Spring 2024
WHEREAS, The California Community College system serves as a pathway to higher education for a diverse students, including many who face significant financial barriers to accessing and completing their education, and community college education remains financially expensive for many out-of-state, international, and non-traditional students, who are often excluded from conventional forms of financial assistance;
WHEREAS, America’s College Promise Act of 2023 [1] proposes that the federal government make two years of community college education free to all students, thereby removing a significant financial barrier to higher education and promoting increased enrollment, retention, and completion throughout the higher education system; and the act ensures that community colleges offer credits transferable to four-year institutions or credentials recognized by official bodies, reducing waste and course duplication within the higher education system;
WHEREAS, The California Community College system caters to a diverse student body, many of whom face significant financial challenges and part-time students, constituting over two-thirds of the community college population[2], often struggle with the costs associated with higher education; research indicates that students enrolled in at least 12 units per semester are more likely to attain a degree or certificate, however, community college students who are increasingly employed throughout their college tenure on average receive lower marks making them unable to finish college and pay for college, and a significant portion of students with unique backgrounds and educational objectives, historically marginalized in higher education[3]; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 35% of students are the first in their families to pursue college education, while 10% are Adult Education/English language learners, 3% are veterans, and 2% are foster youth; and the financial strain extends beyond tuition fees, encompassing expenses such as rent, food, transportation, and textbooks, which often require students to rely on income from employment thus, juggling work and academic responsibilities becomes a necessity for many students in order to sustain themselves financially while pursuing their education; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community College support the American College Promise Act, as proposed in H.R. 5998 [4] and S. 3086 [5] as SSCCC has already supported and passed a resolution Endorsement of the America's College Promise Act[6];
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for measures to reduce or eliminate tuition costs throughout the community college system, by advocating to our federal representatives and California U.S. Senators that they cosponsor a bill to advocate for two years of free tuition in community colleges to help students pursue higher education by being able to afford community college who are are burdened with obstacles;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges take steps to communicate the contents of the American College Promise Act to its constituent colleges and student government associations, allowing them to pursue parallel measures to advocate for the bill if they so choose; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate to the California State Legislature and Government that the state of California should qualify for the grant if and when the H.R. 5998 and S. 3086 is signed into law.
WHEREAS, America’s College Promise Act of 2023 [1] proposes that the federal government make two years of community college education free to all students, thereby removing a significant financial barrier to higher education and promoting increased enrollment, retention, and completion throughout the higher education system; and the act ensures that community colleges offer credits transferable to four-year institutions or credentials recognized by official bodies, reducing waste and course duplication within the higher education system;
WHEREAS, The California Community College system caters to a diverse student body, many of whom face significant financial challenges and part-time students, constituting over two-thirds of the community college population[2], often struggle with the costs associated with higher education; research indicates that students enrolled in at least 12 units per semester are more likely to attain a degree or certificate, however, community college students who are increasingly employed throughout their college tenure on average receive lower marks making them unable to finish college and pay for college, and a significant portion of students with unique backgrounds and educational objectives, historically marginalized in higher education[3]; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 35% of students are the first in their families to pursue college education, while 10% are Adult Education/English language learners, 3% are veterans, and 2% are foster youth; and the financial strain extends beyond tuition fees, encompassing expenses such as rent, food, transportation, and textbooks, which often require students to rely on income from employment thus, juggling work and academic responsibilities becomes a necessity for many students in order to sustain themselves financially while pursuing their education; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community College support the American College Promise Act, as proposed in H.R. 5998 [4] and S. 3086 [5] as SSCCC has already supported and passed a resolution Endorsement of the America's College Promise Act[6];
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for measures to reduce or eliminate tuition costs throughout the community college system, by advocating to our federal representatives and California U.S. Senators that they cosponsor a bill to advocate for two years of free tuition in community colleges to help students pursue higher education by being able to afford community college who are are burdened with obstacles;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges take steps to communicate the contents of the American College Promise Act to its constituent colleges and student government associations, allowing them to pursue parallel measures to advocate for the bill if they so choose; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate to the California State Legislature and Government that the state of California should qualify for the grant if and when the H.R. 5998 and S. 3086 is signed into law.