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I recently signed up for a Spanish class at one of my nearby community colleges and was jolted a bit when I had to pay – for enrollment and other fees, the parking permit, and my textbook. Not that I can’t afford it and in spite of the fact it remains a real bargain. It added up to skosh over $200 and this does not factor in the cost of gas to get to school each week. Paying for this class was a personal reminder that the costs of attending college are on the rise and not everyone has the financial resources to enroll in one class, much less a full-load. In reality, for many of our students, the cost related to attending college remains one of their greatest barriers.
Most of us assume that access to higher education is a priority for the state and federal governments because we know that an educated citizenry is the foundation for a thriving economy. However, it was not until the passage of two key initiatives in the 1960’s, one state and one federal, when the doors were opened and low-income families could afford to send their children to college. These two initiatives were the State of California Master Plan for Higher Education, adopted in 1960, and the Higher Education Act, adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1965.
In 1960, under the purview of the Master Plan for Higher Education, California made a commitment to its citizens to insure opportunity to higher education for every adult (over 18) who could benefit. This was truly revolutionary legislation. The plan was actualized through the provision of free or low-cost tuition at all three public sectors of California Higher Education, the UC, the CSU, and the Community College systems. I am a beneficiary of this plan. I came from a low-income family and had only one uncle who had ever attended college. While my parents were happy I wanted to go to college, the costs inherent in this effort were extraordinary for them (and me). However, considering that the enrollment fees and tuition were inexpensive, I was able to attend Long Beach City College, where I earned an Associate of Arts Degree, the University of California at Davis where I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a teaching credential, and California State University at Long Beach where I received a Masters Degree along with numerous special credentials. How lucky I was to have had these affordable options in my life at that time. In exchange for these benefits, I like to think that the investment in my education by the state has been worthwhile.
Over the years, due to multiple complex financial pressures within the state, the Master Plan’s commitment to accessibility is slowly eroding. Fees at all levels of higher education have gone up and without financial support through state and federal aid programs, many students would not be able to enroll in our public 2 and 4 year colleges. Financial Aid remains the safety net for low-income families.
When the state of California first began to charge enrollment fees for the community colleges, we saw a drop in enrollment. This pattern has been repeated over the years as the amount of the fees has fluctuated. In 2003 – 2004, the state provided additional funding to the California Community Colleges to mitigate the potential impact of enrollment fee hikes. These resources were designated to improve the delivery of financial aid and to increase awareness of the many resources available. The article Opportunity Knocks, by Susan Jones, highlights the efforts taken by the colleges to honor this mandate by the state. You may also want to read the report submitted to the Legislature titled “Impacts of Student Fee Increase and Budget Changes on Enrollment and Financial Aid in the California Community Colleges.” You may access this and other related reports at http://www.cccco.edu/reports/reports.htm.
The theme of this fall issue of iJournal is Preserving Access through Student Financial Aid. As stated by Dr. Patricia Hurley, Financial Aid programs are big business. Billions of dollars are disbursed to students and almost half of all college students receive some aid. The term Financial Aid represents a multitude of federal, state, and private programs which provide loans, grants, jobs, scholarships, and waivers to students. It is a complex, highly detailed array of rules and regulations, policies and procedures. Dr. Hurley’s article on the Navigating the Higher Education Act outlines some of the newest proposals pending approval by Congress and their significance to the California Community Colleges.
Most likely few offices on any college campus are as highly regulated (and as stressful) as is the office of Financial Aid. They have local board policies and procedures, state legislation, and all the federal regulations to consider. Additionally, private lenders and donors assert their restrictions on the provision of resources. No wonder applying for financial aid is such a daunting endeavor. Just understanding what is available and the difference between some of the options is confusing. Student Loans, the article by Craig Yamamoto, helps to clarify the various loan programs available to students and parents.
In thinking about access, we must consider more than just getting the student enrolled in college. Insuring that they have the right classes and student support is critical. Thus, enrollment management leading to individual and collective student success becomes an obligatory responsibility for colleges. In A Common Linkage: How College Affordability and Financial Aid Impact Enrollment Management Efforts in California Community Colleges, Rick Rams illustrates the significance the Financial Aid Office and staff play in the development and implementation of comprehensive enrollment management strategies.
In the aftermath of Katrina, the impact of poverty on our society has been highlighted. In our profession, we know that there is a strong correlation between level of education and level of poverty. Insuring access for low-income families remains a formidable challenge. The marketing campaign “I Can Afford College,” which targeted potential California Community College students, has been very successful in contributing to an increase in Financial Aid applicants and recipients. It is a good model for other states to consider. To that end, I extend a BIG thanks to Crocker/Flanagan for the work they did on this marketing campaign and also for sponsoring this issue of the journal. Lastly, a special thanks to the folks in financial aid for their role in helping to preserve access to higher education on a day-to-day basis because of the work they do in Financial Aid.
On a different note, two of the articles in this issue are related to leadership. It is anticipated that there will be a future shortage of qualified managers to fill all the upcoming vacancies resulting from retirements. In Addressing the Emerging Leadership Gap: The California Community College Leadership Institute Dr. Bob Bell discusses a Leadership Institute that has proved to be quite successful in promoting leadership opportunities among college personnel. And, do not miss reading The Courage to Lead, a personal account of leadership traits recommended by Dr. Dick Robertson.
Lastly, American has a strong tradition of service to the community through volunteering. And, haven’t we seen examples of this lately as we watch the recovery efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi? Service to the community needs to be reinforced and the many emerging programs incorporating Service Learning support these efforts. In the article Community Voice: Community Partners Reflect on Service-Learning, Dr. Birdsall discusses a study of the impact of service learning on the communities and demonstrates that this service is making a difference.
In conclusion, and on a personal note, this is my last issue with the iJournal as editor. I retired several years ago and find that it is time for me to find life outside of work. The iJournal has been a powerful experience for me – forcing improved computer skills and allowing me to stay in contact with my colleagues throughout the state. Dr. Ed Shenk, a long-time leader within the field of student services, has agreed to take over this assignment. He will bring new insight, partnerships, and energy to the journal. Best wishes to you, Ed.
I wish to thank all of you who helped with the journal along the way – writing articles, providing recommendations, and sponsoring issues. And to regions 3 & 4, who applied their matriculation special project resources to the creation and start-up of the iJournal I say, “Wow! Look what you created.” Hasta luego mis amigos y buena suerte.
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