Calbright College

Calbright College is a public community college in California. It was established in 2018 as the 115th California Community College and is the first fully-online community college in the United States.^[3] Calbright's programing is aimed towards providing workers ages 25 to 34 with short term, affordable credentials and job training.^[4]

In May 2017, governor Jerry Brown began pushing to create a fully online community college, asking California Community Colleges chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley to create and submit a plan to establish an online community college by November 2017.^[5] The chancellor's office created the Flex Learning Options for Workers (FLOW) work group, which developed three proposed options for the online college. The new college would either housed within an existing community college, a collaboration between a consortium of existing community colleges, or a completely new college with support from the chancellor's office.^[6] The initial proposals received pushback from the California Community Colleges Academic Senate, Faculty Association, and Board of Governors, with criticism including concerns around student isolation in an online-only environment and that the college was unnecessary due to online education models at other community colleges.^[5][4]

Governor Brown's proposed 2018-19 budget included $120 million to open an online college by Fall 2019.^[4] In June 2018, leaders of the California State Legislature and Governor Brown agreed to a proposed spending package which included $100 million and an additional $20 million annual funding for a new online college led by a president chosen by the California Community College's Board of Governors. Additionally, the budget required that the new college would achieve accreditation candidacy or pre-accreditation by 2022 and full accreditation by 2025.^[7]

In February 2019, Heather Hiles, former deputy director Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was hired as the college's first CEO and President. Hiles was given a four-year contract with a $385,000 base salary, $10,000 annual car allowance salary, and a yearly bonus, making her the fourth-highest-paid community college leader in the state.^[8]

In June 2019, the name Calbright College was chosen from over 100 options. Calbright College officially opened October 1, 2019, allowing up to 400 students to apply to three career pathway programs in cybersecurity, information technology and medical coding.^[9] In its first year in operation, Calbright had graduated only 12 students, with over 40% of its 900+ students dropping out.^[10]

In January 2020, President and CEO Heather Hiles resigned just eleven months into her four year contract. Hiles had faced controversy after granting a no-bid contract to an executive recruiter who was a personal friend and faced threats of a lawsuit by the California Federation of Teachers for violating "an agreement not to compete with other colleges by duplicating courses they already offered, to violating the “50% Law” that requires California community colleges to direct at least half of expenditures to instructors’ salaries."^[11] Ajita Talwalker Menon was named interim President and selected as President and CEO in July 2020. Menon was given a three-year contract with a $285,000 a year base salary and up to $10,000 bonus.^[2]

During its first three years in operation, Calbright College faced three attempts by state lawmakers to shut it down, with opposition from state lawmakers and the California Federation of Teachers.^[9]

However, by 2023, Calbright had begun increasing enrollment and completion numbers. In August 2023, 3,240 were enrolled in Calbright College, a 201% from 1,078 students in July 2022 and a 574% increase from 481 students in July 2021. Additionally, certificate completion rose 102% from the previous year. Calbright College also received accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission in July 2023, allowing it to award transfer credits to and from other colleges.^[12] In March 2024, Calbright College enrolled 4,327 students.^[1]

At its opening in 2019, Calbright College offered three certificate programs in cybersecurity, information technology and medical coding.^[9] By September 2023, Calbright offered 17 programs, including programs in data analysis and project management.^[12]

Calbright College was designed to support non-traditional and diverse students. As of March 2024, 40% of Calbright students were unemployed, 79% identified as Black, Indigenous, or people of color, 90% were 25+ years old, and 32% of students were parents or caregivers.^[1]

Since its inception, Calbright College has supported free tuition for all California residents over the age of 18.^[1]

In October 2019, Calbright College began enrolling its first students. In its first year, Calbright enrolled over 900 students. However, over 40% of students had dropped out and only 12 students had graduated.^[10]

By the end of 2021, Calbright College reported 748 enrolled students, and 70 completed certificates.^[13]

By 2023, Calbirght had experienced large growth in its enrollments. In August 2023, 3,240 were enrolled in Calbright College, a 201% from 1,078 students in July 2022 and a 574% increase from 481 students in July 2021.^[12]

In January 2024, Calbright College enrolled over 4,000 students for the first time. As of March 2024, Calbright College enrolled 4,327 students.^[1]

During its first three years in operation, lawmakers attempted to shut down Calbright College on three separate occasions. In 2020, the California State Legislature voted to defund Calbright College and redirect its funds to other needs in the California Community College system, with criticism directed to its high cost per student, lack of accreditation, duplication of programs at other colleges. Calbright survived after a negotiated budget with Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature was agreed to.^[14]

In July 2020, Calbright College faced a seven month state audit to assess its progress and ability to live up to its mission. In May 2021, state Auditor Elaine Howle released the results of the audit, which found that the college had only graduated 12 of its 900+ students in its first year and over 40% of its students had dropped out. The report also critiqued poor management by Calbright's executives, with inflated salaries, unethical hiring practices, little support for students, and a lack of strategic planning to spend its budget. The report recommended eliminating Calbright College if it did not demonstrate substantial improvements by the end of 2022.^[10] The week prior to the release of the report, the California State Assembly voted 71-0 in favor of a bill led by assembly members Evan Low and Jose Medina which would eliminate Calbright by the end of the 2022-23 school year. Calbright survived its second shutdown attempt after the California Senate Education Committee cancelled a hearing on the bill.^[15]

In February 2022, Assemblyman Jose Medina introduced AB 2820, a bill which would shut down Calbright College by January 2024 and reallocate its funding to basic need centers and student housing at other California community colleges. The bill passed the assembly in a 60-0 vote but once again did not receive a hearing in the California Senate Education Committee.^[13]

• [1]