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Update to the
Vision for Success
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery
July 2021
2 California Community Colleges Vision for Success
Contents
A Message from the Chancellor ...................................... 4
Our North Star Remains Unchanged ............................... 7
Our System’s Approach to Equity Continues to Evolve .... 10
Reaffirming Our Commitments to Students ................... 14
COMMITMENT 1: Focus relentlesly on students’ end goals ............................... 15
COMMITMENT 2: Design and decide with the student in mind ......................... 17
COMMITMENT 3: Pair high expectations with high support............................... 19
COMMITMENT 4: Foster the use of data, inquiry, and evidence ........................ 21
COMMITMENT 5: Take ownership of goals and performance ............................ 23
COMMITMENT 6: Enable action and thoughtful innovation .............................. 25
COMMITMENT 7: Lead the work of partnering across systems ......................... 27
Making Progress One Step at a Time.............................. 29
On the Horizon ............................................................ 32
Irvine Valley College
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 3
A Message from
the Chancellor
In 2017, the California Community Colleges
Board of Governors adopted the Vision for
Success. In these last four years, the Vision
for Success has served as our collective
North Star, by making clear our goals for
improvement and our commitment to
do better for both our students and for
our state. Now, in 2021 I am pleased to
present the Update to the Vision for Success:
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery.
From the beginning, the Vision for Success
has always been about equity. Indeed, its
overarching goal (Goal 5) is to reduce equity
gaps across all measures by 40 percent
within 5 years and to fully close those gaps
within 10 years. Moreover, the seven core
commitments of the Vision for Success are
designed to help us all reframe how our
colleges are structured and how we behave,
putting the student experience front and
center. When implemented with integrity,
these commitments have the power to
dramatically improve outcomes for students
of color and students whose income, region,
or life circumstances have put them at a
disadvantage. Now, at four years into the
Vision for Success, we are beginning to see
consistent progress, especially in rising
completion rates across the system. Still,
we can do more.
4 California Community Colleges Vision for Success
“ It is critical to chart a course to a new day when all Californians
can actively participate in helping our state thrive. What is the
best route to that future? Preparing everyone with the training
and education necessary to engage in the high-quality, in-
demand jobs that will drive a recovering, vital economy.”
— Governor’s Council for Postsecondary Education
in the 2021 Recovery with Equity report1
It is clear that many of our students are in California’s economic and social recovery. Finally, to all of the hardworking community
suffering from the collective traumas of The recent Recovery with Equity report from college professionals across the state, I
the past year: the pandemic and resulting the Governor’s Council for Postsecondary thank you on behalf of our 2.1 million
financial devastation, a nationwide reckoning Education calls on higher education to students. I know you must feel exhausted
with systemic and institutional racism, a advance four guiding principles: Fostering but please, keep up the good work and
tumultuous election, and worsening social inclusive institutions, streamlining pathways persevere. Our students need you. I invite
divisions fueled by disinformation. The to degrees, facilitating student transitions, you to join us in celebrating our collective
multiple crises of the last year have left us and simplifying supports for students. wins, redoubling our commitment to do
all feeling untethered, but this past year We are in complete agreement with these better, and supporting our students through
has also offered us an opportunity to see principles. They align closely with the goals anything that comes their way.
more clearly the resilience of our students and commitments of the 2017 Vision for
and the value of our institutions. Community Success. With the release of this update, we
colleges are uniquely positioned to aid are doubling down on our commitments and
in our state’s recovery. California needs answering the Governor’s call to help rebuild Sincerely,
an educated populace to shape the new California with equity.
economy, rebuild our infrastructure, fight
future pandemics, and participate in our The Vision for Success is not an initiative, nor
democracy as informed voters and activists. is it a “one and done” reform. I am confident
The system’s vast size and scope make it a that the Vision for Success will long outlast
vital instrument for achieving these ends. my tenure as Chancellor. It has gained
Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Chancellor, California Community Colleges
At the same time, community colleges are strength over the years as leaders, faculty,
accessible and personal institutions that can staff, and allies across the state have taken
also help students on an individual level to ownership of its goals and commitments,
regain their hopes and rebuild their futures. listened to students, tried and refined new
Students need us and we are here to deliver approaches, and continued to move forward
for them. Simply put, this is our moment. in the face of great challenges. Collectively,
we have shown that we are all invested in
The purpose of this document is to reaffirm the Vision for Success and are all called to
our goals and commitments in light of be courageous, equity-centered leaders.
today’s challenges, reiterate our resolve to In particular I acknowledge and thank the
achieve equity, and show how the California district leaders who shared their experiences
Community Colleges will play a central role and success stories in the pages that follow.
