College Opportunity Year-End Review 

Volume 4, Issue 11, December, 2009

In this issue:

1)		Happy Holidays and the Year in Review from the Campaign for College Opportunity Michele Siqueiros, Executive Director  << Learn more
2)		Early Commitment to College launches in four of the state's largest school districts and across California Thousands of California students participated in events held in the Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Francisco school districts. << Learn more
3)		State and higher education leaders honor current Save Me a Spot in College scholarship contest winners. Fifth year of contest launches. Events were held in Sacramento and Southern California to honor students who are asking our state leaders to save them a spot in college. << Learn more
4)		Campaign leads effort to provide a clearer transfer pathway The Campaign's efforts to provide community college students with a clear transfer pathway through our support of AB 440 -- the Community College Associate Degree and Recognition of Student Transfer Preparation Act. << Learn more
5)		The Campaign brings together a broad-based and bipartisan coalition to engage state policymakers and higher education leaders toward articulating college access and success goals In an effort to discuss and develop a strategy for successfully securing federal higher education funds for California, The Campaign convened a diverse group of state leaders in September. << Learn more
6)		The Campaign, Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), and the Institute for Higher Education, Leadership, and Policy (IHELP) partner for a series of briefings exploring the findings of two reports forecasting shortages in California's future workforce "Closing the Gap" and "Technical Difficulties" discuss the shortage of college-educated workers, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. << Learn more
7)		Two champions of higher education join our Board of Directors Long Beach City College President and Superintendent Eloy Ortiz Oakley and Thomas Saenz, General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), are the newest additions to the organization. << Learn more
8)		In Brief The Campaign raised more than $1 million, opened a Sacramento office, launched a Capitol Briefing Series, and continued to solidify its coalition.  <<Learn more

Dear friends and partners,

On behalf of the Campaign for College Opportunity, I want to wish you a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

2009 was a challenging and troubling year in higher education.  The national recession coupled with the state’s deep budget crisis meant that our community colleges and universities experienced deep cuts in state appropriations. These cuts have resulted in significant fee increases for students, loss of faculty, decrease in course offerings and student support services, and the turning away of thousands of eligible students who are hoping to realize their college dreams. The paradox is that this is occurring when our state will need an additional 1 million college graduates by 2025 in order to meet the workforce needs of the future . The people of California have reaped the benefits that a skilled and educated workforce provides. We have developed a robust economy based upon creativity and innovation, and this is threatened if we do not see the urgency of action today.

In spite of these challenges, our work this year brought us into contact with countless Californians throughout the state. Wherever we went, we witnessed a resolve that people in every city and county, throughout our community colleges and universities, and amongst students and community leaders, all believe that opportunities remain ahead of us.  I strongly agree, and so do the many foundations and corporate sponsors that continue to support our work.

In 2010, with the 50th Anniversary of the Master Plan for Higher Education, the possibility of new federal funding through the American Graduation Initiative and the College Access and Completion Fund, a gubernatorial election, and the important focus across the nation and in our state on student success – the opportunities to achieve significant improvements for California’s higher education system abound.

We will continue to:

1. Press our state leaders to set explicit goals for the number of students who must go to college and succeed in attaining some level of postsecondary success.
2. Inform the public, media, and candidates for state office to inform and stimulate a productive conversation on statewide policy solutions.
3. Mobilize and engage our broad-based coalition of supporters in the pursuit of highlighting the fundamental principles that will keep our economy strong: preserving college access, ensuring student success and completion, and maintaining affordability for low income students.

This special year-end edition of our newsletter shares with you some of the accomplishments and highlights of our work during 2009, including:

• The launch of the Early Commitment to College program throughout California.
• Participation of nearly 15,000 students in the fourth year of the Save Me a Spot in College scholarship contest, and the awarding of $170,000 in scholarships this year.
• Joining efforts to provide a clearer transfer pathway for community college students, fighting against cuts to Cal grants for needy students and urging the prioritizing of existing funds for higher education that minimize the impact of cuts to student access and success.
• Engaging business leaders across California through a series of briefings in the Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Long Beach, and San Diego exploring the findings of two reports forecasting shortages in California's future workforce.
• Inaugurating a Capitol Briefing Series in Sacramento, Conversations on College Opportunity and Student Success.
• Bringing together a broad-based and bipartisan coalition of stakeholders to engage our state policymakers and higher education leaders toward articulating college access and success goals.
• Raising public awareness with articles in major media outlets, newsletters, periodic e-mail blasts, regular updates to our website, and daily postings to our Facebook fan page.
• Strengthening our Board of Directors by selecting Long Beach City College President and Superintendent Eloy Ortiz Oakley and Thomas Saenz, General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), to serve.

During this time of the year -- but especially because of all of the challenges faced by higher education -- we want to thank you for supporting and engaging in our work. We look forward to working beside you and accomplishing even more in the New Year.

