By LYNN NEAULT, SUNNY COOKE, MARK CAFFERTY

Neault is the chancellor of the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District and CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association and lives in San Diego. Cooke is superintendent/president of MiraCosta College and lives in El Cajon. Cafferty is president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. and lives in Point Loma.

Students Jorge Arellano, left, and Henzel Florendo work on circuit boards Friday at MiraCosta College’s Tech Center in Carlsbad. Photo by Bill Wechter

Undoubtedly, the COVID global pandemic has impacted us all in ways we never imagined. However, it also shed light on many inequities that already existed — inequities in compensation, in access to resources and in availability of opportunities.

As our society focuses on a post-pandemic recovery, we must make some systemic changes to provide equitable access to higher education. For a sustainable economic recovery in San Diego County and throughout the state, it is essential that we foster inclusive economic development and invest in San Diego’s diverse talent pipeline. For a complete recovery, we must commit to lifting all segments of society.

In San Diego County, approximately one-third of existing jobs typically require a college degree or credential at the entry level. The need for qualified workers is expected to increase in the next decade, when nearly 42 percent of new jobs will require a degree or credential. Meanwhile, the number of San Diego County residents with college degrees does not currently meet the demands of the innovation economy, and demographic trends suggest the gap will widen. In San Diego, Hispanics represent nearly half of the future local talent pool and yet statistically have the lowest higher education degree or credential attainment. Currently, research shows Hispanics are glaringly underrepresented in many of San Diego’s fastest growing fields.

If left unaddressed, shortages of qualified talent pose a significant threat to San Diego’s economic sustainability. That’s why the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. (EDC) and the five community college districts within the county have been drawing attention to this issue and are working together in new ways to mitigate inequities in higher education and opportunity for tomorrow’s workforce.

Today, about 10,000 graduates earn degrees or certificates in more than 100 key occupations that have shortages in skilled labor. However, studies show that job demand in those fields is expected to double in the next 10 years. At the current pace, San Diego’s local supply of new, skilled talent falls short in meeting the demands of tomorrow’s economy.

Increasing financial assistance for students who could not otherwise afford to attend college will continue to expand the talent pipeline. This investment will increase the ability of students who can attend a community college and university. Additional students will be able to receive an education, be retrained and gain skills, not only for the jobs of today but those in the future. Increased income tax revenue, increased consumer spending, and an overall sustainable economic recovery are all long-term results of a well-employed workforce.

The Cal Grant Equity Framework (Assembly Bill 1456) is a proposal now before the state Legislature that would begin to remedy some of the long-standing financial aid inequities that persist in higher education, particularly for California’s community colleges. In the shift to a “student need” model, the proposal calls for expanded access to financial aid for an additional 280,000 students and removes outdated equity barriers like age, grade point average and recency of high school graduation.

For low-income students considering attendance at a community college, this is monumental!

The cost to attend a community college in California is not just tuition and fees; tuition often is not even the largest expense but rather the cost of housing, food, textbooks and transportation. The total cost of attendance must be addressed as the state recovers financially to ensure all segments of our community experience equity in their recovery.

Not only will more community college students be served under the Cal Grant Equity Framework, but more students from every sector of California higher education would be eligible for aid while maintaining current tuition and fee coverage or maximum award amounts. When looking at dollars and cents, a 5 percent increase in degree attainment could generate an additional $4.2 billion in state revenue.

MiraCosta College, Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, and the other four districts within the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association serve the region’s 230,000 community college students. Through Advancing San Diego and other programs, our colleges are collaborating with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. as part of our steadfast commitment to providing education accessibility and economic sustainability to our region.

We urge the state Legislature to invest in the workforce of tomorrow by supporting the Cal Grant Equity Framework. This is a vital step toward providing greater educational opportunity on the path to economic recovery.