text:
(a) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 66201), the California State University shall guarantee admission with junior status to any community college student who meets all of the requirements of Section 66746, with admission to a program or major and concentration, as applicable, that meets either of the following:

(A) Is similar to the student’s community college transfer model curriculum-aligned associate degree for transfer, as determined by the California State University campus to which the student is admitted.

(B) May be completed with 60 semester units of study beyond the community college transfer model curriculum-aligned associate degree for transfer, with completion ability determined by the California State University campus to which the student is admitted.

(2) Admission to the California State University, as provided under this article, does not guarantee admission for a specific major or campus.

(3) Notwithstanding Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 66201), the California State University shall grant a student priority admission to his or her local California State University campus and to a program or major and concentration that is similar to the student’s community college transfer model curriculum-aligned associate degree for transfer, as determined by the California State University campus to which the student is admitted.

(4) A California State University campus shall accept transfer model curriculum-aligned associate degrees for transfer in every major and concentration offered by that California State University campus that meets the requirements of paragraph (1). A California State University campus shall additionally make every effort to accept transfer model curriculum-aligned associate degrees for transfer in each of the California State University concentrations.

(5) As used in this section, a “concentration” is an area of specialization within a major degree program.

(b) A student admitted under this article shall receive priority over all other community college transfer students, in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 66202, excluding community college students who have entered into a transfer agreement between a community college and the California State University prior to the fall term of the 2012–13 academic year. A student admitted pursuant to this article shall have met the requirements of an approved transfer agreement consistent with subdivision (a) of Section 66202.

(c) The California State University shall develop an admissions redirection process for students admitted under this article who apply for admission to the California State University, but are not accepted into the California State University campuses specifically applied to. This process shall be aligned with the guaranteed admission into the California State University system under subdivision (a).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 720, Sec. 3. (SB 440) Effective January 1, 2014.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


kind: section

code: EDC

text:
(a) The California State University may require a student transferring pursuant to this article to take additional courses at the California State University so long as the student is not required to take any more than 60 additional semester units or 90 quarter units at the California State University for majors requiring 120 semester units or 180 quarter units. Specified high unit majors shall be exempt from this subdivision upon agreement by the Chancellors of the California State University and the California Community Colleges and their respective academic senates.

(b) Community college transfer units shall not be applicable to upper division requirements at the California State University, unless agreed upon by the local Academic Senates of the California State University and the California Community Colleges and the transferred units do not exceed the required 60 semester units or 90 quarter units required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 66746.

(c) The California State University shall not require students transferring pursuant to this article to repeat courses that are similar to those taken at the community college that counted toward the associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to Section 66746.

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

division: 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS

part: 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 9.2. Student Transfer

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


text:
The California Community Colleges and the California State University, in consultation with students, faculty, student service administrators, the State Department of Education, the California Education Round Table, and other key stakeholders, shall develop a student-centered communication and marketing strategy in order to increase the visibility of the associate degree for transfer pathway for all students in California that includes, but is not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

(a) Outreach to high schools in accordance with existing high school outreach programs and activities performed by the colleges and universities.

(b) Information on the pathway prominently displayed in all community college counseling offices and transfer centers.

(c) Associate degree for transfer pathway information provided to all first-year community college students developing an education plan to aid them in making informed educational choices.

(d) Targeted outreach to first-year students through campus orientations and student support services programs offered by the campus that may include, but are not necessarily limited to, Federal TRIO Programs, First-Generation Experience, MESA, and Puente.

(e) Information on the pathway prominently displayed in community college course catalogs.

(f) Information on the pathway prominently displayed on the Internet Web sites of each community college, each campus of the California State University, and on the CaliforniaColleges.edu Internet Web site.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 720, Sec. 4. (SB 440) Effective January 1, 2014.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act


text:
(a) The Legislative Analyst’s Office shall review and report to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the respective education finance budget subcommittees of the Assembly and the Senate in the spring of 2012, an update on the implementation of this article.

(b) The Legislative Analyst’s Office shall also review and report to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the respective education finance budget subcommittees of the Assembly and the Senate, within four years of implementation of this article, on both of the following:

(1) The outcomes of implementation of this article, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The number and percentage of community college students who transferred to the California State University and earned an associate degree for transfer pursuant to this article.

(B) The average amount of time and units it takes a community college student earning an associate degree for transfer pursuant to this article to transfer to and graduate from the California State University, as compared to the average amount of time and units it took community college transfer students prior to enactment of this article, and compared to students using other transfer processes available.

(C) Student progression and completion rates.

(D) Other relevant indicators of student success.

(E) The degree to which the requirements for an associate degree for transfer take into account existing articulation agreements and the degree to which community colleges facilitate the acceptance of credits between community college districts, as outlined in subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 66746.

(F) It is the intent of the Legislature that student outcome data provided under this subdivision include the degree to which the California State University was able to accommodate students admitted under this article to a campus of their choice and a major that is similar to their community college major.

(2) Recommendations for statutory changes necessary to facilitate the goal of a clear and transparent transfer process, including whether this article should be made applicable to students transferring from community colleges to the University of California.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) (1) An independent institution of higher education that chooses to accept an associate degree for transfer does not guarantee admission to a particular campus or program.

(2) An independent institution of higher education that chooses to accept an associate degree for transfer, shall guarantee admission with junior status to a community college student who meets all of the requirements of Section 66746, with admission to a program or major and concentration, as applicable, that meets either of the following:

(A) Is similar to the student’s community college transfer model curriculum-aligned associate degree for transfer, as determined by the independent institution of higher education to which the student is admitted.

