AB 2057: Associate Degree for Transfer.
- Session Year: 2023-2024
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2024-09-27
Current Status:
Passed
(2024-09-27: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 696, Statutes of 2024.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill changes how the community college-to-university transfer degree (the Associate Degree for Transfer, or ADT) is overseen and sets new rules for high‑unit STEM majors, allowing some ADT pathways to include up to 66 lower‑division units if clear reasons are posted. It requires community colleges to adopt ADTs for approved transfer model curricula, requires CSU campuses to decide whether an ADT matches a similar bachelor’s major and to guarantee admission with no more than 60 post‑transfer units if a student stays on that ADT pathway, and requires public reporting of faculty review group membership.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT and to achieve specified objectives relating to the ADT and transfer model curricula (TMCs) on or before December 31, 2024. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill, among other things, would extend the operation of the committee for two years. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill, among other things, would require TMC drafts to be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require community colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC, as specified. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would impose a state-mandated local program. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of an adopted TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT and to achieve specified objectives relating to the ADT and transfer model curricula (TMCs) on or before December 31, 2024. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill, among other things, would extend the operation of the committee for two years. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill, among other things, would require TMC drafts to be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require community colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC, as specified. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would impose a state-mandated local program. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of an adopted TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT and to achieve specified objectives relating to the ADT and transfer model curricula (TMCs) on or before December 31, 2024. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill, among other things, would extend the operation of the committee for two years. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill, among other things, would require the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the University of California, to adopt and monitor certain goals that are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes, as specified. The bill, among other things, would require TMC drafts to be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office Templates templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require community colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC, as specified. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would impose a state-mandated local program. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of an adopted TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT and to achieve specified objectives relating to the ADT and transfer model curricula (TMCs) on or before December 31, 2024. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill bill, among other things, would extend the operation of the committee for two years. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill, among other things, would require California the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the University of California, to adopt and monitor certain goals that are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes, as specified. The bill, among other things, would require TMC drafts to be in place submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the approval of creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office Templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require the California Community Colleges community colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC. TMC, as specified. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would impose a state-mandated local program. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of a an adopted TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. ADT and to achieve specified objectives relating to the ADT and transfer model curricula (TMCs) on or before December 31, 2024. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill would extend the operation of the committee indefinitely. for two years. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill, among other things, would require California to adopt and monitor certain goals that are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes, as specified. The bill, among other things, would require transfer model curriculum (TMC) TMC drafts to be in place for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require the California Community Colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of a TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill would extend the operation of the committee indefinitely. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill bill, among other things, would require California to adopt and monitor certain goals that are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes, as specified. The bill, among other things, would require transfer model curriculum (TMC) drafts to be in place for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require the California Community Colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of a TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill would extend the operation of the committee indefinitely. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
This bill would require California to adopt and monitor certain goals that are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes, as specified. The bill, among other things, would require transfer model curriculum (TMC) drafts to be in place for the high-unit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to the California State University and University of California segments, and other four-year institutions participating in the ADT, as provided. Within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the bill would require the California Community Colleges to create an ADT for each adopted TMC. For a student who earns an ADT created under the parameters of a TMC, the bill would require a determination of similarity to ensure that students who earn the ADT are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major, as specified.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. The California Community Colleges system provides instruction to students at 116 campuses operated by community college districts throughout the state and, among other things, provides its students with a transfer pathway, facilitated by mechanisms such as the associate degree for transfer (ADT), allowing students to apply academic credit earned at a community college toward receipt of a baccalaureate degree at a 4-year postsecondary educational institution. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires a student who earns an ADT to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate program when the student meets certain requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. Existing law requires the committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
This bill would extend the operation of the committee indefinitely. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation based on recommendations from the committee.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill 928 of the 202122 Regular Session) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)On or before April 30, 2026, the committee shall provide the Legislature with both of the following:
(1)Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee, and any additional recommendations based on the committees continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.
(2)An update on the progress in closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
(j)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(k)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(l)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(m)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(C)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(c)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(d)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(e)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(3)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(4)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an ADT, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the TMC approval process. This clear evidence and rationale shall include both of the following:
(A)An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.
(B)An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that fall within the academic major preparation for the TMC.
(3)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall first be reviewed by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(4)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required and submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California. This clear evidence and rationale shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(B)The programs and campuses of the California State University and the University of California that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(C)Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes where available within each system that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
(2)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (1) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(d)(1)Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, community colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered by the community college pursuant to subdivision (c).
(2)Within 12 months of the approval of a TMC pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the TMC to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(e)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required as follows:
(1)For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:
(i)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California Community College.
(ii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.
(iii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.
(iv)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(B)The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.
(C)The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.
(D)The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segments faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill 928 of the 202122 Regular Session) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)On or before April 30, 2026, the committee shall provide the Legislature with both of the following:
(1)Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee, and any additional recommendations based on the committees continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.
(2)An update on the progress in closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
(j)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(k)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(l)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(m)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(C)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(c)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(d)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(e)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(3)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(4)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an ADT, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the TMC approval process. This clear evidence and rationale shall include both of the following:
(A)An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.
(B)An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that fall within the academic major preparation for the TMC.
(3)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall first be reviewed by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(4)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required and submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California. This clear evidence and rationale shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(B)The programs and campuses of the California State University and the University of California that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(C)Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes where available within each system that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
(2)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (1) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(d)(1)Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, community colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered by the community college pursuant to subdivision (c).
(2)Within 12 months of the approval of a TMC pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the TMC to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(e)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required as follows:
(1)For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:
(i)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California Community College.
(ii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.
(iii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.
(iv)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(B)The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.
(C)The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.
(D)The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segments faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill 928 of the 202122 Regular Session) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)On or before April 30, 2026, the committee shall provide the Legislature with both of the following:
(1)Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee, and any additional recommendations based on the committees continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.
(2)An update on the progress in meeting the goals described in subdivision (b) of Section 66749.81. closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
(j)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(k)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(l)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(m)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(C)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(c)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(d)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(e)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(3)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(4)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)The California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, adopt and monitor both of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:(1)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to transfer to any four-year postsecondary educational institution within six years.(2)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the University of California and the California State University segments.(c)(b)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an ADT, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the TMC approval process. This clear evidence and rationale shall include both of the following:
(A)An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.
(B)An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that fall within the academic major preparation for the TMC.
(3)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall first be reviewed by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(4)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(d)(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required and submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California. This clear evidence and rationale shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(B)The programs and campuses of the California State University and the University of California that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(C)Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes where available within each system that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
(2)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (1) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(e)(d)(1)Within 18 months of the creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, community colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered by the community college pursuant to subdivision (d). (c).
(2)Within 12 months of the approval of a TMC pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the TMC to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(f)(e)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required as follows:
(1)For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:
(i)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California Community College.
(ii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.
(iii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.
(iv)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(B)The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.
(C)The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.
(D)The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segments faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill 928 of the 202122 Regular Session) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The Office office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The Office office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The Office office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the Office office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Workgroup, Council, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)On or before April 30, 2026, the committee shall provide the Legislature with both of the following:
(1)Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee, and any additional recommendations based on the committees continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.
(2)An update on the progress in meeting the goals described in subdivision (b) of Section 66749.81.
(i)(j)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(j)(k)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(k)(l)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(l)(m)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(C)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(c)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(d)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(e)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(2)(3)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(3)(4)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)California shall The California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, adopt and monitor all both of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
(1)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to transfer to any four-year postsecondary educational institution within six years.
(2)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the University of California and the California State University segments.
(c)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an associate degree for transfer, ADT, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the TMC approval process. This clear evidence and rationale shall include both of the following:
(A)An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.
(B)An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that fall within the academic major preparation for the TMC.
(3)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall first be reviewed by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(4)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (2) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(d)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be in place submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required. required and submitted to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California. This clear evidence and rationale shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(B)The programs and campuses of the California State University and the University of California that determine a single TMC is not possible.
(C)Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
(2)The clear evidence and rationale described in paragraph (1) shall be posted publicly on the internet website of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(e)(1)Within 18 months of the approval of creation of California Community Colleges Chancellors Office templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the California Community Colleges community colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered by the community college pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2)Within 12 months of the approval of an ADT a TMC pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the ADT pathway TMC to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission. admission with an ADT.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(f)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required as follows:
(1)For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:
(i)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California Community College.
(ii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.
(iii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.
(iv)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(B)The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.
(C)The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.
(D)The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segments faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill 928 of the 202122 Regular Session) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The Office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The Office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Workgroup, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(j)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(k)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(l)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(C)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(c)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt out opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(d)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(e)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2025. 2027.
SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(3)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)California shall adopt and monitor all of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
(1)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years.
(2)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the University of California and the California State University segments.
(c)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an associate degree for transfer, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
(d)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be in place for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required.
(e)(1)Within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the California Community Colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2)Within 12 months of the approval of an ADT pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the ADT pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for transfer admission.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(f)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required as follows:
(1)For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:
(i)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California Community College.
(ii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.
(iii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.
(iv)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(B)The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.
(C)The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.
(D)The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segments faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill No. 928 in 2021) of the 202122 Regular Session) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The Office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The Office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Workgroup, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(j)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(k)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(3)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)California shall adopt and monitor all of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
(1)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years.
(2)By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the University of California and the California State University segments.
(c)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an associate degree for transfer, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For high-unit STEM major pathways, pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established pursuant to Section 66749.8, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
(d)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be in place for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required.
(e)(1)Within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the California Community Colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted pursuant to subdivision (c). (d).
(2)Within 12 months of the development approval of an ADT pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the ADT pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for transfer admission.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(f)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required. required as follows:
(1)For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, all of the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group, including all of the following:
(i)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California Community College.
(ii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a California State University campus.
(iii)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for a University of California campus.
(iv)The number of faculty members who work as instructional faculty for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(B)The names of each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group.
(C)The postsecondary educational institution where each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group works as an instructional faculty member.
(D)The academic disciplines in which each faculty member serving on a faculty discipline review group provides classroom instruction at a postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall regularly update their internet websites to reflect the membership and composition of the segments faculty members serving on faculty discipline review groups pursuant to paragraph (1).
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plans commitment to access and affordability.
(2)The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelors degree in two years.
(3)The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution.
(4)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill No. 928 in 2021) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010 of the Education Code, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathways benefits.
(5)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
(6)In December 2023, the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the states residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
It
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The Office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The Office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Workgroup, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(j)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt out opt-out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(k)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 66749.81 is added to the Education Code, to read:66749.81.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(2)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(3)TMC means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
(b)California shall adopt and monitor all of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
(1)By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years.
