GOOD CALLING THE MEETING TO
ORDER TODAY. UH, THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE.
NUMBER THREE ON EDUCATION
FINANCE. I AM CHAIR SOME MEMBER
DAVID ALVAREZ. AND WE HAVE SOME
MAKE FUN WITH US. UH, THE AGENDA
IS LAID OUT. UH, BEFORE YOU AND
LIKE WE ATTEMPTED TO DO LAST
WEEK, AND IT SEEMED TO WORK
WELL. UH, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AHEAD OF
THE PANELS, WE WILL GIVE YOU
THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE ASK YOU TO
LIMIT YOUR, UH, STATEMENTS TO BE
MORE CONCISE THAN IF YOU WERE TO
SPEAK AFTER THE PANELS. AND IF
YOU SPEAK PRIOR TO THE PANELS,
YOU SPEAK DURING THIS PERIOD.
UH, WE'D ASK YOU TO REFRAIN FROM
SAYING THE SAME THING AGAIN AT
THE END OF THE PANEL. UM SO IF
ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK NOW, THIS
IS AN OPPORTUNITY. GIVE A
SHORTER 32ND MAYBE TESTIMONY ON
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. POINT
ONCE GOING TWICE. ALL RIGHT.
THAT MEANS YOU ALL ARE EXCITED
TO BE HERE IN THREE HOURS AND
THEN SPEAK. WE HAVE ONE ADVOCACY
ON BEHALF OF, UH, NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY, AND, UH, SOUTHWESTER
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. UM
APPRECIATE THE HEARING ON THE,
UH, CAL GRANT PROPOSAL. UM
ENCOURAGE THAT MOVING FORWARD IF
IT CAN'T WE WOULD LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE
EXPANDED ENTITLEMENT FOR, UM UM
AH INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES AND STUDENTS
TRANSFERRING FROM COMMUNITY
COLLEGES TO THOSE THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RIGHT.
THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
CONCISE TESTIMONY WHEN YOU'RE
FIRST UP SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO THEN WE WILL GO ON TO OUR
FIRST PANEL. OUR FIRST ISSUE IS
AN UPDATE ON UH, FAFSA. UM WE
HAVE. SORRY UH, SEVERAL
PANELISTS. UH, I HOPE YOU KNOW
WHO YOU ALL ARE, UH, COME ON
FORWARD. CALIFORNIA CITY
COMMISSION, THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT, èC S¼, U
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE AND
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
LAS I'D ASKED THE STUDENT AID
COMMISSION TO BE THE FIRST TO
SPEAK, AND THEN WE WILL GO DOWN
THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA. UH, WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING THE CURRENT
ISSUES INVOLVING THE FAFSA THE
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL
STUDENT AID. WHICH IS A PRIMARY
FORM OF APPLYING FOR FEDERAL,
STATE AND INSTITUTIONAL
FINANCIAL AID, SO YOU KICK IT
OFF TO THE STUDENT AID
COMMISSION. WELL GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR ALVAREZ. ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
FONG. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY.
I'M JAKE BREBNER. I'M THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR POLICY AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS AT THE CALIFORNIA
STUDENT AID COMMISSION. I
APPRECIATE YOUR STARTING OUR
HEARING THIS MORNING WITH THIS
CRITICAL ISSUE TO CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS. UM, I'M ALSO GRATEFUL
THAT WE'RE JOINED BY MY ESTEEMED
COLLEAGUES ON THE PANEL WHO
COULD TALK ABOUT THE
IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR SYSTEMS
AS WELL. UM I JUST AS A BRIEF
BIT OF BACKGROUND. UH THE FAFSA
SIMPLIFICATION PROCESSES. I
THINK YOUR AGENDA NOTES, UH, WAS
SET IN A MOTION BACK IN 2020
THROUGH FEDERAL ACTION TO BOTH
SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS THROUGH
WHICH STUDENTS APPLY FOR
FINANCIAL AID AND TO MAKE THE
UNDERLYING FINANCIAL AID FORMULA
MORE GENEROUS. UH, IT'S ALSO A
MAJOR TECHNOLOGY EFFORT AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, AND IT'S RESULTED
IN A DELAY TO THE ROLL OUT OF
THAT APPLICATION, AS WELL AS
TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT OUR
STUDENTS ARE STILL EXPERIENCING.
UM SO WE APPRECIATE THE WORK TO
MAKE THIS FORUM SIMPLER. WE KNOW
MANY STUDENTS ARE BENEFITING
FROM THAT ALREADY. HOWEVER I'M
GONNA FOCUS MY COMMENTS HERE ON
THE ISSUES THAT WE KNOW STILL
PERSIST AND OUR IMPEDING MANY
FAMILIES FROM BEING ABLE TO
FULLY APPLY FOR FEDERAL, STATE
AND INSTITUTIONAL AID. THE
PRIMARY ISSUE FROM OUR VIEW AT
THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION, AT THIS POINT ARE
THE COMPLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS
FROM MIXED STATUS FAMILIES.
THESE ARE STUDENTS WITH AT LEAST
ONE PARENT WHO DOES NOT HAVE A
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. AND
THESE STUDENTS ARE U S¼ CITIZENS
. THEY'RE FULLY ENTITLED FOR
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, BUT HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO APPLY. UM UNTIL
VERY RECENTLY, AND THAT STILL
ITSELF HAS COME WITH SIGNIFICANT
COMPLICATIONS. UH, BASED ON 2223
DATA WE IDENTIFIED AS MANY AS
108,000 STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA
WHO HAD APPLIED FOR FINANCIAL
AID AND HAD AT LEAST ONE
PARENTAL CONTRIBUTOR WITHOUT A
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER LISTED.
PEW RESEARCH ESTIMATES SUGGEST
THAT 12% OF OUR Kò THROUGH 12
STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA ARE FROM
MIXED STATUS FAMILIES, SO THIS
IS A REALLY LARGE POPULATION IN
CALIFORNIA. WE'VE BEEN WORKING
VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR SEGMENT
PARTNERS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
AND MANY OTHERS TO, UH, LOOK AT
THE BEST PATH FORWARD TO SERVING
THESE STUDENTS. THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
A FIX FOR THE FAFSA THAT WOULD
ALLOW THESE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE
TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THEIR
APPLICATION WHICH, UNTIL THAT
POINT THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO DO
SO. HOWEVER IN ANNOUNCING THIS
FIX FOR THE FAFSA, THEY
ANNOUNCED ANOTHER TECHNICAL
ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO IMPEDE
THE STUDENT'S ABILITY TO ADD
THEIR PARENTS TO THEIR
APPLICATION AND TO FULLY MOVE
FORWARD AND SUBMIT THAT, UH
FAFSA SO IN ANTICIPATION OF
COMPLICATIONS TO THE FIX. UH WE
AT THE STUDENT AID COMMISSION
HAVE BEEN PREPARING TECHNICAL
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CALIFORNIA
DREAM ACT APPLICATION SO THAT
THESE STUDENTS COULD STILL
SUBMIT THEIR INFORMATION TO èC
S¼, A AND THEIR CAMPUS TO LEARN
ABOUT A STATUS BEFORE KEY
UPCOMING DEADLINES. UH OF COURSE
, WHEN YOU ONLY SUBMIT A STATE
BASED AID APPLICATION, YOU'RE
NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR FEDERAL
AID, WHICH IS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE PELL GRANT, WHICH CAN BE
MORE THAN $7000 FOR A LOW INCOME
STUDENTS AND FEDERAL STUDENT
LOANS THAT HELP PROVIDE MORE
AFFORDABLE LENDING OPPORTUNITIES
THAN WHAT STUDENTS WILL RELY ON
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
THEM. THESE STUDENTS IF WE WERE
TO, UM BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY AND UTILIZE THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT APPLICATION
AS A SHORT TERM MEASURE, UM, WE
WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE STUDENTS LATER ARE ABLE TO
SUBMIT A FAFSA SO THAT THEY CAN
BE CONSIDERED FOR ALL THE AID TO
WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED. THE
OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, AND I
SUSPECT YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT
THIS FROM OUR OUR COLLEAGUES ON
THE PANEL IS THE DELAY IN
TRANSMISSION OF STUDENT RECORDS.
WHAT ARE REFERRED TO AS ISO, AND
THAT IS THE INSTITUTIONAL
STUDENT INFORMATION RECORD.
THESE ARE THE RECORDS THAT A FSA
GENERATES AND ALLOWS FOR STATE
AID AGENCIES AND CAMPUSES TO
UNDERSTAND A STUDENT AND THEIR
FAMILY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION AND
TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THEIR,
UH, FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY.
THE DELAY IN TRANSMISSION OF
THESE RECORDS, OF COURSE NOT
ONLY DELAYS DETERMINATION OF
THEIR ELIGIBILITY BUT ALSO
PROVIDING TO STUDENTS
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR
FINANCIAL AID STATUS THROUGH A
FINANCIAL AID OFFER LETTER. THE
DEPARTMENT, UM, HAS STARTED TO
INCREASE THE VOLUME OF, UM,
RECORDS THAT ARE FLOWING TO
STATE AGENCIES AND CAMPUSES.
HOWEVER WE ARE REALLY JUST STILL
RECEIVING A SMALL FRACTION OF
APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
SUBMITTED THUS FAR, SINCE, UH,
DECEMBER 31ST UNTIL TODAY. UM
AND THIS IS ALREADY MUCH DELAYED
RELATIVE TO THE PACE AT WHICH WE
WOULD TYPICALLY RECEIVE THESE
RECORDS. ADDITIONALLY IT'S STILL
UNCLEAR AT WHAT POINT WE WOULD
RECEIVE RECORDS FOR STUDENTS
WITH PARENTS WITHOUT A SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER, THOSE MIXED
STATUS FAMILIES AND ON TOP OF
THAT MANY STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN
UNABLE TO SUBMIT AN ONLINE
APPLICATION HAD SUBMITTED A
PAPER APPLICATION. THESE RECORDS
. UM THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY
CONVEYED TO US WILL BE PROCESSED
LAST AFTER ALL. OTHER ONLINE
RECORDS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED, SO
WE DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF TIMING
YET FOR WHEN THOSE PAPER
APPLICATIONS WILL BE TRANSMITTED
THROUGH THOSE RECORDS. SO UH,
THIS ALSO HAS AN EFFECT ON OUR
ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND OUR
PROGRESS IN HELPING STUDENTS
APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID. WE
TYPICALLY USE THESE, UH STUDENT
RECORDS AND MATCH THEM WITH
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION DATA TO BE ABLE TO
ESTIMATE HOW MANY STUDENTS AT
EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OR EACH
HIGH SCHOOL HAVE APPLIED FOR
FINANCIAL AID. UH, WE'RE NOT
ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. UM
IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE LAST
YEAR WE'D ACTUALLY ACHIEVED A
HISTORIC HIGH FOR CALIFORNIA. UM
DUE TO OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS
AROUND IMPLEMENTATION OF A B 469
LEGISLATION THAT WAS ADOPTED
BACK IN 2021 TO ENSURE THAT ALL
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION OR OPT
OUT. UM WE SAW HUGE GAINS IN OUR
FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION FOR
THE 2220 THREE ACADEMIC YEAR.
UH, WE LED THE NATION IN GROWTH
IN OUR NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL
SENIORS THAT APPLIED FOR
FINANCIAL AID MORE THAN 24,000.
ADDITIONAL SENIORS HAD APPLIED
FOR AID RELATIVE TO THE PRIOR
YEAR. THAT WAS ABOUT 74% OF THE
ENTIRE GRADUATING CLASS COMPARED
TO 68% IN THE PRIOR YEAR. SO
WE'RE VERY EAGER TO MAINTAIN AND
BUILD ON THAT MOMENTUM. BUT IN
SOME WAYS YOU COULD SAY WE'RE
FLYING BLIND BECAUSE WE HAVE
VERY LIMITED DATA. THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE ATTAINMENT. NET NETWORK
RECEIVES AGGREGATE STATE LEVEL
DATA THAT THEY USE TO, UM DEPICT
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR COMPLETION
RATE BASED ON AGE PROXIES. SO
IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME PROCESS
THAT WE USE AT THE STUDENT AID
COMMISSION TO GIVE YOU MORE
TARGETED INSIGHT IN THE STUDENT
APPLICATIONS, BUT THIS IS THE
BEST WE HAVE TO GO OFF OF SO
FAR. SO UM, THE NUMBERS HERE AS
OF MARCH 8TH. THIS IS A LAGGING
INDICATOR, BUT THE NUMBERS AS OF
MARCH EIGHTH FROM THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK
INDICATED THAT, UH, JUST OVER
170 THREE 1000, CALIFORNIA HIGH
SCHOOL SENIORS HAD COMPLETED A
FAFSA. THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT, UH
31% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN
THE STATE. AND UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT IS NEARLY 40 3% LOWER THAN
WHERE WE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR COMPLETION IN THE PRIOR
YEAR AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW
THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VOLUME
OF APPLICATIONS IS RECEIVED
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE STATE
AID DEADLINE, SO WE HOPE AND
EXPECT TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THE NEXT
COMING WEEKS. AND WE APPRECIATE
THAT. THE ASSEMBLY, THE SENATE
AND THE ADMINISTRATION ARE
COMING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE OUR
STUDENTS WITH MORE TIME TO APPLY
, AND THAT LEGISLATION IS BEING
CONSIDERED IN ORDER TO EXTEND
THE FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE. WE'D
ALREADY EXTENDED IT ONCE FROM
MARCH, 2ND TO APRIL 2ND LAST
YEAR. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
EXTEND THAT ONCE AGAIN FROM
APRIL, 2ND TO A SECOND AND WE
KNOW THAT ADDITIONAL TIME WILL
HELP US CONTINUE EFFORTS TO WORK
WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO
GET THOSE APPLICATIONS IN WE'VE
ALREADY BEEN WORKING TO
DISSEMINATE INFORMATION WIDELY
TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS. UH, SO
THEY UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CHANGES
THAT HAVE COME TO THE FINANCIAL
AID APPLICATION. UM AND WE'RE
DOING THAT THROUGH INCREASED
ONLINE PRESENCE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
DEDICATED WEB PAGE WITH
RESOURCES AND REGULAR UPDATES TO
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS. IN THE
LIMITED TIME THAT WE'VE HAD THUS
FAR, UH, ABOUT THREE MONTHS LESS
TIME THAN WE WOULD HAVE IN A
NORMAL CYCLE. UM WE'VE ALREADY
HOSTED 1000 CASH FOR COLLEGE
WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE STATE. AND
UH, THANK YOU, CHAIR. ALVAREZ I
KNOW YOU HELPED HOST ONE OF
THESE AND SAW FIRSTHAND SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR STUDENTS
ARE EXPERIENCING WHEN THEY TRY
TO NAVIGATE THIS APPLICATION.
UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER 200
SCHEDULED AND WE'RE ALREADY
LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN USE THE
MONTH OF APRIL TO PROVIDE MORE
OF THIS ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE
STATE. UM, WE'VE AL ALREADY
TRAINED OVER, UH OR NEARLY 300
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH OUR
TRAIN THE TRAINER EFFORTS SO
THAT WE COULD HELP, UH, PROVIDE,
UH, THE FIELD WITH RESOURCING TO
SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THIS
PROCESS. UM I'LL END ON A LITTLE
BIT OF GOOD NEWS BECAUSE I KNOW,
UH, THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING WITH
THE FAFSA. THAT'S VERY
CONCERNING, UH, WE HAD OVER THE
PRIOR YEAR, UM, UPDATED THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT APPLICATION
TO ALIGN WITH A NEW FEDERAL AID
METHODOLOGY AS WELL AS ENHANCE
THE USER EXPERIENCE. AND FOR
THIS, I ALSO HAVE TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG FOR
LEGISLATION THAT HELPED US ALSO
EMBED THE A B 540 AFFIDAVIT
WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT
APPLICATION. THIS MODIFIED
APPLICATION WITH THIS NEW
FUNCTIONALITY TO PROVIDE AN A B
540 AFFIDAVIT LAUNCHED ON
DECEMBER 31ST. AND I'M VERY
PLEASED TO REPORT THAT SINCE
THEN IT HAS BEEN USED
CONSISTENTLY BY STUDENTS WITHOUT
ISSUES OR GLITCHES THAT HAVE
BEEN REPORTED TO US AND
CERTAINLY NOT ON THE SCALE OF,
UH THE FAFSA. AND THIS NEW
APPLICATION AS WE CALL IT, THE
BETTER CATA TO GO ALONG WITH THE
BETTER FAFSA. IT UTILIZES A
SIMPLIFIED PARENTAL CONSENT
PROCESS, STREAMLINED LANGUAGE
AND SKIP LOGIC TO PROVIDE A
BETTER USER EXPERIENCE. AND AS I
MENTIONED, IT ALSO PROVIDES THIS
A B 540 AFFIDAVIT TO OUR CAMPUS
PARTNERS IN A WAY THAT IT COULD
NOT PREVIOUSLY UM SO WE'RE
PLEASED THAT, UM, THAT'S BEEN
GOING SMOOTHLY. BUT WE KNOW WE
HAVE, UM, A LOT MORE TO DO TO
HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS APPLY,
PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM OUR
MIXED STATUS FAMILIES AND TO
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE
INFORMATION THEY NEED. TO MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR
ENROLLMENT. SO UH, I'LL END MY
COMMENTS THERE. AND OF COURSE,
HAPPY TO ASSIST WITH ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO THE L Ó HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
SURE GOOD MORNING TO ALVAREZ
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG LISA KING
WITH LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE. IN LIGHT OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES WITH
THE NEW FAA, AS DESCRIBED BY THE
COMMISSION. WE THINK IT'S WORTH
CONSIDERING EXTENDING THE STATE
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
DEADLINE FOR 2024 25. DOING SO
WOULD ALLOW MORE TIME FOR THE
TECHNICAL ISSUES IMPACTING THE
FASTER THIS YEAR TO BE RESOLVED
SO THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE THUS
FAR BEEN UNABLE TO SUBMIT THE
FORM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SO. AS MR BRIMER MENTIONED THE
STUDENTS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED
BY THESE CHANGES, INCLUDING
THOSE IN MIXED STATUS FAMILIES
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL AID.
AND THE FAFSA IS THE ONLY FORM
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO APPLY FOR
THAT AID. WE WOULD NOTE THAT
EXTENDING THE STATE FINANCIAL
AID DEADLINE DOES NEED TO BE
COORDINATE WITH THE SEGMENTS
DEADLINES FOR STUDENTS TO MAKE
ENROLLMENT DECISIONS. IF
STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID LATER
THAN USUAL THIS SPRING, THEY
WILL ALSO RECEIVE THEIR
FINANCIAL AID OFFER LETTERS
LATER THAN USUAL, AND WE'D
LIKELY WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY
STILL HAVE TIME TO REVIEW THOSE
OFFERS AND TAKE THEM INTO
CONSIDERATION BEFORE THEY NEED
TO COMMIT TO ENROLLING AT ANY
GIVEN CAMPUS. THANK YOU. HAPPY
TO TAKE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. GOOD
MORNING CHAIR ALVAREZ AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG I'M AM AND
SING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. THE BUDGET ASSUMES
TOTAL FINANCIAL AID EXPENDITURES
OF THREE POINT THREE BILLION
DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET YEAR,
WHICH IS INTENDED TO REACH
NEARLY 700,000 STUDENTS IN
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE.
HOWEVER STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT A
FAFSA TO GAIN ACCESS TO THIS
AID. THE ADMINISTRATION COMMITS
TO WORKING WITH CSA POLICY
MAKERS AND OUR EDUCATION
PARTNERS AND NAVIGATING THIS
CHALLENGE AND TO ENSURING THAT
QUALIFIED STUDENTS RECEIVE THE
FINANCIAL AID AWARDS THAT
THEY'RE ENTITLED TO. UM AND SO
FAR AS A DEADLINE EXTENSION IS
DEEMED, UM THE APPROPRIATE
MEASURE, THE ADMINISTRATION
WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
THANK YOU. WE WILL GO WITH THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. CHAIR
ALVAREZ AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG
UM THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE PERSPECTIVES FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. UM AND
, UH WHAT WOULD BEST SERVE OUR
STUDENTS? I'M SEAN BRICK,
ASSOCIATE VICE PROVOST FOR
STUDENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO
START BY THANKING THE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE
SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE SHOWN FOR
CALIFORNIA STUDENTS. THE LAST
FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY
CHALLENGING FOR OUR STUDENTS IN
MANY WAYS, BUT THE INVESTMENTS
THAT THE STATE HAS MADE IN
EXPANDING CAL GRANTS TO THE CAL,
UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM AND THE
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
, UH, AND THE MANY OTHER NEW
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
REALLY TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR
OUR STUDENTS. SO ON BEHALF OF
PRESIDENT DRAKE AND OUR
STUDENTS, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
UH AS YOU ALREADY HEARD, THE
FAFSA DELAY HAS IS PRESENT
PRESENTING ENORMOUS CHALLENGES,
AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN
THE MOST DISRUPTIVE. UH, EVENT
IN MY 25 YEAR CAREER IN IN
FINANCIAL AID, SO IT'S VERY
SIGNIFICANT. UM IT DESPERATELY
NEEDED TO BE UPDATED, BUT, UM,
IT'S REALLY SLOWED DOWN OUR
ABILITY TO SERVE STUDENTS AND IT
IT'S ADDED A LOT OF STRESS AND
ANXIETY FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND
ESPECIALLY AS YOU'VE HEARD
ALREADY TO OUR MIXED STATUS
FAMILIES, WHICH WE THINK AT U
èC WE HAVE ABOUT 11,000. UM
FORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF GOOD NEWS. AS YOU HEARD
FROM JAKE. THE TRICKLE OF, UH,
FAFSA DATA HAS EXPANDED. UM THE
LATEST I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM
OUR CAMPUSES. UH IT'S ONLY ABOUT
5% OF WHAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY
RECEIVE. BUT THE RATE OF
INCREASE HAS GONE UP
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS. SO UM, SOME GLIMMER OF
HOPE THERE. UM WE DO. UM WE ALSO
, UM, HEARD ABOUT THE FIX LAST
WEEK FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
EDUCATION FOR THE MIXED STATUS
STUDENTS. UH WHICH, UH, WHAT WE
HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT WAS
THAT, UH, THE PROCESS THE
TURNAROUND TIME FOR THE
VALIDATION FOR THOSE FAMILIES
WOULD BE ABOUT A WEEK. WE'LL
HAVE TO SEE IF THAT, UM, HOLDS
UP. UM BUT THAT'S UH WHAT WE
WERE TOLD LAST WEEK FROM THE
DEPARTMENT. UH, WE ARE PLANNING
TO ISSUE FINANCIAL AID OFFERS AS
SOON AS WE CAN WHEN WE GET THE
DATA, SO WE'RE EXPECTING
PROBABLY MID APRIL. WE WOULD
RELEASE UH, FINANCIAL AID OFFERS
. THAT'S A MONTH LATER THAN
USUAL. UM AND WE ARE, UM BUT IT
SHOULD STILL GIVE STUDENTS TIME.
UH, ABOUT A MONTH TO COMPLETE.
COMPARE THEIR FINANCIAL AID
OFFERS, UH, BEFORE WE'RE ASKING
THEM TO ACCEPT THEIR OFFER OF
ADMISSION BY MAY 15TH. IF ANY OF
THESE TIMELINES SLIP, WE WILL
REVISIT THE MAY 15TH. DEADLINE.
UH, FOR NOW, I THINK THE TWO
THINGS THAT, UM YOU KNOW THAT
THE LEGISLATURE CAN HELP US
WITH, UH, IS THE SHIFT IN THE
CAL GRANT AND MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE. WE'RE VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE SHIFT TO THE
MAY 2ND, UH, DEADLINE AND
SUPPORT ANY ADVOCACY EFFORTS WE
HAVE IN IN WASHINGTON, Dð èC.
IF THE STATE MOVES THE CAL GRANT
APRIL 2ND AND LANG TO MAY 2ND.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY FOLLOW SUIT
WITH OUR OWN INSTITUTIONAL AID
DEADLINES. UM, DESPITE THE
CHALLENGES WE DO STAND PREPARED
TO HELP OUR CALIFORNIA STUDENTS
WE'VE BEEN OUR CAMPUSES HAVE
BEEN, UH, HAVING WORKSHOPS LIKE
THE COMMISSION AS WELL AND SO
THE ONE. THIS IS UH, IN ONE
OTHER SLICE OF GOOD NEWS IS WE
HAVE HEARD THAT THE STUDENTS WHO
DON'T HAVE COMPLICATED UM
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE COMPLETING THE
FAFSA FASTER THAN USUAL ABOUT 10
MINUTES. UH, ONCE THEY SIT DOWN
AND ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE IT NOT
TO MIN MINIMIZE THE CHALLENGES
THAT ARE MIXED STATUS FAMILIES
ARE ARE FACING. UH SO I'LL I'LL
STOP THERE. THANK YOU FOR THANK
YOU. èC S¼ U. COUNCIL'S OFFICE.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR ALVAREZ, AN
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FONG, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS
YOU TODAY AND PROVIDE INSIGHTS
ON THIS CRUCIAL MATTER OF
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MORE
THAN 450,000 èC S¼ U STUDENTS.
MY NAME IS APRIL GROM. I'M THE
ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
AT THE èC S¼ U CHANCELLOR'S
OFFICE. THIS CURRENT YEAR HAS
PRESENTED MANY CHALLENGES FOR
OUR STUDENTS. THE DELAY IN
PROCESSING FAFSA APPLICATIONS
CONTINUES TO BE OF NOTABLE
CONCERN, PARTICULARLY REGARDING
THE ISSUE OF FINANCIAL AID
OFFERS FOR NEWLY ADMITTED AND
TRANSFER STUDENTS THAT WILL BE
SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED.
ADDITIONALLY WE ARE REMAINING
DEEPLY ATTENTIVE TO THE
CHALLENGES FACED BY MIXED STATUS
. FAMILIES WHO ARE REALLY
HINDERED IN COMPLETING THE FAFSA
. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE RECENT
UPDATES AND THE CONTINUED FIXES
MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION WILL ALLOW STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES TO FINALLY SUBMIT
THEIR FAFSA. THE èC S¼ U IS IN
COMPLETE SUPPORT OF EXTENDING
THE STATE FINANCIAL AID DE
DEADLINE TO MAY 2ND. WE WOULD
ALSO EXTEND OUR INSTITUTIONAL
DEADLINE TO MEET THAT DATE AS
WELL AS WORK WITH OUR CAMPUSES
AND COLLEAGUES TO EXTEND INTENT
TO ENROLL DEADLINES FURTHER IF
IT IS NECESSARY. IN CLOSING. I
JUST WISH TO AFFIRM OUR
STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO
SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA STUDENTS
AND NAVIGATING THESE CHALLENGING
TIMES LIKE THE U èC R
COLLEAGUES AND FINANCIAL AID AT
ALL. 23 CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN OUT
DOING FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS,
SUPPORTING THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO TRY AND HELP
STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THESE CRITICAL MATTERS AND YOU
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR FINANCIAL
AID FOR CALIFORNIA STUDENTS, AND
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHANCELLOR'S
OFFICE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
GINA BROWN, ASSISTANT VICE
CHANCELLOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES CHANCELLOR'S
OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TO YOU AND SHARE THE
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE IN THE 1.9,
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS REGARDING FINANCIAL
AID. I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED TO YOU WHAT
THE CHALLENGES ARE WITH THE
FAFSA DELAYS AND THOSE THOSE
CHALLENGES DO IMPACT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS AS WELL. WE
KNOW THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS ALSO ARE REVIEWING
THEIR AWARD LETTER OFFERS. THEY
ARE ALSO MAKING DECISIONS AS TO
WHICH COLLEGE TO ATTEND, BASED
ON FINANCIAL AID. SO IN THAT
REGARD, WE DO SUPPORT EXTENDING
THE CAL GRANT DEADLINE TO MAY
2ND BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE VAST
MAJORITY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS HAVE A CAL GRANT
DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 2ND ANY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT
TRANSFERRING TO A U èC OR èC,
S¼ U OR EVEN A PRIVATE COLLEGE.
THAT DEADLINE DOES REMAIN THE
APRIL 2ND AS IT STANDS. AS WITH
THE OTHER SEGMENTS, OUR COLLEGES
ARE PREPARED TO CONTINUE
ASSISTING STUDENTS WITH
COMPLETING THEIR FAFSA
APPLICATIONS. THEY, THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HOST
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASH FOR
COLLEGE WORKSHOPS. COMMUNITY
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES
ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST STUDENTS
. HOWEVER I HAVE HEARD JUST
YESTERDAY THAT THE FIX FOR FAFSA
IS INTERMITTENT AT BEST. AND
SOME STUDENTS WITH MIXED STATUS
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
COMPLETE JUST THIS WEEK. SOME
HAVE NOT SO AGAIN. THAT'S JUST
ANOTHER DOUBLE DOWN ON WHY IT IS
SO IMPORTANT TO EXTEND THAT CAL
GRANT DEADLINE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR PRESENTATIONS. UH, MR FANG,
DO YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR
THE PANEL? YES THANK YOU SO MUCH
, MR CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO ALL OUR PANELISTS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPDATES
AND YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN A VERY
CHALLENGING TIME AND SIMILAR TO
CH ALS. I ALSO WAS VERY HONORED
TO HOST A CASPER COLLEGE
WORKSHOP IN MY DISTRICT DID AT
OUR KY HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAD A
NUMBER OF PARENTS THERE AND
SIMILAR TO OUR VERSUS COMMENTS
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND THE NUMBER OF THE PARENTS
AND THE STUDENTS WERE
EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES. SO
WE'VE HEARD THAT U Dð Ó A IS
WORKING ON SOME OF THESE FIXES.
BUT THERE'S ALSO INTERMITTENT
CHALLENGES. THERE'S NOT. WE'RE
GETTING DATA THAT SAYS YES, IT
MAY BE WORKING BETTER. YES. OR
MAYBE IT'S NOT WORKING BETTER.
REALLY REALLY WANT TO GET A
SENSE, AS I KNOW SOME OF THE
SEGMENTS TOUCH UPON THIS AS
WELL. BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM
ADVOCATES ASKING FOR AN MISSION.
ACCEPTANCE UH, DEADLINE
EXTENSION. IS THAT SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE AND WHAT
WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES IF WE
WERE TO EXTEND THE ADMISSIONS
DEADLINE? SO BOTH, UM THE U èC
AND THE èC S¼ U HAS EXTENDED
THE DEADLINE FROM MAY 1ST TO MAY
15TH. SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES HAVE
ALREADY EXTENDED TO JUNE 1ST. SO
AS WE MOVE TOWARDS FINANCIAL AID
DEADLINES. WE WILL DEFINITELY
SHIFT IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU.
AND UH, SAME THING, UH, IN TERMS
OF BEING, UH, WILLING AND ABLE
TO SHIFT IF NECESSARY. THE
DOWNSIDES TO SHIFTING ARE THAT
IT CREATES A MORE COMPRESSED,
STRESSFUL SUMMER FOR STUDENTS
WITH ORIENTATION WITH HOUSING
SELECTION. SO THE REASON THAT
WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF WE NEED
TO IS, IS THOSE SORT OF
DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS ON STUDENTS
AND PARENTS. THANK YOU. SO THE
OPTION BEYOND MAY. 15TH IS JUNE
1ST. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD FROM
THE èC S¼ A AND U èC. YES, OK.
THANK YOU. AND IT IS TO YOU, THE
CALIFORNIA STUDENT COMMISSION
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP
THE CONTINGENCY PLAN TO USE A
CAT TO THE CALIFORNIA TREE, MAC.
