Updated November 2018
Established in 1991, this postsecondary education initiative of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) requires each community college to maintain a Student Equity Plan (SEP) detailing its approaches to ensure that disproportionately impacted populations have equal opportunity for postsecondary and economic success. This plan is a requirement for receiving Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) funding. Further requirements added in 2014 specify additional student populations that must be included in these equity plans.
Plans identify student populations that fall below the 80 percent threshold for the top-achieving populations, and design interventions to mitigate barriers in five Student Equity Success Indicators:
Funding for FY 2015-16 was $170 million
This initiative has been revised. See Student Equity & Achievement Act
Resources: Overview, Legislation (Education Code Sections 66010.2c, 78220-78221)
Element is not present in this initiative.
At minimum, SEPs must address students by ethnicity and race—as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau—along with other identified characteristics:
SEPs include a shared internal governance approach with collaboration between administration, faculty, students, and the academic senate.
2014 legislation requires the SEP to be coordinated with the following programs and services:
Element is not present in this initiative.
Funding is applied to student services and related categorical programs that directly support outcomes on success indicators for target populations. Funding is also used for direct student support including books and supplies, transportation, and child care.
Each college conducts a campus-based Disproportionate Impact Study for required success indicators and target groups. Based on research findings, the college then designs goals and activities for impacted student groups.
There is opportunity for increased collaboration by connecting to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs to reach populations enrolled in human services and individuals with barriers to employment.
To target specific industries and further work-based learning efforts, the initiative could partner with CalWORKs work-study, WIOA industry sector work in high-demand industries, the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program, and Linked Learning programming.
There is potential to mitigate basic skills, ESL, and completion inequities by providing learning communities with embedded tutoring and counseling support as well as other instructional support services. This could also help ensure the use of participant-focused, evidence-based practices.
The initiative could further improve its student supports capacity by leveraging opportunities granted by SB860. This bill also requires that SEPs coordinate with similar student equity-related categorical programs or campus-based programs. The CCCCO is in conversation with program representatives to better understand which facets would most benefit from collaboration—such as gaps in service, program evaluation, or budgeting.
To more effectively build career pathways for defined populations of participants, there is potential for a pathway redesign with funds designated for adapting academic or career-related programs or courses.
Does this information need updating or adjustment? Send us your suggestions: CAcareerpathway@clasp.org