Citrus lists students’ basic needs at number one in their 2025 State Legislative Priorities.
Citrus College released a document prior to the January Citrus Board of Trustees meeting listing the top three priorities for the 2025 year.
The priorities are students’ basic needs, noncredit and workforce development, and long term fiscal stability.
The document said Citrus will continue to advocate for policies that support students’ basic needs. Some of these needs include housing, childcare, healthcare and mental health support.
The college also plans to develop and continue its courses that are noncredit.
Noncredit courses do not give any official grade or credit for participants. Instead, these courses are to strengthen workplace skills and help students who aim to continue to credit classes.
Citrus supports funding both credit and noncredit courses.
The document said Citrus is also supportive of creating a legislative change to allow career development and college preparation (CDCP) classes to be funded by census date, as is currently the practice with credit classes.
The question of funding community colleges in the long term is also something Citrus will aim to address.
The state facing large budget deficits brings a lot of uncertainty for the future.
“The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has recommended that districts plan ahead for long-term ongoing liabilities by setting funds aside now, and Citrus College is doing just that,” said the report.
The college also will continue to request investments from the state.