(2)By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the University of California and the California State University segments.
(c)(1)The 60-unit lower division maximum requirement shall be retained for an associate degree for transfer, with the exception of paragraph (2):
(2)For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
(d)On or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts shall be in place for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the California State University and the University of California segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Where a single TMC to both the University of California and the California State University is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed shall be required.
(e)(1)Within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the California Community Colleges shall create an ADT for each TMC adopted pursuant to subdivision (c).
(2)Within 12 months of the development of an ADT pursuant to paragraph (1), each California State University campus shall determine similarity of the ADT pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. University of California and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities campuses are encouraged to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for transfer admission.
(3)For the purposes of determining similarity pursuant to paragraph (2), after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, each California State University campus shall determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the California State University campuses offering that major and shall be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
(f)Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation based on recommendations from the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
SEC. 2.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.
(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.
(B)Committee means the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee established in subdivision (b).
(C)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(D)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b)The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee is hereby established for the following purposes:
(1)To serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the associate degree for transfer for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the California Community Colleges and the University of California, the California State University, and participating independent institutions of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, so that more students can avail themselves of the pathways benefits. The oversight shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)Ensuring a reduction in the number of excess units accumulated by California Community College students before transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(B)Eliminating repetition of courses at four-year postsecondary educational institutions taken by California Community College students who successfully transfer into four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(C)Increasing the number of California Community College students who transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution through an ADT pathway.
(2)To enhance coordination and communication between four-year postsecondary educational institutions and the California Community Colleges by providing a venue by which they can regularly meet and address issues that are impeding the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3)To provide the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to support the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(c)Meetings of the committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act established under Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)(1)The committee shall be convened by a third-party planning facilitator. The third-party planning facilitator shall perform all of the following duties:
(A)Provide facilitation and staff support to the committee.
(B)Develop written reports of the committees recommendations and progress pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h).
(C)Facilitate advisory groups as needed to support the committees goals.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the Office of Planning and Research may enter into an exclusive or nonexclusive contract with a third-party planning facilitator on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
(3)The Office of Planning and Research shall report to the Department of Finance and relevant subcommittees of the Legislature on a contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (2) within 30 days of awarding the contract. The report shall include information on funding amounts provided to the contractor.
(e)(1)The membership of the committee shall reflect its intersegmental function by including a cross-section of the stakeholders who will be needed to fulfill the committees responsibilities.
(2)(A)Each of the following entities shall designate, on or before March 1, 2022, one representative to serve on the committee:
(i)The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(ii)The Office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(iii)The Office of the President of the University of California.
(iv)The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(v)The State Department of Education.
(vi)The Student Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(vii)The California State Student Association.
(viii)The University of California Student Association.
(ix)The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges.
(x)The Academic Senate of the California State University.
(xi)The Academic Senate of the University of California.
(B)Designating entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their representative member positions on the committee are vacant.
(3)(A)On or before March 1, 2022, five members of the committee shall be appointed as follows:
(i)The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member from the workforce sector with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(ii)The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member with a background in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in the state.
(iii)The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(iv)The Governor shall appoint one member from an educational equity and social justice organization.
(v)The Governor shall appoint one member who is a California community college student.
(B)Appointing entities described in subparagraph (A) shall fill vacancies when their appointed member positions on the committee are vacant.
(C)Members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing entities.
(4)The first chair of the committee shall be the representative from the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and shall serve a two-year term. Following the first chairs two-year term, the committee shall elect a chair from its members to serve a two-year term. A member shall not serve consecutive terms as chair of the committee and the position of chair shall rotate among the members of the committee.
(f)To support the goals of the committee described in subdivision (g) and obtain additional input from other interested stakeholders, the third-party planning facilitator identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) may engage with the expertise of faculty through existing intersegmental oversight bodies and workgroups, including, but not limited to, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, the Intersegmental Curriculum Workgroup, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee, and the California Intersegmental Articulation Council. The committee shall also use the members designated pursuant to clauses (ix) to (xi), inclusive, of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) as liaisons to their respective curriculum workgroups to ensure better coordination and alignment.
(g)On or before December 31, 2023, the committee shall provide the Legislature with recommendations on all of the following issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students:
(1)Identifying annual goals for increasing transfer rates in California and closing racial equity gaps in transfer outcomes to be adopted by the state. Specifically, these goals shall include all of the following:
(A)Annual goals for improving transfer attainment needed to meet the states workforce demands.
(B)Goals for closing gaps in transfer outcomes by race.
(C)Goals for closing regional opportunity gaps to access ADT pathways.
(D)Annual goals to meet the statewide degree attainment goal of 70 percent.
(2)Proposing a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. The recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with both of the following requirements:
(A)The recommendations shall include sufficient evidence supporting a higher unit threshold for each STEM degree pathway, including an analysis of colleges that have succeeded in adopting similar pathways within the 60-unit framework for lower division units taken at the California Community Colleges.
(B)A recommendation for a differing unit threshold within a STEM degree pathway shall not recommend a change of more than six units.
(3)Reengaging ADT earners who do not transfer or apply for transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
(h)On or before December 31, 2024, the committee shall achieve all of the following:
(1)Establish timelines and reporting deadlines for the existing regular review of declaring or matching transfer model curricula similar to the California State University majors for admissions purposes. In doing this, the committee shall develop a plan to establish reporting and accountability requirements to ensure that transfer model curricula are aligned with the ADT.
(2)Develop a plan for the periodic analysis and creation of additional transfer model curricula for the ADT to respond to evolving workforce demands, including STEM degree pathways, and degree pathways that will aid in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as nursing and cybersecurity. The plan shall establish venues for professional collaboration in consultation with academic senates and appropriate discipline faculty on degree production, major alignment, and workforce- or industry-specific relevance.
(3)(A)Develop a comprehensive communications plan and guidance on student-centered outreach to inform students about the ADT pathway and to ensure prompt and accurate information is communicated across four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and elementary and secondary education.
(B)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include, but not be limited to, guidance to community college counselors and articulation officers on their role in communicating the value of the ADT pathway, guidance to high school counselors on incorporating the ADT pathway into their menu of college options, and templates that can be customized for outreach in local contexts. The communications plan shall also address how updates about the ADT pathways, including new majors and new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, will be communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools.
(C)The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall address how updates about the ADT pathway will be regularly communicated to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, the California Community Colleges, and high schools so that counselors, advisers, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options, have the most current information about the ADT pathway, and are aware of updates to the program such as new majors or new participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
(4)Provide feedback for the regular review and identification of updates needed to the ADT internet website maintained by the California Community Colleges to ensure current information and updates are communicated to students, families, and student support staff engaged in educating students about their college options, participating four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and degree options.
(i)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.
(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.
(j)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.
(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt out feature where an ADT exists.
(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.
(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.
(k)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.
(l)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2025, and, as of January 1, 2026, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 66749.8 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021, is repealed.66749.8.(a)(1)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021.(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(A)ADT means associate degree for transfer.(B)Four-year postsecondary educational institution means a campus of the University of California or California State University or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.(C)STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.(b)(1)On or before May 31, 2023, the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to both the California State University and University of California. If the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges is unable to come to agreement on or before May 31, 2023, the respective administrative bodies of those segments shall establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets the academic requirements necessary for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California by December 31, 2023.(2)Commencing with the fall term of the 202526 academic year, the singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the only lower division general education pathway used to determine academic eligibility and sufficient academic preparation for transfer admission to the California State University and the University of California.(3)The singular lower division general education pathway established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not lengthen the time-to-degree and shall not include more units than is required under the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum on July 31, 2021.(c)(1)On or before August 1, 2024, where ADTs for major pathways exist, the California Community Colleges shall place students on the ADT pathway if students declare a goal of transfer on their mandatory education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and such a pathway exists for their intended major, to maximize the probability that students will transfer into a four-year postsecondary educational institution and earn a degree in their chosen field of study in a timely manner, and to minimize the accrual of excess units.(2)A student may opt out of the ADT pathway for a local associate degree or if the student plans to apply to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010. Each community college shall use their existing processes for student education plans pursuant to the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 78210) of Chapter 2 of Part 48 of Division 7) and enrollments to implement the opt out feature where an ADT exists.(3)This section shall not be construed to prohibit a student from being on the ADT pathway and also applying to transfer to a University of California campus or an independent institution of higher education defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.(4)If an ADT pathway does not exist in the students chosen major, then there is no ADT pathway on which to place the student. This subdivision does not apply to students seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program or a career technical education program that does not have an ADT pathway.(d)Funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021 or subsequent budget acts to support the continued implementation of a guided pathways program pursuant to the California Community College Guided Pathways Grant Program established pursuant to Part 54.81 (commencing with Section 88920) of Division 7 may be used by community colleges to implement this section. It is the intent of the Legislature that community colleges also prioritize additional funding received in the 202122 fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to assist students success through transfer programs to the extent the activities performed pursuant to this section are not prohibited by the legislative appropriations.(e)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2025.|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 696, Statutes of 2024. |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep 11, 2024 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug 29, 2024 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.). |
| Aug 29, 2024 | Assembly Rule 77 suspended. |
| Aug 28, 2024 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 30 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77. |
| Aug 28, 2024 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.). |
| Aug 19, 2024 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 15, 2024 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| Aug 15, 2024 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 15). |
| Jul 1, 2024 | In committee: Referred to suspense file. |
| Jun 19, 2024 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 10, 2024 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| Jun 3, 2024 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| May 29, 2024 | Referred to Com. on ED. |
| May 22, 2024 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 21, 2024 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 5388.) |
| May 20, 2024 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 16, 2024 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| May 16, 2024 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 16). |
| May 16, 2024 | Assembly Rule 63 suspended. |
| May 8, 2024 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 22, 2024 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 18, 2024 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 17, 2024 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 16). |
| Apr 3, 2024 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Mar 20, 2024 | Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED. |
| Mar 19, 2024 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 12, 2024 | Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED. |
| Feb 2, 2024 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 3. |
| Feb 1, 2024 | Read first time. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2024 | AB 2057 Berman Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 28, 2024 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB2057 Berman By Glazer | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 15, 2024 | Do pass as amended | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jul 1, 2024 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 19, 2024 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
|
| May 21, 2024 | AB 2057 Berman Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 16, 2024 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 16, 2024 | Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| African American Male Education Network & Development | ** Support | |
| Alliance for A Better Community | ** Support | |
| blue educational foundation | ** Support | |
| Cal State Student Association | ** Support | |
| California Chamber Of Commerce | ** Support | |
| California State Student Association | ** Support | |
| Campaign For College Opportunity | ** Support | |
| Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement | ** Support | |
| Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas | ** Support | |
| Dolores Huerta Foundation | ** Support | |
| Hispanas Organized for Political Equality | ** Support | |
| Inner City Struggle | ** Support | |
| Kid City Hope Place | ** Support | |
| Los Angeles United Methodist Urban Foundation | ** Support | |
| Office of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis | ** Support | |
| Para Los Ninos | ** Support | |
| Parent Institute for Quality Education | ** Support | |
| Promesa Boyle Heights | ** Support | |
| Public Advocates | ** Support | |
| Southern California College Access Network | ** Support | |
| Southern California College Attainment Network | ** Support | |
| Student Senate for California Community Colleges | ** Support | |
| Television Academy Foundation | ** Support | |
| The Education Trust - West | ** Support | |
| uAspire | ** Support | |
| UC Student Association | ** Support | |
| United Way of Greater Los Angeles | ** Support | |
| University Of California Student Association | ** Support | |
| You Aspire | ** Support | Jun 22, 2024 |
| You Aspire | * Support | Jun 19, 2024 |
| Young Invincibles | ** Support |
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
CSA1 Bill Id:AB 2057
Author:(Berman)
As Amended Ver:August 15, 2024
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Extends the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Intersegmental Implementation Committee (IIC) by two years. This bill further requires that the transfer model curricula used to develop ADTs be submitted to the California Community College Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) for high-unit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors by January 1, 2025. This bill requires that the ADT IIC report to the Legislature on actions taken and milestones achieved in progress towards closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
Senate Amendments
- Require that by April 30, 2026, the ADT IIC provide the Legislature with both of the following:
- Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee and any additional recommendations based on the committee's continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students; and,
- An update on the progress in closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Define "four-year postsecondary educational institution" as a campus of the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), or an California independent institution of higher education (ICCU).
