Working to ensure all Californians have an equal opportunity to attend and succeed in college in order to build a vibrant workforce, economy and

Transcription

1 Working to ensure all Californians have an equal opportunity to attend and succeed in college in order to build a vibrant workforce, economy and democracy

2 California s Future is at Risk The strength of the California economy and our quality of life will depend on the skills of our future workforce. California is projected to be 2.3 million college degrees and certificates short of meeting the economic productivity demands of our economy by Industries in which California is considered a leader and innovator technology, healthcare, agriculture, biotechnology, aerospace, and entertainment are dependent upon an educated workforce. For several decades, California has had a disproportionately high share of the nation s employment in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM occupations. These occupations provide the state s residents with high pay and a high standard of living. But out of 123 STEM occupations requiring a postsecondary education, nearly half are likely to experience shortages. These fields, which rely on our public colleges and universities to prepare students for careers, are at stake and face critical workforce shortages. Research has shown that completion rates in California s Community Colleges, the starting point for a majority of the state s undergraduates, are unacceptably low: only three out of ten degree-seeking students earn a degree, certificate, or transfer within six years. For blacks and Latino students, the number drops to two in ten. Compounding the completion challenge are the severe budget cuts that our institutions of higher education have General Fund Appropriations Per Student Have Declined Sharply $30,000 endured over the past ten years. As a result, students are being turned away from our community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, or are unable to enroll in the courses necessary for them to reach their college goals. With the passage of Proposition 30, we have the hope of more stable funding for higher education, though the impacts of deep, multi-year budget cuts still remain. California s lack of statewide goals for higher education creates the absence of a guide for policymakers as they make decisions about long-term investments. II II II 25th: the state s rank in the number of first-time college students among 9th graders in high school four years earlier. 41st: California s rank for the number of bachelor s degrees awarded to students six years after graduating from high school. 500,000+: The number of students unable to enroll in our public institutions for higher education in recent years. $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 UC CSU CCC Only 22% Latino and 26% of black community college students complete a certificate, associates degree, or transfer after 6 years, compared to 37% of whites. $ Source: Public Policy Institute of California. Defunding Higher Education: What Are the Effects on College Enrollment? Notes: Data for the school year are LAO estimates. Figures are per full-time equivalent student with American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds. Appropriations are adjusted for inflation to reflect 2010 dollars. California Community College (CCC) General Fund appropriations do not reflect Prop 98 funding. Source: Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy, CSU Sacramento. Divided We Fail: Improving Completion and Closing Racial Gaps in California s Community Colleges

3 Why You Should Care Now California is becoming younger and more diverse. The nearly 2.8 million young adults in their prime college-going years (ages 20-24) is one of the largest age groups counted in California in the 2010 Census, outnumbered only by those aged 15-19, on whom future decisions about college-going weigh most heavily. Together, the sheer size of these two young population groups highlight the urgency of higher education access and success in California. These two groups also represent the future of California s ethnic composition, with Latinos representing more than 45% of the total and whites falling to less than a third of the group. This dramatic increase in the number of young Californians brings both an opportunity and a challenge. Californians with a college degree will earn more throughout their lifetime, will spend fewer years in poverty, and reduce the number of years they receive cash aid than those with only a high school diploma. And in hard times, those with some level of higher education fare better. During the recession, individuals with at least some college lost fewer jobs, and have gained more jobs during the recovery. C The College Payoff TO THE STATE For every $1 California invests in higher education, $ investment of $4.50 it will receive a net return on $$$$ $12 billion Number of Jobs Even During the Recession, Bachelor s Degree Holders Gained Jobs 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000, ,000,000-2,000,000-3,000,000-4,000,000-5,000,000-6,000,000-5,611,000-1,752, ,000 Recession (December 2007 to January 2010) Net Change -10% 0% 5% -230,000 1,592,000 Bachelor's degree or better Some college/ Associate's degree High school or less 2,012,000 Recovery (January 2010 to February 2012) Source: Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Georgetown University. The College Advantage: Weathering the Economic Storm Past graduates of UC and CSU return $12 billion annually to the state TO THE INDIVIDUAL Californians with a college degree will earn $1,340,000 more than their peers with only a high school diploma By entering and completing college, the average Californian will spend 4 years less in poverty, reducing the expected number of years they receive cash aid by more than 2 years Source: Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, University of California, Berkeley. California s Economic Payoff: Investing in College Access & Completion

