The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica (LWVSM) invites the community to “Students Speak,” a forum on access to public higher education at Santa Monica College on Saturday, March 7.
“Public higher education in California is at a crossroads,” said Eleanor Yick, League of Women Voters Education Fund State Committee Chair. “Almost daily, there are news articles about public higher education and the need for reform in terms of accessibility.”
Saturday’s forum is a local kick-off event, as the LWVSM and Leagues throughout California launch a year-long study.
“The purpose of this study is to examine access to higher education in California. In shaping the scope of our study, (the LWVEF Study Committee has) expanded the concept of access to include funding, affordability, preparedness, equity, and barriers and opportunities,” said forum moderator Louise Jaffe, a member of the State Study Committee and a Santa Monica College Trustee.
“Implicit in the scope of our study is our consensus that access to entry is not enough. Our study is framed to explore students’ opportunity to access success in higher education, as opposed to mere attendance,” said Jaffe.
Attendees will hear directly from a panel of students as they share their insights drawn from real experience.
The forum will be held at the Santa Monica College Main Campus, Business Building Room B111 at 11 am on Saturday, March 7. Free parking is available nearby.
Lunch will be provided. R.S.V.P. to Pres@lwvsantamonica.org
