California Assembly Bill AB2302 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2302AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 20, 2010 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 17, 2010 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 1, 2010 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 28, 2010 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fong  (   Principal coauthor:   Assembly Member   John A Perez   )  (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bradford, Carter, Chesbro, Davis, De Leon, Furutani, Huber, Ma, Portantino, Ruskin, Torlakson, V. Manuel Perez, and Yamada) (Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Correa, and Padilla) FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to  amend, repeal, and add Section 66739.5 of, and to add Sections 66721.4 and 66721.8 to,   add Sections 66721.4, 66721.8, and 66739.6 to  the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2302, as amended, Fong. Postsecondary education: student transfer. (1) Existing law, the Donahoe Higher Education Act, establishes the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. These segments include the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. A provision of the act applies to the University of California only to the extent that the regents, by resolution, make that provision applicable. Existing provisions of the act require the governing bodies of the 3 public postsecondary segments, with appropriate consultation with the academic senates of the respective segments, to develop, maintain, and disseminate a common core curriculum in general education courses for the purposes of transfer. This provision requires that a person who has successfully completed the transfer core curriculum is to be deemed to have completed all lower division general education requirements for the University of California and the California State University. Existing law requires the governing board of each community college district to direct the appropriate officials at their respective campuses to provide students with a copy of the current transfer core curriculum and to distribute and publish copies of the transfer core curriculum in a specified manner and in specified locations. This bill would require the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to work together to establish the most effective methods to inform students, college advisers, and the general public about specified transfer pathways. The bill would require the final methods to be completed prior to the beginning of the fall term of the 2011-12 academic year and included as part of a specified report.  The bill would authorize community college districts to use the methods established by the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to inform community college students of the California State University majors that are considered to be similar to community college majors or areas of emphasis required to obtain an associate degree for transfer.  (2) Existing law requests the University of California, among other things, to address deficiencies in the articulation of major preparation courses between the community colleges and University of California campuses, to identify commonalities and differences in similar majors across University of California campuses, to articulate courses and course sequences at each campus of the California Community Colleges for specified major degree programs for purposes of student transfer, and to conduct a specified review of transcripts of transfer students. This bill would request the University of California to continue those efforts with a goal of working in collaboration with the California Community Colleges to design community college transfer degrees that provide students adequate preparation for entry into a major. The bill would also request the University of California to consider and implement other specified actions to increase transfer between the university and the California Community Colleges. The bill would require the University of California to provide an interim report on the university's review, and a final report on the university's implementation, of specified transfer pathways to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature by specified dates. (3) Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California State University to establish transfer student admissions requirements to give highest priority to certain transfer students, to specify lower division transfer curriculum for specified major degree programs, and to articulate courses at each campus of the California Community Colleges for specified major degree programs for purposes of student transfer. Existing law requires each campus of the California State University to identify nonelective course requirements beyond systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements for each major for purposes of student transfer, in accordance with prescribed requirements.  This bill would make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2011, and would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2012.  This bill would require the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges  , in a manner that is consistent with the general common course numbering system used by community college districts,  to establish a process to facilitate the identification of courses that satisfy lower division preparation requirements throughout the California Community College system, which would be required to be included as part of a specified report. (4) This bill would provide that it would not become operative unless SB 1440 of the 2010-11 Regular Session is chaptered. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 66721.4 is added to the Education Code, to read: 66721.4. (a) The California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall work together to establish the most effective methods to inform students, college advisers, and the general public about the associate degree for transfer and specific details that help students navigate this transfer pathway, as successfully as possible, pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745). The methods established by the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall include, but not be limited to, Internet notification. The final methods determined by the two segments shall be completed prior to the beginning of the fall term of the 2011-12 academic year and included as part of the report required by subdivision (a) of Section 66749. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that community college students  are   be  informed of the California State University majors that are considered to be similar to community college majors or areas of emphasis required to obtain an associate degree for transfer pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745).  (c) A community college district may use the methods established by the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, pursuant to subdivision (a), or a community college district may use other methods to inform community college students of the California State University majors that are considered to be similar to community college majors or areas of emphasis required to obtain an associate degree for transfer pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745).   (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges not mandate community college districts to perform any new state reimbursable activity or program for purposes of implementing this section.  SEC. 2. Section 66721.8 is added to the Education Code, to read: 66721.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that a transparent process for transfer that is designed to assist students in identifying and taking the community college courses that will prepare them for success in specific University of California majors is a state priority. (b) The Legislature recognizes that, pursuant to Section 66721.7, the University of California has been working with the California Community Colleges to examine and seek improvements to the transfer process. It is the intent of the Legislature that, as part of this ongoing effort, the creation of various viable pathways to transfer, including the development of an associate degree for transfer granted by community college districts, be considered by the University of California as it endeavors to enhance the transfer process. (c) The University of California is requested to continue its examination of articulation of lower division major prerequisites in high-demand transfer majors with a goal of working in collaboration with the California Community Colleges to design community college transfer degrees that provide students adequate preparation for entry into a major. The University of California is also requested to consider offering guaranteed eligibility for admission into a University of California campus that accepts a designated community college transfer degree for admission into a designated University of California major. Further, the University of California is requested to implement pathways to qualify community college transfer courses for a designated University of California major by designating a series of community college courses that provide sufficient lower division preparation for a designated University of California major and that will be accepted by the University of California. (d) The University of California is requested to provide an interim progress report on its review of the various transfer pathways discussed in this section to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before June 30, 2011, and  to provide a final report to those committees, with specific findings regarding the University of California's implementation of those transfer pathways,  by  no later than December 31, 2011.  