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California Competes

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California Competes is an American nonprofit policy organization seeking to increase access to college and improve college graduation rates.[1] Created in 2011 by civic and business leaders in California, the group has labeled the state's higher education system dysfunctional and called for better coordination and planning for the future needs of the state's economy.[2][3][4] The group's work has included advocating for a more robust statewide education data system and for greater financial supports for parents in college.[5][6][7] Prior research had revealed that lower-income areas of the state were being shortchanged in the support they were receiving for community colleges.[8]

In 2012 California Competes began an effort to make college accreditation documents publicly available if the college receives public funds.[9] A law sponsored by the organization was enacted in 2014, requiring accreditor evaluation reports and decision letters to be posted on the web sites of colleges receiving state financial aid. At the time of passage the major western states accreditors had already responded to the call by posting decision letters and evaluation team reports on their web sites.[10][11]

One of the group's first reports faulted a California Community College regulation for contributing to costly stalemates between campus stakeholders.[2] After the statewide community college chancellor refused to consider a change to the regulation, California Competes filed a lawsuit asking a judge to throw out the rules as inconsistent with the law enacted by the legislature.[12] The lawsuit was not successful.[13]

In 2015, California Competes and other organizations sponsored a campaign to highlight innovative efforts by colleges to improve student success and reduce costs. The effort was fueled by a $50 million grant program sponsored by Governor Jerry Brown.[14]

As part of a college affordability project sponsored by the Lumina Foundation, California Competes created a prototype calculator aimed at helping prospective college students consider not only the potential future earnings from college, but also their own estimation of the enjoyment of college itself and their passion for learning.[15][16]

California Competes is governed by a council that was chaired for the group's first several years by Bob Foster, mayor of Long Beach.[17] The staff are led by executive director Su Jin Gatlin Jez. Her predecessor, Lande Ajose, moved on in 2019 to become higher education advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom.[18] The group's first director, Robert Shireman, left to join the Century Foundation in 2015.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Ashley A. "California's higher education leaders see an opportunity in crisis". EdSource. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  2. ^ a b Blumenstyk, Goldie (June 7, 2012). "'Dysfunctional' Higher-Education Policy Is Called Threat to California Economy". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  3. ^ Keller, Josh (June 21, 2011). "Robert Shireman Helps Start Group to Improve California Colleges". www.chronicle.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  4. ^ "Needs for Higher Education: Shireman Discusses Goals for Degree Attainment". calstate.fullerton.edu. March 8, 2012. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  5. ^ Ajose, Lande; Lempert, Ted (2018-12-21). "Opinion: Data will define 'cradle to career' educational success". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  6. ^ Wood, Sarah (February 3, 2020). "New Report Reveals Financial Barriers for Student Parents in California - Higher Education". Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  7. ^ "COMMENTARY: California needs a better education data system but who will manage it?". EdSource. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  8. ^ Dulaney, Josh (2013-11-19). "California Community Colleges fail to reach poor communities, report says". Press Telegram. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  9. ^ Fain, Paul (February 23, 2012). "California contemplates crackdown on for-profits". www.insidehighered.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  10. ^ "Bill Analysis: Assembly Bill 2247". www.leginfo.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  11. ^ "Bill Text - AB-2247 Postsecondary education: accreditation documents". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  12. ^ Baron, Kathryn (December 13, 2012). "Academic senate influence challenged at community colleges". EdSource. Archived from the original on 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  13. ^ Baron, Kathryn (November 7, 2013). "Judge upholds shared governance at community colleges". EdSource. Archived from the original on 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  14. ^ Coghlan, Ed (2015-03-05). "Innovation in higher education must benefit students". California Forward. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  15. ^ Jacobs, Joanne (2015-03-26). "How much should you pay for a degree?". The Hechinger Report. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  16. ^ Anderson Weathers, Lucia (2014-04-14). "Paper series explores new models of student financial support". Lumina Foundation. Archived from the original on 2015-08-16. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  17. ^ "California Competes Welcomes Julia Lopez to Leadership Council". California Competes. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  18. ^ Gordon, Larry (February 7, 2019). "CA Gov. Newsom's higher ed advisor to tackle access and financial aid issues". EdSource. Archived from the original on 2019-02-08. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  19. ^ Lederman, Doug (July 13, 2015). "Bob Shireman's New Perch to Work on Education Issues | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
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