- Delete the requirement for the State of California to adopt and monitor specified goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Stipulate that for STEM major pathways identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the ADT IIC, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula (TMC) approval process. This clear evidence and rationale shall include both of the following:
- An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways;
- An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that fall within the academic major preparation for the TMC;
- The clear evidence and rationale must first be reviewed by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the CCCCO; and,
- The clear evidence and rationale must be posted publicly on the internet website of the CCCCO.
- Stipulate that the TMC drafts must be submitted to the CCCCO.
- Clarify that, where a single TMC to both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed must be required and submitted to the CCCCO, the CSU Chancellor's Office, and the UC Office of the President. This clear evidence and rationale shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
- The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible;
- The programs and campuses of the CSU and the UC that determine a single TMC is not possible;
- Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes where available within each system that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs; and,
- The clear evidence and rationale must be posted publicly on the internet website of the CCCCO.
- Stipulates that within 18 months of the creations of the CCCCO templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, the CCC must create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered by the CCC.
- Make technical and clarifying changes.
COMMENTS
Establishment of ADTs and the IIC. Enacted over a decade ago, the ADT was designed to simplify the transfer maze at CCC. Since its enactment, the ADT has made significant strides in streamlining the transfer process for students, and has become a successful pathway to earning a bachelor's degree. The ADT is a two-year, 60 unit degree that guarantees admission to the CSU and participating private institutions of higher education. Students who earn an ADT are automatically eligible to transfer as an upper-division student in a bachelor's degree program and need only complete two additional years (an additional 60 units) of coursework to earn a bachelor's degree.
The ADT IIC was established in 2022 and is also known as the AB 928 Committee. The AB 928 Committee serves as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and ensures it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT's benefits.
The AB 928 Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the AICCU, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the STEM fields and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
In December 2023, the AB 928 Committee submitted their report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, research, and analysis. The AB 928 Committee offered recommendations with the understanding that California needs to continue to improve equity and equality in transfer student outcomes in order to sustain a productive workforce, thereby improving the well-being of the people of California and providing a fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
This measure enacts the following five recommendations from the ADT IIC to improve transfer:
- Adopt and monitor two specific goals, designed to prioritize first and foremost the closing of equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Retain the 60-unit maximum requirement for ADTs while providing an option for up to an additional six units for high-unit STEM ADTs and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
- Require that TMC drafts are in place for Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Physics, and Computer Science pathways that prepare students for transfer to both the CSU and UC systems and other four-year institutions that choose to participate.
- Establish timelines for when CCC will create ADTs for the above STEM pathways and for when CSU campuses will determine similarity of the ADT to a baccalaureate degree.
- Require transparency concerning membership and composition of the Faculty Discipline Review Groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups.
- This measure will also extend the sunset date on the ADT ICC by two years. The author states that, "allowing the continuation of the AB 928 Committee, has been successful in providing a venue to facilitate intersegmental coordination and greater state-level accountability. In fact, the AB 928 Committee has been highlighted as a model in enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions."
According to the Author
"The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students. The transfer pathway, from community college to four-year institution, is an integral component of the Master Plan's commitment to access and affordability. Too many community college students hoping to find an affordable and achievable pathway to a four-year university instead are confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before earning a degree."
The author states, "to address these challenges, I authored AB 928, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021, which is transforming the transfer process through reimagining transfer from the student perspective. One of the student-centered provisions of AB 928 created the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee. This committee was charged with enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions, identifying transfer attainment goals, overseeing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), and providing recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor to strengthen the ADT so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT pathway's benefits."
Lastly, the author states that, "in December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree pathways. AB 2057 would build upon my previous transfer legislation to enact five high-impact recommendations continuing student-centered efforts to improve transfer."
Arguments in Support
According to a coalition of higher education advocates, student leaders, and civil rights organizations, including, but not limited to, the California State Student Association, the Campaign for College Opportunity, and the Dolores Huerta Foundation,
"The ADT is a powerful and proven tool in closing racial equity gaps: when comparing the cohort of students who successfully transferred in 2015-16 versus 2021-22, Latinx students transferring with an ADT jumped from 25% to 53%. For Black students, the percentage of students successfully transferring with an ADT rose from 14% to 36%."
The coalition contends that, "progress in closing persistent racial and ethnic equity gaps in transfer attainment varies widely across disciplines. To create an ADT, discipline faculty first create a transfer model curriculum, or TMC, providing the framework of curriculum students would take to earn an ADT in a specific major. Of the 40 TMCs currently developed, very few of these pathways are in STEM fields: a systemic limitation to students' ability to seamlessly transfer within STEM majors. For example, despite being a high demand major corresponding to growing workforce demands, there are no ADT pathways for the engineering and industrial technologies major at the CCC, since there is no engineering TMC to serve as the framework for developing that ADT pathway."
Further, according to the coalition, "the AB 928 ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee was created in 2022, and tasked with providing expert recommendations on setting statewide goals for closing racial equity gaps in transfer, guidance for improving availability and accessibility of STEM pathways, and reengaging ADT earners who did not ultimately transfer – all with the objective of improve the accessibility and utility of the ADT to improve the transfer process for students."
Lastly, the coalition states that, "AB 2057 would improve the utility of the ADT, particularly for STEM majors, by codifying the following recommendations from the Committee's report, which were unanimously approved by the Committee's full membership – including student, institutional, faculty, educational equity advocacy, research, and STEM expert stakeholders."
Arguments in Opposition
None on file. However, in an undated "oppose unless amended" letter submitted by the CSU Academic Senate states, "the Academic Senate of the California State University System is committed to the success and well-being of all students within the California State University system and beyond. We believe that AB 2057 will not benefit students at California's Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. It is high cost and subverts the role of the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates (ICAS), a highly functional group who was able to implement AB 928."
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Senate Committee on Appropriations:
- The Chancellor's Office estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $20,000 each year to participate in the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
- The UC estimates General Fund costs in the low tens of thousands to the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars for the continued faculty and staff participation in the AB 928 committee. There could also be additional, unknown General Fund costs to the CSU for a representative to continue to participate in the AB 928 committee.
- This bill could result in additional General Fund costs to the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to contract with a third-party facilitator for the committee. While this bill does not require OPR to contract with a third-party facilitator, the 2022 Budget Act included $421,000 for this purpose. The third-party facilitator agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2025.
VOTES:
ASM HIGHER EDUCATION: 11-0-0
YES: Mike Fong, Ta, Arambula, Boerner, Chen, Alanis, Irwin, Jackson, Addis, Muratsuchi, Quirk-Silva
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-4
YES: Wicks, Arambula, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Pellerin, Villapudua
ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez, Dixon, Jim Patterson, Ta
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0-7
YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Robert Rivas
ABS, ABST OR NV: Cervantes, Megan Dahle, Friedman, Gabriel, Holden, Mathis, Luz Rivas
SENATE FLOOR: 38-0-2
YES: Allen, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk
ABS, ABST OR NV: Alvarado-Gil, Rubio
UPDATED
VERSION: August 15, 2024
CONSULTANT: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0004356
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB 2057 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2057
Author: Berman (D)
Amended: 8/15/24 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 6/19/24
AYES: Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Cortese, Glazer, Gonzalez, Smallwood-Cuevas, Wilk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/15/24
AYES: Caballero, Jones, Ashby, Becker, Bradford, Seyarto, Wahab
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 5/21/24 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Associate Degree for Transfer
SOURCE: California State Student Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
University of California Student Association
Office of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
DIGEST:
This bill extends the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Intersegmental Implementation Committee by two years. This bill further requires that the transfer model curricula used to develop ADTs be submitted to the Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for high-unit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors by January 1, 2025. This bill requires that the ADT Intersegmental Committee report to the Legislature on actions taken and milestones achieved, progress in closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Requires the segments of higher education to develop an intersegmental
common core curriculum in general education (GE) for the purpose of transfer. This common core curriculum is known as the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Any student who completes the IGETC course pattern is deemed to have completed the lower division coursework required for transfer to the UC or the CSU. (Education Code (EC) § 66720)
- Requests UC to identify commonalities and differences in similar majors across all UC campuses and provide CCC students with the information in at least the top 20 majors. (EC § 66721.7)
- Requires the governing board of each public postsecondary education segment to be accountable for the development and implementation of formal systemwide articulation agreements and transfer agreement programs, including those for general education or a transfer core curriculum, and other appropriate procedures to support and enhance the transfer function. (EC § 66738)
- Requires the Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the CSU, to establish specified components necessary for a clear degree path for transfer students, including specification of a systemwide lower division transfer curriculum for each high-demand baccalaureate major. (EC § 66739.5)
- Establishes the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, which, in part, requires, commencing with the fall term of the 2011-12 academic year, a student that receives an associate degree for transfer to be deemed eligible for transfer into a CSU baccalaureate degree when the student meets specified requirements. Requires a granting of this degree when a student:
- Completes 60 semester or 90 quarter units eligible for transfer to the CSU, and that includes the CSU General Education Breadth program for IGETC, and a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in a major area of emphasis as determined by the district; and,
- Obtains a minimum grade point average of 2.0. (EC § 66745, et seq.)
