Equity Exemplar: How De Anza College Is Advancing Campuswide Success in Transfer-Level English and Math

California’s landmark equitable placement policies, including AB 705 and AB 1705, have expanded access to transfer-level coursework by removing unnecessary remedial barriers. Yet access alone does not guarantee completion, making coordinated academic and student support essential. In the 2024–25 academic year, 64% of California community college students successfully completed transfer-level math and 68% completed transfer-level English. De Anza College demonstrates what is possible when equitable placement is paired with comprehensive, student-centered support: 83% of its students successfully completed transfer-level math and 82% completed transfer-level English—outperforming the corresponding statewide rates by 19 and 14 percentage points, respectively. The college’s success reflects intentional relationship-building, strong coordination among faculty, staff, and administrators, and timely support delivered through its Math Performance Success and English Performance Success programs. Learning communities, embedded tutoring and counseling, corequisite courses, and connections to mental health, housing, and basic-needs resources further ensure students receive support inside and outside the classroom. By combining rigorous transfer-level coursework with personalized and holistic services, De Anza College offers a compelling model for advancing equitable placement, completion, and student success.