As we entered into a new year and reflected upon the many issues and challenges student services faced during the prior year, it became apparent to the CSSO Executive Board that a much more affirmative and active role was required of us. The 50% Law, an almost 30% cut in Matriculation funding, and the virtual elimination of the Fund For Student Success necessitated that we rethink “business as usual” if student services as we’d known them in the California Community Colleges, were to survive. Student Services professionals from throughout the state needed to collaborate in new ways to strengthen their voices on statewide fiscal issues, and in order to have any influence upon the legislative/regulatory agenda. As a first step in this effort, the Board recommended that the Presidents and Presidents Elect of each organization represented by the CSSOs at the Chancellor’s Consultation table convene a meeting.
We dubbed the event the Presidential Summit. Funded through a Think Tank Regional Grant, 27 participants representing 15 organizations met from September 25-27 at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort. Cindra Smith, a staffer from the Community College League with a strong student service background, presided as facilitator. The purposes of the Summit were twofold: first, to enhance communication and collaboration among student services organizations; and second, to develop an advocacy/policy agenda that all groups could support.
In preparation for the Summit, the participants were asked to submit documents in advance of the meeting, which identified two or three pressing issues faced by their respective organizations. These key issues would establish the direction for an advocacy agenda crafted at the Summit. Once in San Diego and early in the process, each organization took some time to present and explain the issues and positions of their constituencies. This set the stage for a broader understanding of the challenges faced by all, and a mutual respect for our shared concern for statewide student access and success. Several common themes emerged. It seemed as though the inadequacy of resources, restrictive legislation as well as fears over deregulation, educational practices that acted as barriers to transfer, and student leadership issues permeated our discussions and were of universal concern.
After lengthy group discussion, lists of concerns and issues were generated. In the process of prioritizing these lists it soon became apparent that the group had been able to temporarily suspend professional bias and cast ballots for priorities which best served the good of the whole. Student Health Center participants lent stronger support to full restoration of Matriculation services than for a new funding formula for their student health centers. Transfer Center Directors saw a greater need for prioritizing a liaison relationship to enhance the transfer process to CSU over direct funding for local Transfer Centers. DSP&S reps could see that attempting yet another rewrite of the allocation formula was not the answer given the inadequacy of the total pot.
After a mere day and a half, the following was ranked the top priority for action:
Develop a student service model that moves the enterprise from a series of loosely related operations to a unified program. This model includes the rethinking of funding models and the protection of the entire operation.
Without all holding hands and singing “Kumbaya”, we had achieved a sea of change!
During the remainder of the time on Coronado, between steak and popcorn, desserts to die for, and wine, we developed a draft of an Advocacy Agenda for Student Services. The draft has now been circulated for comment, modifications and ultimately we hope the approval of the whole. The top ten items of our priority list appear as items in need of immediate action. Click on Attachment A to see a copy of the Advocacy Agenda.
So, what now? Once the participants have signed off on the Advocacy Agenda we will ask them to attempt to get their respective organizations to adopt the entire Advocacy/Policy Agenda, or at least get buy-in for action on some of the items. Then we will need to develop the activities and the players needed to accomplish the goals of the agenda. The timeline for all of this is short if we are to be able to effect any change during the 2002/2003 year. We hope to be prepared to begin implementation no later than early December, so stay tuned. There may be help and hope on the way!
Finally, be alert for the following developments agreed to at the Summit:
- In order to keep the dialogue flowing between the 15 student service organizations, we will create a “Council of Student Service Organizations”.
- Communication will also be facilitated through the creation of a “student service all” list serve, and through accessing best practices and other issues via the iJournal.
- In order to be able to get immediate action on events that threaten the “health and safety” of any and all of our programs, we are creating a “student services Red Alert list serve.
Through our years of service to students, and every now and again, there comes to us “sometimes a great notion”. The conception of a Presidential Summit was just such a notion. We need to dedicate ourselves now to ensuring that the spirit of cooperation and mutual gains generated at the Summit is not lost.
Supplementary Documents:
Advocacy Goals and Activities Student Services
Ranking Results at the Presidential Summit
September 26-27
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