APPLICATION FORM, POSSIBLY IN
LIEU OF THE FAFSA. AND I KNOW
YOU TOUCHED UPON IT. BUT OUR THE
SEGMENTS PREPARED TO CARRY THAT
OUT. WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO
CARRY THAT OUT. IF THAT'S UM
WHAT THE STATE DID WE DO THINK
IT SHOULD BE TREATED AS A LAST
RESORT. UM, BECAUSE WHAT YOU
WOULD BE DOING IS EITHER ASKING
THESE FAMILIES TO FILL OUT TWO
FORMS A CæA TO NOW AND A FAFSA
LATER OR FOREGO ACCESS TO
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, AND THAT
HAS US VERY CONCERNED AT AT
ALONE. THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $60
MILLION. AND UM, THAT WOULD AND
WE WON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
BACKFILL FOR THAT, SO THAT WOULD
BE A BIG BURDEN ON THE ON THE
STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS. IN
ADDITION TO ANY, UM DIRECT LOANS
THAT THEY WANT ACCESS TO BUT IF
THE STATE DID OPEN IT UP, WE
WOULD WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
PROCESS THANK YOU. I'LL JUST ADD
A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. THE FIRST
THING IS THAT ONCE THAT HAPPENED
, WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE
TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR
SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT
THAT NEW INFORMATION. SO IT
WOULDN'T BE AN IMMEDIATE THING
THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE IN
. AND UH TO THE S¼ COMMENTS. WE
ESTIMATE THAT IF WE DID HAVE
STUDENTS THAT FOREGO FEDERAL AID
THAT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 100
AND $50 MILLION TO A èC TO THE
èC S¼ U, AND WE DO NOT HAVE
FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO BACKFILL
THAT. FEDERAL AID THAT WOULD BE
MISSING FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
THANK YOU. AND MY FINAL COMMENT
JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
AND EFFORTS BEING DONE HERE. I
KNOW WE HEARD STATS ABOUT 31% OF
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE
COMPLETED THE FSA, AND THAT'S 40
3% LOWER THAN LAST YEAR, SO I
THINK THAT ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS
A STATE AS A SYSTEM AS HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND èC
S¼ A AND EVERYBODY CONTINUE TO
PUSH THE WORD OUT TO REALLY MAKE
SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES OF FAFSA AS THEY
CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS
AS TO WHETHER HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTION THEY WANT TO GO TO.
I THINK IT'S A VERY CRITICAL
TIME AND, UH, WITH YOUR CITY'S
HEARING WITH TODAY'S HEARING,
AND WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS GOING FORWARD ON A B
88 1887, BUT JUST EVERYTHING AS
A STATE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
AMPLIFY THIS AND THE URGENCY OF
THIS GOING FORWARD. I KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE A PARTNER IN THE
LEGISLATURE THAT CAN REALLY AN
ASSEMBLY TO REALLY PUSH HARD ON
THIS ISSUE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
CHAIR ALBERS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS, I. I
WON'T ADD MUCH MORE, UM I THINK
WHAT? WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST
IS WHATEVER HAPPENS, AND IF THE
DATA DEMONSTRATES THAT WE HAVE
LESS STUDENTS. UM, WHO HAVE A,
UM SITUATION WITH A PARENT
WITHOUT A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
THAT THAT DROPS FROM, UH Tð S¼
REPORTS IS THERE WAS 100 AND
8000. 108,000 APPLICANTS LAST
YEAR IN CALIFORNIA. IF THAT
NUMBER AND WE ALSO MUST
REMEMBER. THOSE WHO APPLIED LAST
YEAR AND WHO ARE STILL STUDENTS
HAVE TO APPLY AGAIN. AND SO IF
THIS NUMBER DROPS IN ANY
SIGNIFICANT WAY, UM, I THINK WE
HAVE TO STRONGLY CONSIDER UH,
TAKING MORE ACTION. UH, WHAT
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, REMAINS TO BE
SEEN, BUT, UH, I WOULD BE
CONCERNED THAT THESE APPLICANTS
FROM THESE TYPES OF FAMILIES
WOULD THEN UM NOT HAVE THE
ACCESS TO ANY OF OUR SEGMENTS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION. SO I GUESS THE
QUESTION IS TO MAINLY TO SEE. SO
HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRACK WHAT
HAPPENS? UM YOU KNOW, POST POST
MORTEM AFTER AFTER THIS, UH,
SCHOOL YEAR. UH, REALLY
APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. CHAIR
ALVAREZ. WE ARE EAGERLY AWAITING
, UH, CATCHING UP ON THE RECEIPT
OF THOSE, UH, ERS THE STUDENT
RECORDS SO THAT WE CAN DO A MORE
NUANCED EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
OF WHERE WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT
DECREASES IN APPLICATIONS NOT
ONLY FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
, BUT TO YOUR POINT, WE KNOW
THAT, UM, RENEWING FINANCIAL AID
STATUS AND KNOWING WHAT AMOUNT
OF SUPPORT STUDENTS HAVE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT
PERSISTING AND COMING BACK IN
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, MAKING THOSE
HOUSING DECISIONS IS MAJOR
FACTOR FOR OUR NEWLY ADMITTED
STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR RETURNING
STUDENTS. SO WE'RE EAGER TO GET
THAT DATA SO THAT WE CAN, UM,
RUN THAT ANALYSIS AND LOOK TO
SEE WHERE WE'VE SEEN DECREASES.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL REBOUND FROM
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND UM,
IN THAT SAME SPIRIT OF FORWARD
LOOKING AND PARTICULARLY WITH
ATTENTIVENESS TO THIS STUDENT
POPULATION THAT WE KNOW HAS BEEN
MOST IMPACTED BY THE ROLL OUT OF
THIS NEW APPLICATION. I WANT TO
JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN
ONE OTHER DIFFERENCE IN THE
BETTER FAFSA. RELATIVE TO THE
PRIOR YEARS. IT REQUIRES THAT
THOSE PARENTS WITHOUT A SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER PROVIDE MUCH
MORE INFORMATION THAT'S
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE TO A
FEDERAL AGENCY. UM, THESE ARE
DOCUMENTS LIKE PASSPORTS,
DRIVER'S LICENSE, ETCETERA. IN
YEARS PAST, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE
TO, UM PROVIDE THEIR FINANCIAL
INFORMATION AND ESSENTIALLY LIST
ZEROS FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER. AS WE LOOK TO NEXT
YEAR'S CYCLE, AND AS MUCH AS
WE'RE ALL REALLY FOCUSED ON
TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS REBOUND
FROM THIS YEAR, WE ARE STARTING
TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE ON
THIS FOR NEXT YEAR. UM WE CAN
IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL
CHANGES IN THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT MAY
CREATE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S
EVEN MORE DAUNTING AND
INTIMIDATING FOR THESE FAMILIES
TO SHARE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMATION WITH THE FEDERAL
AGENCY AND WITH THE CREDIT
BUREAU, SO I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT THERE'S ENOUGH TO GRAPPLE
WITH HERE FOR THIS, UM,
FINANCIAL AID CYCLE, BUT UM,
OCTOBER 1 AND NOVEMBER WILL BE
HERE VERY QUICKLY AS WE THINK TO
HOW WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO THESE MANY FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA. OUTSIDE OF THE
FINANCIAL AID. RESOURCE FAIRS
THAT EVERYBODY IS PARTICIPATING
IN. DO HAVE WE ESTABLISHED A
ANYTHING LIKE A HOTLINE NUMBER
FOR CALIFORNIA'S THROUGH THROUGH
èC S¼ A. I KNOW WHEN WE WERE
DOING OUR EVENT, UM IT WAS
REALLY CHALLENGING TO YOU CAN'T
GET THROUGH THE FEDERAL NUMBER.
UM, THE SYSTEM SEEMED TO UH,
FREEZE UP ON YOU. AND SO PEOPLE
WERE SITTING AND WAITING FOR A
LONG TIME. UH, IS THERE IS THERE
A WAY THAT WE CAN TRY TO
FACILITATE MORE SUPPORT THROUGH
A CALIFORNIA ONLY UH, LINE,
EITHER SEA SACK OR AT ANY OF THE
SEGMENTS TO GET PEOPLE ACCESS.
IF YOU WERE A STUDENT WHO'S
LOOKING TO GO TO A. YOU SEE A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR A CSU,
PARTICULARLY HELPING THOSE
STUDENTS GET THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT
POINT. WE DO HAVE, UM, A CALL
CENTER THAT WE OPERATE FOR
CALIFORNIA FINANCIAL AID
PROGRAMS AND WHERE WE OFTEN ARE
GETTING QUESTIONS THAT ARE ABOUT
THE FAFSA AS WELL. SO THAT
NUMBER IS OUT THERE. STUDENTS
CAN CONTACT US DURING REGULAR
BUSINESS HOURS, UH, WITH THEIR
QUESTIONS. WE OF COURSE, PROVIDE
THESE ONLINE WORKSHOPS AS WELL.
PART OF THE CHALLENGE AND WHERE
I THINK THERE WAS SUCH
SIGNIFICANT WAIT TIMES THAT THE
FEDERAL STUDENT AID INFORMATION
CENTER, AND THEIR CALL CENTER
OPERATION IS THAT THESE STUDENTS
WHO WERE UNABLE TO GET THEIR
CONTRIBUTORS MATCHED WITH A WITH
IR S¼ DATA WE'RE BEING REQUIRED
TO CALL THE UM, FEDERAL STUDENT
AID LINE TO GENERATE A CASE
NUMBER SO THAT THEY CAN TURN IN
THOSE IDENTITY DOCUMENTS TO
VERIFY WHO THE CONTRIBUTOR WAS
ON THEIR APPLICATION. UM, THAT'S
UNFORTUNATELY NOT A FUNCTION
THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AT THE
STUDENT AID COMMISSION WERE
LIMITED IN HOW MUCH WE COULD DO
TO ASSIST THE STUDENT WITH THEIR
, UH, QUESTION ABOUT THEIR FAFSA
RECORD, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE
NOT EVEN IN RECEIPT OF ANY DATA
ABOUT THE FS. WE GET OURSELVES
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
PROVIDE AS MANY RESOURCES
DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES AS WE CAN. AND THERE
ARE SOME QUESTIONS WHERE WE KNOW
THE STUDENTS WILL NEED TO GO TO
FEDERAL STUDENT AID TO RESOLVE
THEM. SO UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT THE
RESOURCES THAT WE CAN BUT ARE
ARE SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO HELP.
WHERE WE KNOW THEY'RE REACHING
THAT, UM, BARRIER IN THE PROCESS
. MY LAST QUESTION IS ON THE
TRENDS. AND YOU YOU'VE TALKED
ABOUT IT ALREADY. BUT, UM I ALSO
HEARD A MENTION OF IT'S USUALLY
IN THE VERY LAST. I DON'T KNOW,
PERIOD. WHAT? WHATEVER THAT'S
DEFINED AS WHERE YOU GET A HUGE
UM, SURGE OF APPLICATIONS. WHAT
IS A TYPICAL SURGE IN THE LAST
EITHER WEEK OR WHATEVER, YOU
DEFINE IT AS COLLECTIVELY. UM I
THERE PROBABLY ISN'T A SPECIFIC
DEFINITION. BUT CAN YOU GIVE US
A SENSE OF WHAT THAT IS? SO MR
CHAIR? WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT,
UM IN TYPICAL YEARS, OUR
DEADLINE IS MARCH SECOND. AND
THE TWO HIGHEST SUBMISSION DATES
FOR STUDENTS ARE MARCH ONE, AND
IN A NON LEAP YEAR, IT'D BE
FEBRUARY 28TH. SO UM, I DON'T
HAVE THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS ON
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF APPLICATIONS
WE RECEIVE ON THOSE TWO DATES.
THOSE ARE THE TWO MOST
SIGNIFICANT APPLICATION DATES WE
HAVE SEEN, UM, PRETTY STEADY
GROWTH FOR CALIFORNIA OVER THE
MONTH OF MARCH AS WE'VE BEEN
RECEIVING THAT WEEKLY UPDATE
FROM THE NATIONAL COLLEGE
ATTAINMENT NETWORK. AND UM, YOU
KNOW, CANDIDLY, I. I GUESS MY
HOPE IS WE HAVE WE MAY HAVE TWO
DEADLINES. WE MAY BE WORKING
RIGHT NOW, WITH THE ASSUMPTION
THAT WE HAVE AN APRIL 2ND
DEADLINE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A
MAY 2ND DEADLINE. HOPEFULLY THAT
MEANS WE WILL BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE THE URGENCY AND THE
MOMENTUM AND HELPING STUDENTS
APPLY NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THE
REST OF THIS PERIOD, BUT ONE OR
IF WE SHOULD GET THAT MONTH OF
APRIL TO USE THAT WITH A SIMILAR
LEVEL OF, UM SO WHEN YOU SAY,
UH, SIGNIFICANT ON MARCH FIRST
AND MARCH MARCH SECOND OR THE
DAYS BEFORE MARCH, 2ND IS THAT
LIKE MORE THAN HALF OF THE
APPLICANTS? I DON'T WOULDN'T SAY
IT'S MORE THAN HALF BUT I CAN
CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
WITH A BREAKDOWN ON A PERCENTAGE
ON, UM BY MONTH AND BY SPECIFIC
CALENDAR DATE. YOU'VE REPORTED
THE UH UH, MULTIPLE FOLKS WHO
REPORTED OR MAYBE THE èC SE,
SPECIFICALLY THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK
NUMBERS, WHICH FOR MARCH EIGHTH
UM, ARE 40% LOWER ARE YOU? IS
THAT ARE YOU TRACKING THAT AS TO
LIKE Tð MINUS X NUMBER OF DAYS
OR LIKE, AT WHICH POINT ARE YOU
COMPARING THAT TO THE YES. SO
WE'VE LOOKED, UM, IN THAT WAY IN
TERMS OF Tð MINUS X DAYS UNTIL
THE DEADLINE WHAT THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE ATTAINMENT. NETWORK
SHARES IS BASED ON WHERE WE WERE
IN, UH, MARCH AT THIS SAME TIME
LAST YEAR, SO IT'S A ONE FOR ONE
WITH THE DATE. UM WHICH UH, LAST
YEAR WE HAD A MARCH SECOND
DEADLINE, SO WE WOULD HAVE
ALREADY RECEIVED THAT SURGE OF
APPLICATIONS. SO WE DO HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF STILL A COUPLE MORE
WEEKS OF DATA TO COME IN. THAT
WILL HELP US GET CLOSER TO WHERE
WE WERE WITH THAT DEADLINE, BUT
WE KNOW WE'RE STILL UM REALLY
LOOKING TO DRIVE UP THAT RATE
FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW. OK, THANK
YOU. I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
WHAT THE DATA SHOWS AND WHAT
OTHER ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE. UM,
PERHAPS NEXT YEAR TO SUPPORT
SPECIFICALLY THESE STUDENTS, SO
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, UH,
PRESENTATIONS AND FOR ANSWERING
OUR QUESTIONS. WE WERE MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A
èC GRANT UPDATE AND CAL GRANT
REFORM DISCUSSION. UH, WHILE WE
JUST RECEIVED AN OVERVIEW OF
FAFSA, I WANTED TO REMIND, UH
EVERYBODY THAT THE FOCUS OF THE
HEARING IS ON ISSUES IMPACTING
STUDENTS, PRIMARILY AS WE REMAIN
STUDENT CENTERED AS WE DID WHEN
WE FIRST STARTED THIS COMMITTEE
HEARING WITH STUDENTS, UH AND
THEIR TESTIMONY. SO WE WALK. UH,
DIRECT. WE WALK THROUGH THE
ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT
STUDENTS, UH, ON THEIR CAMPUSES,
AND THAT ACCOUNT FOR A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STATE
FUNDING AS AN EXAMPLE 3.4
BILLION IN SU A COMMISSION WHICH
, UH, OF THAT 2.5 BILLION GOES
TO CAL GRANT. THE STATE IS GOING
TO SUPPORT ABOUT 2.2 BILLION IN
BOND FUNDS TO BUILD MORE STUDENT
HOUSING. AND THEN WE HAVE THE
THREE SEGMENTS, UH, WITH 100 AND
16 MILLION EVERY YEAR TO SUPPORT
BASIC NEEDS AND RAPID REHOUSING
PROGRAMS. UM HOWEVER, WE ALL
KNOW THE REALITIES OF THIS YEAR
WITH OUR BUDGET AND THERE ARE
MANY THINGS WE WILL TALK ABOUT
TODAY AS WE HAVE BEFORE, AND
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO. BUT I
THINK, UH, WE ALL SUPPORT AND
BELIEVE IN BUT WILL BE MUCH MORE
CHALLENGING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS
YEAR DUE TO OUR BUDGET SHORTFALL
. WE WILL HAVE TO THINK
CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT
ALL THESE COMMON GOALS DURING
THIS PERIOD WHERE MONEY WILL NOT
BE AS EASY TO COME BY, AS IT HAS
BEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. THE CAL GRAM PROGRAM IS
ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS
CALIFORNIA OFFERS PROVIDING
FINANCIAL AID TO MORE THAN
400,000. CALIFORNIA STUDENTS.
BUT WE KNOW AFTER YEARS OF
REVIEW THAT THE PROGRAM IS
INEQUITABLE, IT'S TOO
COMPLICATED. IT SHUTS OUT TOO
MANY DESERVING STUDENTS DUE TO
OUT OF DATE BARRIERS THAT MUST
BE UPDATED. THE LEGISLATURE
ADDRESSED THIS WITH CAL GRANT
EQUITY FRAMEWORK OR èC, A GRANT
REFORM AS IT'S KNOWN BACK IN
2002. UH, BUT THAT AGREEMENT
LEFT THE FUNDING DECISION TO
THIS YEAR. 2024. SO WE MUST TALK
ABOUT THAT TODAY. A STUDENT AID
COMMISSION IS GOING TO WALK US
THROUGH A NEW ESTIMATES AND
CHANGES TO THE NEW PROGRAM. WHAT
THE CHANGES WOULD MEAN. Kò
REFORM WILL SIMPLIFY THE PROGRAM
INTO THE TWO PARTS. CAL GRAN TWO
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CAL GRAPH
FOUR FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
AND UH, ESTIMATES HAVE SAID THAT
ABOUT 100 AND 37,000 NEW
RECIPIENTS, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE. AND BARRIERS FOR
STUDENTS IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
CO REFORM IS IN STATUTE AND WE
KNOW WILL HAPPEN. BUT WE ARE IN
A BUDGET SITUATION WHERE WE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN. UM, BUT I BELIEVE IT
MUST START THIS YEAR. IN
ADDITION TO CAL GRANT, WE WILL
TALK TODAY ABOUT STUDENT HOUSING
, WHICH WE'LL HEAR ABOUT NEXT.
AN UPDATE ON THE STUDENT HOUSING
PROGRAM, WHICH IS SUPPORTING
12,000 BEDS. WE ALSO HERE TODAY
ABOUT THE STUDENT HOUSING
REVOLVING LOAN FUND THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE
FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM.
TREASURE FIONA MÀ WILL BE
JOINING US TO DISCUSS, UH, THIS
FUND, WHICH IS BEING RUN THROUGH
HER OFFICE, AND THEN FINALLY, WE
WILL DISCUSS BASE STUDENT BASIC
NEEDS. AND HERE A REPORT FROM
EACH SEGMENT ON SUPPORT. UH, FOR
STUDENT FOOD AND HOUSING AND
SECURITY. WE KNOW IT'S A
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AT EACH OF
THE SEGMENTS, AND WE HOPE TO
TALK ABOUT TO THE SEGMENTS ABOUT
THEIR PROGRAMS AND THE OUTCOMES
RELATED TO THOSE PROGRAMS. SO
UM, WITH THAT WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE PANEL ON THE CAL GRANT
UPDATE AND CAL GRANT REFORM
DISCUSSION BY THE COMMITTEE. UM
WE HAVE THE SAME FOLKS AT THE
TABLE SO WE WILL START WITH, UH,
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ON
THIS ONE. THEN WE'LL GO TO THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE AND
THEN HEAR FROM THE STUDENT AID
COMMISSION. PLEASE PROCEED. HØI
I'M AMIN SINGH WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. THE 2022
BUDGET ACT ADOPTED, ADOPTED THE
CAL GRANT REFORM PACKAGE AND
SUBSEQUENT TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE
INCLUDED A PROVISION THAT CAL
GRANT WOULD REFORM WOULD BE
TRIGGERED BEGINNING IN THE 2526
FISCAL YEAR. IF THE STATE
IDENTIFIED ADEQUATE FUNDING IN
THE SPRING OF 2024 DURING THE
MAY REVISE. ONCE THIS MAY
REVISION, CONVERSATIONS OCCUR,
WHICH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AS
TO WHETHER CAL GRANT REFORM WILL
BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE UPCOMING
FISCAL YEAR. WE CANNOT PROVIDE
ANY INDICATION PRIOR TO THOSE
CONVERSATIONS OCCURRING UM THAT
CONCLUDES MY BRIEF REMARKS, BUT
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS OF THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE. LISA KING WITH
THE L A Ó. WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO
BRIEFLY REVIEW THE CHANGES THAT
THE CAL GRANT PROGRAM WOULD
UNDERGO IF THE STATE WERE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION
OF CAL GRANT REFORM IN 2024 25.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE EIGHT OF
YOUR AGENDA THERE'S A CHART THAT
SUMMARIZES SOME KEY COMPONENTS
OF THE CAL GRANT PROGRAM UNDER
ITS CURRENT FORM IN THE LEFT
HAND COLUMN. AND UNDER CAL GRANT
REFORM IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN.
AS THE CHAIR MENTIONED IN HIS
OPENING COMMENTS. THE CURRENT
CAL GRANT PROGRAM INCLUDES MANY
DIFFERENT AWARD TYPES, EACH WITH
ITS OWN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND
AWARD AMOUNTS. UNDER CAL.
CURRENT REFORM, THESE WOULD BE
CONSOLIDATED INTO TWO AWARD
TYPES. THE CAL GRANT TWO OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND A CAL
GRANT FOUR AT ALL OTHER
SEGMENTS. THERE WOULD ALSO BE
SEVERAL KEY ELIGIBILITY CHANGES.
HISTORICALLY CAL AWARDS HAVE
BEEN AVAILABLE AS ENTITLEMENTS
ONLY TO RECENT HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES AS WELL AS TRANSFER
STUDENTS UNDER AGE 28. A FEW
YEARS AGO, THE STATE REMOVED
THESE AGENT TIME OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS. èC
GRANT REFORM WOULD FURTHER
REMOVE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
STUDENTS AT ALL OTHER SEGMENTS.
IN ADDITION TO GRANT REFORM
WOULD REMOVE THE GPA
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
IN PLACE ACROSS ALL SEGMENTS
SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS. GRANT REFORM
WOULD ALSO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES
TO THE INCOME CEILINGS. THE
CURRENT CAL GRANT PROGRAM HAS
PROGRAM SPECIFIC INCOME AND
ASSET CEILINGS. HOW GRANT REFORM
WOULD ALIGN THOSE WITH THE
INCOME CEILINGS FOR THE FEDERAL
PELL GRANT PROGRAM. THE CEILINGS
ARE GENERALLY LOWER. IT'LL VARY
BY FAMILY SIZE AND HOUSEHOLD
STRUCTURE. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, A
DEPENDENT STUDENT AND FAMILY OF
FOUR TWO PARENTS WOULD SEE THE
INCOME CEILING GO DOWN FROM
ABOUT 100 AND 31,000 UNDER THE
CURRENT PROGRAM. ABOUT 76,000 OF
THE GRANT REFORM. THERE ARE ALSO
SOME CHANGES TO AWARD AMOUNTS
UNDER Tð GRANT REFORM. CURRENTLY
THERE'S A RULE THAT PREVENTS
CERTAIN FIRST YEAR STUDENTS FROM
RECEIVING TUITION COVERAGE AT
THE UNIVERSITIES. HOW CURRENT
REFORM WOULD ADDRESS THAT SO
THAT ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE
UNIVERSITIES RECEIVE TUITION
COVERAGE. REGARDING NON TUITION
AWARDS. MANY CAL GRANT
RECIPIENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVE
ACCESS AWARDS OF ABOUT $1600 TO
HELP WITH FOOD, HOUSING AND
OTHER LIVING COSTS. UNDER CARL
GRANT REFORM THAT WOULD CONTINUE
TO BE THE CASE FOR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THOSE
ACCESS AWARDS WOULD BE PEGGED TO
INFLATION SO THEY WOULD BE
ADJUSTED ANNUALLY. FOR A
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNDER CAL
GRANT REFORM, THESE RECIPIENTS
WOULD NÓ LONGER RECEIVE ACCESS
AWARDS. INSTEAD IT WOULD BE THE
EXPECTATION OF THE SEGMENTS
PROVIDE NON TUITION COVERAGE
THROUGH THEIR INSTITUTIONAL
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS. LAST TWO
ROWS OF THIS CHART PROVIDE A
SUMMARY OF, UH, THE ESTIMATES
THAT THE STUDENT AID COMMISSION
HAS RECENTLY UPDATED FOR 2024
25. BASED ON THESE ESTIMATES THE
NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS UNDER CAL
GRANT REFORM IN THAT FIRST YEAR
WOULD BE ABOUT 80,000 STUDENTS
HIGHER. COSTS WOULD ALSO BE
HIGHER UNDER CAL GRANT REFORM BY
ABOUT 245 MILLION IN THAT FIRST
YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THE
COMMISSION WILL BE PROVIDING
MORE DETAIL ON THE CAL REFORM
FRAMEWORK, SO I WILL CONCLUDE
HERE BUT HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK
YOU. JAKE BREMNER WITH THE
STUDENT AID COMMISSION, AND I'LL
BEGIN MY REMARKS BY FIRST
THANKING THE GOVERNOR AND THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CAL
GRANT PROGRAM AND OF THE 400,000
STUDENTS THAT ARE, UM
BENEFICIARIES OF THAT PROGRAM
THIS YEAR. UM WE ALSO WOULD LIKE
TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION AND
THE LEGISLATURE FOR THAT
HISTORIC ACTION TAKEN BACK IN
2022 TO ADOPT THE CAL GRANT
REFORM ACT PROVISIONS, AND NOW
WE KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS,
UM, REVENUE TRIGGER PIECE AND
WHAT IS A CHALLENGING BUDGETARY
ENVIRONMENT. UM FOR MANY YEARS,
STUDENTS, EQUITY ADVOCATES AND
OUR POLICYMAKERS HAVE ENVISIONED
FINANCIAL AID THAT'S SIMPLER AND
TRANSPARENT AND THAT SERVE
STUDENTS IN A WAY THAT THE
CURRENT CAL GRANT DOES NOT. UM
GALLUP POLL, UM, SURVEYED ADULTS
18 TO 49 LAST YEAR AND FOUND
THAT THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT
WAS CITED FOR WHY THEY CHOSE TO
NOT ENROLL IN POST SECONDARY
EDUCATION OR WHY THEY HAD NEEDED
TO DROP OUT WAS AFFORDABILITY
AND COST CONCERN. THE SECOND
REASON WAS THAT THEY NEEDED TO
WORK A NUMBER OF HOURS THAT WAS
NOT CONDUCIVE TO THEIR
ENROLLMENT. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY
OF SAYING IT'S THE COST. UM SO
WE KNOW THAT, UM, A SIMPLER
FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM THAT'S
EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. I THINK
THE AGENDA AND THE CHART FROM
OUR COLLEAGUES AT L A Ó DOES A
GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING THE
COMPLEXITY OF FINANCIAL AID AND
SPECIFICALLY CAL GRANT. WE HAVE
EIGHT DIFFERENT FLAVORS OF THE
CAL GRANT TODAY. UM THAT REALLY
COMPLICATES OUR EFFORT TO SEND A
CLEAR SIGNAL TO STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN
EXPECT, UM, AND TO HELP ADDRESS
THAT COST CONCERN AT A TIME WHEN
WE KNOW WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING
$2.4 BILLION IN STATE FINANCIAL
AID THROUGH THE CAL GRANT
PROGRAM. SO THIS VISION OF A
SIMPLER PROGRAM THAT BETTER
ALIGNS WITH THE STUDENTS THAT
WE'RE SERVING IN HIGHER
EDUCATION TODAY WE KNOW IS KEY
TO OUR EFFORTS IN CALIFORNIA TO
REBUILD ENROLLMENT AND TO
PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION DESPITE A CHALLENGING
BUDGETARY CONTEXT. UH, IT'S
CLEAR, OF COURSE, THAT UM AND AS
YOUR AGENDA NOTES THAT THIS MAY
REQUIRE, UM SEVERAL YEARS TO
REALIZE THE FULL VISION OF THE
CAL GRANT REFORM ACT PROVISIONS,
AND WE, OF COURSE, HAPPY TO
ADVISE THE LEGISLATURE, THE
ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS ON, UM, OPTIONS TO
PURSUE, UM, REFORM THAT WILL
HELP US SERVE MORE STUDENTS AND
CONTINUE ON THIS PATH TOWARDS A
SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM. I'LL SPEAK
FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE UPDATED
COST ESTIMATES THAT ARE INCLUDED
IN YOUR AGENDA. UM IMPLEMENTING
CAL GRANT REFORM NÓ MATTER HOW
YOU DO, IT WILL REQUIRE SOME ONE
TIME IMPLEMENTATION COSTS OVER
THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS. UM,
BECAUSE WE'RE GRANDFATHERING IN
STUDENTS THAT CURRENTLY ARE
RECEIVING A CAL GRANT, AND WE'RE
ALSO CONSIDERING STUDENTS WHO
MAY BE IN THEIR SECOND OR THIRD
OR FOURTH YEAR IN HIGHER
EDUCATION. WE'RE STARTING TO
CONSIDER THOSE STUDENTS FOR A
NEW CAL GRANT. UNDER THE REFORM
ACT PROVISIONS WHO HAVE BEEN
LEFT OUT OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM
AND AS YOU START TO IMPLEMENT
THE AND ALL STUDENTS ARE
CONSIDERED UNDER THE CAL GRANT
REFORM ACT PROVISIONS. YOU SEE
THOSE ONE TIME COSTS DROP OFF.
SO IN THOSE YEARS,
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW MODEL
RAMPS UP. THAT'S WHAT DRIVES THE
ONE TIME COST BEFORE WE PLATEAU
AT, UM, AN ONGOING TOTAL COST OF
IMPLEMENTATION OF 100 AND $95
MILLION ANNUALLY, UM, MEANING
THAT THE ONE TIME COST THAT YOU
WOULD EXPECT FOR 2425 WOULD BE
AROUND $51 MILLION UH, THESE
NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN THE LAST
AVAILABLE NUMBERS THAT WE
PROVIDED. UH, BACK, UH, IN 2022.
WHEN THE MAY REVISION WAS BEING
CONSIDERED, AND THE LEGISLATURE
AND ADMINISTRATION WERE LOOKING
AT CAL GRANT REFORM ACT
PROVISIONS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE
OUR MODELING IS ALWAYS BASED ON
THE LATEST ACTUAL DATA AND
STUDENTS APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL
AID, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME DROPS
IN COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS FROM
SPECIFIC STUDENT POPULATIONS.
THESE ESTIMATES REFLECT A REALLY
ROBUST PROCESS OF DEVELOPING
THEM, AND WE WANT TO THANK OUR
COLLEAGUES AT L, A Ó AND
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR
HELPING ADVISE US ON THIS
PROCESS. THESE PROJECTIONS ALSO
INCLUDE REASONABLE ENROLLMENT
GROWTH ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE
DISCUSSED WITH, UH, COLLEAGUES
AT L, A Ó AND DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. UM AND THEY ALSO OF
COURSE, REFLECT THE TUITION
INCREASES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
SCHEDULED AT OUR FOUR YEAR
INSTITUTIONS. AH! SHOULD WE FUND
THIS? WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO
SEE IS YOUR AGENDA NOTES IS
REALLY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN
ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID.
