Menu

Mt. SAC is a ’Champion of Higher Education’

LtoR: Thomas Saenz, Alex Padilla, William Scroggins, Michele Siqueiros

November 19, 2019 - 02:40 PM

Champion of Higher Education AwardMt. SAC was named a 2019 Champion of Higher Education for exemplary work in implementing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) by The Campaign for College Opportunity, a non-profit that advocates for all Californians to have access to a higher education. 

Governor Gavin Newsom, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and CSU trustee Silas Abrego attended the ceremony in Los Angeles last week. There to pick up the award for Mt. SAC was President and CEO Dr. William Scroggins, Vice President of Instruction Dr. Richard Mahon, Academic Senate Co-Vice President Lance Heard and Psychology Department Co-Chair Stacy Bacigalupi. 

William Scroggins “It takes an incredible amount of hard work and collaboration to develop these Associate Degree for Transfer programs,” said President Scroggins. “I am incredibly proud of the Mt. SAC faculty and staff who have made this a priority to ensure that students who want to transfer are fully supported to achieve their goals. We are making it as easy and cost-effective as possible for students to earn a bachelor’s degree.” 

Mt. SAC has 22 transfer degrees available, which guarantee admission to a CSU campus and receive priority admission consideration. Students with an Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T) complete no more than 60 units after they transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. Alexandra Juarez 

“I’m a first generation college student, so before, it wasn’t clear what classes to take,” explained Alexandra Juarez, a business student at Mt. SAC. “After taking time off and talking to a counselor, I learned about the ADT program. It’s great because it makes it clear what classes to take and how to reach my goal.”

In 2010, then-Senator Alex Padilla authored SB 1440, which created the ADT pathways. The Campaign for College Opportunity championed the legislation in order to create an easier pathway for community college students to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree. Compared to traditional transfer students who enroll in a CSU, an ADT student can earn their bachelor’s LtoR: Thomas Saenz, Alex Padilla, William Scroggins, Michele Siqueirosdegree nearly twice as fast.

“Every year, we are excited to see thousands of students earning their Associate Degrees for Transfer and continuing their education at a university,” said Michele Siqueiros, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity. “The Campaign is proud to honor the top California leaders and campuses that are doing the necessary work to ensure transfer students can achieve their college dreams.

Other colleges that were recognized at the awards ceremony included: Bakersfield College, Berkeley City College, Citrus College, Clovis Community College, College of the Canyons, Diablo Valley College, Evergreen Valley College, Glendale Community College, Grossmont College,    Moorpark College, Pasadena City College, California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, and California State University Los Angeles.