California Community College Leader Urges Funding for Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program After Bill Stalls

Compton College President Dr. Keith Curry is calling on California's top state leaders to include funding for a Black-Serving Institutions grant program in the state budget after legislation establishing the program stalled in the legislature due to fiscal constraints.

Dr. Keith CurryIn a letter sent Wednesday to Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Curry expressed disappointment that Assembly Bill 335, which would have created a $75 million grant program for California's newly designated Black-Serving Institutions, was held in the suspense file on May 23 and will not advance during the current legislative session.

"I was disappointed to see that the budget request for The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program was not included in any of the three budget vehicles," Curry wrote in a letter obtained by Diverse, referencing the Governor's May Revision Proposal and both chambers' budget acts.

The setback represents a significant hurdle for proponents of enhanced support for Black students in California higher education, coming just months after the state made history by becoming the first in the nation to establish a Black-Serving Institution designation through Senate Bill 1348, signed into law by Governor Newsom in September 2024.

Despite the funding challenges, interest in the Black-Serving Institution designation has been robust. According to Curry's letter, as of June 6, the California State University Central Office, which oversees the application process, had received applications from two University of California campuses, three CSU campuses, one private university, and 36 California Community Colleges.

The Black-Serving Institution designation requires institutions to enroll at least 1,500 Black students or maintain a student population that is at least 10% Black, along with demonstrating academic resources and support services specifically designed to promote Black student success.

Assembly Bill 335, authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson, would have established a competitive grant program providing $75 million from the state's general fund. The bill specified that $25 million would be distributed to CSU campuses and $50 million to community college districts. The legislation passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee on March 18 with a vote of 8-2 but was subsequently placed in the suspense file, where bills with significant fiscal impact are often held.