California Governor Gavin Newsom signed package of higher education bills.
“What we’ve seen in the budget and the bills that the Governor signed is a real commitment to address students where they are,” said Joey Freeman, chief deputy legislative affairs secretary at the Governor’s Office. “COVID has been an inflection point in terms of workforce needs and what the economy looks like. Now more than ever is the time to make college more affordable, to provide opportunities for people to get the skills they need.”
Advocacy groups and the Governor’s office note the significance of this legislation coming more than a year after the pandemic brought equity gaps to the fore.
“What we know is that a Bachelor’s degree continues to have value for individuals,” said Audrey Dow, senior vice president at the Campaign for College Opportunity, an advocacy and policy research group focused on college access in California. “College is still worth it, and the pandemic once again proved that.”
Dow pointed out that during the height of the pandemic, students with a bachelor’s degree were more likely to stay employed and work from home. They also were more likely to have health insurance.
“In many ways, having a bachelor’s degree saved lives,” said Dow. “Right now, more than ever, we are reminded of how important it is for individuals seeking that degree to be able to get it.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom
According to studies, the vast majority of people who enroll in two-year community colleges in California intend to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Yet less than 4% of community college students transfer in two years, and about 19% transfer in four years. To the Governor’s Office, these numbers underscore a dysfunctional system that has for years been leaving many students out.