(B) May be completed with not more than 68 additional semester units for majors at institutions requiring 128 semester units or not more than 102 quarter units at institutions requiring 192 quarter units for a degree. An independent institution of higher education admitting a community college student with an associate degree for transfer may require the student to take additional courses at the institution as long as the student is not required to take any more than the additional semester units or quarter units specified in this subparagraph. High unit majors and additional campus-specific courses or requirements that an institution requires for graduation by all undergraduate students, and that would not otherwise be considered an educational requirement at a public institution, shall be exempt from this subparagraph.

(b) Community college transfer units shall not be applicable to upper division requirements at an independent institution of higher education unless agreed upon by the local academic senates of the independent institution of higher education and the California Community Colleges, and the transferred units do not exceed the required 68 semester units or 102 quarter units, pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(c) An independent institution of higher education shall not require students transferring pursuant to this article to repeat courses that are similar to those taken at the community college that counted toward the associate degree for transfer.

(d) Discussions concerning the associate degree for transfer program, including the development of new majors, shall include participation by the association representing the largest number of independent institutions of higher education.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 3. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges and those independent institutions of higher education that choose to commit to accept a student with an associate degree for transfer, in consultation with students, faculty, student service administrators, the State Department of Education, the California Education Round Table, and other key stakeholders, shall develop a student-centered communication and marketing strategy in order to increase the visibility of the associate degree for transfer pathway for all students in California that may include, but is not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

(a) Outreach to high schools relative to the associate degree for transfer pathway that build upon existing high school outreach programs and activities performed by the California State University and the University of California.

(b) Pathway information that may be prominently displayed in all community college counseling offices and transfer centers.

(c) Pathway information that may be provided to all first-year community college students developing an education plan to aid them in making informed educational choices.

(d) Targeted outreach on the pathway that may be provided to first-year community college students through campus orientations and student support services programs offered by the campus that may include, but are not necessarily limited to, Federal TRIO Programs, First-Generation Experience, MESA, and Puente.

(e) Information on the pathway that may be prominently displayed in community college course catalogs.

(f) Information on the pathway that may be prominently displayed on the internet website of each community college and independent institution of higher education that chooses to commit to accept a student with an associate degree for transfer, and on the California Colleges internet website, californiacolleges.edu.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 4. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) (1) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.

(2) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(A) “ADT” means associate degree for transfer.

(B) “Committee” means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).

(C) “Four-year postsecondary educational institution” means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(D) “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(b) The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:

(1) To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathway’s benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.

(B) Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.

(C) Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.

(2) To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).

(3) To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).

(c) Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(d) (1) The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:

(A) Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.

(B) Develop written reports of the committee’s recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).

(C) Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committee’s goals.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.

(3) The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.

(e) (1) The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committee’s responsibilities.

(2) (A) Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:

(i) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(ii) The office of the Chancellor of the California State University.

(iii) The office of the President of the University of California.

(iv) The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.

(v) The State Department of Education.

(vi) The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.

(vii) The California State Student Association.

(viii) The University of California Student Association.

(ix) The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.

(x) The Academic Senate of the California State University.

(xi) The Academic Senate of the University of California.

(B) Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.

(3) (A) On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:

(i) The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

(ii) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.

(iii) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.

(iv) The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.

(v) The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.

(B) Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.

(C) Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.

(4) The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chair’s two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.

(f) To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.

(g) On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:

(1) Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:

(A) Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the state’s workforce demands.

(B) Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.

(C) Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.

(D) Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.

(2) Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:

(A) The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.

(B) A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.

(3) Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.

(h) On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:

(1) Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.

(2) Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.

(3) (A) Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.

(B) The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.

(C) The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.

(4) Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.

(i) On or before April 30, 2026, the committee shall provide the Legislature with both of the following:

(1) Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee, and any additional recommendations based on the committee’s continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.

(2) An update on the progress in closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.

(j) (1) On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.

(2) Commencing with the fall term of the 2025–26 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.

(3) The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.

(k) (1) On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.

(2) A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.

(3) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(4) If an ADT pathway does not exist in the student’s chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.

(l) Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 2021–22 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students’ success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.

(m) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 566, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2024, Ch. 696, Sec. 2. (AB 2057) Effective January 1, 2025. Inoperative July 1, 2027, by its own provisions. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 3 of Stats. 2024, Ch. 696.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) (1) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.

(2) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(A) “ADT” means associate degree for transfer.

(B) “Four-year postsecondary educational institution” means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(C) “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(b) (1) On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.

(2) Commencing with the fall term of the 2025–26 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.

(3) The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.

(c) (1) On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.

(2) A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.

(3) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(4) If an ADT pathway does not exist in the student’s chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.

(d) Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 2021–22 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students’ success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.

(e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 566, Sec. 3) by Stats. 2024, Ch. 696, Sec. 3. (AB 2057) Effective January 1, 2025. Operative July 1, 2027, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the University of California Associate Degree for Transfer Pilot Program.

(b) (1) The University of California, Los Angeles shall do both of the following:

(A) By the 2026–27 academic year, declare at least eight majors at the University of California, Los Angeles as similar to the transfer model curricula from select community colleges chosen by the University of California, Los Angeles and prioritize admission of a student who earns an associate degree for transfer and meets the requirements of one of the transfer model curricula.

(B) (i) By the 2028–29 academic year, declare at least 12 majors, with at least 4 of those 12 majors in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, at the University of California, Los Angeles as similar to the transfer model curricula from select community colleges chosen by the University of California, Los Angeles and prioritize admission of a student who earns an associate degree for transfer and meets the requirements of one of the transfer model curricula.

(ii) The University of California, Los Angeles shall make every effort to ensure that the transfer model curricula declared similar to the STEM majors do not require the completion of more than 60 semester units and if one or more of the transfer model curricula do not meet this limit, the University of California, Los Angeles shall provide a written justification to the Legislature detailing what attempts were made to adhere to the limit and demonstrate how the transfer model curricula can be completed in no more than 66 semester units or the equivalent of two additional courses above 60 semester units.

