May 21, 2019
Christina Jimenez
T 916.322.4004
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Community Colleges Board of Governors on Tuesday announced its intention to extend its employment contract with state Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley by four years, citing his leadership in advancing reforms to improve student outcomes and close equity gaps within the 115-college system that serves 2.1 million students.
“Chancellor Oakley has demonstrated the intellect, courage, creativity and heart needed to lead the California Community Colleges to continued success in the future,” said Board of Governor’s President Tom Epstein, noting that the board’s move was supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office. “We look forward to approving a new contract with the chancellor to send a message that our commitment to student achievement and equity will continue.”
After a closed-session meeting to evaluate the performance of Oakley, who was selected as state Chancellor in July 2016, the board directed its general counsel to prepare terms of a contract renewal to be voted on at its next meeting in July.
Key reforms being implemented within the community college system to achieve the Board of Governors Vision for Success include:
• Adoption of Guided Pathways, an organizational framework that improves the way colleges build and deliver programs and better integrates student support services.
• Fundamental remedial education reforms that eliminate flawed and discriminatory standardized testing for placing student in courses when they enter college. These changes are unlocking student potential and accelerating access to transfer-level learning in English, mathematics/quantitative reasoning, and English as a Second Language.
• A revised funding formula that aligns financial incentives with student needs and rewards success so that more students entering community colleges have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals.
• The California College Promise, which makes available to colleges flexible resources such as free tuition for first time, full-time students and other types of supports to encourage academic success.
• An online college that starting in fall 2019 will be accessible to working adults who need shortterm college credentials to get ahead into today’s economy but who are not able to attend brick and mortar colleges.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 115 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.
