FACCC turned 70 in 2023! While its exact birthday is not known, it was reported in a 1960s Bulletin, the precursor to the FACCCTS journal, that somebody rose up during a scheduled meeting of the California Junior College Association (CJCA) in 1953 and said, “Enough with this!” Fed up with an administration-dominated CJCA, faculty decided to split off to form their own organization that would pursue the interests of faculty exclusively.
The CJCA continued its operations and sustained what eventually became the Community College League of California. The new group called itself the California Junior College Faculty Council (CJCFC) and met for the first time at then Long Beach Junior College, where it proclaimed its mission as creating a “direct, uninhibited state-level organization to advocate the specialized view of the junior college instructor.” Today, FACCC proudly describes itself as “the professional faculty membership organization that advocates solely for all community college faculty.”
The Push for Independence
With an initial focus solely on what is now called academic senate matters, the new group worked to establish standard grading systems and requirements for graduation. The new group’s first president, Long Beach faculty Donald O’Dell, campaigned for tenure for all college faculty. During this time, the state legislature mandated a 120-hour requirement for an AA degree. By the late 1950s, the legislature established the Master Plan for Higher Education, a document that designated the community colleges as a full partner with the CSU and UC systems.
Growth and Bargaining Rights
With the rapid expansion of the college system and enrollment in the 1960s, a dedicated, full-time staff and FACCC’s very own headquarters began to emerge. When the California Department of Education created a Junior College Division in 1960, a struggle to define the college mission followed. Against the backdrop of the Free Speech Movement, anti-war protests, and the emerging civil rights movement, the 1960s were an active time on college campuses as students demanded to have a voice in campus and community affairs. The passage of the 1960 Master Plan generated an explosion of growth in the CJCFA (FACCC), adding a dozen new colleges and regular enrollment growth around 10% per year. The Winton Act (1965) formally defined the employer-employee relationship in the public schools and extended it to junior college districts. It became the state’s first collective bargaining law for school employees.
A Statewide Presence
In 1971, FACCC moved its headquarters to Sacramento to better engage in lobbying. This location firmly established FACCC as a force to be reckoned with on a state level in the higher education policy space. Membership continued to expand across the state, giving the organization a broader reach.
The Era of Shared Governance
As a result of the 1984 community college reform legislation, a comprehensive review of the system was initiated to set the groundwork for AB 1725 (1988). Following its passage, community college governance shifted to a shared governance model emphasizing the role of faculty in the decision-making process. FACCC played a critical role in authoring the landmark legislation AB 1725 (1988). FACCC successfully advocated for many of the key provisions including the 75/25 ratio of full-time to part-time faculty, the 50% Law, and the shift of power from local districts to the state Chancellor’s Office and the Board of Governors.
Advocacy During Economic Strain
While navigating a recession, a massive state budget deficit, and the impact of term limits, FACCC played a pivotal role navigating challenges to funding, helping shape and implement the provisions of Proposition 98 (passed in 1988) which mandated a minimum level of funding for K-14 education, stabilizing funding for community colleges.
Alliances and Equalization
As the state faced significant budget shortfalls in the early 2000s, community colleges faced severe cuts to categorical funding and basic skills courses. In a crucial turning point, FACCC’s advocacy efforts mitigated some of the worst impacts of these cuts. A major accomplishment was securing $50 million in equalization funding to address funding disparities among community college districts. A hallmark of the 2000s was the strong alliances FACCC formed with other labor and education organizations to amplify its advocacy efforts. FACCC’s influence was instrumental in passing a state bond measure that provided significant funding for facilities and equipment across the state’s 72 community college districts.
Legislative Victories
A defining characteristic of this decade was FACCC’s active role in shaping state policy. FACCC maintained a strong alliance with state leaders and legislative staff. With a stable economy, the legislature consistently increased state investment in the community colleges, resulting in significant budget augmentations for categorical programs and general apportionment.
Strength Despite Adversity
In the early 2020s, a global pandemic changed the world as we knew it. In the blink of an eye, college campuses across the state shuttered as faculty and students transitioned to remote learning. During this unprecedented time, FACCC served as a critical resource, providing guidance, support, and a unified voice for faculty navigating the challenges of teaching and learning in a virtual environment.