Glazer to Lead Select Committee on Student Success

Sacramento, CA – Senator Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, has been named as Chairman of the Select Committee on Student Success, a forum that will explore current approaches to preparing, admitting and educating college students, while examining innovations that can lead to greater student achievement.

“As California employers will continue to rely more on a diverse and educated workforce, it’s time to examine whether our current approaches to educating our college students are outdated or non-productive,” Glazer said.

“Are we examining enough alternative, non-traditional ways of achieving degrees?” Glazer asked. “Are we setting the right criteria for identifying students who could benefit from a college education? What can we do to close the achievement gap? How can we improve college students’ ability to graduate in four years?”

Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, agreed to serve on the committee because it promises to open up new avenues of inquiry that otherwise would not be explored as deeply in a standing committee.

“I look forward to working with Sen. Glazer on ways we can improve access for students, and provide pathways to their success in higher education,” Allen said. “Steve has shown a passion in this area, and as Chairman of the Education Committee, I welcome a thorough examination of these issues.”

Also serving on the committee are: Sens. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, Patricia Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, and Scott Wilk, R-Victorville.

“The Public Policy Institute of California has said we are going to be a million college graduates short of meeting economic needs by 2030,” said Portantino, chairman of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education. “We need to start taking steps now to make our higher education system work better for all our students and for the entire state.”

The areas that this select committee specifically will consider are: the progress of the California State University and community colleges in advancing new four-year graduation rates; non-traditional pathways in the awarding of degrees; and the criteria currently used for four-year admissions.

“A Select Committee on Student Success would be a place to gather experts for discussion – not to push a specific agenda, but rather to learn best practices and innovations to improve student success,” Glazer said.

Times and locations for hearings have not yet been set.