Whereas, AB 19 (Santiago, 2017), The California College Promise, requires that colleges participate in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program[1] in order to receive additional financial aid funding for full time students;
Whereas, Participation in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program is decided by each college after careful consideration by college leaders and constituencies based on criteria such as, but not limited to the college’s capacity and strategic plans;
Whereas, Small or rural colleges often have limited options for increasing staff to design and implement major college-wide changes, and large or urban colleges may also face the same challenges, even when provided with additional funding; and
Whereas, Students may not have the option to attend a college that is participating in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program, especially in rural areas, and one of the goals in AB 19 is “Reducing and eliminating regional achievement gaps…;”[2]
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to ensure that all California community college students who meet the qualifications for the California College Promise have equal access to those funds regardless of whether the community colleges they attend participate in the California Community College Guided Pathways Award Program.
MSC