WHEREAS, The goal of Cal-GETC is to streamline the transfer process to four-year institutions, the passing of AB 928 (Berman, 2021) has prompted the removal of foreign language courses—and ESL courses— from lower division general education pathways as outlined by ICAS in section 9.3.3 and 9.3.4 of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) for area 3B Humanities; with the exception of foreign language courses that “include substantial literary or cultural aspects” [1];
WHEREAS, Records from the Student Senate for California Community Colleges indicate that no resolutions regarding language courses have been passed since 2006, and there is a clear need to reevaluate commitment to linguistic representation, language study, and workforce readiness;
WHEREAS, The Modern Language Association has identified language enrollment rates by institutional level, two-year institutions do not receive sufficient Title VI funding to maintain current programs [2] [3]; and
WHEREAS, Proficiency in languages other than English is an essential skill in a workforce-based economy—especially for medical and teaching professions— increasing demand for foreign language proficiency with a shortage in foreign language courses results in skill gaps in the workforce; there is a lack of language courses for workforce preparedness [4] [5]; Now, therefore be it;
RESOLVED, That the SSCCC make it a priority to advocate for the continuation and expansion of foreign language courses across the CCC system;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly recommend and urge the California Community Colleges to offer a minimum of the two (2) most popular foreign languages in the county of each community college—determined by county census data— to be offered at each CCC;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges collaborate with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to develop a strategic plan for financially sustaining and enhancing foreign language courses through the development of a “Foreign Language Sustainability Task Force”; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges collaborate with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to simplify the process of hiring language faculty—pursuant to California Education Code § 80089.2, draft a legislative toolkit regarding student language education for workplace readiness, and provide continual guidance for language faculty instruction
Citations:
[1] The Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates. Cal-GETC STANDARDS Version 1.1. 2023, icas-ca.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Cal-GETC_Standards_1v1_2023.pdf#page27.
[2] New MLA Report Highlights The Need For Investment In Language Study. report, Modern Language Association, 15 Nov. 2023. Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2021, www.mla.org/content/download/191329/file/2021-Enrollment-Press-Release.pdf.
[3] “Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in US Institutions of Higher Education Fall-2021.” Modern Language Association, 2023, www.mla.org/content/download/191324/file/Enrollments-in-Languages-Other-Than-English-in-US-Institutions-of-Higher-Education-Fall-2021.pdf.
[4] Admin. “US Employers Recognize the Need for Foreign Language Proficiency.” International Center for Language Studies, Aug. 2024, www.icls.edu/blog/us-employers-recognize-the-need-for-foreign-language-proficiency.
[5] California Code, EDC 80089.2 https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/5-CCR-80089.2