BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 716
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
716 (Low)
As Introduced February 25, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Higher |12-0 |Medina, Baker, Bloom, | |
|Education | |Harper, Irwin, | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |
| | |Linder, Low, | |
| | |Santiago, Weber, | |
| | |Williams | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bloom, Bonta, | |
| | |Calderon, Chang, | |
| | |Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Quirk, Rendon, | |
| | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Defines "supplanting" for purposes of California State
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University (CSU) special sessions (extended education) to mean
"reducing the number of state-supported course offerings while
increasing the number of self-supporting versions of that course";
requires each campus to ensure any course required as a condition
of state-supported undergraduate degree completion to be offered
as a state-supported course; and, prohibits a campus from
requiring a state-supported student to enroll in an extended
education course in order to fulfill a graduation requirement.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires CSU to establish tuition/fees adequate to meet the cost
of maintaining "special sessions" (extension courses/programs)
and defines "special sessions" to mean self-supporting
instructional programs conducted by CSU, including, but not be
limited to, career enrichment and retraining programs; and,
2)Establishes Legislative intent that extension programs may be
provided throughout the year, and shall not supplant regular
course offerings available on a non self-supporting basis during
the regular academic year.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, CSU indicates no additional costs, as the bill is
consistent with its current policies.
COMMENTS: Background. Under the CSU Extended and Continuing
Education Program, campuses offer baccalaureate and graduate
degree programs, certificates, and many forms of specialized
education and training for business, industry, and government.
While the composition of campus extended education programs varies
considerably, most maintain common instructional elements,
including allowing nonmatriculated students to enroll in courses,
pay self-support fees and earn university academic credit. Many
campus extended education programs are conducted during times when
regular academic operations are recessed.
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Concern over CSU use of extension. During California's budget
crisis funding reductions to CSU resulted in fewer state-supported
course offerings. CSU also increased extended education
programming. Because demand for some state-supported courses
exceeded availability, some students enrolled in extended
education courses to meet graduation requirements. Financial aid
programs generally do not cover the higher priced extended
education costs, and concerns were raised about the impact of
forcing matriculated CSU students to take extended education
courses in order to graduate. These concerns led the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) to request an audit of CSU's
use of extended education programming.
Audit of CSU Extended Education. In December 2013, the Bureau of
State Audits (BSA) released an audit report concerning extended
education in CSU and the supplanting of state-supported courses.
BSA found difficulty in determining the extent to which
"supplanting" occurred due to lack of clarity in the term. The
BSA audit considered two interpretations of supplanting: 1) a
campus could not require a student to enroll in a self-supported
course as the only path to their degree; and, 2) the plain meaning
definition of replacing a state-supported section with an
extension section. In analyzing campus course data for fiscal
years 2007-08 through 2011-12, BSA found potential instances of
supplanting under both definitions. BSA recommended that the
Legislature provide direction regarding the interpretation of
supplanting, and provided several recommendations to the CSU
Chancellor's Office regarding oversight and compliance of campus
extension program activities.
CSU Executive Order (EO) 1099. In response to the BSA audit, the
CSU Chancellor's Office (CO) established an Extended Education
State Audit Task Force to develop a definition of supplanting and
make recommendations. The Task Force included five campus
presidents, four faculty members, two provosts, two extended
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education representatives, and two Office of the Chancellor
representatives. The Task Force solicited comments/feedback from
the CSU community, and has held meetings open to the public to
discuss definition options. The final recommendations of the Task
Force were presented to the Chancellor; on June 9, 2014, the
Chancellor issued EO 1099 relating to extended education. The CSU
indicates the definition contained in this bill is consistent with
their current EO.
Analysis Prepared by:
Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN:
0000204