- Establishes, until July 1, 2025, the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. Requires the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students. (EC § 66749.8)
- Requires the CSU Chancellor's Office to implement articulated nursing degree transfer pathways for Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) students at CCCs seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) at CSU prior to the 2012-13 academic year. (EC § 89267.5)
This bill:
- Requires that the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement be retained for an ADT, with the exception of high-unit STEM majors as described in a) below:
- For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the transfer model curriculum (TMC) approval process, including both of the following:
- An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.
- An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that falls within the academic major preparation for the TMC.
- The clear evidence and rationale must first be received by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the CCCCO.
- The clear evidence and rationale must be posted publicly on CCCCO website.
- For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the transfer model curriculum (TMC) approval process, including both of the following:
- Requires that, on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts be submitted to the CCCCO for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the CSU and the UC segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the AICCU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) currently engaged with the CCCCO. The bill further requires that where a single TMC for both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed be posted on the CCCCO website and submitted to the CCCCO, CSU Chancellor’s Office and the UC President’s Office that includes all of the following:
- The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible.
- The programs and campuses of the CSU and the UC that determine a single TMC is not possible.
- Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes where available within each system that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
- Requires that the CCC, within 18 months of the creation of CCCCO’s templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered for high-unit STEM pathways, as specified.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, within 12 months of the approval of a TMC, as specified, to determine the similarity of the TMC pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. Requests the UC and AICCU campuses to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, for the purposes of determining similarity, as specified, after a TMC is created or revised for a major, to determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This bill further requires that the determination of similarity ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the CSU campuses offering that major and will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
- Stipulates that transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required.
- Requires that by April 30, 2026, the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee provide the Legislature with both of the following:
- Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee and any additional recommendations based on the committee’s continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.
- An update on the progress in closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Defines various terms for purposes of this measure. This bill makes clarifying and technical changes.
- Makes various findings and declarations related to the bill. This bill declares the Legislature’s intent to enact legislation based on recommendations from the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
Comments
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students. The transfer pathway, from community college to four-year institution, is an integral component of the Master Plan’s commitment to access and affordability. Too many community college students hoping to find an affordable and achievable pathway to a four-year university instead are confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before earning a degree. To address these challenges, I authored AB 928, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021, which is transforming the transfer process through reimagining transfer from the student perspective. One of the student-centered provisions of AB 928 created the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee. This committee was charged with enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions, identifying transfer attainment goals, overseeing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), and providing recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor to strengthen the ADT so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT pathway’s benefits. In December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree pathways. AB 2057 would build upon my previous transfer legislation to enact five high-impact recommendations continuing student-centered efforts to improve transfer.”
- Benefits of ADT pathways for students. In an effort to address standing issues and concerns about the need to ensure a clearer, transparent and more navigable transfer process between the CCC and the CSU, the Legislature and Governor enacted SB 1440 (Padilla, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010), the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Since its enactment, the ADT has made significant strides in streamlining the transfer process for students, and has become a successful pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree. Specifically, the Act requires CCC districts to develop and grant a transfer associate degree that deems the student eligible for transfer into the CSU, when the student meets certain course requirements. Completion of an ADT guarantees a student: 1) Admission with junior status to a CSU campus but not to a specific campus or major; 2) No additional lower-division CSU coursework; 3) No more than 60-semester units of upper-division CSU coursework to complete a bachelor’s degree, in addition to the 60 units completed at community college, results in a 120-unit pathway to a bachelor’s degree; and 4) Priority admission at CSU.
As of October 2020, over 280,000 CCC students have earned an ADT and over 40 ADT pathways exist at CCC. These ADT pathways have provided significant financial savings to both students and to the state – with ADT earners accruing an average of six fewer excess credit units and a course fee of $46 per unit at the CCC. The ADT accounted for over $12 million in savings for students in 2018-2019 alone. Higher percentages of students with an ADT have also been shown to graduate within two years of transfer compared to transfer students who do not have an ADT (based on CSU two-year graduation rates).
- Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC). The Academic Senates for CCC and CSU developed a faculty-led, statewide, concerted effort to identify the course content for new associate degrees for transfer. The process of creating an ADT begins with developing a structure for the central component (i.e., major or area of emphasis) of an associate degree. This faculty-developed structure, known as a TMC, is vetted inter-segmentally and adopted statewide and is then used by the CCC Chancellor’s Office to create a template (Chancellor’s Office Template or COT) that local colleges complete when submitting their TMC-aligned degrees to the Chancellor’s Office for approval. As such the process begins with statewide faculty development of a TMC and ends with the local implementation of that TMC in the form of an ADT. This measure would require the submission of TMC drafts to the CCCCO for the high unit STEM pathways for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility at four-year higher education institutions by January 1, 2025.
- High-unit degrees. Some CSU degree programs require more than the standard 120 units for certain degree programs, such as in computer science and other STEM majors. Statute exempts high-unit programs from the 60-unit guarantee requirements for ADT. It also establishes and charges an oversight committee to identify a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that is not to exceed a change of more than 6 units.
- Oversight committee. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental also known as the AB 928 Committee serves as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and ensures it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education. The AB 928 committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the STEM fields and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
In December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. This bill seeks to enact many of the recommendations from this report to continue efforts to improve transfer and close equity gaps.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis, this bill would have the following fiscal impact:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $20,000 each year to participate in the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
- The UC estimates General Fund costs in the low tens of thousands to the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars for the continued faculty and staff participation in the AB 928 committee. There could also be additional, unknown General Fund costs to the CSU for a representative to continue to participate in the AB 928 committee.
- This bill could result in additional General Fund costs to the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to contract with a third-party facilitator for the committee. While this bill does not require OPR to contract with a third-party facilitator, the 2022 Budget Act included $421,000 for this purpose. The third-party facilitator agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2025.
SUPPORT: (Verified 8/16/24)
California State Student Association (co-source)
Campaign for College Opportunity (co-source)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (co-source)
University of California Student Association (co-source)
Office of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (co-source)
African American Male Education Network & Development
Alliance for a Better Community
BLU Educational Foundation
Cal State Student Association
Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement
Consejo De Federaciones Mexicanas
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
Inner City Struggle
Kid City Hope Place
Los Angeles United Methodist Urban Foundation
Para Los Ninos
Parent Institute for Quality Education
Promesa Boyle Heights
Public Advocates
Southern California College Access Network
Southern California College Attainment Network
Television Academy Foundation
The Education Trust - West
uAspire
UC Student Association
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Young Invincibles
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/16/24)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 5/21/24
AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Robert Rivas
NO VOTE RECORDED: Cervantes, Megan Dahle, Friedman, Gabriel, Holden, Mathis, Luz Rivas
Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105
8/18/24 17:49:59
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Anna Caballero, Chair
2023 - 2024 Regular Session
AB 2057 (Berman) - Associate Degree for Transfer
Version: June 10, 2024 | Policy Vote: ED. 7 - 0 |
Urgency: No | Mandate: Yes |
Hearing Date: August 15, 2024 | Consultant: Lenin Del Castillo |
Bill Summary:
This bill extends the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Intersegmental Implementation Committee by two years and requires the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California State University (CSU), and requests the University of California (UC), to adopt and monitor certain goals related to closing equity gaps in transfer outcomes.
*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on August 15, 2024
Fiscal Impact:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $20,000 each year to participate in the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
- The UC estimates General Fund costs in the low tens of thousands to the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars for the continued faculty and staff participation in the AB 928 committee. There could also be additional, unknown General Fund costs to the CSU for a representative to continue to participate in the AB 928 committee.
- This bill could result in additional General Fund costs to the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to contract with a third-party facilitator for the committee. While this bill does not require OPR to contract with a third-party facilitator, the 2022 Budget Act included $421,000 for this purpose. The third-party facilitator agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2025.
Author Amendments:
Remove the requirement for the segments to adopt and monitor certain goals that are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
Senator Anna Caballero, Chair
2023 - 2024 Regular Session
AB 2057 (Berman) - Associate Degree for Transfer
Version: | Policy Vote: |
Urgency: | Mandate: |
Hearing Date: | Consultant: |
Bill Summary:
This bill extends the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Intersegmental Implementation Committee by two years and requires the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California State University (CSU), and requests the University of California (UC), to adopt and monitor certain goals related to closing equity gaps in transfer outcomes.
Fiscal Impact:
- The Chancellor’s Office indicates that by codifying a set of aspirational goals to close equity gaps, this bill could result in additional, unknown Proposition 98 General Fund costs to the extent that it creates new mandates or requires new operational activities for the individual colleges or for the system office. The Chancellor’s Office indicates that while it does not believe the goals established by this bill diverge from the system’s existing priorities, they may require additional funding to achieve those goals. Additionally, the Chancellor’s Office does not estimate any new costs for the development of draft transfer model curriculums (TMCs), as these are expected to be in place by the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Further, community colleges are already required to implement the corresponding ADTs within 18 months of an approval of a new TMC.
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $20,000 each year to participate in the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
- The UC estimates General Fund costs of about $1.6 million to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill. This estimate assumes that one additional staff would need to be hired at each of its nine campuses to provide outreach and support to community college students seeking to transfer to UC. The UC also estimates General Fund costs in the low tens of thousands to the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars for the continued faculty and staff participation in the AB 928 committee.
- There could be additional, unknown General Fund costs to the CSU to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill and for a CSU representative to continue to participate in the AB 928 committee.
- This bill could result in additional General Fund costs to the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to contract with a third-party facilitator for the committee. While this bill does not require OPR to contract with a third-party facilitator, the 2022 Budget Act included $421,000 for this purpose. The third-party facilitator agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2025.
Background:
Existing law requires the segments of higher education to develop an intersegmental common core curriculum in general education (GE) for the purpose of transfer. This common core curriculum is known as the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Any student who completes the IGETC course pattern is deemed to have completed the lower division coursework required for transfer to the UC or the CSU.
Existing law requests UC to identify commonalities and differences in similar majors across all UC campuses and provide CCC students with the information in at least the top 20 majors.
Existing law requires the governing board of each public postsecondary education segment to be accountable for the development and implementation of formal systemwide articulation agreements and transfer agreement programs, including those for general education or a transfer core curriculum, and other appropriate procedures to support and enhance the transfer function.