4 David Wolf, Bill Hauck, Antonia Hernandez, David Viar, and Steve Weiner Steve Weiner and David Wolf had been friends and colleagues for over 40 years. Both baby boomers from working families, they were able to take advantage of the Master Plan for Higher Education and were recipients of what was then a free education at the University of California. That priceless education opened big doors of opportunity for both of them. Never forgetting the opportunities afforded them, they committed their lives to California s future by ensuring that today s students could access that same opportunity. Joined by the California Business Roundtable, the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the Community College League of California, the Campaign for College Opportunity was cofounded in November Bill Hauck, Antonia Hernandez, and David Viar (pictured above with David Wolf and Steve Weiner) served as the founding board members and conceived of an idea that a movement of citizens from the social justice, business, and higher education community could come together and act to preserve access to college and the American Dream for the next generation of students. Who We Are The Campaign for College Opportunity is focused on a single mission: to ensure that the next generation of California students has the chance to attend college and succeed in order to keep our workforce and economy strong. The Campaign was founded in 2003 by a unique alliance of prominent organizations, including the California Business Roundtable, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the Community College League of California. This alliance believed strongly in the power of Californians to preserve the historic promise of the 1960 California Master Plan for Higher Education to provide an opportunity to go to college for every eligible student in the state. Our work is even more critical today when thousands of students who have worked hard are being turned away from our community colleges and four-year universities or are unable to get the classes they need to reach their college goals. In addition, we know that securing that spot in college is only the first step; we must make sure that students succeed in realizing their college dreams if we are to meet the workforce needs of the future. vg What we do: A Public Awareness. Inform the public about the urgent crisis facing higher education and its importance to all Californians. A Alliances. Engage a strong and bipartisan coalition of supporters who are able to advocate for college access and success. A Policy. Work with the Governor, state policymakers, and higher education leaders to support change and reform that will increase college-going rates and improve student retention and success. What we care about: A College Access. Keeping the promise of the 1960 Master Plan alive, making sure that every eligible student that desires to pursue a higher education has the opportunity to do so. In California today, we run the risk that the next generation will be less educated than the current and previous generations. A Student Success and an Educated Workforce. Ensuring that California produces 2.3 million additional college graduates by 2025 to meet the workforce demands of our 21st Century economy by substantially increasing the number of students attending two- and four-year colleges and increasing the number who successfully complete their course of study by earning a certificate, associate degree, transferring to a four-year university or earning a baccalaureate degree. A Student Affordability The Cost of College. California has a long tradition of making college dreams a reality for all prepared students, regardless of their financial resources. Protecting financial aid and maintaining affordability for students is crucial. California is Becoming Less Educated Than Other States Rank Among States in Percent of Population with College Degrees Age Associates Degree or Higher Bachelors Degree or Higher 65 and older 4th 6th 45 to 64 17th 15th 35 to 44 30th 18th 25 to 34 28th 25th Source: NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis ( based on data from the US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey, exported on November 26, 2012

5 What Makes Us Proud Since 2004, we have: K Sponsored and disseminated major studies and reports, including: Return on Investment; Keeping California s Edge; Closing the Health Workforce Gap; Cumulative Impact; Practices with Promise 2007, 2008, & 2012; Technical Difficulties: Meeting California s Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fields; Moving California Ahead; Cutting the Gordian Knot; Some Lessons from Florida for California s Higher Education Policy; Divided We Fail: Improving Completion and Closing Racial Gaps in California s Community Colleges; California s Economic Payoff: Investing in College Access & Completion; and, Meeting Compliance, but Missing the Mark. K Succeeded in passing five important pieces of legislation: SB 1456, the Student Success Act of 2012, contains common sense reforms. Under the bill, all students will receive the guidance they need to be successful through required orientation and education plans. In an historic move toward equity, colleges will be required to publicly report progress of all students, broken down by race and socio-economic status. And finally, students will have to maintain satisfactory academic performance in order to be eligible for fee waivers. SB 1440 creates a clear pathway for all students to transfer from California Community Colleges. Students that successfully complete 60 transferable units in a community college will earn an associate degree for transfer and will also be guaranteed admission to the California State University (CSU) system as a junior. AB 2302 builds on the reforms made possible by SB 1440 and requests that the University of California (UC) develops a similar pathway for community college students wishing to transfer to the UC system. Together, SB 1440 and AB 2302 create a clear, student-centered transfer process that saves both time and money. SB 890 Early Commitment to College increases college and financial aid awareness for students and their families beginning in middle school and promotes broader collaboration between K-12 and higher education leaders. AB 668 ensures that more eligible low-income community college students access federal and state financial aid money available to them. K Facilitated the launch of the Early Commitment to College program with the California Department of Education across 119 diverse school districts in California. By the Numbers: K 12,000 The number of diverse coalition supporters representing education, civil rights, business, religious, civic, and community leaders. K 8,000+ The number of supporters engaged through briefings, dialogues, legislative visits, and other events to actively support higher education in California. K 50,000+ The number of young people and their families involved through our Save Me a Spot in College scholarship contest and our KnowHow2Go campaign partnership. K 800+ The number of articles and news strories placed to raise awareness about issues central to higher education. Bill signing ceremony for historic transfer reform in From left to right: California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, Campaign President Michele Siqueiros, Senator Alex Padilla, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

