As more students are finding the value in a community college education, enrollment numbers across the state are steadily increasing. This rise in popularity has prompted the most aggressive and successful pursuit to limit student food and financial insecurity by a community college district in California to date.
The West Valley – Mission Community College District currently serves 20,000 students across the two institutions. Under the lead of Chancellor Brad Davis, the district has worked over the past two years to support their students as much as possible.
“Our district has been committed to removing barriers that hinder our students’ personal and academic success,” Davis said. “In order to further that goal, we have taken direct steps in the last two years to remove essentially all of the major costs that students encounter that can cause them to struggle to continue in school, to persist and ultimately to graduate or transfer.”
Food insecurity is one of the main issues that students in the district struggle with. Member of student government at Mission College and senior at Mission Early College High School Julissa Gee explained that Mission College has already implemented a solution that has proven beneficial to many.
“It’s free food for any student, and they set it up like a grocery store,” Gee said. “It keeps a normal vibe of a grocery store so it’s not embarrassing or anything. It’s right in front of the basic needs center. You take what you need. You just show your ID, and then you’re good to go.”
In the fall of 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3158, which allows West Valley and Mission to waive tuition fees for those who reside within the service area. Additionally, funding from local property taxes has supported the district to provide students with resources like free parking and health services. On top of this, a one-of-a-kind program that will further cover the basic needs of students is set to begin in the fall.
“We have created, beginning in the fall, the first of its kind in the country, a universal meal plan where all students of the district will be afforded the opportunity to eat for free in our school cafeterias,” Davis said.
The efforts to support those enrolled within the district have received positive feedback from students, staff and community members. President of student government at Mission College Priscila Moreira has played a key role in the implementation of the programs by making sure the concerns of the students are heard.
“We are the first national system that actually provides free food to students, and also, we have free childcare,” Moreira said. “We have free tuition in our area and that’s thanks to advocacy from students. We speak, and they hear us. Then they do something about it. I’m really proud to be part of this community.”
The effort that Moreira has put in is just one part of a much larger operation. Davis highlighted how the entire team has come together to make a positive difference.
“It represents a philosophical alignment, starting with the Board of Trustees, through the administration, the faculty and our classified employees,” Davis said. “It’s really a representation and embodiment, if you will, of our ethos that we’re here to serve our communities.”
While the Board of Trustees is made of individuals who are elected every four years, Davis is confident the success the district has had in supporting its students will be reflected by the continued assistance of the community.
“I like to say it’s really hard to vote against number one,” Davis said. “We have been blessed with a very stable, thoughtful, rational, approachable, caring board, and when you have that, it’s the foundation for all good things to come. I have to live in the present, and we won’t have elections for two years. I think we’re going to continue to do so much good stuff in the next two years that community reputation and the respect our board members hold by the electorate will continue to grow.”
Although Davis is optimistic about the cohesiveness of the Board of Trustees in the future, Moreira’s term as president of student government is coming to an end. Nonetheless, she continues to advocate for those in student government to be persistent when it comes to essentials.
“We’re living in a very scary political climate right now, and it’s really important for schools to continue providing resources and being open to talk with students and make a space that they feel safe, for undocumented students, for students of color, for every single student,” Moreira said. “I think we need to have a welcoming campus and once again, I think we should continue advocating for basic needs.”