Cal. Education Code § 66015.1

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The 1986 Report on Lower Division Education at the University of California stated that “lower division (education) is something of a neglected child...” and suggested steps for improving the quality of teaching and academic support services. (b) In 1991, the “Universitywide Task Force on Faculty Rewards Report” resulted in the adoption of policies to provide a greater emphasis on teaching. Policy revisions included broadening the range of evidence used in evaluation of teaching, peer review of teaching, and promotion policies that recognize great distinction in teaching as well as scholarship. (c) In 1992, the University of California issued a number of “Presidential Initiatives to Protect and Improve Undergraduate Education.” (d) The Legislature, in the Supplemental Report of the 1992 Budget Act, declared its intent that University of California faculty alter the distribution of their workload by: (1) Increasing the number of courses and sections offered that are required for normal progress toward a baccalaureate degree. (2) Increasing the number of freshman and sophomore seminars. (3) Increasing opportunities for undergraduate research. (4) Reducing the size of classes when desirable. These measures were expected to result in an increase in the average teaching load of one additional course every one to three years. (e) The report entitled “Initiatives to Improve Undergraduate Education,” prepared by the University of California in response to the 1992 Budget Act, is a commendable effort.