Support for Proposed Title 5 Revision: Assignment of Priority Student Housing for Foster Youth

AS-2943-10/AA

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) support the implementation of AB 1393 (Skinner) now incorporated into Section 90001.5 of the California Education Code which provides housing priority to current and former foster youth on campuses that maintain student housing; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU support campus implementation procedures that define reasonable application deadlines for determining the assignment of priority for campus housing; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU support other campus policies that assist the critical transition to the CSU for this population; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU distribute this resolution to the CSU Board of Trustees, campus presidents and campus housing directors.

RATIONALE: Assembly Bill 1393 (Skinner), added Section 90001.5 to the California Education Code, which requires the California State University to provide housing priority to current and former foster youth on campuses that maintain student housing. This section also requires CSU campuses that have student housing open during school breaks or on a year-round basis to give housing priority to current and former foster youth. It is appropriate to offer priority for campus housing to this potentially at-risk population which likely does not have the family and community support structures of typical students as they make this critical transition to campus life.

To establish reasonable systems for determining priority for housing, campuses should be encouraged to define reasonable deadlines for application and payment in determining such priority.

Approved Unanimously – March 10-11, 2010