§ 66076.2. — 66076.2. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 61.)

(a)
The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions is hereby established to recognize colleges and universities that excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students enrolled in degree or certificate programs offered by colleges and universities. This designation shall only be awarded to qualifying applicants by a two-thirds vote of approval by the governing board members who are present for the vote.
(b)
An initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid for five academic years. Thereafter, a recipient may submit an application for renewal. A renewal designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid for five years.
(c)
An applicant
is eligible for designation pursuant to this article if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:
(1)
Has at least 10 percent of the college’s or university’s enrolled student population identifying as Black and African American students, or has at least 1,500 Black and African American students enrolled at the college or university.
(2)
Submits an initial or renewal application, as applicable, to the managing entity on or before the applicable application deadline established by the managing entity pursuant to Section 66076.3.
(3)
Meets either of the following, as applicable:
(A)
Submits an initial application that complies with subdivision (d).
(B)
Submits a renewal
application that complies with subdivision (e).
(4)
Posts the initial or renewal application submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3), as applicable, on the applicant’s internet website.
(d)
An initial application shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1)
A certification, in writing, by the chief administrative officer of the college or university, of the applicant’s commitment to address Black and African American student success that is consistent with the applicant’s mission.
(2)
Academic goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall improve retention, time-to-degree
or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates of Black and African American students based on the data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6), as applicable, within the five-year period in which the initial designation shall be valid.
(3)
Academic equity goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall reduce the academic equity gaps in the retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates between the applicant’s Black and African American students and the overall student population based on data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6), as applicable.
(4)
A strategic plan for the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article
shall be valid on how the applicant intends to meet the academic goals and academic equity goals submitted pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3). The strategic plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)
A mission statement that addresses the applicant’s commitment to serve Black and African American students.
(B)
Outreach services to Black and African American students to encourage them to enroll at the college or university.
(C)
Academic and basic needs support services to assist in the academic success of Black and African American students. Support services described in this subparagraph may include campus affinity centers and corequisite coursework or concurrent support activities.
(D)
An outline of the planned allocation of
resources during the five-year period in which the initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall be valid, to ensure that the strategic plan described in this paragraph can be implemented.
(E)
An outline of how the applicant will use existing resources to provide culturally-relevant professional development to the applicant’s faculty and staff.
(5)
A four-year college or university applicant shall submit, in its application, graduation rates for the previous three academic years for all students, and for Black and African American students, within the normal time and up to 150 percent of the normal time to degree completion, yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(6)
A community college applicant shall submit, in its application, all of the following for the previous three academic years:
(A)
The number of degree and certificate programs completed by all students, and by Black and African American students.
(B)
The number of all students, and of Black and African American students, who completed degree and certificate programs within normal time and up to 300 percent of normal time to degree completion, yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(C)
The student transfer rates for all students, and for Black and African American students, to four-year colleges and universities.
(7)
A description of campus resources to promote a campus of equity and inclusion for Black and African American students.
(e)
A renewal application shall include, but not be limited to, all of the
following:
(1)
Either of the following, as applicable:
(A)
An applicant seeking renewal upon expiration of an initial designation awarded pursuant to this article shall resubmit the application it submitted to receive that initial designation.
(B)
An applicant seeking renewal upon expiration of a renewal designation awarded pursuant this article shall resubmit the application it submitted to receive that previous renewal designation.
(2)
Demonstration of the applicant’s progress to achieve the academic goals and academic equity goals provided in the application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)
Demonstration of the applicant’s progress to implement the strategic plan provided in the
application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4)
Any changes made by the applicant to either of the following items provided in the application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1):
(A)
The mission statement in the strategic plan that addresses the applicant’s commitment to serve Black and African American students.
(B)
The description of campus resources to promote a campus of equity and inclusion for Black and African American students.
(5)
A certification, in writing, by the chief administrative officer of the college or university, of the applicant’s continual commitment to address Black and African American student success that is consistent with the applicant’s mission.
(6)
Academic goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall improve retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates of Black and African American students based on the data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (9) or (10), as applicable, within the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid.
(7)
Academic equity goals for the applicant to achieve within the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid. The goals described in this paragraph shall reduce the academic equity gaps in the retention, time-to-degree or time-to-certificate completion, and graduation rates between the applicant’s Black and African American students and the overall student population based on data submitted by the applicant pursuant to paragraph (9) or (10), as
applicable.
(8)
A strategic plan for the five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid on how the applicant intends to meet the academic goals and academic equity goals submitted pursuant to paragraphs (6) and (7). The strategic plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)
Outreach services to Black and African American students to encourage them to enroll at the college or university.
(B)
Academic and basic needs support services to assist in the academic success of Black and African American students. Support services described in this subparagraph may include campus affinity centers and corequisite coursework or concurrent support activities.
(C)
An outline of the planned allocation of resources for the
five-year period in which the renewal designation shall be valid, to ensure that the strategic plan described in this paragraph can be implemented.
(D)
An outline of how the applicant will use existing resources to provide culturally-relevant professional development to the applicant’s faculty and staff.
(9)
A four-year college or university applicant shall submit, in its application, graduation rates for the previous five academic years for all students, and for Black and African American students, within the normal time and up to 150 percent of normal time to degree completion, yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(10)
A community college campus shall submit, in its application, all of the following for the previous five academic years:
(A)
The
number of degree and certificate programs completed by all students, and by Black and African American students.
(B)
The number of all students, and of Black and African American students, who completed degree and certificate programs within normal time and up to 300 percent of normal time to degree completion yield, retention, and graduation rate.
(C)
The student transfer rates for all students, and for Black and African American students, to four-year colleges and universities.
(f)
(1)
If an applicant’s renewal application is denied by the governing board, the applicant may only submit an application to receive an initial designation pursuant to this article.
(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an applicant described in paragraph
(1) may submit an application for a renewal designation following the award of a subsequent initial designation by the governing board pursuant to this article.
(g)
An applicant is encouraged to inform and consult with the academic senate of the college or university on the applicant’s initial and renewal applications prepared pursuant to this article.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 61. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.