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By Dean Mayorga / Staff Writer, Takahiro Kurosaki / Staff Writer
SIlence in the library- San Diego State University is one of the colleges that students will use the new transfer bill to attend. (California State University)
By Dean Mayorga / Staff Writer, Takahiro Kurosaki / Staff Writer
The transition from community college to a California State University may be getting easier with the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act, a bill proposed by Sen. Alex Padilla that is currently being considered by California lawmakers.
The new bill, which aims to moderate the Cal State transfer rules, has gradually brought a favorable reaction among Riverside City College students. 
Approved by the Senate Education Committee on April 21, it would require community colleges to create degrees for particular areas of interest, transferable to CSUs. To qualify for the degrees students would need to complete 60 units, 18 of those going toward the field of interest.
It would also prohibit Cal States from setting new requirements for admission to any student that possesses these degrees.
“Well it’s great because it guarantees admission,” said associate professor and counselor for the Transfer and Career Center, Eileen Colapinto.
Colapinto linked the bill to the Transfer Admission Guarantee program, which RCC students use to get into the University of California system. She feels the bill won’t stray much fundamentally than that which the program offers.
Still, the legislation could prove to save time and money as a projected $160 million will be saved. Also, students can be expected to finish a year earlier in college. Some could even be eligible to transfer on a junior status.
Colapinto revealed that students at RCC, on average, take more than two years to transfer.
According to the Post Secondary Education Commission’s Web site, a total of 964 students transferred to Cal States from RCC in the 2008-2009 year.
Given its preliminary status, not much is known for sure on how RCC will change. Some students do see it as a positive piece of legislation, and welcome it.
“I think it’s going to be very beneficial to all of the new students transferring,” said student Angel Davila. “It’s cost-effective.”
International student Rebecca Kim has waited for her admission from CSU Fullerton since last December, which is one of her transfer options.
“I know, usually, it takes a long time to go through the whole procedures,” Kim said. 
“But if it is simplified and takes less time, we don’t have to wait for such a long time any more. It’s really good,” she said.
In terms of cost, non-resident students such as international students, whose education usually costs more than that of resident students, were very impressed. 
“Although this is a good news for every transfer student, I think the law is helpful especially for out-of-state students,” said international student Haru Iguchi.
“If the bill can ease their tuition burden as much as possible by making the process simpler, it would be the best possible thing,” she said.