WHEREAS, The California Community Colleges system serves over 2.1 million students annually, with more than 70% identifying as students of color [1, 2], and has committed through its systemwide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement to ensuring equal educational opportunity for all students and to eradicating institutional discrimination and implicit bias from the system [3, 4];
WHEREAS, Reports from California Community College students document instances of racially-driven inappropriate comments and discriminatory behavior from faculty and staff members, yet students who have courageously come forward to report these incidents have faced insufficient institutional support, with concerns often minimized or dismissed rather than addressed with the urgency and seriousness they warrant;
WHEREAS, Research demonstrates that experiences of racial discrimination in educational settings significantly harm student outcomes; among students who experienced discrimination, 15-25% reported negative impacts on academic performance, and discrimination predicted lower retention rates through reduced sense of belonging and diminished confidence in ability to persist through graduation [5, 6]; the normalization of racism in educational environments by treating discriminatory incidents as inevitable rather than preventable and addressable perpetuates harm and creates hostile learning environments that violate students' civil rights; while California Education Code Section 66010.2 establishes the state's commitment to educational equity for all students regardless of race and calls for environments where each person has a reasonable chance to fully develop their potential, yet the state has not enacted enforceable requirements to ensure faculty and staff receive adequate training to uphold these principles [7]; and
WHEREAS, Research demonstrates that anti-racism education, when implemented as part of comprehensive institutional change that includes accountability structures, ongoing professional development, and clear reporting mechanisms, can increase awareness of bias and contribute to more inclusive educational environments [8, 9, 10]; students deserve clear, accessible, and protected channels to report incidents of racism without fear of retaliation, academic penalty, or institutional indifference; and the absence of standardized reporting procedures across California Community Colleges creates confusion, discourages reporting, and allows discriminatory behavior to continue unaddressed; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for legislation mandating comprehensive anti-racism professional development and training for all faculty, staff, and administrators employed by California Community Colleges; such professional development and training shall be required annually for all employees, including full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty, including Evidence-based and developed in consultation with experts in racial equity, cultural competency, and higher education focused on creating equitable institutional environments and does not dictate pedagogical approaches or classroom content and inclusive of content addressing microaggressions, implicit bias, structural racism, and culturally responsive practices; and subject to assessment mechanisms to ensure meaningful engagement rather than mere completion;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to establish a system-wide policy requiring each community college district to adopt and publicize clear procedures for reporting and escalating complaints of racism and racial discrimination;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate that these reporting procedures must include 1) Multiple accessible reporting channels (online, in-person, and anonymous options); 2) Clear timelines for investigation and resolution; mandatory documentation and tracking of all complaints; 3) Explicit anti-retaliation protections for students who file complaints; 4) Transparent communication with complainants regarding investigation outcomes and actions taken; 5) Training for administrators and staff responsible for receiving and investigating complaints; and 6) Annual public reporting of aggregate complaint data to ensure accountability; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges acknowledge that campus climate is improved not by accepting discriminatory incidents as inevitable, but rather by establishing institutional cultures that actively prevent, address, and remediate discriminatory behavior.