Josh Hagen Urges California Higher Education Systems to Fight for Students, Not Over Them

Publication: POLITICO
Author: Eric He
Date: August 23, 2026

POLITICO featured Campaign for College Opportunity Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Josh Hagen in its coverage of proposals before the California Legislature that would expand opportunities for community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. The article examines the growing debate over whether California’s decades-old higher education structure is keeping pace with the needs of today’s students and workforce.

Representing the Campaign’s perspective, Josh emphasized that the debate should ultimately center the students California’s public higher education systems were created to serve. “This does feel like a make-it-or-break moment for California,” he told POLITICO. “We’re erring towards a public debate where systems and institutions are fighting over students versus fighting for them.”

The Campaign supports efforts to expand student-centered pathways to bachelor’s degree attainment and ensure California’s higher education systems evolve to meet the needs of today’s students, communities, and workforce.