Sen. Jack Scott=CMMU College Chancellor

State Sen. Jack Scott, an education reformer who served as president of two colleges, was named Thursday to be statewide chancellor of the California community college system.

The Altadena Democrat, 74, will be forced by term limits to leave the Senate when his term expires in December and will take over the chancellor’s job Jan. 1.

His oversight of the 109 colleges will come at a time of state budget cuts and pressure to improve the relatively low rates at which students finish their two-year degrees or vocational training.

Scott, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he looks forward to the challenges, particularly in improving the colleges’ finances.

“The chancellor is the spokesperson for community colleges in California and the advocate for them before the Legislature,” he said in an interview Thursday. “That is a very important role. Funding is crucial.”

Scott said he wants to boost tutoring and counseling so more students can transfer from community colleges to four-year schools and complete their credentials in such fields as nursing and automotive repair.