(SACRAMENTO, CA)— Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance issued the following statement regarding the audit of the University of California (UC):
“I introduced Assembly Bill 1711 to cap the number of non-resident students attending the University of California. While the UC has insisted that non-resident students do not supplant resident California students, the audit released today shows that not only is the UC wrong, but the problem is much more severe than even I feared.
This audit validates many of the concerns that have been raised in countless hearings regarding the University of California. The UC has not only rationed access for California’s students who are qualified and even exceeded admission requirements under California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, but over the last 3 years, the UC has admitted 16,000 non-resident students with lower academic scores than the top half of admitted resident students. This policy has had a disproportionate effect on underrepresented students who are finding it harder to access the UC System.
In light of this, I will continue to push for AB 1711, which is currently in the Assembly Higher Education Committee. With this measure and budget efforts to follow key audit recommendations, I’ll look to tie state budget appropriations to a non-resident and resident enrollment ratio. Further, I'll look at strengthening the bill to set academic standards for non-resident students./p>
With the recommendations of this audit, we hope the UC becomes a better partner in increasing access for California’s students and fulfilling their obligation to California’s Master Plan for Higher Education.”