Stronger system-level collaboration would drive more consistent student outcomes across all 23 campuses. Currently, the variation in campus graduation rate goals has led to uneven progress, with some institutions making notable strides while others lag behind. Unfortunately, degree completion gaps have not changed much: the percentage point gap in six-year graduation rates between non-Underrepresented Minority and Underrepresented Minority first-time CSU students only narrowed by 0.3% to a gap of 11.9% between 2016-2022.A more coordinated approach, where successful interventions for student retention and completion at high-performing campuses are scaled across the system, including those that work best for minoritized student populations, would significantly accelerate progress toward goals.

Additionally, deeper collaboration with the California Community Colleges and the University of California could improve transfer pathways. Our report, A Rising Tide in Graduation Rates at the California State University (CSU), a Persistent Divide in Racial Equity, indicates that while transfer student outcomes have improved, CSU is not on track to meet its 45% two-year graduation goal or its 85% four-year graduation goal for transfer students. By investing in stronger articulation agreements and streamlining Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathways, the CSU could remove barriers to timely degree completion and ensure transfer students, who make up nearly half of the system’s graduates, achieve their educational goals more efficiently.

Collaboration must also extend beyond our higher education institutions. Partnerships with industry leaders, community organizations, and policymakers can drive investments in student support services, paid internships, and career readiness initiatives, all of which contribute to better retention and graduation outcomes.

-The Campaign for College Opportunity

Seamless transfer pathways that ensure students, especially students of color experiencing poverty and underrepresented students, can complete degrees efficiently and affordably. Expanded cross-campus course access, including online options, allowing students to enroll in courses from any CSU campus when their home campus lacks availability. Joint initiatives with community colleges and K-12 systems to increase dual enrollment opportunities, improve college readiness, and streamline pathways to CSU degrees. Greater coordination in data collection and reporting to track and publicly disaggregate underserved students of color progress to transparently demonstrate Black, Latinx, AAPI student outcomes, identify barriers to completion, and develop race-conscious strategies and equity-minded solutions.

-The California Higher Education Equity Coalition

(Campaign for College Opportunity, EdTrust-West, California Competes, The Institute for College Access and Success, Public Advocates)

1. Enhanced Efficiency and Resource Optimization
• Shared Resources: By collaborating at the system level, campuses can share resources such as faculty expertise, research facilities, and administrative services, leading to cost savings and more efficient use of resources.
• Standardized Processes: Implementing standardized processes across campuses can streamline operations, reduce redundancy, and improve overall efficiency.

2. Improved Academic Programs and Offerings
• Cross-Campus Course Enrollment: Students can benefit from a wider range of courses and programs by enrolling in classes offered at other CSU campuses, either online or in-person.
• Joint Degree Programs: Collaboration can lead to the development of joint degree programs that leverage the strengths of multiple campuses, providing students with unique and comprehensive educational opportunities.

3. Strengthened Research and Innovation
• Collaborative Research Projects: Faculty and researchers from different campuses can collaborate on research projects, combining their expertise and resources to tackle complex problems and drive innovation.
• Increased Research Funding: Collaborative research efforts can attract larger grants and funding opportunities, as funding agencies often favor multi-institutional projects.

4. Enhanced Student Support Services
• Centralized Support Services: System-level collaboration can lead to the development of centralized support services, such as mental health resources, career counseling, and academic advising, ensuring that all students have access to high-quality support.
• Best Practice Sharing: Campuses can share best practices and successful initiatives, leading to improved student support services across the entire CSU system.

5. Greater Flexibility and Adaptability
• Responsive to Change: A collaborative system can more quickly adapt to changes in the higher education landscape, such as shifts in enrollment patterns, technological advancements, and evolving student needs.
• Crisis Management: During crises, such as natural disasters or pandemics, system-level collaboration can facilitate coordinated responses and resource sharing, ensuring continuity of operations and support for affected campuses.

6. Increased Student and Faculty Mobility
• Inter-Campus Mobility: Students and faculty can more easily move between campuses for academic, research, or professional development opportunities, fostering a more interconnected and dynamic academic community.
• Exchange Programs: Collaboration can lead to the development of exchange programs that allow students and faculty to experience different campuses and benefit from diverse perspectives.

7. Enhanced Institutional Reputation
• Unified Brand: A collaborative system can present a unified and cohesive brand, enhancing the overall reputation of the CSU system and attracting prospective students, faculty, and partners.
• Showcasing Successes: Collaborative achievements, such as joint research projects or innovative programs, can be highlighted to showcase the strengths and capabilities of the CSU system.

8. Improved Data and Analytics
• Centralized Data Management: System-level collaboration can lead to the development of centralized data management systems, providing comprehensive and accurate data for decision-making and strategic planning.
• Data Sharing and Analysis: Campuses can share data and collaborate on analytics projects, gaining insights that can inform policies, programs, and initiatives.

9. Stronger Community and Industry Partnerships
• Regional Collaboration: Campuses can collaborate with local communities and industries on regional initiatives, such as workforce development programs, economic development projects, and community service efforts.
• Industry Partnerships: A collaborative system can attract partnerships with industry leaders, providing students with internship and job opportunities and faculty with research collaborations.

Summary:
Investing in system-level collaboration within the CSU system can lead to a wide range of positive outcomes, including enhanced efficiency, improved academic programs, strengthened research and innovation, better student support services, increased flexibility and adaptability, greater student and faculty mobility, enhanced institutional reputation, improved data and analytics, and stronger community and industry partnerships. These outcomes contribute to the overall stability, viability, resilience, and growth of the CSU system.

Research centers that span campuses and unite faculty and students across the CSU.

Clear regional focuses for recruitment and community involvement instead of fighting for scarce resources and overlap.

Opportunities for faculty and students to "visit-in" or "teach-in" at other campuses to learn more and make connections outside their home campuses.

-students can freely pick courses from any campus within CSU system, if they choose to do so, without any extra paperwork.

-merge some campuses in the same region.