FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Eduardo Martinez

August 7, 2008 916-319-2044

Enriching the College Experience for University of California Students Is Aided by

Passage of Important State Resolution

Assemblymember has fought for passage of ACR 21 over the past year to help address disproportionately

low minority enrollment in the nationís best public university system

Sacramento ñ ACR 21, authored by Assemblymember Portantino and strongly supported by the California Legislative

Black Caucus, was approved today by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The resolution, inspired by the Pasadena

Journal, would strongly urge the University of California to establish a student exchange program with Historically Black

Colleges and Universities.

ìWhen students enroll in college, they expect not only to receive a quality education, they expect to enjoy the complete

college experience,î said Assemblymember Portantino. ìStudents and families expect campuses to be diverse and reflect

the boarder community at large. Clearly we have fallen short of that goal.î

ìAs I campaigned door to door, I found that many California high school students struggle with the decision between

attending an HBCU on the east coast or staying close to home. ACR 21 would offer the best and brightest students from

California and throughout the U.S. the best of both options ñ a quality UC experience and the chance to study at an

Historically Black College or Universities.î

UC currently participates in a variety of "student exchange" programs and/or partnership programs with other colleges,

universities and countries, few of these are with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. At the same time, the UC

Board of Regents contends it is doing all it can to increase diversity on Campus. ACR 21 gives the UC one more way in

which to achieve success and enhance student opportunities.

According to UC admissions data, the passage of Proposition 209 hit UC-Berkeley's racial and ethnic communities hard.

The number of incoming freshmen from under-represented minorities groups - African-American, Latino, Native

American and Pacific Islander - shrank by half immediately after the initiative took effect. Although the numbers are just

now beginning to recover, campuses are still far from reflecting the state's diversity. Although 47 percent of public high

school graduates in California are members of underrepresented minorities, they make up just 25 percent of UC's incoming

freshman class. At UC-Berkeley, they represent a mere 15.7 percent. And just two short years ago, UCLA had less than 100

African American in its incoming freshman class.

ìJust yesterday, the San Jose Mercury News reported on UC students and their efforts to increase diversity on their

campuses,î continued Portantino. ìMost students I come across as Chairman of the Assembly Higher Education

Committee are hungry for more diversity, and with Proposition 209 on the books for over ten years, their individual

outreach efforts are one of the few legal ways left to change the face of future classes of students. ACR 21 will send a

strong message to the UC that the California Legislature expects diversity to remain tantamount of this world renowned

institution of higher learning. I am extremely proud that the every Legislative Black Caucus member is are co-authors of this

resolution.î

The bill must now be approved by the full Senate and returned to the Assembly before it is considered officially adopted by

the California Legislature.

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