text:
(a) The Regents of the University of California and the governing boards of private postsecondary institutions are requested to, the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the governing board of each community college district may, in consultation with faculty, in accordance with applicable procedures, develop policies to prohibit the unauthorized recording, dissemination, and publication of academic presentations for commercial purposes. Nothing in this chapter is intended to change existing law as it pertains to the ownership of academic presentations.

(b) The Regents of the University of California and the governing boards of private postsecondary institutions are requested to, the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the governing board of each community college district may, adopt or provide for the adoption of specific regulations governing a violation of this chapter by students, along with applicable penalties for a violation of the regulations. The regents are requested to, the trustees shall, and the governing board of each community college district may, adopt procedures to inform all students of those regulations, with applicable penalties, and any revisions thereof.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


kind: section

code: EDC

text:
Each public postsecondary educational institution shall make every reasonable effort to inform all male applicants for undergraduate admission of their obligation to register in accordance with the federal Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.) through one or more means, as determined by each institution. This effort may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Including a Federal Application For Student Aid form in application or registration materials.

(b) Including referral information to the Selective Service Agency or its homepage in written documents, such as an application, or electronic communications, such as a homepage or an electronically mailed application.

(c) Placing selective service registration cards in admissions offices, or other appropriate administrative offices.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 575, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1998.)

division: 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS

part: 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 7. Selective Service Registration

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 7. Selective Service Registration


text:
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Compensation” includes, but is not limited to, financial compensation in the form of travel costs, stipends, minimum or higher hourly wages, or additional wages and benefits set by employers.

(b) “Externship” means the field placement work performed by a law student at a state agency, nongovernmental organization, nonprofit organization, or for-profit firm, as part of their legal education, that is completed within the law school’s course guidelines for the purpose of receiving law school credit.

(c) (1) “Externship site” or “employer” means the place of employment where a law student performs their externship that is approved by a law school to provide law students with practical field experience consistent with the requirements for academic course credit provided by the law school.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, an externship site may be in person, hybrid, or remote, and includes any externship site regardless of whether the externship site is located in California or out of state.

(d) “Externship site criteria” means the factors or other requirements used by a law school to determine whether an externship site is eligible or approved for extern placement.

(e) “Law school” means an American Bar Association-accredited or California-accredited law school at the University of California or an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, that receives, or benefits from, state-funded student financial assistance or that enrolls students who receive state-funded student financial assistance.

(f) “Law student” means an individual enrolled at a law school. For purposes of this subdivision “law student” includes individuals earning their Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), or Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) degrees.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 292, Sec. 2. (AB 1155) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 7.5. Law School Externships

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 7.5. Law School Externships


text: For purposes of this chapter, a requirement on a law school shall, regarding the University of California, be considered a request on the Regents of the University of California.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) Beginning August 1, 2026, each law school shall allow law students to receive compensation from an externship site while concurrently earning academic course credit.

(b) (1) This section shall not change the course requirements set by a law school to award academic course credit for externships beyond allowing the employer to offer compensation.

(2) This section shall not require externships offered to law students through the law school to be compensated. The decision to offer compensation to a law student shall be at the externship site’s discretion.

(3) This section shall not change externship site criteria or the requirements set by each law school regarding new and existing externship sites to be offered to law students.

(4) To be eligible to earn compensation from an externship site, a law student shall be in good academic standing according to the rules set forth by the law school.

(c) This section shall not apply to individuals enrolled in a paralegal certification program.

(d) This section shall not bind employers or law students to an externship site for any future work.

(e) (1) Compensation of a law student provided pursuant to this section shall not require an employer to provide workers’ compensation or other similar benefits.

(2) A law school shall not receive restitution or compensation beyond tuition expenses from a law student for an externship opportunity.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The California State University shall be administered by a board designated as the Trustees of the California State University, which is hereby created.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 638, Sec. 1.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 8. California State University

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 8. California State University


text: Whenever, in any law, the term “Trustees of the State College System of California” or “Trustees of the California State University,” or the term “chief executive officer of the state college system” is used, such terms shall be deemed to mean the Trustees of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California State University, respectively.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 143, Sec. 53.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) The board shall be composed of the following five ex officio members: the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the person named by the trustees to serve as the Chancellor of the California State University; a representative of the alumni associations of the state university, selected for a two-year term by the alumni council, California State University, which representative shall not be an employee of the California State University during the two-year term; and 16 appointive members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by two-thirds of the membership of the Senate.

(b) (1) Two students from the California State University, who shall have at least sophomore year standing at the institutions they attend, and who remain in good standing as students during their respective terms, shall also be appointed by the Governor to serve on the board for two-year terms.

(2) In selecting students as members of the board, the Governor shall appoint the students from lists of names of at least two, but not more than five, persons furnished by the governing board of any statewide student organization that represents the students of the California State University and the student body organizations of the campuses of the California State University. Any appointment to fill a vacancy of a student member shall be effective only for the remainder of the term of the student member’s office that became vacated.

(3) The term of office of one student member of the board shall commence on July 1 of an even-numbered year and expire on June 30 two years thereafter. The term of office of the other student member of the board shall commence on July 1 of an odd-numbered year and expire on June 30 two years thereafter. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a student member who graduates from the student member’s college or university on or after January 1 of the second year of the student member’s term of office may serve the remainder of the term. If the Governor has not appointed a successor pursuant to this subdivision, a student member whose term of office expires on June 30 of any year may remain in office until January 1 of the following year, or until a successor is appointed by the Governor, whichever occurs first.

(4) A student member shall have the student member’s tuition fee waived for the duration of the student member’s term of office.

(c) (1) A faculty member from the California State University, who shall be tenured at the California State University campus at which the faculty member teaches, shall also be appointed by the Governor to serve on the board for a two-year term. In the selection of a faculty member as a member of the board, the Governor shall appoint the faculty member from a list of names of at least two persons furnished by the Academic Senate of the California State University.

(2) The faculty member of the board appointed by the Governor pursuant to this subdivision shall not participate on any subcommittee of the board responsible for collective bargaining negotiations.

(3) The two-year term of office of the faculty member of the board shall commence on July 1, and, if the Governor has not appointed a successor under paragraph (1), the faculty member may remain in office after the term expires for one additional year, or until a successor is appointed by the Governor, whichever occurs first.

(d) (1) Members of the board shall be selected from outstanding lay citizens of California who have a strong interest in the further development and improvement of the California State University.

(2) Members of the board, to the greatest extent possible, should be inclusive and representative of the many demographic groups found in California, and the board should reflect diversity of race and gender, and should include, among others, disabled persons and veterans. In furtherance of the mission of the California State University, a member of the board should embrace the basic role and responsibility of a member of the board to bring their own best thinking and personal views to the board’s discussion, determining their own position on each issue rather than being bound to represent or advocate for the positions of a particular organization or constituency.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 103, Sec. 1. (AB 2275) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: All meetings of the trustees shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 66602.7, be subject to Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 523, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
Notwithstanding Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code:

(a) (1) Action taken by a committee of the trustees and final action by the full board of trustees, on a proposal for the compensation package of the following executive officers shall occur in an open session of each of those bodies, and shall include a disclosure of the compensation package and rationale for the action:

(A) The Chancellor of the California State University.

