text: “Instructional faculty,” for purposes of this article, means every member of an institution of public higher education, other than visiting faculty, but including graduate teaching assistants, who teach one or more undergraduate credit courses at a campus of that institution within this state except courses that are designed to be taught predominantly in a world language, and elective, special arrangement courses, such as individualized instruction and independent study courses.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 865, Sec. 29. (AB 2319) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 8. English Proficiency in Higher Education


kind: section

code: EDC

text:
(a) Each institution of public higher education shall evaluate its instructional faculty for oral and written proficiency in the English language in the classroom. In an institution where a majority of the students speak English, if a member of the instructional faculty is unable to demonstrate proficiency in oral or written communication, he or she shall be required to improve oral and written communication skills through courses, workshops, or programs specifically designed for this purpose.

(b) Each institution shall determine its own method or process of evaluating the language proficiency of its faculty.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 200, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.)

division: 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS

part: 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 2. General Provisions

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 2. General Provisions > 8. English Proficiency in Higher Education


text: This article does not apply to the California Community Colleges.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The Legislature requests that the Trustees of the California State University, the Regents of the University of California, and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics and other qualified groups or individuals, develop standards and guidelines, based on standards developed by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, for the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging for professional degree programs at the associate, bachelor, and graduate levels, including those programs in gerontology, nursing, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, professional clinical counseling, and the rehabilitation therapies. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require any additional coursework requirements for professional degree programs.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 381, Sec. 19. (SB 146) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 2. General Provisions > 9. Standards and Guidelines for a Curriculum in Gerontology and Geriatrics in Higher Education


text:
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Investor-owned energy utilities” means the state’s three largest electrical corporations, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code, and each gas corporation, as defined in Section 222 of the Public Utilities Code, of the state.

(2) “Local publicly owned energy utility” means a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code, or a local publicly owned gas utility.

(3) “Partnership” means the statewide institutional partnership between the California State University, the University of California, and investor-owned energy utilities.

(4) “University” means the University of California and the California State University.

(b) The Regents of the University of California are requested to, and the California State University shall, consider aligning their greenhouse gas reduction goals with those of the partnership and the state by doing all of the following:

(1) Expanding participation in the partnership to include the university facilities served by local publicly owned energy utilities that choose to participate, and seeking the assistance of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission in requesting the participation of those local publicly owned energy utilities.

(2) Evaluating activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency based upon adherence to the Public Utilities Commission’s energy efficiency and savings protocols, if applicable, including, but not limited to, deep energy efficiency and eligible renewable energy resources, subject to applicable funding.

(3) Wherever feasible, utilizing whole-building, or whole-campus, meter-based verification.

(4) Developing an administrative framework that can be utilized by the partnership, to the extent allowable by the funding source, to allocate any future funding from the state or other sources for energy projects or projects for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

(c) This section does not affect the eligibility of a university to receive resources from federal, state, and local government, or from public utilities or other sources through the partnership, and to leverage those resources.

(d) Funds associated with an investor-owned energy utility shall be used in compliance with Public Utilities Commission requirements at the university facilities within the service territory of the investor-owned energy utility.

(e) As a condition to participation in the expanded partnership, a university shall report to each investor-owned energy utility or local publicly owned energy utility the annual reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases from the expanded partnership at all university facilities within that utility’s service territory, by a mutually agreed upon date.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 597, Sec. 2. (AB 1150) Effective January 1, 2016.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 2. General Provisions > 10. University Energy Efficiency Partnership


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

(1) California’s colleges and universities have traditionally been beacons of free thought that challenge students in a peaceful, safe environment. Its institutions of higher education have always been of great pride to the State of California.

(2) With great risks presented by changes to immigration policies and enforcement at the federal level, it is more important than ever to work to protect the students, faculty, staff, and the public, and ensure that, regardless of their immigration status, they can continue to take advantage of the education to which they are entitled, and are free from intimidation or loss of access to resources and programs that other students enjoy.

(3) It is imperative that California put necessary protections in place, and show it will take the necessary steps to ensure that the state’s students, faculty, staff, and the public have every opportunity to continue their education without fear or undue risk.

(4) In doing so, California reaffirms the principles that the attainment of education for the betterment of the individual and the community is paramount, regardless of one’s immigration status. It is in the country’s best interests, as a nation of immigrants, which has benefited greatly from immigrants of all walks and backgrounds, to ensure that those who pursue educational and academic growth may further contribute to the productivity of this great state and nation.

(b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enact the policies set forth in Section 66093.3 to ensure that California’s public and private institutions of higher education strive to foster a campus community that is safe, welcoming for all, and provides access to services and supports for all students, faculty, and staff regardless of their immigration status.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 488, Sec. 1. (AB 21) Effective January 1, 2018.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 2. General Provisions > 11. Access to Higher Education for Every Student


text:
(a) For purposes of this section, “institution” means a California State University or a University of California campus.

(b) The Trustees of the California State University shall, and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, in addition to complying with subdivision (j) of Section 66093.3, do all of the following:

(1) If an undocumented student is subject to immigration enforcement activity, ensure that the undocumented student’s inability to satisfy the student’s academic requirements at the institution due to immigration enforcement activity does not affect the student’s qualification for the exemption from paying nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5, provided the student meets the requirements described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 68130.5.

(2) Ensure that staff and the designated Dreamer Resource Liaison at the institution assist undocumented students in accessing all financial aid and academic resources available to undocumented students.

(3) Adopt a systemwide policy addressing course grades, administrative withdrawal, and reenrollment for undocumented students who are unable to attend their courses by the final drop date due to immigration enforcement activity. The systemwide policy shall include a timeframe during which a student withdrawn for nonattendance is reenrolled and retains the same academic status they held before their withdrawal, upon submitting written confirmation of their intent to return to the institution.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 668, Sec. 1. (SB 307) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 11. Access to Higher Education for Every Student


text:
(a) The Trustees of the California State University, the governing board of each community college district in the state, and each independent institution of higher education that is a qualifying institution as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7, shall, and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, do all of the following to the fullest extent consistent with state and federal law:

(1) Refrain from disclosing personal information about students, faculty, and staff except: (A) with the consent of the person identified, or if the person is under 18 years of age, with the consent of the parent or guardian of the person identified; (B) as may legally be disclosed under state and federal privacy laws; (C) for the programmatic purpose for which the information was obtained; (D) as part of a directory that does not include residence addresses or individual persons’ course schedules and that the person has not elected to opt out of; or (E) in response to a judicial warrant, court order, or subpoena.

(2) Advise all students, faculty, and staff to notify the office of the chancellor or president, or their designee, as soon as possible, if they are advised that an immigration officer is expected to enter, will enter, or has entered the campus to execute a federal immigration order.

(3) If there is reason to suspect that a student, faculty, or staff person has been taken into custody as a result of an immigration enforcement action, the college or university, as soon as possible, shall notify the person’s emergency contact that the person has been taken into custody.

