California Higher Education Policy Institute for Legislative Staff

2026 California Higher Education Policy Institute for Legislative Staff

Join California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy for a special institute hosted just for legislative staff on Monday, February 9 from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in Downtown Sacramento. We’ll lead discussions on critical issues shaping California's higher education landscape, share practical knowledge to address today’s challenges, including a budget overview by Keely Bosler, and leave time for you to connect with us and with each other.

We’ll serve lunch, provided by Camden Spit & Larder, and have custom swag for you. The event has limited capacity, so make sure to RSVP now to save your seat and invite your legislative peers!

If you have questions, email event planner Tamara Torlakson at [email protected].

Info: Grounded in California Competes’s new ROI analysis, this opening session examines the value of higher education—and what is at stake when students face barriers accessing and completing programs. Dr. Su Jin Jez will highlight California’s opportunity landscape, sharing key disparities in access and outcomes, along with why coordinated action is essential to ensuring higher education delivers measurable returns for all communities.

Info: California’s higher education system continues to face constrained budgets with rising costs, while expectations to deliver value and meet workforce needs grow. In this session, Keely Bosler offers an accessible walkthrough of the state’s fiscal landscape, providing insight into how revenue volatility, competing priorities, and long-term commitments shape the policy environment. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how coordination across systems can maximize impact in tight fiscal times.

Ms. Bosler brings a unique perspective to this conversation, as she led policy, finance, and economic analyses under Governor Brown and Governor Newsom and has more than a decade of experience working across all budget and policy areas in the legislature.

Info: College affordability extends beyond tuition, including housing, transportation, food, child care, and other essential costs while students are enrolled in school. Increasing costs, coupled with inequitable grant, scholarship, and loan access, create barriers to persistence and completion. This session will examine evolving financial aid reform efforts, the role of holistic supports, and ways to improve access to benefit programs’ to advance student success.

Info: High-quality information about where people work, what jobs they hold, and how much they earn per hour is essential for understanding whether California’s education and training programs are truly leading to good jobs. This session will break down why better employment data matters for students, employers, and policymakers. This information can help students make informed career choices, help colleges and workforce programs see their impact, and strengthen employers' talent pipelines.

Info: Don’t let the conversation end! Legislative staff are invited to explore the Institute topics in more depth, raise emerging questions, or discuss other issues shaping California’s higher education and workforce landscape. We’re here to listen, learn, and collaborate with you.

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