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JUSTICE FOR TRANSFERS & GRADUATES




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Welcome





We are the oldest student club at Ventura College fighting on behalf of community college students from marginalized populations. We are the voice of students on campus whose voice isn't represented equitably at Ventura College.



About





MEChA is a student organization that promotes higher education, cultura and historia. MEChA was founded on the principles of self-determination for the liberation of our people. We believe that political involvement and education is the avenue for change in our society.



La causa





ALL students in a community college or Cal State have a new graduation requirement: pass one course in Ethnic Studies. Unfortunately, not enough courses are offered to meet student demand and VC President Hoffmans doesn't support a new hire in Ethnic Studies.



Transfer Crisis at VC



12,548



Transfer Student Population



No. of VC Students who plan to transfer to a CSU. (2)



1,594



VC A.A. Graduates



No. of VC Associate degree Graduates every year.



717



Transfer Crisis



No. of VC students who transfer to a Cal State University each year.



540



Available seats



No. of available spots in Ethnic Studies next semester.



VC MEChA MEETINGS





3PM - EVERY WEDNESDAY



​WE MEET ON CAMPUS @ MCW 201

We will continue to organize. We expect resistance by administrators along the way. Student futures matter and we shouldn't be ignored.


Over 7,000 students are impacted each year by not hiring more professors in Ethnic Studies to meet grad requirements (AB928). It is in VC AS Resolution 2020-4 but not given priority. Join the student movement!


Over 2 years in designing the students' Cultural Justice Center (formerly MCC), VC President shuts it down. The MCC is part the official VC Master Plan but not a priority. Join the student movement!


In its 97 years of existence, Ventura College prefers to hire professors who identify as White. Meanwhile, Latino students are more likely to be dropped or withdrawn from transfer-level Math and English classes compared to Non-Hispanics in their first year. Join the student movement!


All VC students are welcome! All clubs are welcome. We do not discriminate and welcome all students to participate.



B.A. Aspirations & Achievement



73%



Future Transfers/Grads



No. of VC Students with a goal of earning a two-year and/or four-year degree.



49%



Starting-Off Strong



No. of VC Students who completed both Transfer-Level Math & English within the District in the First Year



32%



Six-Year Transfers



VC Students who identify as Latino/Hispanic transferred by their sixth year.



07%



Yearly Transfers



No. of VC Students who completed transfer requirements in 2021 and accepted admission to a CSU or UC.



LATEST actions & Next step



STUDENT RALLY


We organized a student rally on campus to highlight the lack of support by VC President Hoffmans for Ethnic Studies. MEChA members and student addressed how the withdrawn support for Ethnic Studies will impact their transfer date and enrollment space. We then marched to the Administration Office where police quickly showed up. We asked to speak with the President but we never got a response from her or the executive team. We ended the rally in the Quad despite the lack of recognition. Two days later, President Hoffmans threw shade at MEChA's efforts with the rally.

watch rally

VCCCD Board of trustees


We were eager to share with the Board our concerns and have them pay attention to our concerns related to the Transfer Crisis and Ethnic Studies hire. We asked professors at Ventura College to join us and give public comments. President Hoffmans later addressed students, making herself the victim in the situation. Meanwhile, she provided inaccurate stats to the Board and did not acknowledge the Transfer Crisis.

Watch public comments

Write a letter to the board


Now it is time to write to the Board. We are asking the Board to conduct a study on the Ethnic Studies requirement that includes scale of impacted students and audit of classes available to students. We are asking the Board to recommend the hiring of more Ethnic Studies professors at Ventura College, which includes the out-of-cycle hiring of a professor in Ethnic Studies with a focus on Native Americans.

See letters

New Class Required to Graduate - Everyone





Timeline




2020


CSU Area F is created. Students at a Cal State University must pass one (1) course in Ethnic Studies to graduate.


2021


California Community College students must pass one (1) course in Ethnic Studies to earn an associates degree.


2022


UC approves one (1) course in Ethnic Studies as part of GE requirements. It will take effect Fall 2025.


Ventura faculty recommend hiring a new professor in Ethnic Studies as their top pick.


2023


JAN - Ventura College President rejects hiring a professor in Ethnic Studies with a focus on Native American Studies.


FEB - Students and community members take action.


MARCH - Students communicating with VC Board of Trustees


APRIL - 1st Annual VC Student Leadership Conference




- join the 805 student movement -




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Frequently asked questions



What is the Latino Educational Pipeline and why does it matter?

The LEP framework explains the national economic importance in ensuring Latino students have access to and complete higher educational degrees.



Why does the new GE requirements matter?

Students will not be able to graduate from any community college, state university, as well as UC, if they have not satisfied Ethnic Studies as a GE requirement: Area 7.


What is the new GE requirement?

Receive a passing grade in one course in Ethnic Studies.


Does any Ethnic Studies course count?

No. Not all catalog courses count. As of now, Ventura College offers 5 different courses that satisfy graduation requirements at any CSU in Ethnic Studies: Area F. The same titled course at another college may not satisfy this new requirement, unless stated otherwise.


What are the VC courses approved to meet this new requirement?

Introduction to Ethnic Studies (AES V71)

History of Racism in U.S. (AES V72)

Chicana Contemporary Issues (AES V03)

Introduction to Chicano Studies (AES V20)

Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Studies Issues (AES V23)


Do these courses get full?

You bet! For a long time most community colleges didn't support Ethnic Studies programs and, as a by-product of racist cultures, were unprepared for this requirement. The courses in 2022-2023 reached maximum capacity in the first three weeks of registration. At this rate, 7 out of 10 students will have to meet this requirement elsewhere.


What are my chances of getting in to an Ethnic Studies class?

There will be about 720 spots next semester and a student has about a 16% chance of getting in.


Any chance the number of classes in Ethnic Studies will increase next semester?

It depends. Professors have their own Senators who make up the Academic Senate. In December 2022, the Academic Senate made their top recommendation to the College President. They requested a new professor in Ethnic Studies. VC President Hoffmans decided to reject the request.


Why does the President's decision matter?

This decision can potentially hurt up to 79% of our graduates and transfers by delaying their graduation date or paying more to take the same class elsewhere.






MEChA @ VENTURA COLLEGE



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