Who would have thought it? Touchy-feely student service types temporarily laying aside their mellow and meditative natures to embrace a “call to political action?” A thoughtful person might muse, “How did we arrive here, what have we learned and where do we go from here?”
How Did We Arrive Here?
Well, that story begins a little over a year ago when the Governor first unveiled a budget that, out of the blue, slashed over a third of our Matriculation budget in place for fifteen years. It was January 2002 and it wasn’t yet known that the state was broke. There was, after all, a new line item of some $60 million for a part-time faculty parity initiative.
We were advised by “those in the know” not to worry about Matriculation. Surely that money would be restored. And so we, quite stunned and poorly prepared for political action, sat back and waited for full restoration of Matriculation money. By the May revise, our meager efforts at advocacy yielded a meager decrease in the size of the “hit” on the Matriculation program funds.
Every June the CSSO’s incoming Executive Board holds a retreat to plan the goals for the upcoming year. The goals for 2002/2003 virtually wrote themselves. It was crystal clear that we needed to dedicate ourselves to forging a strong collaborative relationship between our association and all of the other associations and organizations represented by our single seat on the Chancellor’s Consultation Council. Further, we needed to set up a structure to strengthen our voices in the legislative and fiscal arenas. Thus was born the first Presidential Summit.
The first Summit meeting gathered together two leaders from each of our associations. A veritable Noah’s Ark of Student Service types crossed the bay and convened on Coronado Island in September.
What Have We Learned?
The first thing we learned is that rather than viewing the event as “yet another conference,” every single participant came with a great sense of anticipation that something vital to our mutual success was being embarked upon. Instead of “guarded optimism,” we found a universal sense of excitement. We learned that, even at this first gathering, most of the players were ready, willing and able to formulate an action agenda that prioritized items based on what was felt to be in the best interests of students, as opposed to a provincial programmatic approach.
What emerged from the first meeting was:
- The formation of a Student Services Council of Organizations;
- The creation of a “student services all list serve” to be used for rapid communications of vital information and when needed for “a call to action;”
- A prioritized action agenda for the year.
The first and most important element in getting political was achieved. We got organized and formed a coalition.
The newly formed Student Service Council’s second meeting on Valentines Day was a little less of a “love fest.” The group needed to consider what, if anything, their respective association would be willing to put on the table to increase local flexibility on the campuses during these times of fiscal decline.
After a lot of soul searching, the group was able to endorse language that would consider some flexibility in program-specific implementation guidelines as long as the intent of the funding stream with its concomitant regulations and Title V procedural mandates were not violated.
Well, you might ask, has this newly formed coalition of student service programs made a difference? The answer is a resounding “YES!” As I represented the field in the Budget Work Group reporting to the Chancellor’s Consultation Council, I knew I had the buy-in and clout of the sum total of student services behind me. The Consultation Council approved a mid-year budget cut plan that held Matriculation harmless from any further cuts and limited reductions to EOPS, DSPS and CalWorks to 3.66% (This was rolled back to 0% in the final hour by the legislature.) The Community College Package of Budget Reductions for fiscal year 2003/2004 again holds Matric harmless from any further cuts and limits our other categoricals to 6% reductions. I know when I sit at Consultation Council and the BOG meetings, Health Services, EOPS, DSPS, Financial Aid folks, etc. are out there in the audience to strengthen my single voice at the table.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Well, that’s a good question. The CCCCSSAA has already approved amending the association’s by-laws in order to recognize our participation in the Student Service Council, and acted to replace our affiliate organization’s liaison reports to Executive Board with a minimum of twice- yearly Council meetings. That action will ensure the vital communications link that began this year is continued.
The future and value of the Student Service Council as a political tool has yet to be determined. Do we in future years pay personal dues, thereby allowing us to hire a lobbyist to advocate for a mutually developed agenda? How do we keep our agenda from being in conflict with that of CalSac, a Student Service Council member? Can we maintain the energy it takes to be heard in Sacramento during years of less turmoil, threat and chaos? I hope so. This year we became more than polite. We became political and it feels so good.
|
Author eMail
