Unfair Labor Practice Charge Moves Forward on General Education Requirements

Starting Fall 2025, General Education (GE) requirements in the CSU will change from the GE pattern that has existed since Fall 2021.

The revised GE pattern, known as the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), was originally intended to simplify the transfer process for community college students, but the CSU trustees decided to approve and implement the curriculum for all CSU students.

This decision was overwhelmingly condemned by faculty and students at large, as it would reduce arts and humanities and behavior sciences requirements from three courses to two courses, and it would eliminate Area E: Lifelong Learning and Self-Development courses altogether. Consequently, reduced areas could see course enrollment collapses and courses cancelled. A significant hit to liberal arts education would further take effect.

In response, the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) passed a resolution in January 2024 that categorically opposed changes to the curriculum, citing, in one instance, that the decision to cut courses in lifelong learning will detract from helping our students prepare for success in college.

In May, CFA members filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Public Education Relations Board, only to have the ASCSU – a week later – pass a no-confidence vote against Chancellor García and the CSU trustees in response to their poor implementation of Cal-GETC.

On November 25, PERB issued a complaint against CSU management for their failure to provide CFA members notice and a reasonable opportunity to bargain over the effects of Cal-GETC, prior to its implementation. Management also failed to offer us information that we requested and interfered with the rights of our members.

CSU management will have twenty calendar days to respond to PERB’s complaint. Once they respond, both CFA and management will be asked to attend an informal settlement conference.

As the issue moves forward, we will keep you updated with the understanding that the outcome may set important precedents for both the future of curriculum changes and management’s repeated misuse of power.