11/02/2024
04/09/2024
04/04/2024
Columbia College has received statewide recognition for meeting two key benchmarks related to equitable opportunity and outcomes for college-bound students.
California’s Campaign for College Opportunity named Columbia College a 2022 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement in Campuswide English Enrollment & Latinx English Enrollment. The award recognizes that Columbia College successfully supported 100% of students, including Latinx students, to enroll directly in transfer-level English coursework. These two accomplishments reflect work the college has done to quickly and successfully implement state policy changes aimed at increasing access and success for students in college-level courses.
Columbia was one of 40 California community colleges to receive honors from the Campaign for College Opportunity last week and will receive its award at the Campaign for College Opportunity’s inaugural ceremony in Los Angeles on May 12. The special event, Excellence in Placement: Honoring Community Colleges Excelling in Equitable Course Placement for Students, will include Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Assembly member Jacqui Irwin and other California Community College honorees.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because it goes to the heart of our mission as a community college,” said Columbia College President Dr. Lena Tran, “and the work we do is so powerful. Our students can come here, get an affordable, high-quality education, and transfer to the best universities in the state. They are at that caliber, and we are proud to remove barriers and support their success.
“We know students who start at a community college and transfer to a four-year CSU or UC reap the benefits of lower costs. Class schedules are flexible for students who are working, and it helps enable a smoother transition to a four-year college. Generally speaking, community college transfer students outperform many of those who enrolled directly from high school and are more likely to graduate.”
Statewide, since the passage of AB 705 (Irwin) in 2017, California Community Colleges have made significant strides in eliminating remedial education courses and ensuring students enroll and succeed in college-level courses. Systemwide, community colleges have doubled the number of students who complete transfer-level math and English courses.
English professor, Rebecca Slate, said, “All new initiatives are met with hesitation and resistance, but once we reviewed the data, it became clear that this new approach outlined by AB 705 is superior to the old model. The English department worked with college faculty and administrators, and it was agreed by all that this was the direction that we needed to move in. The success of our students is proof of everyone's dedication in launching this change.”
Dr. Tran said, “Columbia is able to offer high support for students, and that’s key when embracing a new approach like AB 705. It has made the pathway to transfer much more efficient for so many of our students, and we are able to be nimble and flexible in providing support. Columbia has been on the leading edge of this innovation, and we’re proud of that.”
11600 Columbia College Drive Sonora, CA 95370 | (209) 588-5115 | fax (209) 588-5090 | Colleen Henry Interim Executive Assistant | henryc@yosemite.edu | http://www.gocolumbia.edu
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