Student Affirmative Action (SAA) outreach programs to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities and the economically disadvantaged in higher education in California started with little or no coordination and scant thought of evaluation. For a variety of reasons, which include how they were planned, how they are staffed and administered, how they are funded, and why they exist, very little serious evaluation of the programs has occurred. After 20 years of experience it is difficult, if not impossible, to say from a public policy or research perspective what types of interventions work with what types of students to what degree. It is speculated that for this to change among state-funded programs, the state will have to be more serious in demanding rigorous evaluation and, perhaps, promote program consolidation. However, the fundamental SAA concerns may be evolving and creating new programs and practices in need of evaluation. (Author/TE)