Following through on his commitment to shine a greater light on the process when California State University (CSU) local campuses change their admissions policies, Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) has sent AB 2402 to the Governor for his signature. Overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature, this legislation requires the CSU to follow specified public notice criteria prior to adopting a change in the admissions criteria that affects students in CSU campus local service areas.
"We have seen how changes in admissions policies made at the eleventh hour and behind closed doors can negatively impact students and their pursuit of higher education. This legislation shines the light of transparency on local CSU campuses and provides a reasonable, open and public process to ensure that qualified students who need to pursue higher education in their community are not unfairly disenfranchised by their local public university," said Assemblymember Marty Block.
This legislation is the result of Assemblymember Block’s efforts to address the flawed changes that San Diego State University (SDSU) made in its admissions policy causing 1,740 qualified, local students to be rejected. SDSU implemented admissions changes without notifying the surrounding community that would have been affected.
Because students had planned their academic curriculum based on one set of criteria that was changed at the last minute, many students found themselves without the qualifications for eligibility to enroll at SDSU. As a result, students residing within the local service area who had planned to attend SDSU found their only opportunity for college unfairly disappear.
"AB 2402 will help prevent future situations similar to the tragedy at San Diego State University where 1,740 students were rejected because the administration made a thoughtless policy change, at the last minute, and with no input from the public. With this legislation, I am standing up for all students who play by the rules and meet the requirements to attend college in their local service area," added Assemblymember Block.
AB 2402 requires a CSU campus to do all of the following prior to adopting a change in the criteria for admission that affects applicants in the LSA of a CSU campus, including changes to transfer requirements and determinations regarding impaction of majors:
- Place a notice of the proposed change in 3 local newspapers and on the Web, and allow the public to comment, and give the dates, times and locations for the public meetings and hearings;
- Hold three public hearings in the LSA of the affected campus to solicit public comments relative to the proposed changes in admissions criteria; and,
- Submit the proposed change to the CSU Chancellor for approval, who shall report the decision regarding approval, and the reasoning behind the decision, to the CSU Board of Trustees in writing at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The bill requires a change in the criteria to take effect only after a period at least one year has elapsed following approval by the CSU Chancellor, unless the change is based on resources, in which case it may take effect after six months.
CONTACT: Mike Naple @ (916) 202-0003
