Consultation Council Representative emphasized this perspective throughout the discussions of the enhanced funding through SB361 and will continue to stress the ideas expressed in the resolution during discussion about the permanent funding regulations.
The funding increase for CDCP noncredit should cover this.
Whereas, Both credit and noncredit programs and courses play a crucial role in offering a full spectrum of educational opportunities to address the needs of a state population that is diverse, aging, under-prepared, under-educated, and under-employed;
Whereas, Although the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges supports efforts to remedy the disparity in funding between credit and noncredit courses and programs (5.02 F04) and recognizes that increasing noncredit funding to parity may need to be done in steps, the unequal noncredit funding proposal incorporated into SB361 may have an adverse effect on lower-funded noncredit program areas by reducing support for those areas, thereby reducing the diversity of programs and courses needed by current and future populations; and
Whereas, The proposed inequality of funding within noncredit sets a troubling precedent for further divisions of funding among our educational systems;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges affirm that both credit and noncredit students need comprehensive, diverse, wide-reaching, and accessible educational programs and courses in order to meet the needs of a current and future student population that is increasingly diverse, aging, under-prepared, under-employed, and under-educated; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges communicate its philosophical concern to appropriate government bodies (such as the Board of Governors, Consultation Council, the Legislature, etc.) about the potential adverse effects of unequal funding within and between credit and noncredit courses and programs on student access, student educational needs fulfillment, and student educational opportunities.MSC Disposition: Board of Governors, Consultation Council, Local Senates