2025 Policy Priorities

The United States has long revered higher education as a stepping stone to opportunity, the American dream, and full participation in society. Yet, higher education is at an inflection point. In recent years, mounting pressures are attempting to turn colleges and universities into tools of exclusion against historically underserved students and communities who stand to gain the most from a college degree—and in return give the most to our nation’s economy and democracy. Since the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision curtailing race-conscious admissions practices nationwide to today’s barrage of executive orders targeting higher education, ensuring an equitable opportunity to college for every student is essential to preserving our legacy of equity, freedom, inclusion, and democracy. 

Nearly 30 years ago, California found itself in a position similar to the one our nation confronts today and has since worked diligently to become a bastion of equity and inclusion. We cannot allow California, or the nation, to go backwards to a dark history permitting discriminatory policies to divide our people and schools. Nearly two-thirds of our state’s population is Latinx, Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Our future rests in our ability to support our diverse body of students through K-12, higher education, and beyond.  

In the face of these challenges, California leaders and policymakers must act with clarity and courage. Our 2025 Policy Priorities respond to the urgent call to combat the threats attempting to undermine the success of our most vulnerable students. Based on key findings and recommendations from our Equity, Inclusion, Action initiative, we present state policymakers with a set of recommendations to establish California as a national leader in safeguarding students’ right to harness the power of a college education and its promise of economic mobility.