(B) The president of an individual campus.

(C) A vice chancellor.

(D) The treasurer.

(E) The general counsel.

(F) The trustees’ secretary.

(2) Members of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to address the committee and full board on the proposal during or before consideration of the action item.

(b) Discussion by a committee of the trustees of, and action on, an executive compensation program or policy, and any final action by the full board of trustees on that program or policy, shall occur in open session of each of those bodies.

(c) Compensation for the principal officers of the trustees and the officers of the university shall include salary, benefits, perquisites, severance payments (except those made in connection with a dismissal or a litigation settlement), retirement benefits, or any other form of compensation.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 523, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2008.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The term of the appointive trustees shall be eight years.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The expiration of a trustee’s term of office as a member of the State Board of Education or any earlier vacancy in that office shall create a vacancy in his trusteeship, unless the term ascribed thereto by lot has already expired. In case of any vacancy on the board of trustees, the Governor shall appoint a successor for the balance of the term as to which such vacancy exists.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: Each appointive trustee shall receive actual and necessary travel expenses and one hundred dollars ($100) for each day he or she is attending to official business.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 954, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: If the trustees and the Regents of the University of California both consent, the Chancellor of the California State University shall sit with the Regents of the University of California in an advisory capacity and the President of the University of California shall sit with the trustees in an advisory capacity.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 143, Sec. 54.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The Trustees of the California State University shall succeed to the powers, duties, and functions with respect to the management, administration, and control of the state colleges heretofore vested in the State Board of Education or in the Director of Education, including all powers, duties, obligations, and functions specified in Article 2 (commencing with Section 90010) of Chapter 8 of Part 55, and all obligations assumed by the State Board of Education pursuant to that article prior to July 1, 1961.

On and after July 1, 1961, the Trustees of the California State University shall have full power and responsibility in the construction and development of any state university campus, and any buildings or other facilities or improvements connected with the California State University. The powers shall be exercised by the Trustees of the California State University notwithstanding Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 14950) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, except that the powers shall be carried out pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 10700) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code known as the California State University Contract Law.

The Trustees of the California State University may accept gifts of land, or gifts of options on land, may accept and expend gifts of money for the purchase of land or options on land, and may enter into negotiations and contracts for the purchase of land for a future state university site in the vicinity of any of the areas specified in the recommendations contained in the Master Plan for Higher Education printed on page 42, paragraph 5, Senate Journal (Regular Session) for February 1, 1960, except that the gifts, expenditures, negotiations, and contracts shall not obligate the expenditure of any state funds for the purchase of the land or for development on the land, unless the Legislature subsequently approves the obligation by appropriating the funds for that specific purpose.

Any acceptance, acceptance and expenditure, or negotiations and contract may be conditioned upon an automatic reversion back to the donor or automatic termination of the negotiations and contract if a new state university is not established at a specific site prior to a specific date designated by the trustees and the donor or the trustees and the person or corporation with whom the trustees are negotiating or contracting.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 8, Sec. 1.5. Effective April 15, 1993.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
Recognizing the unique mission and functions of the California State University among the departments, agencies, and boards of the state, it is the intent of the Legislature that both of the following occur:

(a) Before legislation that, by its terms, applies to the state or its agencies, departments, or boards, may apply to the California State University, the legislation should be compatible with the mission and functions of the California State University.

(b) The California State University not be governed by any statute enacted after January 1, 1997, that does not amend a previously applicable act and that applies generally to the state or to state agencies, departments, or boards, unless the statute expressly provides that the California State University is to be governed by that statute.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 938, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The California State University shall be entirely independent of all political and sectarian influence and kept free therefrom in the appointment of its trustees and in the administration of its affairs, and no person shall be debarred admission to any department of the state university on account of sex.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 143, Sec. 56.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) All state employees employed on June 30, 1961, in carrying out functions transferred to the Trustees of California State University by this chapter, except persons employed by the Director of Education in the Division of State Colleges and Teacher Education of the State Department of Education, are transferred to the California State University.

(b) Nonacademic employees transferred under this section shall retain their respective positions in the state service, together with the personnel benefits accumulated by them at the time of transfer, and shall retain the rights attached under the law to the positions that they held at the time of transfer. All nonacademic positions filled by the trustees on and after July 1, 1961, shall be by appointment made in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 89500) of Part 55, and persons so appointed shall be subject to Chapter 5.

(c) (1) The trustees shall provide, or cooperate in providing, academic and administrative employees transferred by this section with personnel rights and benefits at least equal to those accumulated by them as employees of the state colleges, except that any administrative employee may be reassigned to an academic or other position commensurate with his or her qualifications at the salary fixed for that position. An administrative employee so reassigned shall have a right to appeal from that reassignment, but only as to whether the position to which he or she is reassigned is commensurate with his or her qualifications. All academic and administrative positions filled by the trustees on and after July 1, 1961, shall be filled by appointment made solely at the discretion of the trustees.

(2) The trustees shall establish and adjust the salaries and classifications of all academic, nonacademic, and administrative positions and neither Section 19825 of the Government Code nor any other provision of law requiring approval by a state officer or agency for salaries or classifications shall be applicable thereto. In establishing and adjusting salaries, consideration shall be given to the maintenance of the state university in a competitive position in the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel in relation to other educational institutions, private industry, or public jurisdictions that are employing personnel with similar duties and responsibilities.

(3) The establishment and adjustment of salaries for nonacademic employees shall be in accordance with the standards prescribed in Section 19826 of the Government Code. The trustees, however, shall make no adjustments that require expenditures in excess of existing appropriations available for the payment of salaries. Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 89500) of Part 52, relating to appeals from dismissal, demotion, or suspension, shall be applicable to academic employees.

(d) Persons excluded from the transfer made by this section shall retain all the rights and privileges conferred upon civil service employees by law. Personnel of state agencies employed in state university work other than those transferred by this section, and who are employed by the trustees prior to July 1, 1962, shall be provided with personnel rights and benefits at least equal to those accumulated by them as employees of those state agencies.

(e) If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that, if the provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 132. Effective January 1, 2007.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The California State University shall comply with Section 668.18(c)(1)(ii) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on July 1, 2010. The Trustees of the California State University may adopt regulations to implement this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 145, Sec. 1. (SB 418) Effective January 1, 2016.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) The California State University may require employees, prospective employees, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors, to undergo a fingerprint-based state and national criminal history background check.

