SWC News Center
South County's Time Is Now: Leaders Rally Behind AB 664 at Southwestern College
By: Stephanie Kingston - June 12, 2026
Elected officials, students, faculty, staff, and community leaders gathered at Southwestern College on June 5 to support AB 664, legislation that would authorize the college to offer bachelor's degree programs in four high-demand fields and expand access to higher education in South San Diego County.
The press conference was held outside the college's University Center..
"We chose to hold this press conference here, in front of this building, deliberately," said Southwestern College Superintendent/President Dr. Mark Sanchez. "Inside it, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and California State University San Marcos will be offering programs to South County students beginning this fall so that Southwestern College students can transfer and complete their bachelor's degree program without leaving this campus, this community, or their support system."
Sanchez said AB 664 builds on that same spirit of collaboration. The bill would authorize bachelor's degree programs in Allied Health Leadership and Education, Forensic Studies, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Interaction Design. All fields identified through regional workforce research as unmet educational needs.
Assemblymember David Alvarez, who authored the bill, said AB 664 addresses a longstanding inequity in a region of more than 500,000 residents that lacks a public four-year university.
"This is the largest area in the state with a population of this size not having a public four-year university," Alvarez said. "AB 664 is a deliberate, place-based investment in a region that has been underserved for too long."
The most powerful testimonial for the legislation came from Southwestern College student Marilynn Palomino.
An Administration of Justice and Forensic Studies student, ASO Senator at the San Ysidro Campus, and single mother of two, Palomino hopes to work in a police crime lab. However, California's only bachelor's degree program in forensic science is located in San Jose.
"Transferring wasn't an option. Relocating wasn't an option. Leaving my children behind that was never an option," she said.
AB 664 would allow students like Palomino to pursue bachelor's degrees close to home while balancing family and work responsibilities.
The proposed programs are the result of years of research through the University Now Initiative, a regional effort involving educational institutions, workforce leaders, businesses, and public agencies. Dr. Diana Arredondo, Dean and Co-Chair of the University Now Initiative Faculty Research Committee, said the findings were clear.
"What we found were gaps, specific, documented gaps between the credentials our workforce demands and the credentials our students can earn without leaving their community," Arredondo said.
Dr. Jason Hums, Director of Southwestern College's EMT and Paramedic Programs, spoke about workforce needs that are already being felt by regional employers. Local fire departments, EMS agencies, healthcare systems, and emergency management organizations are struggling to fill supervisory, training, and educational positions that require bachelor's degrees, he said.
"Across the board, the message is clear," Hums said. "They are not facing a surplus of qualified candidates for leadership roles."
State Senator Steve Padilla called the legislation a long-overdue opportunity for South County.
"This is about equity, economic mobility, and meeting real workforce needs,” said Senator Steve Padilla. “South County is offering a proof of concept, one that can show what’s possible when higher education policy is aligned with students and regional demand."
AB 664 is currently pending before the California Senate Education Committee. A hearing date is anticipated in the coming weeks.