Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act: University of California.

Existing law, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act, requires a student who earns an associate degree for transfer to be deemed eligible for transfer into a California State University baccalaureate degree program if they meet certain requirements. The act also requires the California State University to guarantee admission with junior status to a community college student who meets those requirements, and provides that admission to the California State University under these provisions does not guarantee admission for specific majors or campuses. A student admitted to the California State University pursuant to the act is entitled to receive priority over all other community college transfer students, excluding community college students who have entered into a transfer agreement between a community college and the California State University before the fall term of the 2012–13 academic year. Existing law requires the California Community Colleges and the California State University, in consultation with specified parties, to develop a student-centered communication and marketing strategy in order to increase the visibility of the associate degree for transfer pathway for all students in California. Existing law also requires the Legislative Analyst's Office to review and report to specified legislative committees and subcommittees, within a prescribed time period, on specified outcomes and recommendations related to the act. Provisions of the Donahoe Higher Education Act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California act, by resolution, to make them applicable. This bill would, commencing with the 2025–26 academic year, expand the above provisions of the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act to additionally require that a student who earns an associate degree for transfer be deemed eligible for transfer into a University of California baccalaureate degree program if they meet certain requirements. The bill would require the University of California to guarantee admission with junior status to a community college student, as specified, and would provide that a student admitted to the University of California pursuant to this act is entitled to receive priority over all other community college transfer students, excluding community college students who have entered into a transfer agreement between a community college and the University of California before the fall term of the 2025–26 academic year. This bill would require the University of California, in addition to the California Community Colleges and the California State University, to develop a student-centered communication and marketing strategy, as specified. To the extent that this provision would impose new duties for community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to review and report to specified legislative committees and subcommittees, within a prescribed time period, with respect to the inclusion of the University of California in the act. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.