord. If California Postsecondary Commission officials give the go-ahead, the Concord campus could be offering lower-division courses as early as this fall. That would not be too soon. The decision should be made right away to give students and potential students time to make plans, changes and transfers.