BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2786 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair AB 2786 (Chávez) - As Amended April 21, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Higher Education |Vote:|13 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill requires the Trustees of the California State University (CSU), and requests the Regents of the University of California (UC), to offer to eligible students an agreement guaranteeing that a student who meets certain conditions may AB 2786 Page 2 complete a baccalaureate degree within four academic years. Specifically, this bill requires the guarantee to include the following: 1)A student scoring above an as-yet unspecified percentile on a standardized college readiness test shall be presumed eligible. 2)A student scoring below the percentile in (a) but above another as-yet unspecified percentile may take a test of the institution's choice and the institution shall establish a cut-off for eligibility of such students. 3)Be executed before the end of the student's first semester or quarter. 4)Outline a general pathway of the student's coursework. 5)Each campus is to determine the latest possible time when the student must declare a major, but no later than fall semester of the student's sophomore year. 6)The student must attend full-time and maintain academic standards equivalent to Cal Grant program academic requirements. 7)Participating students are to be granted priority for enrollment for each course of the pathway outlined in their agreement. 8)A student meeting all their requirements under the agreement, and who through no fault of their own, is unable to complete their bachelor's degree within the guaranteed period shall pay no tuition to take the courses required to complete their degree. FISCAL EFFECT: AB 2786 Page 3 1)CSU indicates that all 23 campuses have roadmaps for students and provide information about what students need to do to finish a degree in four years, but only four campuses (Fresno, Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, and San Bernardino) have programs similar to what is proposed in this bill. Administrative costs to replicate this model at the other 19 campuses would be in the range of $1.5 million. There would be lost revenue to the extent students do not have to pay tuition due to the inability to get course in a timely manner. CSU notes that at least three other campuses have discontinued their programs due to low student participation. 2)UC's four-year graduation rate for the most recent cohort is 64%, which UC indicates is well above the national average for comparable institutions. UC Merced, which has a significantly lower rate is considering an initiative to create a four-year contract with interested students. UC Riverside has also explored ways to increase its lower-than-average graduation rate. UC is undertaking several efforts to increase four-year graduation rates. Any additional efforts would likely be done outside specific parameters of this bill and costs would be absorbed by the respective campuses. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, "given the recent trends in rising tuition costs, the conclusions to be made are that students are having a hard time graduating in four years and are paying more for it." AB 2786 Page 4 2)CSU encourages all students who wish to graduate in four years to take advantage of CSU's four-year degree programs, which each campus has developed. Participating students must: (a) arrive with sufficient English and mathematics skills; (b) declare a major at the time of admission (or shortly thereafter) and not change majors; (c) enroll in at least 15 units per semester; (d) fulfill all academic, grade, and coursework requirements; (e) meet with an academic advisor on a regular basis; (f) follow required administrative and academic policies and procedures; and (g) meet the unit requirement for the desired degree. Campuses must: (a) ensure regular academic counseling; (b) provide required courses; and, (c) schedule sufficient class offerings. 3)Prior Legislation. AB 2092 (Chávez) of 2014, which was substantially similar to this measure, was held on this committee's Suspense file. Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081