What is FACCC?

FACCC is the primary lobbying group specifically for California Community College Faculty. It is our most trusted source for both facts and interpretation of state trends in resource allocation. PCCFA’s participation over the years has included Jane Hallinger a past president of FACCC, Preston Rose, a winner of the FACCC Part Time Faculty of the year award, and Roger Marheine a past FACCC Board member. PCCFA has sponsored several FACCC events over the years. We are especially pleased to feature FACCC’s Executive Director Jonathan Lightman who will address current state budget priorities. Please join us on March 17th at noon in Circadian for what promises to be a very enlightening presentation.

FACCC’s Advocacy and Policy (A&P) Conference in Sacramento (February 28-29, 2016) featured community college faculty from all over California. Many of whom met with their state legislators and senators to lobby for community college priorities.

A&P, FACCC’s signature event and now in its eighth year, was sold out. Approximately 300 faculty attended including PCCFA’s Roger Marheine. Approximately 50 students also attended, and they were joined by representatives from the Chancellor’s Office and Legislative Accounting Office. The A&P combines one day of workshops on the state budget and other topics of interest (e.g. Confidentiality and Mental Health and Homeless students). The second day is devoted to legislative visits (lobbying) in the Capitol. One striking shift this year was a reinvigorated emphasis on student activism (“FACCCtivism”).

Panel: Will the Budget Hit the Target?

1) Gov. Brown had proposed 3% growth but statewide colleges may not hit the target. A more realistic number is 2%. Note that local colleges are down in enrollment: Glendale down 4%, LACCD down 3%, and Santa Barbara down 8%!

2) Since the 2008 economic crash CC enrollment has gone down from 2.8 million to today’s 2.1 million. Where have these students gone? The system cut classes at a time when students needed them most and now has not brought students back. Current costs of living for students may be the primary reason they have not returned to 2008 levels.

Calf CCs comprise the largest system in the country. CA CCs educate three times the number of CSU and UC combined. One if five CC students, nationally, is a CA student.

3) COLA at .47% is woefully low given that CC purchasing power since 2008 has gone down 16%.

4) Consensus on Equity and Basic Skills Initiative funding is that the funds are welcome. However, most districts are not focused on clear utilization of these state resources. Thus a major discussion occurred on the failure of the state to mandate increased PT office hours or more FT counsellors. Districts are holding retreats and workshops but not necessarily utilizing these funds in ways that faculty desire. There needs to be more faculty input, locally, particularly from senates and faculty unions.

5) The November ballot will include a continuation of Prop 30 funding; FACCC strongly encourages passage.

6) The state often has the wrong priority in designating funds as “one-time only” or “ongoing.”

Thus funds for faculty resources are too often one-time only, while building funds are ongoing. Once a building is completed, there is no need to continue funding it.

Panel: Seeing the Future from the Eyes of the Present

1) In 1980 CA’s demographic was 70% white, 30% people of color. Today the numbers are reversed as there 70% people of color and 30% white.

2) In the 1960s CA’ Master Plan was deemed a public good, even a Civil Right.

3) CA CC FT counselors are far too few (El Camino College has a 1 to 1800 ratio).

4) Student Success number crunching has dominated most recent dialogues (SLOs and assessments). Partly due to national educational trends and CA’s own Accreditation crisis, CCs are now too focused on bureaucratic formulas and de-humanized CC education.

Republican Assemblymember Scott Wilk (Santa Clara): “Some of my most teachable moments were in the office (of his professor) talking about the class.”

5) CA CC President of Student Trustees, Ilse Maymes,spoke quite eloquently on the joys of taking a variety of classes that help create the whole person.

6) There is talk of revisiting Proposition 13, the 1978 vote that gutted K-14 funding for now over 35 years. Originally argued to be a way for senior retirees to remain in their homes, it effectively became a windfall tax dodge by large shopping malls and big box stores. A new bill would attempt to protect the homeowner but appropriate funding from the large businesses who need to pay their fair share. Indeed these businesses benefit greatly from an educated workforce.

PCC faculty benefit from FACCC’s excellent research and tireless advocacy. FACCC is a membership organization. You can easily join by going on the FACCC web site or contacting the PCCFA office for more information.