Spring 2024
WHEREAS, The Fifty Percent Law enacted in 1961 was implemented to require all California community colleges to allocate at least 50% of the unrestricted general funds they receive on classroom instruction;
WHEREAS, The current Fifty Percent Law formula, as defined in Education Code §84362 and California Code of Regulations §59200 et seq., calculates the percentage by dividing Salaries of Classroom Instructors by Total Current Education Expense;
WHEREAS, Although the Fifty Percent Law is a fair method of preventing institutions from abusing the flexibility of the unrestricted general funds they receive, the current formula fails to recognize significant components such as counseling, library services, and faculty development as instructional costs, therefore limiting resources that are crucial to support all community college students in their educational pursuits; and
WHEREAS, The California Community College system should be advised reclassifying items as “instructional costs” and adding them to the Fifty Percent Law requires increasing the numerator of the law proportionately upwards from 50%; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly encourage the explicit recategorization of instructional costs to encompass crucial elements such as counseling services, library faculty, and faculty release time services within the educational framework;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, by recognizing the essential role fulfilled by counseling services, library faculty, and IT services, strongly recommend that community colleges strategically allocate resources, ensuring a balanced distribution that enhances essential programs while safeguarding against the reduction of staff or education and educational support quality;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges call upon all stakeholders to prevent enacting significant changes to or taking legislative action and reform regarding the Fifty Percent Law prior to the release of the Legislative Analyst’s Office audit, ensuring decisions are informed by comprehensive data and analysis; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges urge all stakeholders to engage in meaningful, informed, data-driven discussion on potential amendments to the Fifty Percent Law and engage in dialogues and workshops post-audit publication, ensuring any adjustments are made with an understanding of impacts on the study body and faculty alike.
WHEREAS, The current Fifty Percent Law formula, as defined in Education Code §84362 and California Code of Regulations §59200 et seq., calculates the percentage by dividing Salaries of Classroom Instructors by Total Current Education Expense;
WHEREAS, Although the Fifty Percent Law is a fair method of preventing institutions from abusing the flexibility of the unrestricted general funds they receive, the current formula fails to recognize significant components such as counseling, library services, and faculty development as instructional costs, therefore limiting resources that are crucial to support all community college students in their educational pursuits; and
WHEREAS, The California Community College system should be advised reclassifying items as “instructional costs” and adding them to the Fifty Percent Law requires increasing the numerator of the law proportionately upwards from 50%; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly encourage the explicit recategorization of instructional costs to encompass crucial elements such as counseling services, library faculty, and faculty release time services within the educational framework;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, by recognizing the essential role fulfilled by counseling services, library faculty, and IT services, strongly recommend that community colleges strategically allocate resources, ensuring a balanced distribution that enhances essential programs while safeguarding against the reduction of staff or education and educational support quality;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges call upon all stakeholders to prevent enacting significant changes to or taking legislative action and reform regarding the Fifty Percent Law prior to the release of the Legislative Analyst’s Office audit, ensuring decisions are informed by comprehensive data and analysis; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges urge all stakeholders to engage in meaningful, informed, data-driven discussion on potential amendments to the Fifty Percent Law and engage in dialogues and workshops post-audit publication, ensuring any adjustments are made with an understanding of impacts on the study body and faculty alike.