Redirection of support is no longer an issue, and commitment to principles of the Career Ladders Initiative are being infused into SB70 and other career development efforts.
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has supported career preparation for jobs that provide sustainable living wages;
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges was instrumental in developing the Career Ladders Initiative, which recognizes the importance of integrating economic development activities with occupational programs;
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has advocated for additional resources for the initiative and has successfully advocated that new funds be distributed to all colleges, not just to the select few who secure competitive grants, and foundation funds are currently being sought to fund the initiative; and
Whereas, There has been agreement among the Chancellor's Office, the Consultation Council, and the Board that performance measures for this initiative would utilize measures or data already collected through existing accountability mechanisms and reports, and that any further work in this area would be collaboratively developed;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate reaffirm its support for the Career Ladders Initiative and work to ensure that it be implemented in ways that strengthen our educational programs; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate work to ensure that further funds are located (via foundation, state funds, and partnerships) and that any "redirection" of support toward the initiative be in the nature of targeting within existing approaches and grant specifications, not a redirection of scarce funds from existing programs and services.