Sen. Dodd Designates April as ‘Community College Month’

SACRAMENTO – In recognition of the importance of California’s community college system in providing higher education to Californians while improving social and economic mobility, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today his resolution naming April as Community College Month.

“Our community colleges have world-class faculty and staff, dedicated to educating students and helping them succeed,” Sen. Dodd said. “They provide life-changing opportunities at an incredible value, ensuring all Californians can build better futures for themselves and their families.”

The California Community College system is the largest system of higher education in the nation, with 116 colleges across 73 community college districts, serving more than 2 million students annually. Each year, community colleges transfer nearly 80,000 students to the University of California and California State University systems while providing hundreds of thousands more with a skills-based, career education needed to secure good-paying jobs.

California’s community colleges are at the forefront in combating income inequality and are trailblazers in supporting social and economic mobility. Seventy percent of California community college students are people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Campuses serve as an onramp to bachelor’s, master’s and higher-level degrees, including life-saving nursing degrees. At the same time, they offer supports for adult students who must work to support their families. Without community colleges, many students would not be able to access higher education at all.

To improve awareness of the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges, and to bust longtime stigmas wrongly associated with public two-year colleges, Sen. Dodd introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 140, recognizing April as Community College Month, mirroring the nationwide designation. SCR 140 will be heard by the Legislature in the coming weeks.

“Through this resolution, Sen. Dodd both recognizes the value and importance of community colleges to California and amplifies this crucial message statewide,” said Association of Community College Trustees President and CEO Jee Hang Lee. “ACCT’s #CCMonth campaign is designed to raise public awareness about the vital impact that community colleges have on their communities by transforming their students’ lives and contributing to workforces and local, statewide and national economies. California’s community college system is a nationwide leader in meeting all students where they are and getting them to where they deserve to be in life.”

“Community colleges are so transformational and represent an incredible value for those seeking to advance their education, career or knowledge,” said Ezrah Chaaban, president of the Santa Rosa Junior College board of trustees.   

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.