community colleges

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Two Thirds?

Byuclafaculty

There are two bills kicking around in the legislature that would, if both are passed, provide a $1 billion subsidy for tuition at UC, CSU, and the community colleges financed by a change in corporate tax law.  However, one of these bills – the tax bill – would require a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature.  Assembly speaker Pérez claims he has the necessary Republican votes, although that seems unlikely.  It is unclear from an account today in the San Francisco Chronicle whether that claim also applies to the state senate: Assembly Speaker John Pérez, who introduced AB1501,…

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Concerns Over Proposed Cal Grants Cuts in May Revise Budget

Byuclafaculty

Cal Grant program faces cuts in governor’s budget (excerpts) Wyatt Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, May 25, 2012 Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing to cut a state program that helps thousands of low- and middle-income California university students pay for tuition and other costs.  Under Brown’s revised budget plan, thousands of California college students who start their education in fall of 2013 would either be unable to qualify for a Cal Grant or would receive a much smaller grant than if they had applied this year.  Currently, students who qualify and attend either the University of California or California State University…

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How the Post-Secondary Pie Divides

Byuclafaculty

The Legislative Analyst produced the interesting pie charts above showing where students are and where degrees are produced after high school.  Note that some students in the community colleges (CCCs) may transfer to UC or CSU.  The Leg Analyst also provides the following counts of the various types of schools: University of California: Ten campuses, 234,000 students, Baccalaureates, masters, doctorates/professional California State University: 23 campuses, 424,000 students, Baccalaureates, masters, several applied doctorates California Community Colleges: 112 campuses, 1.5 million students, Associates degrees, certificates Nonprofit/Independent Colleges and Universities: 73 institutions, 263,000 students, Associates, baccalaureates, masters, doctorates  For-Profit/Private Institutions: Roughly 1,500 institutions,…

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UC-San Diego Community College Transfer Guarantee to End

Byuclafaculty

The UC San Diego program that guarantees transfer admission to community college students who meet certain requirements will come to an end in 2014, campus officials have decided.  They said explosive growth in the number applications under the program, coupled with sharp cuts in state funding for the University of California, have threatened to swamp the campus. Administrators and students at area community colleges said the decision will disproportionately harm disadvantaged students…UC San Diego’s Transfer Admissions Guarantee, or TAG, program began in the early 1980s. Students from the six regional districts who took specific required courses and earned a 3.0…

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LA Times is Yes and No on Legislation to Lower Tuition

Byuclafaculty

The LA Times today is unhappy with proposed legislation that would change corporate taxes and raise money for lowering public higher ed tuition. (Excerpt) …SB 1500 and 1501, by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) would …eliminat(e) a tax loophole for businesses and us(e) the resulting revenue to provide large scholarships to middle-class students in the state’s public colleges and universities, (and) reduc(e) their tuition costs by two-thirds… We can think of more pressing needs than tuition relief for families earning between $80,000 and $150,000, and no doubt so can Pérez. A properly funded welfare-to-work program, for example, or…

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(Direct) Democracy is a Wonderful Thing

Byuclafaculty

Anyone can (try to) write a law in California using the ballot initiative process.  It only costs $200 to start the process rolling.  For that modest sum, you get a ballot title and summary from the state attorney general and a fiscal analysis from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.  Of course, you then have to go out and get the signatures. The latest direct democracy to rising tuition at UC, CSU, and the community colleges is a ballot initiative submitted March 26 that would freeze tuition at the 2010 level, adjusted for inflation. However, the initiative fails to mention what index…

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UCLA Report Calls for Overhaul of Community College Transfer Process & Master Plan

Byuclafaculty

Inside Higher Ed today pointed me toward the UCLA Civil Rights Project and its series of three reports critical of the transfer process from community colleges to four-year colleges.  One of the reports was co-authored by former UC President Richard Atkinson. The summary from Inside Higher Ed is at:http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/02/15/racial-transfer-gap-california-community-colleges A press release from the Civil Rights Project is reproduced below: CRP Calls for Fundamental Changes in California’s Community Colleges Date Published: February 14, 2012 Almost 75% of all Latino and two-thirds of all Black students who go on to higher education in California go to a community college, yet in 2010…

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LAO Report on Higher Ed Contains Significant Pension Recommendations

Byuclafaculty

The state’s Legislative Analyst has released a lengthy report on funding higher education which covers UC, CSU, and the community colleges (as well as CalGrants).  The report is essentially a response to the governor’s January budget proposal with regard to higher ed. Generally, the report tends to disagree with the governor’s approach which the Legislative Analyst views as giving too much autonomy to UC and the other segments with regard to enrollment and other matters.  On the other hand, it documents the trend towards reduced state funding and thus seems to continue the pay-less/say-more approach which is odd on its…

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New Plan Could Affect Transfers to UCLA

Byuclafaculty

You may have seen an article in the LA Times about a possible change in direction at California community colleges.  UCLA says about 40% of its graduates (undergrads) are transfer students.  Not all of these transfers come from California community colleges, however.  But poking around on the web suggests that around 90% of them are from the state’s community college system. The original Master Plan viewed community colleges as colleges of last resort.  Anyone with a high school degree could enroll.  (Indeed, some enrollees may not have high school degrees.)  If an enrollee got on an academic track (some courses…

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Free Textbooks from State Online Source?

Byuclafaculty

Darrell Steinberg wants digital library of free textbooks (Excerpt 12/13/11) Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announced today that he will push for legislation to create an online open source library to reduce the cost of course materials for college students across the state. The Sacramento Democrat framed the proposed project as an effort to lower costs for students struggling to cope with higher fees and tuition rates at California’s public colleges and universities… Steinberg said the average student spends $1,300 a year on textbooks, a figure his staff said is based on projections the University of California, California State…