California State University students, beginning in 2023, must take an ethnic studies or social justice course to graduate.

CSU trustees voted Wednesday on the controversial proposal that Chancellor Timothy White hopes will kill a different ethnic studies requirement that’s advancing through the Legislature.

Trustees voted 13-5 to replace one of the three-unit social science course requirements with a class in Native American, African American, Asian American, or Latino studies. Courses that cover other historically oppressed groups, such as Jews, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, and women, would also be included.

“The requirement advances a unique focus on the intersection and comparative study of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, immigration status, ability and/or age,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “CSU courses on Africana literature, Native Californian perspectives, police reform, disparities in public health and the economics of racism, to name just a few, would meet the new requirement.

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, students will have to complete the requirement at all of the CSU’s 23 campuses. The vote was the first significant change in general education requirements in 40 years, officials said.

The policy was passed in opposition to Assembly Bill 1460, which would also require students to take an ethnic studies course, but would limit its scope to Native American, African American, Asian American, and Latino studies.

Trustees debated for several hours Wednesday. Trustees Hugo Morales and Lateefah Simon were opposed because students could technically pass the requirement without ever taking an ethnic studies course, only a social justice one.

“I’ve received emails and calls from leaders from the ethnic studies community in their (dis)satisfaction,” Simon said. “What is still concerning to me ... is the opportunity for students to forgo ethnic studies curricula. In some ways, it might make more sense for us to think about this course of study as a social justice umbrella with ethnic studies offerings.”

Ethnic studies vote angers CSU teachers union

The California Faculty Association opposed the requirement, preferring AB 1460. President Charles Toombs said ethnic studies professionals were not consulted in creating the proposal put forward by White.

“CFA is severely disappointed in today’s decision by the CSU Board of Trustees to move forward with a diluted Ethnic Studies and Social Justice course requirement,” Toombs said in a statement.

Calling the CSU resolution “oppressive,” Toombs also slammed administrators, saying they “refused” to consult with the CSU Council of Ethnic Studies, the faculty experts in Ethnic Studies, or the CSU Academic Senate.

“How the board can look at anyone with a straight face and say that an Ethnic Studies requirement can be fulfilled without ever having to take a course in Ethnic Studies is beyond believable,” Toombs said.

The CSU proposal was brought to the board after AB 1460, authored by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, was passed in the state Senate. It is expected to go through the Assembly within the next few days, then Gov. Gavin Newsom would have 10 days to sign it into law.

White and other CSU officials oppose the bill because they say it creates a “dangerous precedent” to allow legislative intrusion onto the university curriculum.

It would also cost significantly less to implement the CSU’s proposal — $3 to $4 million versus AB 1460’s estimate of $16.5 million, according to the CSU data.

White said the CSU had been working on the proposal for years, and he favored the broad scope of the course requirements over those put forward by AB 1460.

“The proposal champions the study for historical racial and ethnic groups, and gives students the opportunity to connect with other marginalized groups, as well as the tools and resources to put your knowledge into action,” he said during the meeting.

Trustee Tony Thurmond, who is also the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, wanted more time to make a decision. However, Chair Lillian Kimbell said to postpone the vote to September would effectively be killing the proposal because AB 1460 would likely be signed into law if Newsom did not see an alternative.

“For me, this has nothing to do with a conversation about who should make the decisions,” Thurmond told the board.

Trustees also worried that passing the requirement would not stop AB 1460, and if passed, students would have to add on a three-unit course to their already heavy load.

“We are putting a burden on our students that I think we should all think about, said Trustee Rebecca Eisen. “Believe me, for freshmen entering, trying to figure (general education requirements) all out, it is something. It is complex.”

Thurmond said that there would likely be a compromise if AB 1460 passed, and no further units would have to be added to the general education requirements.

California State University and its students have a history in leading the charge for ethnic studies. San Francisco State is known as the first university to create an ethnic studies college in 1969. California State University, Los Angeles, formed the first Chicano studies program in the country.

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab on our website.

This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 3:45 PM.