A Reason to Smile

Woman college graduate throwing confetti

This year, graduation season was even more special. With increased vaccination rates in our state and people being able to gather safely, I was glad to see that, like many campuses across our state, my alma mater, UCLA, hosted a combination of virtual and small in-person graduation ceremonies. To all 2021 graduates, congratulations! You persisted and succeeded amidst a truly challenging year. Photos of students celebrating in their caps and gowns truly made me smile.

While we celebrate graduation season, we also know that the pandemic is not yet over and that our students will return to school in the fall after more than a year and a half of challenging and, in some cases, heartbreaking circumstances. That is why we continue our work to safeguard college opportunity against the financial, mental health, and personal challenges our students have faced, along with the additional barriers of virtual and distance-based education. Read below to learn how you can join us in advocating for legislation that will eliminate barriers for community college students who want to transfer and ensure that California’s most low-income students receive the aid they need to complete their college education. Check out our latest publications and special events, including a lunch break I hosted with Governor Newsom's Senior Policy Advisor for Higher Education, Dr. Lande Ajose.

We count on your continued partnership so that together we can ensure more students turn their tassels and toss their caps in the air each year.

Sincerely,

Michele Siqueiros

President

Our Publications

In June, we released "Chutes or Ladders?: Strengthening California Community College Transfer So More Students Earn the Degrees They Seek ," in which we examine the ways improving transfer for community college students is central to remedying racial inequity in higher education and to producing the educated workforce California needs; document the impact of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) on improving the transfer pathway; and offer recommendations for removing remaining obstacles for students in the transfer process and for strengthening the ADT pathway. We hosted a webinar in conjunction with the release of the report, featuring transfer policy experts and practitioners. You can watch the recording here or below.

Watch the recording

Read the report

In the Capitol

Our supported legislation has moved out of the Senate Education Committee! Efforts to transform transfer, redesign our financial aid system, and create a common course numbering system will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.

AB 928 (Berman) calls for transformational, student-centered transfer, ultimately supporting more students to a 4-year degree and closing racial equity gaps in transfer. Get involved on social media: #TransformingTransfer

AB 1456 (Medina) calls for a redesign of Cal Grant - the state’s financial aid system - and removes antiquated barriers, expanding financial aid to over 200,000 more students. Get involved on social media: #CalGrantEquityFramework

AB 1111 (Berman), which is moving with a concurrent $10 million investment allocated in the 2021-22 state budget, calls for creating a common course numbering system at community colleges, reducing the confusion students face when selecting courses and streamlining transfer. Learn more

Events

Join us this summer for upcoming Lunch Breaks with Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President of Fresno State University, and Angel Rodriguez, new Commissioner of the California Student Aid Commission. Learn more about them, their new roles, and their visions for higher education.

RSVP

RSVP

Recently, we hosted newly appointed CSU Trustee, Diego Arambula, and Governor Newsom's Senior Policy Advisor for Higher Education, Dr. Lande Ajose, in opportunities to learn more about them and their roles. You can watch the recordings below.

Thank you to the generosity of UC Merced for

supporting our events.

The Campaign in the News

Ed Source, Op-Ed by Dr. Scott W. Thayer, Co-Founder/President of A2MEND, and Dr. Cynthia Olivo, Founder/President of COLEGAS:

"To close racial equity gaps, make it simpler for community college students to transfer"

LA Sentinel, Op-Ed by Dr. Keith Curry, Compton College President/CEO: "'Business as Usual' Keeps the Majority of Black

Students from Succeeding"

The Sacramento Bee: "California wants to make more space for in-state students at top UC campuses. Here’s how"

Ed Source: "California community college transfer students face roadblocks to a bachelor’s degree"

Los Angeles Times: "California has the largest drop in spring college enrollment numbers in the nation"

Congratulations to Our Student Leaders

Congratulations to the students of our 2020-21 Student Leadership Institute for completing the program! Over the past nine months, these student advocates have shown incredible leadership in higher education policy, learning the tools to become change-makers in California higher education. Learn more about the program

Now Hiring

We are seeking a Senior Research Analyst, Research Analyst, and part-time Research Fellow to join our team and conduct meaningful research that informs California higher education. Positions are open until filled. Learn more

Thank You to Our Funders and Event Sponsors

Our work would not be possible without the support from our funders. Thank you to the Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr. Fund, the Angell Foundation, and the Marin Community Foundation.

We also thank our generous sponsors for their support of our events.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Stacey Holderbach.