Budget and Finance

Funding

Whereas, Current funding for California Community Colleges is far below the national average and the community colleges receives just one-half the amount of California State University (CSU) and one-fourth the amount of University of California (UC) per-student funding for undergraduate education;

Whereas, The current funding structures perpetuate an educational inequity that disproportionally impacts working people and those historically underrepresented in higher education; and

Raising System Funding to Parity with National Average

Whereas, The model of program-based funding is intended to achieve specific goals established by AB 1725;

Whereas, These goals have not been met because inadequate funding from the Legislature and the Governor has placed California community colleges among the lowest per-student funding rate in the nation; and

Whereas, Great disparity exists even within the state in the funding of districts of diverse socio-economic make-up;

Master Plan

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has adopted Resolution 6.08 F00 calling for California community colleges to be recognized as equal partners in California's system of postsecondary education, and recommending that California community colleges be funded at a level at least equal to that of the other public postsecondary segments;

Program Based Funding and Revision of the Finance Mechanism

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has supported the basic tenets of program-based funding, as it includes program standards related to class size, the 75/25 ratio of credit instruction taught by full- to part-time faculty, library standards and other programmatic considerations, and the finance mechanism has also been cost sensitive in relation to such things as the needs of basic skills students and small and large college differentials;

Student Fee Research

Whereas, The California Master Plan for Education as well as various California legislators call for an increase in California community college student fees coupled with an increase in financial aid;

Whereas, The 2002-2003 System Priorities drafted jointly by the Consultation Council and representatives of the trustees' organization call for "a comprehensive study of student fees, other student costs, and financial aid and how each affect student access and its impact on system resources for student success";

Support for Local Academic Senates

Whereas, The degree of institutional support for local academic senates varies widely;

Whereas, The current interpretation of the 50% law has called into question college obligations to provide reassigned time for senate leaders; and

Whereas, A local senate also needs secretarial support, office space, office supplies and conference expenses;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate seek a budget change proposal to assure that local academic senates are funded to the level that will allow them to carry out their responsibilities.

Discriminatory Funding

Whereas, The Full-time Equivalent Student funding of the California Community College since 1965 have averaged 49% of the per-student allocation for the California State Universities and 21% of the per-student allocation for the University of California;

Whereas, The California Community College System is expected to provide the first two years of undergraduate education for most students in California;

Discriminatory Funding

Whereas, The Full-time Equivalent Student funding of the California Community Colleges since 1965 has averaged 49% of the per-student allocation for the California State Universities and 21% of the per-student allocation for the University of California (see Appendix A);

Contingency Funding for PFE

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has adopted numerous resolutions opposing performance-based funding and distribution of Partnership for Excellence funds contingent on student achievement, and

Whereas the Consultation Task Force on Contingent Funding has consistently opposed differential funding as a solution to the budget language requiring a contingent funding mechanism and instead recommended a technical assistance and progressive intervention model for districts struggling to increase student success, and

Researcher Funding

Whereas there is an ongoing and increasing need for research regarding accountability measures at California community colleges, and

Whereas research data is required in such areas as transfer, distance learning, prerequisites, basic skills, degrees, and certificates and other areas, and

Whereas many colleges lack funding to develop this required accountability research,

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