BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 292
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Date of Hearing: July 5, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Marty Block, Chair
SB 292 (Padilla) - As Amended: June 28, 2011
SENATE VOTE : 38-0
SUBJECT : Public postsecondary education: community colleges:
transfers.
SUMMARY : Provides for clarifications for issues that have
arisen during the implementation of the Student Transfer
Achievement Reform Act (STAR program). Specifically, this bill :
1)Clarifies that students who complete the requirements outlined
for a degree for transfer under the STAR program are granted
priority in enrollment over all other California Community
College (CCC) transfer students, consistent with the current
statutorily outlined enrollment planning and admission
priorities.
2)Clarifies that students admitted under the provisions
established by the STAR program are deemed to have met the
requirements for an approved transfer agreement consistent
with the provisions of Education Code.
3)Requires CCCs to accept credits earned at other CCCs toward
the associate degree for transfer, established under the STAR
program.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes, under SB 1440 (Padilla, Chapter 428, Statutes of
2010), the STAR program which requires a CCC district to grant
an associate degree that deems the student eligible for
transfer into the California State University (CSU), subject
to specified requirements, and requires the CSU to guarantee
admission with junior status to CCC students meeting those
requirements. Additionally, CCC districts are encouraged, but
not required, to facilitate the acceptance of credits earned
at other CCCs toward the degree for transfer.
2)Declares the Legislature's intent that, for UC and CSU
undergraduates, enrollment planning and admission priority, to
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the extent practicable, follow the following order:
a) Continuing undergraduate students in good standing.
b) CCC transfer students who have successfully concluded a
course of study in an approved transfer agreement program.
c) Other CCC students who have met all of the requirements
for transfer.
d) Other qualified transfer students.
e) California residents entering at the freshman or
sophomore levels.
3)Requires UC and CSU to establish policies that give preference
(to the fullest extent possible under state and federal law,
statutes, and regulations) in transfer admissions decisions to
historically underrepresented groups or economically
disadvantaged family in transfer admissions decisions.
4)Declares Legislative intent that within each of the
aforementioned enrollment categories, priority consideration
in admissions be granted to groups in this order:
a) Residents of California who are recently released
veterans of the armed forces of the United States.
b) Transfers from CCCs.
c) Applicants who have been previously enrolled at the
campus, to which they are applying, provided they left the
institution in good standing.
d) Applicants who have a degree or credential objective
that is not generally offered at other public institutions
of higher learning within California.
e) Applicants for whom the distance involved in attending
another institution would create financial or other
hardships.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to Senate Appropriations Committee,
pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
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COMMENTS : This bill provides clean-up and clarification for
issues that have arisen during the implementation of SB 1440.
According to the author, this bill is intended to ensure that SB
1440 is implemented in a manner consistent with Legislative
intent. This bill proposes two primary clarifications to SB
1440 and the STAR program:
1)Transfer degree priority admission : SB 1440 granted priority
for the purposes of enrollment planning and admissions to CSU
for CCC students who complete the STAR program degree for
transfer. This bill clarifies that these students shall be
granted priority consistent with the priorities outlined in
existing law. According to the author this provision is
necessary to ensure that veterans continue to receive the
priority provided under existing law.
2)CCC acceptance of credits : According to the author, SB 1440
intended for CCC campuses and districts to ensure reciprocity
in the acceptance of credits. SB 1440 encouraged, but did not
require, CCC campuses to facilitate the acceptance of credits
earned at other CCC campuses. However, at SB 1440
implementation task force meetings this issue has arisen as a
point of contention; and the author believes that it is
necessary to add language to the statute mandating CCC
reciprocity in the acceptance of credits.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Advancement Project
Alliance for a Better Community
Bay Area Council
California Business Roundtable
California Catholic Conference, Inc.
California Chamber of Commerce
California Communities United Institute
California Postsecondary Education Commission
California State Students Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Central City Neighborhood Partners
College Summit
Families in Schools
Girls Incorporated of Orange County
Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
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Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Huntington Park College Ready Academy High School
Long Beach Community College District
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
North Bay Leadership Council
Parent Institute for Quality Education
Project Grad Los Angeles
Stanislaus County Office of Education
The Institute for College Access and Success
Valley Industry and Commerce Association
Opposition
None on File
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960