Local Influences of Community College Baccalaureate Legislation on Nursing and Teaching Degree Production in Florida

This study examines the impact of the community college baccalaureate policy across Florida. In 2001, the state legislature granted St. Petersburg College authorization to offer a limited number of baccalaureate degrees in approved program. Since that time, 18 community colleges across the state have offered 111 degree programs. This study examines whether offering the baccalaureate degree at community colleges increases degree production in two key areas-nursing and teaching. We employ two separate quasiexperimental approaches-fixed effects modeling and difference in differences-to examine whether changes in degree production in these two disciplines is attributable to the adoption of the policy. In nursing, there appears to be an impact within the early adopting regions, but the difference in differences analysis suggests those changes are not attributable to the policy. In teacher education, the analyses are consistent that the policy has not resulted in an increased production of new teachers. Policymakers in states that have not yet adopted statewide policy on the matter should consider the implications for regional markets when deciding upon the community college baccalaureate. The experiences in Florida have broader implications for states across the country considering a similar policy shift. Based upon these findings, policy makers should not pass similar legislation with the intent to increase degree production in these targeted programs, at least in the near term. There may be other valid rationales for the policy to test, which should be the subject of future investigations.