August 24, 2022
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — — California Community Colleges Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales, Ph.D., has issued the following statement on President Biden’s plan for student debt relief.

"Today’s decision by President Biden to provide student loan relief to the students who most need it will help Californians who struggle with paying for college even after entering the workforce. In addition to targeted loan forgiveness for those most in need, changes to income-driven repayment schedules will help borrowers meet their obligations. These actions address only part of the college affordability crisis and highlight the need for more student grant assistance, such as doubling federal Pell Grant awards and continuing with work that is under way in our state to help more students by expanding the Cal Grant system. Grants – not borrowing – are the principal source of assistance for community college students. That's why I urge all students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) before Sept. 2 to meet an important Cal Grant deadline for assistance this academic year. We thank President Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona for their leadership on behalf of students pursuing their educational dreams everywhere."

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 1.8 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. 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, Instagram and Twitter.

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