WHEREAS, California Community Colleges (CCC) serve a diverse student population with English learners and immigrants making up approximately 25% of the 2.5 million students enrolled in community colleges statewide [1], with the average age of community college students being 28 years old and with 45% of the community college student population additionally being first generation college students [2];
WHEREAS, There is a lack of direct guidance for CCC students demonstrated by an estimated 60% of students who were unaware of the full scope of services provided by their college [3]; moreover, with over 20% of CCC students who did not obtain Pell grants, despite being eligible due to a lack of guidance [4];
WHEREAS, At present, California Community College catalogs and student handbooks, which outline a college’s processes such as college enrollment, class registration, and financial aid eligibility, are primarily provided in English and these materials are often overly lengthy and confusing, with guidebooks ranging from 165 to 402 pages in total[5] making critical information incomprehensible for non-native English speaking students; and
WHEREAS, Student awareness of available resources and support is impacted as non-native English speaking students face language barriers when navigating academic resources and support [6]; consequently, the lack of a language-accessible guidebook that consolidates essential CCC information leaves these students without a clear roadmap to navigate postsecondary education; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the development and implementation of a standardized language-accessible Student Success Guidebook across all CCC campuses, ensuring equitable access to essential information, resources, and support services; furthermore, this standardized guidebook shall be available in multiple languages to meet the needs of non-native English speakers and promote equitable access to academic and support services across all CCC campuses;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate that the implemented Student Success Guidebook be available in both digital and physical formats, providing a concise, step-by-step guide on essential topics including class registration, prerequisite requirements, important deadlines, financial aid, scholarships, academic policies, and graduation requirements, to ensure students have a clear understanding of their academic pathways.
Citations:
[1]https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED597837.pdf
[2]https://crowncounseling.com/statistics/community-college-vs-university/ [3]https://tytonpartners.com/inside-higher-ed-lack-of-awareness-causes-students-to-fall-through-the-cracks/
[5]https://www.asccc.org/content/california-community-college-catalogs-student-guide-or-student-jungle