(b) The California State University shall electronically submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information for individuals specified in subdivision (a) who are subject to a state and national criminal history background check, pursuant to subdivision (u) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response pursuant to subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 26. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The California Community Colleges are postsecondary schools and shall continue to be a part of the public school system of this state. The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall prescribe minimum standards for the formation and operation of the California Community Colleges and exercise general supervision over the California Community Colleges.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1372, Sec. 219.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 9. Community Colleges

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9. Community Colleges


text: The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Regents of the University of California, and the Trustees of the California State University, with appropriate consultation with the Academic Senates of the respective segments, shall jointly develop, maintain, and disseminate a common core curriculum in general education courses for the purposes of transfer. Any person who has successfully completed the transfer core curriculum, shall be deemed to have thereby completed all lower division general education requirements for the University of California and the California State University.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 973, Sec. 7.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 9.2. Student Transfer

article: 1. Transfer System

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.2. Student Transfer > 1. Transfer System


text: Upon development of the transfer core curriculum pursuant to Section 66720, and upon any subsequent joint revision of that curriculum, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Regents of the University of California, and the Trustees of the California State University shall jointly cause the curriculum to be published and distributed to each public school in this state that provides instruction in any of the grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and to each community college in this state, with an emphasis on the communication of that information to each school or college having a high proportion of students who are members of one or more ethnic minorities. In addition, the Board of Governors shall distribute that transfer core curriculum to the State Board of Education, which shall apply that information to ensure, through its curriculum development activities, that public school pupils enrolled in any of the grades 9 to 12, inclusive, are aware of the academic requirements for preparation for higher education and may receive any necessary academic remediation in a timely manner.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text:
(a) The California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall work together to establish the most effective methods to inform students, college advisers, and the general public about the associate degree for transfer and specific details that help students navigate this transfer pathway, as successfully as possible, pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745). The methods established by the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall include, but not be limited to, Internet notification. The final methods determined by the two segments shall be completed prior to the beginning of the fall term of the 2011–12 academic year and included as part of the report required by subdivision (a) of Section 66749.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that community college students be informed of the California State University majors that are considered to be similar to community college majors or areas of emphasis required to obtain an associate degree for transfer pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745).

(c) A community college district may use the methods established by the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, pursuant to subdivision (a), or a community college district may use other methods to inform community college students of the California State University majors that are considered to be similar to community college majors or areas of emphasis required to obtain an associate degree for transfer pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745).

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges not mandate community college districts to perform any new state reimbursable activity or program for purposes of implementing this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 427, Sec. 1. (AB 2302) Effective January 1, 2011.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text:
(a) (1) The governing board of each community college district shall direct the appropriate officials at their respective campuses to provide each of their students with a copy of the current transfer core curriculum.

(2) As used in this section, “transfer core curriculum” means the lower-division, general education transfer curriculum that, pursuant to Section 66720, is fully articulated between the California Community Colleges and the California State University and University of California.

(b) A copy of the current transfer core curriculum shall be distributed to each newly admitted community college student who is enrolled in a degree or certification program and is physically in attendance at the institution.

(c) The governing board of a community college district shall ensure that the text of the current transfer core curriculum is included in the published class schedule for each academic term. Copies of the transfer core curriculum may also be made available in other locations on each campus, including, but not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

(1) The admissions office.

(2) The bookstore.

(3) The career counseling center.

(4) The veteran’s affairs office.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the governing board of a community college may, as an alternative to the methods of distribution set forth in subdivision (c), distribute copies of the current transfer core curriculum by any of the following means:

(1) During the registration process.

(2) By mail, with the registration materials or the enrollment materials, or both, or with other items sent to students.

(3) During the issuance of student identification cards.

(4) During student orientation programs.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the distribution of the transfer core curriculum to community college students.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 187, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that community college students who wish to earn the baccalaureate degree at the University of California are provided with clear and effective directions that specify curricular paths to this degree.

(b) This section shall not limit in any way the ability of students to gain admission through alternative paths to transfer, such as the California General Education Transfer Curriculum.

(c) The University of California is requested to address deficiencies in the articulation of major preparation courses between the California Community Colleges and the various UC campuses to make it easier for prospective transfer students to identify the community college courses that meet major preparation requirements across the various campuses of the university.

(d) The University of California is requested to identify commonalities and differences in similar majors across all UC campuses in order to accomplish all of the following:

(1) To provide students with general descriptions of each major.

(2) To identify lower division degree requirements that are common across UC campuses.

(3) To identify additional academic requirements at each UC campus.

(4) To describe additional criteria that students must achieve to be admitted at the various UC campuses.

(e) (1) When four or more UC campuses that award undergraduate degrees have articulated specific courses and course sequences of the California Community Colleges for common requirements in similar majors, the remaining UC campuses that offer undergraduate degrees are requested to also articulate these specific community college courses and course sequences. The Legislature recognizes that UC may adopt provisions allowing individual UC campuses to opt out of this articulation process on a case-by-case basis, but these provisions should be infrequently used. The Academic Senate of the University of California is requested to notify the California Community Colleges when an articulation request is denied, and to provide information that will enable the California Community Colleges to achieve course comparability with UC.

(2) For at least the 20 most high-demand undergraduate majors, and with the ultimate goal of including all majors for which it is feasible, UC is requested to specify lower division transfer paths clearly identifying commonalities and differences, on a comparative basis across UC campuses offering specific major programs. The Academic Senate of the University of California is requested to review the existing differences in lower division major preparation in each major across UC campuses, recognizing that one goal of these requirements should be to achieve similarity to the greatest degree that is academically appropriate.

(3) The University of California is requested to include all of the following in the systemwide lower division transfer paths for the high-demand baccalaureate major degree programs:

(A) Lower division general education requirements for the university.

(B) Lower division major preparation requirements that are common across undergraduate campuses.

(C) Additional lower division degree requirements that are unique to an individual campus.

(D) Elective units, as appropriate.

(E) Additional criteria, such as grade point averages and minimum grades, to ensure that students are competitive in selective majors.

(4) The systemwide lower division transfer paths shall be specified in sufficient manner and detail so that existing and future community college lower division courses may be articulated, according to the usual procedures, to the corresponding UC courses or course descriptions.

(f) (1) The University of California is requested to, and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges, on or before January 1, 2008, facilitate the articulation of those lower division, baccalaureate-level courses at each campus of the California Community Colleges that meet the lower division transfer path requirements for each major specified by UC in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e).

(2) The University of California is requested to annually review, and update as appropriate, the lower division transfer paths and articulation to ensure that they reflect current UC campus degree requirements and community college curricula, and share the results of that review with the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(g) As allowed by enrollment demand and available space, UC is requested to develop transfer admission agreement programs for students at each campus of the California Community Colleges who demonstrate the intent to meet the requirements of this section, including the declaration of a major and identification of a choice of a destination campus. The transfer admission agreement shall guarantee admission to the campus and major identified in the agreement and transfer of all units specified in the agreement, subject to the student’s successful completion of the requirements of the agreement. It is the intent of the Legislature that the transfer admission agreements entered into under this section be made available to students early in their academic coursework. However, this section shall not preclude or limit the development or issuance of transfer admission agreements for students at any appropriate time up to the point of application.

(h) A path to transfer, as specified in this section, shall be available to any community college student who desires to transfer to UC, and shall not be limited to students who secure a transfer admission agreement as specified in subdivision (g). A student who successfully completes a path to transfer, but who does not secure a transfer admission agreement, shall be guaranteed the transferability and degree applicability for all units that the student has earned pursuant to the path to transfer. However, this section shall not guarantee admission to UC, or to a specific UC campus, for a student who has not secured a transfer admission agreement.

(i) The University of California is requested to, and the California Community Colleges shall, on a three-year periodic cycle, jointly conduct a review of a random representative sample of transcripts of students who have transferred to UC and of students preparing for transfer to determine the effectiveness of the transfer preparation pathways referenced in this section.

