BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: ACR 71
AUTHOR: Weber
AMENDED: August 19, 2013
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: September 10,
2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Kathleen Chavira
SUBJECT : Africana studies programs.
SUMMARY
This bill makes findings and declarations regarding the
origins, history, and impact, and expresses the support of
the Legislature for the continuation of, Africana studies
departments, programs, and related projects in California's
institutions of higher education.
BACKGROUND
Current law authorizes the California State University
Trustees to establish the Center for African-American
Educational Excellence and Achievement at California State
University Dominguez Hills and outlines the purpose and
mission of the Center to further the education of students
and develop pedagogical materials, procedures, and programs
to increase the learning skills of African Americans.
(Education Code § 89430-§ 89436)
ANALYSIS
This bill :
1) Makes a number of findings and declarations regarding
the origins, relationship to the Civil Rights Movements,
history, and impacts of Africana studies departments and
programs.
2) Resolves that the Legislature:
a) Endorses the invaluable work of
California's Africana studies, departments,
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programs, and related projects and their faculty,
staff, and students.
b) Recognizes that the leadership
provided by beneficiaries of these programs has
contributed to the academic rigor, prominence, and
distinguishing qualities of California colleges and
universities and the vitality of other public and
private institutions.
c) Supports the continuation of these
studies, departments, programs and related projects
in California's institutions of higher education.
3) Directs the distribution of the resolution to the
University of California Regents, the California State
University Trustees, the Board of Governors of the
California Community Colleges and the author, for
appropriate distribution.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the resolution . According to the author, this
resolution is necessary to highlight the role and
significance that Africana Studies plays both
historically and currently. In addition, the resolution
highlights the importance of the work of California's
Africana Studies department, programs, and their
faculty, staff and students and acknowledges that these
programs have been the model and inspiration for other
ethnic, gender, and social education programs throughout
the United States.
2) Related events . Earlier this year, due to declining
enrollment in their Africana Studies department and
overall budgetary constraints, the California State
University Long Beach (CSULB) announced its intent to
designate the Africana studies department as an academic
program. In response to concerns raised by Legislators
and the Legislative Black Caucus, the Chancellor of the
CSU has announced that the decision to consolidate the
Africana Studies department into an academic program at
CSULB has been put on hold until a new president is in
place at the campus.
In addition, the Budget Act (AB 110, Chapter 20, Budget
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Act of 2013), which was signed by the Governor on June
27, 2013, included language declaring the intent of the
Legislature that California State University, Long Beach
maintain ethnic and women's studies programs at the
2012-13 level. These provisions were deleted by the
Governor, whose veto message read, in pertinent part:
I am deleting Provisions ?? 12 because the requirements
included in these appropriations that the California
State University (CSU) expend funds for various programs
create cost pressures and unnecessary restrictions.
Eliminating these earmarks will give CSU greater
flexibility to manage its resources to meet its
obligations, operate its instructional programs more
effectively, and avoid tuition and fee increases.
3) History of these programs . According to the author,
formal Africana studies programs and departments at
California's universities resulted from student-led
movements dating back to the 1960's. These movements
included demonstrations and student protests, where
students, faculty, and community members demanded
university courses relevant to them and their
communities. The nation's first African American
studies academic program was established in 1968 at San
Francisco State University with Dr. Nathan Hare, known
as the father of Black studies programs in the United
States, as the department chair. Similarly, faculty
members at San Diego State University developed the
first Black studies program in 1972.
Africana studies, also known as Black, Pan-African, or
Afro-American studies, encompasses the origin, history,
culture, experiences, heritage, achievements, and
contributions of Continental Africans and African
Americans, and is comprised of several disciplines
including art, history, humanities, political science,
and history.
4) Current status of Africana studies programs . According
to the UC Office of the President, UC campuses offer
several majors and minors in the field of African and
African American studies. In March of this year, the
faculty of the interdepartmental program major in
Afro-American studies at the Los Angeles campus
submitted a formal proposal for the campus to create the
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Department of African American studies.
According to the California Community College
Chancellor's Office, most campuses offer at least one
African American studies related course. Additionally,
many of the offered courses count towards degree
transfer.
According to the CSU Office of the Chancellor, as of
fall 2012, nine CSU campuses have African American
studies programs. The number of majors range from 7 to
40 across campuses. Additionally, seven CSU campuses
have African American studies embedded within a broader
program. However, from fall 2003 to fall of 2012
undergraduate enrollment in lower division African
American studies has declined by 3 percent. In 2001-02
the CSU conferred 122 Bachelor of Arts degrees in
African American studies, but in 2011-12 only 70
Bachelor of Arts degrees in African American studies
were conferred.
SUPPORT
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
OPPOSITION
None received.