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 5
5-Year Systemwide Goals
1 | Increase completion of degrees, credentials, certificates,
and job-specific skill sets by 20% between 2017 and 2022
2 | Increase transfers to UC and CSU by 35% between
2017 and 2022
3 | Decrease the average number of units accumulated by
associate’s degree earners to 79 units by 2022 (down
from an average of 87 units in 2017)
4 | Increase the number of exiting CTE students
employed in their field of study to 76% by 2022
(up from 60% in 2017)
5 | Reduce equity gaps by 40% across all the above
measures by 2022, and fully close those gaps by 2027
6 | Close regional gaps across all of the above
measures by 2027
6 California Community Colleges Vision for Success
College of San Mateo
Our North Star
Remains Unchanged
In 2017, the Vision for Success established
a set of robust five-year goals to serve as
a “North Star” in guiding the collective
reform efforts of the California Community
unrest, and worsening political divisions
and misinformation campaigns. Students
in the California Community Colleges
have suffered as a result of these events—
“ This ladder that we hold
up, community colleges
as a ladder to mobility,
Colleges. These goals established clear personally, financially, and academically.
targets for completion, transfer, efficiency,
is crumbling to dust for
and employment, and most importantly, for In response, community colleges pivoted our Black, brown and
closing equity gaps and regional attainment heroically in 2020 and made rapid changes low-income students.”
gaps (see sidebar on page 6). In addition to meet students’ needs (see sidebar on
to establishing systemwide goals, the 2017 page 8). With an attitude of “all hands on — Andrew Nickens
Vision for Success also called for college deck,” leaders, faculty, and staff throughout Student and Vice President, Legislative
districts to develop and adopt aligned local the college system stepped up to continue Affairs, Student Senate of the
goals for student success, which all districts providing high-quality education and services California Community Colleges,
have now done. despite a statewide shutdown. Student on a 2021 California Community
leaders were also instrumental, providing a Colleges System webinar2
Of course, when the Vision for Success much-needed conduit of information to and
goals were established, no one could have from students. All in all, the system proved
imagined the major disruptions and setbacks remarkably nimble and resilient.
that students and colleges would face in
2020. COVID-19 ravaged our state in deeply
inequitable ways, causing great harm in
particular to Black and African American,
Latinx, and low-income communities.
Further societal damage ensued from highly
visible police killings, months of acute social
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 7
Evergreen Valley College
Responding to COVID-19
“ A piece of advice I could
give to students would be
explore your resources.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic of
2020 and 2021, the California Community
Colleges took bold action to step up for
students, communities, and the State of
updates on pandemic developments and a
place to ask questions and share promising
response practices. It also provided weekly
webinars for college leaders to support
I’ve noticed that all the California. Most notably, colleges moved effective COVID-19 responses. To help the
virtually all instruction to online learning system transition to online learning in
resources that we would platforms in a matter of weeks, a feat of science-related disciplines specifically, the
have had on campus— sheer resolve for the world’s largest higher Chancellor’s Office purchased a virtual lab
education system. Just as challenging, platform and expanded technical assistance
whether that’s tutoring colleges also moved virtually all student for faculty using the platform. To assist
for each different subject, support services online in the spring, students, the Chancellor’s Office enacted
whether it’s mental including academic counseling, library policy changes in March 2020 to ensure that
services, financial aid, tutoring, and more. students were not penalized academically
health services—those Many campuses also lent their facilities to or financially for withdrawing from classes
have also been translated serve emergency healthcare and housing due to COVID-19.
needs during the height of the pandemic
to an online format.” and contributed ventilators, masks, and The Foundation for California Community
other Personal Protection Equipment from Colleges took action to increase awareness
— Gurshaan Arora
the stockpiles of college-based health of CalFresh, California’s food assistance
student, Foothill College, on
training programs. Colleges also leapt into program.4 Additionally, the Foundation
the California Community
action to provide aid to students, from launched a relief campaign specifically for
Colleges podcast3
emergency food to housing services to cash students working toward certificates or
assistance. In addition to administering and degrees in health care, delivering almost
coordinating new funding associated with $1 million in crucial emergency support,
the federal stimulus packages, many colleges mobile hotspots, and laptops.5
repurposed existing resources to meet the
needs of students in acute financial distress These activities and others are examples
during the pandemic. of the California Community Colleges’
responsiveness and resilience in the
To assist college leaders and employees, face of a highly unpredictable working
the Chancellor’s Office issued executive environment. The college system was able
orders and guidance to provide flexibility to adapt and make bold, rapid changes in
on reporting deadlines, temporarily suspend service of students—an accomplishment
various regulations and requirements, and that can serve as a foundation for facing
take other actions to relieve administrative future challenges.
burdens. The Chancellor’s Office launched
a COVID-19 Community on the Vision
for Success Resource Center, providing
8 California Community Colleges Vision for Success
Community colleges will need to continue
these strong efforts in the months and years
ahead, and the task won’t be easy. Compared
to four years ago:
• Some students are stepping away from
their educational paths. For Fall 2020,
California Community Colleges student
headcount and full-time enrollment is
“ I had to go to sleep
hungry because I had to
choose between gas for
down, with the most serious declines
traveling and textbooks
• Students are in worse shape financially. in hard-hit communities and among
Over half of California Community students of color, male students, and and food…I had to choose
College students saw a decrease in their students over 50 years old.11 Many between buying my kids
income in 2020 due to lay-offs, furloughs, students have had to take on new
or work reductions associated with responsibilities as caretakers or
shoes and transportation,
COVID-19, with greater impacts among breadwinners, making it unclear if and housing, food…No one
students of color.6 when they might return to complete their
should have to make
higher education.
