April 24, 2019 Making College More Affordable for California’s Community College Students

Christian Osmeña, vice chancellor, California Community Colleges Panelists Christian Osmeña, vice chancellor, California Community Colleges Lizette Navarette, vice president, Community College League of California

Our Commitment “Community colleges are no different than any other part of the higher-education system. We need to adapt to the changes gripping us today as well as the ones that are coming. We need to provide greater access to more and more individuals at a lower cost and that’s just the reality.” Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley

California Community Colleges As the largest system of higher education in the nation, the California Community Colleges is uniquely positioned to help residents of all backgrounds improve their social and economic mobility and build a better future for themselves and their families. Our 115 colleges serve more than 2.1 million students annually and transfer nearly 80,000 each year to the University of California and California State University systems while providing hundreds of thousands more with a skills-based, career education needed to secure good-paying jobs.

Who Attends the CCC

CCC Enrollment Fees In 1984, the state first enacted fees in the California Community Colleges—and simultaneously established a fee waiver program for low-income students. Today, those statutory fees are $46 per unit—the lowest in the United States. The California College Promise Grant (formerly the Board of Governors Fee Waiver) waives fees for students who have financial need, are receiving public assistance, or have low income. Therefore, nearly half of all students pay no fees under California College Promise Grant.

What It Costs to Attend a CCC Component Living at Home Living Away from Home Books and Supplies $1,918 Room and Board $5,418 $16,810 Transportation $1,108 $1,252 Personal Expenses $3,258 $2,998 Enrollment Fees $1,380 Health Fees $40 Total $13,122 $23,398 Note: From “2018-19 Nine Month Student Expense Cost of Attendance Budget” for Riverside City College.

Barriers in Cal Grant for CCC Students Few California Community College students are entitled to Cal Grants because the entitlement focuses on recent high school graduates. An entitlement requires students to enroll in college no more than one year after high school graduation. Students who are not entitled to awards must compete for one of 25,750 awards available to them. It was recently estimated that more than 300,000 apply for those awards. Because the award levels are generally linked to tuition, a small proportion of the funds go to CCC students.

Major Sources of Aid for CCC Students

Cal Grants Across State’s Public Segments

Net Price for Lowest-Income Students From an analysis by The Institute for College Access and Success: “In none of the nine regions shown here does the lowest tuition school – the community college – have the lowest net price, and in seven regions the community college is more expensive than either public university option.”

Impacts of Limited Financial Aid for CCC Students The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, in partnership with the Chancellor’s Office, conducted a survey to assess basic needs security among California Community College students. Among the findings: Half of respondents were food insecure in the prior 30 days. 60 percent were housing insecure in the previous year. 19 percent were homeless in the previous year.

Principles for Reform All California Community College students with financial need should be eligible to receive financial aid—regardless of their age, time out of high school, or high school academic performance. A student’s financial aid should be linked to the total cost of attendance—not just tuition and fees, but also housing, food, transportation, and supplies. A student should have access to financial aid regardless of the student’s educational goals—that is, financial aid should be available equitably whether the student seeks to complete a degree, certificate, or short- term career-technical education program.

Senate Bill 291 (Leyva) + - = SB 291 establishes the California Community College Student Financial Aid program, which would provide a community college student with a new grant that is linked to the cost of attendance and accounts for the gift aid a student already receives and the resources the student contributes to college costs. Calculating a Student’s Award Under SB 291 + Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution Reasonable Student Contribution Existing Grant Aid = New Grant Provided through the California Community College Student Financial Aid Program

Request The bill specifies legislative intent to phase the program in over six years (from 2019-20 through 2014-15): During phase-in, awards to students would be prorated based on available resources. The bill seeks $1.5 billion upon full implementation. The California Community Colleges are requesting: Support for SB 291 (Leyva). Inclusion of $250 million, consistent with the legislative intent, in the 2019-20 budget to fund the first year of program implementation.

Opportunities for Engagement Visit truecollegecost.com to learn more and to contact your legislators to express support. Voice your support at an upcoming hearing: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 9:00 am State Capitol, Room 447 Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Thursday, May 2, 2019, 9:30 am State Capitol, Room 3191 Discuss these issues with others!

Questions