Texas Community College Student Advisory Council members recently attended the CCATT Conference, where they raised concerns about the need for more student supports & smoother credit transfer policies, & proposed solutions to these & other pressing issues impacting community college students.
September 24, 2024 by EdTrust-Texas 
For the third straight year, a delegation of students from the Texas Community College Student Advisory Council (SAC) attended the 2024 Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT) conference in Amarillo on September 12-14. This annual event brings together elected trustees, higher education leaders, and policymakers to discuss opportunities to improve community college governance, student outcomes, and workforce needs in Texas. This year’s theme, “Collaborative Connections,” focused on partnerships with K-12 school systems and strategies to effectively implement the state’s new performance-based funding formula under House Bill 8.
Organized and supported by EdTrust in Texas, Young Invincibles, and Breakthrough Central Texas, the Student Advisory Council represents current and recent community college students from across the state, including first-generation college students, parenting students, armed forces veterans, and Texans of diverse races, ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds. The Council’s formation dates back to the Commission on Community College Finance formed in 2022; since then, members have engaged directly in policy conversations impacting the more than 675,000 students enrolled at Texas community colleges.
Council members from a wide range of campuses and backgrounds actively participated throughout the conference and delivered remarks as part of “student spotlights,” sharing their insights. They shared personal experiences, concerns, and solutions to some of the most pressing issues impacting community college students today.
Colton Grahmann, an Odessa College student who is working to toward an associate degree in nursing, said:
“Although my time as a parenting student hasn’t been stress free, I have been fortunate not to face some of the challenges that many of my fellow classmates have, such as finding child care on or near campus. Some of my fellow classmates have been on a waiting list for months. This has caused some of them to miss class when they cannot find a babysitter. Thankfully, I have had the pleasure of meeting with leaders at Odessa College to learn more about their plans to address this issue and offer my support. I encourage leaders at every community college to help expand access to quality child-care seats in your communities and to prioritize parenting students so they can successfully complete their credentials and provide for their families.”
Another parenting student, Joannette Casias at Alamo Colleges, said:
“I became a teen mom at 16 years old, and I knew that I wanted a better lifestyle for my child. I knew something had to change; however, during that time, the lack of child care was the main reason I couldn’t pursue a higher education … . With no degree, I was limited to entry-level jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry … . I learned about all the resources at Alamo Colleges that could make community college affordable for me. Palo Alto College has the Share Center, which includes a small food pantry, clothing closet, diapers program, child-care assistance and other emergency financial grants. As a parent, I have utilized this assistance to continue in my degree plan.”
Brandon Jenkins, a graduate of San Jacinto Community College, spoke about the value of his community college education on his path to becoming a skilled classroom teacher. He highlighted the importance of strong advising and paid on-the-job training to expand access to high-quality teacher preparation. As Brandon said:
“After graduating from high school, I enrolled at San Jacinto Community College because it was the most affordable option to begin my studies. Community college not only provided me with a solid academic foundation but also allowed me to stay connected with my community. I was able to work in the very schools I once attended, giving back while learning the ropes of the profession. My experience at San Jacinto was invaluable — it set me on a path that was both challenging and deeply fulfilling.”
Angel Garcia Donjuan, a Dallas College graduate, spoke about the many ways in which dual-credit access transformed his education and career opportunities after high school and emphasized the need to expand access to these opportunities for more students using funding from HB 8. As Angel said:
“By the time I enrolled at the University of North Texas, I had completed all of my core curriculum coursework, enabling me to not only save money on tuition, but to also try out different majors and find the right fit for me … . A major barrier I’ve observed in other areas of the state is the lack of dual-credit agreements between K-12 and community college districts to provide free or low-cost enrollment for high school students. This means that many students have been excluded from [participating] simply because they could not afford the tuition. This hopefully will be alleviated with the FAST funding introduced by HB 8.”
Dane Adams, a co-enrolled student at Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler, delivered video remarks about his unique experiences and the different ways in which his institutions view and support student success. In the video, Dane said:
“I grew up in a household where higher education was seen as a luxury that cannot be afforded to everyone, myself included. As a first-generation student and one that has paid my own way through college so far, my own self-guided path led me to co-enrollment, both at Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler … . [Tyler Junior College] saw potential in me and others when no one else would and that has made all the difference for me … . I think it’s important to recognize the impact of community colleges and what they’re creating for students in the workforce, because I have been able to see [this] firsthand … . We need to do everything in our power to support these student services and create civic scholars and leaders for tomorrow.”
Off the stage, SAC members engaged directly with state leaders and those from their respective colleges. In small group discussions and one-on-one networking meetings, students spoke candidly about the real-world challenges they face and explored solutions related to college readiness, credit transfer, housing insecurity, and child-care access.
The SAC delegation once again impressed trustees with their depth of knowledge and desire to improve the community college experience for themselves and their peers.
Reflecting on their time at the conference, student attendees shared:
As the next Texas legislative session approaches, SAC members plan to continue participating in policy conversations that directly impact their success and that of future generations of students.
