SACRAMENTO – Students would be better informed of their options for appealing a denial of admission at a California State University (CSU) campus under legislation signed by Governor Jerry Brown. Authored by Assembly Higher Education Committee Chair Marty Block (AD-78), AB 670 seeks to make sure that applicants who are denied admission to a CSU are notified of the campus appeals process, how long they have to appeal and ensure that each campus lists their appeals process on their Web sites so interested parties can easily access that information.
“College campuses sometimes make errors in student admissions. AB 670 gives rejected students an opportunity to correct these errors,” said Assembly Higher Education Chair Block. “This bill is designed to treat students fairly by giving them notice of their options when denied admission to a CSU and provides that each campus has a clear appeals process that is easily accessible. Current appeals processes at each campus are not always uniform and can be difficult for students to navigate or locate. Students rejected from a CSU might not have many other choices for pursuing a college degree and should they choose the route of appealing the university’s decision, it is important they know the appropriate process. This legislation is about openness, transparency, due process and fair access to higher education in California.”
AB 670 requires each CSU campus to have clear and uniform appeals procedures for applicants who are denied admission to a campus. The uniform appeals procedures will include the following:
- The basis for appeal;
- A timeframe of 15 business days from the date of denial of admissions notification in which to appeal;
- A limit of one appeal per academic term;
- The contact information for the campus office to which an appeal is submitted, and;
- A time estimate for when the campus expects to issue a response to an appeal request.
This bill will also require the appeal information to be posted on each campus website.
Out of 23 campuses, only seven had appeal procedures available on the campus Web site and each of those seven policies were different.
This legislation would also require the inclusion of the appeals procedures in a denial of admission notification to students.
Also signed by the Governor was AB 1013 (Committee on Higher Education), which would provide for technical and clarifying changes to the Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (Act).
First, this bill would allow the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs to authorize Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) tests if a relevant U.S. Department of Education (USDE) test is not available. Under federal law, students without a high school diploma or General Educational Development can qualify for federal Title IV loans, grants, and campus-based aid if they pass an independently administered test of their basic math and English skills, called an ATB test. Tests are approved by the USDE and administered by an independent party. Similarly, the Act requires all covered institutions to administer ATB tests to students who have not obtained secondary education. Students must pass a USDE-approved ATB test before enrolling in the institution. Unfortunately, certain training programs do not have USDE-approved tests relative to their specific training programs. This bill would allow the Bureau to authorize alternative ATB-style examinations for such programs.
Secondly, this bill would provide technical clean up to the Act regarding cancellations and refunds. The intent of the Act was to allow students to cancel a program and receive a 100% refund, less a deposit not to exceed $250, until the first class day or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later. However, one section referencing this refund policy inadvertently reads that students shall have until the first class day or the seventh class day after enrollment to cancel a program. This bill corrects this error and conflict.
CONTACT: Margaret Peña @ (916) 201-6616
