UC needs to lead 

The University of California is at a crossroads: will it honor its grassroots history as one of the birthplaces of ethnic studies, or will it follow Texas’s and Florida’s lead by banning antiracist education? 

California’s AB 101 mandates that by 2030, high school seniors must take an ethnic studies course in order to graduate. By Fall of 2025, high school ethnic studies courses must be on the books. We are less than two years away from this deadline, yet the UC is squandering its opportunity to lead with vision. 

As California’s leading educational institution, UC needs to implement Area H Ethnic Studies in order to serve the people of California. By delaying Area H, UC denies students in California access to socially transformative antiracist education. 

What is Area H?

Area H supplements the existing Area A-G admissions criteria with a non-additive one-semester ethnic studies admissions requirement–in essence a college-prep course in ethnic studies–among the minimum 15 A-G courses needed to enter the UC. This requirement works in tandem with the new state-mandated ethnic studies requirement of the California State University (CSU), with which the UC shares an Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). 

UC BOARS (Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools) already overwhelmingly voted to approve Area H on two occasions. Now it will be voting on Area H for a third time! Why? This is not Florida or Texas! Not only is this requirement overdue in a state that has been majority-minority since 2000, but also, it aligns with state law (AB 101).

Ethnic studies is anti-racist

As an area of study, ethnic studies was founded on and draws on the histories and contemporary struggles of the communities that make up California and the United States, communities long historically excluded. In the over fifty years since the birth of ethnic studies, the field has proven to be critical to anti-racist education and democratized learning outcomes. 

Ethnic studies benefits ALL students

Ethnic studies curriculum results in improved academic outcomes for everyone. In serving all California students, ethnic studies supports educational access. Research shows taking one ethnic studies course can positively affect youth of color and Indigenous youth, raising GPAs, graduation rates, and college entrance rates. Other studies demonstrate that the academic and social benefits of taking ethnic studies in high school are positive for students of color, Indigenous youth, and white students.

Support ethnic studies expertise

Ethnic studies experts should determine what constitutes ethnic studies. UC ethnic studies scholars have revised Area H criteria five times in response to input from non-expert stakeholders. Teachers cannot wait. They need UC criteria to support implementation of ethnic studies in our schools statewide.