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California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
Serving 1.8 million students at 116 different colleges, the California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the entire United States.
Such an enormous and sprawling system requires strong leadership and executive infrastructure. The California Community Colleges implored a shared vision and governance model, with the Chancellor serving as the CEO of the Board of Governors and the official overseer of the California Community College system’s executive offices.
California Community College is America’s largest postsecondary educational institution. The Chancellor is the administrative division whose mandate consists of directing, supporting, and advocating for the system.
Who is the chancellor of the California Community Colleges?
Managing your college’s success is California Community Colleges President Daisy Gonzales. Dr. Gonzales was appointed chancellor in August 2022 by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.
Eloy Ortiz Oakley was the former leader of the California community colleges chancellor’s office. Former Chancellor Oakley resigned and joined the College Futures Foundation in an executive position.
Chancellor Oakley was well-respected in the industry, as noted by the comments of Larry Galizio, President and CEO of the Community College League of California, who attributes the state-wide shift towards equity gaps directly to the role and influence of Oakley.
With new leadership under Chancellor Gonzales, the California community colleges chancellor’s office is set to expand on its Vision for Success template, ultimately setting California’s community colleges up for success.
Chancellor Gonzales will be directly responsible for overseeing the divisions of Institutional Supports and Success; Internal Operations; Equitable Student Learning, Experience, and Impact Office; and Innovation, Data, Evidence, and Analytics Office.
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Divisions
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office includes nine separate divisions that are each led by a Vice-Chancellor and handle different functions and duties.
All of the Vice Chancellor contribute to the student success metrics of the California Community Colleges, but more specifically, they work in tandem with California Legislatures and officials.
The community colleges chancellor’s office to close equity gaps, create a rewarding experience for undocumented students, and promote transformational change by bringing equity to the forefront of certain policy matters.
All of the divisions have employees embedded within and are responsible for supervising the executive offices of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Communities depend on the faculty and board members to do their job within the Chancellor’s office, as their decisions can impact students in various programs, courses, and online classes.
College Finance and Facilities Planning
The College Financing and Facilities Planning division does exactly what it says. The department evaluates policies that determine allocations of capital funds to local community college districts.
Related: What You Need to Know About Financial Aid for Community College Students
They are responsible for financing and distributing funds through a student-centered funding formula that accommodates the 73 California community college districts.
Digital Innovation and Infrastructure
The Digital Innovation and Infrastructure Division contributes to The Chancellor’s Office Vision for Success which calls for California Community Colleges to access the technology, research, and data needed to allow students from all backgrounds to achieve their goals.
The division seeks to improve the experience and outcomes for California’s community college students by assisting with:
- Data Governance
- Information Security
- Enterprise Architecture
Educational Services and Support
Committed to ensuring students receive a high-quality education, the Educational Services and Support Division is responsible for curriculum, support, and instructional services.
The division is also responsible for providing leadership oversight and assistance in the following areas:
- Bachelors Degree Program
- English as a Second Language
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Distance Education
- Online Education
- Guided Pathways
- Minimum Qualifications
- Library and Learning Resources
The Division also evaluates financial aid, online college, and online education initiative to promote enrollment progress and increase the organization’s vision for students to witness.
Related: 5 Support Services to Boost Your Community College Success
Government Relations
The Government Relations Division is responsible for representing the Chancellor’s Office to state and federal legislative and executive branches. This responsibility includes advancing the goals of the Vision for Success through legislation as well as securing budget investments.
The division serves as a link between the Chancellor’s Office and community college system experts, as well as state and federal lawmakers.
Staff is in charge of planning meetings and events, keeping track of and actively monitoring legislative committee hearings, analyzing legislation and policy proposals, and representing the department and system before the Legislature.
This division in the Chancellor’s Office is responsible for listening and contributing to the community college policy discussion.
Institutional Effectiveness
The Institutional Effectiveness Division (IED) is responsible for ensuring that California Community Colleges are doing their job properly concerning students.
This is mainly done through IEPI or the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative. The IEPI works to improve California Community Colleges and reduce the number of accreditation sanctions, state audit issues, and federal problems.
Internal Operations
The Internal Operations Division provides support and administrative services to all of the other Divisions in their pursuit of achieving the Chancellors’ Office’s strategic success initiative.
The Division focuses on supporting the Chancellor’s office through:
- Human Resource Assistance
- Training and Procurement
- Business Services
- Accounting & Payroll Administration
- Grant and Contract Management
Office of Communications and Marketing
Staying up-to-date and in the loop is crucial, which is why the Office of Communications & Marketing provides news updates, media releases, fact sheets, and videos.
The Division consists of a group of communications experts dedicated to creating and sustaining the California Community Colleges’ website with an emphasis on helping current and future students succeed.
The Office of Communications and Marketing routinely engages in collegial consultation with various California Community Colleges.
There is even an opportunity for students to experience a California Virtual Campus, an online education initiative created by the Chancellor’s office to provide a new vision to the California Community College system.
The guidance, knowledge, and leadership of the Board of Governors will undoubtedly create the most rewarding experience for future students, trustees, courses, and any other person who benefits from the work of the Chancellor’s Office.
Office of General Counsel
The Division of the Office of the General Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice and assistance to California Community College staff, faculty members, and any faculty association.
The Office is the central figure in discerning legal interpretations and statutes for the California Community College system. The Office also helps district officials understand and follow the laws that affect community colleges.
Workforce and Economic Development
The Workforce and Economic Development Division is a key playmaker in the drive to boost California Community Colleges.
WEDD’s top priority is preparing community college students and individuals for high-skill, high-wage jobs that will help local and regional economies across California to flourish.
WEDD provides workforce training and career pathways that are both flexible and manageable so individuals can succeed in their chosen fields.
Recommended Reading: Transferring Credits from Community College to University
Conclusion
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office is the main apparatus governing the California Community College System. The Office is divided into nine separate divisions that all oversee an employee base dedicated to serving the Chancellor’s Office’s Strategic Vision for Success.
The future of California Community Colleges is directly influenced by who is in power at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. In the current predicament, Chancellor Gonzales is an incredible leader.
With the outgoing chancellor resigning, Gonzales continues demonstrating the tenacity and focus needed for the new position.
The focus for the future of California Community Colleges is based on their willingness to boost online classes, create an online education initiative, and market the totality of classes, jobs, and board member input that the system implores.