(j) For purposes of this section, “UC” means the University of California.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 74, Sec. 2. (SB 619) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that a transparent process for transfer that is designed to assist students in identifying and taking the community college courses that will prepare them for success in specific University of California majors is a state priority.

(b) The Legislature recognizes that, pursuant to Section 66721.7, the University of California has been working with the California Community Colleges to examine and seek improvements to the transfer process. It is the intent of the Legislature that, as part of this ongoing effort, the creation of various viable pathways to transfer, including the development of an associate degree for transfer granted by community college districts, be considered by the University of California as it endeavors to enhance the transfer process.

(c) The University of California is requested to continue its examination of articulation of lower division major prerequisites in high-demand transfer majors with a goal of working in collaboration with the California Community Colleges to design community college transfer degrees that provide students adequate preparation for entry into a major. The University of California is also requested to consider offering guaranteed eligibility for admission into a University of California campus that accepts a designated community college transfer degree for admission into a designated University of California major. Further, the University of California is requested to implement pathways to qualify community college transfer courses for a designated University of California major by designating a series of community college courses that provide sufficient lower division preparation for a designated University of California major and that will be accepted by the University of California.

(d) The University of California is requested to provide an interim progress report on its review of the various transfer pathways discussed in this section to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before June 30, 2011, and to provide a final report to those committees, with specific findings regarding the University of California’s implementation of those transfer pathways, no later than December 31, 2011.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 427, Sec. 2. (AB 2302) Effective January 1, 2011.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text: It is the intent of the Legislature that the transfer function shall be a central institutional priority of all segments of higher education in California, and that the segments shall have as a fundamental policy and practice the maintenance of an effective transfer system.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1198, Sec. 17.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text: It is the intent of the Legislature that the segments of higher education shall pursue the development of transfer agreement programs that specify the curricular requirements that must be met, and the level of achievement that must be attained, by community college students in order for those students to transfer to the campus, undergraduate college, or major of choice in the public four-year segments.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1198, Sec. 18.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Transfer System


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate articulation and seamless integration of California’s postsecondary institutions by facilitating the adoption and integration of a common course numbering system among the public and private postsecondary institutions. The purpose of building and implementing a common course numbering system is to provide for the effective and efficient progression of students within and among the higher education segments and to minimize duplication of coursework.

(b) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) Effective transfer programs provide a clear path for obtaining the preparation necessary for upper-division major coursework and graduation at a four-year college or university. The segments have made significant progress in developing articulation agreements that specify required coursework and other academic preparation necessary for transfer students to succeed at a four-year institution. These articulation agreements are essential to provide the basis for a common course numbering system that facilitates transfer student success.

(2) In implementing this article, the public postsecondary educational institutions and other parties involved should assess programs and build upon those proving to be the most effective in communicating articulation, such as the California Articulation Number (CAN) system, the Intersegmental Major Preparation Articulated Curriculum (IMPAC) project, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), and the Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer (ASSIST).

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 737, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1.5. Common Course Numbering System

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.2. Student Transfer > 1.5. Common Course Numbering System


text:
(a) Not later than June 1, 2006, the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall adopt, and the University of California and private postsecondary institutions may adopt, a common course numbering system for the 20 highest-demand majors in the respective segments.

(b) Not later than June 30, 2006, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, report to the Legislature on the status of the activities of their respective segments as they relate to subdivision (a) and on the plans of their respective segments to implement a common course numbering system for the majors that are not covered by subdivision (a).

(c) Each campus of a public postsecondary educational institution shall incorporate the common course numbering system in its catalogue. This incorporation into a campus catalogue shall occur at the next adoption of a campus catalogue after June 1, 2006.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1.5. Common Course Numbering System


text:
(a) (1) To streamline transfer from two- to four-year postsecondary educational institutions and reduce excess credit accumulation, on or before July 1, 2027, both of the following shall occur:

(A) The California Community Colleges shall adopt a common course numbering system for all general education requirement courses and transfer pathway courses.

(B) Each community college campus shall incorporate common course numbers from the adopted common course numbering system in its catalog.

(2) The common course numbering system shall be student facing, based on the work of the workgroup established in Item 6870-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2021, and ensure that comparable courses across all community colleges have the same course number.

(3) To support the development and implementation of a common course numbering system for the California Community College system, the workgroup established in Item 6870-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2021 shall consider starting with courses included in the Course Identification Numbering System (C-ID) and expanding to general education requirements and transfer pathway courses pursuant to subdivision (b).

(b) The common course numbering system may have the same alphabetical identifier and same numerical identifier for each course that shares the same C-ID course description, pursuant to both of the following:

(1) For all courses included in the C-ID, the California Community Colleges may adopt the alphabetical and numerical identifier of the C-ID course descriptor as the same common course number at all community colleges.

(2) For all general education requirements and transfer pathway courses that are not included in the C-ID, intersegmental discipline faculty through the C-ID process may develop a C-ID course descriptor for each of these community college courses. Once a C-ID course descriptor is developed, the California Community Colleges may adopt the alphabetical and numerical identifier of the C-ID course descriptor as the same common course number at all community colleges.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 440, Sec. 1. (AB 3290) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1.5. Common Course Numbering System


text:
(a) The Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall have as a fundamental policy the maintenance of a healthy and expanded student transfer system. Both the University of California and the California State University shall have as a basic enrollment policy the maintenance of upper division enrollment, which are students who have attained upper division status, at 60 percent of total undergraduate enrollment. This goal shall be met through programs aimed at increasing the numbers of qualified transfer students from the community colleges without denying eligible freshmen applicants.

(1) The California State University shall maintain its upper division enrollment, which are students who have attained upper division status, at approximately 60 percent of total undergraduate enrollment. Its planning documents shall reflect this policy.

(2) Commencing in the 1991–92 academic year, the University of California shall progressively increase the percentage that upper division enrollment systemwide is of total undergraduate enrollment through the 1995–96 academic year until that percentage reaches approximately 60 percent. This shall be accomplished through increases in the numbers of community college transfer students admitted to upper division standing at the university without denying eligible freshmen applicants. Planning documents shall reflect these expected increases.

(b) The governing board of each segment shall ensure that individual university and college campus enrollment plans include adequate upper division places for community college transfer students in all undergraduate colleges or schools, and that each undergraduate college or school on each campus participates in developing articulation and transfer agreement programs with community colleges. The governing boards shall meet this goal within their respective general statewide planning framework used to attain and maintain the state’s goal of a 60/40 ratio of upper to lower division students, their segmental enrollment planning processes, and campus planning regarding program balance, educational quality, and other relevant goals.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1188, Sec. 5.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.2. Student Transfer > 2. Transfer Functions


text: Student matriculation from community colleges through the University of California and the California State University shall be recognized by the Governor, Legislature, and the governing boards of each of California’s public postsecondary education segments as a central institutional priority of all segments of higher education.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text: The governing boards of each segment shall declare as policy that the student transfer agreement program shall constitute a significant role in achieving the goal of student diversity within their segments, and in ensuring that all students, particularly those currently underrepresented in higher education, have access to a university education. The governing boards of each segment shall design, adopt, and implement policies intended to facilitate successful movement of students from community colleges through the University of California and the California State University.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text: The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall have the authority and responsibility to guarantee that all community college students have access to courses that meet the lower division baccalaureate degree requirements of the California public universities. The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, with the cooperation of the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the California State University, shall ensure that all students are clearly and fully informed as to which community college courses and units are transferable and meet the general education and lower division major requirements at the California State University and the University of California.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
Each community college district governing board shall ensure that its college or colleges maintain student transfer counseling centers or other counseling and student services designed and implemented to affirmatively seek out, counsel, advise, and monitor the progress of potential and identified community college transfer students.