UM, MORE THAN 137,000 ADDITIONAL
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS COMPARED TO
TODAY'S PROGRAM IN THE FIRST
YEAR OF APPLICATIONS. UH, AS A
REMINDER, AND AS AS, UM OUR
COLLEAGUE NOTED, UM THESE ARE
STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE FINANCIAL
NEED BUT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT DUE
TO THESE NON-FINANCIAL
ELIGIBILITY BARRIERS THAT
PREVENT STUDENTS FROM ACCESSING
THE CURRENT CAL GRANT PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE FACTORS BASED ON WHEN
A STUDENT GRADUATED FROM HIGH
SCHOOL THEIR AGE AT THE TIME
THAT THEY TRANSFER OR TO WHICH
INSTITUTION THEY'RE TRANSFERRING
, UH AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE
TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS FOR
STUDENTS GOING TO OUR OPEN
ACCESS COMMUNITY COLLEGES. YOU
CAN IMAGINE THE KINDS OF
STUDENTS THAT ARE DISADVANTAGED
BY THOSE TYPES OF BARRIERS. I
THINK IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT
THEIR PROFILE, YOU WOULD
PROBABLY IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE A
FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENT. ON
AVERAGE, THEY HAVE INCOMES OF
LESS THAN $30,000 PER YEAR. UM
DISPROPORTIONATELY. OUR STUDENT
PARENTS, UH, MORE THAN 45,000 OF
THE NUMBER THAT I CITED ARE
STUDENT PARENTS WHO WOULD
QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
IN THE CAL GRANT PROGRAM. BUT IF
THEY CAN'T RECEIVE ANY CAL GRANT
FIRST BECAUSE OF THESE
ELIGIBILITY BARRIERS, THEY DON'T
QUALIFY FOR THAT $6000 IN
SUPPORT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO
STUDENT PARENTS, AND THESE ARE
ALSO STUDENTS WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY LATINO.
BLACK. UM AND OTHER STUDENT
POPULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED BY
OUR FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM. SO UM,
THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALL LISTED IN
YOUR, UH, AGENDA. AND I'M OF
COURSE, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
SOME OPTIONS COULD LOOK LIKE TO,
UM, STILL MOVE FORWARD. UM IN
RECOGNITION OF THE BUDGETARY
CONSTRAINTS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. DO DOES THE YOUTH HERE OR
èC S¼ U WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO
THIS? I DON'T KNOW. I OR THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE AT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE. OH, UH, I WAS COUNTING
ON GOING LAST THIS TIME THERE
COULD BE THERE COULD BE GINA
BROWN, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM WOULD
LIKE TO THANK THE CALIFORNIA
STATE LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING
SEVERAL FINANCIAL AID BILLS AND
BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS THAT
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO HELP THEM
MEET THE TOTAL COST OF
ATTENDANCE. OBVIOUSLY I'M
REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO THE
CAL GRANT REFORM ACT PASSED IN
2022. THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE
REMAINS IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF
INCLUDING THE FUNDED NEEDING FOR
CALGARY REFORM IN 2425 Kò. I'D
ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THIS IS
OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE CAL
GRANT EQUITY FRAMEWORK. TODAY'S
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE STUDENT
COMMUNITY. COLLEGE STUDENTS
TRANSFERRED TO FOUR YEAR
UNIVERSITIES EARN BACCALAUREATE
DEGREES. THEY GRADUATE INTO THE
WORKFORCE AT LEVEL WAGES NOW
MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
HAVE EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER
THE PAST AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND
WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE TO
ADDRESS EQUITY GAPS. TODAY'S
COMMUNITY. COLLEGE STUDENTS
SHOULD NOT ALSO HAVE TO WAIT OR
CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR CAL GRANT
TO ALSO EVOLVE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. EITHER OF THE
OTHER TWO SYSTEMS LIKE TO SPEAK.
UM GO. GO AHEAD, UH, SEAN BRICK
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO THE
LATEST ANALYSIS FROM èC S¼, A,
UM STUDENTS WOULD NOT ON THE
WHOLE BENEFIT FROM CAL GRANT
REFORM. AND I THINK GIVEN THAT
AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE
FACING THIS YEAR WITH FAFSA, UM
WE WOULD PREFER THAT COW RENT
REFORM BE ENACTED FOR 2526 AND
GOING FORWARD. THE CONFUSION
CAUSED BY THE DELAY IN THE FAFSA
WOULD BE COMPOUNDED IF WE THEN
HAD TO. UM, UH, SWITCH. UH, WHO
WAS A CAL GRANT RECIPIENT, OR OR
WHO WE'VE ESTIMATED WOULD
RECEIVE A COW GRANT. THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO APRIL GROMAN,
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. WE ARE
DEEPLY COMMITTED AND VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF A MORE EQUITABLE
FRAMEWORK FOR CAL GRANT AND
DEFINITELY SIMPLIFICATION OF THE
PROGRAM. BUT WE DO HAVE SEVERAL
CONCERNS. UM FIRST TO HIGHLIGHT
WITH, UM, THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE TALKED ABOUT ONE
IS THAT LOWERING OF THE INCOME
CEILING SO A FAMILY OF FOUR
GOING FROM 100 AND 20,000 TO A
$75,000 INCOME CEILING?
CONCERNING FOR OUR STUDENT
POPULATION. IN ADDITION, THE
ACCESS AWARDS THAT WILL BE TAKEN
FROM OUR STUDENTS IN THIS
FRAMEWORK IS CONCERNING FOR
BASIC NEEDS AND FOR THOSE
STUDENTS SUPPORT WE ALSO AGREE
THAT THE FRAMEWORK AND THIS YEAR
HAS HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES SO
MOVING TO 2526 WOULD ALLOW BOTH
STUDENTS AND èC S¼, U S¼ AND
OUR SEGMENT PARTNERS TO PUT
TOGETHER AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THIS
LATE DATE. I'D ALSO POINT OUT
THAT èC GRANT REFORM WAS
INITIALLY INTENDED TO MATCH PELL
GRANT ELIGIBILITY, BUT THAT'S
NOT THE CASE. FOR EVERY STUDENT.
THERE WILL BE A GROUP OF
STUDENTS THAT WILL BE PELL GRANT
ELIGIBLE THAT WILL NOT BE èC
GRANT ELIGIBLE, SO THAT IS ALSO
CONCERNING AND MAY CAUSE
CONFUSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S UH DEFINITELY
PROBABLY GONNA BE THE MEDIA OF
THE ITEMS TODAY IN TERMS OF
QUESTIONS FOR ME, ANYWAY, MAYBE
WE CAN START WITH THAT LAST, UH,
COMMENT FROM FROM èC S¼ U. I'M
I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT
THE UH, LESS PALE, ELIGIBLE
STUDENTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.
UNDER CGT REFORM WAS A STATEMENT
MADE. CAN YOU? UH, FURTHER
EXPLAIN THAT? SURE SO THERE'S
THREE CALCULATIONS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL USE
TO CALCULATE CAL GRANT
ELIGIBILITY. ONE OF THOSE IS
TAKING THE STUDENT AID INDEX AND
MINUSING IT FROM THE MAX POWELL
AWARD. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF A
STUDENT HAD A 6000 S¼ A I, BUT
THE PELL GRANT WAS 7400. THAT
STUDENT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR
$1400 IN PELL GRANT. FUNDING
THAT IS NOT PART OF THE
FRAMEWORK FOR CAL GRANT REFORM.
SO THOSE STUDENTS IN THAT
SITUATION WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR
PELL GRANT, BUT NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
CAL GRANT. CAN I GET A èC SAC
TO GIVE ME SOME MORE CONTEXT TO
THAT AND MAYBE SOME, IF THAT IS
A SURE THAT'S ACCURATE. UH WHAT,
UM HOW THE DECISION WAS MADE ON
THESE PARTICULAR STUDENTS OR
WHAT THE STU WHAT THE MAKEUP OF
THIS STUDENT WOULD BE UNDER THIS
SCENARIO. YEAH APPRECIATE US
GETTING INTO THE DETAILS HERE
ABOUT HOW THE NEW PELL GRANT IS
WORKING AND THE STUDENT AID
INDEX. SO UM, AS A REFRESHER AND
AGAIN, THIS IS NOTED IN YOUR
AGENDA BACK IN 2022, THE NEW
INCOME CEILINGS THAT WERE
ADOPTED FOR THE CAL GRANT FOR A
LINE CLEANLY WITH THE MINIMUM
PELL GRANT INCOME CEILINGS. THE
MINIMUM PELL GRANT IS ITSELF A
NEW CONCEPT. IT DIDN'T EXIST
BEFORE THE FASTEST
SIMPLIFICATION. ACT AND WHAT IT
ALLOWS FOR IS FOR US TO USE A
TABLE THAT PROVIDES VARIOUS
STUDENT FAMILY SITUATIONS AND
INCOME RANGES BASED ON THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LIMIT, AND
BEFORE EVEN TOUCHING A FAFSA, UH
, THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO LOOK AT
THIS TABLE AND TO KNOW THAT THEY
WILL QUALIFY FOR SOME LEVEL OF
PELL GRANT SUPPORT. SO THAT IS
ONE WAY THAT A STUDENT IS
CONSIDERED FOR PELL GRANT. UM
OUR COLLEAGUE FROM èC S¼ U IS
CORRECT. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER
PROCESS THROUGH WHICH FAMILIES
WHO HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THE
FAFSA CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR A
PELL GRANT EVEN IF THEIR INCOMES
EXCEED THOSE MINIMUM INCOME
CEILINGS. UM WHAT I WOULD NOTE
HERE TWO THINGS, ONE BEING ABLE
TO STILL ALIGN THOSE ELIGIBILITY
TABLES SO THAT WE COULD PUT ONE
SINGLE SET OF INCOME CEILINGS IN
FRONT OF A FAMILY. UM, AND LET
THEM SEE THAT THEY WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH PELL GRANT AND
CAL GRANT. UM WE BELIEVE COULD
BE REALLY POWERFUL AND
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE OF CLEAR
MESSAGING TO STUDENTS BEFORE
THEY GO THROUGH THIS DAUNTING
PROCESS OF SUBMITTING A
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION.
SECOND I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT
THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS TODAY
WHO FALL INTO THIS, UM, SAME
CATEGORY OF THEIR PELL ELIGIBLE,
BUT THEY'RE NOT CAL GRANT
ELIGIBLE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF
THESE NON FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY
DEVICES. SO IN SOME WAYS, YOU
COULD LOOK AT THIS QUESTION AS
BEING WHICH OF THOSE STUDENTS DO
. SHOULD THE STATE BE
PRIORITIZING FOR, UM CAL GRANT
SUPPORT, BUT THIS PHENOMENON OF
SOME STUDENTS GETTING ONE BUT
NOT THE OTHER IS UN.
UNFORTUNATELY, UM, NOT A NEW
ONE. SO FOR ELIGIBILITY
ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION. WE
ARE USING THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT
. THE FRAMEWORK USES THE FEDERAL
PAY GRANT. UM LIMITS, WHICH I
ASSUME INCREASE OVER TIME WITH
SOME SORT OF FACTOR. UH AND SO
THAT WILL REMAIN CONSISTENT. AND
THAT WHEN THE DISCUSSION I WAS
NOT HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO ON
THE FRAMEWORK UH, EQUITY
FRAMEWORK. WAS THEIR
CONSIDERATION FOR STUDENTS WHO
WERE OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR
OTHER PELL SUPPORT, AND THE
DECISION I ASSUME WAS MADE. NOT
TO INCLUDE THAT CAUSE IT WHAT
I'M UNDERSTANDING IS
COMPLICATED. OF THE PROCESS MORE
SO, UH, SINCE 2022 THE U S¼
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS
PUBLISHED MORE INFORMATION THAT
EXPLAINS THESE, YOU COULD THINK
OF THEM AS THREE TESTS FOR HOW A
STUDENT GETS PELL GRANT ACCESS.
THINK AT THE TIME IN 2022, IT
WASN'T ENTIRELY CLEAR THAT IF A
STUDENT HAD A STUDENT AID INDEX
NUMBER GENERATED THAT EXCEEDED
THOSE INCOME THRESHOLDS WHETHER
THEY WOULD STILL QUALIFY. UM WE
HAVE SINCE GONE BACK TO LOOK AT
WHAT WOULD THE ADDITIONAL COST
BE TO INCLUDE THOSE STUDENTS? UM
THEY'RE PRIMARILY STUDENTS THAT
ARE FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS. SO
THE PER STUDENT GRANT AWARD
AMOUNT IS QUITE LARGE. UM, I
DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC NUMBER
AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT I CAN, UM,
CONFIRM IT'S OVER $100 MILLION
MORE IN CAL GRANT FUNDS IF YOU
WANTED TO ALSO PROVIDE A èC
GRANT TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR PELL, BASED ON
THEIR STUDENT AID INDEX NUMBER
AND NOT THEIR, UM UH, FAMILY
INCOME BASED ON THAT FEDERAL
POVERTY LIMIT THRESHOLD. OK? UM,
LET'S TALK MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT. SEGMENTS WITHIN THE
EQUITY FRAMEWORK OF STUDENTS WHO
CURRENTLY DO NOT QUALIFY THAT
WOULD QUALIFY. SO WE'VE GOT AGE
AS A FACTOR WE'VE GOT GPA IS A
FACTOR. WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OTHER
FACTORS. UM I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO IDENTIFY AND MAYBE YOU
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK
INTO THIS, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THE
INFORMATION OF UH, THE OTHER ONE
THAT'S LISTED ON ACKNOWLEDGE IS
THE, UM IN THE STAFF REPORT. THE
KART REFORM THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
2022. WHICH EXTENDED THE PROGRAM
TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS
THAT TRANSFERRED TO U èC èC S¼
U, BUT IT DID NOT DO SO FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO
UH, WERE TRANSFERRING TO, UM
PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS.
AND SO I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING
WHAT EACH OF THOSE DIFFERENT, UM
PORTIONS OF REFORM WOULD MEAN IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND COST
. CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THAT,
OR DOES THAT REQUIRE MORE
ANALYSIS? OR GIVE ME A SENSE OF
WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. I CAN
DEFINITELY GIVE YOU A SENSE FOR
THAT, MR CHAIR. UM SO THE
LARGEST DRIVER OF COST AND OF
NEWLY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IS THE
REMOVAL OF A GRADE POINT AVERAGE
REQUIREMENT FOR A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT BRINGS IN
MANY THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AT
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALLOWS
THEM TO KEEP THEIR CAL GRANT
WHEN THEY TRANSFER. UM IT ALSO
BRINGS IN MANY THOUSANDS OF
STUDENT PARENTS AS I SPOKE TO,
IN MY EARLIER COMMENTS OVER
45,000 OF THE 137,000 ARE
STUDENT PARENTS. THOSE STUDENTS
QUALIFY FOR $6000 AWARDS TOWARDS
THEIR NON TUITION COSTS. THAT'S
A VERY SIGNIFICANT DRIVER OF
COST. UM IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO
LOOK AT OPTIONS THAT WOULD JUST
REMOVE SOME OF THESE SPECIFIC
BARRIERS WITHIN THE CURRENT CAL
GRANT A AND B PROGRAM THAT WOULD
REQUIRE ONGOING FUNDS ON TOP OF
THE EXIST. CAL GRANT
APPROPRIATION. PART OF HOW YOU
COULD LOOK AT FINANCING CAL
GRANT REFORM. IS THAT IT? UM
RESTRUCTURES IN SOME WAYS HOW WE
SPEND AND DEPLOY OUR STATE
DOLLARS RIGHT NOW. SO YOU'RE
WORKING WITHIN THE CURRENT
APPROPRIATION? THERE ARE THESE
ONE TIME COSTS AS I MENTIONED
WHERE YOU HAVE SEVERAL YEARS OF
STUDENT COHORTS WHERE THEY MAY
BE RECEIVING EITHER TYPE OF COW
GRANT. UM, BUT THAT'S HOW
LOOKING AT CAL GRANT REFORM AS A
RESTRUCTURING OPPORTUNITY. YOU
COULD, UM, FINANCE AN INITIAL
STEP USING ONE TIME FUNDS. UM
VERSUS BARRIERS WITHIN THE
CURRENT PROGRAM, ALL REQUIRING
ADDITIVE DOLLARS ON TOP OF THE
BASELINE APPROPRIATION, OK? IT
IS THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I
KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM IN
MAY WE HEAR A DECISION. UM ARE
YOU? LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING
THIS IN POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENTING
THIS OR AT LEAST ANALYZING THE
POTENTIAL TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN
PHASES, AS OPPOSED TO FULL
GRANT. UM REFORM. ARE YOU
ANALYZING THOSE DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS OR ARE YOU JUST
FOCUSED ON ONE? WE HAVE SOMEONE
CHRIS IS COMING UP TO PROVIDE
SOME. YEAH. CHRIS FERGUSON WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UH,
AT THIS POINT, WE WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO COMMENT ON WHAT WE ARE
OR AREN'T LOOKING AT, UM,
INTERNALLY BEYOND. UH, WE HAVE A
MAY DEADLINE IN LAW IN WHICH WE
MUST, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A
RESPONSE. AH, SO JUST JUST
QUICKLY, JUST TO, UM UNDERSTAND
IS SO YOU WILL YOU HAVE A
RESPONSE IN THE MAY REVISE ONE
WAY OR THE OTHER? IS THAT WHAT
WE SHOULD EXPECT? OR WOULD IT
COME BEFORE? OR MAYBE AFTER UH,
I'M IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME IF WE
WOULD PUT IT IN THE MAY
REVISION, OR IF IT WOULD BE A
ONE OFF LETTER LIKE AJ LB èC
TYPE LETTER. WHAT IS WHAT IS THE
IS THERE A IS THERE AN ACTUAL
DATE IN IN WHAT WAS APPROVED?
YES I BELIEVE THE DATE IN LAWS.
UH, MAY 15TH OK, WHICH IS ONE
DAY AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE MAY
REVISION. OK, SO WE'LL HEAR ONE
WAY. OR THE OTHER EITHER MAY
REVISION ON MAY 14TH OR THREE
LETTER ON MAY 15TH GOT IT, OK?
UM. SO I. I THINK I WANNA
CONTINUE TO CERTAINLY, UH, TRY
AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
FROM èC SAC. YOU MENTIONED THE
40. PLUS 1000. PARENTS WHICH
WOULD BE ELIGIBLE. YOU MENTIONED
THE GPA. I DIDN'T HEAR A FIGURE
ASSIGNED TO THAT. BUT CERTAINLY
THERE'S SOME NUMBER ASSIGNED TO
THAT THERE IS SOME NUMBER
ASSIGNED TO IN OUR STAFF REPORT
TALKS ABOUT 1200 STUDENTS, UM,
THAT WOULD MEET THE ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE BEING ABLE TO TRANSFER
FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE INTO THE
NONPROFIT PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS,
SO I THINK I'M INTERESTED IN ALL
OF THOSE TO HELP ME MAKE A
BETTER DECISION OF HOW TO HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD. SO, UM MAY I HAVE
SOME MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I TURN
OVER TO MR FONG. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU,
EVERYONE FOR THE COMMENTS ABOUT
HOW WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT CAL
GRANT REFORM AND ITS
IMPLEMENTATION AND JUST AMPLIFY
THE CHAIR. I ALSO VERY KEENLY
FOCUSED ON CAL GRANT. FOR
IMPLEMENTATION. I KNOW THIS YEAR
IS A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR. UH,
WE JUST HEARD FROM FINANCE THAT
WE LOOKED TO CHOOSE A IS THERE A
WAY TO PHASE IN CAL GRA REFORM
AND YOU KIND OF SAID WE NEED A
WAIT ANOTHER COUPLE MONTHS. IS
THAT WHERE WE'RE AT? YEAH, I. I
THINK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IT
WOULD BE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF
MONTHS BEFORE YOU WOULD HEAR
FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS
OF THE CAL GRANT REFORM LAW, UM,
AS IT READS RIGHT NOW. UM,
CERTAINLY, UH, WE WOULD, UH,
JUST NOTE THAT THE PROPOSAL FROM
THE BEGINNING WHEN IT WAS
ENACTED A COUPLE YEARS BACK, UH,
WAS A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL, SO I
DON'T KNOW THAT. UM YOU KNOW,
WE'RE LOOKING AT PARTICULAR
AVENUES AT THIS POINT FOR WHAT
WE WOULD PUT FORWARD. RATHER,
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE LAW IS
DIRECTING US TO DO. THANK YOU.
AND IN TERMS OF THE SEGMENTS,
UH, TO PREPARATION TO IMPLEMENT
GRAM REFORM. CAN YOU GIVE US
MORE DETAILS AS TO HOW YOU WOULD
PLAN TO IMPLEMENT, UH, REFORM
AND WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
THIS YEAR. APRIL ROMO FOR THE
èC S¼ U. SO THE CSU WAS
PREPARING FOR BOTH SCENARIOS OF
CAL GRANT. CURRENT CAL GRANT OR
CAL GRANT REFORM. WE ARE
PLANNING ON AWARDING STUDENTS
THAT MEET THE STATE UNIVERSITY
GRANT CRITERIA. UH THOSE AWARDS
ONCE THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE
AS TO WHICH PROGRAM IS MOVING
FORWARD. THEN STUDENTS WOULD BE
AWARDED OUR STATE UNIVERSITY
GRANT WOULD HAVE IT REPLACED
WITH èC GRANT. THE STUDENTS
THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A COW
GRANT PROGRAM WOULD KEEP THEIR
STATE UNIVERSITY GRANT AWARD OR
INSTITUTIONAL AID PROGRAM. IN
ADDITION, WE HAVE LOOKED AT
CHANGES AND WE'RE HOPING ALSO
THAT M èC S¼ CAN HELP, UH, WITH
THE FRAMEWORK AND IF THOSE ARE
STUDENTS THAT HAVE LOST
ELIGIBILITY, BUT WITH THE M èC
S¼ LOOKING LIKE IT'S BEING CUT
THIS YEAR, STAYING AT THE SAME
LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT WOULD MEAN
LESS FUNDING FOR OUR STUDENTS
WITH M èC S¼ THAT ARE LOSING
CAL GRANT. THANK YOU. THE
CALIPHATE. GINA BROWN, UH,
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. COMMUNITY
COLLEGES REMAIN IN FULL SUPPORT
OF FULL IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE
24 AND 25 YEAR, UM ALL 115
COMMUNITY COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID
OFFICES HAVE BEEN PREPARING
SINCE 22 TO AWARD AND IMPLEMENT
CAL GRANT TWO. HOWEVER THEY ARE
STILL PREPARED TO PROCEED. UM
WITH THE LEGACY CAL GRANT SO
AGAIN. FULLY SUPPORT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU. AND
SEAN BRICK UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA. UH, WE WOULD BE
PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT. I THINK
IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT CONFUSING
FOR FAMILIES IF THEY UH, WE
ESTIMATE THEY'RE GETTING A èC
GRANT. BUT THEY DO NOT AND VICE
VERSA. BUT THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF
THE WAY THE UNIVERSITY USES OUR
OWN INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID.
UM UH, OUR OWN GRANT. UM IT, UH,
WE WOULD LIKE THE CSU. WE WOULD
BE BACK FILLING FOR A MISSING
CAL GRANT OF SOMEBODY MEETS THE
SAME, UH, INCOME THRESHOLDS. UH,
SO THE BOTTOM LINE FOR U èC
STUDENTS AS A WHOLE IS JUST
WHETHER OR NOT UH THERE WOULD BE
ADDITIONAL CAL GRANT OR LESS CAL
GRANT MONEY AND UNDER THE MOST
RECENT ANALYSIS, IT DOES LOOK
LIKE IT WOULD BE, UH, FEWER CAL
GRANTS FOR U èC STUDENTS UNDER
REFORM, WHICH CAUSES US SOME
CONCERN. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
COMMENTS HERE AND THIS IS ONE OF
MY TOP PRIORITIES. THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF CAL GRANT
REFORM. I THINK WITH EQUITY
FRAMEWORK, THE WORK THAT THIS IS
GOING TO DO TO UPLIFT HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY IN OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES SO CRITICAL
WE JUST HEARD THE STAT ABOUT
45,000 STUDENT PARENTS, UH,
THESE FACTORS AND THE TRANSITION
TO A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY. I
THINK OVERALL THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS IF WE MAKE IT HAPPEN
THIS YEAR WOULD BE TREMENDOUS
FOR CALIFORNIA'S HIGHER
EDUCATION SEGMENTS IN OUR
STUDENTS HERE IN CALIFORNIA AND
FOR THEIR FAMILIES, SO THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU.
UM, IN ORDER TO GIVE, UH M ME
SOME TIME. MAYBE HE COMES UP
WITH A QUESTION, I. I WOULD JUST
REMIND US LAST WEEK WE HAD A
CONVERSATION ABOUT STUDENT
ENROLLMENT. AND UM, WE DID HEAR
FROM, UM UH, THE UC SYSTEM. THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ON
THE HIGHER END OF THE ECONOMIC
INCOME BRACKETS IS GROWING. UM
AND SO, I. I COULD SEE WHY CAL
GRANT REFORM. UM MIGHT HAVE AN
IMPACT THERE. I THINK THE
RESPONSE WOULD BE IS. LET'S
IDENTIFY. MORE OF OUR CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS THAT ARE LOWER INCOME
TO BE ABLE BE ABLE TO ATTEND OUR
UC SYSTEM. UM AND THEREFORE, I
THINK, UH, èC R CAN BE A NET
BENEFIT FOR THE U èC SYSTEM, SO
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE
TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT MR
EMERITUS GAVE YOU A CHANCE. NÓ
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH THEN
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
THREE. THIS IS THE MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. UM WE WILL
DISCUSS THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL
TO FORGO THE INCREASE IN FUNDING
FOR THE PROGRAM FOR YEAR. 2425
WE HAVE THE SAME PANEL
APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE
AND WE'LL START WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I'M A IN
SING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
ALLOCATES $637 MILLION IN ONE
TIME GENERAL FUND TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH
IS EXPECTED TO REACH THREE
132,000 STUDENTS IN THE UPCOMING
ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR. AS A
BUDGETARY SOLUTION. THE BUDGET
FORGOES A PLANNED $289
MILLION.01 TIME GENERAL FUND
INVESTMENT IN THE MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP. THE SCHOLARSHIP
WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED TO
STUDENTS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET
YEAR, BUT THE ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT WILL NOT BE
OCCURRING. THE FINANCIAL
SHORTFALL WE'RE SEEING OFFERS
LIMITED FLEXIBILITY IN
SUPPORTING NEW INVESTMENTS. BY
DESIGN. THE MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP IS A LAST DOLLAR
PROGRAM THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE STATE
BUDGET. WE'D LIKE TO UNDERS
UNDERSCORE THAT THIS STANDS IN
CONTRAST TO THE CAL GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE STATE'S
LARGEST FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM,
AND THAT REMAINS INTACT. THE CAL
GRANT IS AN ENTITLEMENT AND WILL
BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS. UM WHO
MEET SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA, NÓ MATTER THE STATE'S
BUDGET SITUATION. THE
ADMINISTRATION REMAINS ATTENTIVE
TO THE ISSUE OF COLLEGE
AFFORDABILITY AND COMMITS TO
WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO ENSURE
THAT COLLEGE REMAINS ACCESSIBLE
IN THE STATE. THANK YOU. LISA
KING WITH THE L A Ó. IT'S THE
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
HELPS COVER STUDENTS REMAINING
COST OF ATTENDANCE AFTER
ACCOUNTING FOR THEIR AVAILABLE
RESOURCES. AS THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE HAS NOTED THE WAY THE
STATE BUDGETS FOR THIS PROGRAM
IS DIFFERENT FROM HOW IT BUDGETS
FROM CAL GRANTS. EACH YEAR, THE
STATE DETERMINES AT THE OUTSET.
HOW MUCH FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP? AND
THEN IN TURN, THE COMMISSION
DETERMINES WHAT PERCENTAGE OF
EACH STUDENT'S REMAINING COSTS
IT CAN COVER WITHIN THAT
BUDGETED LEVEL. ESSENTIALLY THE
COMMISSION IS SPREADING THE
BUDGETED FUNDS ACROSS ALL
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN PROPORTION
TO THEIR REMAINING COSTS. IN THE
CURRENT YEAR. 2023 24 STATE HAS
ADDED SOME ONE TIME FUNDS ON TOP
OF THE ONGOING FUNDING LEVEL FOR
THIS PROGRAM. IN ORDER TO
TEMPORARILY INCREASE STUDENTS
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.
UNDER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
AGREEMENT, THE STATE WAS
PLANNING TO TAKE A SIMILAR
APPROACH IN 2024 25. BY THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET REMOVES THAT
PLANNED ONE TIME INCREASE. IN
LIGHT OF THE STATE'S LARGE
BUDGET DEFICIT. WE THINK THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED APPROACH IS
REASONABLE. WE WOULD NOTE,
HOWEVER, THAT IT HAS A
PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT. IN YOUR
AGENDA. IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 16,
THERE'S A FIGURE AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE PAGE THAT SUMMARIZES
PROGRAM ESTIMATES UNDER THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET FOR
MIDDLE-CLASS SCHOLARSHIPS.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE TOP PART OF
THIS CHART THAT THE NUMBER OF
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS IS ACTUALLY PROJECTED
TO INCREASE IN 2024 25. THAT
REFLECTS ENROLLMENT GROWTH AT
THE SEGMENTS. AS WELL AS ANNUAL
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PROGRAM
INCOME CEILING. SO WHEN WE
SPREAD THE LOWER PROPOSED
FUNDING LEVEL ACROSS THE HIGHER
PROJECTED NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS
THE AVERAGE AWARD PER RECIPIENT
DECREASES. AND SO YOU'LL SEE IN
THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THIS CHART
THAT WE'RE PROJECTING ON AVERAGE
FOR èC, S¼ U AND U èC
STUDENTS. THEIR MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WOULD GO DOWN
BY ROUGHLY $800 IN 2024 25.
THANK YOU HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF
OF THE COMMISSION. I'D LIKE TO
THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE
ONGOING APPROPRIATION TO THE
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP AND THE
LEGISLATURE'S WORK TO ALSO, UH,
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR
OUR STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO
THAT MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT WE
ALL MAKE THROUGH THE CAL GRANT
PROGRAM, UH, I BELIEVE LISA JUST
VERY EFFECTIVELY EXPLAINED WHAT
THE IMPLICATIONS ARE FOR, UM,
STUDENTS SHOULD THAT, UH, ONE
TIME APPROPRIATION BE HELD AND,
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE
THE CHALLENGING BUDGET. TERRY
CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU'RE MAKING
THESE DECISIONS. UM ALSO HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE ABOUT, UH, IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE UNIQUE
NATURE OF A LAST DOLLAR PROGRAM
AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR HOW WE
ALL UM, DELIVER THIS FOR
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. SEGMENTS.
ANYBODY WANNA SHARE ANYTHING?
SURE UH, SEAN BROOK FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. UH, SO
WITHOUT CONTINUED EXPANSION FOR
THE MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP,
THE PRO, UH, PROGRAM THE
PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING A
DEBT FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL
UNDERGRADUATES, WHICH IS, UH,
THE GOAL UNDER THE COMPACT AND
THE GOAL OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WILL BE
SLOWED. OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS
THAT GOAL WILL BE SLOWED WHEN
YOU HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE M èC S¼
THAT FOCUSES ON THE TOTAL COST
OF ATTENDANCE, WHICH WE DO THINK
IS THE RIGHT FOCUS FOR THIS KIND
OF PROGRAM. IF YOU AREN'T
EXPANDING THE PROGRAM YOU'RE
FALLING BEHIND BECAUSE OUR
STUDENTS WILL FACE ADDITIONAL
COST INCREASES WITH INFLATION.
