California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Monday ending a court-ordered admissions moratorium at the University of California, Berkeley that would have forced the university to cut enrollment by 3,000 students.
The law, which passed the state Legislature unanimously, voids a state court ruling in favor of a group of local residents who had sued the university for failing to adhere to the California Environmental Quality Act’s standards on student housing while expanding enrollment.
The law gives California public universities an 18-month window to complete their environmental review requirements prior to being subjected to an admission freeze.
‘DEVASTATING’ COURT RULING FORCES UC BERKELEY TO CUT ENROLLMENT BY 3,000
University of California system President Michael Drake praised the legislation Monday for affirming “the University of California’s obligations under CEQA while also safeguarding the bright futures of thousands of hardworking prospective UC Berkeley students.”
“The University shares our campus neighbors’ desire to undertake growth in a way that respects the surrounding community and mitigates impacts on the environment,” Drake said. “We believe this bill provides a clearer, more transparent, and more predictable process for analyzing and managing the environmental impact of campus populations under CEQA while also ensuring students are not harmed because of ongoing policy disagreements.”
Equally pleased was UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ, who thanked state legislators “for their quick and effective response.”
“At Berkeley we are, and will remain, committed to continuing our efforts to address a student housing crisis through new construction of below market housing,” Christ said. “We look forward to working in close, constructive collaboration with our partners in Sacramento in order to advance our shared interest in providing California students with an exceptional experience and education.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The university had estimated the admissions freeze would cost over $50 million in tuition, state funds, and student fees.