Article 3 - General Provisions

California Education Code — §§ 66011-66027.83

Showing inline text for up to 20 sections. Open a section link to read its full text.

Sections (75)

Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1372, Sec. 209.

(a)It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Legislature that all resident applicants to California institutions of public higher education, who are determined to be qualified by law or by admission standards established by the respective governing boards, should be admitted to either (1) a district of the California Community Colleges, in accordance with Section 76000, (2) the California State University, or (3) the University of California.

(b)As used in this part, “governing boards” means the local boards of trustees and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California.

§ 66012

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature that the fixed master plan approach in the development of public postsecondary education be replaced by a continuous planning process which includes:

(a)A legislative study of California postsecondary education at 10-year intervals to reevaluate the planning process and provide guidelines regarding goals, societal needs and general missions of public higher education and its components.

(b)Continuous planning by a state commission including a five-year plan which is to be updated annually.

§ 66013

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

Each segment of public higher education shall strive for excellence in its sphere, as assigned in this part.

§ 66014

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

The provisions of this part shall supersede the provisions of any other law which conflict with the provisions of this part.

§ 66014.2

Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 91. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.

(a)In order to help prospective students and their families more accurately calculate the cost of attendance, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, post all of the following on its internet website, on or before February 1, 2020, and on or before February 1 each year thereafter:

(1)(A) Information about the market cost of one- and two-bedroom apartments and of one-person bedrooms in private houses in the areas surrounding that campus where its students commonly reside.

(B)In reporting this information, the campus shall exercise due diligence, and shall consult bona fide and reliable sources of

current information about local housing market costs, including, but not necessarily limited to, information received from students of that campus, local newspapers and bulletin boards, and internet websites on which notices regarding local rental vacancies are posted. The information posted pursuant to this section shall be posted in the same location on the campus internet website where the housing cost estimates for off-campus students are posted.

(2)Separate estimates of other cost-of-living categories, on the same internet web page, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A)The estimated cost of living at home or in a permanent residence, such as with a parent.

(B)The estimated cost of food.

(C)The estimated cost of

transportation.

(D)The estimated cost of books and supplies.

(E)The estimated cost of miscellaneous expenses.

(F)The estimated cost of tuition.

(G)The estimated cost of mandatory student fees.

(H)A description of the data sources and methods used to calculate its estimates for each cost of living category.

(3)A statement emphasizing both of the following:

(A)All cost estimates reflect estimated costs for a typical student, but actual costs can vary considerably for individual students.

(B)The university strongly encourages prospective students and their families to consider how their own costs might differ from those given in the estimates, including by seeking out cost of attendance estimates from other sources and by considering whether they will face other costs that are not listed in the estimate categories or how their veteran status might affect costs.

(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, post the information described in subdivision (a) on the same internet web pages where it is required to post cost estimates of institutional housing and meal plans pursuant to Section 69503.6.

§ 66014.3

Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 394, Sec. 2. (SB 1022) Effective January 1, 2015.

(a)The California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, publicly provide labor market outcome information relating to the graduates of their undergraduate programs. The California State University and the University of California may publicly provide labor market outcome information relating to the graduates of their graduate programs. This information shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, salary data, and the percentage distribution of graduates, classified by industry.

(b)The information required by this section shall be provided using data including, but not necessarily limited to, information provided by the Employment Development Department

pursuant to Section 1095 of the Unemployment Insurance Code and the segments’ own databases. The information shall be presented in accordance with all of the following requirements:

(1)The data shall be presented in terms of easily understood labor market measures, such as median annual wage.

(2)The data shall be aggregated to the systemwide level and by particular areas of study.

(3)Labor market outcome data for each category shall, at a minimum, provide data relating to graduates one or two years, and five years, after their graduation. The Legislature encourages the California State University and the University of California to additionally provide labor market outcome data for periods longer than five years after graduation.

(4)In the

collection and publication of data pursuant to this section, the segments shall adhere to all pertinent state and federal privacy laws.

(c)The information required by this section shall be made publicly available through publication on the Internet Web sites of the respective segments, and shall be updated no later than June 1 of each year.

§ 66014.4

Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 174, Sec. 1. (AB 1633) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)For purposes of this section, “GI Bill educational benefits” means any educational benefit administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to Title 38 of the United States Code that is designed to help eligible veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States or other eligible persons with a relationship to a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States to cover the costs associated with enrollment as a student.