All policies and procedures shall give preference and emphasis toward enhancing the transfer of students from economically disadvantaged families and students from traditionally underrepresented minorities, to the fullest extent possible under state and federal statutes and regulations.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text: The Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges are expected to develop new programs of outreach, recruitment, and cooperation between and among the three segments of public higher education to facilitate the successful transfer of students between the community colleges and the universities. Every community college student who successfully completes the transfer agreement programs, as defined in Section 66738, in a community college shall have an appropriate place in an upper division university program.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
(a) The governing board of each public postsecondary education segment shall be accountable for the development and implementation of formal systemwide articulation agreements and transfer agreement programs, including those for general education or a transfer core curriculum, and other appropriate procedures to support and enhance the transfer function.

(b) The elements in a comprehensive transfer system shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Enrollment and resource planning; intersegmental faculty curricular efforts.

(2) Coordinated counseling.

(3) Financial aid and transfer services.

(4) Transfer articulation agreements and programs.

(5) Specific efforts to improve diversity.

(6) Early outreach activities.

(7) Expansion of current practices relating to concurrent enrollment of community college students in appropriate university courses.

(8) Centers.

(c) The governing board of each segment shall expand existing practices related to concurrent enrollment, in which community college students are provided the opportunity to take courses at University of California and California State University campuses, as space is available; and to expand opportunities for potential transfer students to participate in activities that familiarize them with the university campus.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The California Master Plan and supporting statutes place utmost importance on the effective transfer of community college students to the University of California and the California State University as a means of providing access to the baccalaureate degree.

(2) In 2002, CSU enrolled 55,000 transfer students from community colleges.

(3) Two out of three students who earn CSU baccalaureate degrees begin in a community college.

(4) Effective use of state and student time and resources would be maximized by students accruing fewer unrequired units in earning their degrees.

(5) Additional access to community colleges and CSU will be created by higher graduation rates and fewer nonessential units taken.

(6) The state budget situation makes it urgent to streamline the path of the transfer student to the baccalaureate degree.

(b) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to ensure that community college students who wish to earn the baccalaureate degree at CSU are provided with a clear and effective path to this degree.

(c) This section shall not limit in any way the ability of students to gain admission through alternative paths to transfer, such as the California General Education Transfer Curriculum.

(d) On or before February 1, 2005, the Chancellor of CSU shall establish transfer student admissions requirements that give highest priority to transfer students who are qualified in accordance with subdivision (f) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (g).

(e) (1) CSU campuses admitting students qualified in accordance with subdivision (f) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (g) will make it possible for these students to complete their baccalaureate degree in the minimum number of remaining units required for that degree major.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the “minimum number of remaining units” is the minimum number of units required for a degree major after subtracting the number of fully degree-transferable units earned at the community college.

(f) The Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of CSU, shall establish the following components necessary for a clear degree path for transfer students:

(1) On or before June 1, 2005, the Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of CSU and with the faculty responsible for each high-demand baccalaureate degree major program, shall specify for each high-demand baccalaureate program major a systemwide lower division transfer curriculum composed of at least 45 semester course units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, that will be common across all CSU campuses offering specific major programs.

(2) (A) The systemwide lower division transfer curriculum for each high-demand baccalaureate degree major program shall be composed of at least 45 semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, and shall include all of the following:

(i) General education courses.

(ii) Any other lower division courses required for graduation.

(iii) Lower division components of the student’s declared major.

(iv) Elective units, as appropriate.

(B) The coursework described in subparagraph (A) shall be designated by the CSU faculty responsible for the student’s major degree program.

(3) The systemwide lower division transfer curriculum shall be specified in sufficient manner and detail so that existing and future community college lower division courses may be articulated, according to the usual procedures, to the corresponding CSU courses or course descriptions.

(g) (1) On or before June 1, 2006, the Chancellor of CSU and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges, shall articulate those lower division, baccalaureate-level courses at each campus of the California Community Colleges that meet for each degree major the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f).

(2) To the extent that the goals of efficiency and urgency are advanced, existing articulation procedures such as the California Articulation Number (CAN) program shall be employed.

(3) On or before June 1, 2006, each CSU campus shall have identified any additional specific, nonelective course requirements beyond the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements for each major, up to a maximum of 60 semester units or the quarter-unit equivalent, for the systemwide and campus-specific requirements combined. To the extent these additional course requirements are identified, each CSU campus shall provide that information to all community colleges.

(4) The Chancellor of CSU shall amend CSU’s transfer admissions procedures to encourage prospective community college transfer students to identify and, to the extent possible, commit to, a specific CSU transfer destination campus before earning more than 45 semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, of lower division, baccalaureate-level courses, as described in subdivision (f).

(h) As allowed by enrollment demand and available space, each CSU campus shall develop a transfer admission agreement with each student who intends to meet the requirements of this section, including the declaration of a major and identification of a choice of a destination campus, before earning more than 45 systemwide semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent. The transfer admission agreement shall guarantee admission to the campus and major identified in that agreement and transfer of all 60 semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, as creditable to the baccalaureate degree, subject to the student’s meeting the following conditions:

(1) Completion of the 60 semester units of college-level coursework, or the quarter-unit equivalent, specified for the student’s major degree program.

(2) Declaration of a major.

(3) Satisfactory completion of the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements for the student’s declared major.

(4) Satisfactory completion of any requirements beyond the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum that are specified by the CSU destination campus.

(5) Any impaction criteria for that campus or major.

(i) A CSU campus shall guarantee that the transfer students admitted under this section will be able to complete the baccalaureate degree in the minimum number of course units required for that degree.

(j) For purposes of this section, “CSU” means the California State University.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 74, Sec. 3. (SB 619) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
(a) In a manner that is consistent with Section 71027, the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a process to facilitate the identification of courses that satisfy lower division preparation requirements throughout the California Community Colleges system.

(b) A description of the process established by the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to comply with subdivision (a) shall be included as part of the report required by subdivision (a) of Section 66749.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that community college districts accept credits from other community college districts toward an associate degree for transfer.

(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2011.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 72. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
Each department, school, and major in the University of California and California State University shall develop, in conjunction with community college faculty in appropriate and associated departments, discipline-specific articulation agreements and transfer program agreements for those majors that have lower division prerequisites. Faculty from the community colleges and university campuses shall participate in discipline-specific curriculum development to coordinate course content and expected levels of student competency.