(2) By the 2028–29 academic year, the University of California shall designate at least five campuses of the University of California to declare at least 12 majors at the applicable campus as similar to the transfer model curricula from select community colleges chosen by that campus, except that the 12 major minimum shall not apply to the University of California, Merced if designated, and prioritize admission of a student who earns an associate degree for transfer and meets the requirements of one of the transfer model curricula.

(c) The applicable campus of the University of California shall determine the appropriate admissions preference for a student who earns an associate degree for transfer and meets the requirements of one of the transfer model curricula described in subdivision (b).

(d) For a student who earns an associate degree for transfer and meets the requirements of one of the transfer model curricula described in subdivision (b), in addition to other University of California admission requirements, but is not granted admission to the applicable campus of the University of California, that campus shall redirect the student to other campuses of the University of California and the student shall be offered admission to at least one other campus of the University of California.

(e) (1) By February 1, 2027, the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall review the pilot program and submit an interim report to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the respective education finance budget subcommittees of the Assembly and the Senate on the pilot program that includes relevant information on admissions and redirection outcomes.

(2) By June 1, 2030, the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall review the pilot program and submit a final report on the pilot program to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the respective education finance budget subcommittees of the Assembly and the Senate. The Legislative Analyst’s Office shall make the final report publicly available and the Regents of the University of California shall consider and discuss the final report during an open session of a regularly scheduled meeting of the regents. The final report shall include additional information on admissions, redirection, student demographics, and student completion outcomes, and recommendations on whether and how the pilot program can or should be extended or expanded. The recommendations shall take into consideration relevant information, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Factors such as negative impacts on student diversity or the freshman to transfer student ratio, as determined by the University of California.

(B) The pilot program’s impact on streamlining transfer pathways for community college students.

(C) Best practices from other similar programs, such as the University of California, Merced Transfer Project.

(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that, by the 2031–32 academic year, each undergraduate campus of the University of California will declare at least 12 majors, and evaluate the possibility of declaring at least 16 majors, at the respective campus as similar to the transfer model curricula from select community colleges chosen by the campus and prioritize admission of a student who earns an associate degree for transfer and meets the requirements of one of the transfer model curricula. However, these 12 and 16 major minimums do not apply to the University of California, Merced.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 80, Sec. 38. (SB 1525) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “ADT” means associate degree for transfer.

(2) “Four-year postsecondary educational institution” means a campus of the University of California or the California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(3) “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(4) “TMC” means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.

(b) (1) The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an ADT, with the exception of paragraph (2).

(2) For STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the TMC approval process. This clear evidence and rationale shall include both of the following:

(A) An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.

(B) An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that fall within the academic major preparation for the TMC.

(3) The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall first be reviewed by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(4) The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required and submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California. This clear evidence and rationale shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible.

(B) The programs and campuses of the California State University and the University of California that determine a single TMC is not possible.

(C) Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes where available within each system that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.

(2) The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (1) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(d) (1) Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, community colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered by the community college pursuant to subdivision (c).

(2) Within 12 months of the approval of a TMC pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the TMC to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.

(3) For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.

(e) Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required as follows:

(1) For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:

(A) The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:

(i) The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California community college.

(ii) The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.

(iii) The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.

(iv) The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(B) The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.

(C) The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.

(D) The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.

(2) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segment’s faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 65. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


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

(a) “Home campus” means the campus at which the student is matriculated.

(b) “Host campus” means the campus to which the student seeks access.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 552, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 9.5. Cross-Enrollment

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.5. Cross-Enrollment


text: Any student enrolled in any campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California who meets the requirements of Section 66752 may enroll without formal admission and, except as provided in Section 66753, payment of additional fees, in a maximum of one course per academic term at a campus of either of the other systems on a space available basis at the discretion of the appropriate campus authorities on both campuses. A student enrolled in a course pursuant to this chapter shall be provided access to necessary instructional support services at the host campus in the same manner as students regularly enrolled in the course.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
A student is qualified to participate in the program established by this chapter if he or she is enrolled in any campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California and meets the following requirements:

(a) The student has completed at least one term at the home campus as a matriculated student and is taking at least six units at the home campus during the current term.

(b) The student has attained a grade point average of 2.0 (grade of C) for work completed.

(c) The student has paid appropriate tuition or fees, or both, required by the home campus for the academic term in which the student seeks to cross-enroll.

(d) The student has the appropriate academic preparation, as determined by the host campus, consistent with the standard applied to currently enrolled students, to enroll in the course in which the student seeks to enroll.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: Courses that are not state-supported, including extension and summer session courses, are not subject to this chapter.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) (1) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the Chancellor of the California State University, and the President of the University of California shall establish procedures so that a student meeting the requirements of Section 66752 may be certified by the home campus as to eligibility, residence, fee, financial aid, and health status.

(2) The host campus may require the applicant to submit additional information as needed. The host campus may charge participating students an administration fee, not to exceed an amount sufficient for the campus to recover the full amount of the administrative costs it incurs under this chapter.

(b) A student enrolled pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from participation in the matriculation services described in Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 457, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The enrollment of a student at a host campus pursuant to this chapter shall not be counted in the calculation of headcount or full-time equivalent student enrollment at the host campus. The home campus may count in the calculation of headcount or full-time equivalent student enrollment only those units for which the student is enrolled at the home campus.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 38.7. Effective January 1, 1996.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: This chapter shall become operative commencing with the fall 1995 term.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


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

(a) “Chancellor” means the Chancellor of the California State University.

(b) “CSU” means the California State University.