(4) Comply with a request from an immigration officer for access to nonpublic areas of the campus only upon presentation of a judicial warrant. This paragraph shall not apply to an immigration officer’s request for access or information related to the operation of international student, staff, or faculty programs, employment verification efforts, or other nonenforcement activities.

(5) Advise all students, faculty, and staff responding to or having contact with an immigration officer executing a federal immigration order, to refer the entity or individual to the office of the chancellor or president, or their designee, for purposes of verifying the legality of any warrant, court order, or subpoena.

(6) Designate a staff person to serve as a point of contact for any student, faculty, or staff person who may or could be subject to an immigration order or inquiry on campus. Unless the disclosure is permitted by state and federal education privacy law, faculty and staff persons shall be prohibited from discussing the personal information, including immigration status information, of any student, faculty, or staff person with anyone, or revealing that personal information to anyone. This paragraph shall not be construed as requiring a college or university to hire staff to fulfill the requirements of this paragraph.

(7) Maintain a contact list of legal services providers who provide legal immigration representation, and provide it free of charge to any and all students who request it. The list shall include, but not be limited to, the organization’s name and contact number, email address, and office address.

(8) Adopt and implement, by March 1, 2019, the model policy developed by the Attorney General or an equivalent policy pursuant to the California Values Act (Chapter 17.25 (commencing with Section 7284) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), limiting assistance with immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law.

(9) (A) Post on its internet website in a conspicuous location, and provide via email quarterly or each semester to all students, faculty, and staff:

(i) A copy of the policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (8).

(ii) Guidance informing them of their rights under state and federal immigration laws and how to respond to a federal immigration action or order.

(B) Update the information posted on its internet website pursuant to subparagraph (A) as often as is necessary to reflect any changes to federal and state immigration laws and university or college policies and procedures.

(10) In the event that an undocumented student is subject to a federal immigration order, ensure that all of the following occur:

(A) In the event that an undocumented student is detained, deported, or is unable to attend to the student’s academic requirements due to the actions of an immigration officer in relation to a federal immigration order, the college or university shall make all reasonable efforts to assist the student in retaining any eligibility for financial aid, fellowship stipends, exemption from nonresident tuition fees, funding for research or other educational projects, housing stipends or services, or other benefits the student has been awarded or received, and permit the student to be reenrolled if and when the student is able to return to the college or university. It is the intent of the Legislature that, in implementing this paragraph, California colleges and universities make reasonable and good faith efforts to provide for a seamless transition in a student’s reenrollment and reacquisition of campus services and supports.

(B) That staff is available to assist, in a sensitive manner, undocumented students, and other students, faculty, and staff who may be subject to a federal immigration order or inquiry, or who may face similar issues, and whose education or employment is at risk because of federal immigration actions.

(C) (i) All students, faculty, staff, and campus community members who work on campus are notified when the presence of immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus.

(ii) A notice provided pursuant to clause (i) shall include all of the following:

(I) The date and time the immigration enforcement was confirmed.

(II) The location of the confirmed immigration enforcement.

(III) A hyperlink to additional resources, including the information posted on its internet website pursuant to paragraph (10).

(iii) A notice provided pursuant to clause (i) shall not include any personally identifiable information.

(b) (1) Each campus of the California Community Colleges, of the California State University, and of each independent institution of higher education that is a qualifying institution as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7 shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, notify all students, faculty, staff, and other campus community members who work on campus when the presence of immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus, to the fullest extent consistent with state and federal law.

(2) A notice provided pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include all of the following information:

(A) The date and time the immigration enforcement was confirmed.

(B) The location of the confirmed immigration enforcement.

(C) A hyperlink to additional resources, including the information posted on its internet website pursuant to paragraph (9) of subdivision (a).

(3) A notice provided pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not include any personally identifiable information.

(c) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Immigration enforcement” includes any and all efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal civil immigration law, and also includes any and all efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal criminal immigration law that penalizes a person’s presence in, entry, or reentry to, or employment in, the United States.

(2) “Immigration officer” means any state, local, or federal law enforcement officer who is seeking to enforce immigration law.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 124, Sec. 8. (SB 98) Effective September 20, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, by its own provisions.\n See later operative version added by Sec. 9 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 124.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The Trustees of the California State University, the governing board of each community college district in the state, and each independent institution of higher education that is a qualifying institution as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7, shall, and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, do all of the following to the fullest extent consistent with state and federal law:

(a) Refrain from disclosing personal information about students, faculty, and staff except: (1) with the consent of the person identified, or if the person is under 18 years of age, with the consent of the parent or guardian of the person identified; (2) as may legally be disclosed under state and federal privacy laws; (3) for the programmatic purpose for which the information was obtained; (4) as part of a directory that does not include residence addresses or individual persons’ course schedules and that the person has not elected to opt out of; or (5) in response to a judicial warrant, court order, or subpoena.

(b) Advise all students, faculty, and staff to notify the office of the chancellor or president, or their designee, as soon as possible, if they are advised that an immigration officer is expected to enter, will enter, or has entered the campus to execute a federal immigration order.

(c) If there is reason to suspect that a student, faculty, or staff person has been taken into custody as a result of an immigration enforcement action, the college or university, as soon as possible, shall notify the person’s emergency contact that the person has been taken into custody.

(d) Comply with a request from an immigration officer for access to nonpublic areas of the campus only upon presentation of a judicial warrant. This subdivision shall not apply to an immigration officer’s request for access or information related to the operation of international student, staff, or faculty programs, employment verification efforts, or other nonenforcement activities.

(e) Advise all students, faculty, and staff responding to or having contact with an immigration officer executing a federal immigration order, to refer the entity or individual to the office of the chancellor or president, or their designee, for purposes of verifying the legality of any warrant, court order, or subpoena.

(f) Designate a staff person to serve as a point of contact for any student, faculty, or staff person who may or could be subject to an immigration order or inquiry on campus. Unless the disclosure is permitted by state and federal education privacy law, faculty and staff persons shall be prohibited from discussing the personal information, including immigration status information, of any student, faculty, or staff person with anyone, or revealing that personal information to anyone. This subdivision shall not be construed as requiring a college or university to hire staff to fulfill the requirements of this subdivision.

(g) Maintain a contact list of legal services providers who provide legal immigration representation, and provide it free of charge to any and all students who request it. The list shall include, but not be limited to, the organization’s name and contact number, email address, and office address.

(h) Adopt and implement, by March 1, 2019, the model policy developed by the Attorney General or an equivalent policy pursuant to the California Values Act (Chapter 17.25 (commencing with Section 7284) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), limiting assistance with immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law.

(i) (1) Post on its internet website in a conspicuous location, and provide via email quarterly or each semester to all students, faculty, and staff:

(A) A copy of the policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (h).

(B) Guidance informing them of their rights under state and federal immigration laws and how to respond to a federal immigration action or order.