Existing law requires the Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the CSU, to establish specified components necessary for a clear degree path for transfer students, including specification of a systemwide lower division transfer curriculum for each high-demand baccalaureate major.
Existing law establishes the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, which, in part, requires, commencing with the fall term of the 2011-12 academic year, a student that receives an associate degree for transfer to be deemed eligible for transfer into a CSU baccalaureate degree when the student meets specified requirements.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2025, the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. It also requires the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students.
Proposed Law:
This bill requires that the CCCs and the CSU, and requests the UC, to adopt and monitor both of the following goals:
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to transfer to any four-year postsecondary educational institution within six years.
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the UC and the CSU segments.
This bill requires that the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement be retained for an ADT, with the exception of high-unit STEM majors as follows:
- For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the transfer model curriculum (TMC) approval process, as specified.
- The clear evidence and rationale must first be received by the Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the Chancellor’s Office.
- The clear evidence and rationale must be posted publicly on Chancellor’s Office’s website.
This bill requires that, on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts be submitted to the CCC Chancellor’s office for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the CSU and the UC segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the AICCU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently engaged with the Chancellor’s Office. The bill further requires that where a single TMC for both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed be posted on the Chancellor’s Office website and submitted to the Chancellor’s office, the CSU Chancellor’s Office, and the UC President’s Office that includes all of the following: the additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not possible; the programs and campuses of the CSU and the UC that determine a single TMC is not possible; and data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success outcomes that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
This bill requires that the CCCs, within 18 months of the creation of the templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered for high-unit STEM pathways, as specified.
This bill requires each campus of the CSU, within 12 months of the approval of a TMC, as specified, to determine the similarity of the TMC pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. Requests the UC and AICCU campuses to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.
This bill requires each campus of the CSU, for the purposes of determining similarity, as specified, after a TMC is created or revised for a major, to determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This bill further requires that the determination of similarity ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the CSU campuses offering that major and will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
This bill requires that by April 30, 2026, the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee provide the Legislature with both of the following: actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee and any additional recommendations based on the committee’s continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students and an update on the progress in meeting the goals prescribed in this bill.
Related Legislation:
AB 928 (Berman, Chapter 566, Statutes of 2021) in part, requires the CSU and UC to jointly establish a singular lower division GE pathway for transfer admission into both segments; requires CCC to place students who declare a goal of transfer on an ADT pathway for their intended major; and, establishes the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee to serve as the primary entity charged with oversight of the ADT.
Staff Comments:
The ADT Intersegmental, also known as the AB 928 committee, serves as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and ensures it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between community college campuses and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education. The AB 928 committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and members of educational equity and social justice organizations. In December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. This bill seeks to enact several recommendations from this report to continue efforts to improve transfer and close equity gaps.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Josh Newman, Chair
2023 - 2024 Regular
Bill No: Hearing Date: June 19, 2024
Author: | Berman | ||
Version: |
| ||
Urgency: | Fiscal: | ||
Consultant: | |||
Subject: .
SUMMARY
This bill extends the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Intersegmental Implementation Committee by two years and requires the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California State University (CSU), and requests the University of California (UC) to adopt and monitor certain goals related to closing equity gaps in transfer outcomes. It further requires that the transfer model curricula used to develop ADTs to the CCC Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for high-unit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors by January 1, 2025. Lastly, it requires that the ADT Intersegmental Committee report to the Legislature on the progress of meeting the prescribed goals.
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
1) Requires the segments of higher education to develop an intersegmental
common core curriculum in general education (GE) for the purpose of transfer. This common core curriculum is known as the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Any student who completes the IGETC course pattern is deemed to have completed the lower division coursework required for transfer to the UC or the CSU. (Education Code (EC) § 66720)
2) Requests UC to identify commonalities and differences in similar majors across all UC campuses and provide CCC students with the information in at least the top 20 majors. (EC § 66721.7)
3) Requires the governing board of each public postsecondary education segment to be accountable for the development and implementation of formal systemwide articulation agreements and transfer agreement programs, including those for general education or a transfer core curriculum, and other appropriate procedures to support and enhance the transfer function. (EC § 66738)
4) Requires the Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the CSU, to establish specified components necessary for a clear degree path for transfer students, including specification of a systemwide lower division transfer curriculum for each high-demand baccalaureate major. (EC § 66739.5)
5) Establishes the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, which, in part, requires, commencing with the fall term of the 2011-12 academic year, a student that receives an associate degree for transfer to be deemed eligible for transfer into a CSU baccalaureate degree when the student meets specified requirements. Requires a granting of this degree when a student:
a) Completes 60 semester or 90 quarter units eligible for transfer to the CSU, and that includes the CSU General Education Breadth program for IGETC, and a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in a major area of emphasis as determined by the district; and,
b) Obtains a minimum grade point average of 2.0. (EC § 66745, et seq.)
6) Establishes, until July 1, 2025, the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. Requires the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students. (EC § 66749.8)
7) Requires the CSU Chancellor's Office to implement articulated nursing degree transfer pathways for Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) students at CCCs seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) at CSU prior to the 2012-13 academic year. (EC § 89267.5)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
- Requires that the CCC and the CSU, and requests that the UC adopt and monitor both of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of
students who begin in the CCC and seek to transfer to any four-year postsecondary educational institution within six years.
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of
students who begin in the CCC and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the UC and the CSU segments.
- Requires that the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement be retained for an ADT, with the exception of high-unit STEM majors as described in a) below:
- For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established
that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the one to six additional units of lower division coursework proposed during the transfer model curriculum (TMC) approval process, including both of the following:
- An explanation of which proposed additional units do not fit within
the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement for ADT pathways.
- An explanation of the need for one to six additional units to
be added to the lower division coursework to earn an ADT that falls within the academic major preparation for the TMC.
- The clear evidence and rationale must first be received by the
Intersegmental Curriculum Council, and then reviewed by the CCCCO.
- The clear evidence and rationale must be posted publicly on CCCCO
website.
- Requires that, on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts be submitted to the CCCCO for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the CSU and the UC segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the AICCU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) currently engaged with the CCCCO. The bill further requires that where a single TMC for both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed be posted on the CCCCO website and submitted to the CCCCO, CSU Chancellor’s Office and the UC President’s Office that includes all of the following:
- The additional courses and units that determine a single TMC is not
possible.
- The programs and campuses of the CSU and the UC that determine a
single TMC is not possible.
- Data on transfer student enrollment, retention, progression, and success
outcomes that demonstrate the need for separate TMCs.
- Requires that the CCC, within 18 months of the creation of CCCCO’s templates for a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, create an ADT for each TMC adopted in every major and area of emphasis offered for high-unit STEM pathways, as specified.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, within 12 months of the approval of a TMC, as specified, to determine the similarity of the TMC pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. Requests the UC and AICCU campuses to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for guaranteed transfer admission with an ADT.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, for the purposes of determining similarity, as specified, after a TMC is created or revised for a major, to determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This bill further requires that the determination of similarity ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the CSU campuses offering that major and will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
- Stipulates that transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required.
- Requires that by April 30, 2026, the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee provide the Legislature with both of the following:
- Actions taken and milestones achieved by the committee and any
additional recommendations based on the committee’s continued oversight of the ADT and issues impeding streamlining transfer across segments for students.
- An update on the progress in meeting the goals prescribed in this bill.
- Defines all of the following terms for purposes of this measure:
- “ADT” means associate degree for transfer.
- “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- “TMC” means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as
Appropriate.
- Four-year postsecondary educational institution to mean a campus
of the UC or CSU, or an independent institution of higher education as defined in current law.
- Makes various findings and declarations related to the bill.
- Declares the Legislature’s intent to enact legislation based on recommendations from the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee.
- Makes clarifying and technical changes.
STAFF COMMENTS
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students. The transfer pathway, from community college to four-year institution, is an integral component of the Master Plan’s commitment to access and affordability. Too many community college students hoping to find an affordable and achievable pathway to a four-year university instead are confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before earning a degree.
“To address these challenges, I authored AB 928, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021, which is transforming the transfer process through reimagining transfer from the student perspective. One of the student-centered provisions of AB 928 created the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee. This committee was charged with enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions, identifying transfer attainment goals, overseeing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), and providing recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor to strengthen the ADT so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT pathway’s benefits.
“In December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree pathways. AB 2057 would build upon my previous transfer legislation to enact five high-impact recommendations continuing student-centered efforts to improve transfer.”
- Streamlining pathways for CCC students. Students at CCC have many options, they can earn a traditional Associate of Arts (AA) degree at CCC, transfer to a four-year university or upskill for the workforce. Students confront many choices with each variation of options. In 2010, the Legislature enacted a law requiring CCC to streamline transfer to CSU and AA degree completion by developing the ADT pathway. Other transfer pathways and non-transfer or terminal AA degrees continue to be offered.
- Benefits of ADT pathways for students. In an effort to address standing issues and concerns about the need to ensure a clearer, transparent and more navigable transfer process between the CCC and the CSU, the Legislature and Governor enacted SB 1440 (Padilla, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010), the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Since its enactment, the ADT has made significant strides in streamlining the transfer process for students, and has become a successful pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree. Specifically, the Act requires CCC districts to develop and grant a transfer associate degree that deems the student eligible for transfer into the CSU, when the student meets certain course requirements. Completion of an ADT guarantees a student:
- Admission with junior status to a CSU campus but not to a specific
campus or major.
- No additional lower-division CSU coursework.
- No more than 60-semester units of upper-division CSU coursework to
complete a bachelor’s degree, in addition to the 60 units completed at community college, results in a 120-unit pathway to a bachelor’s degree.
d) Priority admission at CSU.
Additionally, since developing the ADT, the CCC system has also entered into new transfer agreements with the UC and private nonprofit universities, some of which now also guarantee admission and junior standing to students with an ADT.
As of October 2020, over 280,000 CCC students have earned an ADT and over 40 ADT pathways exist at CCC. These ADT pathways have provided significant financial savings to both students and to the state – with ADT earners accruing an average of six fewer excess credit units and a course fee of $46 per unit at the CCC. The ADT accounted for over $12 million in savings for students in 2018-2019 alone. Higher percentages of students with an ADT have also been shown to graduate within two years of transfer compared to transfer students who do not have an ADT (based on CSU two-year graduation rates).
- Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC). The Academic Senates for CCC and CSU developed a faculty-led, statewide, concerted effort to identify the course content for new associate degrees for transfer. The process of creating an ADT begins with developing a structure for the central component (i.e., major or area of emphasis) of an associate degree. This faculty-developed structure, known as a TMC, is vetted intersegmentally and adopted statewide and is then used by the CCC Chancellor’s Office to create a template (Chancellor’s Office Template or COT) that local colleges complete when submitting their TMC-aligned degrees to the Chancellor’s Office for approval. As such the process begins with statewide faculty development of a TMC and ends with the local implementation of that TMC in the form of an ADT. This measure would require the submission of TMC drafts to the CCCCO for the high unit STEM pathways for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility at four-year higher education institutions by January 1, 2025.
- High-unit degrees. Some CSU degree programs require more than the standard 120 units for certain degree programs, such as in computer science and other STEM majors. Statute exempts high-unit programs from the 60-unit guarantee requirements for ADT. It also establishes and charges an oversight committee to identify a new unit threshold for STEM degree pathways that is not to exceed a change of more than 6 units.
- Oversight committee. The Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental also known as the AB 928 Committee serves as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and ensures it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education. The AB 928 committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the STEM fields and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
In December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. This bill seeks to enact the following five recommendations from this report to continue efforts to improve transfer and close equity gaps:
- Adopt and monitor two specific goals, designed to prioritize first and foremost the closing of equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Retain the 60-unit maximum requirement for ADTs while providing an option for up to an additional six units for high-unit STEM ADTs and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
- Require that TMC drafts are in place for Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Physics, and Computer Science pathways that prepare students for transfer to both the CSU and UC systems and other four-year institutions that choose to participate.
- Establish timelines for when CCC will create ADTs for the above STEM pathways and for when CSU campuses will determine similarity of the ADT to a baccalaureate degree.
- Require transparency concerning membership and composition of the Faculty Discipline Review Groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups.
This bill, in addition to enacting committee recommendations, extends the committee by two years for purposes of providing continued oversight of the ADT and reporting on the progress in meeting the goals prescribed in this bill.
- Concerns. Concerns have been raised about extending the life of the AB 928 oversight committee, as the majority of the work is done by the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates (ICAS). ICAS represents faculty across all three segments and has most of the key achievements in intersegmental work, all of which are part of their regular business. Is it necessary to maintain the committee? Or could the current intersegmental faculty committee structure accomplish a similar goal?
- Prior legislation.
AB 928 (Berman, Chapter 566, Statutes of 2021) in part, requires the CSU and UC to jointly establish a singular lower division GE pathway for transfer admission into both segments; requires CCC to place students who declare a goal of transfer on an ADT pathway for their intended major; and, establishes the ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee to serve as the primary entity charged with oversight of the ADT.
SB 440 (Padilla), Chapter 720, Statutes of 2013, requires, prior to the 2014-15 academic year, a CCC create an ADT in every major that has a TMC. Specifies that once a TMC is approved by faculty, community colleges use it to design an ADT in that particular major.
AB 2302 (Paul Fong, Chapter 427, Statutes of 2010), made changes to existing law regarding transfer admissions to support the transfer pathway proposed by SB 1440 (Padilla) (as described below.
SB 1440 (Padilla, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010), created the STAR Act, which, in part, created the ADT; a two-year 60-unit associate degrees for transfer that are fully transferable to CSU. These degrees require completion of: (1) a minimum of 18 units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by each community college; and, (2) an approved set of general education requirements. Students who earn such a degree are automatically eligible to transfer to the CSU system as an upper-division student in a bachelor’s degree program and need only complete two additional years (an additional 60 units) of coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree.
SUPPORT
California State Student Association (Co-Sponsor)
Campaign for College Opportunity (Co-Sponsor)
Office of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (Co-Sponsor)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (Co-Sponsor)
University of California Student Association (Co-Sponsor)
A2Mend
Alliance for a Better Community
BLU Educational Foundation
Cal State Student Association
Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement
Consejo De Federaciones Mexicanas
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
Innercity Struggle
Los Angeles United Methodist Foundation
Para Los Ninos
Parent Institute for Quality Education
Promesa Boyle Heights
Public Advocates
Southern California College Attainment Network
Television Academy Foundation
The Education Trust - West
uAspire
United Way of Los Angeles
Young Invincibles
OPPOSITION
None received
-- END --
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 2057
Author:(Berman)
As Amended Ver:May 16, 2024
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Extends the sunset of the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee (ADT IIC) by two years, and requires the State to adopt and monitor certain goals, as specified.
Major Provisions
- Finds and declares the intent of the Legislature (refer to the policy committee analysis for in-depth details).
- States that the Legislature intends to enact legislation based on recommendations from the ADT IIC.
- Defines the following for purposes of this measure:
- (ADT) means associate degree for transfer;
- (STEM) means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
- (TMC) means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
- Stipulates that California must adopt and monitor all of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges (CCC) and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years; and,
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) segments.
- Requires that the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement to be retained for an ADT, with the exception of a) as enumerated below:
- For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
- Requires that, on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts to be in place for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the CSU and the UC segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the AICCU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) currently engaged with the CCC Office of the Chancellor. Where a single TMC to both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed will be required.
- Requires that the CCC, within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, must create an ADT for each TMC, as specified.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, within 12 months of the development of an ADT, as specified, to determine similarity of the ADT pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. Requests the UC and AICCU campuses to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for transfer admission.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, for the purposes of determining similarity, as specified, after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, to determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the CSU campuses offering that major and will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
- Stipulates that transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required.
- Makes clarifying and technical changes.
COMMENTS
Establishment of ADTs and the IIC. Enacted over a decade ago, the ADT was designed to simplify the transfer maze at CCC. Since its enactment, the ADT has made significant strides in streamlining the transfer process for students, and has become a successful pathway to earning a bachelor's degree. The ADT is a two-year, 60 unit degree that guarantees admission to the CSU and participating private institutions of higher education. Students who earn an ADT are automatically eligible to transfer as an upper-division student in a bachelor's degree program and need only complete two additional years (an additional 60 units) of coursework to earn a bachelor's degree.
The ADT IIC was established in 2022 and is also known as the AB 928 Committee (Berman) Chapter 566, Statutes of 2021. The AB 928 Committee serves as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and ensures it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT's benefits.
The AB 928 Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the AICCU, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the STEM fields and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
In December 2023, the AB 928 Committee submitted their report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, research, and analysis. The AB 928 Committee offered recommendations with the understanding that California needs to continue to improve equity and equality in transfer student outcomes in order to sustain a productive workforce, thereby improving the well-being of the people of California and providing a fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
This measure enacts the following five recommendations from the ADT IIC to improve transfer:
- Adopt and monitor two specific goals, designed to prioritize first and foremost the closing of equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Retain the 60-unit maximum requirement for ADTs while providing an option for up to an additional six units for high-unit STEM ADTs and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
- Require that TMC drafts are in place for Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Physics, and Computer Science pathways that prepare students for transfer to both the CSU and UC systems and other four-year institutions that choose to participate.
- Establish timelines for when CCC will create ADTs for the above STEM pathways and for when CSU campuses will determine similarity of the ADT to a baccalaureate degree.
- Require transparency concerning membership and composition of the Faculty Discipline Review Groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups.
This measure will also extend the sunset date on the ADT ICC by two years. The author states that, "allowing the continuation of the AB 928 Committee, has been successful in providing a venue to facilitate intersegmental coordination and greater state-level accountability. In fact, the AB 928 Committee has been highlighted as a model in enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions."
According to the Author
"The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students. The transfer pathway, from community college to four-year institution, is an integral component of the Master Plan's commitment to access and affordability. Too many community college students hoping to find an affordable and achievable pathway to a four-year university instead are confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before earning a degree."
The author states, “to address these challenges, I authored AB 928, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021, which is transforming the transfer process through reimagining transfer from the student perspective. One of the student-centered provisions of AB 928 created the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee. This committee was charged with enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions, identifying transfer attainment goals, overseeing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), and providing recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor to strengthen the ADT so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT pathway's benefits.”
Lastly, the author states that, "in December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree pathways. AB 2057 would build upon my previous transfer legislation to enact five high-impact recommendations continuing student-centered efforts to improve transfer."
Arguments in Support
According to a coalition of higher education advocates, student leaders, and civil rights organizations, including, but not limited to, the California State Student Association, the Campaign for College Opportunity, and the Dolores Huerta Foundation,
"The ADT is a powerful and proven tool in closing racial equity gaps: when comparing the cohort of students who successfully transferred in 2015-16 versus 2021-22, Latinx students transferring with an ADT jumped from 25% to 53%. For Black students, the percentage of students successfully transferring with an ADT rose from 14% to 36%."
The coalition contends that, "progress in closing persistent racial and ethnic equity gaps in transfer attainment varies widely across disciplines. To create an ADT, discipline faculty first create a transfer model curriculum, or TMC, providing the framework of curriculum students would take to earn an ADT in a specific major. Of the 40 TMCs currently developed, very few of these pathways are in STEM fields: a systemic limitation to students' ability to seamlessly transfer within STEM majors. For example, despite being a high demand major corresponding to growing workforce demands, there are no ADT pathways for the engineering and industrial technologies major at the CCC, since there is no engineering TMC to serve as the framework for developing that ADT pathway."
Further, according to the coalition, "the AB 928 ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee was created in 2022, and tasked with providing expert recommendations on setting statewide goals for closing racial equity gaps in transfer, guidance for improving availability and accessibility of STEM pathways, and reengaging ADT earners who did not ultimately transfer – all with the objective of improve the accessibility and utility of the ADT to improve the transfer process for students."
Lastly, the coalition states that, "AB 2057 would improve the utility of the ADT, particularly for STEM majors, by codifying the following recommendations from the Committee's report, which were unanimously approved by the Committee's full membership – including student, institutional, faculty, educational equity advocacy, research, and STEM expert stakeholders."
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations:
- CCC: Potential Proposition 98 General Fund cost pressures to CCC to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill. One-time General Fund costs for two years of about $20,000 annually to participate in the Committee.
- CSU: Potential General Fund cost pressures to CSU to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill. One-time General Fund costs for two years of an unknown amount, likely in the tens of thousands of dollars to low hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to participate in the Committee.
- UC: Potential General Fund cost pressures to UC to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill. UC estimates it may need one employee for each of its nine campuses to accomplish this work. One-time General Fund costs for two years of an unknown amount, potentially in the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars to participate in the Committee.
- Potential one-time General Fund costs to Office of Planning and Research of about $140,000 annually for two years to contract with a third-party facilitator for the AB 928 Committee.
