WHEREAS, Student parents in the California Community Colleges system balance academic responsibilities alongside caregiving, employment, and family duties, which research shows contributes to lower persistence and completion outcomes compared to non-parenting peers;

WHEREAS, Student parents experience systemic barriers in higher education due to limited access to centralized support resources and academic environments that accommodate caregiving responsibilities;

WHEREAS, With increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity [1] and authoritative abuse and misconduct in the past year [2], a lack of due process for individuals, threats and detainments for freedom of speech, revoking of international student visas [3], alongside the detainment of students in and out of school [4] has resulted in the violation of several amendments by ICE, including the 5th and 14th, 4th [5], and the 1st;

WHEREAS, Since 2021, California has allocated $30,000,000 ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund towards California community colleges to provide free mental health resources to support students [1]; however, physical health services are still largely sustained through health fees paid by students despite the California Community College Chancellor’s Office establishing physical health to be one of the “core social determinants of educational success that impact equitable student learning, experience and outcomes;” [2];

WHEREAS, Affinity Groups, including but not limited to cultural, racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+ Dreamer/Undocumented, disability, student parent, and identity-based communities, play a vital role in supporting student belonging, improving retention, and fostering safe environments for traditionally underserved students across California community Colleges; 

WHEREAS, The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Vision 2030 A Roadmap for the California Community Colleges emphasizes expanding successful, equity-centered, quality online education through improving access and support, emphasizing the removal of structural barriers that hinder student-centered learning and academic progress; [1]

WHEREAS, Undergraduate research is recognized as a "High-Impact Practice" by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, proven to significantly increase student engagement, critical thinking skills, and information literacy, while being highly desirable among colleges; [1]

WHEREAS, Students who participated in undergraduate research were twice as likely to graduate in four years, and these programs significantly increase student transfer confidence, and scientific literacy; [2][3]

WHEREAS, During the 2025 General Assembly, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges adopted the resolution titled “Creating Guidelines for the Use of AI Detection Software Among California Community Colleges” which recognizes the growing concern surrounding accuracy,