California's two most powerful state politicians have taken a gentler approach in their push for public institutions to get creative with inexpensive and efficient degree offerings.
Gov. Jerry Brown and State Sen. Darrell Steinberg, the Senate's president, this year included a $50 million fund for "innovation" in the state's budget. The legislation created an award program that seeks to fund ideas that bubble up from California's public universities and community colleges.
Winning proposals, according to language included in the budget, will increase degree production significantly, allow more students to earn bachelor's degrees within four years, and ease transfer through the state's three public higher education systems.
The award fund is a shift in approach for the two Democrats, particularly compared to the failed online education bill they backed last year.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/08/28/online-learning-push-continues-california-approach-faculty-groups-appreciate