Extending Arizona Community Colleges' Reach

Here is a good idea, if it's affordable.

Community colleges would begin offering bachelor's degrees to help meet rural Arizona's needs for teachers, nurses and other professionals under a bill proposed by a Mesa lawmaker.

The measure, introduced last week by Mesa Republican Russell Pearce, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, would allow community colleges the chance to provide four-year degrees in teaching, nursing, law enforcement and fire science. Currently, the colleges offer only two-year degrees.

The bill would enable the state's 10 community college districts to start a six-year pilot program to offer the courses of study.

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