History and Background of the Master Plan
In 1959, California adopted its landmark Master Plan for Higher Education. The drafters of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education foresaw a changing California and a postsecondary education system that would adapt to, meet, and overcome the demands inherent with the passing of time. The primary focus of the original Master Plan was universal access, to guarantee a space within our statewide higher education system for every qualified student, regardless of background or income. That commitment is widely credited for laying the foundations of the world-leading growth and prosperity of our California economy over the past 45 years.

Another major component of the Master Plan was a required review every ten years by the Legislature to ensure a current focus on meeting the emerging and evolving educational needs of the People and State of California.

Members of the Legislative Joint Committee on the Master Plan Gary Hart, Art Torres, Jim Nielsen, and John Vasconcellos, sign AB 1725, the "Community College Compact" in 1988

The Master Plan, which was envisioned to be a living document, had several reviews, including one in the 1980s chaired by retired Assembly Member John Vasconcellos.

Chief Consultant for the Legislative Joint Committee for the Review of the Master Plan, M. Brian Murphy, and Legislative staffer Jon Peterson, hold a copy of the Committee's Report, "California Faces…California's Future" 1988

However, despite the fact that major reviews of the Master Plan have taken place approximately every ten years, no broad systematic policy recommendations have been enacted into law over the last thirty years.

Perils to be Recognized, Challenges to be Overcome
The perils currently facing California higher education today are considerable. California does not currently have a public policy agenda for higher education that is functional and accountable statewide, and there is no organization throughout the segments. Our state is failing in its commitment and funding of our public higher education system and the grants required by needy students to access both public and private institutions, and to maintain the world class quality of our institutions.

Moreover, the public at large, as well as those in leadership positions, are uninformed or misinformed about the current threats to California higher education and the future economy. Additionally, some people feel that higher education is not in fact a public good and that efforts to privatize some portions of our public higher education systems are justified. There is a growing culture and attitude of cynicism and resignation with regard to the Legislature's leadership and the reality of its commitment to California higher education.

All of these challenges have created an urgent need for the development and implementation of innovative policy-making models that create systems of accountability, fiscally, socially and academically, and help set the direction for the Vasconcellos Project Higher Education Demonstration Project.

Project Summary
The Vasconcellos Project's Higher Education Project is designed to elicit broad public involvement and expert support for the Legislature in the upcoming review of California's Master Plan for Higher Education. We are dedicated to improving California politics by increasing public participation and supporting our term-limited Legislature in creating models for tackling major issues in the record time required by term limits.

In our Higher Education Demonstration Project, we have committed to engage legislative, business and community leaders along with students and educational stakeholders to assist our Legislators in developing an agenda of solutions in time for the Master Plan's 50th Anniversary in 2010.

We have assembled a strong network of stakeholders and education experts committed to supporting the Legislature in the complex process of updating the Master Plan for Higher Education with a focus on four key areas: Access and Attainment, Affordability, Accountability and the Quality of the Education Experience.

To date, we have hosted and participated in community policy forums on campuses from all three segments of our higher education system to establish interest and involvement.

Students, faculty members, and community leaders at a Community Policy Forum at Evergreen Valley College

We are continuing to work with students and community stakeholders to develop community leadership and civic engagement skills that will enable them in becoming effective advocates for educational reform.

For more information, and to get involved, contact Jose Villarreal at jose@politicsoftrust.net or at (408) 946-8557.