Higher Education
Erasing the barriers college students face in California.
Our goal is to ensure that California provides all students the opportunity to access and graduate from its three public systems: the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges.
Our advocacy reflects the needs and voice of students—especially low-income and first-generation students, English-language learners, students of color, and working adults. We have been fighting for justice in K-12 education for more than 45 years. Our expansion into Higher Education is the natural evolution of Public Advocates’ commitment to opening opportunities for young people as they move into adulthood and build their lives.
Our Values and Principles
Students are entitled to basic resources
All students must have access to equitable and need-based resources
Public higher education institutions must be centered on student success
Students must be meaningfully engaged with in local governance and in state policy
We must hold public segments accountable for student success
Our Priorities
PA’s Higher Education framework guides its policy and advocacy activities, partnerships, research efforts and working with the media and the community stakeholders in service of high need post-secondary students in California.
PA’s Higher Education Team provides legal, policy and advocacy leadership on critical issues through:
Elevating and amplifying student voices and experiences to build student power in policy and advocacy on their local campuses and state policy making.
Litigation and administrative advocacy
Policy and legislative advocacy
Partnerships and coalition-building with policy-aligned partners, coalitions, and community stakeholders
Current Priorities
Remedial Coursework Reform
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Cradle to Career Data System
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Affordable Student Housing
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Cal Grant Reform
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SEA Plans
Learn MoreStudent Engagement
Engaging with students and working to elevate student voice is the foundation of the Higher Education Equity team at Public Advocates.
learn moreKey coalitions
The California Affordable Student Housing (CASH) Coalition brings together higher education advocates, civil rights and student-led organizations to advocate for solutions to end student housing insecurity and homelessness.
student rights
Students are entitled to know their rights and advocate for themselves. Public Advocates has supported student power by educating them on their rights at the local and state level.
learn moreget Involved
We believe that communities most impacted by policy are the experts of their own experience. We shape our advocacy to support the power-building of those communities. To that end, this work to build an equitable public higher education system is not possible without student leaders, educators, academic staff, and other student advocates.