• More students have become housing- or these kinds of choices.”
food-insecure. Nearly 60% of California In spite of these many difficulties, students
Community College students reported as a whole have persevered and most are — Marjorie Blen
food insecurity, housing insecurity, or continuing their educations. While the Student, on a 2021 California
homelessness in 2020. Students of color pandemic has been a major disruption, Community Colleges System webinar12
“
were 16 percentage points more likely to the California Community Colleges are
report at least one basic needs insecurity not abandoning the ambitious goals set in The work ahead is
than white students.7 2017. The overarching North Star remains challenging. But the
the same: to reach the systemwide Vision
• Students are experiencing fresh pain for Success targets for completion, transfer, post-secondary sector,
and trauma from racial injustice. efficiency, workforce attainment, and above in partnership with
The racism and racial violence that all, equity. The California Community
students witnessed in the last year has Colleges have proven to be nimble, adaptable,
communities across the
compounded the existing pain felt and able to rise to the challenge of serving state, can build a more
from long-standing injustices in our students even in the face of great challenges. equitable future from
society and our institutions. This can As discussed in the pages that follow,
affect students in deeply personal ways, forward-thinking college leaders have even this crisis. Together,
undermining their focus, self-esteem, been able to leverage the disruption of the Californians can make
and hope for the future. pandemic and make real progress toward
serving students better. Such opportunities
that future a reality.”
• Students’ mental health is suffering. Two- will continue as the system rebuilds in
— Governor’s Council for
thirds of California Community College the coming years. With continued effort,
Postsecondary Education
students report experiencing higher California can become a national model for
in the 2021 Recovery with
levels of anxiety, stress, depression, or equitable recovery in higher education.
Equity report 13
mental distress than usual, and nearly
half are having difficulty concentrating
in school.8 Over a third are concerned
about the risk of developing a substance
abuse problem.9
• The pandemic has exacerbated the digital
divide. Low-income students, many of
them students of color, are less likely to
have access to the internet, functioning
laptops, and quiet study space and privacy,
putting them at greater disadvantage
during the shift to distance learning.10
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 9
San Joaquin Delta College
Our System’s
Approach to Equity
Continues to Evolve
“ When we’re talking about
equity it’s not just about
having a program for a
The California Community Colleges have
always been an instrument for achieving
broad access to higher education. The colleges
are the largest system of post-secondary
As the college student population became
more diverse over the latter part of the 20th
century, it became increasingly clear that a
traditional model with added-on supports
education in the world and serve all was not a sustainable approach for achieving
hundred students and
applicants regardless of educational racial equity or success. College systems
saying, ‘It’s equitable.’ background or life trajectory. The colleges came to realize that more transformative
No, we’re saying we need offer a quality higher education at the change was needed to restructure
lowest tuition sticker price found anywhere institutions from the ground up.
to restructure our entire in the country. Despite this unparalleled
organization to make commitment to affordability and accessibility, With the 2017 Vision for Success, the California
the California Community Colleges—like Community Colleges embarked on a series
sure that all students, not
most higher education institutions—were of systemic efforts aimed at building racial
just one hundred, are largely designed for traditional students, equity into the core infrastructure of the
receiving all the services who at the time were predominantly white colleges. These reforms were conceived as
middle-class students who had access an interconnected set, based on the belief
they need to complete to a K-12 education that was sufficiently that entrenched institutional problems can
their education goals.” resourced and supported. As a result, the only be solved with a clear vision, multiple
colleges’ bureaucratic structures generally coordinated reforms aligned to that vision,
— Keith Curry reinforced the marginalization of students and persistence over many years. No longer
President, Compton College of color. In decades past, colleges did at the margins, these reforms mark an effort
acknowledge inequitable outcomes among to put equity concerns front and center while
low-income students and students of color, improving the overall performance and
but these were addressed through discrete success of the entire college. These major
programs that existed at the margins of the systemic reforms are still in the relatively
college, with separate funding streams and early stages and will require many more
lines of reporting, rather than structural years of persistent effort to reach full impact.
changes to the college as a whole.
10 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessOf course, in the day-to-day work of
implementing the Vision for Success reform
strategies, it can be difficult to keep sight
of how these reforms serve and support
• Equitable Placement and Support
remedies past unfair practices that
over-placed students into remedial
education, especially students of color,
“ The funding formula
incentives make sense
and are aligned with what
each other and are aligned toward the creating obstacles to their momentum
we as a set of colleges are
same end point. In summary, this is how and success. To date, this policy has
they fit together to advance equity and greatly expanded access to college-level doing: increasing college
student success: coursework for students across the access and equity toward
board and has significantly narrowed
• Guided Pathways is a framework for achievement gaps between white students
completion, especially
transformative institutional change and students of color, getting the college for first-generation, low-
that provides a structure for colleges to system closer to its goals for improved
income, adult learners and
scrutinize their practices, disaggregate completion and equity.
data to uncover opportunity and underresourced students
attainment gaps, and redesign college • The Student Centered Funding Formula and communities.”
programs and policies with the aim of weights funding towards colleges that
providing every student with a clear path serve low-income students and English — Francisco Rodriguez
to graduation and quality job opportunities. learners. Colleges receive additional Chancellor, Los Angeles
Guided Pathways is based on the idea dollars when students reach specified Community College District
that students need structured, cohesive educational milestones and outcomes,
“
support to reach their end goals and plus an additional funding bump when
recognizes that support needs will differ higher-needs students reach these It used to be that the only
from one individual student to another. milestones. This change aligns fiscal financial incentive was
resources with the systemwide goals
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts for improved success and equity. for us to grow, but now
provide a roadmap to making campuses we have an incentive
safer, more accessible, and more • The restructuring of Career Technical
welcoming to students of color and Education aims to build more career
to serve different types
underserved student groups. These pathways that lead directly into well- of students. It makes
initiatives promote diversity in hiring, paying jobs and to award credit for sense to tie goals to the
aim to eliminate cultural bias in teaching demonstrated competence and prior
and curriculum, and help to counteract learning. These reforms are expanding financial underpinnings
institutional racism. They help to level opportunities, especially for adult learners, of the system.”
