Bill Text

Bill Information


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | print page

SB-1348 Postsecondary education: Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions.(2023-2024)

SHARE THIS: share this bill in Facebook share this bill in Twitter
Date Published: 09/27/2024 02:00 PM
SB1348:v93#DOCUMENT

Senate Bill No. 1348
CHAPTER 627

An act to add Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 66076) to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.

[ Approved by Governor  September 26, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State  September 26, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1348, Bradford. Postsecondary education: Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions.
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined, as 4 segments of postsecondary education in the state.
This bill would establish the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions to recognize campuses of these segments that excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students. The bill would establish a governing board composed of certain members to approve or deny initial and renewal applications to receive this designation. The bill would designate the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence as the managing entity and would require it to act as a neutral administrative body tasked with, among other duties, developing the application processes and processing and presenting applications to the governing board, as specified. The bill would make an initial and renewal award for this designation valid for 5 years.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Supporting Black and African American students attending postsecondary educational institutions in California serves the interests of all Californians.
(b) Historically, Black and African American students have faced overt discrimination, and have been prevented from attending many colleges and universities due to explicit segregation.
(c) Before the landmark United States Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) 347 U.S. 483, which declared that segregated schools were unconstitutional, racial segregation in education was common in the United States.
(d) Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d, et seq.) continues to advance access and equality in education by prohibiting any person, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, from being excluded from participation in, being denied the benefits of, or being subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
(e) Seventy years after the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) 347 U.S. 483, barriers and disparities for Black and African American students in postsecondary education remain.
(f) Nationally, college and university enrollment of Black and African American students has dropped since 2010.
(g) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which are public and private institutions established before 1964 in the United States that offer high-quality and accredited education and college degrees, have a long and storied history of combating discrimination.
(h) HBCUs include four-year and two-year higher education institutions established before 1964 with the primary purpose of educating Blacks and African Americans.
(i) Today, HBCUs continue their vital mission of creating opportunities for Black and African American students, and racially diverse students, to earn a postsecondary degree in a culturally rich environment.
(j) According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2022, there were 99 colleges and universities identified by the United States Department of Education as HBCUs in the United States, which enrolled, in total, more than 228,000 students.

SEC. 2.

 Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 66076) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  7.5. Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions

66076.
 This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions.

66076.1.
 As used in this article, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Applicant” means an eligible college or university that applies for a designation pursuant to this article.
(b) “College or university” means a University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges campus, or an independent institution of higher education.
(c) “Governing board” means the governing board established pursuant to this article.
(d) “Managing entity” means the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence described in this article.
(e) “Normal time” means the time it would take a full-time student to complete the requirements for a degree or certificate offered by a college or university.
(f) “Recipient” means a college or university that receives a designation pursuant to this article.