(2) Update the information posted on its internet website pursuant to paragraph (1) as often as is necessary to reflect any changes to federal and state immigration laws and university or college policies and procedures.

(j) In the event that an undocumented student is subject to a federal immigration order, ensure that both of the following occur:

(1) In the event that an undocumented student is detained, deported, or is unable to attend to the student’s academic requirements due to the actions of an immigration officer in relation to a federal immigration order, the college or university shall make all reasonable efforts to assist the student in retaining any eligibility for financial aid, fellowship stipends, exemption from nonresident tuition fees, funding for research or other educational projects, housing stipends or services, or other benefits the student has been awarded or received, and permit the student to be reenrolled if and when the student is able to return to the college or university. It is the intent of the Legislature that, in implementing this paragraph, California colleges and universities make reasonable and good faith efforts to provide for a seamless transition in a student’s reenrollment and reacquisition of campus services and supports.

(2) That staff is available to assist, in a sensitive manner, undocumented students, and other students, faculty, and staff who may be subject to a federal immigration order or inquiry, or who may face similar issues, and whose education or employment is at risk because of federal immigration actions.

(k) For purposes of this article, “immigration officer” means any state, local, or federal law enforcement officer who is seeking to enforce immigration law.

(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2031.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 8) and added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 124, Sec. 9. (SB 98) Effective September 20, 2025. Operative January 1, 2031, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to affirm the ability of the University of California to provide services, benefits, and assistance to all students enrolled at the University of California.

(b) The University of California may provide services, benefits, and any other form of assistance aimed at furthering a student’s educational success to all of its enrolled students who meet the eligibility requirements for any such program the University, or its campuses, establishes.

(c) The Legislature finds and declares that this section is a state law within the meaning of subdivision (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 426, Sec. 29. (AB 1840) Effective September 17, 2018.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: A fund in the State Treasury is hereby created, to be known as the Capital Outlay Fund for Public Higher Education. All money in the Capital Outlay Fund for Public Higher Education, including any money deposited in said fund from any source whatsoever after the effective date of this chapter, shall be available, when appropriated by the Legislature, for expenditure for capital outlay purposes relating to public higher education including, but not limited to, acquisition of sites and construction of new institutions of public higher education thereon.

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

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 3. Capital Outlay Fund

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 3. Capital Outlay Fund


text: The Director of Finance shall cause all moneys in the fund which are in excess of current requirements to be invested and reinvested from time to time in securities described in Section 16430 of the Government Code, and such securities may be sold or exchanged if in his opinion such sale or exchange is in the best interests of the state in effectuating the purposes of this chapter. All income derived from such investment, reinvestment, sale, or exchange shall be credited to the fund.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

(a) “Student body organization” means an entity formed or operating pursuant to Section 89300 or a student body organization that is established at a campus of the University of California.

(b) “Student-imposed athletics fee” means a fee proposed by the governing body of a student body organization, and imposed or increased pursuant to approval by a vote of a majority of the registered students voting in an election at a campus, branch, or location of the California State University or the University of California, for the purposes of supporting intercollegiate athletics programs at that institution.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 724, Sec. 28. (AB 1610) Effective October 19, 2010.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 3.5. Student-Imposed Athletics Fees

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 3.5. Student-Imposed Athletics Fees


text:
(a) The Trustees of the California State University shall not, and the Regents of the University of California are requested not to, allocate any student-imposed athletics fees that are collected from registered students for purposes of supporting intercollegiate athletics programs for any purpose that is not in amounts that are not approved pursuant to the election approving the fees.

(b) At the end of each academic year, the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, refund to each feepaying student a pro rata share of any portion of the student-imposed athletics fee that is collected and is not allocated for the approved purposes during that academic year.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 71. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
It is the intent of the Legislature that each resident of California who has the capacity and motivation to benefit from higher education should have the opportunity to enroll in an institution of higher education. Once enrolled, each individual should have the opportunity to continue as long and as far as his or her capacity and motivation, as indicated by academic performance and commitment to educational advancement, will lead him or her to meet academic standards and institutional requirements.

The Legislature hereby reaffirms the commitment of the State of California to provide an appropriate place in California public higher education for every student who is willing and able to benefit from attendance.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1198, Sec. 11.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 4. Admissions

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4. Admissions


text: It is the intent of the Legislature that both the University of California and the California State University shall seek to maintain an undergraduate student population composed of a ratio of lower division to upper division students of 40 to 60 percent. Consistent with Section 66201, it is the intent of the Legislature that the University of California and the California State University reach and maintain this goal by instituting programs and policies that seek to increase the number of transfer students rather than by denying places to eligible freshmen applicants.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1198, Sec. 12.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The Regents of the University of California are requested to, and the Trustees of the California State University shall, require each campus in their respective systems to develop a process through which a student admitted to full-time undergraduate status may apply to defer his or her enrollment for up to one academic year. The decision as to whether to grant the deferral of the enrollment may be made, at the discretion of the affected university, on a case-by-case basis.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 355, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the following categories be followed, insofar as practicable in the following numerical order, for the purpose of enrollment planning and admission priority practice at the undergraduate resident student level for the California State University and the University of California:

(1) Continuing undergraduate students in good standing.

(2) California Community College transfer students who have successfully concluded a course of study in an approved transfer agreement program.

(3) Other California Community College students who have met all of the requirements for transfer.

As stated in legislative findings, the transfer function plays a key role in meeting the state’s goals of educational equity. Therefore, the Board of Regents of the University of California and the Board of Trustees of the California State University shall declare as policy for this paragraph and paragraph (2) of this subdivision that students who are eligible to transfer and who are from historically underrepresented groups or economically disadvantaged families shall be given preference, to the fullest extent possible under state and federal law, statutes, and regulations, in transfer admissions decisions, and shall design policies in conformity with state and federal statutes and regulations intended to facilitate their success in achieving transfer.

(4) Other qualified transfer students.

(5) California residents entering at the freshman or sophomore levels.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that within each of the preceding enrollment categories, the following groups of applicants receive priority consideration in admissions practice in the following order:

(1) Residents of California who are recently released veterans of the armed forces of the United States.

(2) Transfers from California public community colleges.

(3) Applicants who have been previously enrolled at the campus to which they are applying, provided they left this institution in good standing.

(4) Applicants who have a degree or credential objective that is not generally offered at other public institutions of higher learning within California.

(5) Applicants for whom the distance involved in attending another institution would create financial or other hardships.

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature that those veterans referred to in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) who were enrolled in good standing at a campus of the University of California or at one of the California State Universities prior to military service receive priority over other veterans recently released from military service.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1188, Sec. 2.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The State of California reaffirms its historic commitment to ensure adequate resources to support enrollment growth, within the systemwide academic and individual campus plans to accommodate eligible California freshmen applicants and eligible California Community College transfer students, as specified in Sections 66202 and 66730.