AND INFLATION HAS HIT OUR
STUDENTS PARTICULARLY HARD THIS
YEAR. UH, SO THE COSTS THAT THEY
FACE WILL BE HIGHER THAN EVER
THIS FALL. UH ON THE POSITIVE
SIDE. WE ALSO EXPECT OUR
STUDENTS WILL QUALIFY FOR MORE
FEDERAL PELL GRANT THAN EVER
BEFORE. IN U èC HAS SET ASIDE
MORE OF OUR TUITION REVENUE THAN
EVER BEFORE. SO THE UNIVERSITY
WILL CONTINUE ITS OWN PATH TO
DEBT FREE PROGRAM, WHICH IS
FOCUSED ON THE LOWEST INCOME
STUDENTS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH
THE DEBT FREE FINANCIAL AID
PACKAGE, BUT OUR ABILITY TO
ACHIEVE OUR DEBT FREE GOALS
OVERALL WILL BE SLOWED DOWN. UH,
WITH SO MANY FACTORS UNKNOWN AT
THIS POINT WILL HAVE A BETTER
SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE
PROGRESSING TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
THIS, UH, THIS FALL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. SO WE WERE ABLE TO
AWARD MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIPS
EARLIER THIS YEAR AS THE PROGRAM
HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY
OVERHAULED. THAT WAS AN
IMPROVEMENT. WE WERE ALSO VERY
THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THE
TREATMENT OF BASIC NEEDS AND NON
NEEDS SCHOLARSHIPS AS SELF HELPS
, WOULD MEAN FEWER M èC S¼
AWARDS NEED TO BE RECALCULATED.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT
WE WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE TO BE
LOOKED AT. ONE IS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE COULD EMPOWER èC S¼
A TO PROVIDE THE PHASE IN
PERCENTAGE. SELF HELP AMOUNT IN
EARLIER POINTS IN TIME DURING
THE YEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO
INCLUDE M èC S¼ ESTIMATES IN
FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES TO OUR
STUDENTS IN THE EARLIER TIME
FRAME. ALSO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
A HIGHER THRESHOLD BEFORE
RECALCULATION ON INDIVIDUAL
AWARDS, M èC S¼ CAN BE ADJUSTED
FOR MANY REASONS, SINCE IT'S A
LAST IN PROGRAM AND THE CURRENT
THRESHOLD IS $6 AND THAT ANY
STUDENT THAT GOES OVER THAT
THRESHOLD REQUIRES A
RECALCULATION OF THEIR AWARD, SO
RAISING THAT TOLERANCE AMOUNT
WOULD HELP. WE ARE DEEPLY
THANKFUL FOR M èC S¼, BUT WE
WOULD POINT OUT THAT IT IS NOT
AN ENTITLEMENT AWARD. SO AS THE
STATE'S BUDGET CHANGES AND THE,
UM AMOUNTS CHANGE THAT ARE
PROVIDED TO THE PROGRAM. THIS
DOES DEEPLY IMPACT OUR STUDENTS
AND THE ABILITY TO MEET THEIR
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE. THANK
YOU. GINA BROWN, CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHANCELLOR'S
OFFICE. I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS
SHORT IN PROPORTION TO THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT RECEIVE
AN M èC S¼ AT CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. WE ARE IN
SUPPORT OF M èC S¼ EXPANSION.
WE ARE ANNOUNCED SIX COLLEGES.
LAST TIME I CHECKED, HAVE
AWARDED 27 M èC S¼ AWARDS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH LET ME ASK A QUESTION. UM
REGARDING THE UC AND èC S¼ U
CONCERNS. ABOUT CHANGING THE
PROGRAM. I. I DEFINITELY WELL.
FIRST I THINK I WANNA START OFF
BY THANKING U èC OFFICE, THE
PRESIDENT FOR THE COMMITMENT FOR
DEBT FREE COLLEGE. I KNOW HE'S
EXPRESSED THAT AS A GOAL. UM, I
THINK YOU KNOW. THERE'S A GOAL
OF A OF A YEAR UNDERSTANDING IT.
IMPACTS LIKE THIS ONE. SORT OF
CHANGE THAT CALCULATION. I
APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US KNOW
THAT THAT THAT'S A REALITY THAT
YOU NOW HAVE TO DEAL WITH, IF
THIS HAPPENS, BUT STILL A
COMMITMENT TO DEBT FREE COLLEGE
IS, UM, VERY IMPORTANT TO
APPRECIATE THAT. UM AND SO THE
QUESTION ON CHANGING, UM THE
CHANGES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED
WHEN THERE'S AN OVERAGE OF $6,
AS WAS MENTIONED. UM HOW HOW?
AH, MAYBE. CAN YOU GIVE ME A
SENSE? BOTH SYSTEMS THAT THAT,
UM DEAL WITH THIS IN LARGER
VOLUME? HOW OFTEN THAT OCCURS?
HOW? HOW CHALLENGING THAT IS FOR
YOU TO IMPLEMENT. SURE UM, AND
I'LL PREFACE THIS BY SAYING, UM,
THAT THE NUMBERS I'M ABOUT TO
SHARE SHOULD GO DOWN AS A RESULT
OF THE CHANGES THE LEGISLATURE
MADE AROUND BASIC NEEDS AND NON
OR NON NEED SCHOLARSHIPS. THAT
APRIL MENTIONED, UM, BUT IT IT
WAS AS AS HIGH AS 30% IN ALL OF
OUR CAMPUSES, WHERE CAMPUSES
WERE HAVING TO RE RECALCULATE,
UM THOSE AWARDS, SO THAT WAS
VERY FRUSTRATING TO STUDENTS.
ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT I WOULD
SAY THAT NUMBER. WE DON'T HAVE
THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT IT WAS A
VERY FREQUENT THING THAT HAPPENS
BECAUSE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO
FINANCIAL AID MEANS AN
ADJUSTMENT TO M. èC S¼, UH, I
THINK IN ONE EXAMPLE WE HAD A
STUDENT. THAT, UH, WAS
TRANSMITTED BACK AND FORTH OVER
10 TIMES. UH, LET ME SEE IF I
ALSO UNDERSTAND THE OTHER
RAMIFICATIONS TO THE STUDENT
BECAUSE STUDENTS ENTERED HERE.
SO THE STUDENT RECEIVES AN AWARD
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A
CHANGE. DOES THAT JUST, UM LOWER
THE AWARD, PERHAPS IN THE SECOND
SEMESTER AND THE SEMESTER SYSTEM
OR THE SECOND QUARTER. HOW DOES
IT IMPACT A STUDENT? I KNOW IT
IMPACTS YOU HAVING TO GO AND FIX
IT. BUT HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE
STUDENT? SO UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
OVER THE DECADES GOTTEN VERY
EFFICIENT AT DEPLOYING MONEY
THROUGH FINANCIAL AID, AND SO
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING? UH, IS,
IS THAT, UM FOR EXAMPLE, A
STUDENT MIGHT EARN A SCHOLARSHIP
FROM THEIR ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT
AT THE END OF THE FALL SEMESTER.
THEY RECEIVED THAT SCHOLARSHIP
SAY IT'S $1000 THAT REDUCES
THEIR MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP
ELIGIBILITY BY $1000 TIMES THE
PHASE IN PERCENTAGE THE PROBLEM
IS THAT WE'RE SO EFFICIENT THAT
WE PAY THAT SCHOLARSHIP OUT TO
THE STUDENT. IN SOME CASES, SO
THEY STUDENT GETS $1000. BUT
THEN IN SPRING, WE HAVE TO SEND
$260 BACK OR WHATEVER TO THE
STUDENT AID COMMISSION, SO THE
STUDENT MIGHT ACTUALLY GET A
BILL AND IN THE SPRING SEMESTER,
UH, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TO
RECALCULATE THE MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD AND SEND THAT
MONEY BACK, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
. IT'S SUCH A MANUAL PROCESS TO
DO THE RECALCULATION. THEY
ALREADY GOT THE $1000
SCHOLARSHIP, SO IT FEELS LIKE A
TAKEAWAY TO THE STUDENT, AND
IT'S VERY CONFUSING AND
FRUSTRATING TO THEM. EVEN IF WE
CATCH IT AHEAD OF TIME. UH THE
STUDENT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD
BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TOLD THEY
WERE GETTING $1000 SCHOLARSHIP
AND WE HAVE TO TELL THEM NÓ.
YOU'RE GETTING A CHECK FOR $700
NOT 1000 OK, AND THAT ISSUE WILL
IDEALLY BE FIXED THIS COMING
YEAR WHEN THE SCHOLARSHIP ISN'T
AFFECTED, AFFECTING MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE MOST PART,
UM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES
LIKE THAT IF THEY'RE FEDERAL
AID, UH, ELIGIBILITY CHANGES. UM
FINANCIALLY. IT IS SUCH A FLUID
THING THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC
YEAR THAT THEY'RE AS APRIL
SAYING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
FACTORS CAN CAN MEAN A
RECALCULATION. YEAH, AND I GUESS
I'M I'M DEFINITELY MORE
SYMPATHETIC TO THIS, YOU KNOW,
SCHOLARSHIP THAT YOU RECEIVED
FINANCIAL SITUATIONS CHANGE IN
THAT DEFINITELY. WHERE, AS RE
RECALIBRATION THERE, BUT BUT
CERTAINLY DEFINITELY DON'T WANNA
BE IN A POSITION OF ASKING
STUDENTS TO PAY BACK OR TO, UH,
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE EARNED. AND THEN
YOU'VE LOST. SO I. I WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. BUT I. I
HEAR THAT THAT SEEMS TO BE
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
ADDRESSED IS THERE UM LET ME ASK
ANOTHER QUESTION. AND THEN, UM
MAYBE TO THE LAO. WILL THAT
CHANGE THE CALCULATION? ON THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT IF WE'RE NÓ
LONGER. UM COLLECTING BACK. IF
YOU WILL, FROM ANYBODY WHO'S NÓ
LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR SOME PORTION
OF DOES THAT? SUBSTANTIALLY IT
SOUNDS LIKE IT HAPPENED A LOT.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE FIGURES
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO ANALYZE
WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE
ACTUAL COST OF THE PROGRAM AND
THEREFORE THE AWARD PER STUDENT.
SO FOR CONTEXT, YOU'LL RECALL
THAT LAST YEAR IN THE TRAILER
BELL, THE STATE ADOPTED A CHANGE
THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT IN 2024 25
SO THAT THE SEGMENTS NÓ LONGER
HAVE TO DO THOSE RECALCULATIONS
WHEN STUDENTS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIPS, AS
WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED UM, WE
WOULD EXPECT THAT THAT WILL Tð
THE TOTAL AMOUNT y
COSTS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS TO
COVER ON AGGREGATE. BECAUSE THE
STATE DECIDES AT THE OUTSET HOW
MUCH FUNDING IT WISHES TO
PROVIDE IN ANY GIVEN YEAR FOR
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP. IT
DOESN'T DIRECTLY TRANSLATE TO
ADDITIONAL STATE COSTS, BUT YOU
COULD THINK OF IT AS ADDITIONAL
COST PRESSURES IN THE PROGRAM.
ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT IS WHEN
THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
REMAINING COSTS GOES UP IN
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP, THE
PHASE IN PERCENTAGE OR THE
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL COSTS THAT
CAN BE COVERED, UH, GOES DOWN AT
ANY GIVEN FUNDING LEVEL.
UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE
SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR AT THE TIME
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS, BUT
YOUR FIGURE SIX THAT YOU
REFERENCED TO ON PAGE 16 OF THE
AGENDA IS ALREADY REFLECTIVE OF
THOSE YOU ANTICIPATED CHANGES.
THE FIGURE SIX IS BASED ON
ESTIMATES THAT WERE RUN BY THE
COMMISSION IN OCTOBER AND LET ME
LET ME ASK THE COMMISSION THAT
THEIR ESTIMATES UM YOU
UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION AND TRY
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS
GOING. YES, I THINK I DO. MR.
CHAIR. UM I THINK WE WILL REALLY
NEED TO LOOK AT THIS. UM
TRANSMISSION OF STUDENT
INFORMATION RECORDS THAT WE HAVE
NOT YET RECEIVED TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE MORE INSIGHT INTO WHAT
2425 LOOKS LIKE THE ESTIMATE
THAT WE DEVELOP IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE GOVER GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
IS BASED ON ALL THE MOST RECENT
DATA THAT WE'VE COLLECTED. WE
HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED
DATA ABOUT ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
, SO THAT WILL BE A NEW DATA
POINT FOR US THAT WILL BEGIN TO
COLLECT OVER THE SUMMER AS WE RE
RECEIVE THE ENROLLMENT FILES AND
AMOUNT OF INSTITUTIONAL OR
SCHOLARSHIP AID THAT STUDENTS
ARE RECEIVING, AND WHERE THAT
FACTORED INTO THE, UM,
UNDERLYING CALCULATIONS. SO
THERE ARE A FEW MOVING PARTS
HERE. UM THIS WAS THE BEST
ESTIMATE THAT WE COULD PROVIDE
BACK IN OCTOBER, THOUGH, AS
YOU'VE HEARD IN THE FIRST PANEL,
A LOT OF CHANGES, UM, IN THE
MONTHS SINCE THEN. THANK YOU.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR FONG.
HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. UH, MR CHAIR AND
FOLLOWING A LINE OF, UH UH,
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MID
ADJUSTMENTS. UM I KNOW THEY'RE
SUGGESTED TWEAKS TO SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE
SUGGESTED TWEAKS TO SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS SO THAT WE'RE NOT
CHANGING THE STUDENT AWARDS. UH,
MID I. I KNOW THE UM èC S¼ U.
YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE PERSON
GOT CHANGED 10 TIMES IN A YEAR.
THAT'S JUST A LOT OF FEELS LIKE
A LOT OF YO YO BACK AND FORTH
HERE. OFTEN IT IS LIKE MEDIA
CHANGES HAPPEN. AND HOW CAN WE
LIKE SIMPLIFY? UM, THE PROCESS?
UM WELL, I CAN ANSWER BY SAYING
EVERYTHING, APRIL, SAID THIS IS
YOUR BREAK FROM UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA. WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT
AROUND. UM A NUMBER OF THE
THINGS THAT THE èC S¼ U
OUTLINED, FOR EXAMPLE, UM YOU
KNOW, I THIS IS A VERY
COMPLICATED PROGRAM TO
ADMINISTER, AND SO, UH, WITH ALL
DUE RESPECT TO THE CALIFORNIA
STUDENT COMMISSION, WHICH IS
TRYING TO MANAGE A VERY
COMPLICATED PROGRAM, KNOWING
THAT PHASE IN PERCENTAGE, UH IN
DECEMBER THE YEAR BEFORE SCHOOL
STARTS IS CRITICAL IF WE WANT TO
PROVIDE ESTIMATED AWARDS THAT
ARE ACCURATE TO OUR NEWLY
ADMITTED STUDENTS. WE NEED TO
KNOW THAT WELL IN ADVANCE SO
THAT WE CAN START TO BUILD THAT
INTO OUR OUR SYSTEM, AND I AND
WE WANT TO DO THAT. WE REALLY
WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL STUDENTS
THE FULL RANGE OF FINANCIAL AID
THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR SO
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT PHASE IN
PERCENTAGE IS EARLY WOULD REALLY
HELP, UH, WITH THE NEWLY
ADMITTED STUDENTS, AND THEN I
THINK AGAIN. THE UM AS APRIL,
SAID THE, UH, HAVING AN, UH A
BROADER ALLOWANCE THAT WOULD NOT
REQUIRE RECALCULATION, I THINK
WOULD WOULD HELP. WE DO HAVE
THAT IN SOME WAYS AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL WITH THE PELL GRANT WHERE
YOU CAN HAVE. I THINK IT'S A TWO
OR $300 OVER AWARD AT THE END OF
THE YEAR, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO
RECALCULATE. UM SO UH, EITHER
THAT OR OR EVEN SORT OF TIER
TOWARDS WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST
ROUND THE AWARDS TO THE NEAREST
$100 WOULD SIMPLIFY THINGS QUITE
A BIT. AND I'LL JUST ADD THERE.
THERE ARE SCENARIOS WHERE
STUDENTS GET. YOU KNOW WE'VE
DISPERSED THEIR FALL AID. WE'VE
DISPERSED THEIR SPRING AID AND
THEN LATE OR MIDDLE TO LATE
SPRING, THEY GET AN ADJUSTMENT
TO FINANCIAL AID, AND THAT WILL
REQUIRE A RECALCULATION OF M,
èC, S¼ AND US TO BUILD THE
STUDENT. AND SO WHEN SPRING
AWARDS HAPPEN, WE HAVE NÓ OTHER
CHOICE BECAUSE AID IS WITHIN
THAT A YEAR TO GO TO THE STUDENT
AND ASK THEM TO RETURN THAT.
FUNDING AND THAT BECOMES A VERY
DELICATE SITUATION. IN SOME
CASES, STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY
SPENT THAT MONEY, SO WE'RE
ASKING THEM TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF
THEIR POCKET TO REPAY BECAUSE OF
THAT MCS RECALCULATION. THANK
YOU. AND, UH, IF I MAY JUST, UH
ADD ON HERE FIRST. I APPRECIATE
OUR, UH, SEGMENTAL COLLEAGUES
WALKING THROUGH THE COMPLEXITY
OF THIS PROGRAM. IT IS, UM
COMPLEX PROGRAM FOR OUR
ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AND WE
WOULD JOIN IN IDENTIFYING
SEVERAL AREAS WHERE STATUTORY
REVISION COULD HELP SIMPLIFY
THIS NOT ONLY FOR THE
ADMINISTRATORS OF THE PROGRAM,
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THESE
STUDENTS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO
THAT, YO YO EFFECT THAT YOU
DESCRIBED ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG.
WHAT I'LL JUST NOTE IN TERMS OF
THE PHASE IN PERCENTAGE. THIS
TIMING OF HOW WE DETERMINE THE
PHASE IN PERCENTAGE IS REALLY
REQUIRED BY THE WAY THE STATUTE
IS CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTED, WHICH
MEANS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW
REALLY, YOU COULD THINK OF THREE
KEY DATA POINTS. ALL OF THE
STUDENTS WHO APPLY AND ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP. THE APPROPRIATION
AMOUNT, WHICH WE DON'T SETTLE
UPON, FINALLY, UNTIL JUNE, AND
THEN THE AMOUNT OF AID THAT THE
EACH OF THOSE RECIPIENTS IS
RECEIVING, WHICH WE RECEIVE FROM
OUR, UM, CAMPUSES IN THE JULY
AUGUST TIME FRAME, WHICH IS WHEN
WE THEN CAN DEFINITIVELY
IDENTIFY THE AMOUNT PER STUDENT.
WE PROVIDE CURRENTLY AN ESTIMATE
OF WHAT THE PHASE IN PERCENTAGE
COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE SPRING TO
HELP INFORM THE FINANCIAL AID
OFFER LETTER PROCESS, BUT THAT'S
STILL CONDITIONAL AND AN
ESTIMATE BASED ON THOSE OTHER
THREE REALLY KEY INPUTS. YOU
COULD ENVISION A SYSTEM AS I
THINK, UM SEAN WAS DESCRIBING IN
WHICH YOU WOULD INSTEAD LOOK AT
STUDENT PROFILES AND IDENTIFY AN
AMOUNT THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE TO
EACH OF THOSE STUDENTS BASED ON
THEIR THEIR SEGMENT AND THEIR
INCOME STATUS. THAT'D BE A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM AND
MIGHT MAKE IT FEEL A LITTLE BIT
MORE LIKE AN ENTITLEMENT, WHICH
HAS A BENEFIT TO THE STUDENT.
BUT UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I IMAGINE
YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENTLY IN A
BUDGETARY CONTEXT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS AND WHAT
IS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS
ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS MID
CHANGES. OF A ESTIMATE. OUR
LATEST FOR THIS LAST YEAR WAS
ABOUT 30% 30% OF STUDENTS. UM I
DO THINK THAT NUMBER WILL GO
DOWN WITH THE CHANGE TO THE
SCHOLARSHIP TREATMENT. WE DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION
FROM OUR CAMPUSES. BUT IT IS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STUDENTS
AND THE MANUAL INTERVENTION TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND THEN THAT
SUBSEQUENT PROCESS OF
COMMUNICATING WITH THE STUDENT
IS HIGHLY BURDENSOME ON THE
FINANCIAL AID OFFICES AND
CONFUSING TO THE STUDENTS. SURE,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR
CHAIR. I APPRECIATE ALL THE
COMMENTS HERE AND HOW WE CAN
REALLY MAKE THIS PROCESS BETTER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH
WELL, SORRY. WE'RE GONNA HOLD
THAT ISSUE OPEN, JUST LIKE THE
PRIOR ONE CERTAINLY WILL
CONTINUE TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES
ON UH, FOR THE PREVIOUS ONE HAD
A FULLY OR PARTIALLY IMPLEMENT
èC GRANT. AND ON THIS ONE,
WE'LL HOLD IT OPEN FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR COMMENTS AND ANSWERING OUR
QUESTIONS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT PANEL, WHICH IS ON
STUDENT HOUSING REVOLVING LOAN
FUND. UH, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
TO DEFUND THE STUDENT HOUSING
REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM. IN
THIS YEAR'S, UH BUDGET. WE HAVE
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE.
STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE IS
PRESENT. I BELIEVE UH, WE HAVE
THE CALIFORNIA EDUCATION
FACILITIES AUTHORITY. FROM THE
STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE. AND
YOU SEE THE CSU AND THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. LEADERSHIP IS
ALSO HERE. SO WHY DON'T WE START
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
ON DISCUSSING THE PROPOSAL IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET? GOOD
MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS ALEX
AND I A VELASQUEZ WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA STUDENT HOUSING
REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM. THE
2020 THREE BUDGET ACT APPROVED A
MULTIYEAR INVESTMENT OF ONE
POINT 7,000,000,001 TIME GENERAL
FUND OVER SIX YEARS, WHICH
SHOULD COMPRISE OF 200,000,001
TIME GENERAL FUND IN 2020, THREE
24 AND 300,000,001 TIME GENERAL
FUND EACH YEAR FROM 2024 25 TO
2028 29. GIVEN THE BUDGET AND
REVENUE OUTLOOK, THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSED SPENDING FUNDING
FOR THIS PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES
PULLING BACK THE PLANT 1.5 IN
GENERAL FUND INVESTMENTS FROM
2024 25 TO 2028 29 AND REVERTING
100 AND 94 MILLION OF THE
200,000,001 TIME GENERAL FUND
APPROPRIATED IN THE CURRENT
YEAR. 2023 24 THIS CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU. WE'LL HEAR FROM
THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE.
JENNIFER PELLA. ELIO. UH, WE
RECOMMEND ADOPTING THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL AS FINANCE
DESCRIBED IT YIELDS 1.7 BILLION
IN BUDGET SOLUTIONS, SO IT'S BY
FAR THE LARGEST HIGHER END
BUDGET SOLUTION BEFORE YOU IT
ACHIEVES THE SOLUTION WITHOUT
ANY DIRECT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
STUDENTS, FACULTY OR STAFF. UM
TO THE EXTENT YOU WOULD DESIRE,
A REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR
HOUSING AND HIGHER EDUCATION,
YOU COULD REVISIT IT IN FUTURE
YEARS ON THE BUDGET CONDITION.
IMPROVED. THANK YOU. UH WHO'S
HERE? REPRESENTING THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE? YES HØI.
GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
CAROLINE ABU BEAR FROM THE
CALIFORNIA EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES AUTHORITY HERE ON
BEHALF OF TREASURER A CALIFORNIA
STATE TREASURE. FIONA MÀ, UM,
SHE IS BOTH THE CHAIR OF THE
CALIFORNIA EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES AUTHORITY AS WELL AS
THE SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY,
UH, REFERRED TO AS èC A OR èC
S¼ FA. UM BOTH STAN èC S¼ FA AS
FINANCE MENTIONED WERE ALLOCATED
200 MILLION AS PART OF THE 2023
BUDGET ACT TO CO ADMINISTER THE
STUDENT HOUSING REVOLVING LOAN
PROGRAM, WHICH I'LL REFER TO AS
THE CASH R Ó F PROGRAM THAT WAS
CHAPTERED INTO LAW IN 2022 100.
50 MILLION WAS DESIGNATED FOR
CIFA TO ADMINISTER APPLICATIONS
FROM QUALIFYING APPLICANTS OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
SYSTEMS AND $50 MILLION FOR èC
S¼ FA TO ADMINISTER APPLICATIONS
FROM CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. THE CASH R Ó F
PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
ZERO INTEREST LOANS TO THE THREE
SEGMENTS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
STUDENT FACULTY AND STAFF
HOUSING. UM ON BEHALF OF
TREASURER FIONA MOM, I'M HERE TO
EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
FUNDING AND WHAT THIS PROGRAM
WOULD ACCOMPLISH, WHICH IS MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR THE
VULNERABLE STUDENTS OF
CALIFORNIA. THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CALIFORNIA
GROWS EACH DAY CALIFORNIA IS
EXPERIENCING INCREASING HOUSING
COSTS AND LOWER DECLINING
VACANCY RENTAL RATES, WITH
ADDITIONAL RENT INCREASES ON THE
HORIZON. THE CASH. ALL OF
PROGRAM IS A REVOLVING LOAN
PROGRAM, WHICH MEANS IT SETS US
OR OR IT LEVERAGES ONE TIME
FUNDING TO PRODUCE ONGOING
PERMANENT FINANCING TOOL THAT
CAMPUSES CAN UTILIZE OVER THE
FUTURE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AS SOON AS THE PROGRAM
WAS FUNDED. THE CIFA AND èC S¼
FA TEAMS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
THEY WORKED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO
DRAFT REGULATIONS AND AN
APPLICATION WHICH WAS SHARED
WITH THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS. ALL
THE THREE SEGMENTS AND OTHER
ASSOCIATIONS. WE RECEIVED
VALUABLE FEEDBACK. WE WERE READY
TO INCORPORATE THE FEEDBACK FROM
THE SEGMENTS AND THE, UH UH,
ADVOCACY GROUPS AND THEN THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGETS
PROPOSED SUSPENDING THE FUNDING
FOR THE PROGRAM TO HALTING IT
JUST YARDS FROM THE FINISH LINE.
UM THIS TREASURER'S OFFICE
APPRECIATES THE INITIAL FUNDING
THE LEGIS LEGISLATURE SET FORTH
FOR THIS SHARED PRIORITY AND
ALSO NOW THE DIFFICULT TASK THAT
HAS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO, UH,
WORK WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET.
HOUSING HAS BEEN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE TREASURER. AND
AS YOU CONSIDER THE ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE STATE BUDGET, THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE IS READY TO
ASSIST IN PROVIDING HOUSING
OPTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS AND FOR
THE WORKFORCE OF CALIFORNIA. UM
JUST A FEW THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT
ON THE PROGRAM DUE TO THE
LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING
PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET, AND IN
ORDER TO KIND OF POTENTIALLY
STRETCH THE FUNDS THAT WERE
ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET. UH, THE
PROGRAM WAS PROPOSING TO DO
BRIDGE FINANCING OR GAP
FINANCING FOR STUDENT HOUSING,
BRIDGE FINANCING, MEANING
FUNDING EARLY WORKS OF STUDENT
HOUSING PROJECTS, WHICH IS
PLANNING PERMITS POLI
PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND ACQUIS
SITE ACQUISITION OR PREPARATION,
AND THEN LATER, THE UNIVERSITY
CAN FUND IT WITH OTHER
FINANCING, OR GAP FINANCING
WHERE WE WOULD FINANCE A PORTION
OF THE STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT
NOT COVERED BY EITHER CAMPUS
CONTRIBUTIONS, THE GRANT FUNDS
OR OTHER FINANCING VEHICLES. UM
SINCE THE FUNDING IS VERY
LIMITED INSTEAD OF FUNDING THE
FULL PROJECT COSTS WHICH COULD
VARY FROM 25 MILLION ALL THE WAY
UP TO 575 MILLION PER PROJECT.
IN THE PAST, WE PROPOSED THESE
FINANCING OPTIONS. ALSO IN ORDER
, UM BE DUE TO THE LIMITED
AMOUNT OF FUNDING èC èC, A,
UM, DEVELOPED DRAFT GUIDELINES
THAT INCLUDED EVALUATION
CRITERIA TO RATE THE
APPLICATIONS AND SCORE THEM.
BASED ON UNMET DEMAND FOR
STUDENT HOUSING, BASED ON
AFFORDABILITY, HAVING A LOCAL
MATCH, WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF
FUNDING, UH, ASSESSING PROJECT
FEASIBILITY, AND, UM, HOW READY
A PROJECT IS THE PROJECT BUDGET
PROJECTIONS, QUALITY OF CREDIT
AND SECURITY STRUCTURE. AS WELL
AS THE PUBLIC BENEFIT. WE IN THE
DRAFT OF THE PROGRAM, WE WERE
GIVEN A PRIORITY TO INTER
SEGMENTAL PROJECTS. DIVERSE UM,
AWARDING PROJECTS TO DIVERSE
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND PROJECTS
WITH EARLIER START DATES. UM
ALSO SA AND èC S¼ FA BECAUSE WE
ARE HOUSED WITHIN THE STATE
TREASURER'S OFFICE. WE INVESTED
THE $200 MILLION TO IN THE
PULLED MONEY INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
AS OF THE END OF OCTOBER OF
2020, THREE AND AS PART OF THE
STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE ROLE IN
BEING A FISCAL FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE STEWARD OF MONIES.
èC èC S¼ FA IS $200 MILLION
ALREADY RAISED $1.6 MILLION IN
INTEREST. AND THAT INTEREST
COULD BE USED IN THE FUTURE IF
THE FUND WERE TO COME BACK TO
OFFSET ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OR
FUTURE FUNDING PROJECTS. UM SO,
UH, CSF AND CFO, WE WERE READY
TO PROCEED. WHATEVER DECISIONS
MADE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
REGULATIONS IF THE FUNDING IS
RESTORED, UM AND THAT WOULD BE
WHERE WE WOULD FINALIZE THE REG.
UH, REGULATIONS INCORPORATE THE
VALUABLE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED
FROM THE SEGMENTS AND THEN GO TO
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW TO
FINALIZE THE REGS AND THEN
APPROVE OR START ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS, SO THAT'S KIND OF
WHERE WE'RE AT AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UH,
WHAT YOU SEE YOUR CSU SYSTEM
LIKE TO UM, THANK YOU, CHAIR
ALVAREZ, UH AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE SAY OF TANNEN FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. UM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HAS
GREATLY EXPANDED STUDENT HOUSING
OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND
2016. WE BEGAN THE STUDENT
HOUSING INITIATIVE, UH, WHICH
WAS AIMED TO SUPPORT CURRENT AND
FUTURE STUDENTS IN EXPANDING
OUR, UM, CAMPUS HOUSING
INVENTORY, AND THIS INITIATIVE
IDENTIFIED LAND ON WHICH HOUSING
COULD BE BUILT AND IDENTIFIED
VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES. BE
UTILIZED TO EXPAND OUR HOUSING
INVENTORY. UM THESE EFFORTS HAVE
RESULTED IN THE COMPLETION OF
OVER 28,600 NEW STUDENT HOUSING
BEDS SINCE 2016. AND WE WERE
ENTHUSIASTIC TO CONTINUE TO
EXPAND OUR STUDENT HOUSING
INVENTORY. UH, WHICH IS WHY THE
UNIVERSITY WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE
CALIFORNIA STUDENT HOUSING
REVOLVING LOAN FUND ACT, THE
AVAILABILITY TO BORROW FUNDS
WITH NÓ INTEREST WOULD ALLOW THE
UNIVERSITY TO BUILD ADDITIONAL
HOUSING WITH MODEST SAVINGS THAT
COULD BE PASSED ON TO STUDENTS,
STAFF AND FACULTY. THE
UNIVERSITY WORKED WITH THE
CALIFORNIA EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK ON THE REVOLVING LOAN
FUND PROGRAM CRITERIA ON JANUARY
. 5TH IN OF 2024, THE UNIVERSITY
SUBMITTED FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE
PROPOSED REVOLVING LOAN FUND
REGULATIONS. WHILE THE
OBLIGATION PROCESS FOR THE LOAN
PROGRAM WAS NEVER OPENED. WE DO
KNOW THAT AT LEAST TWO CAMPUSES
WERE INTENDING TO SUBMIT
APPLICATIONS FOR THE LOAN
PROGRAM. UM IN ADDITION, SEVERAL
U èC CAMPUSES PREPARED
APPLICATIONS FOR THE HIGHER
EDUCATION STUDENT HOUSING GRANT
PROGRAM FUNDS THAT WERE NOT
SELECTED FOR FUNDING. UM THAT
COULD UTILIZE THE LOAN PROGRAM
AS A AVAILABLE SOURCE OF
FUNDING. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY. I'M AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SYSTEM, ARE YOU, UH èC
S¼ U. UH, GOOD MORNING CHAIR.