(b)Commencing with the 2023–24 academic year, and annually thereafter for each academic year, the California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, electronically transmit to the

Department of Veterans Affairs, all of the following personal information regarding each student whose tuition or fees, or both, are paid, or intended to be paid, using GI Bill educational benefits, if the student has provided informed, written consent to the disclosure pursuant to subdivision (d):

(1)True, full name.

(2)Email address.

(3)Mailing address.

(4)Mobile telephone number.

(c)For purposes of subdivision (b), both of the following apply:

(1)The first data transfer shall include all students using or intending to use GI Bill educational benefits for the 2023–24 academic year.

(2)Each annual data transfer after the first data transfer shall include only new students not identified in the prior data transfer who are using or intending to use GI Bill educational benefits for the academic year.

(d)(1) On or before June 1, 2023, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and post on its internet

website a template for informed, written consent to be used by campus financial aid offices that permits a student, when applying for financial aid, to opt in to having the student’s personal information shared with the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to this section.

(2)The informed, written consent shall be developed and administered in compliance with federal and state laws relating to individual privacy, including the requirements of the federal Family Education Rights

and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-280, as amended) and applicable regulations, as these provisions may from time to time be amended.

(e)Information obtained by the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to this section shall be used only for purposes in furtherance of providing benefits and support services for veterans and shall not be used or disclosed for any other purposes.

§ 66014.5

Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1198, Sec. 6.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the role of independent, regionally accredited postsecondary education in California postsecondary education. Statewide planning, policy coordination, and review of postsecondary education shall include attention to the contributions of the independent institutions in meeting the state’s goals of access, quality, educational equity, economic development, and student aid.

(b)The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there is a need of providing students with economic and academic freedom of choice in selecting a college or university they wish to attend. The Legislature further finds that an important means of meeting this need is through offering financial assistance to students who wish to attend public or independent colleges and universities and who have demonstrated financial need.

§ 66014.6

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 921, Sec. 1. (AB 2567) Effective January 1, 2025.

(a)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, require each campus that provides campus-owned, campus-operated, or campus-affiliated student housing to post on its external and internal internet websites, at least twice each academic year, all of the following information:

(1)The number of enrolled students, and how many of those students are veterans.

(2)Existing campus housing stock, including, but not limited to, the number of available beds on campus.

(3)(A) The number of students on the campus housing waiting list, and how many of those students are veterans.

(B)The number of students that have removed themselves from the waiting list since the last

report, and how many of those students are veterans.

(4)If available, the number of students who request campus-owned, campus-operated, or campus-affiliated student housing, and how many of those students are veterans.

(5)If available, the number of incoming freshmen, transfer students, and international students requiring campus-owned, campus-operated, or campus-affiliated student housing, and how many of those students are veterans.

(b)Data collected pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be collected by the department or center on campus that is tasked with providing on-campus and off-campus housing assistance to students.

(c)(1) The office of the Chancellor of the California State University and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, submit an annual report with the information described in subdivision (a) to the Legislature, with the first report being due on or before October 15, 2023.

(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to,

submit one report that compiles all of the campus data collected pursuant to subdivision (a).

(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(d)For purposes of this section, “veteran” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 980 of the Military and Veterans Code.

§ 66014.7

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 700, Sec. 2. (AB 662) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, by its own provisions.

(a)The South County Higher Education Planning Task Force is hereby established for purposes of evaluating the feasibility of establishing a mixed-use intersegmental educational facility in the City of Chula Vista.

(b)(1) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(A) At least one representative from San Diego State University appointed by the

Chancellor of the California State University.

(B) At least one representative from Southwestern College appointed by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(C) At least one representative from the University of California, San Diego, appointed by the President of the University of California.

(D) At least one representative from the City of Chula Vista.

(E) At least one representative from the Sweetwater Union High School

District.

(F) At least one public member appointed by the City of Chula Vista.

(G) At least one representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(H) At least one representative appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate.

(2)All task force members shall be South County residents or individuals who work or have a vested interest in the area.

(3)The chair of the task force shall be voted on by a majority of the members.

(c)The task force established pursuant to subdivision (a) shall do at least all of the following:

(1)Identify and recommend potential governance structures for the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility, including, but not limited to, consortia and other collaborative models.

(2)Identify and analyze potential site locations and infrastructure requirements.

(3)Identify and recommend potential funding mechanisms, resources, and partnerships for the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.

(4)Identify any statutory

barriers to the recommendations developed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, and

recommend any statutory changes necessary for establishing the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.

(5)Conduct public engagement activities for purposes of gathering regional input.

(6)Convene its first meeting on or before July 1, 2026.

