Greetings!

2020 brought many challenges, and not enough can be said about the tremendous loss that has been felt across the country and the world.
 
With heavy hearts, we soldiered on, as the pandemic laid bare the need to protect our state’s most vulnerable students and ensure they had the resources and support needed to get to college and continue their education. The need for the Campaign to safeguard college opportunity in our state remains.
 
In early March 2020, we partnered with leading student advocates from across the state to host a virtual press conference, outlining recommendations for urgent action in the areas of learning, basic needs, admissions, graduation, supporting student workers, and supporting undocumented students during the pandemic. That critical conversation inspired us to kick off a virtual speaker series with key leaders in California and in higher education, including:
  • A historic fireside chat with Governor Gavin Newsom, Superintendent Tony Thurmond, Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley, California State University (CSU) Chancellor Joseph Castro, and University of California (UC) President Michael Drake



  • An inspiring session with Women of Color in Higher Education that included Higher Education Advisor to Governor Newsom Lande Ajose, UC Regents Maria Anguiano, Cecilia Estolano and Lark Park, CSU Trustees Lillian Kimbell and Lateefah Simon, and California Community College Governor Pamela Haynes. 
These conversations gave us an opportunity to champion needed student-centered solutions and provided leaders with a platform to share how they will work to strengthen public higher education, increase racial equity, and protect college opportunity amid challenges brought on by the pandemic.  
 
In 2020 we led critical work in support of increased emergency aid for California students, dropping the use of SAT/ACT in college admissions, preventing inequitable admission changes in the California State University, and watching two of our close friends and champions on higher education issues—Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Assemblywoman Shirley Weber—become our next US Senator and California Secretary of State, respectively. We were also proud to release thirteen new publications centered on pressing issues, including racial equity, financial aid, transfer, work-study, and the value of a college degree.
 
Entering 2021 and watching the riots at the Capitol and the attack on our democracy and a fair election fueled by a President who has refused to concede an election he lost by more than seven million votes, has refused a peaceful transfer of power, and whose leadership has further divided our nation has been heartbreaking. It is also an urgent reminder that continued efforts to increase racial equity are sorely needed. Not just because it is the morally right thing to do, but because it is also critical to our ability to recover from the triple threats facing our nation and state: a global health pandemic, an economic recession, and the racism and white supremacy that threaten our collective ability succeed. 
 
The new year brings challenges that will require all of our continued efforts. We thank you for your support. 
Michele Siqueiros
President

Jessie Ryan
Executive Vice President
Audrey Dow
Senior Vice President