Chapter 1.5General Provisions

Section § 94050

Explanation

This law aims to stop businesses and organizations in California from falsely calling themselves 'colleges' or 'universities' if they are not authorized to provide higher education. It prohibits a wide variety of entities from using these terms, unless they fall into specific exceptions. These exceptions include public postsecondary institutions, certain nonprofit religious organizations, and genuine trade or professional groups that offer education only to their members. Violating this rule is considered a misdemeanor, which is a type of crime.

(a)CA Education Code § 94050(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to prevent deceptive and misleading use of the terms “college” and “university” by businesses and other organizations that present themselves as institutions of higher education but are not authorized to operate as private postsecondary educational institutions under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 94700).
(b)CA Education Code § 94050(b) No person shall designate a business, social, political, religious, or other organization operating in this state, including, but not limited to, any firm, association, partnership, or corporation, as a “college” or “university.”
(c)CA Education Code § 94050(c) This section does not apply to the designation of any of the following:
(1)CA Education Code § 94050(c)(1) A postsecondary or vocational educational institution established, operated, and governed by a public entity, or by a firm, association, partnership, or corporation using the name of that institution with the permission of the institution.
(2)CA Education Code § 94050(c)(2) A nonprofit religious institution described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 94739.
(3)CA Education Code § 94050(c)(3) A bona fide trade, business, professional, or fraternal organization that either sponsors no educational services or sponsors educational services solely for the membership of the organization.
(d)CA Education Code § 94050(d) Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
deceptive use misleading organizations higher education unauthorized operation postsecondary educational institutions public entity institutions nonprofit religious institutions bona fide organizations vocational education membership-based education misdemeanor violation business designation restrictions educational services college and university terms Chapter 7 compliance
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 405, Sec. 66. Effective January 1, 2003.)