One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
California Community College Governors Approve Emergency Powers For System Chancellor
East Los Angeles College is among the state's 115 community colleges. (Adolfo Guzman-Lopez/LAist)
The California Community College Board of Governors unanimously voted on Monday to give Chancellor Eloy Oakley emergency powers to keep classes open at the 115-college system during the coronavirus epidemic.
The resolution’s supporting comments said last week’s decision by community colleges to move classes online generated questions “concerning the appropriate process for approving such transitions.” The resolution notes that existing emergency powers address keeping the public safe or financially protecting college districts during emergencies, but they don't address how to keep education going if campuses are shut.
The resolution gives Oakley the power to issue executive orders, and sidestep the board of governors’ own regulations and rules adopted by the local boards of trustees that oversee California’s community colleges.
The move is one example of extraordinary steps public administrators are taking to ensure public institutions continue to provide services during the coronavirus crisis.
“It is not good governance to give unlimited power for a significant period of time,” said Community College Association President Eric Kaljumagi in a question submitted via the online meeting. "I am concerned that student, staff, and faculty positions will be unknown when important decisions are made.”
The California Community Colleges system enrolls about 2 million students at 115 colleges. It’s the largest higher education system in California and the nation.
The emergency powers were granted for as long as California is under an emergency declaration, or six months, whichever comes first. The Board of Governors may still call for an emergency meeting in response to any actions taken by the chancellor.
Sponsored message
Read the full resolution here:
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