ALVAS. MY NAME IS PAUL GANO AND
I'M ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR,
CAPITAL PLANNING, DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE UNIVERSITY, APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE HEARING. UM SINCE THE
INCEPTION OF THE REVOLVING LOAN
FUND, WE HAVE HAD INTEREST AMONG
THE CAMPUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE PROGRAM. UH THE
ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE OF A 0%
LOAN ON HOUSING PROJECT IS THERE
AND UM YOU KNOW, THO. THOSE
SAVINGS ARE PASSED ALONG IN
LOWER RENTS TO OUR STUDENTS, SO
WE DID HAVE A BIT OF INTEREST IN
THAT AS WELL AS FOR FACULTY AND
STAFF HOUSING. UH, WE'RE WE WERE
JUST LIKE, UH, EVERYONE ELSE
WAITING TO HEAR TO SEE WHAT THE
FINAL APPLICATION PROCESS WOULD
LOOK LIKE. UM AND, UM EAGER TO
PARTICIPATE IN IT. WHEN IT COMES
AROUND, IF IT COMES AROUND, AND
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS, THANK GOOD MORNING
CHAIR ALVAREZ AND SUB COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I'M RNA FINCH, VICE
CHANCELLOR OF COLLEGE FINANCE
AND FACILITIES FOR CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. UM I. I
REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON
STUDENT HOUSING THIS MORNING.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE
INCREASING HOUSING, INSECURITY
AND HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IMPACTS
THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THEIR
EDUCATIONAL GOALS. IN FACT,
ACCORDING TO A 2023, CALIFORNIA
STUDENT AID COMMISSION, FOOD AND
HOUSING SURVEY, 53% OF STUDENTS
REPORTED EXPERIENCING HOUSING
SECURITY, WHICH IS A 20%
INCREASE SINCE 2018 COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THOSE WHO
ARE LOW INCOME ADULT LEARNERS,
STUDENT PARENTS, FEMALE AND
BLACK OR BLACK NECKS CONTINUE TO
BE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCING
HOUSING INSECURITY. AND AT THE
SAME TIME, COMMUNITY COLLEGES
HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
CAMPUSES WITH HOUSING AVAILABLE
FOR STUDENTS. UM, BECAUSE OF
THESE REASONS, WE WERE VERY
INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE
DETAILS. YOU KNOW THE SEEING THE
FINAL APPLICATION FOR THE
STUDENT HOUSING LOAN REVOLVING
FUND. UM WE WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN
THIS FUND IN THE FUTURE AND
WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO
CONSIDER THE RATIO OF FUNDS THAT
ARE PROVIDED FOR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. GIVING OUR GREAT NEED.
UM IN 20, THREE 24 ONLY 25% OF
THE FUNDS WERE EARMARKED FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHERE WE
SERVE, UH, OVER 2 MILLION
STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA, SO WE'D
LIKE THAT TO BE CONSIDERED IN
THE FUTURE. AND UM, YOU KNOW,
VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING IF WE
CAN CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM WHEN
STATE REVENUE ALLOWS FOR IT.
THANK YOU ALL APPRECIATE YOUR
PRESENTATION. UH, I I'M NOT
GONNA ASK ANYTHING ABOUT THE
NEED. I THINK IT'S PRETTY
EVIDENT TO YOU ALL EXPRESSED IT
QUITE QUITE WELL, AND THERE'S
SOME BACKUP IN OUR AGENDA AND
JUST THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT
, UM, DESPERATELY COULD, UH,
RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING.
SO I I'M GONNA PASS ON THAT, UM
WHAT? I'M INTERESTED IN IS
LEARNING MORE ABOUT, UM HOW THE
REVOLVING LOAN FUND MAYBE, YOU
KNOW, THE INTENT OF A REVOLVING
LOAN FUND IS TO MAKE IT
ESSENTIALLY. UM ONGOING AND SORT
OF SELF SUFFICIENT IF YOU WILL.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S
GOT ANY THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
MAYBE THE L A Ó. ANY, UH ANY
THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE REPAYMENT
PLANS WOULD LOOK LIKE TO RE, UH
REPLENISH THE FUNDS AND HOW YOU
KNOW HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE.
AND AT WHAT POINT THIS TRULY
BECOMES REVOLVING, AS OPPOSED TO
UH, IN THE BEGINNING, DEFINITELY
LIKELY. IT'S GONNA FEEL MORE
LIKE ONE TIME IN NATURE AT SOME
POINT. THE MONEY COMES BACK AND
WE CAN REUSE IT FOR OTHER
PURPOSES. BUT UM, DID YOU MAYBE
TREASURER'S OFFICE OR L, A Ó
HAVE ANY PROJECTIONS ON THE
INTENT FROM LAST YEAR'S, UH UM
BUDGET AND WHERE? WHAT? THAT ONE
IS GONNA LEAD US DOWN TO YES,
THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR FOR THE
QUESTION, SO THE WAY WE HAD
ENVISIONED AND DEVELOPED THE
PROGRAM WAS THAT THE SEGMENT
WOULD APPLY FOR A TERM THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO REPAY THE LOAN
BACK UP TO 30 YEARS, SO
TECHNICALLY IF, UH, SEGMENT WERE
TO APPLY FOR A 30 YEAR LOANS,
YOU KNOW FUNDS WILL CYCLE IN ON
A MONTHLY YEARLY BASIS UNTIL
THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY
BACK IN THE FUND. THEN WE WERE
RECON RECYCLE IT, SO IT PROBABLY
AT LEAST 5 TO 10 YEARS TO GET A
GOOD ENOUGH AMOUNT OF MONEY TO
RECYCLE IT. HOWEVER IT CAN BE
SET UP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE WHERE
WE COULD SET SHORTER TERMS.
OBVIOUSLY WITH A SHORTER DUE
DATE TO PAY BACK A LOAN, IT
WOULD BE A HIGHER PAYMENT FOR
THE SYSTEMS, WHICH MIGHT NOT
HELP THEM CASH WISE, BUT IT CAN
BE DESIGNED IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE
WHERE IT'S WHERE THE FUNDS CAN
RECYCLE AT AN EARLIER PHASE, OR
THEY WOULD RECYCLE AT A LOT
LATER PHASE, BUT THE FUNDS ARE
THERE TO BE RECYCLED. UM
APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE. MAYBE
AND I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU SEE
YOUR èC S¼ E OR GYNECOLOGIST TO
GIVE ME SPECIFICS, BUT, UM
CLEARLY THIS LOAN PROGRAM IS
MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THE
MARKET. WE KNOW THAT THOSE RATES
ARE, YOU KNOW, UM USUALLY HIGHER
THAN SIX OR 7% ESPECIALLY FOR
THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS TO
PROBABLY HIGHER. UM SO THERE IS
SOME SAVINGS THERE. II I I'M
JUST CURIOUS AGAIN WITHOUT ANY
CER. CERTAINLY NÓ COMMITMENT. UM
A FASTER REPAYMENT. I ASSUME IN
YOUR ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE
PROGRAMS THAT YOU WERE HOPING OR
THE PROJECTS YOU WERE HOPING TO
APPLY FOR YOU HAD A 30 YEAR
REPAYMENT ASSUMPTION. I I ASSUME
MAYBE MAYBE NOT, UM, JUST
INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT
WHAT YOU PERHAPS WERE, UH, GOING
TO BE PROPOSING AND HOW MAYBE
EVEN A PROGRAM THAT IS PERHAPS
NOT A 0. IF IT WASN'T 0% WOULD
YOU THEN NOT PURSUE IT AT ALL?
OR DOES A 3% PROGRAM OFFER A
BENEFIT THAT MAY BE ATTRACTIVE
TO ANY OF THE SEGMENTS? AGAIN
KNOWING THAT YOU WON'T HAVE
SPECIFICS, BUT JUST CURIOUS AS
TO THERE'S A IF THERE'S A
DIFFERENT PATHWAY FORWARD HERE.
UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR
ALVAREZ. WE DID LOOK, UH,
WORKING WITH, UH, THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE. WE LOOKED AT
SOME POSSIBILITY. MAYBE UH,
BORROWING FOR CAP. I UH SO
DURING, YOU KNOW, DURING, UH,
CONSTRUCTION, TAKE IT ALONE TO
COVER THAT. SO WE WE'RE NOT
PAYING A HIGH INTEREST RATE OR
OUR INTEREST RATE ABOUT 4.5% 5%
FOR Kò. I AS MENTIONED. WE ALSO
LOOKED AT, UM UH, LOANS FOR
PRELIMINARY PLANS OR WORKING
DRAWINGS, SORT OF JUST TO GET US
THROUGH THAT PERIOD OF TIME ON
AT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
PROGRAM, AND I THINK THE 0%
OBVIOUSLY IS ATTRACTIVE. UM WE
WOULD HAVE TO RUN THE NUMBERS AS
WE GET CLOSER TO WHAT WE'RE WHAT
WE'RE BORROWING AT TO SEE IF THE
PROGRAM UH, WERE VALUABLE, BUT,
UM, REALLY, THE 0. WOULD MAKE A
MARKET IMPACT ON OUR RENT RATES.
I I'LL LET THE OTHERS ANSWER.
AND MAYBE YOU WANNA ANSWER ALSO
THIS FOLLOW UP THAT I HAVE FOR
YOU, I IT'S INTERESTING. YOU'VE
TALKED ABOUT GETTING THE LOAN
FOR THE PLANNING AND ALL THE PRE
WORK THAT HAPPENS, WHICH IS
SUBSTANTIAL, QUITE QUITE OFTEN.
UM AND YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE
CASH FLOW IN YOUR GENERAL FUND
TO DO THAT, UH, SOUNDS LIKE THAT
THAT COULD BE COULD BE HELPFUL.
UM IS THAT BECAUSE THEN YOU
MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE
MARKET AND ACTUALLY FINANCE THE
CONSTRUCTION USING TRADITIONAL
MARKET, UM, PRODUCTS OR UM, WH
WHY WOULD THAT BE? HELPFUL IF
YOU JUST GOT IT FOR A CERTAIN
PERIOD LIKE PLANNING. UH
PREPARATION WORK OR OR MAYBE
JUST THE CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT
OF IT. YEAH, WE WOULD. WE WOULD
BE GLAD TO GET IT FOR THE ENTIRE
PROJECT. SO I WOULDN'T HEAR, UH,
WOULDN'T MEAN TO SAY WE WERE
LIMITED TO THAT AREA OF
INTEREST. BUT WHEN WE WERE FIRST
TALKING, MAYBE THE LOAN AMOUNTS
WOULD BE SMALLER, AND THAT
SEEMED LIKE A GOOD WAY AS YOU
MENTIONED GAP FINANCING. UH A
GOOD WAY TO ADDRESS MAYBE THE
SMALLER AMOUNTS THAT WOULD BE
AVAILABLE. SO GETTING THAT AGAIN
THAT CAP I COVERED WITH A 0%
LOAN AND UNTIL WE START GETTING
REVENUE FROM THE PROJECT OK?
ANSWERING THE VARIETY OF THOSE
QUESTIONS SAY OVER 10. AND FOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. UM
RECEIVING A LOWER INTEREST RATE
THAN WHAT WE CAN GET ON THE
MARKET WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. IT
WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO PASS AS
MANY SAVINGS BACK ON TO THE
STUDENTS. RIGHT SO, UH, WHETHER
OR NOT WE CAN THEN SET THOSE
MARK THOSE RATES FOR THE HOUSING
AT AFFORDABLE RATES VERSUS JUST
HAVING MORE AVAILABLE STUDENT
HOUSING STOCK. THAT WOULD BE THE
DIFFERENTIAL THERE ALLOWING US
TO BORROW FOR THE, UH, THOSE
PRELIMINARY PLANS AND WORKING
DRAWINGS COSTS MIGHT ALLOW US TO
GET STARTED ON A PROJECT. OR
WHICH COULD SAVE US 6 TO 8
MONTHS ON A PROJECT ALLOWING US
TO OPEN IT SOONER FOR STUDENTS
TO MOVE IN, AND THUS ALLEVIATE
SOME OF THE HOUSING PRESSURES ON
OUR STUDENTS, SO IT IS STILL
PREFERABLE TO HAVE A LOAN
PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO,
UH, GIVE US SOME GAP FINANCING
OR SLIGHTLY LOWER INTEREST RATES
. EVEN IF YOU CAN'T BRING IT
DOWN TO ZERO. THANK YOU ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO THAT? UM
YEAH, I'LL JUST REMIND YOU, UH,
RNA FINCH FROM CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. I'LL REMIND
YOU THAT, UH, FOR OUR SYSTEM,
THE APPLICATION PROCESS WOULD
HAVE LOOKED DIFFERENT. WE HAVE
73 LOCAL DISTRICTS WITH
AUTHORITY OVER THEIR OWN CAPITAL
OUTLAY, PLANNING OVER THEIR
STUDENT HOUSING PLANNING. UM OUR
CENTRAL OFFICE WOULDN'T BE
APPLYING FOR A LOAN. IT WOULD BE
INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, SO THAT'S
A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS.
UH, TO SEE HOW THAT FINANCING
COULD WORK CLEARLY IT IT BEATS A
LOT OF OTHER FINANCING OUT
THERE. AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN, UH, VERY YOU KNOW, I THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD UPTAKE.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF
ANECDOTAL INTEREST IN IT,
ESPECIALLY AROUND YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE IT EXPANDED INTO FACULTY
AND STAFF HOUSING, SO WE
APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION THAT,
UH, HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE
FOR PRETTY MUCH. ANYBODY IN
CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN A 73 LOCAL
DECISIONS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD
ON THAT. THANK THANK YOU ALL FOR
THE FEEDBACK AS WE TRY TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ISSUE. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND. ALTERNATIVES THAT WE
COULD PERHAPS STILL BE
SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING HOUSING
FOR STUDENTS AND THANK YOU FOR
REMINDING US ALSO FACULTY AND
STAFF. I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO
MR FONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR
CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE
PANELISTS HERE. UH, FOLLOW UP
QUESTION TO OUR CHEM COLLEGES. I
WAS LOOKING AT PAGE 25. SO
THEY'RE CURRENTLY 30 PROJECTS
THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY
DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. IS THAT
CORRECT? UH, YES. FOR WELL. THIS
IS FOR AFFORDABLE STUDENT
HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM THAT
FORMER PROGRAM SO IT WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN NECESSARILY RELATED TO
THE ROBBING LOAN FUND PROGRAM.
BUT YOU IT DEMONSTRATES OUR NEED
AND SO YOU KNOW ANY OF THOSE
PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T FUNDED
THROUGH THE, UH, POTENTIAL
STATEWIDE, UH, LEASE REVENUE
BOND. THEY COULD HAVE SOUGHT
FINANCING THROUGH THIS, UH,
THROUGH THIS METHODOLOGY. OK?
AND IN TERMS OF THAT, 25. I'M
SORRY. THE 30 PROJECTS. HOW DO
YOU RANK THEM? OR HOW DOES THE
RANKING PROCESS WORK? SO THERE'S
A SCORING, UM, A SCORING MATRIX
THAT'S BASED ON THE STATUTORY
LANGUAGE PRIMARILY THAT WAS
PROVIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE. UH
AND A FEW ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
IN THERE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF
THE BIG ONES ARE THE
AFFORDABILITY. YOU KNOW HOW MANY
ACTUAL LOW INCOME BEDS? WHAT'S
THE STATE'S COST? UH, LOOKING AT
, YOU KNOW THE NEED IN THAT
REGION. THERE ARE QUITE A NUMBER
OF FACTORS. I'D BE GLAD TO
PROVIDE YOU THE FULL MATRIX. UM
OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING. THANK
YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE VARIOUS
SEGMENTS. WE ALSO TALKING ABOUT
THE VARIOUS PROJECTS AND
PLANNING THE E èC SYSTEM AND
èC S¼ U AS WELL. UH, OBVIOUSLY
AS THE CHAIR OF INTENTION, AND
THERE'S AN URGENT NEED OUT THERE
FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, STUDENT
HOUSING, WHERE THE STUDENTS STAY
ON CAMPUS OF MUCH HIGHER
COMPLETION RATES AND SUCCESS
RATES, AND SO, UH IT'S A VERY
CHALLENGING BUDGET YEAR, BUT
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO
CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY, UH, THESE
EFFORTS AS CRITICAL GOING
FORWARD, UM SO LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION ON
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE REVOLVING
LOAN FUND. UH, AND THE
CHALLENGING YEAR. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU, MISTER FONG,
UM AGAIN WILL HOLD THE ITEM OPEN
AND CERTAINLY ASK THAT YOU THINK
ABOUT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT, UH THAT WE'VE POSTED ABOUT
HOW POTENTIALLY AN ALTERNATIVE
PROGRAM MIGHT STILL LEAD TO
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF
MORE HOUSING THAT YOU'RE ALL
WORKING HARD ON. SO THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
UH, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE
NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS ALSO
HOUSING, BUT THIS IS THE STUDENT
HOUSING. GRANT PROGRAM. WE WILL
DISCUSS THE, UH THAT PROGRAM AND
ITS SPECIFICS. WE HAVE AGAIN,
THE SAME, UH, PANEL. UH, WE'LL
START OFF WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. ALEX AND I ARE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR THE
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT HOUSING
GRANT PROGRAM. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET CONTINUES TO SUPPORT U
èC AND èC S¼ U AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE PROJECTS THAT WERE
APPROVED IN THE 2022 20 THREE
BUDGET ACTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
èC AND èC S¼ U. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE
APPROACH OF PROVIDING DEPTH
SERVICE FUNDING FOR APPROVED U
èC AND èC S¼ U PROJECTS THAT
WILL BE FUNDED WITH U èC N èC
S¼ U ISSUED REVENUE BONDS RATHER
THAN PROVIDING GENERAL FUND
GRANTS FOR THOSE PROJECTS. FOR
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE 2023
BUDGET ACT ALSO REVERTED PRIOR
AND PLANNED GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
FOR APPROVED COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROJECTS WITH THE INTENT TO
DEVELOP A STATE WILY REVENUE,
BOND OR OTHER STATEWIDE
FINANCING APPROACH BY THE 2024
BUDGET ACT. THE ADMINISTRATION
REMAINS COMMITTED TO STATE WIDE
LEASE REVENUE. BOND APPROACH FOR
APPROVED COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING
PROJECT AT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
AND IS DEVELOPING A TRAILER BELL
LANGUAGE PROPOSAL FOR
CONSIDERATION AT THE MAY
REVISION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A
STATEWIDE LEASE REVENUE BOND
PROGRAM. THIS CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU. THE UH,
JENNIFER PELLA, A Ó. SO THERE'S
LOTS OF STUDENT HOUSING PROJECTS
BEFORE YOU AT U èC THE STATE
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OR TWO
YEARS APPROVED EIGHT STUDENT
HOUSING PROJECTS, INCLUDING
THREE IN OUR SEGMENTAL PROJECTS
OF THE EIGHT PROJECTS TO REMAIN
AN EARLY PLANNING PHASES AND NÓ
ASSOCIATED BONDS HAVE BEEN SOLD
AT CSU. THE STATE APPROVED 12
PROJECTS, INCLUDING ONE INTER
SEGMENTAL PROJECT OF THE 12
PROJECTS, EIGHT REMAIN IN
EARLIER PLANNING PHASES. OR
DESIGN PHASES. DESPITE THE èC
S¼ G PROJECTS, THOSE EIGHT BEING
IN PRECONSTRUCTION PHASES èC S¼
U HAS SOLD UNIVERSITY BONDS FOR
NINE OF THE 12 HOUSING PROJECTS.
èC S¼ U SOLD SOME TAXABLE BONDS
FOR SOME OF THOSE TAXABLE BONDS
FOR SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS. AS
YOU KNOW, TAXABLE BONDS COME
WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES, ONE
OF THE THEN TAX EXEMPT BONDS.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY
WERE SOLD AS TAXABLE IS BECAUSE
SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE
STILL IN EARLIER PLANNING
PHASES. UM SO THAT THEY COULDN'T
DRAW DOWN THE BOND PROCEEDS
WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIME FRAME
FOR TAX EXEMPT BONDS. SO GIVEN
THE STATE'S PROJECTED BUDGET
DEFICITS, WE RECOMMEND PAUSING
THOSE FIVE PROJECTS THAT EITHER
AREN'T IN CONSTRUCTION, OR FOR
WHICH UNIVERSITY BONDS HAVE NOT
YET BEEN SOLD. THOSE FIVE
PROJECTS TOTAL 455 MILLION IN
STATE PROJECT COSTS, INCLUDING.
I'M SORRY WITH 34 MILLION FOR
ASSOCIATED DEBT SERVICE. ALL OF
THE PROJECTS HAVE NEAR TERM
COSTS AND THAT THERE'S A COST TO
DEVELOP THE FACILITIES AND
LONGER TERM COSTS AND THAT THERE
WOULD BE NEW FACILITIES THAT
WOULD REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND
RENEWAL OVER TIME. SO THE
OBJECTIVE AGAIN OF PAUSING THESE
PROJECTS WOULD JUST BE TO HELP
WITH THE STATE BUDGET SITUATION.
UM, THE PROJECTS COULD BE
REVISITED MOVING FORWARD. THE
LEGISLATURE ALSO COULD CONSIDER
CLOSER OVERSIGHT OF èC S¼ U
PROJECTS. I'D NOTE THAT ONE OF
THOSE PROJECTS THAT COULD BE
PAUSED AS THE SAN JOSE PROJECT,
WHICH HAS BEEN CONVERTED FROM A
NEW CONSTRUCTION TO A LEASE
ARRANGEMENT AFTER THE STATE, UM,
APPROVED THE PROJECT, SO THAT
WOULD BE AGAIN MORE PROBLEMATIC.
ON A RELATED ISSUE FOR BOTH, YOU
SEE, AND CSU CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE STATE TOOK A DIFFERENT
APPROACH LAST YEAR, WHERE IT
PROVIDED THE SEGMENTS WITH
FUNDING FOR DEBT SERVICE BEFORE
THE ACTUAL DEBT SERVICE COSTS
WERE INCURRED. AND SO, UM
BECAUSE YOU SEE NCSU. IT'LL TAKE
THEM A FEW YEARS TO SELL ALL OF
THE BONDS AND BECAUSE THE STATE
MIND ARE JUST OVER BUDGETED FOR
SOME OF THESE DEBT SERVICE COSTS
BECAUSE I WAS HAPPY TO MAKE
ESTIMATES A YEAR AGO, WE THINK
THERE'S ABOUT TOS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, ONE TIME GENERAL FUND
SAVINGS THAT THE STATE COULD
ACHIEVE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS
IF IT JUST ALIGNED STATE FUNDING
WITH THOSE ACTUAL DEBT SERVICE
COSTS. IT'S JUST A NEAR TERM
SOLUTION. INTEL BOTH SEGMENTS
HAVE FULLY SOLD BONDS FOR THOSE
PROJECTS. LASTLY TURNING TO THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROJECTS UNDER
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. THERE'S
13 PROJECTS THAT WOULD BECOME
PART OF A NEW STATE LEASE
REVENUE BOND PROGRAM. THE
ADMINISTRATION, AS YOU HEARD HAS
SAID AT MAY REVISE, THEY'LL
PRESENT A PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU
THAT WILL EXPLAIN THE DESIGN OF
THAT NEW PROGRAM. DESIGNING A
NEW PROGRAM COULD BE SOMEWHAT
COMPLICATED, SO WE'D ENCOURAGE
THE ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE YOU
THE PROPOSAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
AND FOR YOU TO ALLOCATE SOME
TIME TO ACTUALLY STUDY THE
PROPOSAL AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
KIND OF NEW PROGRAM YOU WANNA
PROVIDE. THE LAST TIME THE STATE
PROVIDED A LEASE REVENUE BOND
FOR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM
WAS IN 2008. SO MORE THAN 15
YEARS AGO, THE REASON IT STOPPED
PROVIDING LEASE REVENUE BONDS IS
BECAUSE THE PROCESS WAS RATHER
ADMINISTRATIVELY COMPLEX, AND AT
LEAST ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FAILED TO MEET A LOAN DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENT. SO THE STATE'S
CREDIT RATING IS BASED UPON ITS
TOTAL COLLECTION PORTFOLIO OF
PROJECTS, INCLUDING WHATEVER
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROJECTS ARE
ADDED, SO THE STATE WAS HESITANT
TO KEEP ISSUING NEW BONDS FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROJECTS. SO
WE WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN
YOU DO GET THE PROPOSAL FOR
DESIGNING A NEW STATE LEASE
REVENUE BOND PROGRAM THAT YOU
TAKE SOME TIME TO TRY TO AVOID
THOSE POTENTIAL PITFALLS THAT
THE STATE EXPERIENCED IN THE
PAST. THANKS. THANK YOU. AH! THE
UC SYSTEM. THANK YOU. CHAIR
ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE SAY OF 10 FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. UM I
WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR FOR FUNDING THE
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT HOUSING
GRANT PROGRAM THAT HAS HELPED
OUR STUDENTS TREMENDOUSLY WITH
THE HELP OF THE FUNDING RECEIVED
. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
IS CURRENTLY BUILDING THREE 1005
192 NEW STUDENT HOUSING BEDS.
THESE PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY
GOING WELL AND ONLY THE BERKELEY
PEOPLE'S PARK PROJECT HAS AN
UNKNOWN. TIMELINE FOR OPENING
FOR STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO
UNIVERSITIES, ALSO PARTNERING
WITH THREE COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO
BUILD A TOTAL OF 2655 STUDENT
BEDS IN CAMPUS HOUSING THAT WILL
INCLUDE BOTH AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS. THESE PROJECTS
WERE ALSO MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT HOUSING
GRANT PROGRAM. THE UNIVERSITY IS
ALSO USING TRADITIONAL LEASE
REVENUE FUNDING TO BUILD
ADDITIONAL STUDENT HOUSING,
INCLUDING THE STATE GRANT FUND
PROJECTS. DO YOU SEE CAMPUSES
ARE GOING TO BE OPENING 4736 NEW
STUDENT HOUSING BEDS THIS COMING
FALL? AND WE WILL COMPLETE
ANOTHER 11,000 BY FALL OF 2028.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IS
COMMITTED TO THE COMPACT, WHICH
SEEKS TO INCREASE STUDENT ACCESS
, SUCCESS AND AFFORDABILITY, AND
WE SEE HOUSING AVAILABILITY AS
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
AFFORDABLE EDUCATION. A COMPACT
WORKING GROUP ON HOUSING HAS
BEEN MEETING TWICE A QUARTER TO
DISCUSS STUDENT NEEDS. THE
WORKING GROUP CONSISTS OF BOTH
CAMPUS STAFF AND STUDENT
REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE
UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR
POSSIBLE LOCATIONS AND FINANCING
FOR EVEN MORE STUDENT HOUSING
PROJECTS. AS OUR CAMPUSES GROW.
WE WANT TO INCREASE THE HOUSING
OPTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK
YOU. I'M AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. COLLEGE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR ALVAREZ AND SUB
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M RNA.
FINCH UH, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, VICE CHANCELLOR OF
COLLEGE FINANCE AND FACILITIES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE
AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING
PROGRAM THIS MORNING. UM, AGAIN.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW THE
NEED AT CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES AND, UM, HOW EXCITED WE
WERE FOR THIS GRANT PROGRAM. I.
I TO DATE THROUGH THE FIRST TWO
ROUNDS. WE HAVE 19 APPROVED
PROJECTS. ONE IS COMPLETE AND
OCCUPIED AT THIS POINT, AND 18
ARE IN PROGRESS, WITH ESTIMATED
COMPLETION DATES BETWEEN AS
EARLY AS THIS SUMMER THROUGH
FALL OF 2028. UM SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES HAVE FACED IS THE
TRANSITION AND THE UNCERTAINTY
AROUND SHIFTING THE FUNDING TO A
STATEWIDE LEASE REVENUE BOND.
AND ALONG WITH THAT WE'VE BEEN
VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR PARTNERS AT
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR
PROVIDING A LOT OF EARLY
INFORMATION AND, UM, HAVING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM
AND THEIR BOND COUNCIL TO WORK
THROUGH SOME OF THE VERY WEEDY
DETAILS IN THIS COMPLEX PROGRAM,
SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF
WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT. AND,
UM WE'RE ALSO YOU KNOW, ANOTHER
CHALLENGE THAT COLLEGES ARE
FACING IS SIGNIFICANT COST
OVERRUNS. YOU KNOW MANY OF THE,
UH, DISTRICT PROJECTS THAT HAVE
NOT BROKEN GROUND YET HAVE BEEN
TAKING KIND OF A WAIT AND SEE
APPROACH TO, UH, TO AVAILABLE
FUNDING THROUGH THE STATEWIDE
LEASE REVENUE BOND, AND AT THE
SAME TIME WE'RE FACING A LOT OF
INFLATION, SO THOSE COST
PRESSURES ARE ARE VERY REAL. UM,
BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND
THANK YOU THANK THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE STUDENT
HOUSING FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK
YOU, MR èC. S¼ U SYSTEM WANNA
SHARE? TESTIMONY THANK YOU.
CHAIR ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS. UH
I'M PAUL GOO WITH THE CALIFORNIA
UH, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
UH, SYSTEM W, CHANCELLOR,
CAPITAL PLANNING, DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION. WE CURRENTLY HAVE
ABOUT 61,000 BEDS IN OUR STUDENT
HOUSING PORTFOLIO, WHICH
PROVIDES BEDS FOR 14% OF OUR
STUDENT BODY. IN OUR FIVE YEAR
CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN. WE HAVE
ANOTHER 10,000, JUST UNDER
10,000 BEDS PLANNED OVER THE
THAT FIVE YEAR PLANNING HORIZON.
AND PART OF AND IN IN ADDITION
TO THOSE AS PART OF THE HIGHER
EDUCATION, STUDENT HOUSING GRANT
PROGRAM. WE HAVE 5200 ABOUT 5200
BEDS IN EITHER IN CONSTRUCTION
OR IN VARIOUS STATES OF
PLANNING. AND UM 3700 OF THOSE
WILL BE LISTED AS AFFORDABLE AND
THE REMAINDER WILL BE, UH,
STANDARD RATE BEDS. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE FUNDING WE'VE
GOTTEN THROUGH THE GRANT PROGRAM
. IT'S GONNA HAVE A LASTING
IMPACT ON OUR SYSTEM AND OUR
STUDENTS, AND I'D BE GLAD TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
THAT'S EVERYBODY. YES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL OF YOU. UM I WAS
JUST SHARING WITH OUR CONSULTANT
THAT IT'S TECHNICALLY, I GUESS
IS A GRANT BECAUSE THE STATE IS
COVERING BUT IT'S ALSO, UM IT'S
MORE OF A LIKE A BOND FROM THE
STATE'S PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT'S
ONGOING EXPENSES. SO, UM
HOPEFULLY, WE DON'T CONFUSE
PEOPLE. BUT, UM LET ME TRY TO
AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFICULT
CHALLENGE OF OUR STUDENTS. UH
AND WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO
ADDRESS AND APPRECIATE THAT. UM,
BUT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE, UH
EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE AT THERE
ARE FIVE PROJECTS. THAT ARE
UTILIZING THIS FUNDING. UM 11
èC S¼ U PROJECTS. AND UH,
THEY'RE ALL REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
THE AFFORDABLE. THATS AS DEFINED
AND SO FIVE FOR THAT'S CORRECT.
AND 11 FOR èC S¼ U. THAT'S
CORRECT. AND THEN THERE ARE
THREE UC. IN ADDITION TO THE
FIVE YOU SEE, THERE ARE THREE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. UH, JOINT
PROJECTS, OK, AND THEN IS THERE
ONE U èC èC S¼ U COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ONE OF OUR 1101 OF YOUR
11. SO UM, WELL FOR YOU SEE,
IT'S IN ADDITION TO THE FIVE
THERE'S THREE YOURS IS ONE OF
THE 11 IS, UH, A JOINT
PARTNERSHIP, OK? AH! SO. THE IN
THE REPORT. WE GOT THOSE
PROJECTS LISTED IN UM THESE ARE
3900 AFFORDABLE BEDS IN THIS
SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
JOINT PARTNERSHIPS OF THOSE
EIGHT TOTAL PROJECTS. AND UH, AT
THE CSU. IT'S 3600 BEDS AGAIN TO
ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THE
NUMBERS. AND THEN WE'VE GOT THIS
OTHER PROPOSE? WELL NOT A
PROPOSAL YET, BUT WE WILL BE
SEEING A PROPOSAL FOR THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. AND I GUESS
WHAT? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
AND UH I COULD HAVE ASKED THIS
BEFORE. BUT I, I DIDN'T GET A
CHANCE. TO DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. HOW LARGE IS THE UM THE
UPCOMING PROPOSAL FOR THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE REVOLVING NÓ
NOT REVOLVING LONG TIME. UM THE
GRANT FOR THIS SPECIFIC FUND.