the playing field and expand opportunity, and will lead to more students reaching
helping more students reach their their end goal of a living-wage job. — Brian King
end goals. Chancellor, Los Rios
Community College District
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 11Santa Monica College
“ Historically, our system has
not been set up to meet
people where they are. It
Heading now into the 2020s, the colleges’
approach to equity continues to evolve
in response to students’ needs and the
circumstances of our state and society.
have been systemically disadvantaged. These
efforts especially aim to call out and correct
policies and practices that are inherently
racist, while also recognizing and addressing
The California Community Colleges Board the damaging effects of ableism, sexism, and
has been set up in a way
of Governors has adopted an unequivocal discrimination based on gender identity,
that says, if you have all statement committing to diversity, equity, sexuality, or other characteristics.
the right words and you and inclusion that is serving as a model to
other systems in California and nationally. As our society moves forward and seeks to
know where to go, then As a system, the California Community recover from the social and health traumas
you’ll get what you need. Colleges are beginning to address institutional of the past year, the California Community
racism and injustice in a more explicit Colleges will do their part: welcoming every
It is not inclusive. The
and intentional way. Colleges are trying to student individually, meeting students
result is to exclude some build truly diverse and inclusive colleges by where they are, and providing the necessary
versus others, whether encouraging frank conversations about race high quality supports that will level the
and institutional racism, auditing campus playing field and provide truly equitable
that’s intentional or not.” environments, examining curricula for opportunities for advancement.
cultural bias, overhauling hiring, reforming
— Pamela Haynes
police training programs, advocating for
President of the Board of Governors of
undocumented students, and providing
the California Community Colleges
more direct assistance to students who
12 California Community Colleges Vision for Success“ ...Our students are hurting and they are outraged
because of the systemic racial injustices that still
exist in our country. In this moment, we need
to use our positions of privilege, influence and
power to make a difference… We cannot say
that we are equity champions and be afraid to
have open dialogue about structural racism.”
— Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Chancellor, California Community Colleges14
Los Angeles Southwest CollegeReaffirming
Our Commitments
to Students
The 2017 Vision for Success articulated seven commitments that function
as a set to drive improvement, success, and equity:
1 | Focus relentlessly on students’ end goals.
2 | Always design and decide with the student in mind.
3 | Pair high expectations with high support.
4 | Foster the use of data, inquiry, and evidence.
5 | Take ownership of goals and performance.
6 | Enable action and thoughtful innovation.
7 | Lead the work of partnering across systems.
Each of these commitments is Although the ground has seemingly shifted
fundamentally about students: giving each in the years since these commitments were
student a fair opportunity, paying attention first made, they are just as relevant today, if
to their results, and continually making not more so. They will carry the California
structural adjustments to serve students Community Colleges through recovery. With
better, especially students of color and continued adherence to these commitments
low-income students. and courageous, equity-centered leadership,
the colleges can fulfill their role as engines
of economic and social recovery. In the
pages that follow, each commitment is
discussed in light of this moment—both its
new challenges and new opportunities.
14 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessSan Joaquin Delta College
COMMITMENT 1
Focus relentlessly on students’ end goals
This commitment is about getting all students to their end goals.
Colleges should be designed equitably to lead all students to concrete
outcomes that have personal and economic value, such as a high-quality
certificate, degree, or transfer to a four-year university. This commitment
is fundamental, so much so that all other commitments are designed to
support it.
Given the extreme circumstances of encouraging their peers to return to college
the past year, focusing on students’ end (a good use of one-time recovery funds,
goals matters now more than ever. Many as some colleges have found). Restoring
students are finding it hard to hold on to access is critical at this time. Of course, this
their own educational hopes and dreams. focus needs to be paired with a steadfast
As administrators, faculty, staff, and allies, commitment to student completion.
we all have a critical role to play in helping
students connect or reconnect with their Looking ahead, the California Community
educational goals and supporting each of Colleges must ensure that the relentless
them to completion. focus on outcomes is really about equitable
outcomes. Student success cannot be
Of course, in the aftermath of the pandemic, achieved without equity. Guided Pathways
the most immediate concern of many colleges is becoming more established as a normal
will be restoring educational access. Students way of doing business, and colleges
have been cut off from classes and support typically disaggregate program results and
services due to a lack of technology or internet completion data to understand how different
access. Many students have been forced into student groups are faring. Now is the time
work or care-taking roles that prevent them for colleges to move beyond data analysis
from continuing their studies. As colleges and take the next step of experimenting with
reopen, it will be critical to reach out and get bold program improvements that have the
students reenrolled, through individualized potential to advance equity in meaningful
outreach, enrollment campaigns, and by ways. See sidebar for a leading example
offering services and courses when, where, from Cosumnes River College.
and how students need them. Colleges
should bring students to the table to inform
and co-design these efforts and to help in
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 15How Cosumnes River College
is Focusing Relentlessly on
Students’ End Goals
Cosumnes River College (CRC) has been jumped, with the greatest gains among
advancing a rigorous set of reforms under Latinx and Black and African American
the Guided Pathways framework, all aimed students, resulting in reduced equity gaps.
at improving student outcomes while closing College-wide, enrollment increased by
equity gaps and upholding rigor. Based on 3.85 percent while headcount increased
the research literature and their own data by only one percent, gains that benefitted
analysis, CRC leaders made a decision to the college financially while making more
substantially increase the number of students efficient use of facilities and resources. CRC
enrolled full time and the number taking has now expanded its default schedule to
college-level English or math in their first cover a student’s first full year and ultimately
term—two behaviors known to build plans to have students enroll with default
momentum and help students complete two-year plans.
a degree or transfer.
