BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 71|
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CONSENT
Bill No: ACR 71
Author: Weber (D), et al.
Amended: 8/19/13 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 8-0, 9/10/13
AYES: Liu, Block, Correa, Hancock, Hueso, Huff, Monning, Torres
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wyland
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 8/19/13
SUBJECT : Africana studies programs
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution 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.
ANALYSIS : Existing law authorizes the California State
University (CSU) Trustees to establish the Center for
African-American Educational Excellence and Achievement at CSU
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.
This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
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1. Endorses the invaluable work of California's Africana
studies, departments, programs, and related projects and
their faculty, staff, and students.
2. 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.
3. Supports the continuation of these studies, departments,
programs and related projects in California's institutions of
higher education.
This resolution directs the appropriate distribution to the
University of California (UC) Regents, the CSU Trustees, the
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (CCC)
and the author.
Comments
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
Department of African American studies.
According to the CCC 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%. 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.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office, 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.
PQ:k 9/11/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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