(c) “Home campus” means the California State University campus at which the student matriculates.

(d) “Host campus” means the campus to which the student seeks access.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 363, Sec. 2. (AB 386) Effective January 1, 2014.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.6. Cross-Enrollment in Online Education at California State University


text: A California resident enrolled at a CSU campus who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 66761 may enroll, without formal admission, and without payment of additional tuition or fees, except as provided in Section 66761.5, in a course provided entirely online by another CSU campus on a space-available basis. Nonresident and international CSU students who meet these conditions may also enroll in an online course provided by another CSU campus, but shall pay the per unit fees for this course at the host campus.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 524, Sec. 1. (AB 1062) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 9.6. Cross-Enrollment in Online Education at California State University


text:
(a) A student is qualified to participate in the program established by this chapter if he or she is enrolled at a CSU campus and meets the following requirements:

(1) The student has attained a grade point average of 2.0 on a 4-point scale for work completed.

(2) The student has paid appropriate tuition or fees, or both, required by the home campus for full-time enrollment for the academic term in which the student seeks to cross-enroll.

(3) The student has no outstanding tuition or fees to be paid at the home campus.

(b) Each CSU campus shall inform students who may enroll in an online course pursuant to this chapter of all of the following:

(1) The technical requirements a student must satisfy in order to successfully participate in, and complete, the online course.

(2) Any prerequisite courses or other academic preparation deemed necessary for the online course.

(3) Any materials, skills, knowledge, or other elements necessary to ensure a student’s opportunity to succeed in the online course.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The host campus may charge participating students a reasonable administration fee and specific course-based fees, not to exceed an amount sufficient for the campus to recover reasonable administrative costs it incurs pursuant to this chapter.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The chancellor’s office shall establish a convenient online methodology so that students meeting the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 66761 may do both of the following:

(a) Be informed of the opportunity to access courses provided entirely online by another CSU campus.

(b) Simultaneously enroll in courses at their home campus and enroll in courses provided entirely online at another CSU campus, as provided for in Section 66762.5.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: A matriculated CSU student shall have priority access to online courses provided at his or her home campus. A CSU student who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 66761, and seeks to enroll in courses provided entirely online by another CSU campus, shall be able to enroll, provided that cross-enrollment students generally have an opportunity to enroll in these online courses at any time after the priority enrollment period for continuing students, as determined by each host campus. The enrollment policy of the host campus shall, to the extent possible, encourage cross-enrollment as provided for in this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 71, Sec. 44. (SB 1304) Effective January 1, 2015.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: A course provided entirely online pursuant to this chapter shall be accepted for credit at the student’s home campus on the same basis as it would be for a student matriculated at the host campus.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The enrollment of a student at a host campus pursuant to this chapter may be counted in the calculation of headcount or full-time equivalent student enrollment at the host campus. The home campus and the host campus at which the student is cross-enrolled may count in the calculation of headcount or full-time equivalent student enrollment only those units for which the student is enrolled at each respective campus.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The trustees shall establish both of the following:

(a) An easily accessible online database of online courses available at all CSU campuses. This database shall provide CSU students with a streamlined process within the CSU system to allow students to find and enroll in courses that will earn them credit toward graduation, general education, and major requirements.

(b) Plans for an intrasystem cross-enrollment process to expedite student learning that will be operational at the beginning of the 2015–16 academic year.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 524, Sec. 2. (AB 1062) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


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

(a) “California Virtual Campus” means the efforts to expand the delivery of courses through technology pursuant to Schedule 26 and Provision 42 of Item 6870-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2013 (Chapter 20 of the Statutes of 2013).

(b) “Chancellor’s office” means the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(c) “Home college” means the campus of the California Community Colleges at which a student is matriculated.

(d) “Online course exchange” means the technological mechanism used by the California Virtual Campus to offer online-only courses that have highest demand, fill quickly, and are prerequisites for many different courses.

(e) “Teaching college” means the campus of the California Community Colleges to which a student seeks access.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 188, Sec. 2. (SB 886) Effective January 1, 2024.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 9.7. Cross-Enrollment in Online Education between Campuses of the California Community Colleges


text:
(a) A California resident who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 66771 and who is enrolled at a home college may enroll, without formal admission, and without payment of additional fees or tuition, in a course provided entirely online by a teaching college, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 66771.

(b) A nonresident student or an international student who satisfies the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) may enroll in an online course provided by a teaching college, but shall be required to pay nonresident tuition for this course at the teaching college in accordance with Section 76140.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 743, Sec. 1. (AB 637) Effective January 1, 2018.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 9.7. Cross-Enrollment in Online Education between Campuses of the California Community Colleges


text:
(a) A student is qualified to participate in the program established by this chapter if the student is enrolled at a home college that is part of the California Virtual Campus and meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The student has attained a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4-point scale for completed coursework.

(2) The student has paid the appropriate fees and tuition required by the home college for enrollment in the academic term in which the student proposes to cross-enroll.

(3) The student has no outstanding fees or tuition to be paid at the home college.

(b) A teaching college shall inform each student who enrolls in an online course pursuant to this chapter of all of the following:

(1) The technical requirements that must be satisfied by a student in order to successfully participate in, and complete, the online course.

(2) Any prerequisite course, or other academic preparation, deemed necessary for enrollment in the online course.

(3) Any materials, skills, knowledge, or other elements that are necessary to ensure that a student has an opportunity to succeed in the online course.

(c) The teaching college shall charge participating students the appropriate course enrollment fees for residents as applicable and to the extent required by law.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 188, Sec. 3. (SB 886) Effective January 1, 2024.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The chancellor’s office shall establish a convenient online methodology so that a student who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 66771 may accomplish all of the following:

(a) Be informed of the opportunity to access courses provided entirely online by another teaching college.

