2007 California Education Code Chapter 1.5. Legislative Findings

CA Codes (edc:66002-66003)

66002.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) The Master Plan for Higher Education in California, 1960-75,
was originally prepared in 1959, and its recommendations were
approved in principle by the affected governing boards of the higher
education segments.  Subsequently, legislation necessary to implement
certain of the master plan's provisions was enacted, including this
part.  A need to differentiate the functions of the segments of
higher education and rapidly increasing enrollments were primary
factors that motivated the creation of the master plan.
   (b) Pursuant to Resolution Chapter 285 of the Statutes of 1970,
and Resolution Chapter 232 of the Statutes of 1971, a joint committee
of the Legislature issued its report in 1973, entitled "Report of
the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education," which
reaffirmed the principles of the original master plan and emphasized
a need for the segments of higher education to improve access and
educational equity, coordination and planning, governance, and
diversity within the entire system.  As in the 1960's, legislation
necessary to implement certain of the joint committee's
recommendations was enacted, largely through amendments to this part.

   (c) Pursuant to Chapter 1507 of the Statutes of 1984, the
Commission for the Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education
conducted public hearings and deliberations; in 1987, it issued its
report and recommendations, "The Master Plan Renewed:  Unity, Equity,
Quality, and Efficiency in California Postsecondary Education."
   Building on this report and two more years of public dialogue
pursuant to Resolution Chapter 175 of the Statutes of 1984, the Joint
Committee for the Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education
adopted a comprehensive report in 1989, entitled "California Faces. .
.California's Future:  Education for Citizenship in a Multicultural
Democracy," that affirms the achievements and the basic structure of
the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and identifies new
challenges for California's institutions of higher education.
   (d) California faces a period of unprecedented population growth
and extraordinary social and economic changes as the 21st century
approaches and the state's colleges and universities face tremendous
educational challenges while at or near their enrollment capacities.

   (e) In the spirit of the original master plan and the two
subsequent reviews conducted in the 1970's and 1980's, the
Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (1) California is on the threshold of becoming a state with a new
multicultural majority as the ethnic composition of the population is
changing dramatically.  The state's future economic, social, and
cultural development depends upon ensuring that all its citizens have
opportunities to contribute their best to society.
   (2) Current estimates indicate that California will need to
accommodate hundreds of thousands of additional students by the year
2005 in public higher education institutions.  California needs to
prepare now for the projected enrollments in the 21st century.  And,
if the goals of the master plan and its subsequent updates are to be
fully achieved, especially if groups that are historically and
currently underrepresented increase their rates of participation in
higher education, enrollments will exceed even these projections.
   (3) California must support an educational system which prepares
all Californians for responsible citizenship and meaningful careers
in a multicultural society; this requires a commitment from all to
make quality education available and affordable for every
Californian.
   (4) To accomplish these goals, California's system of higher
education will need to expand.



66003.  It is the intent of the Legislature to outline in statute
the broad policy and programmatic goals of the master plan and to
expect the higher education segments to be accountable for attaining
those goals.  However, consistent with the spirit of the original
master plan and the subsequent updates, it is the intent of the
Legislature that the governing boards be given ample discretion in
implementing policies and programs necessary to attain those goals.