Assembly Member Shirley Weber appointed as Chair of the Select Committee on Higher Education Issues in San Diego County

 

SACRAMENTO, CA) -  Speaker of the Assembly, John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) announced today the creation of the Select Committee on Higher Education Issues in San Diego County and appointed Assembly Member Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) to serve as Chair. The newly formed committee will focus on identifying concrete ways to improve the quality of and access to higher education in the greater San Diego region.


"I'm looking forward to working with the Speaker, my colleagues in the Legislature, and all those who make up the higher education community to use the Select Committee as a venue to examine and address the various issues plaguing our higher education system," stated Assembly Member Weber.

Assembly Member Weber expressed her interest to establish the Committee shortly after being elected to the California State Assembly in November. In her capacity as Chair, she brings over 40 years of experience as an educator, as well as vital first-hand knowledge of the issues impacting the residents of San Diego.

"The Select Committee will afford us the opportunity to focus on in detail the many important issues impacting higher education such as improving access and affordability. Although the Select Committee will focus primarily on regional issues, we know too well that our issues are similar to those experienced state-wide and may inform or inspire reform through-out all of California," she said.

One issue the Committee will explore specifically is the creation of another college or university in San Diego. Although the County is the third most populated in the state, its residents have few public higher education options. There is actually no four-year college or university in the County south of San Diego State. A new campus would assist thousands of South County residents in attaining a higher education and contribute to the economy in the rapidly growing area, near one of the world’s busiest international borders.

Speaker Pérez will announce the Members of the Select Committee in the coming weeks.