The University of California and the California State University are expected to plan that adequate spaces are available to accommodate all California resident students who are eligible and likely to apply to attend an appropriate place within the system. The State of California likewise reaffirms its historic commitment to ensure that resources are provided to make this expansion possible, and shall commit resources to ensure that students from enrollment categories designated in subdivision (a) of Section 66202 are accommodated in a place within the system. In addition, transfer students from paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 66202, shall be accommodated at the campus or major of choice specified in the redirection agreement, the approved transfer program or written agreements, unless these majors have been declared “impacted.” For impacted majors, students shall be given the opportunity to have access to the major when spaces become available, and new freshmen shall be admitted to the major in a controlled manner to ensure that all transfer students described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 66202 have an equitable chance of being accommodated. It is the intent of the Legislature to fund programs designed to accomplish the purposes of this subdivision through appropriations made in the Budget Act to the public institutions of higher education, and the annual Budget shall contain appropriations necessary to accommodate all students from all of the categories designated in subdivision (a) of Section 66202.

The segments may, in implementing these enrollment plans and admissions practice priorities, consider the overall needs of students in maintaining a balanced program and a quality curriculum, and are expected to consider the state’s goals of educational equity and racial and ethnic diversity of students and faculty in the planning and management of their admissions practices. It is further the intent of the Legislature that campus enrollment planning processes provide for the equitable treatment of the following: (1) all eligible entering freshmen; (2) continuing students in good standing; and (3) eligible community college transfer students with regard to accommodation in majors.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 34. Effective January 1, 1996.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The California State University and the University of California shall keep a record of the applicants denied admission and develop and utilize an information collection system which indicates the number of qualified applicants who could not be accommodated at their campus of first choice and were redirected to campuses of alternate choice and the number of qualified redirected applicants who declined an offer of admission to an alternate campus.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 143, Sec. 49.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall assist all school districts to ensure that all public high school pupils have access to a core curriculum that meets the admission requirements of the University of California and the California State University. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall advise school districts that maintain high schools about the importance of making readily available to each high school pupil the current list of courses offered by the school attended by that pupil that are certified by the University of California as meeting admissions requirements. It is the intent of the Legislature that each public high school shall provide the full precollegiate program, provide adequate course sections in precollegiate programs to accommodate all its pupils, and regularly counsel pupils to enter those programs and courses. There shall be no policy or practice in any public elementary or secondary school of directing, especially for cultural or linguistic reasons, any pupil in kindergarten or any of the grades 1 to 12, inclusive, away from choosing programs that prepare that pupil academically for college.

(b) The University of California is requested to assist each school district that maintains a high school in order to ensure all of the following:

(1) School districts understand the process by which courses are submitted to the University of California to be reviewed and certified as meeting admission requirement criteria.

(2) School districts have an internal process for developing courses and submitting courses for review and certification by the University of California in order to meet admission requirement criteria.

(3) School districts maintain accurate lists of courses that are currently offered by the high schools and are certified by the University of California as meeting admission requirement criteria.

(4) Updated lists described in paragraph (3) are readily made available by the school districts to each high school pupil and a copy of that list is annually provided to each high school pupil.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the public and independent institutions of higher education participate in programs that assist those in elementary and secondary education in meeting their responsibilities in preparing students for college.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 320, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) In determining the standards and criteria for undergraduate and graduate admissions to the University of California and the California State University, it is the intent of the Legislature that the governing boards do all of the following:

(1) Develop processes which strive to be fair and are easily understandable.

(2) Consider the use of criteria and procedures that allow students to enroll who are otherwise fully eligible and admissible but who have course deficiencies due to circumstances beyond their control, and, when appropriate, provide that the admission requires the student to make up the deficiency.

(3) Consult broadly with California’s diverse ethnic and cultural communities.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of California and the California State University, pursuant to Section 66201.5, seek to enroll a student body that meets high academic standards and reflects the cultural, racial, geographic, economic, and social diversity of California.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1198, Sec. 14.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) The California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, on or after October 1, 2025, begin work on all of the following:

(1) (A) Establishing a model uniform set of academic standards for high school courses and college-level coursework taken for credit at a California public college or university by pupils simultaneously enrolled in high school, including career technical education courses pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 51220, for the purposes of recognition for admission to the California State University and to the University of California, respectively. In developing the model academic standards, the faculty of the postsecondary segments may work in consultation with administrators and faculty from schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Participating schools that maintain kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, shall consult with an advisory group that shall include, but need not be limited to, representatives from all of the following:

(i) The University of California and the California State University.

(ii) Business and industry, related to career technical programs in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(iii) Classroom teachers in career technical education.

(iv) School administrators.

(v) Parents.

(B) It is the intent of the Legislature that the model academic standards provide clarity as to their applicability to a given course to ensure suitability for electronic transmission of coursework to and between California’s public education systems and CaliforniaColleges.edu.

(C) It is the intent of the Legislature that high school pupils and individuals enrolled in adult education programs who are also enrolled in transfer-level community college courses for which they receive credit have those courses recognized for admissions purposes by the California State University and University of California.

(2) Developing and implementing a speedy process whereby high schools may obtain approval of their courses to satisfy specified admissions requirements of the California State University and the University of California, respectively, by January 1, 2006. The approval process shall, by August 1 of each school year, notify applying schools whether the application for approval has been approved or denied.

(3) Developing a simple procedure to evaluate a career technical education course submitted by a high school that identifies it as a duplicate of a course offered by another high school that is approved by and satisfies the admissions criteria of the California State University or the University of California. The procedure shall ensure that a duplicated course shall be approved as satisfying the admissions criteria of the California State University or the University of California, respectively, to the same extent as the original course if the review determines that the course successfully duplicates the content and requirements of the original course. If a course is not approved as a duplicate, the California State University or the University of California shall inform the applicant high school of the reasons why the course was not approved and shall provide the applicant with a specific list of requirements that the course must meet in order to be approved as a duplicate. In the event an applicant high school, whose course was not approved as a duplicate, revises the course and resubmits its application, the California State University or the University of California shall respond as expeditiously as possible so that if the course meets the necessary requirements for approval it may be offered in the next fall term.

(4) Taking into consideration any previous work completed or policies adopted regarding matters related to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, by the California State University or the University of California, respectively.

(5) Developing guidelines for high school computer science courses that may be approved for the purposes of recognition for admission, as provided in paragraph (1). For computer science courses determined to satisfy mathematics subject area requirements, the University of California is encouraged to ensure that these courses build upon fundamental mathematics content provided in courses that satisfy the requirements of subdivision (b).

(6) Posting on its internet website the model uniform set of academic standards for the purpose of recognition for admission to the California State University and the University of California developed pursuant to paragraph (1).

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the academic standards for a high school course, adopted pursuant to and for purposes outlined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), are aligned with the standards developed pursuant to Section 60605.8.

