(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the following categories be followed, insofar as practicable in the following numerical order, for the purpose of enrollment planning and admission priority practice at the undergraduate resident student level for the California State University and the University of California:

(1) Continuing undergraduate students in good standing.

(2) California Community College transfer students who have successfully concluded a course of study in an approved transfer agreement program.

(3) Other California Community College students who have met all of the requirements for transfer.

As stated in legislative findings, the transfer function plays a key role in meeting the state’s goals of educational equity. Therefore, the Board of Regents of the University of California and the Board of Trustees of the California State University shall declare as policy for this paragraph and paragraph (2) of this subdivision that students who are eligible to transfer and who are from historically underrepresented groups or economically disadvantaged families shall be given preference, to the fullest extent possible under state and federal law, statutes, and regulations, in transfer admissions decisions, and shall design policies in conformity with state and federal statutes and regulations intended to facilitate their success in achieving transfer.

(4) Other qualified transfer students.

(5) California residents entering at the freshman or sophomore levels.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that within each of the preceding enrollment categories, the following groups of applicants receive priority consideration in admissions practice in the following order:

(1) Residents of California who are recently released veterans of the armed forces of the United States.

(2) Transfers from California public community colleges.

(3) Applicants who have been previously enrolled at the campus to which they are applying, provided they left this institution in good standing.

(4) Applicants who have a degree or credential objective that is not generally offered at other public institutions of higher learning within California.

(5) Applicants for whom the distance involved in attending another institution would create financial or other hardships.

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature that those veterans referred to in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) who were enrolled in good standing at a campus of the University of California or at one of the California State Universities prior to military service receive priority over other veterans recently released from military service.

(Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1188, Sec. 2.)