Where specific majors are impacted or over-subscribed, the prescribed course of study and minimum grade point average required for consideration for upper division admission to all of these majors shall be made readily available to community college counselors, faculty, and students on an annual basis. In cases where the prescribed course of study is altered by the university department, notice of the modification shall be communicated to appropriate community college faculty and counselors at least one year prior to the deadline for application to that major and implementation by the department responsible for teaching that major.

Community college districts, in conjunction with the California State University and the University of California, shall develop discipline-based agreements with as many campuses of the two university segments as feasible, and no fewer than three University of California campuses and five California State University campuses. The development of these agreements shall be the mutual responsibility of all three segments, and no one segment should bear the organizational or financial responsibility for accomplishing these goals.

The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the President of the University of California shall begin the process of setting priorities to determine which community colleges will receive first attention for the development of agreements. Criteria for priority determination shall include, but not be limited to, the percentage and number of students from economically disadvantaged families and underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, and community colleges which traditionally have not transferred many students to the University of California. The priority list shall be completed by March 1, 1992. These considerations shall not be used in any way to displace current agreements between any community college and the University of California or the California State University.

The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University system shall begin the process of setting priorities to determine which community colleges will receive first attention for the development of agreements. Criteria for priority determination shall include, but not be limited to, the percentage and number of students from economically disadvantaged families and underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, and community colleges which traditionally have not transferred many students to California State Universities. The priority list shall be completed by March 1, 1992. These considerations shall not be used in any way to displace current agreements between any community college and the University of California or the California State University.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
As a result of systemwide and interinstitutional agreements, each community college student shall be assured of the opportunity to enter into a transfer agreement program enabling a student to receive high priority consideration, attain equivalent special treatment, or enter into a contract when applying for university admission at the advanced standing level. It is recognized that eligibility for transfer agreement programs will require completion of certain requirements as defined in interinstitutional agreements. It is also recognized that access to majors of choice will, in most cases, require completion of additional requirements, such as specialized coursework and attainment of a specialized grade point average.

Transfer agreement programs also shall carry high priority access to majors of choice. The University of California and the California State University shall require that continuing undergraduate students and community college transfer students are assessed against a common set of criteria for upper division standing to a specific major. However, generally speaking, access to these programs shall require completion of specialized coursework and attainment of a grade point average above the minimums defined in general admission requirements, such as those used in supplementary admission criteria for impacted or over-subscribed programs.

Alternatively, students may also, by meeting the University of California or California State University requirements for admission at the advanced standing level, simply wish to apply as required. All students meeting these admission requirements shall be guaranteed a place somewhere in the University of California or California State University system, as appropriate.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text: The governing boards of the three public segments of higher education shall present annual statistical reports on transfer patterns via the California Postsecondary Education Commission to the Governor and Legislature. The reports shall include recent statistics on student enrollments by campus, segment, gender, ethnicity, and the ratio of upper division to lower division, including information on both freshman and transfer student access to the system. These reports should include, to the extent that data are available or become available, data on application, admission and enrollment information for all students by sex, ethnicity, and campus. For transfer students, this data shall indicate the segment of origin for all students. In addition, data shall be separately identified for transfer students from California Community Colleges, and shall identify the subset of applications which are completed together with admission, enrollment, and declared major information for that group. The reports shall describe the number of transfer agreements, if any, whose terms and conditions were not satisfied by either the California State University or the University of California, the number of California Community College transfer students denied either admission to the student’s first choice of a particular campus of the California State University or the University of California or the student’s first choice of a major field of study, and, among those students, the number of students who, upon denial of either of the student’s first choices, immediately enrolled at another campus of the California State University or the University of California. The reports shall also include information by sex and ethnicity on retention and degree completion for transfer students as well as for native students, and the number and percentage of baccalaureate degree recipients who transferred from a community college.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
The California Postsecondary Education Commission is requested to convene an intersegmental advisory committee on transfer access and performance for the purposes of presenting biennial reports to the Governor and the Legislature on the status of transfer policies and programs, the diligence of each segment’s board, and the effectiveness of these programs in meeting the state’s goals for transfer. The report shall include information about all of the following:

(a) The effectiveness of transfer agreement programs and activities in enhancing the transfer function overall as well as the extent to which transfer program activities have been directed at students who have been historically underrepresented in the University of California and the California State University.

(b) The status of the implementation of the transfer core curriculum as described in Section 66720 for each community college, including information about the extent to which sophomore level courses needed for transfer are available on all community college campuses.

(c) Progress that has been made in achieving articulation agreements in those specific majors that have lower division prerequisites, and the dissemination of this information. The committee shall also explore methods to systematically measure the extent to which the state’s goals of freshmen and transfer student access are being met, including analyses of the number of fully eligible freshmen or transfer students who are denied access to the system, and the reasons for that denial. The committee shall also address ways in which sharing of information about transfer students among the segments can be improved, including early identification of potential transfer students for intensive recruitment purposes.

The Governor and the Legislature shall monitor the success of the University of California and the California State University in achieving their targeted enrollment levels and in implementing these reforms. A substantial failure to implement reform, to achieve the 60/40 ratio by the designated dates, or to improve the transfer rate of historically underrepresented groups significantly, shall precipitate legislative hearings to determine the reasons why any one or all of these goals have not been met.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 38. Effective January 1, 1996.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
(a) (1) Commencing with the 2004–05 academic year, and each academic year thereafter, the Trustees of the California State University shall establish a dual admissions program for eligible freshman applicants. Under this program, eligible freshman applicants may be offered the opportunity to enter into a dual admissions agreement with the California State University.

(2) Student participation in the dual admissions program under this subdivision is voluntary. It is the intent of the Legislature that the incentives provided in paragraph (3) shall encourage students otherwise eligible for admission to the California State University to attend a campus of the California Community Colleges for their lower-division coursework.

(3) The agreement shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, all of the following incentives:

(A) A guarantee that the student will be admitted to a California State University campus during a future academic year, provided that the student successfully completes lower-division transfer requirements at a campus of the California Community Colleges.

(B) Notwithstanding Section 76300, for each student who enrolls under this subdivision at a campus of the California Community Colleges pursuant to the dual admissions program in the 2004–05 academic year, a guarantee that any campus of the California Community Colleges shall waive fees for up to two academic years, irrespective of financial need, while that student is enrolled at that campus.

(C) For each student who enrolls, under this subdivision, at a campus of the California Community Colleges pursuant to the dual admissions program in the 2005–06 academic year, or any academic year thereafter, a guarantee that any campus of the California Community Colleges shall waive fees for each financially needy student. For the purposes of this paragraph, financial need shall be determined by the standards established by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges in Section 58620 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations or in a successor regulation.

(D) A guarantee that the student will receive counseling services from the California State University to ensure that the student is informed of the appropriate course requirements to be eligible for transfer to the California State University, and is also informed of the various financial aid options.

(4) The Chancellor of the California State University shall annually submit to the Director of Finance, as part of the budget preparation process, an estimate of the number of students expected to participate, under this subdivision, in the dual admissions program in the succeeding academic year.

(b) (1) Commencing with the 2004–05 academic year, and each academic year thereafter, the Legislature requests that the Regents of the University of California establish a dual admissions program for eligible freshman applicants. Under this program, eligible freshman applicants may be offered the opportunity to enter into a dual admissions agreement with the University of California.

