Insights
Filter Insights:
News & Commentary, Publications & Research
Underrepresented Students Get Hit Hardest When Public University Access is Cut
Low-income and first-generation college students are California’s future. Most come from racial/ethnic groups that have been underrepresented in higher education—and they are the majority of high school graduates today. But recent increases in enrollment and degree completion among historically underrepresented groups are not happening fast enough to keep pace with population changes. At the same time, Read more >
News & Commentary
Better Higher Education Budgeting for Student Access and Success
Are 1960s-era state-agency budgeting practices hobbling smarter decisions that could make room for California’s next generation of students? Higher education finance in California needs to be reformed, and reforming the way budgets are built is a good place to start. Despite huge changes in revenues, student populations, and demand since the Master Plan for Higher Read more >
News & Commentary
Predictable Tuition Costs Would Help Families and Universities Plan for the Future
As any parent with teenagers knows, paying for college is hard and the nagging worry of “do I have enough saved” fuels many sleepless nights. Recently, there has been heightened public dialogue about the price of public higher education and some states are exploring alternative tuition policies, including free college. However, what has not been Read more >
News & Commentary
Why Do Metrics Matter?
Nothing seems to make eyes glaze over faster than the discussion of measurement and data metrics. For someone working outside the world of data this topic can appear dry and technical; however, metrics are crucial to our basic understanding of how our public institutions of higher education are funded, whether students are able to attend, Read more >
News & Commentary
California Not Making Room for Increased Student Demand in its Public Universities
Under the State Master Plan for Higher Education, California promises to make room in its public universities for all California resident students who meet admission standards. That promise has been effectively broken, because the State has failed to adequately plan for its higher education needs. In good times, the doors are open. In bad times—which Read more >
News & Commentary
Why Scholarships for Low-Income Students are Particularly Needed in Inland Area – The Press Enterprise
By Rebecca K. O’Connor Youth who have previously struggled with attaining a higher education may now have a better chance at succeeding through the newly created Graduate Success Program. Partnering with the San Francisco-based College Futures Foundation, The Community Foundation will be offering needs-based scholarships, as well support services to high school students in 2018. Read more >
News & Commentary
New Initiative Wants to Help College Students – Monterey Herald
By Claudia Meléndez Salinas Students, get your keyboards ready. Donors, get your wallets ready. A new initiative by the Community Foundation of Monterey County will make it easier for low-income students to gain access to scholarship money for higher education. And for potential donors, an incentive to contribute to their efforts. It’s called the College Read more >
Press Releases & Announcements, Publications & Research
Report Webinar on Securing the Public Trust: Practical Steps toward Higher Education Finance Reform in California
All California students deserve the opportunity to get a high-quality four-year college education. But that promise is being broken every day because California’s system for financing its public universities is not working on behalf of students. Learn more about the College Futures Foundation report Securing the Public Trust: Practical Steps toward Higher Education Finance Reform Read more >
News & Commentary
California’s Universities Need More Stable Financing, Report Declares – EdSource
By Larry Gordon California’s public universities need more stable and predictable funding to accommodate growing enrollments of low-income students and to avoid the “boom-and-bust cycle” that triggers large tuition increases, according to a new report by the College Futures Foundation. Without substantial reforms, the University of California and California State University systems face a troubling Read more >