LTCC denied 4-year pilot school status

By Kathryn Reed

Lake Tahoe Community College is not one of the 15 two-year institutions that will be part of a pilot program to offer a four-year degree.

LTCC was one of 36 schools vying for this opportunity.

“The board, faculty, staff, students and administration are disappointed, although remain supportive of the California Community College baccalaureate pilot,” LTCC President Kindred Murillo told Lake Tahoe News.

The University of California and California State University systems need to find ways to accommodate more students. Allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees would do that.

LTCC proposed a public safety administration degree.

The campuses and programs approved Jan. 20 are:

• Antelope Valley College — airframe manufacturing technology

• Bakersfield College — industrial automation

• Crafton Hills College — emergency services and allied health systems

• Cypress College — mortuary science

• Feather River College — equine industry

• Foothill College — dental hygiene

• Mira Costa College – biomanufacturing

• Modesto Junior College –respiratory care

• Rio Hondo College — automotive technology

• San Diego Mesa College — health information management

• Santa Ana College — occupational studies

• Santa Monica College — interaction design

• Shasta College — health information management

• Skyline College — respiratory therapy

• West Los Angeles College — dental hygiene.

The setback does not mean LTCC won’t offer four-year degrees at some point. This has been Murillo’s mission since arriving in South Lake Tahoe a handful of years ago.

“LTCC will continue our efforts to bring public undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the university center model,” she said.

Through a more than $5 million donation from Lisa Maloff the college within the next two years plans to begin construction on a standalone 5,500-square-foot university center. A university center is a location on a community college campus occupied by staff from four-year colleges who offer their programs locally.