Resolved that the Academic Senate urge the urban districts to work through the AB 3409 Finance Task Force representatives in the development of a long-term funding mechanism so that the community colleges continue to work in the best interests of all California Community College students, both urban and rural, and so that the community colleges speak on this issue with a unified voice.
Whereas the legislation mandating a $50 per semester community college student enrollment fee will expire in January of 1988, and
Whereas the original imposition of the student enrollment fee occasioned a level of conflict which had a generally negative effect on the community colleges, and
Whereas there is a great need for continuity and stability in the funding for community colleges, and
Whereas the community colleges and the state have taken steps to minimize the effect of the enrollment fee on student access, and
Whereas new and small colleges have to meet broad and general requirements to provide quality educational access and equity to the communities they serve, and
Whereas their small size factor limits their resources creating special problems for them,
Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges affirm the expansion of the 50% law to account for librarians, counselors, college nurses, and faculty learning assistance professionals, and
Resolved that a study be conducted and rationale be developed for raising the percentage of the current expense of education (C.E.E.) to above 50% to include the aforementioned faculty, and
Resolved that the augmented percentage be consistent with unit costs in program-based funding.
Whereas certain aspects of program-based funding could cause districts to act in ways contrary to recognized standards of academic and professional excellence and which could hinder student success,
Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges direct the Executive Committee to prepare a report which discusses those aspects of Program-Based Funding which could encourage or discourage districts to promote academic and professional excellence and student success, and
Whereas, Many programs are critically dependent upon the continuance of such restricted funding as Instructional Equipment and Library Materials, Maintenance and Operations, Matriculation, CalWORKS, and Vocational Technical Education;
Whereas, The California Community College System budget was recently modified to combine or blend some of these restricted sources into several block grants, allowing for the local districts and colleges to determine the portions of allocation within each block area;
Whereas, The 2004-2005 state budget reflects agreement by the Legislature and the Governor to fund the first of three years' equalization at $80 million with the intention to fund $80 million in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 budgets; and
Whereas, The budget proposal for 2005-2006 under development by the California Community College System Office includes support for $80 million for equalization;
Whereas, AB1725 proposed program-based funding and established educational quality standards that funding should address;
Whereas, The program-based funding model has never been adequately funded;
Whereas, The Governor's current commitment to equalization has been an additional allocation on top of base apportionment; and
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has a long-standing concern about the relationship between funding and educational quality standards;
Whereas, There currently exists a funding disparity between noncredit and credit funding, as the current rate of apportionment funding for noncredit is approximately 56% of the credit rate and does not provide adequate funding for program elements that are critical to the success of noncredit students, such as full-time faculty, general support costs, office hours, libraries, learning resources centers, and tutors;
Whereas, Education Code 87151 states that the Board of Governors shall annually allocate funds for the purposes of community college faculty and staff development; and
Whereas, Education Code 87514 states that faculty and staff development shall be operative during any fiscal year only if funds are provided in the annual budget act for that fiscal year or other legislation;