Whereas on April 22, 2020, the African American Student Success Virtual Townhall was convened with over 1,000 California community college practitioners, policymakers, and national scholars to discuss financial aid reform, housing, food, technology, and transportation insecurities, impacts of COVID-19 on African American students, and policy recommendations to support this student population; and
Whereas on April 27, 2020, through May 1, 2020, African American Success Week was held, with an average of 300 participants participating in daily webinars covering recommendations for black student success, housing insecurity, COVID-19, and listening to Black student voices; and
Whereas reactions to the unjust death of Mr. Floyd have varied, and the nation continues to witness the Black community pushed to the edge by systemic racism; and
Whereas California Community Colleges (CCC) represent and serve one of the most diverse populations in the world in terms of race, ethnicity, language, culture, nationality, socioeconomic class, age, physical ability, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs; and
Whereas the State Center Community College District unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion requires that we advocate and employ our collective voice to identify and eliminate barriers to equity and that we act deliberately to create a safe and inclusive environment where individual and group differences are valued and leveraged for our growth and understanding as an educational community; and
Whereas almost three-quarters of California’s Black undergraduates (72 percent) are enrolled in a California Community College, making the CCC system the primary source of higher education for members of this demographic group; and
Whereas the overwhelming majority (77%) of Black students attend community college part-time (fewer than 12 units in a term) due to employment, family, and other commitments; and
Whereas most Black community college students are adult learners who work full-time while attending college part-time, have family commitments/responsibilities, and struggle with basic needs insecurities. The students who need the most get the least financial support; and
Whereas California Community Colleges receive the least amount of per-student funding in comparison to the state’s other public educational sectors, University of California: $33,569; California State University: $18,445, California Community Colleges: $8,306; K-12: $12,018; and
Whereas nearly two-thirds of Black high school graduates are not eligible to apply for admission to the CSU or UC systems; and
Whereas 35 percent of Black high school graduates completed the A-G course requirements compared to 52 percent of White high school graduates; and
Whereas 27 percent of Black families live below the poverty line (less than $24,399 per year) compared to 16 percent for all California families. 48 percent of Black families earn less than $48,678 per year compared to 36 percent for all California families; and
Whereas the ratio of Black students to tenured and tenure-track Black faculty is 81:1 in California Community Colleges, while the ratio for White students to White tenured and tenure track faculty is 37:1; and
Whereas practitioners and policymakers will utilize race-conscious perspectives in making decisions to improve the success of Black students; and
Whereas a race-conscious perspective is defined as being conscious of how institutional racism shapes educational access, educational trauma, opportunity, lack of culturally relevant practices, and success in the U.S. for people of color, justice-impacted families, and other minoritized groups; and
Whereas 37 percent of Black community college students earn a degree, certificate, or transfer within six years; and only 3 percent of Black students in California Community Colleges (CCC) transfer within two years; and only 35 percent of Black students transfer to a public university within six years; and
Whereas the state of California and the California Community College system needs to address structural inequities of Black student success by way of policy efforts and advocacy.
that we, the State Center Community College District Board hereby reaffirm our commitment to remove systemic barriers for Black and African American students by working collaboratively with the California Community College the system as well as local, state and federal governments, businesses and community-based organizations to provide race-conscious decision making in support of Black community college students as they complete their academic programs and as Black students transition to a four-year college or university, or employment; and
that we affirm our commitment to foster a culture in which all members of the Black and African American community, (1) feel safe, respected and valued; (2) are invited to participate fully, share their unique gifts, talents, and backgrounds; (3) increasingly recognize the value of perspectives that differ from their own, and (4) understand that diversity and inclusion are key priorities of the State Center Community College District.
upon motion of Trustee Payne, seconded by Trustee Caglia, at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of State Center Community College District on this 7th day of July 2020, by the following vote:
AYES: __7___ NOES: __0___ ABSTAIN: ___0__ ABSENT: _0____
