Student Empowerment in Hiring Practices Toolkit
In Spring 2021, the SSCCC Delegates passed Resolution S21.02.05 Student Empowerment in Hiring Practices. This Resolution called for the SSCCC to advocate for legislation solidifying the rights of students to participate in all hiring committees and create a website with resources for students serving on hiring committees. Use the toolkit below to advocate for student empowerment in hiring practices on your campus.
S21.02.05 Student Empowerment in Hiring Practices
Authors: Colm Fitzgerald and David Ramirez
Sponsor: Student Trustee Caucus, Black Caucus
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors recommends the rights of students to participate in hiring committees as a best practice of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work [1];
WHEREAS, in Fall 2020 the tenured academic faculty in the California Community Colleges were 60% White Non-Hispanic, 17.42% Hispanic, 10.11% Asian, and 4.75% African-American [2]; Conversely, students were 24.20% White Non-Hispanic, 47.09% Hispanic, 11.05% Asian, and 5.33% African American [3] so the tenured academic faculty demographics do not match those of their students;
WHEREAS, a legal opinion requested by the Association of Chief Human Resource Officers on whether the inclusion of students in hiring processes violates Title 5 found no such violations [4]; and
WHEREAS, the inclusion of the student voice in recruitment practices leads toward the selection of individuals better suited to serve students and California Education Code § 70902(a)(7) [5] states that each California community college district must “establish procedures that are consistent with minimum standards established by the Board of Governors to ensure… students the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level, to ensure that these opinions are given every reasonable consideration, to ensure the right to participate effectively in district and college governance”; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for legislation solidifying the rights of students to participate in all hiring committees;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges include in the aforementioned bill language ensuring that any student serving on hiring committees is adequately prepared by the district to represent the student perspective;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges include in the aforementioned bill language for the expanded allowable uses of the student representation fee with an amendment to California Education Code § 76060.5 [6] to compensate students who serve on hiring committees; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges develop a web page for students detailing how to effectively serve on hiring committees.
Citation 1: https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/Reports/CCCCO_DEI_Report.pdf
Citation 2: https://datamart.cccco.edu/Faculty-Staff/Staff_Demo.aspx
Citation 3: https://datamart.cccco.edu/Students/Student_Term_Annual_Count.aspx
Citation 4: https://bit.ly/38IOnZ5
Citation 5: Title 3, Cal. Education Code § 70902 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=70902.&lawCode=EDC
Citation 6: Title 3, Cal. Education Code § 76060.5 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=76060.5.
