BILL ANALYSIS Ķ
AB 736
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 23, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Das Williams, Chair
AB 736 (Fox) - As Amended: April 15, 2013
SUBJECT : California State University: Antelope Valley Campus.
SUMMARY : Requires the Chancellor of the California State
University (CSU) to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of
establishing a CSU satellite program and independent campus in
the Antelope Valley and requires the CSU Chancellor to complete
and submit the study to the CSU Trustees within 18 months after
the date that the Trustees have certified that sufficient
non-state funds are available to conduct the study.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the Chancellor of the CSU to conduct a study
regarding the feasibility of a CSU satellite program, and
ultimately, an independent CSU campus in the Antelope Valley.
2)Provides that the study shall include:
a) Ten-year enrollment projections and physical capacity
analysis;
b) Regional workforce needs;
c) Prospective economic impact and job creation in the
region;
d) Infrastructure availability;
e) The potential alleviation of overcrowding and traffic at
the Bakersfield and Northridge campuses;
f) Considerations of plausible alternatives;
g) Academic planning and program justification;
h) Description of proposed student services and student
outreach programs;
i) Support and capital outlay budget projections;
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j) Geographic and physical accessibility;
aa) Environmental and social impact; and,
bb) Effect on other institutions.
3)Provides that the feasibility study should be derived solely
from non-state sources.
4)Specifies that the Chancellor shall complete and submit the
study to the CSU Trustees within 18 months after the date the
CSU Trustees certify sufficient non-state funds are available
to conduct the study.
5)Requires that if the CSU Trustees determine there is a need
for a new campus or satellite campus in the Antelope Valley,
the Trustees shall conduct a formal study identical in content
to the study of a proposed new postsecondary educational
program that would have been conducted by the California
Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC).
6)Defines "Antelope Valley" as the cities of California City,
Lancaster; and Palmdale, and the United States Census
Designated Places including but not limited to, Quartz Hill,
Littlerock, Pearlblossom, Lake Los Angeles, Lake Hughes, Green
Valley, Leona Valley, Wrightwood, North Edwards, Rosamond,
Mojave, North Edwards, Boron, Piņon Hills, and Phelan.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Declares the intent of the Legislature that sites for new
institutions or branches of the CSU shall not be authorized or
acquired unless recommended by CPEC and that CPEC should
advise the Legislature and the Governor regarding the need
for, and location of, new institutions and campuses of public
higher education (Education Code § 66900 and § 66904).
2)Establishes the CSU administered by the Board of Trustees, and
provides that the Trustees shall have the full power over the
construction and development of any CSU campus and any
buildings or other facilities or improvements (EC § 89030, et
seq.).
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
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COMMENTS : Need for the bill . According to the author's office
many of the postsecondary students in the Antelope Valley are
not able to travel to the neighboring CSU campuses to obtain
their four-year degrees and thus not continuing their education
due to lack of access to a public four-year institution in the
community. The author contends that the closest CSU campuses to
the Antelope Valley [CSU at Northridge (CSUN) and CSU at
Bakersfield (CSUB)] are approximately one to two and half hours
away by car and public transportation is only available for a
commute to CSUN at $26.00 round trip.
Background . According to the most recent U. S. Census Bureau
data, Antelope Valley is one of the fastest growing regions in
California with 85% growth in population in twenty years. A
regional community initiative led by the Antelope Valley Board
of Trade to obtain approval for a state polytechnic four-year
university in the Antelope Valley was launched in 2008.
According to a March 2013 report by the Antelope Valley Board of
Trade, a new four-year university needs to be developed, from
the existing CSUB, CSUN, CSU at Long Beach, and Cal Poly Pomona
activities currently being conducted in the High Desert (also
referred as the Antelope Valley) region of Southern California
to address the need for engineers, medical, and other technical
professionals. According to the report, a precedent has been
set by technology testing in the High Desert, the abundance of
technological industries, the physical attributes of the region,
and the projected student population growth of the area more
than justify the evolution of a much needed four-year public
campus in the Antelope Valley.
According to the report, there are approximately 18,500
full-time equivalent students currently enrolled in
postsecondary institutions in the Antelope Valley; approximately
half of the students attend private for-profit and non-profit
institutions. Additionally, the report found that student
enrollments in engineering that feed the Antelope Valley
Engineering Program (a pre-engineering career pathway with
partnerships with local high school districts and CSUB and CSU
at Fresno) are increasing at both Antelope Valley College and at
Cerro Coso Community College, but due to budget short falls
these campuses have not been able to add much needed additional
class sections to accommodate the growth increases.
The California State University at Bakersfield - Antelope Valley
Regional Center (CSUB-AV) . CSUB-AV opened in 2000 on the campus
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of Antelope Valley College and is fully accredited by the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges. However, CSUB-AV
currently offers only eight undergraduate degrees and five
graduate degrees. Most of the degrees presently offered do not
appear to align with the workforce demands in the Antelope
Valley.
CPEC . There is currently no coordinating entity for higher
education in California. Existing law establishes CPEC to be
responsible for coordinating public, independent, and private
postsecondary education in California and to provide independent
policy analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the
Governor on postsecondary education issues. However, CPEC's
budget and responsibilities were reduced over time, casting
doubt on its effectiveness and triggering calls for its
restructuring. The Budget Act of 2011 deleted funding and
personnel from CPEC and asked the Legislative Analyst's Office
(LAO) to make recommendations on the structure and duties of a
statewide higher education coordinating body for California.
CPEC shut down in Fall 2011, transferring its federal Teacher
Quality Improvement grant program to the California Department
of Education and extensive data resources to the California
Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
Previous legislation . AB 24 (Block, 2009), which was vetoed by
Governor Schwarzenegger, proposed a study regarding the
feasibility of establishing a CSU satellite program and campus
at Chula Vista. AB 500 (Conway, 2009), which died in the Higher
Education Committee, was virtually identical to this measure
except called for a CSU campus in the high desert. SCR 92
(Peace), Resolution Chapter 104, Statutes of 1998, resolved that
the Legislature endorse a proposed City site for possible future
use as a UC campus.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
AB 736
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Analysis Prepared by : Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960