Support Affordability for California Students to Enroll at a California Public Higher Education Institution

Assembly Bill 2341 (Medina) would allow the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education to enter into a contract, for the purposes of state authorization with a public institution of higher education established by another state that provides in-person instruction at a physical location.

The execution of a contract with the Bureau is necessary for an institution to demonstrate state authorization to the United States Department of Education. Currently, California has a clear path for many higher education institutions, including private for-profit and independent institutions, to meet these federal requirements, and thereby offer federal aid to their students. However, public universities are not within the current jurisdiction of the Bureau, so students who enroll for in-person instruction at another state’s public institution within California are not eligible for federal financial aid.

AB 2341 would fix this loophole and support affordability for California students who want to complete their education at a public higher education institution in California by allowing them to receive critical federal support. We are especially appreciative of the work that VICA member Arizona State University (ASU) has undertaken in opening a new physical location in downtown Los Angeles, allowing more California students to complete their education at ASU while staying in their home state. Public and independent colleges like ASU neither make profit nor have shareholders. Despite this, the lack of certification by the Bureau prevents students at Universities like ASU from accessing necessary financial aid.