California Community Colleges
Funding and Student Success
Outcomes Transition to Student-
centered Funding Formula
I
n 2018, the Offi ce of the Chancellor of California Community
Colleges initiated the Student-centered Funding Formula—a
major reform of the traditional formula based on average daily
attendance.
The new formula supports funding of community colleges, at least
in part, based on how well their students are faring. General appor-
tionments are now established using the following three calculations.
On Saturday, September 7th, Gavilan College hosted a special
Centennial Celebration GALA to kick-off their 100th year of
providing opportunity, learning, teaching, engagement and
partnership within the communities they serve. Over 400
community members from their 2700-square-mile district took
a leisurely stroll down Sycamore Lane into the courtyard and
enjoyed local wines, gourmet food from local restaurants and
the Rebekah Children's Services Kneaded Culinary Academy.
Businesses and individuals supported the college through
sponsorships and silent, live and raffl e item donations. Guests
were entertained by pianist Dahveed Behroozi, Gavilan College
Theater Repertory performers, the Zinfandel Stompers, and the
Beverly Blount String Quartet.
34
• a base allocation, which largely refl ects enrollment;
• a supplemental allocation based on the numbers of students receiv-
ing a College Promise Grant, students receiving a Pell Grant, and
students covered by AB 540;
• a student success allocation based on outcomes that include the
number of students 1) earning associate degrees and credit certifi -
cates; 2) transferring to four-year colleges and universities; 3) who
complete transfer-level math and English within their fi rst year; 4)
who complete nine or more career education units; and 5) have
attained the regional living wage.
This funding reform aligns well with the state community college
system’s Vision for Success and the Guided Pathways initiative. It is
expected to have a sustained impact on closing achievement gaps and
boosting key student success outcomes.
According to Gavilan College President and Superintendent
Kathleen Rose, “For the next several years, seventy percent of our
funding will be enrollment based, twenty percent will be supplemen-
tal based [students who qualify for Promise or Pell Grants], and ten
percent will be based on student success metrics.
“Our community colleges are leaving behind an outdated system
that failed to accurately measure students’ potential and trapped a
disproportionate number of students of color in a quagmire of reme-
dial education sequences.
“We’ve undertaken a major expansion in the Associate Degree for
Transfer initiative that provides seamless pathways toward Bachelor’s
degree programs at four-year universities,” Rose said. Currently, nearly
40 percent of Gavilan students transfer out and are able to apply their
credits.
“We want to give students achievement opportunities along the
way, keep them incentivized, and demonstrate how employability
and economic mobility increase with each milestone. When students
understand all the value of completing in four years, they step up.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
FALL/HOLIDAY 2019
gmhtoday.com