WHEREAS, Since 2021, California has allocated $30,000,000 ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund towards California community colleges to provide free mental health resources to support students [1]; however, physical health services are still largely sustained through health fees paid by students despite the California Community College Chancellor’s Office establishing physical health to be one of the “core social determinants of educational success that impact equitable student learning, experience and outcomes;” [2];
WHEREAS, In 2024 report from the California Community Colleges regarding Basic Needs Services Centers, the reported data from 80 colleges reported a demand for physical health services to be accessed at 2x the level compared to mental health services, with 6,828 students seeking out physical health services, and 3,206 students for mental health [3], demonstrating the high demand to support students’ physical health and wellbeing to the same degree that mental health is supported, which can be done through increased investment for the expansion and provision of more services;
WHEREAS, Numerous California community colleges have worked to address the physical health and wellbeing of students by establishing partnerships with outside organizations, 74% of campuses with healthcare agencies or hospitals and 88% of campuses with established partnerships with community-based organizations in the 2022-2023 academic year [4], demonstrating that these partnership models could be a sustainable alternative solution to meet growing student demands; and
WHEREAS, The method of sustaining physical health services through health fees at a majority of California community college campuses may cause concerns regarding increased barriers of access to education; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for dedicated and ongoing state funding, similar to that of SB129 (Skinner, Budget Act of 2021) [5] and the 2004 Prop 63 Mental Health Services Act [6], to address the continued demand of supporting the physical health of students across the state to the same regard without imposing additional fees on students across the California Community College system;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to consider introducing a pairing program connecting California community colleges with local county health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and hospitals, alongside the provision of starter toolkits and training workshops to help California community colleges develop partnerships with local healthcare services that can serve as effective, meaningful and lasting partnerships to meet the increasing demand of addressing the needs of students’ physical health; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to develop statewide guidance, toolkits, and frameworks that can assist community colleges across California with lowering barriers of access such as financial strains, scheduling challenges, navigation complexity, and awareness of available resources–to already existing physical health resources to ensure that community college students have an easier time accessing on-campus support to address their physical needs.
Citations:
[1] Overview of Mental Health Services for College Students
[2] CCC Basic Needs Services Center Report, 2023
[3] 2024 BASIC NEEDS SERVICES CENTERS REPORT - California Community Colleges
[4] 2025 Report: 21-2023 California Community Colleges Mental Health Legislative Report (2025)
[5] SB-129 Budget Act of 2021
[6] Student Health and Wellness - Foundation for California Community Colleges