UH, FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES. WHAT
IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT? ALEX AND I
ARE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER
WITH ME RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME,
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S ROUGHLY 800
MILLION THAT WOULD GET SHIFTED
FROM GENERAL FUND SUPPORT AND
WOULD BE TURNED INTO THE STATE
WIDE LEASE TO BOND PROGRAM. OK,
BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE
CORRECT NUMBER WITH YOUR STAFF.
APPRECIATE THAT. AND SO, UM THE
PROJECTS THAT WE'VE GOT LISTED.
ON PAGE 24 TO OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE. UH, LEADERSHIP HERE.
THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT WERE
ALREADY FUNDED IN PREVIOUS
YEARS. OR ARE THESE THE ONES
THAT YOU LOOK TO FIND IN THE
UPCOMING YEAR. SO I, I APOLOGIZE
. THIS IS PAGE 24 THE APPROVED
PROJECTS. ACTUALLY IF I MIGHT IF
I MIGHT, UM MAKE IT YOU CAN LET
ME KNOW IF THIS IS HELPFUL. SO U
èC 16 COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROJECTS HERE THE STATE
ORIGINALLY FUNDED THEM WITH LIKE
, UM I'M REMEMBERING, PERHAPS
INCORRECTLY, BUT ABOUT A BILLION
IN CASH. THAT'S WHY WE CALLED IT
A GRANT PROGRAM GOT CONVERTED
INTO DEBT LAST YEAR OF THESE
LISTED PROGRAMS, THREE OF THEM
THE NAPA, SANTA ROSA AND
IMPERIAL VALLEY. THE IS
PROPOSING TO FUND THEM WITH THE
DEBT SERVICE FUNDING THAT WAS IN
THE 20 THREE 24 BUDGET. THE 20
THREE 24 BUDGET INCLUDED ABOUT
61 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND
ONGOING FOR DEBT SERVICE, AND
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL IS
THAT THESE ARE NOT VERY GOOD
CANDIDATES FOR A STATEWIDE LEASE
REVENUE BOND PROGRAM SO THE
STATE WOULD JUST FUND THEM WITH
CASH IN 2324. IN 2425. THIS NEW
STATE LEASE REVENUE PROGRAM
WOULD BE DESIGNED BUT NÓ
PROJECTS NONE OF THE REMAINING
13 PROJECTS WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE
GONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT
PROCESS AND TO MARKET TO INCUR
ANY OF THE DEBT SERVICE. SO
ACTUALLY, WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSING IS
THAT THAT 61 MILLION ONGOING IN
YOUR BUDGET IS ACTUALLY JUST
TAKEN OUT FOR 2425. BECAUSE YOU
WON'T NEED IT, AND THEN THEY'LL
PUT IT BACK IN THE BUDGET. AS
THOSE 13 PROJECTS START
INCURRING DEBT SERVICE. THE
ADDITIONAL CONFUSION PERHAPS, IS
THAT THAT CASH THAT THE STATE
PUT OUT INTO THE FIELD IN 2223
IS NOT GONNA BE RESCINDED UNTIL
THE STATE SELLS. THE BOND HAS
THE CASH AND SORT OF REPLENISHES
ITS OWN COFFER. SO THOSE
PROJECTS THAT DID GET MONEY IN
2223, EVEN THOUGH THE ACCOUNTING
FOR IT IS DIFFERENT HERE AT THE
STATE LEVEL, THEY CAN PROCEED
WITH THEIR PROJECTS LOCALLY. I'M
I'M HOPING THAT HELPS. I'M SORRY
ABOUT THAT. I'LL BE REALLY
HONEST. I UM I LOST YOU
SOMEWHERE THROUGH IT. OK I'M
SORRY. CONFUSED NOT BECAUSE OF
WHAT YOU SAID. I JUST TRIED TO
FOLLOW. UH, THERE WERE A LOT OF
MOVING PARTS. UH OF WHAT WAS AND
WHAT IT'S BECOME, AND THE THREE
TAKEN OUT AND I GUESS MAYBE FOR
OUR CONVERSATION OF ON A GOING
FORWARD BASIS. WE HAVE A $61
MILLION REPAYMENT ESSENTIALLY OF
THESE BONDS FOR THE THREE
CAMPUSES THAT YOU MENTIONED.
WELL, UM SO FOR 20 THREE 24
THOSE THREE THAT JUST DON'T MEET
THE CRITERIA FOR A STATE PROGRAM
WOULD GET CASH AND PROCEED WITH
THEIR PROJECTS. THEY'RE SORT OF
UNAFFECTED BY ANYTHING THE STATE
HAS DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
NOW, BECAUSE THE MONEY IS
ONGOING. IT IS LIKE IN THE
BUDGET BEFORE YOU. SO YOU, UH UM
THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO DECIDE
WHAT TO DO. MOVING FORWARD. THE
L. THE ADMINISTRATION IS
PROPOSING TO TAKE IT OUT. BUT IT
IS IN YOUR BUTT. UH I MEAN, YOU
YOU YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT YOU
WANT. IF YOU DO CREATE A STATE
PROGRAM, IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE
PROJECTS WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO
GO THROUGH THAT NEW PROGRAM AND
ACTUALLY GO TO MARKET. SO WE
AGREE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
YOU'RE NOT LIKELY TO NEED ANY
GENERAL FUND IN 2425. OK? SO TO
OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
THAT IS HOPING TO, UM HELP
SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH MORE
HOUSING. WHAT WAS JUST STATED,
AND I THINK IT'S THE
ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION IS
THAT THOSE PROJECTS WON'T BE
ABLE TO COME TO FRUITION. AT
LEAST NOT IN THE NEXT YEAR.
WHAT? WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION?
WELL THEY COULD GET STARTED IF
THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, LOCATE
INTERIM FINANCING OR BRIDGE
FINANCING, BUT YOU KNOW, BETWEEN
WHEN THE BONDS GET ISSUED, AND
SO THAT WAS THAT WAS ONE AREA
WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT THE
POTENTIAL OF THE STUDENT
HOUSING. REVOLVING LOAN FUND AS
BEING A POTENTIAL OPTION THERE.
BUT THAT'S GONNA BE AGAIN A
DECISION AT EACH CAMPUS. UM EACH
OF THEIR BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS
GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT
THEIR OTHER AVAILABLE. LOCAL
FUNDS ARE, WHETHER THERE'S AN
APPETITE FOR, UM YOU KNOW A
LOCAL BOND AS OPPOSED TO
PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT IF
THEY HAVE OTHER, UH, MATCHING
FUNDS, SO THE ROUND ONE PROJECTS
THAT WERE AWARDED IN 2223
RECEIVED FUNDING BUT NONE OF THE
PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED IN
20 24 RECEIVED ANY CASH FOR THIS
, SO THEY'RE THE ONES YOU KNOW
THAT HAVE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST
DECISION AHEAD OF THEM ON HOW
THEY COULD POSSIBLY FINANCE TO
GET STARTED WHILE WE WAIT FOR
THE LEAST REVENUE BOND TO GET
MOVING. PLEASE REMIND ME I COULD
BE INCORRECT ABOUT THIS, BUT I
THOUGHT DURING LAST YEAR'S
CONVERSATIONS IN THIS COMMITTEE
AND JUST IN THE BUDGET OVERALL,
WE AND AGAIN, I COULD BE
INCORRECT ABOUT MY RECOLLECTION
OF THIS THAT WE THERE WAS
STATEMENTS MADE. UM, THAT WE
WOULD ESSENTIALLY FIND A WAY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS
MOVE FORWARD. SO WE ENCOURAGE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND CERTAINLY
S¼ AND èC S¼, U S¼ EVERYBODY
ELSE SEGMENTS TO CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD IS THAT DO YOU
RECALL IF THAT WAS YOUR
UNDERSTANDING, THAT'S DEFINITELY
OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION MADE A COMMITMENT
TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
AND SO THAT'S THOSE ARE THE
DETAILS THAT WE'RE WORKING
THROUGH. OK? ALRIGHT I I'M STILL
UM NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR ON HOW
THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO OCCUR.
GIVEN WHAT THE FEEDBACK THAT
I'VE GOT, SO MAYBE SPEND MORE
TIME PERSONALLY MYSELF, UH,
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT. I'LL
TURN IT OVER NOW TO MY
COLLEAGUE, MR FONG. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. AND THIS WILL FOLLOW
UP TO OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THANK YOU FOR MEINE. THE
OVERVIEW. UM AND ALSO IN THE
REPORT. IT SAYS $81 MILLION
AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROJECTS. IS THERE CRITERIA
THAT'S BEEN USED APART THAT
FUNDING SO, UH, THE ULTIMATE
DECISION ON HOW TO USE THAT
FUNDING IS UP TO THE
LEGISLATURE. WE HAD, UH, THE
ROUND THREE APPLICATIONS. THOSE
ARE THE 30 APPLICATIONS THAT YOU
HAD MENTIONED EARLIER TOTALING
ABOUT 1.6 BILLION IN NEED, UM,
AND WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT
WOULD HAVE OFFERED UH, WELL,
OVER, UH, 6700 LOW INCOME BEDS.
SO THOSE ARE THE APPLICATIONS WE
RECEIVED FOR THAT 81 POINT THREE
MILLION. YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT
AMOUNT WOULDN'T GO TOO FAR. UM
AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S YOU KNOW
WHETHER ANY OF THOSE PROJECTS
ARE APPROVED IS, UH YOU KNOW,
WE'VE OFFERED YOU THOSE THAT WE
FELT SCORED THE BEST ACCORDING
TO THE STATUTORY GUIDELINES THAT
YOU GAVE US AND, UM, ULTIMATELY,
THAT DECISION IS UP TO, YOU KNOW
TO BE DECIDED THROUGHOUT THIS
BUDGET SEASON. THANK YOU. SO
JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION AGAIN,
IT'S THE 30 PROJECTS OVER $1.6
BILLION IN PROJECTS AND THAT WAS
JUST FROM LAST YEAR'S FUNDING
CYCLE. THIS IS, UH THESE WERE
THESE ARE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE
REQUESTING FUNDING IN THE 2425
CYCLE. THAT WAS GOING TO BE OUR
THIRD AND FINAL ROUND OF THE
GRANT PROGRAM AS IT WAS
ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. AND WHEN WE
HAVE THE RANKINGS HERE, SO IT'S
CURRENT AND CONTRA COSTA VICTOR
VALLEY, A LOT OF DISTRICTS HERE
AND SO IS THERE LIKE A SCORING
METRIC ON THIS OR IS THAT A
SEPARATE DOCUMENT? IT WOULD BE A
SEPARATE DOCUMENT AND AGAIN. I'M
I'M GLAD TO PROVIDE THE SCORING
MATRIX. IT'S PRETTY. IT'S PRETTY
LONG AND THOROUGH, AND IT
CONSIDERS THINGS SUCH AS HOW
MANY BEDS UH WHAT THE ACTUAL
COST OF THE BED WAS. HOW
AFFORDABLE IT WAS. WHAT THE
STATE COST IS, UH, YOU KNOW,
REGIONAL NEED IN THAT DISTRICT.
UM, AND MANY OTHER FACTORS. AND
THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UH WE HAD
A CONVERSATION ALSO ON THE
STATEWIDE LEASE REVENUE BOND FOR
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES. IS THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS THAT YOU
CAN SHARE AT THIS TIME? I ALEX
AND I WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. I'LL JUST GO AND, UM,
RESTATE THAT WE HAVEN'T FACED
ANY DIFFICULTY SO FAR AT THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WENT IN TO
FIGHT THREE OUT OF THE 16
APPROVED PROJECTS, AND WE
THOUGHT THEY WERE MORE
APPROPRIATE TO BE FUNDED
DIRECTLY USING THE CURRENT YEAR
APPROPRIATION, WHICH IS THE 61.5
MILLION FOR THE REMAINING 13. WE
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES OVER ON FINANCE AND
THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN CAPITAL
ALI, BUT ANY MORE DETAILS WILL
BE FORTHCOMING ABOUT THE STATE
WIDE REVENUE BOND PROGRAM AT Dð
A REVISION THANK YOU APPRECIATE
THAT. LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THE CONVERSATION THERE AS WELL.
AND FINALLY, IT'S WHERE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AGAIN, UH, IN
TERMS OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE
BEEN REQUESTED. ARE THERE ANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING FOR
STUDENT PARENTS, WHICH JUST
STARTED IN OUR LAST PANEL? UM
45,000 SITTING PARENTS LIKE
COULD BE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED BY
A FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES
AND CALM REFORM IN TERMS OF THE
HOUSING PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SO ELICITED. ARE THERE ANY
PROJECTS DEDICATED TOWARDS
STUDENT PARENTS OR OTHERWISE
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS? UH,
I'VE CERTAINLY HEARD ANECDOTALLY
. THERE'S INTEREST IN THAT. BUT
AS FAR AS, UH, IF ANY OF THOSE
PARTICULARLY CHOSEN OR, UH,
RECENT APPLICATIONS, HEAD
STUDENT HOUSING INCORPORATED,
I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON
THAT ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU, MISTER FONG.
THANK YOU TO THE PANEL.
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ALL OF YOUR
WORK ON CREATING HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE WILL HOLD THIS ISSUE OPEN AS
WELL. UM AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO
OUR FINAL PANEL FOR TODAY, WHICH
IS STUDENT BASIC NEEDS. WE'RE
GOING TO DISCUSS THE BASIC NEEDS
FUNDING AND PROGRAMS AT THE
THREE SEGMENTS AND ALSO GET A
REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR 2023. ON
IMPROVING COLLEGE STUDENTS'
ACCESS TO THE CAL FRESH PROGRAM.
SO I WANNA THANK, UH AND THE
THREE SEGMENTS FOR BEING HERE
AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK UNLESS YOU FEEL STRONGLY
. OTHERWISE MAYBE WE SHOULD
START WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES TO GET THAT
REPORT ON LAST YEAR AND THEN
ASKED THE SEGMENTS TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INPUT. IF THERE ARE
IS ANY SO. WE'LL KICK IT OFF
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. GREAT. GOOD MORNING,
MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS JENNIFER
TROIA AND THE CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU
THIS MORNING. I APPRECIATE YOUR
INTEREST IN THESE IMPORTANT
ISSUES. UM HOW FRESH IS THE
LARGEST FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
IN THE STATE? WE HAVE 5.4
MILLION RECIPIENTS OF THAT
PROGRAM. YOU ASKED A QUESTION IN
THE AGENDA ABOUT, UM THE NUMBER
OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN
CALF FRESH. OUR DATA REFLECTS
100 AND 60,400 STUDENTS
PARTICIPATING IN THE CALF FRESH
PROGRAM. WE DO ALSO, UM, NOW
PUBLISH THAT DATA ONLINE IN A
DASHBOARD THAT'S PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE. IN CALIFORNIA, CAL
FRESH IS STATE SUPERVISED BY OUR
DEPARTMENT èC Dð S¼ S¼ AND
ADMINISTERED LOCALLY BY 58
COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES.
THE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS AND
THE BENEFITS LEVELS, HOWEVER,
ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. FEDERAL RULES
REGARDING STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
FOR THE PROGRAM ARE COMPLEX, AND
THE DETAILS ARE OUTLINED IN YOUR
AGENDA. BUT GENERALLY, STUDENTS
ARE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE
UNLESS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA
FOR A SPECIFIC EXEMPTION. IN
RECENT YEARS, èC Dð, S¼ S¼ AND
OUR PARTNERS HAVE ENGAGED IN
EFFORTS TO EXPAND CRES ACCESS TO
STUDENTS, INCLUDING WORK GROUP
MEETINGS TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO
REMOVE PROGRAM. BARRIERS FOR
STUDENTS COORDINATE EFFORTS WITH
èC SAC TO DIRECTLY INFORM
STUDENTS OF POTENTIAL CAL FRESH
ELIGIBILITY VIA LETTER
NOTIFICATIONS. CREATION OF A
STUDENT EXEMPTION CHECKLIST AS A
REFERENCE TOOL FOR POTENTIALLY
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND TO
STREAMLINE PROCESS TO APPROVE
PROGRAMS AS THOSE THAT INCREASE
EMPLOYABILITY AND THEREFORE
QUALIFY STUDENTS FOR ONE OF
THOSE EXEMPTIONS. YOUR AGENDA
OUTLINES THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
A REPORT THAT WE WERE REQUIRED
BY S¼ B 641 IN 2022 TO ISSUE IT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
IDENTIFICATION OF BEST PRACTICES
, CREATION OF A DECISION TREE
TOOL, STATEWIDE TRAINING,
PARTICIPATE OR PARTNERSHIPS
BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS AND COUNTIES,
ADDITIONAL COW FRESH
ADMINISTRATION FUNDING AND
AUTOMATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
èC Dð S¼ S¼ ON OUR PARTNERS,
INCLUDING THE LEGISLATURE HAVE
TAKEN MULTIPLE STEPS ALREADY TO
IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND TO SUPPORT GREATER
COLLABORATION AND STUDENT
ACCESS. UH, I'LL SUMMARIZE
BRIEFLY. A FEW OF THOSE WE HOST
A CALF FRESH STUDENT WORK GROUP
AS A FORUM FOR COUNTIES,
ADVOCATES AND REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE HIGHER EDUCATION SEGMENTS TO
COLLABORATE. THE WORK GROUP
MEETS QUARTERLY AND FREQUENTLY
DISCUSSES BEST PRACTICES. IN
2022. WE ALSO HOSTED A HIGHER
EDUCATION LIAISONS WORK GROUP,
WHICH RESULTED IN IDENTIFICATION
OF BEST PRACTICES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE SHARED
WITH ALL COUNTIES AS WELL AS A
STATEWIDE WEBINAR ON BEST
PRACTICES. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF UPDATING THE CALF FRESH
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY HANDBOOK,
WHICH IS THE SINGLE SOURCE OF
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY POLICY FOR
COUNTIES AND PARTNERS. THE
TARGET RELEASE DATE FOR THAT IS
MAY 2024 SO COMING SOON. WE WILL
ALSO HOST AN ALL COUNTY WEBINAR
UPON RELEASE OF THAT REVISED
HANDBOOK. THE COST OF PROCESSING
COLLEGE STUDENT APPLICATIONS WAS
FACTORED INTO A REASSESSMENT OF
CALF ADMINISTRATION RATES FOR
2324, WHICH RESULTED IN AN
ADDITIONAL $160 MILLION IN
FUNDING FOR CAL FRESH
ADMINISTRATION. THAT WE HAVE
THIS CURRENT YEAR. EFFORTS FOR
IMPROVING AUTOMATION
FUNCTIONALITY RELATED TO
STUDENTS OR IS ALSO ONGOING. SO
IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION IN
YOUR AGENDA, WE ARE ALSO OPEN TO
IDENTIFYING WAYS TO FACILITATE
MORE CAMPUS AND COUNTY DATA
SHARING AGREEMENTS. THIS MIGHT
INCLUDE FURTHER EXPLORING
WHETHER THERE'S A STATEWIDE
AGREEMENT THAT WE COULD EXECUTE
RATHER THAN RELYING ON
INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES AND CAMPUSES
TO DO THAT. IN CONCLUSION. CDSS
IS COMMITTED ALONG WITH YOUR
COMMITMENT TO MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO
CRE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HUNGER AND FOOD
INSECURITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR
CONTINUING THESE EFFORTS, AND I
AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY EXTRA
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. LET'S START WITH THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAVID O'BRIEN. I
SERVE AS VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY. COLLEGES
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
CONVENING TODAY'S HEARING ON
THIS CRITICAL TOPIC A LAST
SEPTEMBER UNDER THE UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF OUR NEW
CHANCELLOR, DR SONJA CHRISTIAN,
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS
ADOPTED VISION 2030 A BOLD
FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION FOR
REVISION. THE ROLE OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES PLAY IN
PROVIDING, UH, EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT WAS
CENTERED AROUND THREE GOALS.
EQUITY AND ACCESS EQUITY IN
SUPPORT AND EQUITY IN SUCCESS TO
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND
ADDRESSING THE CRISIS OF BASIC
NEEDS ACTUALLY FALLS UNDER ALL
THREE UM, THE RESEARCH SHOWS
STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
FOOD, INSECURITY, HOUSING
INSECURITY OR ANY OTHER BASIC
NEEDS. CHALLENGES ARE LESS
LIKELY TO ENROLL LESS LIKELY TO
PERSIST FROM ONE TERM TO THE
NEXT AND LESS LIKELY TO SUCCEED
IN REACHING THEIR ULTIMATE
EDUCATIONAL GOAL, WHETHER THAT'S
UH, WORKFORCE CERTIFICATE AND A
TRAINING PROGRAM TRANSFERRING TO
A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY OR
EARNING THAT DEGREE, SO I WANNA
FIRST START OFF BY THANKING THE
LEGISLATURE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARK BERMAN
AND MEMBERS OF THIS SUB
COMMITTEE FOR PROVIDING THE
FIRST EVER ONGOING STATE FUNDING
TO ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS ON A
SYSTEMIC BASIS. AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AS AS
YOUR AGENDA NOTES, UM UNTIL JUST
A FEW YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NÓ
ONGOING STATE SUPPORT IN THE
STATE BUDGET FOR ADDRESSING
BASIC NEEDS ISSUES IN COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, OR I BELIEVE IN OUR
FOURYEAR PARTNERS, WHICH I'LL
LET THEM SPEAK TO. SO UM, IT WAS
STANDARD PRACTICE UNTIL JUST
AROUND THE ONSET OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC FOR THINGS LIKE FOOD
PANTRIES, DIAPER BANKS FOR
STUDENT PARENTS, EMERGENCY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ETCETERA. OF
THESE PRACTICES WERE PURELY
LOCAL DECISIONS AND FUNDED
ENTIRELY WITH LOCAL DOLLARS.
CAMPUSES OF AFRICA RELY ON
PHILANTHROPY AND SOURCES OF THAT
NATURE. SO I CAN CONFIDENTLY
REPORT TO YOU TODAY THAT THE
BASIC NEEDS FUNDING PROVIDED IN
THE STATE BUDGET IS MAKING A
DIFFERENCE. UH WE RECEIVED AN
UPDATE FROM OUR TEAM IN ADVANCE
OF THIS HEARING THAT IN THE
SPRING 2020 THREE TERM BASED ON
DATA SUBMITTED BY 80 OF OUR 160
COMMUNITY COLLEGES JUST OVER
68,000 UND DUPLICATED. STUDENTS
ARE SERVED BY CAMPUS BASIC NEEDS
CENTERS, WHICH IS A 31% INCREASE
OVER THE FALL. 2022 TERM. UM THE
NUMBER YOU HAVE IN YOUR AGENDA
IS ACCURATE, BUT THAT'S FOR THE
ANNUAL YEAR, SO I'M JUST I'M
COMPARING TERM TO TERM HERE.
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH, OF COURSE,
INDICATES, UH, AS NOTED A
GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF STUDENT
SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE
RECEIVING BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT
WITH REGARDS TO CALF FRESH. UM I
WANNA JUST GIVE A ENTHUSIASTIC
PLUS ONE TO EVERYTHING. UH, MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE CDSS SAID THE
LEGISLATURE IS UNDERSTANDABLY
VERY INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE,
AND OUR CAMPUSES ARE USING THOSE
BASIC NEEDS. CENTER. DOLLARS FOR
THINGS LIKE COW, FRESH
APPLICATION, SUPPORT AND
ASSISTANCE, ENGAGING WITH èC,
Dð, S¼, S¼ AND OTHER PARTNERS ON
THE WORK GROUPS AND FORUMS, UH,
THAT WERE MENTIONED. UM, BUT YOU
KNOW, AS AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AND
AS YOUR AGENDA, NOTES, MAJOR
STRUCTURAL BARRIERS DO PERSIST,
AND I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT TWO OF
THEM, ONE OF WHICH HAS ALREADY
BROUGHT UP THE DATA ISSUE. SO IS
YOUR AGENDA. NOTES ONLY A
HANDFUL OF OUR COLLEGES HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO SIGN THOSE DATA
SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR
COUNTIES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE 11
COLLEGE, COMPTON COLLEGE AND
THEN THE CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE DISTRICT IN THE BAY
AREA. UM, THE LEGISLATURE. TAKE
A BIG STEP FORWARD IN THIS
REGARD WITH THE PASSAGE OF
LEGISLATION IN 2022 IS ASSEMBLY
BILL 2627 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER B
Kò. BUT THAT BILL MADE THE
DATING A SHARE DATA SHARING
AGREEMENTS OPTIONAL NOT
MANDATORY, AND ONE OPTION THAT,
UH, AGAIN. MY COLLEAGUE, UH,
PREVIEWED THERE THAT WE'VE BEEN
SORT OF FLOATING INTERNALLY AND
MAY WANT TO TAKE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
UH, FOR CONSIDERING IS SOME SORT
OF STATEWIDE M Ó U OR AGREEMENT
TO SORT OF AVOID THE
COMPLICATIONS THAT COME WITH 58
DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND 116
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AS
WELL AS èC, S¼, U S¼ AND U èC
S¼ ALL HAVE AN INK THEIR OWN
SEPARATE AGREEMENTS, THE LAST
STRUCTURAL BARRIER TO MENTION
AND I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
SORT OF OUT OF OUR HANDS AS A
STATE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE TO MENTION AND
HIGHLIGHT ARE THE FEDERAL
RESTRICTIONS ON SNAP
ELIGIBILITY. SO THE, UH, THE
RESTRICTIONS AROUND THE NUMBER
OF HOURS A STUDENT HAS TO WORK
OR THE VARIOUS SORT OF
EXEMPTIONS THEY GET ARE
COLLECTIVELY KNOWN BY ADVOCATES
AS THE STUDENT ELIGIBILITY RULE,
AND THOSE DO SERIOUSLY LIMIT THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WOULD
OTHERWISE. BE ELIGIBLE FOR CALF,
WHICH IS KNOWN AS SNAP AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL. UH, THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
SYSTEM, OUR FACULTY AND OUR
STUDENTS ALL PARTICIPATED IN A
MAJOR ADVOCACY TRIP TO
WASHINGTON, Dð èC LAST YEAR MET
WITH BOTH BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS TO DISCUSS THIS AND WE
ARE UNITED IN CALLING FOR THESE
ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY
RESTRICTIONS TO BE REPEALED
ENTIRELY, AND WE SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, LIKE THE ITS ACT
BY CALIFORNIA'S OWN CONGRESSMAN,
JIMMY GÓMEZ, WITH THE BASIC ACT
ABOUT CONGRESSWOMAN NORMA
TORRES. WOULD OPEN UP
ELIGIBILITY DRASTICALLY FOR SNAP
AND CAL FRESH HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS AND APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE
ON TO THE èC S¼ U SYSTEM. HEY,
GOOD. GOOD MORNING CHAIR. UH
ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
RAY MIL. I'M THE INTERIM
ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
STUDENT AFFAIRS, EQUITY AND
BELONGING AT THE STATE
UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE
CHANCELLOR. IN THE 2220 THREE
ACADEMIC YEAR. THE IMPACT ACROSS
BASIC NEEDS TEAMS WAS SEEN IN
THE EXPANSION OF INITIATIVES TO
SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
FACING FOOD, INSECURITY, HOUSING
INSECURITY AND FINANCIAL
STABILITY. IN ADDITION, IT ALSO
IMPROVED THEIR HOLISTIC WELLNESS
AND PRO, UH PROGRESS TOWARDS
THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS. THIS HAS
BEEN SEEN IN AN INCREASE IN
RETENTION RATES AND QUALITATIVE
EVIDENCE OF IMPROVED HEALTH AND
WELLNESS AMONG STUDENTS. THE èC
S¼ U BASIC NEEDS TEAMS EXPANDED
THEIR FOOD SECURITY RESOURCES
LIKE PANTRY ITEMS, UM, AS WELL
AS THE CAL FRESH APPLICATION
ASSISTANCE AND GAVE OUT
THOUSANDS OF EMERGENCY GRANTS TO
STUDENTS TO STABILIZE THEIR
FINANCES AND HELP THEM STAY
ENROLLED. ADDITIONALLY BASIC
NEEDS, UH, PROGRAM SUPPORTED
STUDENTS IN RECEIVING ON AND OFF
CAMPUS, EMERGENCY HOUSING AND
LONG TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE,
LEADING TO MANY HOMELESS AND
HOUSING INSECURE STUDENTS IN
FINDING STABLE HOUSING. IN THE
SAME ACADEMIC YEAR. THE
FOLLOWING NUMBERS OF STUDENTS
WERE SUPPORTED BY BASIC NEEDS
INITIATIVES. 67,594 STUDENTS
WERE REACHED INTO SUPPORT THEIR
REACHED AND SUPPORTED BY THEIR
CAMPUS FOOD, PANTRY AND OR FOOD
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. 22,827
STUDENTS WERE ASSISTED WITH CALF
FRESH APPLICATIONS. 1190
STUDENTS WERE REACHED AND
SUPPORTED WITH ON AND OFF CAMPUS
HOUSING. 12,644 STUDENTS
RECEIVED HOUSING SUPPORT THROUGH
THE ADDITIONAL $10 MILLION
INCREASE TO OUR BASIC NEEDS
FUNDING, UH, IN THE SAME YEAR.
1538 STUDENTS WERE PROVIDED
HOUSING SUPPORT THROUGH A RAPID
REHOUSING PROGRAM. 100 AND 98
STUDENTS WERE PLACED IN LONG
TERM HOUSING THROUGH THE RAPID
REHOUSING PROGRAM IN THIS YEAR.
68 STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN
RAPID REHOUSING GRADUATED DURING
THAT YEAR. IN THE LASTLY 7602
STUDENTS WERE SUPPORTED BY
EMERGENCY FUNDS. IN THE FALL OF
22. THIS CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE
COLLECTED A SNAPSHOT OF STUDENTS
A COHORT SIZE OF APPROXIMATELY
20,000 WHO UTILIZE BASIC NEEDS
SERVICES WHILE IT WAS TOO EARLY
TO MAKE ANY DEFINITIVE
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE DIRECT OR
COROLLARY EFFECTS OF THESE
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS MAY HAVE
HAD ON THE STUDENTS, ACADEMIC
PERSISTENCE AND GRADUATION RATES
. IT WAS PROMISING TO SEE THAT
THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS
90% UNDERGRADS, 86% GRADUATE
STUDENTS STAYED ENROLLED AND%
PERSISTED ONTO THE FOLLOWING
TERMS. èC. HAS ALSO SEEN AN
INCREASE IN GPA S¼ FOR STUDENTS
WHO RECEIVED BASIC NEEDS
SERVICES THREE POINT THREE GPA
VERSUS A THREE 0.0 FOR THE
GENERAL STUDENT POPULATION. THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE IS
ENCOURAGED BY THE COHORT SIDES
OF 20,000 STUDENTS AND THE
ECONOMIC, ETHNIC AND GENDER
DIVERSITY OF THE COHORT TO
CONTINUE THE STUDY THE IMPACT
THE CHANCES OF HIS COLLECTED
ANOTHER SNAPSHOT OF STUDENTS IN
FALL, 20 THREE TO PERFORM THE
SAME ANALYSIS, WHICH IS
UNDERWAY. THE FOLLOWING FEW
CAMPUS CASE. STUDIES FURTHER
ELABORATE THE IMPACT ON BASIC
NEEDS PROGRAMS THE OVERALL
SEMESTER TO SEMESTER THAT IS
FALL 22 TO SPRING 23 RETENTION
RATE FOR ALL STUDENTS AT CAL
STATE CHANNEL ISLANDS WHO
UTILIZED BASIC NEEDS SERVICES
WAS 92.7% COMPARED TO 89%
OVERALL FOR STUDENTS WHO DID NOT
UTILIZE BASIC NEEDS SERVICES
DURING THE SAME ACADEMIC YEAR.
FIRST YEAR FULL TIME STUDENTS
PERSISTENCE RATE THAT IS FALL 22
TO FALL. 23 WAS 79.4% FOR THOSE
WHO UTILIZE BASIC NEEDS SERVICES
AS COMPARED TO 73.4% FOR THOSE
STUDENTS WHO DID NOT. AND WITH
NEW TRANSFER STUDENTS, UH FROM
FALL 22 TO FALL 23. THERE WAS A
95 POINT 3% OF THOSE STUDENTS
WHO UTILIZE BASIC NEEDS SERVICE
PERSISTED IN THAT YEAR COMPARED
TO 84% OF THOSE WHO DID NOT
UTILIZE BASIC NEEDS SERVICES.