(2) Student participation in the dual admissions program under this subdivision is voluntary. It is the intent of the Legislature that the incentives provided in paragraph (3) shall encourage students otherwise eligible for admission to the University of California to attend a campus of the California Community Colleges for their lower-division coursework.

(3) The agreement shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, all of the following incentives:

(A) A guarantee that the student will be admitted to a University of California campus during a future academic year, provided that the student successfully completes lower-division transfer requirements at a campus of the California Community Colleges.

(B) Notwithstanding Section 76300, for each student who enrolls under this subdivision at a campus of the California Community Colleges pursuant to the dual admissions program in the 2004–05 academic year, a guarantee that any campus of the California Community Colleges shall waive fees for up to two academic years, irrespective of financial need, while that student is enrolled at that campus.

(C) For each student who enrolls, under this subdivision, at a campus of the California Community Colleges pursuant to the dual admissions program in the 2005–06 academic year, or any academic year thereafter, a guarantee that any campus of the California Community Colleges shall waive fees for each financially needy student. For the purposes of this paragraph, financial need shall be determined by the standards established by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges in Section 58620 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations or in a successor regulation.

(D) A guarantee that the student will receive counseling services from the University of California to ensure that the student is informed of the appropriate course requirements to be eligible for transfer to the University of California, and is also informed of the various financial aid options.

(4) The President of the University of California is requested to annually submit to the Director of Finance, as part of the budget preparation process, an estimate of the number of students expected to participate, under this subdivision, in the dual admissions program in the succeeding academic year.

(c) Commencing with first-time freshman applicants for admission in the 2023–24 academic year, and for admission in each academic year through the 2025–26 academic year, a dual admissions agreement shall not be entered into pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 16. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
(a) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, “university” means the California State University.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California State University establish a dual admissions program as a separate transfer pathway for first-time freshman applicants, and that the dual admissions program be designed to aid in achieving the following goals:

(1) Increasing access to the university for prospective underrepresented students experiencing limitations in high school curriculum offered, geographical constraints, or financial challenges.

(2) Increasing graduation rates among underrepresented students.

(3) Reducing student costs and time-to-degree completion.

(4) Improving transfer pathways between the California Community Colleges, the University of California, and the university.

(5) Increasing predictability for purposes of student and institutional planning.

(c) Commencing with the 2023–24 academic year, and each academic year through the 2035–36 academic year, the Trustees of the California State University shall offer a dual admissions program for first-time freshman applicants who meet the criteria described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). Under this program, first-time freshman applicants may be offered the opportunity to enter into a dual admissions agreement with the university. The agreement shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) (A) A guarantee that the student will be admitted to a university campus during a future academic year if the student successfully completes an associate degree for transfer or another established course of study for transfer within three academic years at a California community college.

(B) The guarantee of admission shall be for a specific university campus selected by the student at the time of the agreement. If the student’s desired major or selected university campus is impacted or oversubscribed, the agreement may specify supplementary criteria for the student to meet, such as required attainment of a grade point average above the minimum defined in the general admission requirements. The university shall specify in the agreement any applicable supplementary criteria, including the specific grade point average that the student must attain in lower-division coursework. If the student plans to complete an associate degree for transfer, the supplementary criteria shall not alter the unit requirements applicable to the selected associate degree for transfer.

(2) For students who are eligible to have their fees waived pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 76300) of Chapter 2 of Part 47 of Division 7, or under the California College Promise pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 76396) of Chapter 2 of Part 47 of Division 7, a guarantee that the applicable campus of the California Community Colleges shall waive their fees while they are participating in the dual admissions program and enrolled at that campus.

(3) A guarantee that the student shall have access to library, counseling, and other services from the applicable university campus or the university campus nearest to the student’s primary residence, and the applicable California Community College to ensure that the student is informed of the appropriate course requirements to qualify for transfer to the university, and is also informed of the various financial aid options. California Community Colleges are requested to indicate on the student’s education plan developed pursuant to Section 78212 that the student is participating in the dual admissions program.

(d) To the extent feasible, the university is requested to provide each student who is offered the opportunity to enter into a dual admissions agreement with a provisional financial aid letter indicating the financial aid package the student may receive upon transfer to the university. The letter shall include federal, state, and institutional-based financial aid for which the student may qualify. If providing this information, the university shall clearly indicate that the financial aid package is subject to change based on updated financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act application, as applicable, and potential changes in rules governing the provision of federal, state, and institutional-based financial aid.

(e) (1) In evaluating applications for dual admissions, the university shall only consider applicants who meet all of the following criteria:

(A) The applicant is a first-time freshman applicant who will meet the university’s admissions eligibility criteria only upon completion of transfer requirements at a California community college.

(B) The applicant provides supporting information regarding the applicant’s inability to meet freshman admissions eligibility criteria due to limitations in the high school curriculum offered or personal or financial hardship. For purposes of this subparagraph, supporting information may include, but is not limited to, a letter from a counselor or administrator at the applicant’s high school.

(C) The applicant plans to complete either of the following:

(i) An associate degree for transfer at a California community college.

(ii) Another established course of study for transfer at a California community college.

(2) The university shall prioritize offers of dual admissions agreements for students who plan to complete an associate degree for transfer at a California community college.

(f) The California Community Colleges shall take the following actions to promote the program:

(1) Share information about the program at new student orientation.

(2) Provide information about the program through an annual email to the new students for each incoming fall term.

(3) Post information about the program in an easily identifiable and accessible format on the campus website.

(4) Post information about the program in counseling offices and transfer centers.

(g) (1) On or before April 1, 2026, the university shall submit a progress report to the Department of Finance and the Legislature pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information for each participating university campus:

(A) The number and names of community colleges that partner with the university campus on a dual admission program.

(B) A description of the support services the community college and university campus partners each are providing to dual admission students.

(C) The number of students who applied, were admitted, filed a statement of intent to register, and enrolled at each university campus pursuant to a dual admission program, disaggregated by freshman eligibility, community college of attendance, and the race, ethnicity, gender, and, as applicable, federal Pell Grant and AB 540 status of these students.

(D) For Fall 2023, 2024, and 2025, the breakdown of all transfer applicants, admits, students who submitted an intent to register, and students who enrolled by community college, race and ethnicity, gender, and Pell Grant or AB 540 status. The universities can satisfy this requirement through any existing public reporting, where applicable.

(2) The report to be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2037, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 421, Sec. 2. (SB 640) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2037, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text:
(a) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, “university” means the University of California.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of California establish a dual admissions program as a separate transfer pathway for first-time freshman applicants, and that the dual admissions program be designed to aid in achieving the following goals:

(1) Increasing access to the university for prospective underrepresented students experiencing limitations in high school curriculum offered, geographical constraints, or financial challenges.

(2) Increasing graduation rates among underrepresented students.

(3) Reducing student costs and time-to-degree completion.

(4) Improving transfer pathways between the California community colleges, the California State University, and the university.

(5) Increasing predictability for the purposes of student and institutional planning.