(c) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall post on its internet website the model uniform set of academic standards for college-level coursework taken for credit at a California public college or university for the purposes of recognition for admission to the California State University and the University of California developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 745, Sec. 2. (SB 148) Effective October 13, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) Subject to availability of funds in the annual Budget Act, the availability of federal or private funds, or any combination thereof, the Regents of the University of California are requested to establish and maintain the University of California Curriculum Integration Institute (UCCII) to be administered by the President of the University of California. The Institute shall accomplish all of the following:

(1) Facilitate statewide collaboration and innovation among secondary level teachers, faculty, and instructors from various disciplines from the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, private higher education institutions, and statewide career technical education associations in providing California pupils career-oriented, integrated academic and technical education content in a manner that provides pupils with opportunities to experience the application of subject matter content within high-priority industry sectors among those identified in the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards as adopted by the state board.

(2) Develop, disseminate, and promote career-oriented, integrated academic and technical education courses that meet course requirements for admission to the University of California and the California State University, and align with high-priority industry sectors among those identified in the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards as adopted by the state board.

(b) For purposes of subdivision (a), the President of the University of California shall determine the priority among the industry sectors in consultation with, but not limited to, educators, industry leaders, representatives of organized labor, and appropriate state entities.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Regents of the University of California are requested to establish procedures and forms to administer the institute only if the regents, by resolution, make these provisions applicable.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 631, Sec. 2. (SB 611) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
The California State University and the University of California are requested to carry out all of the following responsibilities:

(a) If the department or another state agency develops a model career technical education curriculum that integrates academic and technical knowledge and skills, designate qualified representatives to offer their expertise in the development and establishment of that curriculum. This model curriculum shall incorporate provisions of the curriculum developed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 51220, as appropriate.

(b) If a school district or other local educational agency with schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, offers students an integrated model curriculum developed pursuant to subdivision (a), designate qualified representatives to offer their expertise to teachers and administrators in the delivery of that curriculum. School districts or other local educational agencies are also encouraged to seek the expertise of an advisory group that may include representatives from all of the following:

(1) Business and industry, related to career technical programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(2) Classroom teachers in career technical education.

(3) School administrators.

(4) The California State University and the University of California.

(5) Parents.

(c) On or before July 1, 2011, develop an online resource that lists the academic and technical courses offered at each of the 109 community colleges in this state that, when completed by high school students, satisfy one of the subject area requirements of the “a-g” admission requirements of the University of California, and link this information to the career technical education Web site pages created in accordance with Section 52499.66.

(d) On or before July 1, 2011, develop an online resource that posts the existence and terms of agreements made between local high schools and individual university campuses that grant university credit or advanced standing to students who complete specified high school pathway programs to study, and link this information to the career technical education Web site pages created in accordance with Section 52499.66.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 650, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or before January 1, 2014, the Trustees of the California State University shall develop and implement a procedure for allowing a student to satisfy a general elective course requirement for purposes of admission to the California State University by completing a high school career technical education course that meets either of the following:

(1) Criteria adopted pursuant to subdivision (b).

(2) Model uniform academic standards for career technical education courses adopted pursuant to Section 66205.5.

(b) (1) The Trustees of the California State University, in consultation with the State Department of Education and in accordance with paragraph (2), shall adopt criteria for the purpose of recognizing career technical education courses adopted pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 51220 that satisfy the completion of general elective course requirements for admission to the university.

(2) (A) The criteria shall be based on the model curriculum standards established pursuant to Section 51226 and any additional criteria that faculty members of the California State University identify as necessary to prepare students for success in coursework unique to a specific major or educational program.

(B) The criteria shall be developed by faculty members of the California State University and shall be subject to approval by the Academic Senate of the California State University. Upon approval, the academic senate shall recommend the criteria to the trustees.

(C) In adopting the criteria, the trustees shall rely primarily on the recommendations and judgment of the academic senate.

(c) The trustees shall adopt regulations, based on recommendations of the academic senate, that identify the majors and educational programs for which completion of a career technical education course that meets the criteria adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) satisfies a general elective course requirement.

(d) The academic senate shall ensure that the criteria adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) are implemented consistently among all campuses of the university.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if, by January 1, 2014, the California State University has not developed a procedure for allowing a student to satisfy the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to the university that satisfies the requirements of subdivision (b), the Trustees of the California State University shall recognize the completion of all high school career technical education courses that meet the model curriculum standards established pursuant to Section 51226 as satisfying the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to the university.

(f) The costs of activities necessary to implement this section shall be covered, to the extent permitted by federal law, by funds available pursuant to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 2301 et seq.), or by other nonstate funds available for the purposes of this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 168, Sec. 1. (SB 147) Effective January 1, 2010.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) If, by July 1, 2008, the University of California has not adopted model uniform academic standards for career technical education courses, pursuant to Section 66205.5, that will satisfy the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to that university, the Regents of the University of California are requested to recognize the completion of all high school career technical education courses that meet the model curriculum standards established pursuant to Sections 51226 and 51226.1 as satisfying the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to that university.

(b) If the Regents of the University of California adopt standards for career technical education courses pursuant to Section 66205.5, the University of California is requested to make those standards publicly available upon their adoption.

(c) If, by July 1, 2008, the California State University has not adopted model uniform academic standards for career technical education courses, pursuant to Section 66205.5, that will satisfy the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to that university, the Trustees of the California State University shall recognize the completion of all high school career technical education courses that meet the model curriculum standards established pursuant to Sections 51226 and 51226.1 as satisfying the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to that university.

(d) If the Trustees of the California State University adopt standards for career technical education courses pursuant to Section 66205.5, the California State University shall make those standards publicly available upon their adoption.

(e) This section shall not apply to any career technical education courses that, as of January 1, 2007, are approved as satisfying the admissions requirements of the University of California or the California State University.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 669, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The Regents of the University of California are requested to, and the Trustees of the California State University shall, upon the request of an applicant for admission, disclose information regarding the methodology used to adjust an applicant’s grade point average.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 627, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) (1) On or before December 1, 2026, and each December 1 thereafter, the University of California is requested to post, in a report on a publicly accessible internet website of the University of California, data on students enrolled in a University of California school of medicine. The data is requested to include, but not be limited to, the total number of all of the following:

(A) Enrolled students.

(B) First-generation students.

(C) Federal Pell Grant recipients.

(D) Multilingual students. The data described in this subparagraph shall be disaggregated by languages other than English that students speak, and shall highlight how many students speak languages that are underrepresented in California’s physician workforce.

(E) Community college transfer students.

(F) Students with membership in a California Indian tribe or federally recognized tribe.

(2) The information posted in a report pursuant to paragraph (1) is requested to include all of the following information:

(A) The total number of applicants to a University of California school of medicine.

(B) Contextual data that the University of California deems relevant to the report.

(C) A breakdown of both of the following:

(i) Postsecondary educational institutions where students received their baccalaureate degrees.

(ii) Sexual orientation and gender identity of students, if available.

(b) The information posted in a report pursuant to subdivision (a) is requested to be disaggregated by campus.

