About the Academic Senate

Formed in 1970, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization. Created for the promotion and advancement of public community college education in California, its general purposes are:

  1. To strengthen local academic senates and councils of community colleges;
  2. To serve as the voice of the faculty of the community colleges in matters of statewide concern;
  3. To develop policies and promote the implementation of policies on matters of statewide issues;
  4. To make recommendations on statewide matters affecting the community colleges.

The Academic Senate gets its authority to strengthen local senates on California community colleges statewide from the California Code of Regulations Title 5 Section 53206, which says:

(a) An Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges has been established through ratification by local academic senates or faculty councils so that the community college faculty of California may have a formal and effective procedure for participating in the formation of state policies on academic and professional matters.

(b) The Board of Governors recognizes the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges as the representative of community college academic senates or faculty councils before the Board of Governors and Chancellor's Office.