Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College Excels in Equitable Course Placement in English

The Campaign for College Opportunity recognized Butte College as one of 40 California Community Colleges at the inaugural Excellence in Placement award ceremony. Community college campuses were honored for implementing landmark placement policy AB 705, championed by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and signed into law in 2017. Additionally, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis will receive an honor for championing equitable course placement. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin will join the celebration for remarks and to award colleges for their achievements. 

“This is a wonderful achievement for our faculty and students,” said Samia Yaqub, Butte College president. "Equitable placement in transfer-level classes significantly helps our students achieve their college goals."

Prior to AB 705, the vast majority of incoming community college students were being placed into remedial math and English courses that ultimately discouraged and derailed students on their college journeys. Research has shown that students’ likelihood of earning a degree decreases when they start college in remedial courses. 

“At a time when community colleges have seen serious declines in student enrollment, we should be supporting students on the best pathway to achieve success and earn a degree. When our colleges enroll students in transfer-level English and math within their first year, they’re making progress toward their degree from the start,” said Michele Siqueiros, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity.   

AB 705 has proven to be highly consequential for increasing access to transfer-level coursework, maximizing student success, and closing racial/ethnic equity gaps. Butte College was recognized for its Equitable Course Placement in Campuswide English Enrollment, Latinx English Enrollment, and Black English Enrollment. By starting in transfer-level English, completion rates have tripled for Black students and more than doubled for Latinx students.

Honorees 

Campuswide Transfer-Level English Enrollment –
Butte College was honored for supporting 100% of their students to enroll directly into transfer-level English coursework.  

Equity Designation: Latinx Transfer-Level English Enrollment –
Butte College supported 100% of Latinx students to enroll directly into transfer-level English. 

Equity Designation: Black Transfer-Level English Enrollment –
Butte College also supported 100% of Black students to enroll directly in transfer-level English. 

To learn more about how the honorees are selected, click here. 

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About Campaign for College Opportunity: 

The Campaign for College Opportunity is a California non-profit bipartisan policy and research organization focused on a single mission:  to ensure all Californians have an equal opportunity to attend and succeed in college in order to build a vibrant workforce, economy and democracy.