While progress has slowed in the face of
To make this happen, CRC began providing the pandemic, the college continues to
all students who are recent high school take deliberate steps to ensure success and
graduates with a “default” first-term equity. In the last year, CRC has expanded
schedule that includes a 15-unit course load eligibility for its English supports and
and enrollment in college-level math and math centers, expanded online tutoring,
English. The default schedule is specific to and leveraged its case management
the student’s area of study and guaranteed to infrastructure and call centers to reach out
be available in the student’s first academic to students who are not attending class.
term. (It is not required, however— students “We are really trying to be high tech and
who are unable or uninterested in that high touch in this environment,” says CRC
schedule can still opt out and enroll in other President Ed Bush.
courses or at a lower level of intensity.)
In 2020, the college also launched a “We Won’t
As part of its comprehensive Guided Fall” initiative with 13 goals for addressing
Pathways work, the college also developed institutional racism and improving outcomes
two-year program pathways, a case for Latinx and Black and African American
management approach to counseling, and students. The initiative brings an equity
Student Success Teams aligned with specific emphasis to all of CRC’s institutional reforms,
career and academic areas. They adopted its professional development, its efforts to
Cosumnes River College new technology to support the default change teaching and learning in the classroom,
scheduling and provided professional and even its faculty evaluation procedures.
development to both classified staff and
faculty to assist them in adopting Guided The initiative’s targets were very ambitious,
Pathways reforms. CRC also leveraged its aiming to increase full-time enrollment even
existing outreach activities at area high in the midst of the pandemic, and ultimately,
schools, using those opportunities to fully says Bush, the college did not quite make
enroll students in their first term classes, it—the external realities were simply too
not merely fill out college applications. great to overcome. But one intention of
the goals was met, he says. “Part of it was
CRC’s hard work paid off, with the default to make sure that no group fell off the cliff
schedule in particular showing immediate during this time. Those goals are going to
results. In the initiative’s first year, the share stay in place until we hit them. It is going to
of all new CRC students enrolling full time in be the same goals we set every fall until we
their first term nearly doubled. Completions hit those goals for those target populations.”
of transfer-level math and English also
16 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessCOMMITMENT 2
Design and decide with the student in mind
This commitment is about two things: 1) Designing all institutional
programs, policies, and investments with the student experience in mind,
“ I’ve entered into the
community college system
three different times and
particularly the experience of students of color and other underserved every time that I’ve come
groups, and 2) “Erring” on the side of students whenever possible in back, the [student] dynamic
individual administrative and classroom decisions that have the power to has changed, the [student]
either move students forward toward their end goals or hold them back. culture has changed. You
In the process of enrolling, registering, and student forward toward their goal. Says
need to continue to keep
accessing aid or services, students typically Haynes, “We’ve got to give our institutions your ear to the ground
interact with community colleges through agency and permission to ‘get to yes’ for
multiple offices, programs, and digital students. Our purpose is to move
on what that student
platforms, often with little guidance. Says folks forward.” perspective is, what that
Pamela Haynes, President of the Board of student culture is, to be
Governors of the California Community One of the surest ways to fulfill this
Colleges, “Students often have to go from commitment is to bring students to the
able to set students up for
building to building, or make phone call table and authentically engage them to success, because they’re
after phone call. There’s rarely a ‘warm shape programs and set guidelines for
handoff’ with someone following through decisions. With a representative group of
constantly changing.”
and saying ‘We spoke last week. Did you students as co-designers, reform efforts — Stephen Kodur
get what you need?’ That’s the kind of are much more likely to work for everyone. Student and President, Student Senate
coordination we need.” Moreover, once students are invested in a for California Community Colleges
reform initiative, they can play a critical
Other problems occur when students role in advocating for it. “Governance is
are penalized for missing deadlines or healthier when students are involved in
misunderstanding policies that were poorly the decisions,” says Chancellor Eloy Ortiz
communicated in the first place, or perhaps Oakley. For example, he notes, once student
were designed in a different era for a different advocates understood the objectives of
type of student. Unfortunately, campus Equitable Placement and Support (AB 705),
policies and gatekeepers sometimes stop they were among its loudest supporters. “AB
students’ progress; a better approach would 705 wouldn’t be here without the students
be to give administrators permission and organizing and pushing to be at the table.”
flexibility to err on the side of moving the
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 17Sacramento City College
When engaging with students, it is important for Postsecondary Education. That report’s
to reach out to students from a diverse first recommendation is to “Listen carefully
range of backgrounds, experiences, and to the voices and expectations of Black and
life circumstances—not just those who are African American, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian
financially able to participate or those in Pacific Islander, and adult learners—those
campus leadership roles. Students may also student groups experiencing the widest
need time and training to engage in complex equity gaps today—in determining priorities
planning processes. Some forward-thinking for redesign of the post-secondary system.”