(d)(1) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of

the Government Code, the task force established pursuant to subdivision (a) shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before

July 1, 2027.

(2)The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(e)(1) For purposes of this section, the task force may request and receive, but not require, information from the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the State Department of Education, any community college district, any local educational agency, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, the office of the President of the University of California, or any organization representing independent institutions of higher education.

(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(f)The task force established pursuant to this section shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(g)Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2031.

§ 66014.8

Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 388, Sec. 1. (AB 2247) Effective January 1, 2015.

(a)For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1)“Institutional accreditation documents” means the institution’s institutional accreditation visiting team reports and the institutional accreditation agency action letters following an accreditation agency’s action relating to an initial accreditation, reaffirmation, comprehensive review, special visit, or any sanction or adverse action taken against an affiliated institution.

(2)“Segment of postsecondary education” means the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, the independent institutions of

higher education, as defined in Section 66010, or the private postsecondary educational institutions, as defined in Section 94858.

(b)All campuses or other units of any segment of postsecondary education that receive public funding through state or federal financial aid programs, are institutionally accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, and offer education and training programs to California students shall make final institutional accreditation documents available to the public, once those documents have been made final through an action of the accrediting agency, via display in a prominent location on the institution’s Internet Web site, with a link to these documents on the institutional Internet Web site homepage.

(c)A campus or other unit of any segment of postsecondary education whose documents are not currently

available to the public shall make all institutional accreditation documents finalized by the accrediting agency based on reviews that take place after July 1, 2015, available to the public pursuant to subdivision (b).

§ 66015

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 745, Sec. 31. Effective October 12, 2001.

It is the intent of the Governor and the Legislature, in cooperation with the Trustees of the California State University, to do both of the following:

(a)Place a major priority on resolving the serious problem of impacted and overcrowded classes, not only with respect to the California State University, but throughout public postsecondary education.

(b)Ensure that needy students receive financial aid sufficient to cover the cost of fee increases for each academic year.

§ 66015.1

Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 776, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)The 1986 Report on Lower Division Education at the University of California stated that “lower division (education) is something of a neglected child...” and suggested steps for improving the quality of teaching and academic support services.

(b)In 1991, the “Universitywide Task Force on Faculty Rewards Report” resulted in the adoption of policies to provide a greater emphasis on teaching. Policy revisions included broadening the range of evidence used in evaluation of teaching, peer review of teaching, and promotion policies that recognize great distinction in teaching as well as scholarship.

(c)In 1992, the University of California issued a number of “Presidential Initiatives to Protect and Improve Undergraduate Education.”

(d)The Legislature, in the Supplemental Report of the 1992 Budget Act, declared its intent that University of California faculty alter the distribution of their workload by:

(1)Increasing the number of courses and sections offered that are required for normal progress toward a baccalaureate degree.

(2)Increasing the number of freshman and sophomore seminars.

(3)Increasing opportunities for undergraduate research.

(4)Reducing the size of classes when desirable.

These measures were expected to result in an increase in the average teaching load of one additional course every one to three years.

(e)The report entitled “Initiatives to Improve Undergraduate Education,” prepared by the University of California in response to the 1992 Budget Act, is a commendable effort.

§ 66015.10

Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 386, Sec. 3. (AB 1182) Effective January 1, 2010.

(a)The University of California is requested to annually notify the governing board of each high school of both of the following:

(1)The number of graduates who enrolled in the university in the previous year and the number of graduates who were required to take the entry level writing requirement.

(2)The comparable numbers of all California high school graduates who enrolled in the university.

(b)The University

of California is requested to provide an annual summary of the information specified in subdivision (a) to the Department of Finance and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

§ 66015.12

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 564, Sec. 1. (AB 914) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature that the California State University (CSU) assess and report the general education written communication and mathematics and quantitative reasoning placement levels of all first-time freshmen. On or before April 1 of each year, the CSU shall submit to the Legislature a report by each campus in the system that includes all of the following information:

(1)The total number of regularly admitted and specially admitted first-time freshmen.

(2)The number and proportion of regularly admitted and specially admitted first-time freshmen who fall into each of the university’s four levels of placement for general education written communication and mathematics and

quantitative reasoning. For purposes of this paragraph, the university shall disaggregate this number into the following two general education categories:

(A)Written communication.

(B)Mathematics and quantitative reasoning.

(3)The number and proportion of regularly admitted and specially admitted first-time freshmen in each level who meet the general education requirement for each category identified in paragraph (2) as follows:

(A)Before the fall term of the academic year.