(c) Commencing with the 2023–24 academic year, and each academic year through the 2025–26 academic year, the Regents of the University of California shall offer a dual admissions program for first-time freshman applicants who meet the eligibility criteria described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f). Under this program, first-time freshman applicants may be offered the opportunity to enter into a dual admissions agreement with the university. The agreement shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

(1) (A) A guarantee that the student will be admitted to a university campus during a future academic year if the student successfully completes an associate degree for transfer or a university equivalent to an associate degree for transfer established pursuant to subdivision (d), or another established course of study for transfer within two academic years at a California Community College. For purposes of this paragraph, the regents are requested to collaborate with the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to develop processes leading to the alignment of associate degree for transfer requirements between the university, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges.

(B) The guarantee of admission shall be for a specific university campus selected by the student at the time of the agreement. If the student’s desired major or selected university campus is impacted or oversubscribed, the agreement may specify supplementary criteria for the student to meet, such as required attainment of a grade point average above the minimum defined in general admission requirements. The university shall specify in the agreement any applicable supplementary criteria, including the specific grade point average that the student must attain in lower-division coursework. If the student plans to complete an associate degree for transfer, the supplementary criteria shall not alter the unit requirements applicable to the selected associate degree for transfer, or university equivalent.

(2) For students who are eligible to have their fees waived pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 76300) of Chapter 2 of Part 47 of Division 7, or under the California College Promise pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 76396) of Chapter 2 of Part 47 of Division 7, a guarantee that the applicable campus of the California Community Colleges shall waive their fees while they are participating in the dual admissions program and enrolled at that campus.

(3) A guarantee that the student shall have access to library, counseling, and other services from the applicable university campus or the university campus nearest to the student’s primary residence, and the applicable California Community College to ensure that the student is informed of the appropriate course requirements to qualify for transfer to the university, and is also informed of the various financial aid options. California Community Colleges are requested to indicate on the student’s education plan developed pursuant to Section 78212 that the student is participating in the dual admissions program.

(d) For purposes of establishing a dual admissions program pursuant to this section, the university may establish a, or use an existing, university equivalent to an associate degree for transfer in lieu of establishing a dual admissions program that relies upon participating students’ completion of an associate degree for transfer. If the university establishes a university equivalent to an associate degree for transfer, or uses an existing university equivalent to an associate degree for transfer, the university shall identify the following for prospective dual admissions students:

(1) Courses that overlap between the existing associate degree for transfer pathway and its university equivalent pathway.

(2) Courses that do not overlap between the existing associate degree for transfer pathway and its university equivalent pathway.

(e) To the extent feasible, the university is requested to provide each student who is offered the opportunity to enter into a dual admissions agreement with a provisional financial aid letter indicating the financial aid package the student may receive upon transfer to the university. The letter shall include federal, state, and institutional-based financial aid for which the student may qualify. If providing this information, the university shall clearly indicate that the financial aid package is subject to change based on updated financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act application, as applicable, and potential changes in rules governing the provision of federal, state, and institutional-based financial aid.

(f) (1) In evaluating applications for dual admissions, the university shall only consider applicants who meet all of the following criteria:

(A) The applicant is a first-time freshman applicant who will meet the university’s admissions eligibility criteria only upon completion of transfer requirements at a California community college.

(B) The applicant provides supporting information regarding the applicant’s inability to meet freshman admissions eligibility criteria due to limitations in the high school curriculum offered or personal or financial hardship. For purposes of this subparagraph, supporting information may include, but is not necessarily limited to, a letter from a counselor or administrator at the applicant’s high school.

(C) The applicant plans to complete either of the following:

(i) An associate degree for transfer at a California community college or a university equivalent established pursuant to subdivision (d).

(ii) Another established course of study for transfer at a California community college.

(2) The university shall prioritize offers of dual admissions agreements for students who plan to complete an associate degree for transfer at a California community college.

(g) (1) On or before April 1, 2026, the university shall submit a progress report to the Department of Finance and the Legislature. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information for each participating university campus:

(A) The number and names of community colleges that partner with the university campus on a dual admission program.

(B) A description of the support services the community college and university campus partners each are providing to dual admission students.

(C) The number of students who applied, were admitted, filed a statement of intent to register, and enrolled at each university campus pursuant to a dual admission program, disaggregated by freshman eligibility, community college of attendance, and the race, ethnicity, gender, and, as applicable, federal Pell Grant or AB 540 status of these students.

(D) For Fall 2023, 2024, and 2025, the breakdown of all transfer applicants, admits, students who submitted an intent to register, and students who enrolled by community college of attendance, race, ethnicity, gender, and, as applicable, federal Pell Grant or AB 540 status. The universities can satisfy this requirement through any existing public reporting, where applicable.

(2) The report to be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 18. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Transfer Functions


text: This article shall be known, and may be cited as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 428, Sec. 2. (SB 1440) Effective January 1, 2011.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.2. Student Transfer > 3. Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act


text:
(a) Commencing with the fall term of the 2011–12 academic year, a student who earns an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets both of the following requirements:

(1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:

(A) Commencing in the fall term of the 2025–26 academic year, the California General Education Transfer Curriculum. A student who is placed on the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements before the fall term of the 2025–26 academic year and completes the pattern with appropriate certification shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this subparagraph.

(B) A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district and meeting the requirements of an approved transfer model curriculum.

(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

(b) (1) (A) As a condition of receipt of state apportionment funds, a community college district shall develop and grant associate degrees for transfer that meet the requirements of subdivision (a). A community college district shall not impose any requirements in addition to the requirements of this section, including any local college or district requirements, for a student to be eligible for the associate degree for transfer and subsequent admission to the California State University pursuant to Section 66747.

(B) Before the commencement of the 2015–16 academic year, a community college shall create an associate degree for transfer in the major and area of emphasis offered by that college for any approved transfer model curriculum finalized before the commencement of the 2013–14 academic year.

(C) A community college shall create an associate degree for transfer in every major and area of emphasis offered by that college for any approved transfer model curriculum approved subsequent to the commencement of the 2013–14 academic year within 18 months of the approval of the transfer model curriculum.

(D) Before the commencement of the 2015–16 academic year, there shall be the development of at least two transfer model curricula in areas of emphasis and, before the commencement of the 2016–17 academic year, there shall be the development of at least two additional transfer model curricula in areas of emphasis.

(2) The condition of receipt of state apportionment funding contained in paragraph (1) shall become inoperative if, by December 31, 2010, each of the state’s 72 community college districts has submitted to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, for transmission to the Director of Finance, a signed certification waiving, as a local agency request within the meaning of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution, any claim of reimbursement related to the implementation of this article.

(c) A community college district is encouraged to consider the local articulation agreements and other work between the respective faculties from the affected community college and California State University campuses in implementing the requirements of this section.

(d) Community colleges are encouraged to facilitate the acceptance of credits earned at other community colleges toward the associate degree for transfer pursuant to this section.

(e) This section shall not preclude enrollment in nontransferable student success courses in preparation for obtaining the associate degree. Pretransfer noncollegiate level coursework and nontransferable student success courses shall not be counted as part of the transferable units required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 74, Sec. 4. (SB 619) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act