(c) The information posted in a report pursuant to subdivision (a) is requested to be for the academic year in which the report is due.

(d) The information posted in a report pursuant to subdivision (a) is requested to be posted in compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g), and is requested to not include any personally identifiable information for any student.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2035, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 819, Sec. 2. (AB 2080) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2035, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) (1) The Regents of the University of California are requested to, and the Trustees of the California State University shall, require each campus in their respective systems to grant students the right to reenroll in their baccalaureate degree program after withdrawing or stopping out, if the student was in good academic standing with the university.

(2) The student may be required to pay any outstanding tuition and fees to be eligible for reenrollment under this section.

(3) Nothing shall preclude the California State University and the University of California from adopting policies requiring a student to submit transcripts and proof of good academic standing if the student enrolled at another college or university after leaving the respective campus.

(b) For purposes of calculating the student’s real graduation time under a graduation initiative, the California State University and the University of California may omit the semesters or years in which the student was not enrolled in any classes from the student’s time to graduation.

(c) The California State University and the University of California are encouraged to begin outreach programs to students who left campus without completing their baccalaureate degree program, beginning with students closest to graduation.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 323, Sec. 1. (AB 1796) Effective January 1, 2023.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) The CSU Direct Admission Program is hereby established.

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

(1) “California College Guidance Initiative” means the initiative defined in Section 10861 and further authorized pursuant to Section 60900.5.

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

(3) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(4) “Program” means the CSU Direct Admission Program established pursuant to this section.

(5) “University participant” means a campus of the California State University that is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) to participate in the CSU Direct Admission Program.

(c) (1) The chancellor shall designate one or more campuses of the California State University as university participants in the program.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the chancellor designate each campus of the California State University with available enrollment capacity to be a university participant.

(d) (1) Upon the implementation of transcript-informed pupil accounts for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, on the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform, the reporting available on the platform shall be used to provide the data required to determine eligibility for the program.

(2) A local educational agency that complies with paragraph (3) of subdivision (g) of Section 60900 and offers transcript-informed pupil accounts for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, on the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform, as specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 60900, shall participate in the program.

(3) Direct admission eligibility shall include, but not be limited to, the coursework completed by the end of grade 11. This shall include on-track completion of A–G courses and a qualifying A–G California State University grade point average.

(4) All pupils in grade 12 who are enrolled in a participating local educational agency are hereby designated as applicants to the California State University for the purpose of making direct admissions offers.

(e) On or before the opening of the fall semester priority application filing period of each year, the California College Guidance Initiative, on behalf of the California State University, shall transmit a letter of direct admission, under the chancellor’s signature, to each pupil enrolled in a participating local educational agency who satisfies the eligibility requirements described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) that notifies the pupil that they have been directly admitted. The letter shall describe the enrollment procedures the pupil needs to complete in order to successfully enroll.

(f) Upon accepting an offer of admission to one of the university participants pursuant to this section, a pupil shall complete the necessary procedures to enroll at the university participant.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 421, Sec. 1. (SB 640) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text:
(a) The Office of Emergency Services shall develop guidelines for campuses of the University of California and the California State University to use in developing emergency evacuation plans for all forms of student housing owned, operated, and offered by the university, both on campus and off campus. In developing the guidelines, the Office of Emergency Services shall consider Sections 3.09 and 3.13 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations. The guidelines shall address all of the following issues:

(1) Plan content. The plans should include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(A) Specific evacuation routes that recognize the needs of persons with special needs, such as persons with disabilities.

(B) The designation of a meeting place or places upon evacuation.

(C) The education of students and staff in emergency procedures.

(2) The implementation and maintenance of the evacuation plan by the director of student housing, or other appropriate officer, at the individual campuses. The director, or other appropriate officer, is responsible for scheduling periodic tests of the plan and implementing changes as needed.

(b) Each campus of the University of California and the California State University shall establish an emergency evacuation plan for its postsecondary student housing and may consult with the Office of Emergency Services for guidance in developing and establishing the plan.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 75. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.1. Emergency Evacuation Plans for Postsecondary Student Housing


text:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that in order to close the degree gap by 2030, an estimated 251,000 additional degree completions at the University of California and 481,000 additional degree completions at the California State University will be required above the current projected degree completions.

(b) (1) On or before July 1, 2022, the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the Office of the President of the University of California is requested to, do both of the following:

(A) Conduct a needs assessment to determine the projected student housing needs, by campus, for the 2022–23 fiscal year to the 2026–27 fiscal year, inclusive, taking into account the projected enrollment growth and the goal of closing the degree gap.

(B) Create a student housing plan, with a focus on affordable student housing, that outlines how they will meet the projected student housing needs, by campus, identified pursuant to subparagraph (A). The student housing plan shall include the specific actions to be taken for the 2022–23 fiscal year to the 2026–27 fiscal year, inclusive.

(2) Every three years after July 1, 2022, the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the Office of the President of the University of California is requested to, review and update the student housing plan described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), and include the specific actions to be taken in the next five fiscal years.

(c) For purposes of this section, “degree gap” means the gap between the number of highly educated workers that California’s future economy will need and the number the state is on pace to produce.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 571, Sec. 1. (AB 1377) Effective January 1, 2022.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 4.2. Student Housing Plans

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.2. Student Housing Plans


text: This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Veteran and California National Guard Supplemental Orientation Act of 2023.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 801, Sec. 1. (AB 322) Effective January 1, 2024.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.3. Veteran and California National Guard Supplemental Orientation Act of 2023


text:
(a) Commencing no later than the 2025–26 academic year, each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, include within first-year student and transfer student orientations the location and contact information of the campus point of contact for students who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States and members of the California State Guard and the California National Guard, and their dependents.

(b) Commencing no later than the 2025–26 academic year, each campus point of contact described in subdivision (a) at the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus point of contact described in subdivision (a) at the University of California is requested to, develop a document that includes, at a minimum, information on polices, resources, and services, including, but not limited to, counseling, for students described in subdivision (a) and their dependents.

(c) Commencing no later than the 2025–26 academic year, each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, make the document described in subdivision (b) available in hard copy form at the location of the campus point of contact described in subdivision (a), and post the document, along with other information available to students described in subdivision (a) and their dependents, on the campus’s internet website.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 4.3. Veteran and California National Guard Supplemental Orientation Act of 2023


text: This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Equity in Higher Education Act.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 569, Sec. 34. Effective January 1, 2008.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

chapter: 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act

article: 1. Title and Declaration of Purpose

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act > 1. Title and Declaration of Purpose


text: It is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons, regardless of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other basis that is contained in the prohibition of hate crimes set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 422.6 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights and opportunities in the postsecondary educational institutions of the state. The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies for the commission of those prohibited acts.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 779, Sec. 1. (SB 183) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Title and Declaration of Purpose


text:
(a) All students have the right to participate fully in the educational process, free from discrimination and harassment. Existing law, pursuant to Section 66270, provides that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code, or any other characteristic that is contained in the prohibition of hate crimes set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 422.6 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by any postsecondary educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid.

