BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2092
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 14, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2092 (Chavez) - As Amended: May 1, 2014
Policy Committee: Higher Education
Vote: 13-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
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
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.
AB 2092
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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
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 three campuses provide
special incentives or benefits to students who participate.
Cal Poly Pomona has an active four-year degree program,
including a dedicated advisor, whereby for students meeting
all program requirements, Cal Poly Pomona pledges that if
required course or appropriate substitutions are not
available, participating students are not required to pay
tuition to enroll in courses necessary for graduation.
Administrative costs to replicate this model at other 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.
2) UC's four-year graduation rate is about 60%, 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. Any efforts at UC would likely be done outside
specific parameters of this bill and costs would be
absorbed by the campuses.
COMMENTS
1) Purpose . According to the author, over the past 10 years
it has become increasingly difficult for students entering
into the CSU to graduate in four academic years because
they cannot access the courses needed. Governor Brown has
call on the universities to achieve a 10% increase in the
proportion of students graduating in four years between the
AB 2092
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entering class of 2012 and the entering class of 2017.
The author states, "By requiring each CSU and requesting each
UC to develop a graduation contract, the school and the
student each become accountable for the student's education
and graduation date." The author argues, "The contract can
also be used as a tool of the colleges to recruit top
performing students who are increasingly tempted to attend
private and out-of-state schools which can guarantee
graduation in 4 years."
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.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081