(b) Simultaneously enroll in courses at his or her home college and courses provided entirely online by another teaching college.

(c) Provide consent to electronically transfer all relevant enrollment data to the teaching college.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: A course provided entirely online pursuant to this chapter shall be accepted for credit at the student’s home college on the same basis as it would be for a student matriculated at the teaching college.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The enrollment of a student at a teaching college pursuant to this chapter may be counted in the calculation of headcount or full-time equivalent student enrollment at the teaching college. The home college and the teaching college at which the student is cross-enrolled may count, in the calculation of headcount or full-time equivalent student enrollment, only those course units for which the student is enrolled at each respective campus.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The Legislature recognizes that existing community colleges in California may benefit from larger and more heterogeneous enrollment in certain curricula and that additional enrollment may often be added with little or no increase in the total operational cost of a given curriculum. It also recognizes that California residents can be provided more complete and more useful curricula in many cases if the curricula is planned and offered on the basis of the needs of an entire region.

The Legislature encourages California community college districts and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to include the educational needs of, and facilities available in, territory adjacent to California in their planning and to make use of those needs and facilities to the extent possible in the conduct of community college education in California.

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

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 10. Interstate Attendance Agreements

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 10. Interstate Attendance Agreements


text:
(a) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges may enter into an interstate attendance agreement with any statewide public agency of another state that is responsible for public institutions of postsecondary education providing the first two years of college instruction and that is an agency of a state that is a party to the Western Interstate Compact for Higher Education, for the exchange of residents, on a one-for-one basis, for purposes of instruction.

(b) (1) As an alternative to the procedure established in subdivision (a), the board of governors may authorize the governing board of a community college district to enter into an interstate attendance agreement directly with the governing body of a public institution of postsecondary education providing the first two years of college instruction if the state in which the public institution is situated borders California, is a party to the Western Interstate Compact for Higher Education, and the state is not represented by a statewide public agency that is responsible for public institutions of postsecondary education providing the first two years of college instruction.

(2) Each agreement entered into under this subdivision shall satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a), and shall become effective once fully executed and approved by the governing board of each participating community college district. There shall be no need to file a resolution as described in Section 66802 or for any further action by the board of governors. An interstate attendance agreement entered into under this subdivision may be effective on or after July 1, 2003.

(c) The board of governors may enter into the Western Undergraduate Exchange through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

(d) The agreement shall contain terms as the board of governors may adopt and that are consistent with the authority and responsibility of California community college districts and the community colleges they maintain. In no event shall an agreement permit or require the entry of California residents into institutions in another state on terms substantially different from those governing the admission of residents of the other state to California community colleges. Except as provided in subdivision (j) of Section 76140, agreements shall contain the provision that no additional state funds shall be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 495, Sec. 1. (AB 1998) Effective January 1, 2023.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The governing board of each California community college district is authorized to participate in an interstate attendance agreement entered into by the board of governors. The governing board of a California community college district elects to participate by adopting a resolution to that effect and filing that resolution with the board of governors. The participation may be limited in any manner which is consistent with terms of the interstate attendance agreement in which the district desires to participate.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: If the governing board of a California community college district elects to participate in an interstate attendance agreement, it may waive, as a condition to such participation, all or part of the nonresident tuition required by Section 76140 in accordance with the terms of that interstate attendance agreement. Such a waiver shall apply only to students attending a community college maintained by that district pursuant to the provisions of that interstate attendance agreement.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 470, Sec. 33.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The board of governors may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this article as these provisions apply to California community college districts or to the State of California. Such rules and regulations shall contain the provision that no additional state funds shall be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 797.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 559, Sec. 2. (AB 963) Effective January 1, 2020.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 10.5. Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act


text:
(a) Beginning January 1, 2020, the Secretary of State, in partnership with the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California, shall conduct a program to be known as the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Program.

(b) The Secretary of State shall evaluate and report to the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the results of the program, including the number of students who registered as a result of the program, statistics relating to the outcome of the program, and any other benefits or problems that arose for the program.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 10.5. Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act


text:
Each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:

(a) (1) In consultation with the Secretary of State, during the first month of each academic semester or quarter, distribute campuswide emails to all students providing the following civic and election dates and information:

(A) National Voter Registration Day, held annually on the fourth Tuesday in September.

(B) The last day to register to vote online or to register to vote by mail or in person.

(C) The date when a county may begin to offer early voting at the office of the elections official or at a satellite location, pursuant to Section 3016.3 of the Elections Code, and a statement that the date, times, and locations for early voting and conditional voter registration may be confirmed on the internet website of the Secretary of State or at the county elections office.

(D) The primary and general election dates as provided in Chapter 4 of Division 0.5 of the Elections Code and Division 1 of the Elections Code.

(E) A statement that, pursuant to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Elections Code, a voter may apply to vote by mail at any time until after the seventh day prior to an election, and that a vote by mail voter may vote in person at the office of the county elections official or at a satellite location established by the county elections official on or before the day of the election.

(F) A link to the internet web page for the Secretary of State’s Students Vote Project, established pursuant to Section 2148.5 of the Elections Code.

(2) In consultation with the Secretary of State, one month before each statewide election, distribute by campuswide emails to all students the dates and information specified in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1) and an internet website address link or unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link furnished by the Secretary of State’s office providing all of the following election information:

(A) The Secretary of State’s internet web page for online voter registration. That website shall include a statement providing the information specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1).

(B) The Secretary of State’s internet website address for election information.

(C) The Secretary of State’s internet website address for the most current voter information guide, required to be prepared pursuant to Section 9082.7 of the Elections Code.

(D) The Secretary of State’s internet website address for the voter registration status tool, or a similar web page that directs the recipient to voter or election information for the county of the recipient.

