Santa Monica College a 2025 Pathway Champion Honoree

Santa Monica College a 2025 Pathway Champion Honoree

Campaign for College Opportunity Recognizes SMC for Campus-Wide Growth in Associate Degrees for Transfer, Among 40 California Community Colleges & CSU Campuses Recognized for Their Work to Increase Transfer Pathways & Student Success

SANTA MONICA, CA—Santa Monica College (SMC) was honored as a 2025 Pathway Champion by the bi-partisan nonprofit Campaign for College Opportunity, in the “Pathway Champion of Transfer” category. The award was announced this morning, as part of a recognition of 40 California Community Colleges and California State University (CSU) campuses for their efforts in implementing two landmark policies: equitable placement (AB 705 and 1705, Irwin), which maximizes student success in transfer-level courses at California Community Colleges and Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) implementation, which has simplified transfer between community colleges and CSUs.

Alongside SMC, Victor Valley College and Mira Costa College were recognized for “campuswide growth in ADTs” defined as “top community colleges supporting the largest growth in the number of students earning Associate Degrees for Transfer between the 2022–23 and the 2023–24 academic years.”

“Our multiracial democracy and economy require us to support the growing majority of diverse students to complete college and earn a degree,” said Jessie Ryan, President of the Campaign for College Opportunity, in a press release announcing the awards. “At a time when students are increasingly questioning their place in higher education due to mounting attacks on their ability to thrive, we applaud the colleges that are courageously meeting the moment to implement the policies and practices we know transform student success and strengthen transfer in California.

There were 40 Pathway Champion honorees across four categories (Pathway Champion of Placement, Pathway Champion of Placement Equity, Pathway Champion of Transfer, Pathway Champion of Transfer Equity) recognizing achievement and equity in placement and transfer outcomes.

“So many at Santa Monica College have worked tirelessly to streamline the pathway for our students to the CSU university of their choice,” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery. “This honor belongs to them! It is a moment, also to recognize our transfer students, whose accomplishments have been made possible thanks to their own limitless potential and forward-thinking legislation that sought to remove roadblocks.”

As stated in the Oct. 23 press release, supporting higher education is vital to the future of California, especially community colleges, where nearly two-thirds of California’s college students begin their higher education journey. Historically, transferring from community college to a four-year university has been filled with systemic barriers, with only 7 percent of transfer-intending students being able to transfer within two years, prior to 2015. In the decade since, thanks to the implementation of ADT and placement policies, more students are transferring faster, with 10% of current community college students transferring within two years and 19 percent after four years.

To learn more about how the honorees were selected, visit collegecampaign.org or contact Amber Roman, Director of Strategic Communications for the Campaign for College Opportunity: Amber@collegecampaign.org or at 323-636-9072.

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About Santa Monica College:

Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). For 34 consecutive years, SMC has been California’s leading transfer college to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and other University of California campuses. The college also tops in transfers to the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University and is the top feeder west of the Mississippi to the Ivy League Columbia University. SMC offers more than 110 career education-focused degrees and certificates, and is the leading job trainer on Los Angeles’s Westside. The College provides news and cultural enrichment through its NPR radio station KCRW (89.9 FM), The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, and lifelong learning through distinctive programs such as its Emeritus Program for older adults. 
 
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. For more information, visit www.CollegeCampaign.org, Facebook.com/CollegeCampaign or follow @CollegeOpp.