WHEREAS, California’s community colleges serve as vital access points to higher education for diverse and underserved populations, yet Indigenous students continue to face systemic inequities including financial hardship, cultural marginalization, racism, colonial systems, and institutional underinvestment that result in significantly lower enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates [1] [2];
WHEREAS, Culturally tailored support services, such as those provided by Indigenous Student Resource Centers, demonstrably improve academic outcomes by offering essential academic counseling, mentorship, mental health support, and culturally affirming programming that fosters belonging and increases retention and graduation rates [3];
WHEREAS, Successful models of targeted support including the Umoja Program for African American students and the Puente Project for Latinx students illustrate that dedicated resource centers can yield significant improvements in academic achievement and campus engagement, even for numerically smaller populations, thereby enhancing the overall institutional climate [4] [5]; and
WHEREAS, Current initiatives such as the Native American Student Support and Success Program (NASSSP) remain limited in scope and duration, underscoring the urgent need for permanent, fully funded Indigenous Student Resource Centers across California Community Colleges to secure long-term institutional commitment and equitable access to culturally responsive resources [5] [6] [7]; Now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges strongly support the establishment and sustainable funding of Indigenous Student Resource Centers at every California Community College to ensure equitable access to academic advising, culturally relevant programming, mental health support, and financial assistance for Indigenous students;
RESOLVED, That theStudent Senate for California Community Colleges urge the California Legislature and the Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to allocate permanent funding and enact supportive policies mandating the creation of these centers, ensuring they are staffed by professionals with expertise in Indigenous student support and integrated into campus equity and inclusion frameworks;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges call on all California Community Colleges to incorporate Indigenous Student Resource Centers into their institutional strategic plans by dedicating operational budgets and long-term staffing commitments, thereby fostering an inclusive campus environment that enriches the academic experience for all students; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and local districts to commit to collaborating with Indigenous student organizations, tribal governments, faculty, and community stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate these centers drawing on best practices from established programs such as the Umoja Program and the Puente Project while advocating for additional state and federal resources to expand institutional capacity and support Indigenous student success.
Resources:
[1] National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/raceindicators/indicator_RCD.asp
[2] National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (2022). Annual Report on Undergraduate Enrollment and Completion Rates. Retrieved from https://nscresearchcenter.org/
[3] American Indian College Fund. (2021). Indigenous Student Success and Institutional Support Strategies. Retrieved from https://collegefund.org/research/
[4] National Indian Education Association. (2020). The Impact of Culturally Responsive Programs on Indigenous Student Achievement. Retrieved from https://www.niea.org/resources
[5] California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. (2023). Native American Student Support and Success Program Overview. Retrieved from
https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/memo/ess-23-12-system-wide-memo-nasssp-a11y.pdf
[6] Institute for Higher Education Policy. (2021). Targeted Support Programs and Their Impact on Minority Student Outcomes. Retrieved from https://www.ihep.org/research
[7] California Legislative Analyst’s Office. (2023). Budget Allocation for Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education. Retrieved from
https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2023/4789/Higher-Ed-Budget-021523.pdf