Proposed Higher Education Funding Would Have Significant Impact on California Students and Workers
California Competes applauds Governor Gavin Newsom for proposing major investments through his May Revise that would be transformative for higher education and workforce. These historic investments signal a new moment for the state that allows us to shift how we think about higher education reform. We look forward to working with Governor Newsom and his staff to ensure that these investments are evaluated as they are being developed and implemented to advance equitable economic prosperity for communities across the state.
Governor Newsom’s May Revise proposes investments that could put California’s higher education and workforce on new footing. These investments break down into four main categories:
- Invest in higher education base budgets, deferred maintenance, cost of living, and energy efficiency—plus convert California State University Humboldt to become a polytechnic university
- Strengthen college affordability with significant investments in student housing, work-based learning, and a grant for displaced workers
- Improve navigating complex educational systems through launching more regional collaboratives that streamline pathways and implement findings from the Recovery with Equity Task Force
- Increase graduation rates and close equity gaps by providing institutions that commit to improving graduation rates with attention to equity gaps predictable, stable funding
California Competes applauds Governor Newsom for using the scale of resources to drive systemic changes.
Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez
“California Competes applauds Governor Newsom for using the scale of resources to drive systemic changes. If implemented through an equity lens, these investments will help some of the state’s most vulnerable communities achieve unprecedented levels of educational attainment and workforce success, ” said California Competes Executive Director Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez.
Over the coming weeks, California Competes will be working closely with policymakers to help conceptualize how this proposed funding will play out for students, their families, and the millions of California adults who will now have new reasons to pursue their dreams of completing college.
