October 13, 2017
Paige Marlatt Dorr
Office: 916.327.5356
Cell: 916.601.8005
Office E-mail: pdorr@cccco.edu
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Jerry Brown signing AB 19 (Santiago, Chiu and McCarty).
"We applaud Gov. Brown and the Legislature for taking this enormous step forward in making community college more accessible for first-time students. The legislation is modeled after the successful community-based Promise partnerships aimed at encouraging students to attend college full-time and requiring colleges to provide wraparound supports that promote successful outcomes. The California College Promise will help foster a stronger culture of college participation that will enhance upward social mobility in California. For more than 30 years, the California community college system has waived tuition for students who cannot afford it, with over 1 million current students receiving assistance under what is the most expansive free tuition program offered by any state. Formerly known as the Board of Governors Fee Waiver, the program's name is being changed to the California College Promise Grant. We look forward to working with the governor and legislature on providing funding to support the California College Promise and additional financial aid to offset the non-tuition costs that create barriers to college attendance for students with financial need."
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 114 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. For more information about the community colleges, please visit our website.
