Public postsecondary education: Donahoe Higher Education Act: 4-year baccalaureate degree.

Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California's public and independent segments of higher education, and the campuses operated by those segments. The public segments of higher education include the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California. This bill would require the Trustees of the California State University, and request the Regents of the University of California, to offer eligible students of their respective segments an agreement guaranteeing that a student who meets certain conditions may complete a baccalaureate degree within 4 academic years, with the exception of certain programs that may require up to 5 academic years to complete. The bill would specify that a student who scores in an unspecified percentile, or above, on a standardized college readiness assessment would be presumed to be eligible to enter into an agreement under the bill. The bill would require the agreement to outline a general pathway for the coursework that the student must complete in order to continue to be qualified for the guarantee and receive his or her baccalaureate degree within the agreed-upon time.