Congressional Stimulus Package Would Direct $1 billion to California Community Colleges to Support Students During Pandemic

December 23, 2020
Contact:  Paul Feist
Office: 916-327-5353
Office E-mail: pfeist@cccco.edu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley issued the following statement on this week’s Congressional action on federal stimulus:

“The relief package approved by Congressional leaders would bring an estimated $1 billion in much-needed, one-time assistance to our 2.1 million students and our 116 community colleges, and we are grateful for the ongoing investments in higher education and student financial aid for our most vulnerable students. As the system that educates a majority of our state’s front-line healthcare workers and first responders, our colleges have led herculean efforts to support our students during this difficult time. While this package is a step in the right direction, additional support, including direct support to states, will lead to a more equitable economic recovery for California and the nation. The California Community Colleges look forward to working with President-Elect Biden’s administration and Congress to continue advocating for more support for our students in 2021 and beyond.”

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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