BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2786
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Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2786 (Chávez) - As Amended April 21, 2016
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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
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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:
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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."
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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