Enriching the College Experience for University of California Students
California Political Desk
August 09, 2008
Assemblymember has fought for passage of ACR 21 over the past year to help address disproportionately low minority enrollment in the nation´s best public university system.
Sacramento – ACR 21, authored by Assemblymember Portantino and strongly supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus, was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The resolution, inspired by the Pasadena Journal, would strongly urge the University of California to establish a student exchange program with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
"When students enroll in college, they expect not only to receive a quality education, they expect to enjoy the complete college experience," said Assemblymember Portantino. "Students and families expect campuses to be diverse and reflect the boarder community at large. Clearly we have fallen short of that goal."
"As I campaigned door to door, I found that many California high school students struggle with the decision between attending an HBCU on the east coast or staying close to home. ACR 21 would offer the best and brightest students from California and throughout the U.S. the best of both options – a quality UC experience and the chance to study at an Historically Black College or Universities."
UC currently participates in a variety of "student exchange" programs and/or partnership programs with other colleges, universities and countries, few of these are with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. At the same time, the UC Board of Regents contends it is doing all it can to increase diversity on Campus. ACR 21 gives the UC one more way in which to achieve success and enhance student opportunities.
According to UC admissions data, the passage of Proposition 209 hit UC-Berkeley's racial and ethnic communities hard. The number of incoming freshmen from under-represented minorities groups - African-American, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander - shrank by half immediately after the initiative took effect. Although the numbers are just now beginning to recover, campuses are still far from reflecting the state's diversity. Although 47 percent of public high school graduates in California are members of underrepresented minorities, they make up just 25 percent of UC's incoming freshman class. At UC-Berkeley, they represent a mere 15.7 percent. And just two short years ago, UCLA had less than 100 African American in its incoming freshman class.
"Just yesterday, the San Jose Mercury News reported on UC students and their efforts to increase diversity on their campuses," continued Portantino. "Most students I come across as Chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee are hungry for more diversity, and with Proposition 209 on the books for over ten years, their individual outreach efforts are one of the few legal ways left to change the face of future classes of students. ACR 21 will send a strong message to the UC that the California Legislature expects diversity to remain tantamount of this world renowned institution of higher learning. I am extremely proud that the every Legislative Black Caucus member is are co-authors of this resolution."
The bill must now be approved by the full Senate and returned to the Assembly before it is considered officially adopted by the California Legislature.
Sacramento – ACR 21, authored by Assemblymember Portantino and strongly supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus, was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The resolution, inspired by the Pasadena Journal, would strongly urge the University of California to establish a student exchange program with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
"When students enroll in college, they expect not only to receive a quality education, they expect to enjoy the complete college experience," said Assemblymember Portantino. "Students and families expect campuses to be diverse and reflect the boarder community at large. Clearly we have fallen short of that goal."
"As I campaigned door to door, I found that many California high school students struggle with the decision between attending an HBCU on the east coast or staying close to home. ACR 21 would offer the best and brightest students from California and throughout the U.S. the best of both options – a quality UC experience and the chance to study at an Historically Black College or Universities."
UC currently participates in a variety of "student exchange" programs and/or partnership programs with other colleges, universities and countries, few of these are with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. At the same time, the UC Board of Regents contends it is doing all it can to increase diversity on Campus. ACR 21 gives the UC one more way in which to achieve success and enhance student opportunities.
According to UC admissions data, the passage of Proposition 209 hit UC-Berkeley's racial and ethnic communities hard. The number of incoming freshmen from under-represented minorities groups - African-American, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander - shrank by half immediately after the initiative took effect. Although the numbers are just now beginning to recover, campuses are still far from reflecting the state's diversity. Although 47 percent of public high school graduates in California are members of underrepresented minorities, they make up just 25 percent of UC's incoming freshman class. At UC-Berkeley, they represent a mere 15.7 percent. And just two short years ago, UCLA had less than 100 African American in its incoming freshman class.
"Just yesterday, the San Jose Mercury News reported on UC students and their efforts to increase diversity on their campuses," continued Portantino. "Most students I come across as Chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee are hungry for more diversity, and with Proposition 209 on the books for over ten years, their individual outreach efforts are one of the few legal ways left to change the face of future classes of students. ACR 21 will send a strong message to the UC that the California Legislature expects diversity to remain tantamount of this world renowned institution of higher learning. I am extremely proud that the every Legislative Black Caucus member is are co-authors of this resolution."
The bill must now be approved by the full Senate and returned to the Assembly before it is considered officially adopted by the California Legislature.
Print
Email
