Sacramento - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) convened a meeting with student leaders from California's Community Colleges on Sunday to discuss the students' perspectives on the education challenges facing California. The meeting was attended by representatives from community colleges throughout California, during the monthly meeting of the California Community Colleges Student Senate.
"I have been very pleased to engage in these frank and informative discussions with student leaders from throughout California," said Speaker John A. Pérez. "Students, like all Californians, are deeply concerned about the state of California's system of higher education, and these discussions are a wonderful way to inform our deliberations as we seek to ensure that our campuses remain the dynamic driver of California's future prosperity."
The meeting was held on Sunday in the State Capitol. Topics for discussion ranged from the need to continue to protect the state's historic Cal Grant program from cuts, ensuring no further increases in enrollment fees, the availability of critical courses, and the need for new revenues to fund Community Colleges, UC and CSU campuses.
"California Community Colleges serve a unique and crucial role in providing the educational gateway between the workforce and jobs which not only improve the lives of those who achieve their educational goals, but also our communities and the economy of our entire state," said Kevin Feliciano, President of the Student Senate of California Community Colleges and a Student Trustee of Ohlone Community College District. "By supporting community colleges we are supporting the continual growth of the population of California as a whole."
The Speaker's meeting with Community College Student Leaders was the latest in a series of meetings with student leaders from throughout California. Last month, the Speaker met separately with student leaders from the California State University and the University of California to discuss higher education and gain their perspective on ways the Legislature can ensure the door to higher education remains open for all Californians.
"We appreciate the integrity of the Office of the Speaker and the Speaker's support of Community College programs such as Cal Grants and Open Educational Resources," said Emily Kinner, who serves as President of California Community College Association of Student Trustees and as a Student Trustee at DeAnza College. Her comments were echoed by Samantha Elliot, a member of the Student Senate from Grossmont College, who said "The Speaker was receptive to all comments and concerns expressed by those present and gave a clear and concise response to each subject broached."
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