colleges are experimenting with paying Community colleges also need to get
students to bring authentic student voices to ahead of changing demographics and start
the table and support their deep engagement revamping policies, practices, and services
in reform work. Cosumnes River College, for to best serve the populations that are
example, is considering adding students as growing and will continue to grow as the
paid advisors to its career-themed student traditional “college age” population shrinks.
success teams. This will include working adults, displaced
workers, and incarcerated/formerly
Looking ahead, this commitment will be incarcerated students, among others. As
critical as California recovers from the the student body evolves, authentic and
pandemic and rebuilds its higher education representative student engagement will be
system as called for in the Recovery with essential for designing community colleges
Equity report from the Governor’s Council that work for everyone.
18 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessCOMMITMENT 3
Pair high expectations with high support
This commitment is about knowing that all students are capable of
learning and achieving their end goals. It requires colleges to provide
“ Students shouldn’t have
to perform their poverty.
We’ve centralized all our
robust and wide-ranging supports to meet students where they are and services so that students
help them achieve those goals. only have to go to one
place…We put it in the
As a system, community colleges have California Community Colleges had some middle of our campus
become more knowledgeable about the of the highest rates of food and housing
kinds of academic expectations that will insecurity among colleges nationwide. where a new quad is and
help students stay in school and reach California community college students we’re going to put out
their educational goals, such as attending have limited access to financial aid to cover
full-time, taking college-level classes in their living expenses, despite facing some of
picnic tables, because
first year, and getting on a degree pathway the highest costs of living in the country.15 nobody should have to
right from the start. More and more, colleges Students’ social and emotional health is also be ashamed of going in.”
are becoming more intentional about how fragile. Highly visible racial violence and
to encourage and support these behaviors, injustices over the past year have brought — Pamela Luster
including by building these expectations additional anxiety and trauma to a student President, San Diego Mesa College
into core policies and practices. A leading body that was already frayed by the stresses
example of this is Equitable Placement and of the pandemic.
Support (AB 705), a reform that has shown
impressive results to date (see sidebar on Recognizing these complex needs, colleges
page 30) and has the potential for greater have dramatically stepped up to serve
returns in the future if colleges can continue students in expansive and creative ways,
to build and strengthen equitable supports including food pantries (now commonplace),
for students enrolled in college-level courses. food delivery, emergency housing
Even during these challenging times, it is arrangements with local hotels, clothing
crucial to keep academic expectations high closets, shower facilities, and emergency
for all students regardless of their background, cash aid. It is important for colleges to ensure
so that each one has a fair shot at successfully these services are accessible, inclusive, and
completing college. dignified. Colleges are finding many ways
to do this, such as making services highly
At the same time, it is clear that high academic visible and accessible rather than waiting
expectations and academic supports are for students to ask for help, or making
not enough. Even before the pandemic, the services available on an “opt out” basis
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 19American River College
“ I have a job 35 hours a
week. I [frequently] have
to sacrifice one over the
rather than “opt in.” Establishing a culture
where the utilization of support services
is the norm rather than the exception
goes a long way in making a student feel
In the realm of basic needs services, the
greatest upcoming challenge for colleges
will be the efficient coordination of services,
which will require support from and close
comfortable and welcome. For financial aid partnership with governmental entities.
other: work or school. I
services specifically, colleges should design Colleges need to be resourced properly
always have to debate this.” processes and procedures such that students to coordinate and administer multiple
do not need to repeatedly verify their streams of state and federal money and
— Rodrigo Velazquez Angel low-income status. coordinate services with counties. Student
Student, on a 2021 California eligibility for income-based resources
Community Colleges System webinar16 Looking ahead, colleges need to keep up should be automated across programs, and
the good work with Equitable Placement the processes and technology to make this
and Support while expanding and improving possible should be developed centrally at
academic supports equitably to help all the state level. The Chancellor’s Office will
students succeed in their college-level continue to work with the Governor and the
coursework. Implementing this reform with Legislature on these issues and to advocate
fidelity will continue to yield better results for resources to build better infrastructure
in course completion, college completion, and capacity for coordination of services
transfer, and equity. Authentic student on campuses.
engagement and input can help colleges
refine academic services and supports for
maximum effectiveness.
20 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessCOMMITMENT 4
Foster the use of data, inquiry, and evidence
This commitment is about establishing a culture that examines student
data on a regular basis and uses it to improve instruction and services,
from the top levels of the college down to interactions with individual
students. This is especially true for data related to students of color and
other underserved groups.
