2023 Accomplishments: A Year of Affirming Equity, Ensuring Inclusion, and Empowering Action

A Year of Affirming Equity, Ensuring Inclusion, and Empowering Action Looking Back As We March Forward 2023 Accomplishments

The Campaign for College Opportunity has been committed to ensuring that all Californians have an equal opportunity to attend and succeed in college to build a vibrant workforce, economy, and democracy, regardless of race/ethnicity, income, or zip code. In 2023, we doubled down on equal opportunity to higher education at the state and national level, especially given the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on race-conscious admissions.

We advocated for a historic $1.24B invested in California higher education, advocated for strengthened transfer to state four-year universities, uplifted proven strategies and innovations that promote racial/ ethnic equity in college admissions, and more. As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary in 2024, we stand ready to influence more student-centered change for the inclusive future California and America deserve.

Charting a Path to Equal Opportunity in the Absence of Race-Conscious Admissions Informed alongside higher education experts and civil rights leaders for over a year, the Campaign launched Affirming Equity, Ensuring Inclusion, and Empowering Action. The initiative spotlights innovative strategies and proven practices that advance equal opportunity to higher education for Latinx, Black, underrepresented Asian American and Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students, creating a stronger multiracial democracy and economy for our country. This has resulted in:

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Protecting Access to the California State University (CSU) After three years of leading advocacy with students and partners, we successfully defeated a proposed admissions requirement at the CSU, which would have restricted access to the system for thousands of Latinx, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native students.

Working Towards a Singular Transfer Pathway to State Universities We cosponsored legislation to expand the groundbreaking Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) across the University of California (UC) to fix transfer once and for all. While the bill was held, the Governor and Legislature took a critical first step by investing in an ADT pilot program at UCLA, with a goal of eventually expanding systemwide.

Touring the State to Hear Higher Education Priorities To inform our strategic priorities, our team hosted a 12-stop statewide tour to gather input from over 375 K-12 and higher education leaders, students, advocates, and practitioners about the most pressing issues facing students in higher education today.

Celebrating a New Era of Equity-Minded Leadership Dr. Sonya Christian, an equity-minded leader and former member of our Board of Directors, became the first Asian American woman Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Renowned scholar, equity advocate, and our board member, Dr. J. Luke Wood, became President of Sacramento State University. And Dr. Mildred Garcia, a trailblazing national leader and a member of our Advisory Council, became the CSU’s first Latina Chancellor.

Our Team in the Spotlight Our organization and staff received numerous accolades this year: • The Campaign received the Mildred Garcia Founders’ Award by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) for our efforts to advance access and success for Latinx students in higher education.

• The Campaign was named Partner of the Year by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) for our work supporting California students on a path to achieve their college dreams.

• President Michele Siqueiros was recognized by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) with their Excellence in Community Service Award for her significant contributions to equity in higher education at their annual Los Angeles gala.

• The California Community Colleges Organización de Latinx Empowerment, Guidance, Advocacy for Success (COLEGAS) recognized the Campaign as Madrina of the Year at their annual conference for our commitment to advance Latinx students and professionals within the California Community Colleges.

• And more, with key achievements including: President Michele Siqueiros at the White House for a Hispanic Heritage Month reception.

16K

+ publications released in 2023

funds raised in 2023

media appearances

advocates engaged

influenced in the state budget

Vision and Action for Equity Summit

We recognized President Michele Siqueiros’ decades of leadership and honored key allies Dr. Estela Bensimon, Assemblymember Marc Berman, Excelencia in Education, and The Education Trust—West.

To culminate a year of elevating the racial equity imperative in higher education against the backdrop of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions, the Campaign hosted a first-ever Vision and Action for Equity Summit, engaging hundreds of higher education, civil rights, community, student, and policy partners. This event highlighted the many ways that equity can be championed by leaders, campuses, and community organizations.

CSU, UC, and community college governing board leaders discussed commitments to diversifying higher education leadership.

California Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian joined one of our many dynamic panels to highlight equitable pathways through college.

Student leaders shared their stories to urge for greater racial/ethnic and gender representation in higher education leadership.

Thank You for Supporting Our Mission and Events The Campaign for College Opportunity thanks our grant funders, whose generosity enables our mission of ensuring all Californians equal opportunity to attend and succeed in college to build a vibrant workforce, economy, and democracy: Angell Foundation, Ascendium, Ballmer Group, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, California Community Foundation, Catalyst-Ed, College Futures Foundation, ECMC Foundation, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Genentech Foundation, Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation, GPSN, Eileen and Harold Brown, James Irvine Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Latino Community Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, Molina Family Foundation, Skyline Foundation, Sobrato Family Foundation, Southern California Edison, Stuart Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

We also give thanks to our sponsors who contributed to vibrant events convening hundreds of higher education leaders, students, and partners: A2MEND, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, Bank of San Francisco, CSU Northridge, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), College Futures Foundation, CSU Bakersfield, CSU San Bernardino, Quinn Delaney, Fresno State University, GPSN, Heath and Mandy Gregory, Linda Griego, Latino Community Foundation, Los Angeles Community College District, Los Rios Community College District, Michelson 20MM, North Orange County Community College District, Precision Task Group, Sacramento State University, San Francisco State University, SoCal CAN, Southwestern Community College, US Bank, UC Merced.

Looking Back As We March Forward

Since our founding in 2004, the Campaign for College Opportunity has worked tirelessly to improve racial/ethnic equity, college access, and student success in higher education. In recognition of 20 years of impact, our team is reflecting upon the incredible victories and the road ahead as we march forward for true equal opportunity in higher education with students as our guiding compass. The Campaign is proud to have left an indelible impact in higher education thus far: from transforming transfer for community college students, challenging placement practices that unfairly limit students’ ability to access transfer-level courses, ending the use of discriminatory tests in university admissions, protecting and expanding financial aid, and publishing groundbreaking research to influence budget allocations and guide policy and practice change, we remain committed to realizing a vision of higher education that is fully inclusive of all students in California. Our future depends on it!

Michele Siqueiros President

Jessie Ryan Executive Vice President

Audrey Dow Senior Vice President

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas A. Saenz, Chair

Paul Granillo

Edward C. Bush, Vice Chair

Maria Ott, Ph. D.

Maria Anguiano, Treasurer

Julie Peller

J. Luke Wood, Ph. D., Secretary

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.

Brooke Armour Spiegel

Reshma Shamasunder

Estela Mara Bensimon, Ph. D.

Andy Wong

Lena Carew

Joseph Villela

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