Here’s an update on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act ("SAFRA"), or H.R. 3221. This is the bill that passed the House of Representatives in September and would reinvest $87 billion in savings from student loan programs in increased Pell Grants and the American Graduation Initiative.
The California Community College League just held its annual Legislative Conference. President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Lay reports:
The Budget News: No speaker or panel managed to escape talking about the state's fiscal situation, and many acknowledged that the Governor's budget may be optimistic and the "high water mark" for many state programs. Community colleges are a bipartisan priority, as we heard from State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Assembly Republican Jim Nielson. We are better positioned than many other programs. However, while community college funding may not be further cut or even receive the governor's proposed increase for growth, the funding for UC and CSU may be overstated in the budget, which could result in a shift of even more students to already overenrolled community colleges.
President Obama delivered a highly anticipated State of the Union address last night, identifying the issues and offering proposals for a wide variety of topics from health care to economic recovery to college affordability (yes, that’s “college”+”affordability”!). He was intent on restoring public confidence in his administration. Though he spoke for a bit in his rhetoric of hope, he acknowledged his hand in last year’s political setbacks. Oh, and he dared make a few jabs at the Republicans. In case you missed it, listed below are the main points of his one hour and 11 minute speech.
In his state-of-the-state address on Jan. 6, 2010, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offered some hope to community college students when he promised a constitutional amendment that would require the state to spend a higher percentage on higher education than on prisons. However, facing a huge budget deficit in the coming year, Californians must brace for draconian cuts to all services – including education.
Obama’s proposed American Graduation Initiative emphasizes the critical role of community colleges in educating and training students and adults to keep the United States economically competitive. The Initiative would offer an increase in financial support for community colleges to help individuals "Achieve the Dream". This effort to reshape community colleges hopes to improve the skills of workers, pull the United States out of the recession and lay the foundation for economic growth.
Conan Nolan interviews Jack Scott, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges about the challenges facing the nation's largest community college system in this tough financial climate.
Activists Relating Their Compelling, Personal Stories to Elected Officials
Dec. 2009 - Since the beginning of the fall semester, student mobilization interns across LACCD haven’t had a chance to catch their breath. To date, they have planned and held six townhalls meetings, 15 legislative visits, collected tens of thousands of ‘Stop the Cuts’ postcards, conducted 10 surveys and held five campus rallies.
Insist that Lawmakers Not Cut Classes, Not Raise Fees
The LA Community College Faculty Union and its Student Intern Program are working together to make sure the voices of community college students are heard during the ongoing debates on higher education and budget in Sacramento. Our goal is to deliver 50,000 postcards to their lawmakers to demand:
AFT interns get real world lesson in grassroots democracy
Community college student Joana Batz, 21, has mobilized classmates to fight education cuts, marched in rallies and phone banked voters to educate them about elections.
ADD the following text + attached pix (091119-batz) to the home page : Her hands-on experience in grassroots democracy, through an internship program organized by American Federation of Teachers, Local 1521, is grooming her to be part of the next generation of progressive activists. But she has also performed a valuable community service by connecting with voters who are often left out of the political process.
Elected Officials Address reduced classes, other cuts in services at community colleges
Two Town Hall meetings at Mission and Pierce Colleges on Oct. 29 featured hundreds of students asking legislators tough questions about the budget cuts and their impact on their education. At Pierce College, before a standing room only crowd, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley fielded questions from students about the budget process and heard their displeasure over more cuts. At Mission College, Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon took questions from students asking about the future of their education, and focusing on the California state budget crisis.
Political Ambitions: “I have political ambitions so this program is teaching me a lot about how to develop my networking skills, organize events, and lead people. I am the first in my family to go to college, so that makes my success here even more important. Fee increases have definitely had an effect on me; I couldn’t get some classes I needed because they were so overcrowded. You can’t learn sitting on the floor. ”
We are LACCD students standing up to keep the door of opportunity open for all. Our goal is to mobilize students to fight for affordable education and legislative changes in order to give everyone the chance for higher education. By coming together and actively participating in the governmental executive process, we give voice to community colleges as stepping stones to success.
Dec. 2009 - Since the beginning of the fall semester, student mobilization interns across LACCD haven’t had a chance to catch their breath. To date, they have planned and held six townhalls meetings, 15 legislative visits, collected tens of thousands of ‘Stop the Cuts’ postcards, conducted 10 surveys and held five campus rallies.
The LA Community College Faculty Union and its Student Intern Program are working together to make sure the voices of community college students are heard during the ongoing debates on higher education and budget in Sacramento. Our goal is to deliver 50,000 postcards to their lawmakers to demand:
download it here
Community college student Joana Batz, 21, has mobilized classmates to fight education cuts, marched in rallies and phone banked voters to educate them about elections.
Two Town Hall meetings at Mission and Pierce Colleges on Oct. 29 featured hundreds of students asking legislators tough questions about the budget cuts and their impact on their education. At Pierce College, before a standing room only crowd, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley fielded questions from students about the budget process and heard their displeasure over more cuts. At Mission College, Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon took questions from students asking about the future of their education, and focusing on the California state budget crisis.
Community Colleges’ New Clout