THE INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
AND RESEARCH AT èC S¼ U, UH,
EAST BAY, REPORTS THAT STUDENTS
WHO RECEIVED EMERGENCY FINANCIAL
SUPPORT WERE LESS LIKELY TO STOP
OUT AFTER RECEIVING FUNDS ACROSS
UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENT
CATEGORIES. OF LATINX STUDENTS
WHO RECEIVED FUNDS ONLY 14%
STOPPED OUT COMPARED TO 23% OF
LATINX STUDENTS OVERALL. A BLACK
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED FUNDS,
ONLY 3% OF STUDENTS STOPPED OUT
COMPARED TO 29% OF BLACK
STUDENTS OVERALL AND WITH ASIAN
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE FUNDS ONLY
6% STOPPED OUT COMPARED TO 20%
ASIAN STUDENTS OVERALL. IN
ANNUAL EVALUATION SURVEY WAS
DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS WHO
ACCESS BASIC SERVICES AT CAL
STATE STANISLAUS IN THE ACADEMIC
YEAR OF 2220 THREE. 69% OF THE
èC S¼ U STANISLAUS STUDENT
SURVEYED INDICATED THAT THEY
STRONGLY AGREE OR AGREED THAT
ACCESSING BASE NEEDS PROGRAM
HELPED THEM STAY ENROLLED. THE
SAME PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ALSO
AGREED AND STRONGLY AGREED THAT
BASIC NEEDS SERVICES HELP THEM
TOWARDS GRADUATION. IN 81% OF
THE STUDENTS SURVEYED INDICATED
ACCESSING CAMPUS BASIC NEEDS
PROGRAMS IMPROVED THEIR STRESS
LEVELS. CAL STATE SAN US ALSO
ANALYZE THE RETENTION RATES AND
FOUND THAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR
FIRST TIME STUDENTS ONE YEAR
RETENTION THERE WAS AN 80 THREE
0.7% RETENTION RATE FOR THOSE
WHO ACCESS BASIC NEEDS SERVICES
VERSUS A 76.9% RETENTION RATE
FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT, AND AMONG
THE FIRST TIME TRANSFER STUDENTS
ONE YEAR RETENTION THERE WAS A
90.8% RETENTION RATE FOR
STUDENTS WHO ACCESS BASIC
SERVICE. BASIC NEEDS. UH VERSUS
THE 85.8% FOR THOSE WHO NOT
AGAIN. THE èC S¼ U IS
ENCOURAGED BY THE POSITIVE
IMPACTS OF THE BASIC NEEDS
SERVICES ARE HAVING ON OUR
STUDENTS. THIS CONCLUDES MY
REPORT AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH SYSTEM. THANK YOU,
CHAIR ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JEANNIE
KI¾M. AND I SERVE AS A SYSTEM
WIDE DIRECTOR FOR STUDENT MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL BEING FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. THE
WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA FOR STUDENTS. BASIC
NEEDS IS COMMENDABLE IN JUST
UNDER 10 YEARS EACH OF OUR
CAMPUSES HAS ESTABLISHED
CRITICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
TO MEET STUDENTS BASIC NEEDS IN
2022 20 THREE. OUR CAMPUSES
SERVE 78,000 UNIQUE STUDENTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
ACCORDING TO RESEARCH CONDUCTED
BY THE CALIFORNIA POLICY LAB,
31% OF U, èC UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENTS, ROUGHLY 68,000
STUDENTS AND 6% OF U èC
GRADUATE STUDENTS, SO ROUGHLY
THREE 1000. STUDENTS WERE
ELIGIBLE FOR CAL. FRESH BENEFITS
TO ME. THIS NUMBER INDICATES
THAT THE STUDENTS WE'RE SERVING
IS RIGHT ON TARGET. THE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED FROM THE STATE HAS BEEN
CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS AND I
WANNA THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE
SHARING AND SUPPORT THAT WE
RECEIVE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES FROM
THE èC S¼ U AS WELL AS WELL AS
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO
OUR SUCCESS. I HAVE WORKED IN
THE FIELD OF STUDENT BASIC NEEDS
FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE TREMENDOUS WORK
THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR
CAMPUSES HAS PUT INTO
ESTABLISHING CRITICAL BASIC
NEEDS SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
DAY IN AND DAY OUT OUR CAMPUS
LEADERS, PRACTITIONERS, PEER
EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS ARE
REDUCING THE STIGMA AND SHAME OF
SEEKING SUPPORT AND NORMALIZING
ACCESS TO HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS
FOOD AND SAFE AND SECURE
HOUSING. WHEN A STUDENT ENTERS
ONE OF OUR BASIC NEEDS CENTERS,
THEY ARE MET WITH KINDNESS,
COMPASSION AND EMPATHY. THEY ARE
ALSO MET WITH A SENSE OF
BELONGING AND DIGNITY. AND I
MIGHT BE BIASED. BUT I HAVE ONE
OF THE BEST JOBS BECAUSE I GET
TO KNOW EACH AND ONE OF OUR
CAMPUSES INTIMATELY. AND THE
INCREDIBLE WORK THEY HAVE DONE
TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. MANY OF
OUR CAMPUSES HAVE DEVELOPED
CREATIVE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS ON
AND OFF CAMPUS TO SUPPORT A
HOLISTIC BASIC NEEDS STRATEGY.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE BEGINNING TO
SEE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS GROW,
WHICH ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF
THIS WORK. WE JUST TOASTED THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHER EDUCATION
BASIC NEEDS ALLIANCE SUMMIT
ALONG WITH OUR OTHER PUBLIC
HIGHER ED SEGMENTS A FEW A FEW
WEEKS AGO, AND IT WAS
REENERGIZING TO BE AMONGST
LEADERS AND CHAMPIONS IN THE
FIELD, WHO CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT
STUDENT BASIC NEEDS. IT WAS A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
FROM EACH OTHER AND DEVELOP
EVIDENCE BASED COMMUNITY FINE
PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES THAT
CONTINUES TO INFORM THIS WORK.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CAMPUSES
CONTINUE TO INNOVATE AND DEVELOP
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS PAY
WHAT YOU CAN MOBILE FOOD TRUCKS
THAT UC DAVIS, WHICH HAS REDUCED
STIGMA AND ACCESSIBILITY,
CHALLENGES AND QUITE LITERALLY
BRINGS FOOD TO HUNGRY STUDENTS.
HOWEVER ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF
IMPORTANCE THAT HAS BEEN CLOSE
HAS BEEN OUR CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
THAT WE HAVE BUILT WITH LOCAL
COUNTIES. AS CAL. FRESH
ENROLLMENT REMAINS OUR NUMBER
ONE STRATEGY TO ENSURE STUDENTS
HAVE ACCESS TO REGULAR
NUTRITIOUS FOOD. CAMPUSES HAVE
PARTNERED WITH THE CENTER FOR
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AT èC, S¼ U
CHICO TO CONDUCT REGULAR CRE
OUTREACH EFFORTS, COACHING AND
COUNSELING STUDENTS THROUGH
APPLICATION PROCESSES AND
HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE
COMPLEX PROCESSES. I'M GRATEFUL
TO SEE THAT OUR CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
UH, DEPARTMENT IS HERE WITH US
TODAY BECAUSE WITHOUT COUNTY
PARTNERS AND COUNTY LIAISONS TO
SUPPORT CAL FRESH ENROLLMENT,
OUR STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
FOCUS ON THEIR STUDIES THEIR
WORK AND PERSIST TO GRADUATION.
EACH ELEMENT OF THE FOOD ACCESS
SUPPLY CHAIN IS CRITICAL IN
MEETING OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS.
MEETING STUDENTS MEETING BASIC
NEEDS IS MORE THAN JUST
ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY ON
OUR CAMPUSES AND THE U èC HAS
BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BUILD
AN ECOSYSTEM OF FINANCIAL
STABILITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. YOU
HEARD TESTIMONY EARLIER FROM MY
COLLEAGUE SEAN BROOK FROM
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID. THE U èC
IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING
STUDENTS NOT ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO
FINANCIAL AID, BUT THE U èC
CONTINUES TO ASSESS THE COST OF
ATTENDANCE AND, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, PRODUCING DEBT,
FREE PATHWAYS. BASIC NEEDS AND
FINANCIAL AID ARE INTRICATELY
CONNECTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU
ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON
SUPPORTING STUDENTS, UH, AT THE
THREE THREE SEGMENTS. CLEARLY
YOUR, UH PASSIONATE IN THEIR
PURPOSE. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK. I THINK THE
QUESTION THAT STANDS OUT REALLY
IS WHAT WAS MENTIONED FROM
DEPARTMENT AND ALSO, UH FROM THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERSPECTIVE,
WHICH IS THIS IDEA WHICH IT
SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE HAS FIGURED IT
OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER OR JUST
TRYING TO ASSESS HERE, UH, DATA
SHARING TO ENSURE THAT THE
COUNTIES ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY AND THEN THE
CONCEPT OF A STATEWIDE STATEWIDE
M Ó U TO FACILITATE THIS WORK
EVEN FURTHER AND HOPEFULLY, UH,
REDUCE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT
YOU HAVE, AND CERTAINLY
HOPEFULLY ALSO SOME OF THE, UM
THE CHALLENGES, UH, WITH WHICH
REQUIRE YOUR YOUR ATTENTION.
FOCUS ON UM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
THE SYSTEM RATHER THAN SERVING
STUDENTS, WHICH I KNOW IS WHAT
YOU WANT TO DO. SO I. I LIKE TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT, UM, WHAT
CONVERSATIONS HAVE HAPPENED IN
THE PAST CERTAINLY HEARD THE
TESTIMONY ABOUT THE BILL, WHICH
MAKES THE COLLABORATION
OPTIONAL. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
MAYBE TOO MANY. FOLKS HAVE
TAKING THE OPTION AT THIS POINT
A COUPLE YEARS. UH, SINCE THE
LEGISLATION AND FROM DSS
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WOULD A
STATEWIDE M Ó U? LOOK LIKE WHAT
WOULD THAT REQUIRE? SO YOU KNOW
THAT'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT
IT'S ALL AROUND THE ISSUE OF
DATA SHARING AND MAKING SURE
THAT UM YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
INFORMATION AND CAN SHARE
INFORMATION. SO UH, MAYBE I'LL
START WITH Dð S¼ S¼. AND THEN IF
ANYBODY LIKED TO CHIME IN, I'D
LIKE TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
SURE UM, HAPPY. HAPPY TO RESPOND
. UM I. I THINK I HIGHLIGHTED
SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE
CLOSE COLLABORATIONS, AND I
THINK WE EACH DID IN TERMS OF
SPACES THAT WE'VE CREATED FOR
THAT COLLABORATION. AND UM,
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS. UM THE DATA
SHARING ASPECTS IN PARTICULAR AT
THIS POINT HAVE MOSTLY BEEN THE
INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES AND CAMPUSES
WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THAT TO MY
KNOWLEDGE. UM WE HAVE INTERNALLY
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE PERHAPS WE'VE
BEEN HAVING PARALLEL INTERNAL
CONVERSATIONS BUT YET NOT YET
CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER. ASKED
THE YOU KNOW? COULD THERE BE A
GREATER EFFICIENCY HERE? SOUNDS
LIKE YOU ALSO CAME TO THE SAME
QUESTION TO EASE THIS AND RATHER
THAN EVERYONE HAVING TO BUILD
THOSE INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS
AND DRAFT THOSE INDIVIDUAL MOU.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD
DO AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL? UH,
OUR INITIAL PROCESS FOR THAT HAS
BEEN TO REACH OUT TO OUR LEGAL
COUNSEL INTERNALLY IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND IDENTIFY WHETHER
THERE ARE ANY BARRIERS TO THAT
OR WHETHER THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS INDEED ALREADY
AUTHORIZED IN THE LAB. SO THAT'S
A PROCESS THAT WE'RE ENGAGING IN
RIGHT NOW AS A SORT OF INITIAL
STEP AND UH, IF THAT IS ANSWERED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THEN I THINK
WE WERE PLANNING TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION AND REACH OUT TO
THEN HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, WHICH
IS OK, ASSUMING THAT IT'S
AUTHORIZED. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?
OK? ANYTHING ELSE ANY OF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THAT? YES
YEAH. I DIDN'T ADDRESS IT IN MY
COMMENTS, BUT WHOLEHEARTEDLY
AGREE WITH THE BARRIERS OF
STRUCTURAL BARRIERS OF CAL
FRESH, SO CAL, FRESH IS REALLY
BECOME THIS STAPLE PROGRAM FOR
US TO ADDRESS THE LONG TERM FOOD
INSECURITY STRATEGY, AND WE DO A
LOT OF WORK ON OUTREACH IN THE
CENTER FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
AT CHICO STATE IS OUR HUB FOR
THE GRANT THE STATE GRANT IN
DOING THIS. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE
IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
STUDENTS ULTIMATELY BEING
ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. SOME
CAMPUSES HAVE, IN FACT
NEGOTIATED DATA SHARING WITH THE
COUNTIES. BUT IT IS A LABORSOME
PROCESS TO GO COUNTY TO COUNTY
AND SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES ARE
MULTIPLE COUNTIES GIVEN, UH, A
POPULATION OF THE STUDENTS,
WHICH ADDS TO THE COMPLEXITIES.
UM SO WITH THAT SAID, WE
CERTAINLY AT A MINIMUM WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE IN IN. WHAT WE
FOUND. ALSO WORKING WITH COUNTY
TO COUNTY IS THAT THERE'S
INCONSISTENCIES ON WHAT THE
COUNTYS UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
THEY CAN AND SHOULD SHARE WITH
US, SO OUR MINIMUM MASS WOULD BE
THAT THERE WOULD BE GUIDANCE
GIVEN STATE GUIDANCE TO THE
COUNTIES TO HELP PROCESS THAT
BUT CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE A
STATEWIDE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD
HELP FACILITATE THIS IN ONE
SHOT, AND WE'D CERTAINLY OPEN TO
THAT DISCUSSION. OK SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE ALL OPEN TO THAT. AND
CERTAINLY AGAIN, UH, WITH YOUR
WITH YOUR MISSION OF SERVING
MORE STUDENTS, SO I WE'D BE
INTERESTED IN HEARING A FOLLOW
UP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ONCE
YOU GET YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL
OPINION BACK AND JUST TO KEEP US
APPRISED OF WHAT STEPS NEED TO
BE TAKEN, SO WE CAN, UH,
CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS WORK, SO WE'LL BE HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
MR. YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MR CHAIR
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
EFFORTS AROUND ADDRESSING BASIC
NEEDS FOR REHOUSING AND REALLY
LOOKING OUT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UH, TO D¯ÚI SYSTEM ON I NOTICED
THAT ON, UH, WHEN I WAS READING
THE REPORT ON PAGE 29. IT SAYS
SEVEN CAMPUSES CURRENTLY OFFER
EB Tð. TO THIS ON CAMPUSES PLAN
SOON OFFER EB Tð PROGRAMS. WHAT
ARE THOSE TWO CAMPUSES AND WHEN
WILL THEY BE ONLINE FOR EB? Tð
ACCESS? I DON'T SPECIFICALLY
KNOW THE TWO CAMPUSES, BUT I
KNOW SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH
AND BARRIERS FOR OUR CAMPUSES TO
OFFER EB Tð ON THEIR CAMPUS
INCLUDES THE APPLICATION PROCESS
TO OFFER IT. UM INDIVIDUAL FOLKS
ARE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
THEIR PERSONAL SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER IN ORDER TO, UM AND THESE
ARE, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, UM,
REALLY OLD. UH APPLICATION
EFFORTS. RIGHT UM, BACK IN THE
DAY WHEN DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW,
MOM AND POP SHOPS WERE REQUIRED
TO PROVIDE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
BACKGROUND INFORMATION IN ORDER
TO PROVIDE EB Tð. AND SO WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT A COLLEGE CAMPUS,
PROVIDING EB Tð ON A ON A
CAMPUS, IT'S STILL TIED TO THAT
INDIVIDUAL PERSON TO APPLY FOR
EB Tð AND PROVIDE THEIR SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER. UH, IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE, UM, THE EB Tð ACCESS,
AND SO THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
BIGGEST BARRIERS AND WE HAVE
SOME NATIONAL ADVOCATES, UH,
REQUESTING IN LEGISLATION
RELATED TO THAT THANK YOU. IF
YOU CAN GET US A TO CAMPUSES.
THAT REALLY CARES TO SEE WHAT
THOSE TWO ARE REALLY WOULD
ENCOURAGE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO
TO GET THOSE CAMPUSES ON BOARD
SOONER THAN LATER. UH, SECONDLY,
ON PAGE 30. THIS IS FOR U èC
SYSTEM AS WELL ON PAGE 30 OF THE
REPORT ON FIGURE FIVE. WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE EMERGENCY HOUSING
CATEGORY, I NOTICED THAT U èC L
A IS ONLY CAMPUS THAT DOES NOT
OFFER EMERGENCY HOUSING IS THAT
CORRECT? THEY OFFER OPTIONS IN
TERMS OF REFERRALS TO LOCAL
COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SO THEY DO
NOT OFFER IT ON CAMPUS. SO THERE
IS A AN ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY
TOWARDS LOCAL COMMUNITY
RESOURCES, AND THE STUDENT NEEDS
EMERGENCY HOUSING. THANK YOU.
THIS IS MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. UH, IN A REPORT. UH,
IN ORDER TO 77 COMMUNITY
COLLEGES OFFER BASIC NEEDS
CENTERS AND BY 2022, AND WE
ANTICIPATE ALL CAMPUSES HAVE
BASICALLY CENTERS BY 2020 THREE.
DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE OF IVORY?
TOCO JUST AT A BASIC NEED
CENTERED BY THEM? YES. SO, UM OF
THE MOST RECENT DATA I HAVE IS
THAT I. I HAVE. I HAVE
PERCENTAGES, NOT NUMBERS OF
COLLEGES. I APOLOGIZE. BUT TWO
THIRDS OF COLLEGES REPORT HAVING
A FULLY OPERATIONAL BASIC NEEDS.
CENTER 29% REPORT ALREADY HAVING
HAD ONE PRIOR TO THE FUNDING AND
USING FUNDS TO EXPAND OR UPGRADE
THEIR CURRENT ONE, AND THEN 4%
ARE, UM HAVE ONE AND ARE
INVESTIGATING THE OPTION TO
EXPAND THEIR CENTERS. SO THEY
ALL EITHER HAVE ONE OR HAD ONE
AND ARE USING BASIC CENTER FUNNY
TO EXPAND IT AND OFFER MORE
SERVICES. JUST FOR MY
CLARIFICATION. SO EVERY CHE
COLLEGE HAS A BASIC SCENARIO.
YES A MINOR WRINKLE THERE AS
THEY MAY NOT ALL USE THAT
TERMINOLOGY, RIGHT? IT'S KIND OF
DIFFERENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE
ONES THAT HAD THEM PRIOR TO THE
FUNDING. SO THEY MAY YOU KNOW,
THEY MAY SORT OF CENTRALIZE
THOSE OPERATIONS WITHIN OR
ADJACENT TO THEIR FOOD PANTRY OR
THEIR STUDENT CENTER OR STUDENT
UNION. THEY USE DIFFERENT TERMS,
BUT THEY'RE ALL USING THE FUNDS
TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES
THROUGH A S¼, UH, A SINGLE ON
CAMPUS CENTER, AS REQUIRED BY
THE STATUTE, OK AND NÓ.
ECOLOGIST WITH THE TREMENDOUS
WORK OF DOING TO SERVE.
BASICALLY AS A STUDENT THERE,
IT'S REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL.
AND I'VE TAKEN A TOUR OF SOME OF
THE VISITING CENTERS THAT RIO
HONDO, AND HE STILL AT COLLEGE
AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND
VALLEY COLLEGE AS WELL IN THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA. LASTLY
THIS IS TO ALL THE SEGMENTS AND
ALL THE PRESENTERS HERE TODAY.
AND THIS GOES BACK TO HOW WE
CONTINUE TO ENSURE ACCESS TO
THIS PROGRAM. AND FOLKS KNOW
ABOUT THE SERVICES SO OUR
MATERIALS INCLUDED IN
ORIENTATION. CAMPUS EMAILS. HOW
HOW ARE WE DOING? UH OUR WORK TO
GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL THE
FOLKS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
THESE SERVICES. SO YEAH. SO THE
OUTREACH IS KEY TO THE, UH,
BASIC NEEDS SERVICES, CAL, FRESH
AND SO FORTH, ESPECIALLY SINCE
WE HAVE A WHOLE LARGE COHORT OF
STUDENTS ENTERING EVERY YEAR
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT WE
HAVE THE SERVICES. SO TO YOUR
POINT, YES. NEW STUDENT
ORIENTATIONS BASICALLY NEEDS
COORDINATORS DIRECTORS PARTNER
WITH PROGRAMS LIKE OP THE
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. FOSTER
YOUTH DREAM CENTERS, PROJECT
REBOUND ALL OF THESE SUPPORT
SERVICES WE PARTNER TO HELP TAP
INTO AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
RESPECTIVE STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF
ALL THESE SERVICES. ALSO MANY OF
THE CAMPUSES ALSO HAVE A FACULTY
MEMBER PUT ON THEIR SYLLABI
INFORMATION ABOUT BASIC NEEDS,
HOUSING, EMERGENCY GRANTS AND SO
FORTH SO THAT THEY GET IT IN
THAT REGARD AS WELL. BUT IT'S A
CONSTANT FLUX OF OUTREACH,
TABLING AT EVENTS AND SO FORTH.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I'LL JUST ADD.
I THINK THE OUTREACH COMPONENT
IS WHAT HAS TRULY MADE THESE
PROGRAMS SUCCESSFUL ON OUR
CAMPUSES. I WILL SAY OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FINANCIAL
AID OFFICE TO GET A STANDARD
LETTER OUT TO OUR STUDENTS WHO
WOULD QUALIFY FOR CALF FRESH HAS
ALSO BEEN CRITICAL. TO THE WORK
THAT WE DO, AND SO STRATEGIES
LIKE THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN
BENEFICIAL TO REACHING TO OUR
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. AND I'M
SORRY. OH, THAT'S GOOD. I WAS
JUST GONNA ADD THAT, UM, IN
ADDITION TO OUR PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THE SEGMENTS, UH, WE DO
CONDUCT OUTREACH THAT WE FUND
THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CALF
FRESH AND THROUGH OUR
CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS.
ONE OF THE TARGET POPULATIONS
FOR THAT OUTREACH HAS ALSO BEEN
STUDENTS. UM, SO WE HAVE A
CONTRACT WITH THE AN AGENCY
CALLED THE RESCUE AGENCY. AND
WE'VE CONDUCTED SOME REALLY
TAILORED CAMPAIGNS. WE DID FOCUS
GROUPS TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE
CURRENT BARRIERS TO
PARTICIPATION OR STIGMAS THAT
EXIST AND WHAT MESSAGING WORKS.
THE TO ADDRESS THAT, UM, WE HAD,
UH 80% OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO
VIEWED THOSE CAMPAIGNS ACTUALLY
CLICK THROUGH TO BEGIN AN
APPLICATION. UM SO I THINK WE'VE
HAD QUITE A BIT OF SUCCESS, AND
WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FEDERAL
FUNDING EVERY YEAR FOR THAT
OUTREACH. THAT IS, IN ADDITION
TO WHAT HAPPENS FROM THE
SEGMENTS I WOULD JUST HIGHLIGHT,
UM THAT THAT IT IS HAPPENING
EXTENSIVELY THROUGH THINGS LIKE
ORIENTATION. OTHER THINGS THAT
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WHICH
OBVIOUSLY HAVE A SOMEWHAT
DIFFERENT CHARACTER, DUE TO THE
NATURE OF THE STUDENT POPULATION
AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES, SO WE'VE
IDENTIFIED BEST PRACTICES FOR
OUR COLLEGES, AND WE'RE WORKING
THROUGH AN INTERNAL COMMUNITY OF
PRACTICE TO KIND OF PUSH THOSE
OUT TO, YOU KNOW TO OTHER
COLLEGES OR STRATEGIES THAT ARE
WORKING ONE THAT YOU KNOW, MY
èC S¼ U COLLEAGUE HIGHLIGHTED
IS THAT FACULTY INFORMATION ON
THE SYLLABUS? THAT IS TIME AND
TIME AGAIN? WE FIND THAT FACULTY
OFTEN SEEN AS A TRUSTWORTHY
SOURCE FOR STUDENTS, EVEN WHEN
SOMETIMES TO BE FRANK. THE
CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION MAY NOT BE
, UH, SO HAVING THAT THERE, UH,
CAN BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL AND
EFFECTIVE. A KEY CATCH. IS THAT
AT LEAST IN OUR SYSTEM BECAUSE
IT RELATES TO CURRICULUM, THE
SYLLABUS IS CONSIDERED PART OF
THE CURRICULUM THAT HAS TO BE
NEGOTIATED THROUGH EACH
DISTRICT'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT FOR THAT TO BE ON THE
SYLLABUS, SO THAT'S A THAT'S A
PROCESS THAT MAY TAKE SOME TIME
AT OUR SYSTEM. WHAT WE'VE I
DEFINITELY IDENTIFIED AS A VERY
EFFECTIVE PRACTICE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR SENDING BEST PRACTICES
AND AMONGST SYSTEMS AND HOW WE
CAN CONTINUE ELEVATE AND EXPAND.
THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR
STUDENTS REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK AND EFFORTS. UH, THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU
AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
WORK YOU'RE DOING LOOKING
FORWARD TO, UH, HELPING YOU BE
MORE SUCCESSFUL. UH, SO WITH
THAT WE WILL GO TO OUR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
WE WILL GIVE YOU ONE MINUTE. I
WILL ALSO REMIND ALL OF YOU THAT
WE NOW HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
AVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE MEETING. IF YOU WANT TO
PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY ON THE
FRONT END. YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO
THAT AT THIS COMMITTEE, UH, IN
THE FUTURE. UH BUT WITH THAT WE
WILL START WITH OUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MARY
WASHINGTON, WITH THE CAL STATE
STUDENT ASSOCIATION,
REPRESENTING NEARLY HALF A
MILLION OF èC S¼ U STUDENTS, UH
, OUR STUDENTS HAVE SPENT FIVE
YEARS NOW ADVOCATING FOR CAL
GRANT REFORM. AND WHILE WE
UNDERSTAND THE TOUGH BUDGET
OUTLOOK, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
THERE ARE MEANINGFUL STEPS TAKEN
TOWARD FULL IMPLEMENTATION THIS
YEAR. I APPRECIATE THE
COMMITMENT MADE IN THE 2022
BUDGET, AND THANK YOU TO ALVAREZ
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER FROM UH, FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE.
ADDITIONALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND BASIC NEEDS ALSO REMAIN A
PRIORITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH YOU ALL TO
COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO GOOD MORNING. UM MY NAME
IS TRICIA JONES, AND I'M, A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH ATTENDING
SACRAMENTO STATE. UM THE
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN MY
SITUATION DUE TO BEING IN FOSTER
CARE WITH NÓ SUPPORT? UM THE CAL
GRANT AND MIDDLE CLASS
SCHOLARSHIP HAVE MADE IT
POSSIBLE TO HELP ME IN, UM,
CONTINUING HIRING MY EDUCATION
AND KEEPING ME HOUSE WITH, UM,
THE BASIC NECESSITIES. I URGE
THE COMMITTEE TO TAKE AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS THE CAL
GRANT REFORM THIS YEAR SO THAT
OTHER FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AND
OTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THEIR
EDUCATION WITH THE SUPPORT OF
CAL GRANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, SAMANTHA SAYING
WITH NEXT IN CALIFORNIA, UM AND
A MEMBER OF THE CAL GRANT
COALITION, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR
OUR VULNERABLE LOW INCOME
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, UH, TO
HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
WE THINK THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR FOR INCLUDING CAL GRANT
REFORM ACT IN THE 2022 BUDGET.
UM AND IT'S BEEN NOTED TODAY'S
DISCUSSION, CAL GRANT REFORM
WILL HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE
IMPACT ON LOW INCOME STUDENTS
AND STUDENTS OF COLOR, UM,
MAKING COLLEGE A REAL REALITY
FOR THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME. UH,
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE
CONSTRAINED BUDGET LANDSCAPE
THIS YEAR AND SO WE RESPECTFULLY
URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO ADVANCE
CAL GRANT REFORM IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET. UM BY MAKING A
MEANINGFUL FIRST STEP TOWARDS
FULL IMPLEMENTATION. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO SHARING OUR THOUGHTS
AND IDEAS WITH THE COMMITTEE ON
THAT SOON. UM AND DEFINITELY
WANNA THANK YOU. CHAIR ALVAREZ,
AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FONG FOR
YOUR EFFORTS AND SUPPORT AROUND
THIS, UM, ON KART REFORM, AND
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE ALEX WALKER GRIFFIN
OWN EMPLOYER ON BEHALF OF
GENERATION UP IN SUPPORT OF THE
STUDENT HOUSING GRANT
OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR
WHAT YOU DO AS A FORMER MEMBER
OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES BOARD OF GOVERNORS. WE
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
FINDING STUDENT HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
OUR FRIENDS IN MORE RURAL AREAS
AS THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER OF THE CITY OF HERCULES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WORRIES
ME IS THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR MY CONSTITUENTS. SHOULD THEY
CHOOSE, UH, TO CONTINUE THEIR
HIGHER EDUCATION JOURNEYS, BUT
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND I'D LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU
IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, REBECCA Kò ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FACILITY COALITION ON THE
STUDENT HOUSING ITEM. UM, WE
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE. WE
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. WE
SUPPORT THE HIGHER EDUCATION
STUDENT HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM.
WE ARE NEUTRAL ON THE UM,
REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPLEX
AS YOU DISCUSSED TODAY, SO WE
REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE 19 COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROJECTS GET SUCCESSFULLY ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE. THE DETAILS
REALLY MATTER. WE TO KEEP THE
EYE ON THE PRIZE. UM WE WOULD
REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE DETAIL
AND THE LANGUAGE ON THE PROGRAM.
AS IT'S BEING DEVELOPED. WE ARE
HAPPY TO BE A RESOURCE AS WE'VE
BEEN WORKING IN THIS SPACE FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, UM, THE
SOONER THE BETTER ON THIS, YOU
HEARD TODAY THAT THE COST OF
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUE TO RISE.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THESE
PROJECTS IS THAT, UH, THE BUDGET
IS BLOWN RIGHT? AND SO AS COSTS
CONTINUE TO RISE, UM, WE WILL
HAVE CHALLENGES IN DELIVERING
THE NUMBER OF FED. IN
SUCCESSFULLY, UH, DELIVERING
THESE AFFORDABLE PROJECTS. WE
KNOW WE CAN GET ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE WITH YOUR HELP. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. WE
THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
UH, FOR WORKING WITH US AS WELL
ON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS
WEDNESDAY. POPE AND I'M, A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AND CURRENT
FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE STUDENT. I'M
HERE TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
TAKE A MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARDS
IMPLEMENTING CALBERT REFORM. I
ENROLLED IN COLLEGE AT 17 AFTER
TAKING THE èC HÌ S¼ PE TO EXIT
HIGH SCHOOL AND I DID NOT HAVE A
GOOD HIGH SCHOOL GPA WHEN
ENTERING COLLEGE DUE TO LIFE AND
HOUSING INSTABILITY DURING MY
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS UNDER THE
CURRENT CAL GRANT ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS, I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE ANY CAL GRANT SUPPORT
DURING MY FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE.
