WHEREAS, the California Community College (CCC) system serves a specific and important role in the California Educational Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the CCCs serve a very diverse student population; and
WHEREAS, AB 928 was intended to develop a student-centered singular transfer pathway; and
WHEREAS, the transfer pathway for California State Universities (CSU) has historically included Lifelong Learning and Self-Development; and
WHEREAS, the Lifelong Learning and Self-Development outcomes include physiological, psychological, and sociological well-being; and
WHEREAS, the majority of CCC students transfer to CSU, thus the majority of CCC transfer students have benefitted from Lifelong Learning and Self-Development courses; and
WHEREAS, the courses offered in Lifelong Learning and Self-Development support the Vision for Success and Guided Pathways initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates (ICAS) proposed a singular transfer pathway known as Cal-GETC, that does not include Lifelong Learning and Self-Development; and
WHEREAS, elimination of such programs simply to create one “primary transfer pattern” may have a disproportionally negative impact on tens of thousands of minoritized CCC students; and,
WHEREAS, the reductions in affected course offerings threaten community college student opportunities to take courses in areas such as college success, reading, wellness, finance, and nutrition; and
WHEREAS, losses in educational engagement and structured mentoring have a disproportionate burden on first-generation students and students of color, with a negative impact on equitable student outcome measures and likelihood of transfer; and
WHEREAS, CCCs employ a workforce of thousands of staff and faculty to support Lifelong Learning and Self-Development courses; and,
WHEREAS, the implementation of AB 928 has proceeded without adequate input from the CCCs and an understanding to the potential unintended consequences to the students, colleges, and employees; and
WHEREAS, state law provides primacy over community college curriculum to CCC faculty rather than to administrators or external groups such as ICAS;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate of Palomar College request that the ASCCC continue to advocate to the ICAS to preserve Lifelong Learning and Self-Development opportunities for CCC students as a transfer requirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate of Palomar College request that the Palomar College Superintendent/President and Governing Board advocate to preserve Lifelong Learning and Self- Development and are encouraged to widely distribute this resolution, prepare letters, build partnerships, and engage with system and statewide leadership to preserve Lifelong Learning and Self- Development.