(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.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 267, Sec. 1. (AB 2317) Effective January 1, 2017.)
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.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 267, Sec. 1. (AB 2317) Effective January 1, 2017.)