Strategic Plan 2027-2030

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT): A degree designed for California community college students to transfer to a CSU campus. It provides guaranteed admission to the CSU system (though not necessarily to a specific campus or major) for students who complete the required coursework in a designated major. ADTs include the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T).

California College Promise Grant (CCPG): A state-funded financial aid program that waives enrollment fees for eligible students attending California community colleges. Formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver, the CCPG is available to students who meet specific income or need-based criteria, allowing them to pursue higher education without paying tuition fees.

Career Development and College Preparation (CDCP): Structured educational programs that combine high-quality education, training and support services to help students – especially adult learners and those from underserved populations – enter or advance in specific occupations. These pathways are designed in partnership with regional employers and workforce agencies to align with labor market needs. They often include:

• Contextualized instruction (e.g., basic skills taught in the context of a career field)
• Workforce preparation and training
• Career counseling and support services
• Stackable credentials that lead to certificates, degrees or apprenticeships

CDCP programs are often noncredit and free, and they aim to accelerate students’ progress toward employment or further education by organizing services in a way that meets individual needs and supports career advancement.

Career Technical Education (CTE): Educational programs that combine academic knowledge with technical and occupational skills to prepare students for certain careers. These programs are designed in collaboration with industry partners and often include hands-on learning, apprenticeships and other work-based experiences. CTE supports students of all ages in gaining the skills needed to enter or advance in the workforce; programs are aligned with California’s economic and labor market needs.

Certificate of Achievement: A state-approved credit certificate awarded by a California community college to students who complete a prescribed sequence of courses in a specific field of study. A certificate sequence typically includes 18 or more quarter units and is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment, career advancement or further education. Certificates of Achievement are recorded on a student’s transcript. Students taking required courses for a certificate may be eligible for financial aid.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): Academic credit that is awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gained outside a traditional college classroom. This includes learning from:

• Military training
• Industry or government training
• Apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning
• Volunteer and civic activities (e.g., Peace Corps)
• Professional certifications

CPL does not include credit for learning already assessed through formal education at accredited institutions. Credit may be awarded through methods such as:

• Specialized or standardized exams
• Evaluation of military Joint Services Transcripts
• Portfolio review
• Industry-recognized credential evaluation

The goal of CPL is to accelerate student progress toward degrees and certificates, especially for working adults, veterans and apprentices, while maintaining academic integrity and transferability.

Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS): A college office that provides and administers support services and educational accommodations for students with verified disabilities, ensuring they have equal access to all educational programs and activities at California community colleges.

Dual Enrollment (CCAP): A dual enrollment program operated in partnership between a community college and high school district authorized by the College and Career Access Pathways Act (AB 288). These programs encourage high school students – particularly those underrepresented in higher education or not traditionally college-bound – to enroll in community college courses while still in high school. The courses may count toward both high school graduation and college credit. Key features include:

• Courses are offered under formal agreements between K–12 school districts and community college districts
• Courses may be closed to the general public and taught on high school campuses during the regular school day
• Students can take up 15 units per term of courses that are part of a CCAP-approved academic program
• Colleges may claim apportionment for CCAP enrollments
• Students can register as part of priority registration group 3
• Course offerings are intended to increase equity, improve college and career readiness, and accelerate completion of degrees or certificates.

Dual Enrollment (Non-CCAP): Dual enrollment programs that are offered outside the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) framework. These are governed by Education Code Section 76002 and are sometimes called “Special Admit” programs. Key features include:

• Courses are open to any high school student who is determined to be capable of benefiting from advanced scholastic or vocational coursework, and to adult school students who are enrolled in an adult education program operated by a California public school district.
• Students typically enroll in college-level academic or Career Technical Education courses that are open to the general public.
• Courses are usually held on college campuses, though they may also be offered online.
• Students may enroll in up to 11 units per term.
• Students have the lowest enrollment priority, except for Middle College high school students.
• Colleges may claim apportionment only if the course is open to the general public.
• No formal board-approved agreement is required between the college and the school district.
• Colleges report enrollment data through the Management Information System (MIS), but there are fewer reporting requirements than under CCAP arrangements.

Educational Master Plan (EMP): A strategic document that guides institutional development over a six-year period. Community colleges are required by state law to have a current EMP, which serves as a roadmap for aligning academic programs, student services, facilities and resources with the institution’s mission, vision and strategic plan goals.

