Whereas, AB 928 (Berman, 2021) presents unintended consequences for students in many disciplines, including kinesiology, health, physical education, dance and nutrition, within the California Community Colleges system;
Whereas, The mental and physical well-being of all California community college and university students continues to be of serious concern, as confirmed by more than 3,500 students in a statewide survey and over 700 students in a single district survey who support including lifelong learning courses in the GE or graduation requirements and 1,300 California Community College students who have expressed their voice and concern regarding the elimination of lifelong learning and self-development courses in letters written and sent to the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, Assemblyman Marc Berman, and the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates;
Whereas, The California Master Plan for Higher Education (CMPHE) differentiates the distinct roles and respective missions of California’s three tier higher educational systems – California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California – and indicates that a single transfer curriculum should recognize these system differences without ignoring the physical and mental health needs of all students served by the CMPHE; and
Whereas, Kinesiology, physical education, dance, athletics, nutrition and health education are building blocks of academic success for all students, particularly those who are disproportionately impacted, and the elimination of lifelong learning and self-development courses due to streamlining the GE pattern will result in course cancellations due to reduced enrollment in the disciplines identified above and will deny the opportunity for knowledge and skill development, which will exacerbate inequities and health disparities that contribute to the success gaps in disproportionately impacted students;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges encourage California community colleges to include lifelong learning self-development courses in local general education requirements for associate degrees to ensure that California community college students have the benefit of education in critical areas that affect their academic success, health, and well-being.
M/S/C