Over the past decade, most colleges have conversations to engage our board with
come to embrace the use of data for relevant outcomes data,” says Chancellor
institutional improvement. More recently, Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles
colleges are investing in data systems and Community College District, “including
practices that help individual students stay regular study sessions and board retreats,
on track and provide tools for staff and with dashboards to help make the data easy
educators to assist them. In the midst of to access, monitor, and understand our
COVID-19 and the resulting enrollment loss progress towards closing equity gaps.”
at many colleges, the most pressing use
for data right now is determining which San Diego Mesa College President Pamela
students have left the college and using the Luster also emphasizes the importance of
information to get them back. A closely not just looking at data “for data’s sake,”
related priority is identifying and deploying but rather to investigate the “whys, what
additional resources to students who are at ifs, and so whats” of the data. In other
risk of dropping out, or whose grades signal words, colleges can use data to examine
a problem. Colleges are becoming more and problems—identifying, for example, points
more sophisticated in how they do this (see where students are consistently struggling
sidebars on page 22 for two examples). or dropping out—then make program or
policy changes that will advance, rather
Some colleges have made significant than block, student success. Analyses of
investments in their data systems and quantitative data can be supplemented with
research personnel while others have not. feedback from representative focus groups
Still, it’s not necessary to acquire a new of students to fill in the picture of what is
data system to fulfill this commitment. and isn’t working. Students’ participation in
Sometimes it is enough to just use existing the redesign process is crucial.
data differently: changing who looks at
it, when, and why. Colleges should be Looking ahead, the state’s emerging Cradle-
identifying students who have missed to-Career Data System will change the
deadlines, failed to re-enroll, and following landscape by providing tools and resources
up to help students get back on track. that contribute to educational planning and
These practices are a win for everyone: help educators advise students. California’s
they lighten the burden on students and next challenge is to provide all campus users
help them reach their goals while making with access to timely data. Luster explains
efficient use of advising resources and that administrators need on-the-ground
boosting institutional completion rates. information systems, particularly to manage
their enrollments strategically. “We need
At the leadership level, data, inquiry, and disaggregated data in real time, not at the
evidence can and should be a normal part end of three years, because by then the
of college business. At a minimum, the students are gone,” says Luster. Robust
Board of Trustees, college leadership, and student management systems are also
department and division leaders should important for creating equitable course-
regularly review data on course and program taking opportunities. “Setting the schedule
enrollment and outcomes, loss points, and is everything,” says Luster. Students would
student satisfaction, all disaggregated by also benefit from better access to data—their
demographic factors to identify what is own as well as their school’s—to help them
working or not working, and for whom. become more informed customers and
“We have structured and facilitated make better educational choices.
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 21Compton College Is Using Data
to Serve Students Better
Compton College has adopted an enterprise Compton College is located in one of
resource planning system to maintain the hardest-hit cities in the state, with
integrated, real-time data on students, and extremely high COVID-19 case rates and
it has proven to be essential for helping the disproportionately low access to vaccines.
college reach out to students during the “Our enrollment is down 20%,” says Curry.
devastation of COVID-19. Compton College “It’s going to push us back.” He anticipates
has used this system to identify students that the COVID-19 pandemic will have
who did not return to school during the an impact on his community and college
pandemic and to craft proactive strategies for the next five years. Still, he says, the
for getting them back. “We know all the college will not abandon its commitment
characteristics [of these students], everything,” to students. Using its robust data system
says President/CEO Keith Curry. “With our and implementing aggressive outreach
call center, we can be able to follow back strategies, Compton College is beginning the
up with them and provide them with the long process of helping students return to
support they need.” college and rebuild their lives and educational
dreams. “We will continue to do it,” says
Critically, Compton is able to disaggregate Curry. “We’re not going to stop…We have to
all of its data by students’ Guided Pathways continue to try to hit those targets.”
Divisions—meaning the academic/career
cohort they belong to—making it easier
to provide more targeted outreach and
connect students to the right staff members.
The system can also disaggregate students
by program eligibility and participation,
making it easier to identify students who
aren’t accessing resources that might help
them, such as CalFresh.
Compton College
Golden West College Is
Boosting Complet
Completion
on
through Better Data Use
Golden West College is using available award and the benefits that come with it.
transcript data to increase graduation Meanwhile, the college boosts its graduation
numbers. College personnel regularly rates and gets a better understanding of
review student progress and auto-award where students get hung up and why. “Auto-
degrees or certificates when students are awarding well-earned degrees enhances our
eligible. Using this method, the college unique place in the education marketplace,”
awarded 5,711 degrees and certificates in says Golden West College President Tim
2018-19—the most of any college in the state McGrath. “It shows we really are making a
that year—and held a special graduation difference in our community and in the lives
ceremony for those students. The result of our students.”
is a win for everyone: students gain an
Golden West College
22 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessCOMMITMENT 5
Take ownership of goals and performance
This commitment is about colleges taking responsibility for their
current performance and setting authentic local goals that the campus
“ The goals themselves
should be ambitious,
but it’s the nature of the
community can embrace and coalesce around. Goals and performance conversations about
can and should be part of a college’s institutional culture and identity. those goals that is
most important. Those
In 2017 the Vision for Success established Now is also the time to bring students conversations will lead to
broad systemwide goals. Districts followed authentically into the conversation about
suit by adopting their own aligned goals goals and performance. This strategy the “ah-ha” moments.”
that are appropriate to their local context. benefits everyone: students get a rich
However, goal-setting is not a one-time event. learning experience and greater sense
— Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Chancellor, California
It is the beginning of an investigation into of agency while colleges ensure that
Community Colleges
how the college can do better, particularly discussions of goals and performance are
in serving students who are disadvantaged about students, not just numbers.
