Whereas, Student voice is critical to the hiring process, and California Education Code’s equal employment opportunity provision implies support for the participation of students to ensure the community college work force is “continually responsive to the needs of a diverse student population by ensuring that all persons receive an equal opportunity to compete for employment and promotion” (Ed. Code §87100 (a) (3));
Whereas, Chancellor’s Office General Counsel’s Legal Opinion 2020-08: Student Participation in Community College Recruitment (September 2020)1, states, “Nothing in state law prohibits students from participating in community college recruitment and selection processes”;
Whereas, Legal Opinion 2020-08 further states that students are adults and therefore are “capable of understanding the sensitivity of employment-related information, being trained in the proper treatment of confidential information, and being expected to adhere to confidentiality requirements”; and
Whereas, The California Community Colleges Board of Governors Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Implementation Plan calls for diversifying hiring committees and includes student representation on screening and hiring committees as a best practice2;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges encourage local academic senates to review their hiring processes, discuss the role of students in hiring processes, and include local student governments and human resource offices in those discussions; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges provide professional development opportunities and resources to support local academic senates in including students in hiring processes.
MSC
1. https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/Office-of-General-Counsel/Legal-Opinion-2020-08-Student- Participation-in-Community-College- Recruitment.pdf?la=en&hash=539E87369FCA38C1F12B0201CB404774AA81477B
2. https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/Files/Communications/vision-for-success/5-dei-integration-plan.pdf?la=en&hash=2402789D82435E8C3E70D3E9E3A8F30F5AB13F1D