California postsecondary education: state goals.

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education as the 4 segments of postsecondary education in this state. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature to urge the continued development and implementation of assessment processes whereby institutions of higher education establish mechanisms, through program review and improvement, for the assessment of their performance in attempting to improve student learning and comprehension and achieving the expressed state policy goals for higher education of quality, educational equity, employee diversity, student transfer, and student retention. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that budget and policy decisions regarding postsecondary education generally adhere to 3 specified goals and that appropriate metrics be identified, defined, and formally adopted to monitor progress toward the achievement of the goals, as specified.