(a) The Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education shall use funds appropriated in Item 6910-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2016 to make awards pursuant to this section.

(b) Moneys shall be awarded for innovations that reduce the time it takes students to complete degrees and credentials or reduce the total cost of attendance for students, or both, through any of the following:

(1) Redesign of curriculum and instruction, such as implementation of three-year degrees.

(2) Programs that allow students to make progress toward completion of degrees and credentials based on demonstration of knowledge and competencies, including military training, prior learning, and prior experiences.

(3) Programs that make financial aid more accessible, including by increasing the number of students who apply for financial aid, or that reduce the costs of books and supplies.

(c) The committee shall make an award only to a community college, but the award may be for innovations that encourage or require partnership between the community college and other entities.

(d) The committee shall give preference, when making awards, to innovations that do at least one of the following:

(1) Improve the outcomes described in subdivision (b) for students from groups that are underrepresented in higher education, such as low-income students, underrepresented minority students, first-generation students, students who are current or former foster youth, students with disabilities, and students who are veterans.

(2) Use technology in ways that are not common in higher education to improve the outcomes described in subdivision (b).

(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 24, Sec. 14. (AB 1602) Effective June 27, 2016.)