(B)At the end of the fall term of the academic year.

(C)At the end of the spring term of the academic year.

(D)At the end of the fall term of the second academic year.

(4)(A) An analysis of the university’s three factors that go into the multiple measures assessment of placement of freshmen into a specified level, and how predictive each of those factors is for student success indicators.

(B)For purposes of this section:

(i)The university’s three factors that go into the multiple measures assessment of the placement of freshmen are:

(I) course taking, (II) grade point average, and (III) test taking.

(ii) “Student success indicators” are all of the following:

(I) persistence into the fall term of the second academic year at the CSU, (II) the number of units completed at the

CSU in the first academic year, and (III) grade point average at the CSU in the first academic year.

(5)An analysis of any equity gaps by income, race, or ethnicity within and across the university’s four levels of placement for general education written communication and mathematics and quantitative reasoning, and the university’s plan to address any such gaps.

(b)The report required by this section shall comply with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

§ 66015.5

Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1994.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature that quality classroom instruction be continually improved and that courses required for normal progress to a baccalaureate degree be provided in sufficient numbers.

(b)It is the further intent of the Legislature that where necessary the average teaching responsibilities of tenured and tenure track faculty be sufficiently increased to meet the goals described in this section.

§ 66015.7

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 458, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.

(a)In order to maintain and strengthen the high quality of international education in California, the Legislature encourages all public and private institutions of higher education to further develop, as their resources permit, programs that support learning about other cultures, global issues, and the exchange of Californians and international students and scholars.

(b)For California students and scholars, institutions are encouraged, as resources permit, to accomplish all of the following:

(1)Develop courses of study in as many fields as possible to increase students’ understanding of global issues and cultural differences.

(2)Offer courses in languages other than English to train students to communicate effectively in other cultures and to enhance their understanding of other nations’ values.

(3)Provide opportunities for students in all majors to participate in study abroad programs to enrich their academic training, perspectives, and personal development.

(4)Provide opportunities for domestic and international students to interact effectively and routinely share their views, perceptions, and experiences in educational settings.

(5)Develop innovative public educational forums and venues to explore global issues and showcase world cultures.

(c)For international students and scholars, institutions are encouraged, as resources permit, to accomplish all of the following:

(1)Encourage the presence of qualified students from other countries with sufficient geographic diversity to inspire an appreciation for differences among cultures and a deeper understanding of the values and perspectives of other people.

(2)Facilitate faculty exchange and collaborative partnership programs with institutions in other countries.

(3)Initiate collaborative research undertakings to address issues of global significance.

(4)Recruit and retain the world’s best and brightest faculty to educate California’s students as globally competent citizens.

§ 66016

Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 143, Sec. 46.

It is the intent of the Legislature that opportunities for participation in intercollegiate athletic programs in the community colleges, in the campuses of the California State University, and in the campuses of the University of California be provided on as equal a basis as is practicable to male and female students.

The costs of providing these equal opportunities may vary according to the type of sports contained within the respective men’s and women’s athletic programs. Therefore it is also the intent of the Legislature that additional sources of revenue should be determined to provide additional funds for these equal opportunity programs.

§ 66016.3

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 182, Sec. 2. (AB 1887) Effective August 24, 2018.

(a)(1) Any student, including a person without lawful immigration status, or a person who is exempt from paying nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5, may serve in any capacity in student government at the California State University or the California Community Colleges and receive any grant, scholarship, fee waiver, or reimbursement for expenses incurred connected with that service to the full extent consistent with federal law.

(2)Notwithstanding Section 1020 of the Government Code, any student attending a campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, or an independent institution of

higher education, as defined in Section 66010, who qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition pursuant to Section 68130.5 may serve on any board or commission established pursuant to this title that includes members who are students.

(b)The University of California is requested to comply with this section.

(c)The Legislature finds and declares this section is a state law within the meaning of subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

§ 66016.4

Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 619, Sec. 2. (AB 844) Effective January 1, 2012.

If a state court finds that Section 66016.3, or any similar provision adopted by the Regents of the University of California, is unlawful, the court may order, as equitable relief, that the administering entity that is the subject of the lawsuit terminate any waiver awarded under that statute or provision, but no money damages, tuition refund or waiver, or other retroactive relief may be awarded. In any action in which the court finds that Section 66016.3, or any similar provision adopted by the Regents of the University of California, is unlawful, the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California are immune from the imposition of any award of money damages, tuition refund or waiver, or other retroactive relief.

§ 66017