(E) A disclaimer stating all of the following:

(i) That the civic and election information provided applies to the county where the campus is located.

(ii) That election information varies by county.

(iii) That recipients of the email are encouraged to check the internet website containing the Secretary of State’s voter registration status tool, or a similar web page, to find election information for the county where the recipient’s voter registration is active.

(3) Include in both printed and electronic academic calendars the dates specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1).

(b) (1) Post on social media reminders to students, at least one day before each event occurs unless specified otherwise, of all of the following:

(A) The early voting and conditional voter registration information specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

(B) Election day, including a reminder the day before and the day of the election. The reminders shall state that a qualified voter may register to vote on the day of the election, if necessary, at a conditional voter registration site established by the voter’s county elections official.

(C) After the emails required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) are sent, the voter information guide and county sample ballot information provided in that email.

(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, the social media content can be furnished, or requested, by the Secretary of State.

(c) (1) Designate one person per campus to act as a Civic and Voter Empowerment Coordinator, who shall do all of the following:

(A) Implement the requirements of this section.

(B) Ensure that, in every academic year, each campus holds a minimum of three election outreach events to increase civic learning, democratic participation, civic engagement, and voter turnout consistent with all of the following:

(i) During an academic term in each even-numbered year, an outreach event shall occur within the final 30 days preceding each statewide primary and general election.

(ii) All students shall be invited to participate in the coordination of and to attend these events.

(iii) All events may be sponsored by a campus-based student organization.

(C) Develop a Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plan consistent with all of the following:

(i) The coordinator shall invite leadership from faculty and students, and administrators from each of student affairs, academic affairs, and government relations or a similar office to participate in a meeting or meetings to develop the action plan.

(ii) The action plan shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, a campus-specific effort to increase civic learning and democratic participation, with an emphasis on civic engagement, voter turnout, and community building.

(iii) Students shall be invited to develop the action plan and to coordinate the meeting or meetings to develop the action plan.

(D) The coordinator shall share the action plan developed pursuant to subparagraph (C) with the Secretary of State no later than December 1, 2020, for inclusion in the report to the Legislature submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 66851. The action plan shall be periodically updated and resubmitted to the Secretary of State, as determined necessary by the coordinator.

(2) The Civic and Voter Empowerment Coordinator shall be nonpartisan.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 296, Sec. 9. (AB 1249) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) be responsible for coordinating public, independent, and private postsecondary education in California and providing independent policy analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on postsecondary education issues. In this respect, the Legislature finds as follows:

(1) California, in its adoption of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, established the Coordinating Council for Higher Education, the commission’s predecessor as the statewide coordinating and planning board for higher education.

(2) In 1973, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Higher Education reviewed the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and ultimately advanced a report that included recommendations for strengthening California’s higher education plan. The committee’s work resulted in the disestablishment of the Coordinating Council for Higher Education and the establishment of the California Postsecondary Education Commission.

(3) Assembly Bill 770 (Chapter 1187 of the Statutes of 1973) strengthened the membership of the commission by having a majority of its members represent the general public. That bill also increased the commission’s responsibilities with respect to advising the Legislature and the Governor on issues related to governance, operation, and financing of higher education in California.

(4) Since 1974, the commission has served as the state’s independent planning and coordination agency for postsecondary education policy, responsible for providing analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor related to long-range planning for public postsecondary education and the state policy and programs involving independent and private postsecondary education sectors.

(5) In 1990, Senate Bill 1570 (Chapter 1587 of the Statutes of 1990) codified the commission’s mission statement developed by the 1989 Joint Committee for the Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education.

(6) The commission has administered specifically designated federal programs and in July 1993, it was named the state’s designated agency to administer the new federal state postsecondary review entity (SPRE).

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission maintain the essential role it plays in coordinating all sectors of postsecondary education, both public and private, given the size, scope, and complexity of California’s higher education system.

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature, as follows:

(1) That the education policy recommendations of the commission shall be a primary consideration in developing state policy and funding for postsecondary education.

(2) That the commission shall develop and maintain a data collection system capable of documenting the performance of postsecondary education institutions in meeting the post high school education and training needs of California’s diverse population.

(3) That the commission, as the state’s planning and coordinating agency, shall ensure the effective utilization of public postsecondary education resources, thereby eliminating waste and unnecessary duplication, and shall promote diversity, innovation, and responsiveness to student and societal needs.

(4) That the commission shall encourage the participation of faculty members, students, administrators, and members of the general public in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 40. Effective January 1, 1996.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 11. California Postsecondary Education Commission > 1. General Provisions


text:
There is hereby created the California Postsecondary Education Commission, which shall be advisory to the Governor, the Legislature, other appropriate governmental officials, and institutions of postsecondary education. The commission shall be composed of the following members:

(a) One representative of the Regents of the University of California designated by the regents, one representative of the Trustees of the California State University designated by the trustees, and one representative of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges designated by the board. Representatives of the regents, the trustees, and the board of governors shall be chosen from among the appointed members of their respective boards, but in no instance shall an ex officio member of a governing board serve on the commission.

(b) One representative of the independent California colleges and universities that are formed and operated as nonprofit corporations in this state and are accredited by a regional association that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. This member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list or lists submitted by an association or associations of those institutions.

(c) The chair or the designee of the chair of the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

(d) The President of the State Board of Education or his or her designee from among the other members of the board.

(e) Nine representatives of the general public appointed as follows: three by the Governor, three by the Senate Rules Committee, and three by the Speaker of the Assembly. It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission be broadly and equitably representative of the general public in the appointment of its public members and that the appointing authorities, therefore, shall confer to assure that their combined appointments include adequate representation on the basis of sex and on the basis of the significant racial, ethnic, and economic groups in the state.