66076.2.
 (a) The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions is hereby established to recognize colleges and universities that excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students enrolled in degree or certificate programs offered by colleges and universities. This designation shall only be awarded to qualifying applicants by a two-thirds vote of approval by the governing board.
(b) An initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid for five academic years. Thereafter, a recipient may submit an application for renewal. A renewal designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid for five years.
(c) An applicant is eligible for designation pursuant to this article if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Has at least 10 percent of the college’s or university’s enrolled student population identifying as Black and African American students, or has at least 1,500 Black and African American students enrolled at the college or university.
(2) Submits an initial or renewal application, as applicable, to the managing entity on or before the application deadline established by the managing entity pursuant to Section 66076.3.
(3) Meets either of the following, as applicable:
(A) Submits an initial application that complies with subdivision (d).
(B) Submits a renewal application that complies with subdivision (e).
(4) Posts the initial or renewal application submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3), as applicable, on the applicant’s internet website.
(d) An initial application shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) A certification, in writing, by the chief administrative officer of the college or university, of the applicant’s commitment to address Black and African American student success that is consistent with the applicant’s mission.
(2) Academic goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall improve retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates of Black and African American students based on the data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6), as applicable, within the five-year period in which the initial designation shall be valid.
(3) Academic equity goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall reduce the academic equity gaps in the retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates between the applicant’s Black and African American students and the overall student population based on data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6), as applicable.
(4) A strategic plan for the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid, on how the applicant intends to meet the academic goals and academic equity goals submitted pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3). The strategic plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) A mission statement that addresses the applicant’s commitment to serve Black and African American students.
(B) Outreach services to Black and African American students to encourage them to enroll at the college or university.
(C) Academic and basic needs support services to assist in the academic success of Black and African American students. Support services described in this subparagraph may include campus affinity centers and corequisite coursework or concurrent support activities.
(D) An outline of the planned allocation of resources during the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid, to ensure that the strategic plan described in this paragraph can be implemented.
(E) An outline of how the applicant will use existing resources to provide culturally-relevant professional development to the applicant’s faculty and staff.
(5) A four-year college or university applicant shall submit, in its application, graduation rates for the previous three academic years for all students, and for Black and African American students, within the normal time and up to 150 percent of the normal time to degree completion, yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(6) A community college applicant shall submit, in its application, all of the following for the previous three academic years:
(A) The number of degree and certificate programs completed by all students, and by Black and African American students.
(B) The number of all students, and of Black and African American students, who completed degree and certificate programs within normal time and up to 300 percent of normal time to degree completion, yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(C) The student transfer rates for all students, and for Black and African American students, to four-year colleges and universities.
(7) A description of campus resources to promote a campus of equity and inclusion for Black and African American students.
(e) A renewal application shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Either of the following, as applicable:
(A) An applicant seeking renewal upon expiration of an initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall resubmit the application it submitted to receive that initial designation.
(B) An applicant seeking renewal upon expiration of a renewal designation awarded pursuant this article shall resubmit the application it submitted to receive that previous renewal designation.
(2) Demonstration of the applicant’s progress to achieve the academic goals and academic equity goals provided in the application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) Demonstration of the applicant’s progress to implement the strategic plan provided in the application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4) Any changes made by the applicant to either of the following items provided in the application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1):
(A) The mission statement in the strategic plan that addresses the applicant’s commitment to serve Black and African American students.
(B) The description of campus resources to promote a campus of equity and inclusion for Black and African American students.
(5) A certification, in writing, by the chief administrative officer of the college or university, of the applicant’s continual commitment to address Black and African American student success that is consistent with the applicant’s mission.
(6) Academic goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall improve retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates of Black and African American students based on the data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (9) or (10), as applicable, within the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid.
(7) Academic equity goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall reduce the academic equity gaps in the retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates between the applicant’s Black and African American students and the overall student population based on data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (9) or (10), as applicable.
(8) A strategic plan for the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid, on how the applicant intends to meet the academic goals and academic equity goals submitted pursuant to paragraphs (6) and (7). The strategic plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) Outreach services to Black and African American students to encourage them to enroll at the college or university.
(B) Academic and basic needs support services to assist in the academic success of Black and African American students. Support services described in this subparagraph may include campus affinity centers and corequisite coursework or concurrent support activities.
(C) An outline of the planned allocation of resources for the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid, to ensure that the strategic plan described in this paragraph can be implemented.
(D) An outline of how the applicant will use existing resources to provide culturally-relevant professional development to the applicant’s faculty and staff.
(9) A four-year college or university applicant shall submit, in its application, graduation rates for the previous five academic years for all students, and for Black and African American students, within the normal time and up to 150 percent of normal time to degree completion, yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(10) A community college campus shall submit, in its application, all of the following for the previous five academic years:
(A) The number of degree and certificate programs completed by all students, and by Black and African American students.
(B) The number of all students, and of Black and African American students, who completed degree and certificate programs within normal time and up to 300 percent of normal time to degree completion yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(C) The student transfer rates for all students, and for Black and African American students, to four-year colleges and universities.
(f) (1) If an applicant’s renewal application is denied by the governing board, the applicant may only submit an application to receive an initial designation pursuant to this article.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an applicant described in paragraph (1) may submit an application for a renewal designation following the award of a subsequent initial designation by the governing board pursuant to this article.
(g) An applicant is encouraged to inform and consult with the academic senate of the college or university on the applicant’s initial and renewal applications prepared pursuant to this article.

66076.3.
 The California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence is hereby designated as the managing entity for initial and renewal designations pursuant to this article. The managing entity shall act as a neutral administrative body. The managing entity shall have all of the following duties:
(a) Developing application processes that contain the requirements described in Section 66076.2 for applicants.
(b) Accepting initial and renewal applications from applicants. The managing entity shall set two application deadlines each year on dates determined by the managing entity.
(c) Processing and presenting each application received to the governing board twice each year on dates determined by the governing board.
(d) Upon the governing board’s approval or denial of an applicant’s application, informing the applicant on this outcome.
(e) Preparing and delivering to an applicant approved by the governing board to receive a designation pursuant to this article, an appropriate insignia recognizing this designation.

66076.4.
 (a) The governing board of the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions is hereby established. The purpose of the governing board is to award colleges and universities with designations pursuant to this article based on applications presented by the managing entity pursuant to Section 66074.3.
(b) (1) The governing board shall be composed of all of the following eight members:
(A) The Lieutenant Governor, or the Lieutenant Governor’s designee.
(B) One member of the public, to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(C) One member of the public, to be appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate.
(D) A designee of the President of the University of California.
(E) A designee of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(F) A designee of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(G) A designee of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(H) The chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, or the chair’s designee.
(2) Any designee described in paragraph (1) shall be qualified to make decisions on behalf of that appointed position.
(3) A member of the public appointed pursuant to paragraph (1) by either the Speaker of the Assembly or the President pro Tempore of the Senate shall serve a two-year term.
(4) It is the intent of the Legislature that in appointing members of the public pursuant to paragraph (1), the appointing authority shall make every effort to ensure that the membership of the governing board includes persons who have a strong interest in the further development and improvement of the academic success of Black and African American students.
(c) For purposes of the first two years of the governing board’s operations, the chair of the governing board shall be the Lieutenant Governor or the Lieutenant Governor’s designee. The governing board shall select each subsequent chairman from within its membership by a vote of two-thirds of the governing board’s voting members.
(d) The governing board shall complete both of the following actions:
(1) Convene twice a year to vote on the approval or denial of applications.
(2) Approve or deny each application presented by the managing entity pursuant to Section 66074.3.
(e) All decisions made by the governing board shall require a two-thirds vote of approval by the governing board members who are present for the vote.
(f) The governing board shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).