 Sincerely,

The Campaign for College Opportunity, in partnership with the California Department of Education and Superintendent Jack O’Connell, successfully launched Early Commitment to College (ECC) in the spring.  Only six months after the signing of Senate Bill 890 by Governor Schwarzenegger, four of the largest and most diverse school districts in California voluntarily launched the ECC program during Save Me a Spot in College Week.

Thousands of students across the state signed pledges promising themselves and their families to prepare for, attend, and eventually graduate from college.  The students and families also learned important information about the opportunities and resources available to help them prepare for college and access financial aid.

By participating in Early Commitment to College, schools are committing to building a college-going culture and to work in partnership with local higher education institutions, nonprofit partners and the California Department of Education to improve outcomes, particularly for low-income students, on key benchmarks of high school graduation, math and English achievement, and college-going.

The California Education Round Table's Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC) will support the implementation of the program at more than 25 school districts that were selected to launch the next phase in 2009 and 2010.

To read more about ECC:

• SF Chronicle 
• Long Beach Press Telegram 
• Fresno Bee

Photos:
 (Left to right) Students from Fresno Unified School District sign their "Save Me A Spot in College" pledges; Assembly Member Kevin de Leon joins LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia to award scholarships to students at Washington Irving Middle School in Los Angeles; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell congratulates the students from Long Beach Unified School District; Students from San Francisco Unified School District fill the auditorium and raise their hands to show their desire to go to college. 

A record $170,000 in scholarships was distributed through the Save Me a Spot in College scholarship contest, sponsored by The Campaign with funding from the College Access Foundation and in partnership with the California Department of Education.  The contest invites all California students in sixth through 12^th grade to submit a written word, poster, or television ad answering the question, “Why should California leaders save you and your peers a spot in college?” Scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 are awarded to close to 300 students from across the state.

In July, education leaders and students from throughout California gathered at the State Capitol in Sacramento to share their voices and let legislators know that they want a spot in college during The Campaign’s fourth annual Save Me a Spot in College Day.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-24), and Assemblymember Alyson Huber (D-10) addressed the crowd of nearly 600 students, parents, and guests who attended the rally and awards ceremony.

One month later, about 250 students, family members, and guests including Assemblymember Warren Furutani, Campaign Board Member and CSU Trustee Herb Carter, California State University Los Angeles President James Rosser, Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent Chris Steinhauser and Long Beach City College Superintendent and President Eloy Ortiz Oakley turned out on a gorgeous summer day in Los Angeles at a reception for Southern California winners and participants.

Here are our 2009 grand prize winners for high school in the written word and poster categories. To learn more about our Capitol Day event, please see our August newsletter, for more about our Southern California event and to view photos, please see our October newsletter and  Save Me a Spot in College scholarship contest.

Photo:
Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, far right, stands next to The Campaign's Youth Ambassadors at the July Save Me a Spot in College Capitol event.

The Campaign focused on ways to ensure that the transfer process for community college students serves their needs more effectively. One of the ways we did this was through our support of AB 440, the Community College Associate Degree and Recognition of Student Transfer Preparation Act.

This bill, which would allow individual community colleges to grant an Associate Degree in a field of study for transfer to eligible students who successfully complete the minimum transfer requirements to a campus of the California State University or University of California systems and coursework in a major or area of emphasis, was introduced at a critical time, as enrollment cuts threaten to leave tens of thousands of transfer students in limbo, many without a degree to show for their efforts. 

After clearing the Assembly with overwhelming support [66-8], AB 440 was held as a two-year bill by the Senate Education Committee. While it failed passage, it was granted reconsideration. We are working diligently to either reintroduce the legislation in January or implement the Transfer Studies Degree, in partnership with the Chancellor’s office, administratively.

In addition, we asked Mary Gill, a former statewide community college dean, to share her thoughts and recommendations for improving the transfer pathway.  Her recommendations are captured in The Gordian Knot. 

Finally, we are hopeful that the intersegmental task force on transfer formed by the UC, CSU, and CCC’s will continue its work and identify solutions to improving the collaboration amongst the systems to improve and increase transfer in California. We will continue to seek policy and institutional solutions to ensure that we can increase the number of students who transfer in California. 

Read our August newsletter to learn more about AB 440. 

Photo: Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-24), author of AB 440 far right, chats with bill supporters Cheyanne Torres, left, Elizabeth Sanchez, center, and Sadie Armstrong, right, in his office. 

California has a unique opportunity to secure much-needed federal funding from the American Graduation Initiative and the College Access and Completion Fund that could help provide necessary additional monies for higher education and promote the type of student success reforms that will help us meet the workforce needs of the future. Federal legislation is being proposed through H.R. 3221 and other initiatives that would provide $2.5 billion dollars in higher education funds nationally over the next five years. These funds place an important value on increasing college awareness, accessing financial aid, and improving student success in post-secondary education. More importantly, regardless of the federal funds, these priorities are critical for the future of the state.

