In Honor of Community College Month, Community College Baccalaureate Association Announces Development of National Standards for Designing and Implementing Community College Bachelor’s Degrees
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 1, 2025) – Community colleges are making national headlines for delivering on their promise to offer accessible, affordable, and equitable higher education pathways, including bachelor’s degrees. With 24 states and more than 200 community colleges now offering community college baccalaureate (CCB) degrees, the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA), in collaboration with Bragg & Associates and TSG Advisors – Education, today announced they are developing a comprehensive CCB Quality Framework to serve as a roadmap for colleges and state agencies that plan to offer high-quality, workforce-focused CCB degree programs to their communities.
“CCBA is the only organization in the nation dedicated to promoting bachelor’s degrees conferred by community colleges to close racial, ethnic, and income gaps,” says CCBA President Dr. Angela Kersenbrock. “This project will allow us to continue our work to scale up quality CCB degrees nationwide.”
The project has three primary goals:
- Expand the number of community colleges offering baccalaureate degrees in needed workforce fields.
- Increase the number of states engaged in the legislative process to allow community colleges to confer baccalaureate degrees.
- Fully develop and expand the CCB Quality Framework, which will equip states with the tools to design, implement and evaluate CCB programs that ensure broad access to all students and align with regional labor and industry needs.
“Over the next two years, community colleges across the country will actively engage in developing, piloting, and validating the CCB Quality Framework,” Kersenbrock added. “Ultimately, this work will establish a shared understanding of the key elements that define high-quality CCB programs. By providing a clear framework and evidence-based guidance, colleges will have the resources and expertise to design and enhance programs that promote student success, align with workforce needs, and drive positive community and economic impact.”
ABOUT CCBA
Since 1999, the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA) has been the nation’s only organization dedicated to the conferral of baccalaureate degrees by community colleges. The association seeks to close racial, ethnic, and economic gaps by providing its members with access to research, data and strategic guidance as they develop and implement their baccalaureate degree programs.
ABOUT BRAGG & ASSOCIATES
Bragg and Associates, Inc., led by Dr. Debra Bragg, is an equity-minded consulting group dedicated to advancing student success in education and employment. In collaboration with Tim Harmon of Workforce Enterprise Strategies (WES) and New America, Bragg & Associates published the first national inventory of CCB-degree programs and authored an E-Book highlighting community college baccalaureate promising practices.
ABOUT TSG ADVISORS – EDUCATION
TSG Advisors—Education, the dedicated educational consulting arm of TSG Advisors, brings decades of collective expertise to the forefront of PK-20 Education, Workforce Education, higher education, and Insights and impact. Our team of experienced consultants has deep roots in community colleges, K-12 systems, universities, and state higher education agencies. We deliver customized solutions that align with each client’s unique needs, driving measurable results and fostering long-term success. Insight creates impact. Let us show you how.
CONTACT:
Community College Baccalaureate Association
Shelley Ouellette, 407.314.0297, shelley@accbd.org
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