A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA SUPPORTING ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE OFFERING A BACHELOR’S DEGREE WHEREAS, bachelor’s degree attainment in northern Santa Barbara County is well below the state’s average, wherein the region’s two largest cities, Santa Maria and Lompoc, have college attainment rates below 13% (compared to the statewide average of 35%); and WHEREAS, the nearest baccalaureate-granting universities to the Santa Maria area are University of California, Santa Barbara (70 miles south), and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (35 miles north), both of which maintain international profiles that result in low admission rates for local students; and
WHEREAS, the benefits of bachelor’s degree is well documented, with a recent nationwide study from the College Board reporting that median earnings of bachelor’s degree recipients were 65% higher than those of high school graduates with no degree; and
WHEREAS, current data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that management jobs in fields such as operations, health services, transportation, and communications are in high demand and pay a livable wage in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties; and WHEREAS, Allan Hancock College, established over a century ago in 1920, is a federally designated Hispanic-serving intuition that has been recognized five times since 2011 by the Aspen Institution as a top 150 community college nationally; and
WHEREAS, Allan Hancock College maintains a strong track record of partnering with regional business and industry, municipalities, agencies, and K-12 educational institutions for workforce development, and contributes in excess of $550 million annually to the local economy; and WHEREAS, Allan Hancock College is applying to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to offer its first bachelor’s degree for local students who may not be able to move or commute out of the region for their education; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Professional Studies will provide practical management education through the college’s Business Department and will prepare graduates for entry-level positions in office management, human resources, and other basic business operations.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby proclaims its unequivocal support for Allan Hancock College in its application to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree in Applied Professional Studies.
Dated this 19th day of December, 2023
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Ed Waage, Mayor
Council Agenda 12-19-2023 4.A-1