Spring 2024
WHEREAS,The Student Senate of California Community Colleges has a stated “goal of ensuring the equal educational opportunity of all students” and commits to “embraces diversity”[1] and comprehensive, representative data is paramount to achieving equity in education[2];
WHEREAS, It is already known and documented that there are inequities in the California community college students wherein marginalized identities face disproportionate barriers which negatively impact their education, as white California community college students have an approximately 40% completion rate, compared to approximately a 25% rate for African American and Hispanic students, and approximately a 20% rate for Native American students [3]; and
WHEREAS, To receive certain types of funding California community colleges must maintain student equity plans which “are focused on boosting achievement as measured by specific “success indicators” [4] and which “include” various demographic groups, [5]; however, it is clear that, at certain institutions, Student Equity Plans do not meaningfully analyze, or even mention certain marginalized demographic groups [6] — for example Ohlone College’s student equity plan does not meaningfully mention foster youth, [7] while Compton College’s does not meaningfully mention LGBTQ+ people [8]; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocate for the Chancellor’s Office to implement an institutional requirement, via avenues such as statutory change, an amendment to Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, or some other system-wide binding regulation, that would require that every California community college must create a Student Equity Plan which includes substantial analysis concerning how to achieve or maintain equity for every demographic group enumerated in §78220 of California’s Education Code, [9] and where groups are large enough, data concerning the intersectionality of those who hold multiple marginalized identities.
WHEREAS, It is already known and documented that there are inequities in the California community college students wherein marginalized identities face disproportionate barriers which negatively impact their education, as white California community college students have an approximately 40% completion rate, compared to approximately a 25% rate for African American and Hispanic students, and approximately a 20% rate for Native American students [3]; and
WHEREAS, To receive certain types of funding California community colleges must maintain student equity plans which “are focused on boosting achievement as measured by specific “success indicators” [4] and which “include” various demographic groups, [5]; however, it is clear that, at certain institutions, Student Equity Plans do not meaningfully analyze, or even mention certain marginalized demographic groups [6] — for example Ohlone College’s student equity plan does not meaningfully mention foster youth, [7] while Compton College’s does not meaningfully mention LGBTQ+ people [8]; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocate for the Chancellor’s Office to implement an institutional requirement, via avenues such as statutory change, an amendment to Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, or some other system-wide binding regulation, that would require that every California community college must create a Student Equity Plan which includes substantial analysis concerning how to achieve or maintain equity for every demographic group enumerated in §78220 of California’s Education Code, [9] and where groups are large enough, data concerning the intersectionality of those who hold multiple marginalized identities.