AB 2229

Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Fong and Jeff Gonzalez)
An act to add Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 89427) to Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to the California State University.
the California State University
The California State University Enrollment, Access, and Retention of Noncontinuous Students Program.
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the California State University to require each campus in its system to grant students the right to reenroll in their baccalaureate degree program after withdrawing or stopping out, if the student was in good academic standing with the university.
This bill would establish the California State University Enrollment, Access, and Retention of Noncontinuous Students Program to increase the reenrollment rates of California
		State University students who have withdrawn from a campus before the conferral of a baccalaureate degree. The bill would require the Chancellor of the California State University to adopt a policy prioritizing enrollment funding for California State University campuses that meet enrollment figures and engage in outreach to reenroll former California State University students. The bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the trustees to adopt a policy related to evaluating transcripts of noncontinuous students who wish to reenroll in the California State University, as specified. The bill would require each campus to designate, on or before July 1, 2027, a
		noncontinuous student advisor, and, commencing July 1, 2027, provide priority registration to noncontinuous students returning to complete a degree. The bill would require, on or before September 1, 2028, the trustees to maintain an internet-accessible data dashboard that includes, among other things, the number of noncontinuous students who have reenrolled at a campus.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 89427) is added to Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the
Education Code
, to read:
4.5.
The California State University Enrollment, Access, and Retention of NoncontinuousStudents Program
89427.
As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Campus” means a campus of the California State University.
(b) “Noncontinuous student” means a student who was previously enrolled at a campus of the California State University and withdrew before the conferral of a baccalaureate degree, excluding students who
					 withdrew due to pending academic disqualification or pending disciplinary expulsion.
89428.
(a) The California State University Enrollment, Access, and Retention of Noncontinuous Students Program is hereby established to increase the reenrollment rates of noncontinuous students.
(b) The Chancellor of the California State University shall adopt a policy to prioritize enrollment funding to campuses that meet enrollment figures and
					 engage in outreach efforts to reenroll former California State University students who may have withdrawn from a campus, as part of the campuses’ retention and enrollment efforts.
(c) On or before July 1, 2027, the trustees, in collaboration with the Academic Senate of the California State University, shall adopt a policy related to the evaluation of transcripts of noncontinuous students who wish to reenroll in the California State University. The policy shall ensure that the evaluation of transcripts does all of the following:
(1) If a period of five years or less has elapsed since the student enrolled in coursework, accepts all California State University coursework as
					 applicable to a degree in the original field of study the student was attempting before withdrawing from the campus.
(2) If a period of more than five years has elapsed since the student enrolled in coursework, both of the following:
(A) Accepts all the lower division general education California State University courses regardless of the time lapsed between the student’s reenrollment.
(B) For upper division California State University applicable courses, maximizes credit to the student for degree completion and minimizes time to degree.
(3) Prohibits
					 requiring a student to repeat California State University coursework already completed with a satisfactory grade.
(4) For California Community College courses taken after enrollment at the California State University, maximizes credit to the student for degree completion and minimizes time to degree.
(d) (1) On or before July 1, 2027, each campus shall designate one
					 noncontinuous student advisor for the campus to do both of the following:
(A) Assist with the implementation of the policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (c).
(B) Provide noncontinuous students with academic advising and support services to help the students enroll in coursework that optimizes their ability to complete their intended major. To the extent possible, the advisor shall provide the noncontinuous student with a course map to graduation.
(2) This
					 subdivision shall not be interpreted to require a campus to hire a new advisor to comply with the requirements of this subdivision.
(e) Commencing July 1, 2027, each campus shall provide priority registration to a noncontinuous student who is returning to complete a baccalaureate degree.
89429.
On or before September 1, 2028, the trustees shall maintain an internet-accessible data dashboard that includes all of the following:
(a) The number of noncontinuous students who have reenrolled at a campus.
(b) Program participation demographics, including all of the following:
(1) Student race and ethnicity.
(2) Whether a student is a federal Pell Grant recipient, as
					 available.
(3) Whether a student is a first-generation college student.
(4) Whether a student is a Cal Grant recipient.
(5) Whether a student is a Middle Class Scholarship recipient pursuant to Article 22 (commencing with Section 70020) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of Division 5.
(6) The number of community college classes taken after the student withdrew from the California State University and before they reenrolled at the California State University.
(7) The time period between the student’s withdrawal and reenrollment at the California State University.
(c) (1) The time-to-degree rates and completion rates for noncontinuous students.
(2) The full-time enrollment equivalent of the information described in paragraph (1) may also be included.
	 REVISIONS:
	 Heading—Line 2.