AB 2660: Public postsecondary education: intersegmental partnerships: STEM education.

The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and functions of Californias public segments of higher education and their respective institutions of higher education. The California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California are the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California act, by appropriate resolution, to make them applicable.

This bill would establish the Cal-Bridge Program as a fully intersegmental partnership program between the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California to create a pathway that promotes the advancement of Californias diverse undergraduate public postsecondary student population who major in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to pursue STEM doctors of philosophy (PhDs) and become members of Californias professorate or leaders in Californias technology industry. The bill would specify the goals of the Cal-Bridge Program, including, among others, preparing students to apply to PhD programs in STEM disciplines, as specified. The bill would include 5 Cal-Bridge subprograms to provide resources, research opportunities, and financial support to qualifying public postsecondary undergraduate, PhD, and postdoctoral STEM scholars. The bill would also establish the ENLACE Program as an operationally independent program that works in collaboration with the Cal-Bridge Program to create pathways that prepare Californias high school and college students for all levels of postsecondary STEM education and the states STEM workforce, as specified. The bill would require the ENLACE Program to consist of the ENLACE K12 and Undergraduate Program to provide support to qualifying students from high school through undergraduate studies majoring in all STEM disciplines at public postsecondary educational institutions, as specified. The bill would authorize funding appropriated for purposes of the Cal-Bridge Program or the ENLACE Program to be used for specified activities. The bill would apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make it applicable.