Equity Plan: A planning document, also known as a Student Equity Plan, that identifies student equity gaps and ways to eliminate them, including specific metrics for measuring progress. All California community colleges are required to have a current Equity Plan under the Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) program, established in 2018 to consolidate and streamline efforts to improve student success and equity. 

Facilities Master Plan: A long-range planning document that outlines the physical development of a college over a six-year period. It serves as a blueprint for how facilities will support the institution’s educational mission, strategic goals and projected growth.

First-Generation Student: A student whose parents or guardians did not attend college. This term also includes students with one parent or guardian who attended college, if no information is reported or known about the other parent or guardian.

Food Insecurity: A condition in which a student has limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner. This includes students who:

• Cannot afford to eat balanced meals
• Worry about running out of food before having money to buy more
• Skip meals or reduce portion sizes due to financial constraints
• Go without eating for an entire day because of lack of resources

Full Time Equivalent Students (FTES): A workload measure used to determine state funding for California community colleges. It represents the equivalent of 525 hours of student instruction, which is based on one full-time student enrolled in 15 hours per week for a 35-week academic year

Housing Insecurity: A condition that includes a variety of challenges to maintaining safe, stable and affordable housing. This includes:                   

• Inability to pay rent or utilities
• Frequent moves or couch-surfing
• Living in overcrowded or unsafe conditions
• Risk of eviction or homelessness
• Living in temporary shelters, vehicles or motels

Leadership Academy: A professional development program that is designed to develop leadership skills and potential in faculty members, classified professionals or administrators through workshops, training, mentorship or other projects focused on areas such as communication, strategic planning and change management. These programs aim to equip participants with the competencies and knowledge to be effective leaders within the college and the wider community.

Middle College: A collaborative program in which a partner high school offers classes on or near a community college campus, providing an alternative learning environment where high school students can earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. Originally developed to address high dropout rates among high-ability, at-risk youth, these programs aim to:

• Provide a rigorous academic environment
• Offer direct access to college courses and services
• Support students in accelerating their educational pathways
• Improve college readiness and completion rates

Noncredit Certificate: A certificate awarded to students who complete a prescribed sequence of noncredit courses in a specific area. These certificates may be offered under the Career Development and College Preparation (CDCP) program and generally fall into one of these categories:

• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Elementary and secondary basic skills
• Short-term vocational
• Workforce preparation

Noncredit certificates are either Certificates of Completion (which demonstrate achievement of a set of skills) or Certificates of Competency (which indicate readiness for employment or further education). Noncredit programs are tuition-free and eligible for enhanced state funding under California Education Code Sections 84757 and 84760.5 and Title 5 regulations.

Nonresident: A student who does not meet California residency requirements for tuition purposes, as specified under Education Code Sections 68000–68085 and Title 5 regulations. This typically means the student:

• Has not lived in California for at least one year and one day prior to the residence determination date, and
• Has not demonstrated intent to make California their permanent home (e.g., through voter registration, tax filings or other indicators)

Nonresidents are generally required to pay nonresident tuition fees, which are higher than the fees for state residents. However, some students may qualify for nonresident tuition exemptions. Examples of exemptions include:

• Undocumented students who attended and graduated from California high schools, under terms specified by AB 540
• Students holding T or U visas granted to victims of trafficking or other serious crimes
• Military personnel and dependents under certain conditions

Pell Grant: A cash award under a need-based financial aid program operated by the U.S. Department of Education to help low-income undergraduate students pay for college. A Pell Grant is not a loan and doesn’t need to be repaid.

Persistence: The rate of students who were enrolled in a particular term and continued their enrollment in the subsequent term or in the following year.

Regional Living Wage: The minimum income required to cover basic household expenses (such as food, clothing, housing, health care and transportation) and relevant taxes, for someone living in a particular geographic area. Attainment of the regional living wage is measured by calculating the percentage of students who obtain employment sufficient to earn a living wage within two quarters after completing their education.

Success Rate: The rate of students who succeed in a course, which is defined as completing the course with a grade of A, B, C or P (and corresponding +/- grades). The rate is determined as a percentage of the total number of students enrolled in the course after census, including those that received a D, F, Incomplete, NP grade or withdrew from the course with a W or EW grade.