California lawmakers begin the process today of updating the long-term goals and strategic blueprint for the state's public colleges and universities.
The Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education kicks off the discussion with a 9 a.m. hearing that is expected to run all day.
"I think that the system of higher education in California is in peril, and I believe that we need to start the conversation that will allow us to get back on track," said the committee's co-chair, Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City.
The current Master Plan for Education was adopted in 1960 with the goal of providing accessible, affordable and high-quality education at the state's public colleges and universities.
For the last 50 years, that plan has guided the growth of the state's higher education system. It also sets admissions requirements for the state's three tiers of public colleges and universities.
But now officials are looking to give the plan -- and the system itself -- a major facelift.
The committee is tasked with making sure California's public colleges and universities are equipped to serve the needs of an increasingly diverse student population and teach the skills needed to compete in a 21st Century economy workforce, officials say.
"It is time for a realignment of higher education in both mission and goals to address the changing economy and demographics of California," committee co-chair Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, added in a statement. "With all the financial chaos challenging California and our educational system, we must revisit our mission and goals and refocus our efforts for our children and their future."
Ruskin said he hopes the committee can ultimately produce a series of "focused solutions" to address several underlying goals of the system -- keeping the system affordable and accessible for eligible students, defining the benchmarks for a quality education and improving the ability for students to move between the three branches of the system.
But today's hearing is intended to jump start the discussion about the current and future issues facing the system, Ruskin said.
"It's not surprising that the system is challenged now. But I think that in order to meet that challenge we need to have a conversation that is public and and inclusive and participatory," said Ruskin, a UC Berkeley grad. "I think we need to begin the conversation with the value of education in the state. ... We need to understand how important it will be to the success of California in the 21st Century."
Several higher education heavyweights are expected to provide testimony today, including California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, California State University Chancellor Charles Reed and University of California President Mark Yudof.
We rounded up the members of the Assembly and the Senate assigned to the joint committee in previous posts. Click here to read the Assembly roster and here to see the senators assigned to the committee.
The hearing is in Room 437. You can also watch the action on Cal Channel at this link.
Education will be a hot topic throughout the week
The Assembly Education Committee will convene on Wednesday to take up the lower house version of "Race to the Top" legislation. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass has said she'll call a floor vote on the bill soon after it makes its way out of the committee.
The Senate, which has already approved its own version of the legislation, is planning to come back Dec. 17 to take up the Assembly bill.
In case you've been out of the loop, both bills are aimed at ensuring California can cash in on a piece of the $4.35 billion in federal stimulus funds up for grabs through the competitive grants.
Sen. Gloria Romero, who carried the Senate bill, unveiled Friday several amendments that she says brings her bill closer to the federal guidelines for winning the funds.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who criticized the Assembly bill for falling short, reaffirmed Friday that the Senate proposal is his favored pick.
"The adjustments to SBX5 1 announced today strengthen the bill to conform to the Obama Administration's final Race to the Top requirements. I look forward to working with the Assembly on this urgent issue because we must do everything in our power to compete successfully in the Race to the Top and bring its positive education reforms to our schools," he said in a statement.
We wrote about the split between the two rival "Race to the Top" bills last week. Click hereto read that post.
BIRTHDAY: Assemblyman Jim Beall, D- San Jose, turns 58 today.
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