(b) California’s postsecondary educational institutions have an affirmative obligation to combat discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality or national identity, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code, or any other characteristic that is contained in the prohibition of hate crimes set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 422.6 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity.

(c) Harassment directed at an individual on the basis of actual or perceived characteristics or status may create a hostile environment and jeopardizes equal educational opportunity as guaranteed by the California Constitution and the United States Constitution.

(d) There is an urgent need to prevent and respond to acts of discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality or national identity, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code, or any other characteristic that is contained in the prohibition of hate crimes set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 422.6 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, that are occurring at an increasing rate in California’s postsecondary educational institutions.

(e) There is an urgent need to teach and inform students about their rights, as guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions, in order to increase students’ awareness and understanding of their rights and the rights of others, with the intention of promoting tolerance and sensitivity in postsecondary educational institutions and in society as a means of responding to potential harassment and violence caused by discrimination.

(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that each postsecondary educational institution undertake educational activities to counter discriminatory incidents on campus and, within constitutional bounds, to minimize and eliminate a hostile environment on campus that impairs the access of students to equal educational opportunity.

(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that each postsecondary educational institution undertake supportive measures to help students who have encountered harassing or discriminatory incidents, regardless of the location of the harassing or discriminatory incident, to ensure students’ access to equal educational opportunities.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature that each postsecondary educational institution address all forms of bias as part of their affirmative obligation to address discrimination on campus.

(i) It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter shall be interpreted as consistent with Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 11135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d, et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681, et seq.), Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), the federal Equal Educational Opportunities Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1701, et seq.), the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the Civil Code), and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except where this chapter may grant more protections or impose additional obligations, and that the remedies provided in this chapter shall not be the exclusive remedies, but may be combined with remedies that may be provided by the above statutes.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 844, Sec. 1. (AB 2925) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 1. Title and Declaration of Purpose


text: The definitions in this article shall govern the use of the terms defined for purposes of this chapter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 914, Sec. 49. Effective January 1, 1999.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act > 2. Definitions


text: “Disability” includes mental and physical disability as defined in Section 12926 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 569, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2008.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status,” includes a perception that the person has any of those characteristics or that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 779, Sec. 2. (SB 183) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Gender” means sex, and includes a person’s gender identity and gender expression. “Gender expression” means a person’s gender-related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 719, Sec. 10. (AB 887) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Governing board” means the governing board of a community college.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Nationality” or “national identity” includes a person’s actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, citizenship, or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity. Discrimination against Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, or Buddhist students, or students of another religious group, when the discrimination involves racial, ethnic, or ancestral slurs or stereotypes, constitutes discrimination on the basis of nationality or national identity.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 844, Sec. 2. (AB 2925) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Postsecondary educational institution” means a public or private institution of vocational, professional, or postsecondary education; the governing board of a community college district; the Regents of the University of California; or the Trustees of the California State University.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Race or ethnicity” includes ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 569, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 2008.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Religion” includes all aspects of religious belief, observance, and practice and includes agnosticism and atheism. “Discrimination on the basis of religion” includes, but is not limited to, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 844, Sec. 3. (AB 2925) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text:
(a) (1) “Sexual harassment” has the same meaning as defined in Section 212.5 and includes sexual battery, sexual violence, and sexual exploitation.

(2) Sexual harassment of students is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Section 66270.

(b) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Sexual violence” means physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person without the person’s affirmative consent, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 67386. Physical sexual acts include both of the following:

(A) Rape, defined as penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any part or object, or oral copulation of a sex organ by another person, without the consent of the victim.

(B) Sexual battery, as defined in paragraph (2).

(2) “Sexual battery” means the intentional touching of another person’s intimate parts without consent, intentionally causing a person to touch the intimate parts of another without consent, or using a person’s own intimate part to intentionally touch another person’s body without consent.

(3) “Sexual exploitation” means a person taking sexual advantage of another person for the benefit of anyone other than that person without that person’s consent, including, but not limited to, any of the following acts:

(A) The prostituting of another person.

(B) The trafficking of another person, defined as the inducement of a person to perform a commercial sex act, or labor or services, through force, fraud, or coercion.

(C) The recording of images, including video or photograph, or audio of another person’s sexual activity or intimate parts, without that person’s consent.

(D) The distribution of images, including video or photograph, or audio of another person’s sexual activity or intimate parts, if the individual distributing the images or audio knows or should have known that the person depicted in the images or audio did not consent to the disclosure.

(E) The viewing of another person’s sexual activity or intimate parts, in a place where that other person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, without that person’s consent, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 303, Sec. 2. (SB 493) Effective January 1, 2021.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “Sexual orientation” means a person’s physical, emotional, and romantic attraction to other people. “Sexual orientation” includes, but is not limited to, heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, and pansexuality.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 490, Sec. 1. (SB 1491) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “State financial assistance” has the same meaning as defined in Section 213.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text: “State student financial aid” has the same meaning as defined in Section 214.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 2. Definitions


text:
(a) It is the policy of the State of California, pursuant to Section 66251, that all persons, regardless of their race, color, or national origin, should enjoy freedom from discrimination of any kind, including harassment based on a person’s actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, or citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion, as described in Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d, et seq.), in the postsecondary educational institutions of the state.

(b) (1) The California Community Colleges, the California State University, independent institutions of higher education that receive state financial assistance, and private postsecondary educational institutions that receive state financial assistance shall, and the University of California is requested to, include training to address discrimination against the five most targeted groups in the state, as determined pursuant to paragraph (2), as part of any general antidiscrimination training or diversity, equity, and inclusion training that is offered by the institution, except any trainings targeted to solely address discrimination based on specific groups, including, but not limited to, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

(2) To determine the five most targeted groups in the state, postsecondary educational institutions shall refer to the subcategory bias motivations with the highest number of events, as provided in Table 1 of the annual “Hate Crime in California” publication by the Attorney General, which reports hate crime data required to be submitted to the Attorney General by law enforcement agencies pursuant to Section 13023 of the Penal Code.

(c) The training required pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be incorporated into the sexual violence and sexual harassment prevention training required pursuant to Section 67385.7.