THE CGT COULD HAVE SUPPORTED ME
IN AFFORDING HOUSING, FOOD AND
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MY
CLASSES DURING MY FIRST FEW
YEARS OF COLLEGE, I STRUGGLED
WITH HOMELESSNESS, FOOD
INSECURITY AND DIDN'T DO WELL IN
SCHOOL. WELL EXPERIENCING THESE
LIFE CHALLENGES I NEARLY GAVE UP
ON MY EDUCATION BECAUSE I DIDN'T
HAVE THE RESOURCES I NEEDED TO
SUCCEED PERSONALLY, WHICH
HINDERED MY SUCCESS ACADEMICALLY
. I DO NOT WANT THE FUTURE OF
ACADEMICALLY INCLINED FOSTER
YOUTH TO FACE THE SAME BARRIERS
TO SUCCESS THAT I DID. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMITTEE
TO SUPPORT OUR FOSTER YOUTH AND
ACCESSING THIS FINANCIAL
RESOURCE WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. CODY VAN VELDEN,
REPRESENTING JOHN BURTON
ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH. I AM A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH. UM I WAS
ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAL GRANT. BUT
MANY OF MY PEERS ARE NOT. UM SO
I'M HERE TO A ASK THE COMMITTEE
TO TAKE A MEANINGFUL FIRST STEP
TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR ALL OF MY
PEERS THAT ARE CURRENT AND
FORMER FOST. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS JAN STEVENS. I'M A
SINGER, STAFF ATTORNEY WITH
PUBLIC ADVOCATES, AND WE'RE ALSO
THE CONVENOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING
COALITION. UM I WOULD LIKE TO
ASK THE COMMITTEE TODAY TO
PROTECT THE HIGHER EDUCATION
STUDENT HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM,
UM, AND ADOPT THE REVENUE LEASE
BOND. UH, PRO PRO PROPOSED BY
THE GOVERNOR AND TO FUND ALL THE
VIABLE PROJECTS SUBMITTED FOR
THE THIRD ROUND OF FUNDING. UM I
ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION
TODAY ABOUT THE BEST PATH
FORWARD FOR FUNDING STUDENT
HOUSING. UM I THINK LIKE CHAIR
ALVAREZ MENTIONED THE NEED IS
VERY CLEAR. AND I SHE THE
ONGOING COMMITMENT FROM THE
CHAIR, UH, TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM. UM OVER THE PAST SIX
MONTHS. THE COALITION HAS, UH,
SPENT TIME WORK DOING WORKSHOPS
WITH STUDENTS, UM, TO HEAR ABOUT
THEIR HOUSING EXPERIENCE, AND
THE MESSAGE FROM THEM TO US HAS
BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UM
AND I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROS AND
CONS OF THE TWO PROGRAMS BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE TODAY, UM LIKE YOU
, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW THE $1.7
BILLION THAT WAS GONNA FIND
FUTURE STUDENT HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INCREASE IN
STUDENT HOUSING AND SECURITY. UM
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
YOU ONE LAST COMMENT. YEAH OK.
YES I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO
CLEAR, UM, TO PRIORITIZE
AFFORDABILITY, UM, FOR ANY SORT
OF FUTURE, UM, HOUSING FUNDING
PROGRAM. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
TO HER. ALVAREZ AND MEMBERS.
MELISSA BARDO ON BEHALF OF ED
TRUST WEST, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
CAL GRANT REFORM COALITION.
FINANCIAL AID HAS NOT KEPT PACE
WITH THE COST OF ATTENDANCE AND
WITH INFLATION AT SKY HIGH
LEVELS, THE CONSEQUENCES ONCE
AGAIN CONTINUE TO HIT STUDENTS
LIVING IN POVERTY. THE WORST UM
CAL GRANT REFORM WILL MAKE
COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE FOR OVER 130,000 LOW
INCOME STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM
ARE STUDENT PARENTS AND STUDENTS
OF COLOR. WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGING BUDGET LANDSCAPE THE
STATE IS FACING THIS YEAR. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK THE LEGISLATURE
TO PRIORITIZE CAL GRANT REFORM
AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL FIRST STEP
TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION AND THANK
YOU CHAIR FOR BEING A CHAMPION
OF COGAR REFORM. THANK YOU. HØI.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANGELA
ESTRADA AND I'M WITH PUBLIC
ADVOCATES AS A STUDENT
ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE. WE BELIEVE
THAT STUDENTS EXPERIENCES AND
THEIR VOICE SHOULD BE SHAPING
THE POLICY THAT MOST AFFECTS
THEM. OVER THE PAST, UH, FIVE
MONTH, PUBLIC ADVOCATES AND THE
CALIFORNIA AFFORDABLE STUDENT
HOUSING COALITION UM, HAVE HELD
WORKSHOPS WITH STUDENTS ACROSS
ALL THREE SEGMENTS. HOUSING IS
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COST
BARRIER, UM, IN ACCESSING HIGHER
EDUCATION AND ACROSS THE BOARD.
STUDENTS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY
NEED MORE HOUSING AND IT NEEDS
TO BE AFFORDABLE. WE ASK THAT
THE LEGISLATURE UM WE ASKED THAT
THE LEGISLATURE PROTECT AND
EXPAND THE HIGHER EDUCATION
THROUGH YOUR HOUSING GRANT
PROGRAM BY ADOPTING THE STATE
REVENUE LEASE BOND PROPOSED BY
THE GOVERNOR FUND ALL THE VIABLE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SUBMITTED, UM, IN THIS THIRD
ROUND OF THE PROGRAM AND TO
PRIORITIZE AFFORDABILITY IN ANY
FUTURE FUNDING APPROPRIATED FOR
STUDENT HOUSING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHAIR AJ. JOHNSON
WITH CALIFORNIA COMPETES HIGHER
EDUCATION FOR A STRONG ECONOMY
IN SUPPORT OF THREE ITEMS FROM
TODAY'S AGENDA. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON CAL GRANT
REFORM. WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF
THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP
TODAY'S LEARNERS BOTH CURRENT
AND PERSPECTIVE, WHO ARE STUDENT
PARENTS, WHO ARE ADULT LEARNERS
WHO HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.
WHO MIGHT BE COMING BACK AS
THEY'RE OLDER. UM SO THANK YOU
FOR THAT AND ANY MEANINGFUL STEP
AROUND HOUSING. WE ARE IN
SUPPORT OF THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S
PRO BOND SOLUTION AND I'LL ECHO
WHAT, UH, WAS MENTIONED BY, UM
PUBLIC ADVOCATES TO STEVENS. UM
WE ARE ALSO HAVE SUBMITTED
COMMENTS ON THE REVOLVING LOAN
FUND. UM, TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT
THROUGH THOSE TWO PROGRAMS WE'RE
SUPPORTING STUDENT PARENTS, UM,
WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED
IN THE ORIGINAL REGULATIONS AND
ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE SO, UH,
IN TERMS OF BASIC NEEDS VERY
MUCH IN SUPPORT OF STREAMLINING
ACCESS TO CAL, FRESH AND EB Tð.
ESPECIALLY WITH THAT, UH, STATE,
UH, DATA SHARING AGREEMENT THAT
WOULD UNLOCK THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I
AM MOLLY MAGUIRE WITH THE
CAMPAIGN FOR COLLEGE OP
OPPORTUNITY. UH, THANK YOU,
CHAIR. ALVAREZ I JUST WANTED TO
KNOW TWO THINGS THAT, UH, WE
SUPPORT FROM TODAY'S HEARING.
ONE IS THE IS THE CHANGES MADE
TO THE CAL GRANTS DEADLINE. WE
APPRECIATE HOW QUICKLY THE
LEGISLATURE MOVED ON THAT. UM
AND SECOND OF ALL, JUST WANNA
ADD OUR OUR SUPPORT TO THE TO
THE CHORUS BEHIND ME THAT, UM,
WAS ADVOCATING FOR A PHASED IN
APPROACH TO CAL GRANT REFORM,
STARTING WITH OUR MOST IN NEED.
STUDENT. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING. ALEX GRAY IS
THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT
CALIFORNIA COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES ON BEHALF OF OUR 90
MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. WE'D ALSO
LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR
CAL GRANT REFORM. AND APPRECIATE
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING
THOSE DISCUSSIONS ALSO WANT TO
THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR
CONTINUING TO HIGHLIGHT THE
STRUCTURAL BARRIER REGARDING, UH
, THE PORTABILITY OF THE IN
CALGARY AWARD FOR ADULT LEARNERS
WHO ARE TRANSFERRING FROM
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. AS YOUR
ANALYSIS NOTES, THOSE STUDENTS
ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BRING THE
REMAINING ELIGIBILITY IF THEY
TRANSFER TO ONE OF OUR
INSTITUTIONS, AND CERTAINLY
APPRECIATE ATTENTION TO THAT, AS
WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO CONTINUE
TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Kò MEMBERS
. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
GREAT HEARING. TIFFANY MOCK WITH
èC F Tð, A UNION OF EDUCATORS
AND CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS. ON
THE FIRST ISSUE. WE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION OF
OUR PASTA AND SUPPORTING OUR
MIXED STATUS FAMILIES. WE
SUPPORT THE CAL GRA EXTENSION ON
THE THIRD ITEM ON CAL GRANTS, UH
, WANTED TO ALSO NOTE THAT THIS
IS WHY WE THINK GENERAL FUNDING
IS SO IMPORTANT AND IN
PARTICULARLY FULLY FUNDING THE
COMPACT OVERALL. I THINK THIS
IMPORTANT HEARING HIGHLIGHTS WHY
èC F Tð SUPPORT TO INCREASE IN
REVENUES OVER AN OVERALL FROM
NEW SOURCES, INCLUDING A WEALTH
TAX, UM, CORPORATE TAX ALIGNMENT
AND ALSO A SPLIT ROLL TAX.
FINALLY AS WE DISCUSS THESE
FINAL IMPORTANT ISSUES, WANTED
TO NOTE THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN
THE SPORTS WE HAVE FOR ALL OUR
ACADEMIC RESOURCES TO ENSURE
THAT THIS DIVERSE POPULATION
WILL SUCCEED AS PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS HAVE AS WELL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
JOY AND I'M CURRENT FIRST YEAR
AND STUDENT WORKER ATTENDING THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
BERKELEY. FIRST I WANTED TO
THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER OF ALORS
FOR CHAMPIONING THE CAL EQUITY
GRANT FRAMEWORK. TODAY I'M HERE
TO ADVOCATE FOR MY FELLOW PEERS
OF COLOR, LOW INCOME FEMALE
IDENTIFYING STUDENTS WHO RELY ON
FINANCIAL AID ACCESSIBILITY TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE OUR RIGHT
TO HIGHER EDUCATION. I'M HERE TO
ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAL GRANT
EQUITY REFORM, WHICH PROVIDE
VITAL AID EXPANSION TO NEARLY
130,000 LOW INCOME STUDENTS WERE
ALSO EXPANDING GRANT ELIGIBILITY
FOR OVER 11,000 BLACK AND 9000
LATINX STUDENTS LOOKING FOR
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. CAL
GRANT WAS LAST UPDATED OVER SIX
DECADES AGO. AND WITH THE
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BÀN TUITION
AND COST OF LIVING INCREASE AT
èC, S¼, U, S¼ S¼ AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, IT HAS BECOME A
NECESSITY THAT THE CAL GRANT IS
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS AS A
BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. REMOVING
BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR STUDENTS
LOOKING TO GAIN ACCESS TO
FINANCIAL AID IS A DIRECT
INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S
FUTURES. WE ARE THE FUTURE OF
CALIFORNIA AND IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE OUR WORK, WE NEED OUR
STATE TO INVEST AND BELIEVE IN
US AND OUR FUTURE. PLEASE
CONSIDER PRIORITIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAL GRANT
REFORM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LINDSAY
DUNCAN. I'M A U èC BERKELEY
STUDENT AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT
YOU SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF CALVERT REFORM BY FUNDING THE
EQUITY FRAMEWORK IN THE 2024
2025 STATE BUDGET. AS A èC
GRANT RECIPIENT MYSELF, I CAN
ATTEST TO ITS IMPORTANCE AND
IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF STUDENTS.
Kò GRANT FUNDING HELPS STUDENTS
SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF TUITION
AND THE COW GRANT EQUITY
FRAMEWORK WOULD ENSURE NEARLY
130,000. ADDITIONAL STUDENTS ARE
NÓ ARE NÓ LONGER FORCED TO
CHOOSE, FOR EXAMPLE, BETWEEN
BUYING BOOKS FOR SCHOOL AND
PAYING FOR GROCERIES. REDUCING
ELIGIBILITY BARRIERS FOR THE CAL
GRANT ENSURES THAT MORE STUDENTS
OF COLOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS,
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND
STUDENT PARENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
THIS LIFE CHANGING FINANCIAL AID
. THE CAL GRANT EQUITY FRAMEWORK
HAS ALREADY BEEN PASSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE. WE'RE JUST ASKING
YOU TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR
COMMITMENT AND DEMONSTRATE YOUR
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS BY
PRIORITIZING FUNDING FOR THIS
BUDGET ITEM. THANK YOU, ALL OF
YOU. AND ESPECIALLY, UH, CHAIR
ALVAREZ FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HEIDI
. AND I'M A FIRST YEAR AT U, èC
BERKELEY AND AS A FIRST
GENERATION, UM, LOW INCOME
MEXICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT
I DEPEND ON THE CAL GRANT TO
FUND MY EDUCATION AT U èC
BERKELEY AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO
SAY THAT I WILL BE GRADUATING
DEBT FREE BECAUSE OF THE CAL
GRANT. MY PARENTS WERE NEVER
NEVER ABLE TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL
IN MEXICO BECAUSE OF A LACK OF
FINANCIAL SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT
OFFERS THERE. UM AND THE LACK OF
INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION THAT
MEXICO, UM INVEST IN UM, SO I'M
REALLY GRATEFUL THAT CALIFORNIA
INVESTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION. BUT
I'M ASKING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
PRIORITIZE AND DISCUSS THE CAL
GRANT EQUITY FRAMEWORK TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE IS IN
A BUDGET DEFICIT, BUT I WANT TO
MENTION THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR
INVESTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
THE STATE YIELDS $4.50 IN RETURN
AND COLLEGE GRADUATES CONTRIBUTE
270 THREE 1000 MORE IN STATE
INCOME TAXES DURING THEIR
LIFETIME, COMPARED TO A HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATE AND FUNDING.
THIS FRAMEWORK TRULY IS AN
INVESTMENT. UM, WITH THE RETURN
ON INVESTMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS SO I'M ALSO A STUDENT
AT UC BERKELEY. AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT FOR OUR BASIC NEEDS
EFFORTS. WE RECENTLY HAD THE
CHENA 2024 SUMMIT WHERE ALL
SEGMENTS GATHERED IN ADDITION TO
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
LEADERS, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. WE
COULDN'T HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. UH, MOVING
FORWARD. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT WITH ESTABLISHING
DATA SHARING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
AT THE STATE LEVEL ACROSS èC Dð
S¼ S¼ èC W èC èC W Dð, A
CALAS ALL THREE SEGMENTS AND
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY BASED
THE SHARING AGREEMENT WILL HELP
US TRACK REPORT AND IMPROVE THE
DISTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FOR ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. I ALSO WANT TO ECHO
BROAD STUDENT SUPPORT FOR CAL
GRANT REFORM, STUDENTS CONTINUE
TO FACE WORSENING BARRIERS AND
HOLISTIC SUPPORT IS NECESSARY
FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO ACCESS
EDUCATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PREET
KUNDU, AND I'M, A THIRD YEAR
STUDENT AT U èC. BERKELEY AND I
WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THINK OF BY
THANKING YOU TO ALVAREZ FOR
REALLY BEING A CHAMPION ON THIS
ISSUE. WELL BUDGET IS REALLY A
VISION. IT ACTS AS A STATEMENT
OF A VISION FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, AND IF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IS SERIOUS ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, CREATING BEING A FUTURE
FOR ALL OF THE UNITED STATES AND
HAVING A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS
CAN GO AND GET JOBS PRETTY
EASILY. CALGARY AND EQUITY IS
THE WAY FOR US TO DO THAT. BY
SUPPORTING CALGARY EQUITY. WE
COULD ADD 11,000 BLACK STUDENTS,
95,000 LATINO STUDENTS AND FOR A
3000 UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS INTO
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE BEING
GATEKEEPER TO INCH FROM THE JOB
MARKET BY MAKING IT MORE
EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE. WE CAN
HELP DIVERSIFY OUR WORK, UM,
PLACES SO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
HELLO I AM. MY NAME IS LILY
MATURO AND I AM A FIRST YEAR
STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY. AND I'M
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING
AND STREAMLINING THE CAL GRANT
SYSTEM THROUGH THE CAL GRANT
EQUITY PROCESS. AND AS A STUDENT
WHO ENTIRELY RELIES ON FINANCIAL
AID TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION. I
CAN ATTEST THAT CLARITY IN THE
FINANCIAL AID PROCESS IS VITAL.
UH, EXPANDING AND STREAMLINING
ACCESS. TO HIGHER EDUCATION IS
SIMPLY A GOOD DECISION FOR
EVERYONE. EDUCATION IS SO A
MASSIVE EQUALIZER FOR PEOPLE
FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS.
UH, HOWEVER, ACCESS IS QUICKLY
DISAPPEARING AND EQUITABLE. CALC
DISTRIBUTION IS VITAL TO
COMBATING THIS THE FREE TIME.
THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS MIA
VERDIN, AND I'M A FIRST YEAR
STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY. AND I'M
HERE TO ASK YOU TO, UH, SUPPORT
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAL
GRANT EQUITY FRAMEWORK.
EXPANDING THE ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS ENSURES
ACCESSIBILITY TO A GREATER
POPULATION OF STUDENTS. I
LITERALLY WOULD NOT BE HERE
STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU IF IT
WASN'T FOR THE CAL GRANT COST OF
ATTENDANCE IS BOTH THE LARGEST
BARRIER AND, UH, BIGGEST REASON
FOR STUDENTS NOT ENROLLING IN
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, LIMITING
THAT ACCESS IS BARRING HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FROM
ACCESSING HIGHER EDUCATION AND
WITH TUITION RISING
EXPONENTIALLY. IT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE. TO CONTINUE WITH AN
OUTDATED FRAMEWORK THAT DOESN'T
ADEQUATELY REFLECT ITS NEEDS OF
ITS STUDENTS. IT ALSO MEETS THE
DIVERSE NEEDS OF VARIOUS STUDENT
GROUPS, INCLUDING STUDENT
PARENTS, LOW INCOME STUDENTS,
UH, STUDENTS OF COLOR AND FOSTER
YOUTH. THE STATE HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO ITS STUDENT, AND
THERE MUST BE AN INVESTMENT IN
OUR FUTURES. WE NEED THE
EXPANSION OF AID IN ORDER FOR
OUR BASIC NEEDS TO BE MET. WE
CANNOT THRIVE IN OUR
INSTITUTIONS. IF WE ARE
STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT
CORRELATION BETWEEN FINANCIAL
INSTABILITY AND THE STRAIN OF
MENTAL WELLNESS ON STUDENTS. SO
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
YOU GUYS UM SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE èC B èC
GRANT FRAMEWORK. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR.
ALVAREZ MY NAME IS ABIN WOOD,
AND I AM A THIRD YEAR STUDENT AT
U èC, BERKELEY. AND I AM GOING
TO LIKE, AGREE WITH ALL MY
FELLOW LIKE EVERYONE AND SAY HOW
MUCH WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR
SUPPORT ON EXPANDING THE COW
GRANT. LIKE EQUITY FRAMEWORK. I
KNOW SADLY, I AM LIKE I'M A
TRANSFER AND I JUST GOT IN AND
ALSO JUST DO THAT AND SOME OTHER
FACTORS. I I THINK THEY'RE JUST
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. I AM
LIKE UNABLE TO QUALIFY FOR
GETTING A CAL GRANT. BUT AND
ALSO BECAUSE OF THAT, I'VE HAD
TO TAKE OUT LOANS AND MY MOM HAD
TO PUT HER ON HOLD TO PAY FOR MY
EDUCATION SO THAT SOMETIME DOWN
THE LINE, SHE CAN GET HER OWN.
AND I FEEL LIKE HONESTLY, IF I
HAD ACCESS TO THE CAL GRANT, FOR
LIKE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, MY I
WOULDN'T HAVE TO STRESS SO MUCH
FOR FOCUSING SO HARD ON TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND LIFE AND JUST
TRYING TO FIND MY WAY IN THIS
WORLD. SO PLEASE. I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. AND
PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO
HELP EXPAND ON THIS FOR ALL THE
FUTURE GENERATIONS. THAT CAN BE
THANK YOU. I AI SKY PROFESSIONAL
STAFF FOR U èC STUDENT
ASSOCIATION. UH, CHAIR ALVAREZ,
FIRST ONE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS A
RESOLUTE CHAMPION FOR A CAR
GRANT REFORM FUNDING. THANK YOU
FOR ALWAYS KEEPING YOUR
QUESTIONS SO FOCUSED ON STUDENTS
AND THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES
RATHER THAN INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS
AND WANTS, UH, MANY COMMENTS
RELATED TO EVERYTHING TODAY, UH,
IN REGARDS TO THE BASIC NEEDS
PIECE. WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF
DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE DATA
SHARING AGREEMENT TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR
STUDENTS. MORE FLUIDLY. SHARED
DATA ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
U èC ESSENTIAL NEEDS. SODIUM
ALSO KNOWN AS, UH, èC CENTER
FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND ACTION
HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE U èC HAS
18 SELF OPERATED EB Tð RETAIL
SITES ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES AND
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
U S¼ Dð, A EB Tð RETAIL BRANCH
TEAM IN SETTING UP A FEDERAL
STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR
REAUTHORIZING EXISTING LOCATIONS
AND ON BOARDING NEW LOCATIONS TO
FURTHER INCREASE EB Tð ACCESS.
UM U Tð S¼ A ALSO SUPPORTS STATE
ACTION TO EXTEND THE FAFSA
DEADLINE TO MAY 2ND IN ORDER TO
ENSURE VULNERABLE STUDENTS SUCH
AS THOSE THAT FAMILIES ARE ABLE
TO COMPLETE THE FATS. UH, THIS
OBVIOUSLY PROVIDED THAT THE U
èC MOVES ITS INSTITUTIONAL
DEADLINES BACK IN LINE,
INCLUDING ITS S¼, A R HOUSING
AND SCHOOL INSURANCE DEADLINES.
UM AND FINALLY, WE'D LIKE TO SEE
PROTECTION FOR THE STUDENT
HOUSING REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM
AND OBVIOUSLY, FUNDING FOR COVER
REFORM. THANK YOU. HØI UH, MY
NAME IS JIMENA. DIL. I AM A
POSTDOC AT, UH U èC DAVIS. I
STUDY UM MAZE POLAND DEVELOPMENT
AS A POSTDOC AND I'VE BEEN A P
HÌ Dð STUDENT OR I WAS A P HÌ Dð
STUDENT AT UC DAVIS AND SO I'VE
BEEN IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH FOR A
LONG TIME. I'VE ALSO WORKED AS A
TEACHING ASSISTANT AT U èC
DAVIS. AND SO YOU KNOW, I FEEL
LIKE I COME WITH, YOU KNOW
MULTIPLE ANGLES OF EXPERIENCE TO
TALK IN SUPPORT OF, UH, IN
SPECIFIC THE SPECIFIC GRANTS
THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE,
BUT IN GENERAL IN SUPPORT OF FOR
NÓ CUTS FOR YOU KNOW ANYTHING
INVOLVING UC CSU SORT OF, UH,
GRANTS AND, UM, AND INVESTMENTS.
UM I, UM, RENT BURDEN IS
SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE I KNOW
EXPERIENCES EVERYONE, INCLUDING
FROM UNDERGRADS TO WORKERS FROM
TWO PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH PHÐ Dð
S¼, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, IT'S
SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE
HOLDING THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA AND èC S¼ U.
ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE WHILE
THEY'RE GETTING MONEY TO
ACTUALLY BUILD, YOU KNOW, LIKE
MORE STUDENT HOUSING OFTEN TIMES
THOSE RATES ARE MARKET RATES
THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD ANYWAY. SO
YOU KNOW WHEN WE ARE PRESENTING
SOLUTIONS, I THINK ALSO HOLDING
OUR UNIVERSITIES ACCOUNTABLE TO
WHAT THEY PROMISED, UH, IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. HØI GOOD AFTERNOON,
CAROL GONZALEZ HERE ON BEHALF OF
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AND HOPE
HISPANA ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL
EQUALITY. UH BOTH MEMBERS OF THE
CAL GRANT REFORM COALITION. WE
REALLY URGED THE LEGISLATURE TO
PRIORITIZE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CALGARY FOR WE KNOW YOU'RE A
GREAT LEADER AND CHAMPION FOR
THAT. SO WE THANK YOU, UH,
IDEALLY, IT'LL TRANSFORM HIGHER
EDUCATION ACCESS TO OVER 100,000
STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
ARE LOW INCOME BY A PUCK AND,
UH, STUDENT PARENTS. SO WE THANK
YOU FOR THAT, AND LONG BEACH
ALSO SUPPORTS A GREATER ACCESS
TO PSEUDO BASIC NEEDS. AND UH UH
, BOND REVENUE FOR STUDENT
HOUSING. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARCUS
MONTES. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE
ATTAINMENT NETWORK FIRST, UM, I
WANNA SHARE ABOUT THAT BETTER
FACTS OF 58 ORGANIZATIONS ARE
CALLING FOR DEADLINE EXTENSIONS.
WE'RE CALLING FOR THE APRIL 2ND
DEADLINE AND THE REGISTRATION
DEADLINES TO BE POSTPONED BY AT
LEAST FOUR WEEKS. WE HAVE.
CALIFORNIA HAS THE SECOND WORST
DECLINE IN FAO SUBMISSIONS. THIS
YEAR WE HEARD A 40% DECLINE IS
ACTUALLY THE SECOND WORST IN THE
COUNTRY. UH IT IS VERY LIKELY
THE TIMELINE WOULD NOT UPHOLD
FOR MIXED STATUS FAMILIES. WE
NEED TO BUY ALL THE TIME FOR
STUDENTS, UM, TWO ADDITIONAL
WEEKS ON THE REGISTRATION
DEADLINE IS NOT ENOUGH. SO WE
CALL ON THIS COMMITTEE TO JOIN
US AND ASKING THE SYSTEMS TO
EXTEND THAT REGISTRATION THE
LINE AGAIN. WE ALSO CALL FOR
THIS COMMITTEE ADVANCE èC GRAN
REFORM AND DO EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO START IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS NEW FRAMEWORK THAT
PRIORITIZES EQUITY IN OUR
FINANCIAL AID SYSTEMS AND
TARGETS ARE LIMITED FUNDS TO THE
STUDENTS WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR MEMBERS. UH,
MY NAME IS MARSHA, UH, WITH YOU
ASPIRE, BUT HERE, ALSO TODAY
WITH THE COLLEGE FOR ALL
COALITION. AND THE NUMBER OF
OTHER COALITIONS, BUT, UH, WOULD
LIKE TO. FIRST OF ALL START
WITH, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. AND UH UH, REALLY
MOVING THE NEEDLE ON CAL REFORM.
AND UH, WE KNOW THAT IT HAS TO
TAKE, UH, PHASES, PHASES AND
APPROACHES. UH AND, UH, WHATEVER
WE NEED TO GET DONE, LET'S GET
IT DONE, AND WE APPRECIATE IT
FOR THAT, UM, HERE ALSO, UH, TO
ECHO. UH REMARKS FROM MY
COLLEAGUE MARCOS WHO JUST SPOKE
ABOUT, UH, THE NEED TO NOW, UH,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
WE'RE PUSHING THE FINANCIAL AID
DEADLINE TO MAY. SO UH, WHAT WE
ARE ALSO CALLING AND JOINING, SO
CALLED CAN IS CALLING ON THE
UNIVERSITY TO NOW FURTHER PUSH
BACK THEIR S¼ IR DEADLINES
BECAUSE THEN, WITH MAY 2ND BEING
THE DEADLINE, THERE'S ONLY A
COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT SO IT WOULD
BE AWESOME AND REALLY APPRECIATE
IT IF THE LEGISLATURE COULD, UH,
JOIN US IN CALLING THE
INSTITUTIONS AND ASKING THEM TO
PUSH THE S¼ DEADLINES BACK AS
WELL. AND LASTLY, I WILL ECHO
OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE CASH
COALITION. UH IN IN, UH,
SUPPORTING THE REPUBLICAN LOAN
FUND. ESPECIALLY MAKING SURE
THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE USED FOR
HOUSING FOR FAMILY FRIENDLY
UNITS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR. UH, MANNY RODRIGUEZ ON
BEHALF OF TIS I'LL ALSO NOTE
THAT OUR PARTNERS AT THE STUDENT
CENTER FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE BECAUSE NOT MAKE IT AND
THEY ASKED TO, UH, MENTION THEM
THAT THEY ALIGN THEIR COMMENTS
ON COW GRANT REFORM AND IS
PORTABLE HOUSING WITH US. UM
THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMITTEE
HEARING ON CRITICAL TOPICS ON
èC GRANT. STUDENT HOUSING BASIC
NEEDS. UM AND FOR YOUR
SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS, CHAIR
ALVAREZ AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG
, UH, ON HOW IMPORTANT CAL BRAND
IS TO OUR BOP LOW INCOME
STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA. WE WILL
NOTE THAT STUDENT HOUSING AND
FINANCIAL AID ARE TWO ESSENTIAL
FACETS OF COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY
WITHOUT ADEQUATE INVESTMENTS IN
BOTH AREAS. STUDENTS WILL
CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH, UH,
THE OVERALL INCREASES OF
ATTENDING COLLEGE. THEREFORE WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A
MEANINGFUL FIRST STEP TOWARDS
REFORM IMPLEMENTATION. THIS YEAR
, WE ALIGN OUR COMMENTS ON
STUDENT HOUSING WITH THE CASH
COALITION. UH, FURTHERMORE, UH,
THANK YOU FOR MOVING THE
DEADLINE ON FINANCIAL AID
APPLICATIONS AND THE LEGISLATURE
FOR DOING THAT WORK. WE ASK THAT
THAT IS PAIRED WITH DELAY ON THE
S¼ IR DATES AND THAT WE CONSIDER
, UH, LOOKING AT THE CALIFORNIA
DREAM ACT AS A OPTION FOR MIXED
STATUS FAMILIES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
DELINA. AND I'M A SECOND YEAR. U
èC BERKELEY STUDENT. I WANNA
START OFF BY SAYING I REALLY
APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. WE'RE
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND
IN PLACES LIKE THIS, UM, I WORK
AT ONE OF THE BASIC NEED CENTERS
AT U èC, BERKELEY, AND I SEE
HOW EXCESSIVE THE NEED IS, AND
HONESTLY, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME
TO SEE HOW MUCH STUDENTS ARE
STRUGGLING AND SUFFERING. JUST
LIKE THIS JUST TRYING TO BE A
STUDENT AND TRY TO FOCUS ON THE
EDUCATION, BUT THEY CAN'T
BECAUSE OF THEIR OTHER NEEDS AND
OUR CENTER TRIES TO LIKE LIKE TO
ASSIST THEM AS, UH, ASSIST OUR
COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I KEEP ON SAYING LIKE WE
CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT WIDER
REFORMS. YOU CAN'T SUPPORT
STUDENTS WITHOUT WE MORE FUNDING
FOR STUDENTS, AND IT IS NOT
POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THEM WITHOUT
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. UM YOU
KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THE
STEREOTYPE THAT STUDENTS ARE
JUST ABLE TO HAVE FUN AND PARTY
AND DO ALL THESE THINGS. BUT
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR SO MANY
STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
STUDENTS OF COLOR STUDENT
PARENTS WERE JUST LIKE THEY'RE
STRUGGLING TO JUST GET BY. THEY
CAN BARELY PAY PAY ATTENTION TO
THEIR EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT
THEY NEED. AND I KNOW THAT THE
CALM MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO
COME TO COLLEGE. IT'S THE REASON
WHY I'M NOT GONNA I'M NOT GOING
INTO DEBT THE WAY THAT I SEE SO
MANY STUDENTS THAT I'M HOPING
WITH GOING INTO DEBT, AND I
REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE YOU HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS, AND WE CONTINUE
TO PASS REFORMS THAT DIRECTLY
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY EVEN
ON THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. WE CAN
ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THEM. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE ALL OF
YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. UH, WITH
THAT WE ARE A JOURNEY.