Assembly committee advances bill to align common course numbering and systemwide articulation

Summer Berman introduced AB 2236 to push the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates to establish system-level articulation for the new common course numbering system, arguing students should not lose credit simply because of where they took the course.

"Receiving credit for courses you successfully completed should not depend on your zip code," Joshua Hagen of the Campaign for College Opportunity told the committee, saying inconsistent campus-level articulation leads to lost time and money for transfer students. Alicia Nakapal of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges called the bill an equity measure and asked members for an aye vote.

Supporters said the measure builds on an earlier law that established common numbering and would make those numbers meaningful by ensuring articulation agreements are in place before students enroll. Opponents were not prominent at the hearing; members discussed ongoing negotiations with stakeholders and the author said she would continue to work with campuses to address remaining concerns.

The committee moved to pass AB 2236 and refer it to Appropriations. The secretary called the roll; the clerk recorded aye votes sufficient to send the measure forward and the chair kept the roll open for additional members. The bill now heads to the next committee for fiscal review.