LA Regional Higher Engagement Hub Provides a Space for Advocacy and Information-Sharing 

On day three of the World Series in October, a group of ten representatives from partner organizations gathered around a conference table at the Campaign for College Opportunity’s headquarters, overlooking Downtown LA. One attendee, Sally Vo from the Alliance of College-Ready Public Schools wore a blazer over a Dodgers T-shirt. She announced, “It’s Dodgers, but work-appropriate.” 

The combination of regional pride and professional resolve set the tone for this convening of higher education advocates. Based in Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire, the Campaign’s Regional Higher Education Hubs (Hubs) are committed groups of established local advocates representing civil rights, business, student, and community-based organizations. The Hubs aim to hold the California State Universities (CSUs), Universities of California (UCs), and local community colleges accountable for the successful creation and implementation of key statewide policies.   

Led by new staff members Dr. Rita Gallardo Good and Amanda Dominguez, our 2024 Hub meetings also presented an opportunity to reimagine what Hubs could be. In addition to presenting the latest policy updates and research on transfer, equitable placement, financial aid, and college preparation, the Campaign made time to consult members about what they wanted to get out of the Hubs. 

“I hope to bridge K-12 and higher education policy,” said Jeanette Gomez of Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. 

Kimberly Fabian of Kid City Hope Place shared that she wanted “to learn how our students can share their voices and their stories.” 

Later in the meeting, the group discussed a controversial recommendation by the UC Board of Admissions and Relationships to Schools, to remove data science and statistics classes from the list of courses that meet Area C requirements—the mathematics component of the standardized A-G requirements for admission.  

One of the issues with the recommendation is that it was intended to be implemented as early as 2025, despite the fact that many K-12 educators were unaware of the change. 

“This is a classic example of what happens when people look only at a policy angle,” said Feliza Ortiz-Licon, the Campaign’s Executive Vice President, who oversees our policy work. “This is why we need practitioners at the table.” 

Although the shape of our Hubs will change in response to regional needs, the presence and power of practitioners will be the heart of this work.