Despite attempts by Legislature to eliminate Calbright College, Newsom advisor indicates support

Lande Ajose, the governor’s senior policy advisor, talks about higher education.

Lande Ajose, the governor’s senior policy advisor, talks about higher education.

Calbright College, the state’s online-only community college, appears to be backed by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office despite attempts by lawmakers to cut funding.

Lande Ajose, Newsom’s senior policy advisor on higher education, said, “We continue to support Calbright, and will continue to do so, despite some criticism.”

There is research showing adult students need access to distance learning and it’s not something they want away from, Ajose said. “So we are very supportive of Calbright and we think it has a lot to offer the state.”

Ajose made the comments Wednesday during a webinar event with the Campaign for College Opportunity discussing the new state budget and the governor’s college priorities.

Calbright is a free, self-determined alternative to traditional colleges designed to serve adults between the ages of 25 and 34 who don’t have a college degree or need additional skills to qualify for higher-paying jobs. The college uses a competency-based educational model where students are assessed based on skills acquired rather than time spent in a class.

But in the second year there is a legislative attempt to cut funding for the college and close it. Assembly Bill 1432, by Assembly Members Evan Low, D-San Jose, and Jose Medina, D-Riverside, was passed unanimously in this Chamber last month. The Senate Education Committee will review the bill on July 14th. A similar attempt was made last year to close college, but Calbright survived thanks to Newsom. One change was the loss of part of its funding. The college initially received $ 100 million in government funding over a seven-year period for startup costs and approximately $ 20 million annually for operating costs. Legislators cut Calbright’s one-time funding to $ 60 million and the ongoing annual $ 15 million.

The legislative attempt is backed by a state exam published in May that beat Calbright’s former leaders for overpaid some of its executives, a lack of strategy for spending government funds, and a lack of student training and ties with employers.

But the exam also gave Calbright time to improve through the end of 2022, and recommended that lawmakers eliminate college if it didn’t show any changes. One significant change was the introduction of new leadership that began last year when Ajita Talwalker Menon, a former college advisor in the Obama administration, became president of the college. It was permanently discontinued in July 2020.

“I think Ajita has done really well with Calbright last year since she was there,” said Ajose. “So we really support each other. I’m not sure if the work she did was really heard because I think people are more likely to think about how Calbright started than to look at what Calbright is now. “

In March, Calbright officials released a strategic plan to launch three new programs this year to increase enrollment to 5,000 students by the end of 2023. The college has received heavy criticism for its low enrollment and graduation rates. According to the audit, a total of 904 people have enrolled in Calbright at any one time. But at least 384 dropped out, and 87 have been inactive for at least 90 days since the college opened to students in October 2019.

Ajose said Calbright is the solution for working adults looking to adjust or change their lives, and it is an alternative to “lost reputable online offerings” such as some for-profit institutions.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Services awarded $ 10 million to the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, SRI Education, and Achieving the Dream to conduct a national research study looking at how Technology can improve students’ ability to manage independent learning. The research program includes nine colleges across the country, including Calbright. SRI Education is a research organization and Achieving the Dream is a not-for-profit organization that uses a network of more than 300 national colleges to conduct educational research.

For more reports like this, click here to sign up for EdSource’s free daily email on the latest in education.

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/despite-attempts-by-legislature-to-eliminate-calbright-college-newsom-advisor-indicates-support/