The California Community Colleges Board of Governors declared Brice Harris as the fifteenth chancellor for the 112 Community College System on Thursday, Sept. 27.
Previously Harris was heading the Los Rios Community College District, located in the Sacramento area.  
“He’s a visionary. He’s a good listener. He deeply cares about the educational mission of the California Community Colleges, and the students in particular,” said Jonathan Lightman, executive director of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges.
 As chancellor, Harris will be facing a challenge with the 112 Community College System due to the budget cuts and the decrease of enrollment of 500,000 students.
“It’s a challenge that I will confront head-on because I am bullish about community colleges, Harris told The Courier in a phone interview Oct. 5.
In addition, Senate Bill 1456, the Student Success Act, was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 27, with the stated goal of helping students in reaching their educational goals and allowing students to transfer to a four year-institution.
“The official purpose of this act is to help more students succeed in a more timely manner in achieving their educational goals during their time in community college,” said De Anza academic senate president Karen Chow.
Students have to maintain satisfactory progress, set up an educational plan, and not take too many units.
The colleges, in return, will have to provide the needed student support services (orientation, counseling, placement) as well as an annual “Score Card” that posts all the student success data, similar to what public high schools do now.