(f) Two student representatives, each of whom shall be enrolled at a California postsecondary education institution at the time of appointment and during the term of service, except that a student member who graduates from an institution with no more than six months of his or her term remaining shall be permitted to serve for the remainder of the term. The Governor shall appoint the student members from persons nominated by the appropriate student organizations of each of the postsecondary education segments. For each student member of the commission, the appropriate student organization may submit a list of nominees. The list shall specify not less than three and not more than five nominees. The appropriate student organization for each segment shall be a composite group of at least five representative student government associations, as determined by the commission.

(g) The student member appointed to the commission shall not be enrolled in the same segment as the outgoing student member or in the same segment of the other sitting student member.

(h) No person who is employed by any institution of public or private postsecondary education shall be appointed to or serve on the commission, except that a person who is not a permanent, full-time employee and who has part-time teaching duties that do not exceed six hours per week may be appointed to and serve on the commission.

The commission members designated in subdivisions (a), (c), and (d) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities. The member designated in subdivision (b) shall serve a three-year term. The members designated in subdivision (e) shall each serve a six-year term. The members designated in subdivision (f) shall each serve a two-year term. The respective appointing authority may appoint an alternate for each member who may, during the member’s absence, serve on the commission and vote on matters before the commission. When vacancies occur prior to expiration of terms, the respective appointing authority may appoint a member for the remainder of the term.

Any person appointed pursuant to this section may be reappointed to serve additional terms.

All terms subsequent to the initial appointments, which became effective on January 10, 1974, shall begin on January 1 of the year in which the respective terms are to start.

Any person appointed pursuant to this section who no longer has the position that made him or her eligible for appointment may nonetheless complete his or her term of office on the commission.

No person appointed pursuant to this section shall, with respect to any matter before the commission, vote for or on behalf of, or in any way exercise the vote of, any other member of the commission.

The commission shall meet as often as it deems necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

Any member of the commission who in any calendar year misses more than one-third of the meetings of the full commission forfeits his or her office, thereby creating a vacancy.

The commission shall select a chair from among the members representing the general public. The chair shall hold office for a term of one year and may be selected to successive terms.

There is established an advisory committee to the commission and the director, consisting of the chief executive officers of each of the public segments, or their designees, the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee, and an executive officer from each of the groups of institutions designated in subdivisions (b) and (c) to be designated by the respective commission representative from these groups. Commission meeting agenda items and associated documents shall be provided to the committee in a timely manner for its consideration and comments.

The commission may appoint any subcommittees or advisory committees it deems necessary to advise the commission on matters of educational policy. The advisory committees may consist of commission members or nonmembers, or both, including students, faculty members, segmental representatives, governmental representatives, and representatives of the public.

The commission shall appoint and may remove a director in the manner hereafter specified. The director shall appoint persons to any staff positions the commission may authorize.

The commission shall prescribe rules for the transaction of its own affairs, subject, however, to all the following requirements and limitations:

(1) The votes of all representatives shall be recorded.

(2) Effective action shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all the duly appointed members of the commission, not including vacant commission seats.

(3) The affirmative votes of two-thirds of all the duly appointed members of the commission, not including vacant commission seats, shall be necessary to the appointment of the director.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 8, Sec. 2. Effective April 15, 1993.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 11. California Postsecondary Education Commission

article: 1. General Provisions


text: The commission shall have power to require the governing boards and the institutions of public postsecondary education to submit data on plans and programs, costs, selection and retention of students, enrollments, plant capacities and other matters pertinent to effective planning, policy development, articulation and coordination, and shall furnish information concerning such matters to the Governor and to the Legislature as requested by them.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Unless otherwise specified, reports submitted to the Legislature by the California Postsecondary Education Commission shall be delivered to the Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees on education, the Senate education and Assembly higher education policy committees, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Office of the Governor, and the Department of Finance. Unless otherwise specified, these reports may be submitted in PDF format or comparable electronic format.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 349, Sec. 5. (SB 940) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
The commission has the following functions and responsibilities in its capacity as the statewide postsecondary education planning and coordinating agency and adviser to the Legislature and the Governor:

(a) It shall require the governing boards of the segments of public postsecondary education to develop and submit to the commission institutional and systemwide long-range plans in a form determined by the commission after consultation with the segments.

(b) It shall prepare a state plan for postsecondary education that shall integrate the planning efforts of the public segments with other pertinent plans. The commission shall seek to resolve conflicts or inconsistencies among segmental plans in consultation with the segments. If these consultations are unsuccessful, the commission shall report the unresolved issues to the Legislature with recommendations for resolution. In developing the plan, the commission shall consider at least the following factors:

(1) The need for, and location of, new facilities.

(2) The range and kinds of programs appropriate to each institution or system.

(3) The budgetary priorities of the institutions and systems of postsecondary education.

(4) The impact of various types and levels of student charges on students and on postsecondary education programs and institutions.

(5) The appropriate levels of state-funded student financial aid.

(6) The access and admission of students to postsecondary education.

(7) The educational programs and resources of independent and private postsecondary institutions.

(8) The provisions of this division differentiating the functions of the public systems of higher education.

(c) It shall update the plan periodically, as appropriate.

(d) It shall participate in appropriate stages of the executive and the legislative budget processes as requested by the executive and the legislative branches, and shall advise the executive and the legislative branches as to whether segmental programmatic budgetary requests are compatible with the state plan. It is not intended that the commission hold independent budget hearings.

(e) It shall advise the Legislature and the Governor regarding the need for, and location of, new institutions and campuses of public higher education.

