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In this issue...
Annual Convention Wrap Up
From Challenge to Opportunity: Leading through Change
This year's Annual Convention & Partner Conferences in
Burlingame was truly a huge success! Nearly 700 people participated in this event that included
state and nationally known keynote speakers, networking opportunities, entertainment and the Educational Showcase.
The League would like to extend our thanks to our keynote speakers:
- Jack Scott, Chancellor, California Community Colleges
- Jason Young, Author & Speakers Consultant
- Mark Yudof, President, University of California
- J. Noah Brown, President & CEO, Association of Community College Trustees
- Martha J. Kanter, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
This year the conference focused on celebrating student success, while presenting tools to ensure that the opportunities community colleges provide create a better California. The focus was well conveyed in the main and breakout sessions.
Conference Evaluation
If you attended this year's conference and did not have a chance to complete an evaluation, we encourage you to take a brief moment to do so. Click here to complete the evaluation online. We appreciate your feedback!
Save the Date
We hope you will join us for the 2010 Annual Convention & Partner Conferences at the Pasadena Convention Center, November 18–20.
Master Plan Committee Hearing
The first hearing of the new Committee for Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education was held on Monday, December 7th. According to co-chair Ruskin, “We are convening because many objective research reports suggest that our system is now at risk, and because so very much has changed since 1960. Things are very different now.”
Over the course of five public hearings, the committee intends to evaluate how the Master Plan can be revised to meet higher education needs now, and in the first half of the 21st century. The committee’s final four public hearings will be conducted during the first quarter of 2010, and will focus on eligibility and access, affordability and financing, accountability and quality, and coordination and efficiency.
Monday’s hearing included five panels, ranging from chairs and staff of former Master Plan reviews, the heads of the higher education systems, policy analysts who have written about the status of the Master Plan; to student leaders of each system and business and labor representatives.
Among the more telling presentations was that of Brian Murphy, chief consultant to the 1986 Joint Legislative Committee for Review of the Master Plan and current president of De Anza College. In offering advice to the members, Murphy emphasized the growth of the economy depends on growth in higher education and recommended bringing in economists who can link long-term investment in education with economic growth. In order to meet the President’s goal of one million more college graduates by 2020, California should graduate 157,000 more students annually for each of the next ten years; instead, California higher education has turned away approximately 300,000 students last year, setting the U.S. back two years.
Murphy also emphasized the important values of maximizing short resources to maintain social peace and educate citizens for democracy, as well as reaffirming the Master Plan rather than modifying it due to current fiscal pressures.
Steve Boillard of the Legislative Analyst’s Office offered critique of the “blurred focus” of state higher education policy indicating the current state of higher education does not match the Master Plan which calls for no tuition, exclusive assignment of the doctorate to UC, and eligibility for UC at 12.5%; the key funding decisions are made without clear state fee policies, such as on the basis of ability to pay; and there is no policy for enrollment increases; the very important Cal-Grant entitlement is constantly threatened with extinction.
In other comments, Assemblymember Marty Block expressed interest in allowing community colleges to offer the baccalaureate degree in areas such as San Diego where CSU is seriously impacted; and virtually all community college speakers advocated retention of low fees.
For more information on the Master Plan hearing and other legislative news, read the League's December Legislative Update.
Attend the 2010 Legislative Conference
 As the Legislature gets ready to reconvene in January, the League invites you to attend the 2010 Annual Legislative Conference and join your community college colleagues in the launch of this exciting legislative year.
JANUARY 24 & 25, 2010
Sheraton Grand
Sacramento, CA
This conference provides an excellent opportunity to learn about new members of legislative committees, legislative proposals affecting colleges and student learning, initiatives proposed by the Governor, timely information on the proposed State Budget, and advocacy strategies for the current legislative year.
Register Online • Hotel/Travel Information
Trustee and Board Chair Events
Effective Trusteeship Workshop
Trustees are most effective when they have comprehensive knowledge and excellent governing skills. The Effective Trusteeship Workshop is the single best overview of the responsibilities of California’s community college trustees. Presenters, which include state leaders and experienced trustees, will provide substantive information and ensure ample opportunity to discuss questions.
January 22 - 24, 2010
Sheraton Grand
Sacramento, CA
Register Online • Hotel/Travel Information
Board Chair Workshop
The Board Chair Workshop is offered in conjunction with the Annual Legislative Conference and Effective Trusteeship Workshop. Board chairs, vice chairs and others interested in the role of the president of the board of trustees are encouraged to attend.
January 23, 2010
Sheraton Grand
Sacramento, CA
Register Online • Hotel/Travel Information
Asilomar Leadership Skills Seminar
MARCH 9 - 12, 2010
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Pacific Grove, CA
The Asilomar Leadership Skills Seminar will provide information, strategies, contacts, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. The expected outcome is that participants will be able to acquire and successfully accept expanded leadership responsibilities within their own or other California community colleges.
Who Should Attend
Over the past 24 years, approximately 2,050 competitively selected women have completed the Asilomar Leadership Skills Seminar.
The Seminar focuses on administrative leadership issues. However, enrollment is open to those in any leadership position, including classified managers, program directors, trustees, and leaders of senates and unions.
Registration
Applicants are selected competitively. Applications and accompanying materials must be postmarked by Monday, February 8, 2010. Download Application Form (PDF)
Looking for funding ideas? The League provides tips on obtaining funding for registration and travel. Read more...
Questions/More Information
Contact Cherie Savage, Director of Meetings and Events, at csavage@ccleague.org or (916) 444-8641. More information on the seminar is also available on our Web site.
 League Publishes
2009-10 Business and Consultants Directory
The Business and Consultants Directory is designed to provide districts and colleges with helpful information on businesses and consultants that provide a wide range of beneficial products and services to California's community colleges.
View the Business and Consultants Directory online.
If you would like to receive a printed copy of the Business and Consultants Directory, please contact Melodie Smith at msmith@ccleague.org.
Free Health Benefits Training and Follow-up Services for Community College Districts
For over two years, the League has been a full participant in the California Education Coalition for Health Care Reform (CECHCR), an independent, statewide partnership of employer and employee organizations committed to improving health care quality and reducing health care costs in public education. Through education, training and advocacy, CECHCR empowers districts to make informed purchasing decisions.
The following Coalition services are available free of charge to community college and school districts:
- access to health benefits training and follow-up services for management/union teams to help districts improve the quality and reduce the costs of their health care;
- work with the education community’s large purchasers of health insurance to create economies of scale, improve health care quality, and find common ground for reform;
- sponsorship of an annual Health Care Summit which brings together experts in the field, elected officials and policy makers to share knowledge and help connect purchasing and policy agendas to further the goals of CECHCR.
CECHCR trainings include:
- the basics of working effectively as a labor/ management committee that deals with health benefits in order to obtain the highest quality of services from consultants, and brokers;
- a primer on the health benefits industry and how to access a broad range of information including how to assess local hospital quality and how to choose a health plan; and
- basic insurance models as well as important information on risk pools, health savings accounts, cash-in-lieu of benefits, putting negotiated benefit money on the salary schedule, wellness and disease management and the latest GASB updates.
Once a district has participated in any of these three modules, it is eligible to contact CECHCR for follow-up services to meet individual district needs and provide assistance to help support implementation of the education program contained in the three modules summarized above.
Trainings are presented by a volunteer labor-management team with experience in public education and passion for helping others improve their health benefits efforts. Each training module is three hours in length.
For more information or to sign up for training in your area, please contact the CECHCR office at (916) 567-9911 x18 or visit www.cechcr.org.
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