California Community Colleges Representatives to Serve on California Higher Education Recovery with Equity Taskforce

August 07, 2020

Christina Jimenez

cjimenez@@cccco.edu

T 916.322.4004

Sacramento, Calif. – Three representatives from the California Community Colleges were selected this week to serve on the California Higher Education Recovery with Equity Taskforce organized by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Council for Post-Secondary Education. Comprised of 19 total state and national higher education equity experts leading the way, the Taskforce will set out to establish a roadmap and recommendations to best support California’s leaders in education as they navigate through the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19 and work to rebuild in the coming months.

Among the 19 members are California Community Colleges Deputy Chancellor Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Compton College President Keith Curry and City College of San Francisco Student Bryan Daley. The three representatives from the nation’s largest system of higher education will provide insight into the impacts the California Community Colleges system and students are grappling with during the current pandemic. 

“The California Community Colleges are relentlessly working to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion remain at the forefront of our system’s work,” said Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. “Our system is proud to have the opportunity to serve on the California Higher Education Recovery with Equity Taskforce and work collaboratively to identify ways of ensuring an equitable economic recovery for all.” 

In recent years, the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office spearheaded work to create an inclusive environment where all students are equitably served and implement a framework for cultural change by increasing faculty and staff diversity in the California community college workforce. In 2019, the Chancellor’s Office's Vision for Success Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Taskforce was established based on a recommendation from the Board of Governors. The Taskforce conducted an in-depth six-month systemwide assessment, and presented findings and recommendations to the Board of Governors in September 2019. Unanimously, the Board of Governors adopted the recommendations. 

 

In early 2020, a two-year work group was established to implement the 68 strategies identified in the DEI Integration Plan. A work group update is expected to be presented at the September 2020 Board of Governors meeting.    

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; degree and certificate pathways; and basic skills education in English and math. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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