Author: Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland (Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland)

A recent article published by San José Spotlight highlighted some of the struggles local college students have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this article focused primarily on the experiences of students at San Jose State University, it is important to note that recent reports indicate that adult students and students of color—two populations disproportionately...

What if I told you there was a single organization designed to fight income inequality; produce the next generation of first responders, teachers, scientists and high-tech workers; fight hunger and housing insecurity; register voters; develop individuals into civil rights and social justice leaders; and serve as a social hub for entire communities? In the South...

Historically, community college enrollment is highly correlated with the strength of the job market: enrollment generally increases during challenging times for workers and declines when jobs are plentiful and the opportunity cost of going to school is high. Community college enrollment in the U.S. peaked at the end of the last recession in 2010, then...

Economic insecurity is a major burden for millions of Californians, including hundreds of thousands in our own community. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, more than one-third of state residents live in or near poverty. In fact, as a nation, when it comes to social mobility, the United States is stuck in first...

Community colleges have always been a sound financial investment, not only for the students who are able to obtain high-quality education and training at a fraction of the cost of most four-year universities, but also for the communities they serve. A uniquely American idea, community colleges have been called “the Ellis Island of the middle...

When San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo convened the Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was honored to have been invited to participate. While the challenge was daunting, the work that the roundtable was charged with was vital to our region’s ability to weather the worst impacts of the...

A bill introduced in February and currently making its way through the California Legislature would make permanent a pilot program allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. The bill would expand the program beyond the 15 schools included in the pilot to all community colleges in the state. Bipartisan Assembly Bill 927, introduced by Assemblymembers...

I had the great honor in 2020 to serve on the Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable, which was formed by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 59-member Roundtable, which was charged with making policy recommendations to local and regional governing bodies to ensure our region was best positioned...

For higher education leaders—particularly those in community colleges—there is much to be optimistic about in President Joe Biden’s “Plan for Education Beyond High School.” The plan is designed to make postsecondary education more accessible and more affordable in order to help millions of Americans obtain the skills and training needed to secure living-wage jobs and...

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently unveiled a $227.2 billion budget proposal, launching a six-month process that will culminate in the Legislature passing the state’s 2021-2022 fiscal year budget by June 15. The proposal is a record for California and comes as the state’s economy shows more resilience and a stronger recovery than many analysts anticipated when...