California State University undergraduate students will now be required to take a course in ethnic studies and social justice in order to graduate.

The Board of Trustees voted 13-5 in favor of the new proposal, which will be the institution's first curriculum change in over 40 years, reports EdSource.

The university system hopes that this modification will create "a more just and equitable society," according to ABC News.

"This action, by the CSU and for the CSU, lifts Ethnic Studies to a place of prominence in our curriculum, connects it with the voices and perspectives of other historically oppressed groups," CSU Chancellor Timothy White said. "It will empower our students to meet this moment in our nation's history, giving them the knowledge, broad perspectives and skills needed to solve society's most pressing problems."

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, incoming students will need to fulfill a one-course requirement that can be met by taking a class in one of four ethnic studies disciplines: Native American studies, African American studies, Asian American studies or Latina and Latino studies. The requirement can also be met with a class that discusses social justice.

Each of the system's 23 campuses will decide for themselves which of their courses will satisfy the requisite.

“[The new policy] will further strengthen the value of a CSU degree," White said.

The policy, which was approved after two days of debate, was met with some resistance, reports the Los Angeles Times.

“I’m trying to hold with fidelity to what ethnic studies is and has been and what those who framed it and have been fighting for 52 years have asked for,” said Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction.

Thurmond voted against the measure.

Social justice activist Hugo Morales wanted the board to drop the ethnic studies portion of the stipulation and only require social justice courses.

“This is about social justice, which we have championed,” he said.

White said the requirement, as proposed, offers more options for students.

“Ethnic studies has matured,” he said. “It’s deep, it’s powerful, but it’s more than what it used to be.”

The California Faculty Association (CFA), a labor union that represents faculty across the 23 CSU campuses, opposed the proposal and endorsed Assemblywoman Shirley Weber’s bill, which aligns with the board’s curriculum change but expressly limits students' course options.

The bill, AB 1460, has been passed by both the Assembly and the state Senate and will be sent back to the Assembly next week. It will then be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom. If signed by the governor, the bill will override CSU's proposal.

“We’ve asked you to join the Legislature and support 1460, not put us in the same position we were in 1967, where we as entities were trustees fighting faculty, fighting students,” Weber said.

CFA President Charles Toombs said the chancellor did not adequately consult ethnic studies faculty when making his decision.

“CFA is severely disappointed in today’s decision,” Toombs said. “Since the overwhelming number of ethnic studies faculty are people of color, the lack of inclusion of their expert voices is a potent and real example of how systemic racism works in the CSU.”

AB 1460 would go into effect for students entering in the 2021-2022 school year instead of the 2023-2024 school year like the board's policy. Students would also not be allowed to fulfill the requirement with classes outside of the ethnic studies disciplines.

The five trustees who voted no asked to postpone the vote, but Board Chair Lillian Kimbell declined because she said tabling the measure until the board's September meeting would have allowed AB 1460 to reach Newsom’s desk before the trustees could provide their input.

AB-1460

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