VOTES
ASM HIGHER EDUCATION: 11-0-0
YES: Mike Fong, Ta, Arambula, Boerner, Chen, Alanis, Irwin, Jackson, Addis, Muratsuchi, Quirk-Silva
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-4
YES: Wicks, Arambula, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Pellerin, Villapudua
ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez, Dixon, Jim Patterson, Ta
UPDATED
VERSION: May 16, 2024
CONSULTANT: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0003383
Date of Hearing: May 8, 2024
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2057
Author:(Berman) – As Amended Ver:April 18, 2024
Policy Committee: | Higher Education | Vote: | 11 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill removes the sunset of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Intersegmental Implementation Committee, also known as the AB 928 committee, and implements several of the committee’s recommendations. The bill also requires the state to adopt and monitor certain goals related to closing equity gaps.
Specifically, this bill:
- Requires California to adopt and monitor the following goals: (a) by 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the California Community Colleges (CCC) and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years, and (b) by 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to apply, be admitted, enroll, and graduate from the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) segments.
- Requires that the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement be retained for an ADT, except for high-unit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) major pathways, wherein ADT pathways may be established that contain up to 66 units of lower division coursework, and requires the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC) approval process. Further requires that, on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts be in place for the high-unit STEM major pathways.
- Requires that the CCC, within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, create an ADT for each TMC.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, within 12 months of the development of an ADT, to determine similarity of the ADT pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. Requests the UC and private nonprofit university campuses to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for transfer admission.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, to determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC.
FISCAL EFFECT:
CCC:
- Potential Proposition 98 General Fund cost pressures to CCC to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill. The CCC Chancellor’s Office indicates, that while it does not believe the goals established by this bill diverge from the system’s existing priorities, they may require additional funding to achieve.
- Ongoing General Fund costs of about $20,000 annually for a CCC representative to permanently participate in the AB 928 committee and take certain actions related to TMCs. The CCC Chancellor’s Office indicates costs for the latter to be minor, if any, because draft TMCs are to be in place by the end of the 2023-24 academic year and existing law already requires CCCs to implement the ADTs within 18 months of an approval of a new TMC.
CSU:
- Potential General Fund cost pressures to CSU to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill.
- Ongoing General Fund costs of an unknown amount, likely in the tens of thousands of dollars to low hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, for a CSU representative to permanently participate in the AB 928 committee and for CSU to take certain actions related to TMCs.
UC:
- Potential General Fund cost pressures to UC to reach the aspirational goals related to closing equity gaps established by this bill. UC estimates it may need one employee for each of its nine campuses to accomplish this work.
- Ongoing General Fund costs of an unknown amount, potentially in the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars, for a UC representative to permanently participate in the AB 928 committee and for UC to take certain actions related to TMCs.
Office of Planning and Research (OPR)
- Potential ongoing General Fund costs to OPR to contract with a third-party facilitator for the AB 928 committee. While this bill does not require OPR to contract with a third party to facilitate the AB 928 committee, the 2022 Budget Act included $421,000 for these purposes. The third-party facilitator agreement is to expire at the end of the 2025 calendar year.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the General Fund faces a structural deficit in the tens of billions of dollars over the next several fiscal years.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author:
Too many community college students hoping to find an affordable and achievable pathway to a four-year university instead are confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before earning a degree.” to address these challenges, I authored AB 928, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021, which is transforming the transfer process through reimagining transfer from the student perspective. One of the student-centered provisions of AB 928 created the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee. In December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree pathways. AB 2057 would build upon my previous transfer legislation to enact five high-impact recommendations continuing student-centered efforts to improve transfer.
- Background. SB 1440 (Padilla), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010, sought to improve transfer for students between CCC and CSU. The bill created the ADT pathway at CCC. The ADT is a set of classes in a specific discipline that guarantees certain undergraduate status and entry into a CSU for a CCC student who completes the sequence. Specifically, the ADT is a two-year, 60-unit degree that guarantees admission to the CSU and participating private institutions of higher education. Students who earn an ADT are automatically eligible to transfer as an upper-division student in a bachelor’s degree program and need only complete two additional years (an additional 60 units) of coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree. TMCs determine which CCC courses a student must complete to earn an ADT. TMCs are vetted by intersegmental discipline faculty.
AB 928 (Berman), Chapter 566, Statutes of 2021, established the AB 928 committee. The committee is charged with overseeing the ADT. The committee consists of 16 members, comprising of higher education representatives, students associations, academic senate representatives, and others. The committee is to meet regularly to ensure the ADT becomes the primary transfer pathway between CCC, CSU, UC, and other participating institutions, such as private nonprofit universities. Current law requires the committee to provide the Legislature with recommendations related to the ADT and streamlining transfer, including the identification of annual goals for increasing transfer rates and closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity. Current law repeals the AB 928 committee January 1, 2026.
In December 2023, the AB 928 committee submitted their report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity, proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways, and other recommendations.
This bill seeks to implement recommendations of the AB 928 committee report and extends the operation of the committee indefinitely.
- Opposition. This bill is opposed unless amended by the Academic Senate of the CSU, which indicates that the bulk of the work that was to be performed by the AB 928 committee was actually done by the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates (ICAS), of which it is a part, along with the CCC and UC Academic Senates. The Academic Senate of the CSU indicates the AB 928 committee this bill would extend is “high cost and subverts the role of ICAS, a highly functional group who was able to implement AB 928.”
Analysis Prepared by: Natasha Collins / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 16, 2024
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Mike Fong, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2057 (
Author:Berman) – As Amended Ver:March 19, 2024
SUBJECT: Associate Degree for Transfer.
SUMMARY: Removes the sunset of the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee (ADT IIC) and requires the State to adopt and monitor certain goals, as specified. Specifically, this bill:
- Finds and declares the following intent of the Legislature:
- The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students who qualify. The transfer pathway, from community college to a four-year postsecondary educational institution, is an integral component of the master plan’s commitment to access and affordability;
- The associate degree for transfer (ADT) was established in 2010 to create a streamlined transfer pathway for California Community Colleges (CCC) students to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) systems by aligning coursework necessary to transfer to a CSU or a UC with the coursework needed to earn an associate degree with the goal of ensuring CCC students earn an associate degree while on their path to transfer, streamlining the transfer requirements across the CCC system, reducing time and excess credit units for the benefit of the student and the state, and guaranteeing a student junior standing at the CSU so they can expect to achieve a bachelor’s degree in two years;
- The structural framework of the ADT established to simplify the transfer pathway is a 60-unit threshold for the lower division coursework, plus a 60-unit maximum threshold for the upper division coursework. With this, every student who selects the ADT pathway and completes 60 transferable credits in the CCC system will be awarded an ADT. In addition to earning a degree, the student would complete the requirements for transfer and earn guaranteed admission with junior standing to a corresponding degree program at the CSU or other participating institution;
- The ADT IIC was established by Chapter 566 of the Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Bill No. 928 in 2021) to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and to ensure it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, as specified, so that more students can avail themselves of the transfer pathway’s benefits;
- The ADT IIC is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California; and,
- In December 2023, the ADT IIC submitted their final report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, and bolstered by research and analysis. The ADT IIC offered these recommendations emboldened by the strong belief that the State of California must dramatically improve equity in transfer student outcomes to sustain a productive workforce in California, improve the well-being of the state’s residents, and provide fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
- States that the Legislature intends to enact legislation based on recommendations from the ADT IIC.
- Defines the following for purposes of this measure:
- “ADT” means associate degree for transfer;
- “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
- “TMC” means transfer model curriculum, or transfer model curricula, as appropriate.
- Stipulates that California must adopt and monitor all of the following goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes:
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years; and,
- By 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the UC and the CSU segments.
- Requires that the 60-unit lower division maximum requirement to be retained for an ADT, with the exception of (a) as enumerated below:
- For high-unit STEM major pathways, ADT pathways may be established that contain up to, but no more than, 66 units of lower division coursework, and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
- Requires that, on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts to be in place for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the CSU and the UC segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the AICCU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) currently engaged with the CCC Office of the Chancellor. Where a single TMC to both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed will be required.
- Requires that the CCC, within 18 months of the approval of a new TMC, or the approval of revisions to an existing TMC, must create an ADT for each TMC, as specified.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, within 12 months of the development of an ADT, as specified, to determine similarity of the ADT pathway to a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. Requests the UC and AICCU campuses to identify those TMCs that fulfill major preparation requirements for transfer admission.
- Requires each campus of the CSU, for the purposes of determining similarity, as specified, after a TMC template is created or revised for a major, to determine if there is a baccalaureate degree in a similar major to the TMC. This determination of similarity shall ensure that students who earn the ADT, that is created under the parameters of that TMC, are guaranteed admission in that similar major at one of the CSU campuses offering that major and will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn the baccalaureate degree that is deemed similar to the major of the ADT if the student stays on that ADT pathway.
- Stipulates that transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required.
- Makes clarifying and technical changes.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires the segments of higher education to develop an intersegmental common core curriculum in general education (GE) for the purpose of transfer. This common core curriculum is known as the Intersegmental General Education Transfer curriculum (IGETC). Any student who completes the IGETC course pattern is deemed to have completed the lower division coursework required for transfer to the UC or the CSU (Education Code (EC) Section 66720).
- Requests UC to identify commonalities and differences in similar majors across all UC campuses and provide CCC students with the information in at least the top 20 majors (EC Section 66721.7).
- Requires the governing board of each public postsecondary education segment to be accountable for the development and implementation of formal systemwide articulation agreements and transfer agreement programs, including those for general education or a transfer core curriculum, and other appropriate procedures to support and enhance the transfer function (EC Section 66738).
- Requires the Chancellor of CSU, in consultation with the Academic Senate of the CSU, to establish specified components necessary for a clear degree path for transfer students, including specification of a systemwide lower division transfer curriculum for each high-demand baccalaureate major (EC Section 66739.5).
- Establishes the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, which, in part, requires, commencing with the fall term of the 2011-12 academic year, a student that receives an associate degree for transfer to be deemed eligible for transfer in to a CSU baccalaureate degree when the student meets specified requirements. Requires a granting of this degree when a student:
- Completes 60 semester or 90 quarter units eligible for transfer to the CSU and that includes the CSU General Education Breadth program for IGETC, and a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in a major area of emphasis as determined by the district; and,
- Obtains a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (EC Section 66745, et seq.).
- Establishes, until July 1, 2025, the ADT IIC for specified purposes, including to serve as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT. Requires the ADT IIC, on or before December 31, 2023, to provide the Legislature with recommendations on certain issues impeding the scaling of the ADT and streamlining transfer across segments for students (EC Section 66749.8).
