Message from Board Chair

What does it mean to be ready for college, work, and life in a rapidly changing California?

For generations, the University of California has helped define college readiness in our state and across the nation. UC’s A-G subject requirements established clear academic expectations for students seeking admission to the University and, in doing so, helped shape high school coursework across California.

California and the world are changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, scientific advancement, emerging workforce needs, and new approaches to teaching and learning are reshaping the post-graduation landscape. As stewards of California’s public research university, we have a responsibility to partner with the educators, families, and communities who prepare California's students and ask whether our current understanding of readiness is keeping pace with current demands.

The Board of Regents will begin a year-long effort to deepen their knowledge of what it means to prepare students for college, work, and life in a changing world. Through May 2027, Regents will hear from leading researchers, educators, employers, policymakers, and other experts; examine research and emerging trends; and learn best practices from students, families, educators, and communities across California. We will hear from experts at our Board meetings and hold listening sessions across the state. This work will deepen our understanding of the forces shaping education and prepare us for future policy deliberations. This work will take place within UC’s longstanding tradition of shared governance.

The Regents have delegated substantial responsibility for undergraduate admissions policy and academic requirements to the Academic Senate, working through the Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS). BOARS is reviewing UC’s A-G requirements and what college readiness should mean in the 21st century, and will bring forward recommendations for consideration by the Board. Throughout the process, University leaders will draw on shared research and stakeholder input. This in-depth work will help the Regents thoughtfully evaluate any recommendations that emerge.

This endeavor does not begin with a predetermined answer. We want to understand what is working, where the current framework may need to evolve, and what students will need to thrive at UC and beyond.

At the University of California, our goal is not simply to graduate students, but to prepare them for lives of learning, leadership, and service to build a stronger future for California.

On behalf of the Board of Regents, thank you for learning with us and helping us think carefully about what readiness should mean for the next generation of Californians.

Maria Anguiano
Chair, Board of Regents, University of California