SEC. 3.   Section 66739.5 of the Education Code is amended to read: 66739.5. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The California Master Plan and supporting statutes place utmost importance on the effective transfer of community college students to the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) as a means of providing access to the baccalaureate degree. (2) In 2002, CSU enrolled 55,000 transfer students from community colleges. (3) Two out of three students who earn CSU baccalaureate degrees begin in a community college. (4) Effective use of state and student time and resources would be maximized by students accruing fewer unrequired units in earning their degrees. (5) Additional access to community colleges and CSU will be created by higher graduation rates and fewer nonessential units taken. (6) The state budget situation makes it urgent to streamline the path of the transfer student to the baccalaureate degree. (b) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to ensure that community college students who wish to earn the baccalaureate degree at CSU are provided with a clear and effective path to this degree. (c) This section shall not be construed to limit in any way the ability of students to gain admission through alternative paths to transfer, such as the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements. (d) On or before February 1, 2005, the Chancellor of CSU shall establish transfer student admissions requirements that give highest priority to transfer students who are qualified in accordance with subdivision (f) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (g). (e) (1) CSU campuses admitting students qualified in accordance with subdivision (f) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (g) will make it possible for these students to complete their baccalaureate degree in the minimum number of remaining units required for that degree major. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, the "minimum number of remaining units" is the minimum number of units required for a degree major after subtracting the number of fully degree-transferable units earned at the community college. (f) The Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of CSU, shall establish the following components necessary for a clear degree path for transfer students: (1) On or before June 1, 2005, the Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of CSU and with the faculty responsible for each high-demand baccalaureate degree major program, shall specify for each high-demand baccalaureate program major a systemwide lower division transfer curriculum composed of at least 45 semester course units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, that will be common across all CSU campuses offering specific major programs. (2) (A) The systemwide lower division transfer curriculum for each high-demand baccalaureate degree major program shall be composed of at least 45 semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, and shall include all of the following: (i) General education courses. (ii) Any other lower division courses required for graduation. (iii) Lower division components of the student's declared major. (iv) Elective units, as appropriate. (B) The coursework described in subparagraph (A) shall be designated by the CSU faculty responsible for the student's major degree program. (3) The systemwide lower division transfer curriculum shall be specified in sufficient manner and detail so that existing and future community college lower division courses may be articulated, according to the usual procedures, to the corresponding CSU courses or course descriptions. (g) (1) On or before June 1, 2006, the Chancellor of CSU and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges, shall articulate those lower division, baccalaureate-level courses at each campus of the California Community Colleges that meet for each degree major the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f). (2) To the extent that the goals of efficiency and urgency are advanced, existing articulation procedures such as the California Articulation Number (CAN) program shall be employed. (3) On or before June 1, 2006, each CSU campus shall have identified any additional specific, nonelective course requirements beyond the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements for each major, up to a maximum of 60 semester units or the quarter-unit equivalent, for the systemwide and campus-specific requirements combined. To the extent these additional course requirements are identified, each CSU campus shall provide that information to all community colleges. (4) The Chancellor of CSU shall amend CSU's transfer admissions procedures to encourage prospective community college transfer students to identify and, to the extent possible, commit to, a specific CSU transfer destination campus before earning more than 45 semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, of lower division, baccalaureate-level courses, as described in subdivision (f). (h) As allowed by enrollment demand and available space, each CSU campus shall develop a transfer admission agreement with each student who intends to meet the requirements of this section, including the declaration of a major and identification of a choice of a destination campus, before earning more than 45 systemwide semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent. The transfer admission agreement shall guarantee admission to the campus and major identified in that agreement and transfer of all 60 semester units, or the quarter-unit equivalent, as creditable to the baccalaureate degree, subject to the student's meeting the following conditions: (1) Completion of the 60 semester units of college-level coursework, or the quarter-unit equivalent, specified for the student' s major degree program. (2) Declaration of a major. (3) Satisfactory completion of the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum requirements for the student's declared major. (4) Satisfactory completion of any requirements beyond the systemwide lower division transfer curriculum that are specified by the CSU destination campus. (5) Any impaction criteria for that campus or major. (i) A CSU campus shall guarantee that the transfer students admitted under this section will be able to complete the baccalaureate degree in the minimum number of course units required for that degree. (j) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2011, and, as of January 1, 2012, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.   SEC. 4.   Section 66739.5 is added to the Education Code, to read: 66739.5. (a) The Office of the Chancellor of the California   SEC. 3.   Section 66739.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:   66739.6.   In a manner that is consistent with Section 71027, the Office of the Chancellor of the California  Community Colleges shall establish a process to facilitate the identification of courses that satisfy lower division preparation requirements throughout the California Community College system. (b) A description of the process established by the Office of the Chancellor  of the California Community Colleges  to comply with subdivision (a) shall be included as part of the report required by subdivision (a) of Section 66749. (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that community college districts accept credits from other community college districts toward an associate degree for transfer. (d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2011.  SEC. 5.   SEC. 4.  This act shall become operative only if Senate Bill 1440 of the 2010-11 Regular Session is chaptered.