(d) This section does not preclude the trainings required pursuant to subdivision (b) from incorporating discrimination against groups that are not listed in the five most targeted groups in the state. Trainings offered pursuant to subdivision (b) are encouraged to promptly address incidents of discrimination against one or more particular groups on the respective campus, especially groups that historically underreport incidents, even if they are not among the five most targeted groups in the state.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that all general antidiscrimination trainings and diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings address the complex and cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect, especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 844, Sec. 4. (AB 2925) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Prohibition of Discrimination

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act > 3. Prohibition of Discrimination


text: No person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code or any other characteristic that is contained in the prohibition of hate crimes set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 422.6 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by any postsecondary educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 779, Sec. 3. (SB 183) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Prohibition of Discrimination


text: Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a postsecondary institution to offer admission or student financial aid to a person excluded from the term “immigrant,” for purposes of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101), pursuant to paragraph (15) of subdivision (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, as that paragraph exists on January 1, 2019. However, students granted status pursuant to subparagraphs (T) or (U) of paragraph (15), as specified, shall not be subjected to discrimination in admission or financial aid on the basis of immigration status. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to change a student’s eligibility for state financial aid.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 296, Sec. 20. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2022.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Prohibition of Discrimination


text:
(a) As used in this section “hostile environment” means unwelcomed conduct based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or disability status, that based on the totality of circumstances, is subjectively and objectively offensive, and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from a campus’s education program or activity.

(b) The Trustees of the California State University and the Regents of the University of California have the primary responsibility to prevent and address conduct that either creates a hostile environment for students on campus, or results in differential treatment of students on campus based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or disability status.

(c) The Trustees of the California State University shall do all of the following:

(1) Adopt rules and procedures in the student codes of conduct to provide all of the following elements:

(A) Prohibit violent, harassing, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct that creates a hostile environment on campus.

(B) Prohibit conduct that limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the free exchange of ideas or the educational mission of the California State University.

(C) Establish reasonable content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions, and, if applicable, any advance permitting requirements for protests on campus.

(2) Adopt rules and procedures to take reasonable steps to respond to each incident described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) that creates a hostile environment on campus.

(3) Require each campus to publish on the campus’s internet website the time, place, and manner restrictions, and any advance permitting requirements for protests on campus.

(4) Develop mandatory training programs to educate students on all of the following:

(A) What constitutes violent, harassing, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct that creates a hostile environment on campus, and the procedures for investigating violations of the student code of conduct.

(B) When and where protests and gatherings may be held, including the difference between public fora, limited public fora, nonpublic fora, and private property, consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.

(C) How to exchange views in an atmosphere of mutual respect and civility.

(5) Require, as a condition of enrollment at a California State University campus, each student attending the campus to acknowledge the campus’s student code of conduct.

(d) The Trustees of the California State University and each California State University campus shall ensure that any policy adopted or enforced pursuant to this section, as applicable, is consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution, and Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d et seq.).

(e) (1) On or before January 2, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Trustees of the California State University shall submit a report to the Legislature on the implementation and administration of this section. This report shall include information on student code of conduct violations relating to incidents described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).

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

(f) The University of California is requested to comply with this section.

(g) This section is intended to be interpreted consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.

(h) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 62. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Prohibition of Discrimination


text: This chapter shall not apply to an educational institution that is controlled by a religious organization if the application would not be consistent with the religious tenets of that organization.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 66270.5 by Stats. 2007, Ch. 569, Sec. 45. Effective January 1, 2008.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Prohibition of Discrimination


text: The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the Regents of the University of California may, adopt regulations as required by law to implement this chapter.

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3. Prohibition of Discrimination


text:
(a) The Trustees of the California State University and the governing board of each community college district shall designate an employee at each of their respective campuses as a point of contact for the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex, and two-spirit faculty, staff, and students at the respective campus. At a minimum, the name and contact information of that designated employee shall be published on the internet website for the respective campus, and shall be included in any printed and online campus directories.

(b) An employee designated as a campus point of contact pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be considered a responsible employee for purposes of Section 66281.8. An employee designated as a campus point of contact pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not disclose confidential information provided to them by faculty, staff, or students about any alleged act of sexual harassment, sexual violence, or discrimination without the prior written consent of the person who provided the information to the designated employee.

(c) (1) Notice provided to an employee designated as a campus point of contact pursuant to subdivision (a), or a service provided by the designated employee, pursuant to this section regarding an alleged act of sexual harassment, sexual violence, or discrimination, shall not be construed as actual or constructive notice to the public postsecondary educational institution of that alleged act for purposes of investigations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681, et seq.).

(2) Paragraph (1) shall only be construed in a manner that is consistent with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681, et seq.).

(d) The University of California is requested to comply with this section. This section shall apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make it applicable.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 490, Sec. 2. (SB 1491) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act > 3.5. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equity in Higher Education


text: The Legislative Analyst is encouraged to conduct an assessment of the California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California systems with respect to the quality of life at those campuses for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender faculty, staff, and students at the campuses of each of those institutions. If an assessment is performed, the Legislative Analyst is encouraged to use existing data provided pursuant to Section 66027 and other information available to the general public, and shall not be required to conduct new data collection or research specifically to contribute toward any assessment. The Legislative Analyst shall make recommendations to each of those institutions based on that assessment, and shall publish a summary of the recommendations developed pursuant to this section on its Internet Web site. The California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California are encouraged to share existing data or research, but are not required to conduct new data collection or research specifically to contribute toward any assessment managed by the Legislative Analyst pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 637, Sec. 5. (AB 620) Effective January 1, 2012.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 3.5. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equity in Higher Education


text:
(a) For purposes of this section, “public postsecondary educational institution” or “institution” means a campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges.

(b) (1) If a public postsecondary educational institution receives government-issued documentation, as described in subdivision (c), from a former student demonstrating that the former student’s legal name or gender has been changed, the institution shall update the former student’s records to include the updated legal name or gender. If requested by the former student, the institution shall reissue any documents conferred upon the former student with the former student’s updated legal name or gender. Documents that shall be reissued by the institution upon request include, but are not necessarily limited to, a diploma conferred by the institution.

(2) An institution shall not charge a higher fee for correcting, updating, or reissuing a document based on a legal name or gender change than the fee it charges for correcting, updating, or reissuing that document generally.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law in conflict with this paragraph, except Section 67400, an institution may use a student’s gender or legal name as indicated in a government-issued identification document only if it is necessary to meet a legally mandated obligation, but otherwise shall identify the student in accordance with the student’s gender identity and affirmed name.

(c) The documentation of a former student sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change includes, but is not necessarily limited to, any of the following:

(1) State-issued driver’s license or identification card.

(2) Birth certificate.

(3) Passport.

(4) Social security card.

(5) Court order indicating a name change or a gender change, or both.

(d) This section does not require the institution to modify records that the former student has not requested for modification or reissuance.

(e) Commencing with the 2023–24 graduating class, an institution shall provide an option for a graduating student to request that the diploma to be conferred by the institution list the student’s chosen name. Commencing with the 2023–24 graduating class, an institution shall not require a graduating student to provide legal documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change in order to have the student’s chosen name be the sole name listed on the student’s diploma.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 222, Sec. 1. (AB 760) Effective January 1, 2024.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION


text: The provisions of this article are supplemental to any provision in the Constitution or laws of the United States or laws of the State of California, relating to discrimination.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 914, Sec. 49. Effective January 1, 1999.)

title: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

article: 4. Sex Equity in Education

path: 3. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION > 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS > 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT > 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act > 4. Sex Equity in Education