6 What You Can Do You play a crucial role in ensuring the future success of students and higher education in our state. There are many ways to become involved in helping to expand opportunities for California s students, including: O Learn more. Join us at any of our events to share your thoughts and learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in California. O Invite us to speak to your organization and endorse our activities. O Share your support for higher education solutions with California policymakers that focus on meeting capacity, ensuring affordability and promoting student success. O Write letters to the editor, blog, or comment on higher education news reminding Californians of the need to invest in public higher education and support student success reforms. O Spread the news. Talk to your network about the crisis California will face if it continues to disinvest in its future workforce. Encourage them to join our newsletter list, Facebook fan page, or follow us on Twitter to keep up to date on current higher education issues. What California Can Do M Set Priorities and Fund Them. Create a public agenda for higher education that establishes benchmarks for college-going and completion, monitors progress toward these benchmarks, and aligns policies and budgets needed to reach them. M Invest. Increase funding for higher education to ensure all eligible students have a spot in college. Propose a funding mechanism that creates incentives beyond enrollment and holds colleges and universities accountable for increasing student graduation and completion rates. M Keep the Promise of Access & Affordability. Preserve financial aid for low-and moderate income Californians through the Board of Governors Fee Waiver and Cal Grants while simultaneously ensuring that awarded students demonstrate satisfactory progress. M Collect Data and Act Upon It. Require and review college data on access and completion rates by race/ethnicity and utilize data to inform policy and budget strategies for improving student outcomes and meeting workforce needs. M Work Together. Ensure strong coordination between California two-year colleges and four-year universities, especially with regards to early college preparation and transfer. The future of our state depends upon an educated and vital workforce that can help California remain a leading, innovative global presence. And the future of higher education in our state depends on us all. To learn more about what role you can play, please visit our website, or send us an to info@collegecampaign.org. O Share your story with us. If you have an experience in California s colleges and universities that you would like to share, tell us. O Contribute to the mission of The Campaign for College Opportunity by making a personal donation.

7 Board of Directors David Wolf (Chair) Campaign for College Opportunity Co-Founder Thomas A. Saenz (Vice Chair) President & General Counsel Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) Marcus A. Allen (Treasurer) Partner, Englander Knabe & Allen George Boggs Superintendent-President Emeritus, Palomar College; President & CEO Emeritus, American Association of Community Colleges Camila Chavez Executive Director Dolores Huerta Foundation Pamela H. David Executive Director Walter & Elise Haas Fund Gary K. Hart Former California Secretary of Education & State Senator Robert Lapsley President California Business Roundtable William G. McGinnis Trustee, Butte-Glenn Community College District Advisory Board Roberta Achtenberg, Economic Development Consultant Frank Alvarez, Education Advocate Barbara Beno, Executive Director, Accrediting Commission for Community & Junior Colleges Parker Blackman, Managing Director, West Coast, Fenton Communications Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor, City of West Sacramento Maria Casillas, Chief of Parent Community Services Branch, Los Angeles Unified School District Carol Chandler, Owner, Chandler Farms Roberta Furger, Education Organizing & Political Director, PICO California Linda Griego, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital Foundation Matthew Haney,Commissioner, San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education Dr. Steven Kinsella, President, Gavilan College Robin Kramer, Trustee, Pitzer College John Nixon, Associate Vice President, Accrediting Commission for Community & Junior Colleges Alex Pader, Past President, Student Senate for California Community Colleges Judy Patrick, Executive Director, The Women s Foundation of California William Scroggins, President, Mount San Antonio College Arun Ramanathan, Executive Director, Education Trust West Deborah Santiago, Co-Founder & Vice President, Excelencia in Education Christopher Steinhauser, Superintendent, Long Beach Unified School District Sara Steinhoffer, Vice President, Government Affairs, Sharp HealthCare Gary Toebben, President, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce David Valladolid, President, Parent Institute for Quality Education John Welty, President, California State University, Fresno Carol Whiteside, Founder & President Emeritus, Great Valley Center Eloy Ortiz Oakley Superintendent-President Long Beach City College Rory O Sullivan Deputy Director Young Invincibles Darline P. Robles, PhD. Professor of Clinical Education Rossier School of Education University of Southern California Frederick R. Ruiz Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus, Ruiz Food Products; Regent, University of California Lisa A. Smith Managing Director/Head of the Pacific Region, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C. David Mas Masumoto, Author and Owner, Masumoto Family Farms Eliseo Medina, Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU International Miles Nevin, Executive Director, California State Student Association Deacon John Wilson, Education & Enrichment Ministry Director, West Angeles Church of God in Christ Kent Wong, Director, UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education The Campaign for College Opportunity would not be possible without financial support from The California Education Policy Fund, The California Wellness Foundation, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, The Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, The Ford Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The Lumina Foundation, The Pacific Gas and Electric Company, The Rappaport Family Foundation, The Sand Hill Foundation, Southern California Edison, The Vons Foundation, The Walter S. Johnson Foundation, The Working Poor Families Project, and individual donors across California, along with founding contributors: The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation. Every day we strive to honor our co-founder, Steve Weiner, who passed away in 2013, and cofounding board member, Bill Hauck, who passed away in Their dedication, boldness, and commitment to California s future were unwavering.

8 We know our work will be done when......every Californian has a real opportunity to access, afford and complete a high quality higher education so that they can enter the workforce competitively and attain their own versions of the California Dream. - David Wolf & Steve Weiner Co-Founders, The Campaign for College Opportunity Offices Los Angeles (Main Office) 714 W. Olympic Boulevard, Suite 745 Los Angeles, CA (P) (213) (F) (877) Sacramento th Street Sacramento, CA (P) (916) (F) (916)