The Digital Center is designed to enable the system to quickly adapt and innovate. A fundamental component involves prototyping, piloting, and assessing technological innovations to scale effective partnerships, strategies, technologies, and practices across California community colleges. It aims to provide equitable technology access to students, faculty, staff, and administrators, removing barriers and enhancing opportunities for student success. Additionally, the Digital Center will serve as a hub for evaluating new technologies and partners based on their impact on student learning, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with the values and principles of California community colleges.
The State Chancellor has tapped Foothill-De Anza Community College District, known for its expertise in technology and successful track record leading statewide initiatives, to be its principal partner and fiscal agent.
Professional development will be a key component, reducing fear and showcasing the opportunities AI presents for students. A key component will be offering professional development statewide to help faculty keep pace with advancements and increasing student and industry expectations around AI.
The Digital Center will help formulate policies and practices that align with ethical and secure use of AI by students and community colleges, and ensure those policies and practices are met across any pilots of AI tools. The Digital Center will also identify ways to be responsible users with an eye on environmental challenges posed by AI.
On July 22, 2024, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors passed Resolution 2024-17, authorizing the establishment of the Digital Center for Innovation, Transformation, and Equity. The Foothill-De Anza Community College District was asked to join with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and serve as the principal partner and fiscal agent.
To stand up the Digital Center, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, as principal partners, are initially leveraging in-kind contributions of existing staff time. Future resourcing will include founding partner districts that will contribute expertise and resources, as well as a mix of additional funding sources including direct funding from state agencies and strategic partner districts, grants, private sector and philanthropic contributions.