By Maya Bendotoff
At the end of last semester, after a year of discussing what a campaign for quality public education looks like, the CCFT Council agreed to advocate for changes to repeatability regulations that limit access and success, or to “Keep the Community in Community Colleges” (refer to our FAQ for more detail). Since then, a group of us have poured considerable time and energy into an education and advocacy campaign (timeline of key efforts below).
So, where do we stand?
It’s hard to say, exactly. Change can take a while, and we’re definitely off to a good start. We believe that our work has shed light on many unintended consequences of the repeatability regulations as well as harmful aspects of intended consequences. We are sure that some change will come from these efforts, and we hope that everyone who reads this will get involved~ it will take a giant push for meaningful systematic change.
A main obstacle at the moment appears to be the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC). While the ASCCC recently approved the part of the resolution promoting “unfettered access to quality community college education for all Californians, including lifelong learners,” they did not support efforts to “increase repeatability options needed for student success in order to provide equal access to a balanced, comprehensive, and high quality education. . .” Instead, they have held to a position that courses should be leveled, and that no more than one completion should be necessary for each course.
Our view is that repeats are needed in several cases and over the years (for reasons not related to immediate employment or transfer, for which there is a petition): from journalism/creative writing to occupational programs with changing technology to visual and performing arts programs that have been build over decades, to foreign language maintenance, and so on. While some changes could be made locally, colleges across the state are affected, so comprehensive change on a state level would be preferable.
The statewide context is tricky. Trends over the past several years—including the Basic Skills Initiative and the Student Success Act—have prioritized basic skills, transfer and occupational programs. In the context of rationing education, it became easy to slice away access for adult students who may not wish to complete a degree or transfer; students with learning and/or language competency challenges; lifelong learners in all subjects; students of the visual, performing, and other creative arts; kinesiology/physical education students; anyone who needs access to skills courses with changing technology (such as Welding, Computer Information Systems, Digital Media, etc.); and more. Some of these changes help raise our “student success” numbers.
However, some of us believe that a false premise has been set up: we should not need to select one (basic skills, transfer, occupational programs) or the other (quality programs and access), particularly if voters agree that we want to support our community colleges and that we want access for ourselves, our children, and our communities.
Proposition 30 proved that there is funding in the state for education and that voters want to support quality public education. Under the current budget, community colleges would be able to serve more students. but due to these regulations, we are unable to do so. Either way, it is a matter of priorities: California definitely has the resources. And, community colleges are a great (and cheap!) investment, one well worth making.
Comprehensive change will involve all of us. We need to work within local Academic Senates, Student Senates, legislators, community members, and other stakeholders to convince the Community College Board of Governors to change these regulations. If that doesn’t work, we can push for legislative solutions.
We hope you will join our campaign and get others involved. A quick and easy way to do so is to SIGN our online petition to the Board of Governors and spread the word! If you have energy beyond a petition, please email ccft@ccftcabrillo.org to let us know how you might like to help.
Here’s a brief timeline of developments:
December:
Presented to the Community College Council (CCC) of the CFT to see if there was broad interest in this issue
Discussed topic with leaders of other faculty organizations
Discussed with Senator Bill Monning (who sits on the Senate Education Committee)January:
Developed resolution for the CFT Convention
Started additional statewide networking that continued throughout the semesterFebruary:
Approved resolution locally with input from CCFT Council
Attended the Council of Faculty Organizations in Sacramento to present on this issue (invited by the Pres of our CCC)
Started planning for Day of Action and Open Forum pproved resolutionMarch:
Garnered statewide support with our resolution at the CFT Convention; presented to the Community College Council
Led a packed Convention workshop on the issueApril:
Student Senate passed resolution on repeatability
The California Community College Independents (CCCI) passed resolution on repeatability
Michael Mangin presented a resolution to the statewide Senate (ASCCC); this resolution was split into two and only part passed. (Note that this arena presents a challenge)
Attended CFT’s Lobby Day and presented on this issue in our meetings with legislative staff
Hosted a “Day of Action to Keep the Community in Community Colleges on April 23; created short video of the eventMay:
May 1: Hosted an OPEN FORUM to Keep the Community in Community Colleges
Posted online petition
Forthcoming: feature community college article in the “California Teacher”
| Special Shout Out to Key OrganizersWhile it is impossible to acknowledge everyone that has helped in these efforts—including faculty, staff, students, and community members—we would like to acknowledge key faculty organizers: Susan Stuart, Sharon Took-Zozaya, Tobin Keller, Michael Strunk, Katie Woolsey, Steve Schessler, Beth McKinnon, Sadie Reynolds, Debora Bone, Brian Legakis, Claire Thronson, Topsy Smalley, Gail West, Diane Putnam, Conrad Scott-Curtix, John Govsky, Don Adkins, and Dawn Nakanishi. Key student advocates include Joe Gonzalez (who designed our T-shirts!), Adrianna Mee (organizer, MC and poet), Cindy Lepore-Hart (videography), Naima Sudjian-Carlisle (logistics and organizing), Carter Frost (Student Senate), and Max Lopez (from the student paper). |