California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott says Draft Recommendations of
Student Success Task Force Will Improve Completion Rates
Comprehensive plan balances priorities to better respond to the needs of students and the economy
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott today praised the newly released draft recommendations of the Student Success Task Force, saying that it provides a workable action plan to improve degree and certificate attainment and transfer rates of the 2.6 million students enrolled in the system’s 112 colleges.
“Our system can take bold steps to ensure more students complete certificates, degrees and transfer to four-year universities. This must be done while protecting access for the diverse group of Californians who come to our campuses seeking to improve their lives,” said Chancellor Jack Scott. “The task force has done an excellent job of developing recommendations to make our colleges responsive to students’ needs and the state’s economy, which is increasingly demanding college-educated workers.”
The task force was convened as a result of Senate Bill 1143 (Liu), which required the California Community Colleges Board of Governors to establish a panel to examine best practices for promoting student success and then to adopt a plan for improving degree and completion rates within the California Community Colleges.
Scott said he looks forward to the discussion that will occur in the coming weeks as public feedback is gathered on the recommendations, which were developed over 10 months of study and deliberations. “Ensuring access to higher education is only half the equation,” Scott said. “Equally important is granting students the best opportunity to succeed upon entering the classroom.”
The recommendations call for development and implementation of tools that do a better job of determining the skill level and needs of entering students, as well as innovation that will lead to students addressing basic skills education earlier in their academic careers.
Other draft recommendations would require:
- Students to decide on their course of study earlier so they can reach their goals on time, which will save money and get them into the workforce faster. It will also free up space for the system to serve more students.
- Colleges to give priority enrollment to students who make progress in meeting their identified goals and to adjust course offerings according to the needs of students based on those goals.
- Expand the use of technology, especially as it relates to helping students access and plan their educational goals, with tools such as smart phones.
- Changes to promote flexibility that will allow local colleges to pursue student success strategies tailored to the needs of their students.
- Colleges to use scorecards to publically report on their progress to improve student success.
“The academic success of our students is our foremost objective,” said board of governors member Peter MacDougall, who chaired the task force. “The report’s recommendations, taken together and applied by talented faculty and staff on individual campuses, will increase the number of students who succeed in transfer and career readiness programs – the core mission of our community colleges. Enhancing collegiate skills programs and having students complete their plans in a timelier manner will help California narrow its education skills gap and prepare workers to compete in the current and emerging economies.”
The task force will meet again Nov. 9 to discuss public input received in meetings and online. After reviewing the feedback, they will make adjustments to the plan if necessary. The proposal will then be forwarded to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors for consideration at its January 2012 meeting. The final report of recommendations will be presented to the Legislature in March 2012.
The task force is made up of 20 members. They are a broad representation of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, researchers, college presidents and district chancellors, local trustees and third-party advocates. Before the plan is finalized, Californians are invited to take part in the reform effort by reading the draft recommendations, submitting comments, participating in upcoming town hall meetings, and logging on to online discussions. The draft recommendations and more information can be found at http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/SSTF.aspx.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.6 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills courses in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.