California’s online community college still has much to prove

EdSource

Ashley A. Smith

July 22, 2020

With a cut budget, a tougher economy and a new president.

Calbright College, California’s online community college, may have survived elimination in the state’s budget, but the pressure is on to prove its value to the state.

The college faces a state audit and has yet to announce any employer partnerships it promised a year ago. Questions also remain whether Calbright’s students, the first of whom are 10 months into the program, will complete and find the employment the college promised. These are the issues awaiting newly-appointed Calbright President Ajita Talwalker Menon.

Menon, who was unanimously selected by the college’s trustee board Monday, said that despite the criticism, Calbright remains “an innovation engine” for the state’s other 115 community colleges. Calbright opened in October as the state’s 115th community college to deliver training to approximately 8 million of the state’s “stranded workers,” between 26 and 34, who are seeking credentials and training to advance. (The system Monday added its 116th college.)

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