Students Preparation and Success

Whereas, The California Mapping Articulated Pathways Initiative was initially developed in 2017 at Norco College to support credit for prior learning (CPL) for veterans, it has since expanded to include CPL for working adults as well, by allowing colleges to compare their courses to military courses, professional experience, and industry credentials to create equivalencies based on industry/faculty recommendations [1];

Whereas, The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Memo ESLEI 24-15 [1] from February 27, 2024 was not co-signed by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges;

Whereas, A basic transfer admission requirement of the University of California is the completion of at least seven courses (21 semester units minimum) of coursework approved by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) for inclusion in the five University of California Transfer Eligibility areas [1] (the so-called “seven-course pattern”) [2], for which the standards for inclusion of California community college courses in the five areas of the seven-course pattern are neither posted on the UCOP

Whereas, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Resolution 20.02 F20 Ensure Course Cost Transparency for Students [1] encourages “local academic senates to advocate for the implementation of a process for consistent, clear, and transparent messaging to students prior to registration regarding all material and supply costs in appropriate locations including the schedule of classes and the bookstore”;

Whereas, California Education Code §88076 [1] exempts from classified service “full-time students employed part-time” and “part-time students employed part-time in a college work-study program or in a work experience education program conducted by a community college that is financed by state or federal funds,” which results in fewer opportunities for employment for part-time students even though they make up over 65% of credit students [2];

Whereas, After the second full year of AB 705 implementation for math and English, local outcomes reveal that while more first-time students are attempting and completing transfer-level math and English courses, growing and alarming equity gaps persist, particularly for students of color [1];

Whereas, Many colleges no longer offer English courses below transfer level or math courses more than one level below transfer which limits the options of students seeking additional preparation in transfer-level math and English courses; and

Whereas, The ongoing military coup in Myanmar has wreaked untold violence and devastation and has caused enormous psychological, emotional, and physical distress for citizens or born nationals of Myanmar, many of whom study within the California Community Colleges system;

Whereas, The military coup has caused personal and economic hardship for these students due to the shutdown of many Myanmar businesses, freezing of bank transactions, looting and destruction of citizens’ homes, and kidnapping, imprisoning, and murder of Myanmar citizens; and

Whereas, Student voice is critical to the hiring process, and California Education Code’s equal employment opportunity provision implies support for the participation of students to ensure the community college work force is “continually responsive to the needs of a diverse student population by ensuring that all persons receive an equal opportunity to compete for employment and promotion” (Ed. Code §87100 (a) (3));

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has advocated for inclusive college campuses through resolutions, rostrum articles,1 and presentations;

Whereas, A 2019 report by the Gay and Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a nationally recognized resource for collecting data on school climate for LGBTQ+ students, revealed that 6 out of 10 LGBTQ+ students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and 4 out of 10 because of their gender expression2;

Whereas, Faculty have both the freedom to select the course materials they deem most appropriate and the responsibility to consider the cost burden as they do so;