(f) It shall review proposals by the public segments for new programs, the priorities that guide them, and the degree of coordination with nearby public, independent, and private postsecondary educational institutions, and shall make recommendations regarding those proposals to the Legislature and the Governor.

(g) In consultation with the public segments, it shall establish a schedule for segmental review of selected educational programs, evaluate the program approval, review, and disestablishment processes of the segments, and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor.

(h) It shall serve as a stimulus to the segments and institutions of postsecondary education by projecting and identifying societal and educational needs and encouraging adaptability to change.

(i) It shall periodically collect or conduct, or both collect and conduct, studies of projected manpower supply and demand, in cooperation with appropriate state agencies, and disseminate the results of those studies to institutions of postsecondary education and to the public in order to improve the information base upon which student choices are made.

(j) It shall periodically review and make recommendations concerning the need for, and availability of, postsecondary programs for adult and continuing education.

(k) It shall develop criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of all aspects of postsecondary education.

(l) It shall maintain and update annually an inventory of all off-campus programs and facilities for education, research, and community services operated by public and independent institutions of postsecondary education.

(m) (1) It shall act as a clearinghouse for postsecondary education information and as a primary source of information for the Legislature, the Governor, and other agencies. It shall develop and maintain a comprehensive data base that does all of the following:

(A) Ensures comparability of data from diverse sources.

(B) Supports longitudinal studies of individual students as they progress through the state’s postsecondary educational institutions, based upon the commission’s existing student data base through the use of a unique student identifier.

(C) Is compatible with the California School Information System and the student information systems developed and maintained by the public segments of higher education, as appropriate.

(D) Provides Internet access to data, as appropriate, to the sectors of higher education.

(E) Provides each of the educational segments access to the data made available to the commission for the purposes of the data base, in order to support, most efficiently and effectively, statewide, segmental, and individual campus educational research information needs.

(2) The commission, in implementing paragraph (1), shall comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g) relating to the disclosure of personally identifiable information concerning students.

(3) The commission may not make available any personally identifiable information received from a postsecondary educational institution concerning students for any regulatory purpose unless the institution has authorized the commission to provide that information on behalf of the institution.

(4) The commission shall provide 30-day notification to the chairpersons of the appropriate legislative policy and budget committees of the Legislature, to the Director of Finance, and to the Governor prior to making any significant changes to the student information contained in the data base.

(n) It shall establish criteria for state support of new and existing programs, in consultation with the public segments, the Department of Finance, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

(o) It shall comply with the appropriate provisions of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-318), as specified in Section 67000.

(p) It shall consider the relationship among academic education and vocational education and job training programs, and shall actively consult with representatives of public and private education.

(q) It shall review all proposals for changes in eligibility pools for admission to public institutions and segments of postsecondary education and shall make recommendations to the Legislature, the Governor, and institutions of postsecondary education. In carrying out this subdivision, the commission periodically shall conduct a study of the percentages of California public high school graduates estimated to be eligible for admission to the University of California and the California State University. The changes made to this subdivision during the 2001–02 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be implemented only during those fiscal years for which funding is provided for the purposes of those provisions in the annual Budget Act or in another measure.

(r) It shall report periodically to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the financial conditions of independent institutions, their enrollment and application figures, the number of student spaces available, and the respective cost of utilizing those spaces as compared to providing additional public spaces. The reports shall include recommendations concerning state policies and programs having a significant impact on independent institutions.

(s) Upon request of the Legislature or the Governor, it shall submit to the Legislature and the Governor a report on all matters so requested that are compatible with its role as the statewide postsecondary education planning and coordinating agency. Upon request of individual Members of the Legislature or personnel in the executive branch, the commission shall submit information or a report on any matter to the extent that sufficient resources are available. From time to time, it also may submit to the Legislature and the Governor a report that contains recommendations as to necessary or desirable changes, if any, in the functions, policies, and programs of the several segments of public, independent, and private postsecondary education.

(t) In consultation with the public segments, it shall consider the development of facilities to be used by more than one segment of public higher education, commonly called “joint-use facilities.” It shall recommend to the Legislature criteria and processes for different segments to utilize bond funds for these intersegmental, joint-use facilities.

(u) It may undertake other functions and responsibilities that are compatible with its role as the statewide postsecondary education planning and coordinating agency.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 580, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
To the extent that the functions and tasks assigned to the California Postsecondary Education Commission by state law cannot all be performed with the funding provided in the annual Budget Act, it is the intent of the Legislature that the commission prioritize its workload to ensure, at a minimum, that the following responsibilities are completed in a timely manner:

(a) All reviews and recommendations of the need for new institutions for the public higher education segments, inclusive of community colleges, pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 66903.

(b) All reviews and recommendations of the need for new programs for the public higher education segments, inclusive of community colleges, pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 66903.

(c) Consistent with the role of the commission pursuant to Section 67002, serve as the designated state educational agency to carry out federal education programs, pursuant to subdivision (o) of Section 66903.

(d) All data management responsibilities pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 66903 and data reporting pursuant to the adoption of legislation that establishes a higher education accountability framework.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 514, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions


text: The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development shall consult with the commission in the development by the office of its Health Manpower Plan and recommendations for meeting the needs in California for health science personnel. This consultation shall focus on whether health science education enrollment levels are adequate to meet the state’s health manpower needs by category and specialty within each category.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 44. Effective January 1, 1996.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions


text: The commission may delegate to the executive director any power, duty, purpose, function, or jurisdiction that the commission may lawfully delegate, including the authority to enter into and sign contracts on behalf of the commission. The executive director may redelegate any of those powers, duties, purposes, functions, or jurisdictions to his or her designee, unless by statute, or rule or regulation, the executive director is expressly required to act personally.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 45. Effective January 1, 1996.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. General Provisions