- Requires the CSU Chancellor's Office to implement articulated nursing degree transfer pathways for Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) students at CCCs seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) at CSU prior to the 2012-13 academic year (EC Section 89267.5).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Establishment of ADTs and the IIC. Enacted over a decade ago, the ADT was designed to simplify the transfer maze at CCC. Since its enactment, the ADT has made significant strides in streamlining the transfer process for students, and has become a successful pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree. The ADT is a two-year, 60 unit degree that guarantees admission to the CSU and participating private institutions of higher education. Students who earn an ADT are automatically eligible to transfer as an upper-division student in a bachelor’s degree program and need only complete two additional years (an additional 60 units) of coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree.
The ADT IIC was established in 2022 and is also known as the AB 928 Committee. The AB 928 Committee serves as the primary entity charged with the oversight of the ADT for the sole purpose of strengthening the pathway for students and ensures it becomes the primary transfer pathway in California between campuses of the CCC and the UC, the CSU, and participating independent institutions of higher education, so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT’s benefits.
The AB 928 Committee is comprised of 16 members who are representative of a cross-section of stakeholders, including student, institutional, and faculty representatives from the CCC, CSU, and UC systems, along with representatives from the AICCU, members of educational equity and social justice organizations, and members with expertise in the STEM fields and with expertise in higher education research that includes scholarship on student transfer issues in California.
In December 2023, the AB 928 Committee submitted their report of recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which included recommendations on setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for STEM degree pathways. These recommendations emerged from many months of discussions and deliberations, were rooted in guiding premises, research, and analysis. The AB 928 Committee offered recommendations with the understanding that California needs to continue to improve equity and equality in transfer student outcomes in order to sustain a productive workforce, thereby improving the well-being of the people of California and providing a fair opportunity for social and economic mobility.
Purpose of the measure. According to the author, “the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education promised an accessible, affordable, and high-quality higher education for all California students. The transfer pathway, from community college to four-year institution, is an integral component of the Master Plan’s commitment to access and affordability. Too many community college students hoping to find an affordable and achievable pathway to a four-year university instead are confronted with a maze of pathways and requirements that create confusion, lead to unnecessary unit accumulation, and too often lead to students dropping out before earning a degree.”
The author states, “to address these challenges, I authored AB 928, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021, which is transforming the transfer process through reimagining transfer from the student perspective. One of the student-centered provisions of AB 928 created the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee. This committee was charged with enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions, identifying transfer attainment goals, overseeing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), and providing recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor to strengthen the ADT so that more students can avail themselves of the ADT pathway’s benefits.”
Lastly, the author states that, “in December 2023, the Committee released their report of recommendations, including setting goals for increasing transfer rates and proposing a unit threshold for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree pathways. AB 2057 would build upon my previous transfer legislation to enact five high-impact recommendations continuing student-centered efforts to improve transfer.”
This measure enacts the following five recommendations from the ADT IIC to improve transfer:
- Adopt and monitor two specific goals, designed to prioritize first and foremost the closing of equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes.
- Retain the 60-unit maximum requirement for ADTs while providing an option for up to an additional six units for high-unit STEM ADTs and require the submission of clear evidence and rationale for the higher units during the TMC approval process.
- Require that TMC drafts are in place for Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Physics, and Computer Science pathways that prepare students for transfer to both the CSU and UC systems and other four-year institutions that choose to participate.
- Establish timelines for when CCC will create ADTs for the above STEM pathways and for when CSU campuses will determine similarity of the ADT to a baccalaureate degree.
- Require transparency concerning membership and composition of the Faculty Discipline Review Groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups.
This measure will also remove the sunset date on the ADT ICC. The author states that, “allowing the continuation of the AB 928 Committee, has been successful in providing a venue to facilitate intersegmental coordination and greater state-level accountability. In fact, the AB 928 Committee has been highlighted as a model in enhancing coordination and communication between higher education institutions.”
Committee comments and amendments. This measure keeps ADT IIC/the AB 928 Committee functioning, that is to say, it does not sunset the ADT IIC; however, it is unclear what the exact role and nature of the ADT IIC will entail.
Moving forward, the author may wish to specify the role of the ADT IIC and how it will intersect with the goals as outlined in this measure; will the ADT IIC serve as the monitor or overseer? Will specified entities report to the ADT IIC?
Additionally, this measure states that, “where a single TMC to both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed will be required.” However, it is presently unclear as to what the term “clear evidence and rationale” entails and how it would be determined.
Moving forward, the author may wish provide a definition of “clear evidence and rationale” or provide specificity as to what “clear evidence and rationale” entails. The author may wish to determine if, once the “clear evidence and rational” is synthesized, publicity posting the outcomes or methods behind the “clear evidence and rational” to the appropriate website(s).
Further, the measure states that, “on or before January 1, 2025, TMC drafts must be in place for the high-unit STEM pathways of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics for the purposes of meeting admissions eligibility to both the CSU and the UC segments, and other four-year institutions that choose to participate in the ADT, such as members of the AICCU and HBCUs currently engaged with the CCC Office of the Chancellor. Where a single TMC to both the UC and the CSU is not possible, clear evidence and rationale explaining why separate TMCs are needed will be required.
Committee Staff understands that some segments were concerned that the date of January 1, 2025, was unrealistic; however, this date is for the drafts to be provided, not the final TMCs. Committee Staff notes that the AB 928 report recommendations suggested the same TMC drafts to be in place by the 2024-25 academic year.
This measure stipulates that California must adopt and monitor all of the specified goals, which are designed to prioritize closing equity gaps by race and ethnicity in transfer outcomes by 2030; however, the measure does not provide a due date. To ensure that there is no ambiguity with implementing by a specific time, Committee Staff recommends, and the author has agreed to accept, the following amendment:
Section 4. Section 66749.81 (1) By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to transfer to any four-year institution within six years; and, (2) By January 1, 2030, close equity gaps by race and ethnicity in the outcomes of students who begin in the CCC and seek to apply, be admitted, to enroll, and to graduate from the UC and the CSU segments.
Further, in order to provide clarity as to high-unit STEM major pathways, Committee Staff recommends, and the author has accepted, the following amendment:
Section 4. Section 66749.81 (2) For high-unit STEM major pathways, identified as high-unit STEM pathways by the Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee,
Committee Staff understands that the ADT IIC consistently highlighted the need for transparency as the implementation of the recommendations move forward. With that in mind, Committee Staff recommends, and the author has agreed to accept, the following amendment:
Section 4. Section 66749.81 (f) Transparency concerning the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review groups and other intersegmental curriculum groups is required. as follows:
(1) For each faculty discipline review group, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges shall regularly report to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and the Academic Senate of the California State University shall regularly report to the California State University Chancellor’s Office, the following:
(A)The total number of faculty members serving on each faculty discipline review group,
including how many members work for a California Community College, how many members work for a California State University, how many members work for a University of California institution, and how many members work for a private institution.
(B)The names of each member, the higher education institutions where each member works as instructional faculty, and the academic disciplines that each member provides classroom instruction for.
(2) The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California State University Chancellor’s Office shall regularly update their websites to reflect the membership and composition of the faculty discipline review group pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f).
Arguments in support. According to a coalition of higher education advocates, student leaders, and civil rights organizations, including, but not limited to, the California State Student Association, the Campaign for College Opportunity, and the Dolores Huerta Foundation,
“The ADT is a powerful and proven tool in closing racial equity gaps: when comparing the cohort of students who successfully transferred in 2015-16 versus 2021-22, Latinx students transferring with an ADT jumped from 25% to 53%. For Black students, the percentage of students successfully transferring with an ADT rose from 14% to 36%.”
The coalition contends that, “progress in closing persistent racial and ethnic equity gaps in transfer attainment varies widely across disciplines. To create an ADT, discipline faculty first create a transfer model curriculum, or TMC, providing the framework of curriculum students would take to earn an ADT in a specific major. Of the 40 TMCs currently developed, very few of these pathways are in STEM fields: a systemic limitation to students’ ability to seamlessly transfer within STEM majors. For example, despite being a high demand major corresponding to growing workforce demands, there are no ADT pathways for the engineering and industrial technologies major at the CCC, since there is no engineering TMC to serve as the framework for developing that ADT pathway.”
Further, according to the coalition, “the AB 928 ADT Intersegmental Implementation Committee was created in 2022, and tasked with providing expert recommendations on setting statewide goals for closing racial equity gaps in transfer, guidance for improving availability and accessibility of STEM pathways, and reengaging ADT earners who did not ultimately transfer – all with the objective of improve the accessibility and utility of the ADT to improve the transfer process for students.”
Lastly, the coalition states that, “AB 2057 would improve the utility of the ADT, particularly for STEM majors, by codifying the following recommendations from the Committee’s report, which were unanimously approved by the Committee’s full membership – including student, institutional, faculty, educational equity advocacy, research, and STEM expert stakeholders.”
Prior legislation. AB 928 (Berman), Chapter 566, Statutes of 2021, in part, requires the CSU and UC to jointly establish a singular lower division GE pathway for transfer admission into both segments; requires CCC to place students who declare a goal of transfer on an ADT pathway for their intended major; and, establishes the ADT IIC to serve as the primary entity charged with oversight of the ADT.
SB 440 (Padilla), Chapter 720, Statutes of 2013, requires, prior to the 2014-15 academic year, a CCC create an ADT in every major that has a TMC. Specifies that once a TMC is approved by faculty, community colleges use it to design an ADT in that particular major.
AB 2302 (Paul Fong), Chapter 427, Statutes of 2010, made changes to existing law regarding transfer admissions to support the transfer pathway proposed by SB 1440 (Padilla) (as described below.
SB 1440 (Padilla), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2010, created the STAR Act, which, in part, created the ADT; a two-year 60-unit associate degrees for transfer that are fully transferable to CSU. These degrees require completion of: (1) a minimum of 18 units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by each community college; and, (2) an approved set of general education requirements. Students who earn such a degree are automatically eligible to transfer to the CSU system as an upper-division student in a bachelor’s degree program and need only complete two additional years (an additional 60 units) of coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Alliance for a Better Community
Blu Educational Foundation
California Chamber of Commerce
California State Student Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement
Consejo De Federaciones Mexicanas
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
Innercity Struggle
Los Angeles United Methodist Urban Foundation
Office of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
Parent Institute for Quality Education
Promesa Boyle Heights
Public Advocates
Southern California College Access Network
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
Uaspire
UC Student Association
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
University of California Student Association
Young Invincibles
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960
Discussed in Hearing
40SEC
Assembly Floor
3MIN
Senate Floor
6MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Education
55SEC
Assembly Floor
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):