In order to secure these funds the state must establish and build consensus around goals that commit it to making a specific contribution to achieving the national degree-attainment goal. Knowing that the state would need to work in a unified manner to establish, implement, and monitor these long-term goals, The Campaign convened leaders from across the state in San Francisco in September to discuss the critical role that California could play in reaching President Barack Obama’s ambitious goal to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. The Campaign will be releasing a paper with recommendations in early January and will continue to monitor progress on the federal legislation and offer recommendations to the U.S. Department of Education in the spring.

Read more about the discussion in our October newsletter.

Photo:
(Left to right) The Campaign's Executive Director Michele Siqueiros; Hans Johnson, Associate Director and Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California; Paul Steenhausen, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Kay McClenney,  Co-Director of the California Leadership Alliance for Student Success (CLASS); Erica Romero, Executive Director of Western States Legislative Affairs at Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU); and Nancy Shulock, Professor and Executive Director at Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy on a panel at The Campaign's "Moving California Ahead" convening. 

The Campaign for College Opportunity, the Sacramento State Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy (IHELP) and the Bay Area Council released “Technical Difficulties: Meeting California’s Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fields” in June. The report found that California's colleges and universities are not producing enough graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- or STEM -- fields, which could result in a talent deficit in key industries in the state. 

The report followed the release of the Public Policy Institute of California’s “Closing the Gap: Meeting California's Need for College Graduates,” which found that California faces a shortage of almost a million college-educated workers by 2025. 

The importance of the issues raised in these two reports prompted The Campaign to launch a series of well-attended briefings in the Silicon Valley, Long Beach, San Diego, and Sacramento with higher education, policy, and business leaders to discuss the challenges and find solutions to the workforce crisis looming in California.

 The Campaign for College Opportunity welcomed two new members to our Board of Directors.

Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Superintendent and President of Long Beach City College (LBCC), is a widely respected community college leader in the state. 

The Campaign was successful in securing funding for our efforts

We are grateful for the continuous support of All Student Loan; the California Wellness Foundation; Citigroup; The College Access Foundation of California; Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund; The James Irvine Foundation; Koret Foundation; Lumina Foundation for Education; The McConnell Foundation; Pacific Gas & Electric Company; Southern California Edison; Stuart Foundation; Walter S. Johnson Foundation; the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation; and all the members of our Board and other individuals, whose generosity supported our work in 2009.

Sacramento office established; California Strategies engaged

In March, The Campaign opened a Sacramento office, 770 L Street, Suite 950, where Associate Director Jessie Ryan is leading our outreach and policy efforts and working closely with statewide organizations, education leaders, and policymakers and their staffs on critical issues of priority in higher education.  The Campaign also engaged California Strategies, a public affairs consulting group, to provide strategic guidance as we expand our network, refine our communications and reach out to policymakers.

Capitol Briefing Series launched

In November, The Campaign launched its Capitol Briefing Series – Conversations on College Opportunity and Student Success in order to share key research, data and policy solutions with legislative staff, higher education leaders and partners in the capitol. This series provides an opportunity for legislative staff and coalition partners to gain a better understanding of critical issues facing higher education today and their key role in shaping the work ahead.

The Campaign held two of the briefings in 2009 and has scheduled four briefings for 2010. Please click here to find a full schedule of briefings.

New staff join our team

The Campaign welcomed four new members, each of whom bring a valuable set of skills to the organization.

Community Affairs Director Audrey Diaz is responsible for leading the Campaign's community engagement strategy and strengthening our statewide coalition of supporters.  

Communications Director Marty Trujillo plays a key role in developing and executing a dynamic communications strategy and engaging the media in critical higher education news coverage.  

Outreach Associate Christine Jerian represents the campaign and oversees our coalition building and outreach efforts in the greater Southern California region and with the business community. She joins Maria Luisa Figueroa and Stephanie Romero-Crockett in executing our coalition building work statewide. 

Rebekah Turnbaugh joined our staff as a Program and Fund Development Associate in the Sacramento office, where she will support our Northern California policy and program activities and is responsible for corporate fundraising.

Elizabeth Robles joined us in the fall of 2008 as part of the Public Allies - Los Angeles fellowship and has stayed on as a member of the staff managing the fifth and final year of our Save Me a Spot in College scholarship contest. 

 The Campaign's reach continues to grow

Through outreach, policy, and communication efforts, The Campaign's network of friends and partners has grown to more than 12,000 California leaders and over 40,000 students this past year. 

Our website has become even more dynamic and will stream the latest activities, events, and higher education news affecting California. You can also follow us on Facebook for daily news and updates.

Click here for the latest Campaign activities.

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