During a prior time of budget surplus, the Newsom administration created agreements with the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO). Known as the compacts (for UC and CSU) and roadmap (for the CCCCO), these agreements serve to steer the state towards the ambitious goal of achieving 70 percent postsecondary degree and certificate attainment among working-aged Californians by 2030.
Now, at a time when California confronts a $68 billion budget deficit, higher education efforts, including these agreements that historically faltered under fiscal pressure, must adapt to meet today’s circumstances. We dedicate the first analysis in this series to exploring the nature of these agreements—their core components, goals, and reporting requirements. By establishing foundational understanding, we aim to provide guidance to the administration and other stakeholders in higher education and ensure that these agreements yield productive outcomes amid the current fiscal and policy landscape.
