Greetings!

'Tis the season I love most, as hundreds of thousands of California college graduates put on their cap and gowns while friends and families cheer loudly for all the pomp and circumstance. High school graduates have made decisions about where they will be going to college, and many parents prepare for the angst of sending them off and planning how they will afford it all. This is why the Campaign for College Opportunity is supporting a record number of bills and funding priorities this year to significantly increase the number of spots in the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU), along with legislation that will establish a higher education coordinating body and a state education data system, expand financial aid to cover the full cost of college, and improve transfer.
 
With our partners at Ed Trust—West, we have launched a campaign to protect college opportunity at the CSU, which is under threat from a proposal to raise eligibility requirements for incoming freshman without data proving the change is necessary, without consultation with K-12, and without considering the clear inequities these new requirements would create for Black, Latinx, Native American, and low-income students. You can read more about our advocacy below, and I invite you to join us.
 
For the first time in my 15 years at the Campaign for College Opportunity, I will be taking a short sabbatical starting this Thursday through October 1st. During my leave, Executive Vice President Jessie Ryan and Senior Vice President Audrey Dow will serve as interim co-presidents. For each of you who know them, you know that the Campaign is in very good hands. I am incredibly proud of the many successes we have achieved as an organization—none of these successes would have been possible without the incredible team we have, and in particular, Jessie and Audrey’s leadership. I am grateful for the opportunity to take a short break. As someone who has worked every day since I was 16 years old, I know full well what a blessing it is.
 
During my time away, you will see that our work will continue full speed ahead with critical research, briefings, events, and advocacy. While on sabbatical, college access and success will continue to be top of mind for me as my daughter begins her senior year in high school and starts the college application process while my son gets ready for his sophomore year in college. During our 15th anniversary year , the Campaign will continue to protect and increase college opportunity for all California students. The future of California depends on it.

Hasta Pronto,
Michele Siqueiros, President
Campaign News
Resources for Undocumented Students
Our California: Capitol Conversations
15 th Anniversary Guestbook
NEWS & NOTES
#CSUAcessDenied Campaign
The California State University (CSU) is preparing to unveil a proposal to add a fourth year of math/quantitative reasoning to freshman eligibility requirements. That’s more math/quantitative reasoning than the University of California requires for applicants.
 
The CSU Board of Trustees will hear this proposal at their upcoming meeting on July 23-24th. Already over 50 business, civil rights, community organizations, and K-12 school districts have come together to raise serious concerns and opposition to the proposed change.
 
There is little evidence from the CSU that such a change to eligibility requirements is necessary, and there has been no broad-scale consultation or partnership with California’s K-12 school system regarding the readiness of high schools to deliver on any expansion of the college preparatory curriculum known as A-G. Today, over 60% of Black, Latinx, and Native American California high school graduates are effectively ruled out from applying to CSU because they do not have the opportunity to complete the A-G courses required for admission and adding to the A-G requirements will only further constrain access.
 
As a result of limited capacity, the CSU has been raising the bar on our talented students seeking their rightful spot at a CSU campus by requiring higher GPA’s and higher standardized test scores. This proposal to add another requirement to hard-working, capable students is in direct conflict with the CSU’s open-access mission.
 
You can join the #CSUAccessDenied campaign by signing and sharing the petition, and using the hashtag #CSUAccessDenied on social media. 
Statewide Resources for Undocumented Students
The California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition, facilitated by the Campaign for College Opportunity, created an  Undocumented Student Resources Map, which shares a list of Dream Resource Centers, campus support centers, programs, helpful websites, and undocumented student liaisons at every public college and university in our state. Click on the image below to access this resource.
IN THE STATE CAPITOL
Join us for a critical conversation on how we can establish a strong higher education coordinating body to oversee our institutions, drive student success, close equity gaps, and meet future workforce demand. This briefing is the third in the Blueprint for California Higher Education Capitol Briefing Series, which explores recommendations from our Blueprint for increasing college graduates and keeping our economy strong.
Establishing a Central Coordinating Body in Higher Education

June 26, 2019
1:00 - 2:15 pm
State Capitol Room 444 Sacramento, California
WE'RE HIRING
Our team is growing! The Campaign is looking for a Senior Research Analyst and a Graphic Designer to join our team in Los Angeles.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPPORTERS
"The Campaign has effectively and tirelessly advanced state policies that benefit low-income students and students of color . We are proud to support the key advocacy role it plays in building a vibrant workforce, economy, and democracy in our state."

Monica Lozano, President and CEO of College Futures Foundation
Join Monica and other funders, partners, and friends in leaving a message in our 15 th Anniversary Guestbook. Share with us why you appreciate our efforts and/or how you've contributed to our successes in making college dreams a reality.