(a)
It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) be responsible for coordinating public, independent, and private postsecondary education in California and providing independent policy analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on postsecondary education issues. In this respect, the Legislature finds as follows:
(1)
California, in its adoption of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, established the
Coordinating Council for Higher Education, the commission’s predecessor as the statewide coordinating and planning board for higher education.
(2)
In 1973, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Higher Education reviewed the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education and ultimately advanced a report that included recommendations for strengthening California’s higher education plan. The committee’s work resulted in the disestablishment of the Coordinating Council for Higher Education and the establishment of the California Postsecondary Education Commission.
(3)
Assembly Bill 770 (Chapter 1187 of the Statutes of 1973) strengthened the membership of the commission by having a majority of its members represent the general public. That bill also increased the commission’s responsibilities with respect to advising the Legislature and the Governor on issues related to governance, operation,
and financing of higher education in California.
(4)
Since 1974, the commission has served as the state’s independent planning and coordination agency for postsecondary education policy, responsible for providing analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor related to long-range planning for public postsecondary education and the state policy and programs involving independent and private postsecondary education sectors.
(5)
In 1990, Senate Bill 1570 (Chapter 1587 of the Statutes of 1990) codified the commission’s mission statement developed by the 1989 Joint Committee for the Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education.
(6)
The commission has administered specifically designated federal programs and in July 1993, it was named the state’s designated agency to administer the new federal state
postsecondary review entity (SPRE).
(b)
It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission maintain the essential role it plays in coordinating all sectors of postsecondary education, both public and private, given the size, scope, and complexity of California’s higher education system.
(c)
It is further the intent of the Legislature, as follows:
(1)
That the education policy recommendations of the commission shall be a primary consideration in developing state policy and funding for postsecondary education.
(2)
That the commission shall develop and maintain a data collection system capable of documenting the performance of postsecondary education institutions in meeting the post high school education and training needs of California’s diverse
population.
(3)
That the commission, as the state’s planning and coordinating agency, shall ensure the effective utilization of public postsecondary education resources, thereby eliminating waste and unnecessary duplication, and shall promote diversity, innovation, and responsiveness to student and societal needs.
(4)
That the commission shall encourage the participation of faculty members, students, administrators, and members of the general public in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.