WHEREAS, The 9+1 Student Rights, which encompass grading policies, codes of student conduct, academic disciplinary policies, curriculum development, institutional planning, student success standards, student services, student fees, and other significant policies, currently lack formalized enforcement mechanisms, leaving students without clear pathways to address violations [1];
WHEREAS, Unlike the Academic Senate's 10+1 framework, which delineates process where “items that qualify as academic and professional matters (“10 + 1”), or other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon, can be identified and conflicts over whether an item qualifies as an academic and professional matter can be resolved” [2], the 9+1 provides no equivalent structure, resulting in inconsistent district responses and diminished student protections;
WHEREAS, The absence of defined reporting procedures [3], investigation timelines, fair hearings, remedies, and appeals for 9+1 violations results in prolonged delays, inconsistent outcomes, and inadequate student protections across districts; and
WHEREAS, Current 9+1 implementation imposes no meaningful consequences for non-compliance, unlike the Brown Act's graduated penalties [4], permitting repeated infringements on student rights without accountability or incentives for districts to improve; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges pursue legislative to modify Title 5 Section 51023.7 to provide similar rights as the Academic Senate 10+1 regulations including the Board of Trustees recognition of students rights in the governance of the college, which is the original intent of the regulation;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the creation and statewide adoption of a standardized Student Rights Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for 9+1 matters, clearly outlining step-by-step processes for students to follow when their rights are not respected, including reporting pathways, timelines, roles and responsibilities of district and college leadership, documentation requirements, resolution expectations, and appeal options, in order to ensure consistency, transparency, and due process across all California community colleges; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges lead and advocate for a comprehensive, statewide awareness initiative to educate students, student governments, and college administrations across all California community colleges on 9+1 Student Rights, available procedural protections, and avenues for recourse, and further advocate for the recognition and use of a vote of no confidence as an accountability mechanism when districts or colleges fail to adequately address or remedy documented violations of 9+1 Student Rights, consistent with governance practices afforded to Academic Senate 10+1 rights.
Citations:
[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/5-CCR-51023.7
[2] https://asccc.org/papers/local-senates-handbook
[3] https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/legal-alert-oag-2023-03.pdf
[4] https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1734&…