by the structures of traditional higher
education and society at large. “The goals Looking ahead, the next frontier is for
themselves should be ambitious,” explains colleges to realign resources—fiscal,
California Community Colleges Chancellor personnel, facilities—in support of their
Eloy Ortiz Oakley, “but it’s the nature of the goals. The Student Centered Funding
conversations about those goals that is most Formula (SCFF) required all districts to
important. Those conversations will lead to adopt performance goals and ultimately
the “ah-ha” moments.” to align district budgets to those goals. As
San Diego Mesa College President Luster
Now is the time for districts and colleges to says, “We have to ask ourselves: Where’s
drill down into their goals and performance our agency? Are we putting our money
with a particular emphasis on diversity and where our mouth is? Are we spending our
equity. While there are plenty of circumstances resources to actually close equity gaps?”
beyond the control of the college, there are These questions should be at the center
also plenty of factors that colleges can control, of all resource discussions and decisions
particularly around equity of opportunity. happening now, especially as the system
Despite the setbacks of 2020, many colleges manages an influx of one-time dollars
are determined to adapt and innovate their from the state and federal government.
way back, never losing sight of their goal of
helping every student reach their educational
goals. (See sidebar for a leading example.)
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 23San Diego
Dieg Mesa a Co
C
College
o
Drills Down into Equity and
Owns Its Performance
San Diego Mesa College exemplifies the disaggregated by student demographics.
Vision for Success Commitment 5: “Take These data are strictly for the faculty
ownership of goals and performance.” member’s use; no one else looks at them.
Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and its Says Luster, “It wasn’t popular when we
impact on enrollment in the spring of 2020, first did it, but now faculty ask, ‘When are
the college’s leadership team wasted no we going to get our data?’” The practice has
time in analyzing which students left. Most changed how faculty members evaluate
importantly, they were unafraid to own their themselves, says Luster, and has brought
findings and ask whether the college itself a greater equity focus to department
played a part in students’ departure. “We meetings. The college has also developed
sat down and started looking at who left us,” data dashboards at the program level, and
Says President Pamela Luster, “[We asked], each year requires departments to analyze
who did we not serve well? They loved us equity gaps in writing, describe how those
once, and they wanted to go to college— gaps are being addressed, and request
what happened? Was it an interaction with campus support for doing so. These
a college staff member? Was it just too hard program level data are public and cover
to navigate?” every department on campus, even
operational units such as accounting.
The college then took action. “We called
every single student,” says Luster, deploying San Diego Mesa College also looks at its data
peer navigators, student ambassadors, in comparison to other colleges serving
tutors, and others to get the job done. similar populations, always asking “Are we
Although this was primarily an effort to get cutting it? Are we doing what we need to
students to return, the college also used do?” The college’s actions are admirable,
San Diego Mesa College the opportunity to collect survey data and but more remarkable is its attitude. Even in
now has a full report detailing students’ top the midst of a global pandemic, the college
reasons for leaving. The college used this owns its performance. “We’re committed to
information to design a Black and African not saying that ‘Life happens to students,’”
American student retention program in the says Luster. “That’s certainly a fair statement
fall of 2020 and to inform other recruitment right now, but that lets us off the hook.”
and retention efforts during COVID.
San Diego Mesa College is also leading the
way in encouraging faculty to own their
goals and performance. Each semester
the college sends each faculty member
a data file with their course outcomes,
24 California Community Colleges Vision for SuccessCOMMITMENT 6
Enable action and thoughtful innovation
This commitment is about being bold in adopting new policies, programs,
“ In the past we were hesitant
about the implications
of using technology and
and processes that will help students reach their end goals. Not every idea
is a good one, but it is important that colleges experiment, track results,
how it might undermine
make adjustments, and keep moving forward. Innovators should be live instruction. But we’ve
supported when experiments fail, not blamed. actually found places where
it helped quite a bit. So let’s
Large, long-standing systems like the were developed out of necessity to squeeze
California Community Colleges are built to in as much instruction as possible before an
not lose that momentum.
be stable and risk-averse. They are not places expected pandemic surge in November of This is an opportunity to
that naturally foster action and innovation, 2020. These short courses were particularly reach more students, to
but in 2020, the COVID-19 crisis necessitated helpful to working students so the college
both. Seemingly overnight, the California is thinking of making them permanent, make it easier to meet
Community Colleges were forced to move albeit with some adjustments to make the students where they’re at.
almost entirely to distance learning and workload more manageable for students
online services, with no playbook to follow. and faculty.
Let’s continue to improve
It was an enormous task, but colleges rose to it and push it forward to
the occasion and proved themselves to be far Faculty members have also made positive focus on the end goal. We
more adaptable and innovative than many changes that can outlast the pandemic. “The
thought possible. work that the faculty have done during the need to hold on to those
pandemic has been extraordinary,” says gains that we’ve made.”
As California slowly emerges from the Dolores Davison, President of the Academic
pandemic and begins to rebuild, now is the Senate for California Community Colleges. — Eloy Ortiz Oakley
time to analyze what aspects of the great “They really rose to the challenge,” she says, Chancellor, California
shift online actually worked for students by making changes to teaching methods, Community Colleges
and consider making some of those changes assignments, policies, and deadlines in
permanent. For example, some colleges order to accommodate students attending
like Cosumnes River College are thinking class from a distance while maintaining high
of adding hybrid classes as permanent academic standards. Many faculty members
additions to their catalog in order to be also learned to use new technologies to
more accessible and flexible for students. teach and stay in touch with students. Says
In another example, Shasta College is Davison, “Learning to use new tools and
considering keeping some new 8-week applications was an essential part of this
Career Technical Education courses that work and again, faculty embraced the need
Reaffirming Equity in a Time of Recovery 25You can also read
