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AB-2317 California State University: Doctor of Audiology degrees.(2015-2016)

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Assembly Bill No. 2317
CHAPTER 267

An act to add Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 66041) to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.

[ Approved by Governor  September 09, 2016. Filed with Secretary of State  September 09, 2016. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2317, Mullin. California State University: Doctor of Audiology degrees.
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 their respective institutions of higher education. Provisions of the act do not apply to the University of California unless the regents of the university act, by resolution, to make them applicable.
Among other things, the act provides that the University of California has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education to award the doctoral degree in all fields of learning, except that it may agree with the California State University to award joint doctoral degrees in selected fields. With respect to doctoral degrees, the act limits the California State University to awarding these degrees jointly with the University of California, as described above, or, with the approval of the California Postsecondary Education Commission, jointly with independent institutions of higher education.
This bill would instead authorize the California State University to award the Doctor of Audiology degree. The bill would require the degree to be distinguished from doctoral degree programs at the University of California. The bill would require that the degree be focused on preparing audiologists to provide health care services and be consistent with the standards for accreditation set forth by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. The bill would require that each student in the programs authorized by the bill be charged fees no higher than the rate charged for students in state-supported programs in audiology at the University of California.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 66041) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  4.6. Doctoral Programs in Audiology

66041.
 (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
(1) Since its adoption in 1960, the Master Plan for Higher Education has served to create the largest and most distinguished higher education system in the nation. A key component of the Master Plan for Higher Education is the differentiation of mission and function, whereby doctoral and identified professional programs are limited to the University of California, with the provision that the California State University can provide doctoral education in joint doctoral programs with the University of California and independent California colleges and universities. The differentiation of function has allowed California to provide universal access to postsecondary education while preserving quality.
(2) Because of the need to prepare and educate increased numbers of audiologists, the State of California is granting the California State University authority to offer the Doctor of Audiology degree as an exception to the differentiation of function in graduate education that assigns sole authority among the California higher education segments to the University of California for awarding doctoral degrees independently. This exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education recognizes the distinctive strengths and respective missions of the California State University and the University of California.
(b) Pursuant to subdivision (a), and notwithstanding Section 66010.4, in order to meet specific audiology education needs in California, the California State University may award the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree. The authority to award degrees granted by this article is limited to the discipline of audiology. The Au.D. degree offered by the California State University shall be distinguished from doctoral degree programs at the University of California.

66041.1.
 In implementing Section 66041, the California State University shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(a) Enrollments in these programs shall not diminish enrollment growth in university undergraduate programs.
(b) The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree offered by the California State University shall be focused on preparing audiologists to provide health care services and shall be consistent with the standards for accreditation set forth by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
(c) Each student in the programs authorized by this article shall be charged fees no higher than the rate charged for students in state-supported doctoral degree programs in audiology at the University of California, including joint Au.D. programs of the California State University and the University of California.
(d) The California State University shall provide any startup and operation funding needed for the programs authorized by this article from within existing budgets for academic programs support, without diminishing the quality of program support offered to California State University undergraduate programs. Funding of these programs shall not result in reduced undergraduate enrollments at the California State University.