President-elect of the Arizona Board of Regents, Ernest Calderón, has proposed to transform the traditional two-plus-two degree system in Arizona with a new ‘three-plus-one’ system, Inside Higher Ed reported this week.

Calderón, is encouraging the presidents of Arizona’s three four-year universities to allow students to complete the first three years of a degree at a community college before transferring to the university for the final year to complete a baccalaureate degree.

It was estimated that this new system could cut the overall cost of a baccalaureate degree by 60%, by allowing students to only pay university tuition (which is significantly more expensive at universities than community colleges) fees and any other expenses for one year instead of two. The average yearly tuition for a community college is currently $2,200 compared to $6,800 for a university.

This type of relationship between community colleges and universities currently exists in individual institutions elsewhere in the USA but this is the first time such a system has been proposed for a whole state.

The response to this proposal has been mixed amongst professionals within the community colleges and universities. Roy Flores, Chancellor of Pima Community College claims some of the colleges had not been consulted:

“If you’re going to advance these ideas, or any ideas, and they’re predicated on developing partnerships, you need to make sure that you talk with all the institutions ahead of time.”

Are you at a professional at a US community college or university? Do you think the three-plus one system is a good idea? Let us know your thoughts.