Student Equity + Achievement Program (SEP)

Our plan is built through months of campuswide collaboration—students, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators all contribute ideas, feedback, and data.  We look at campus research, statewide priorities, and student voices to identify what’s working and what needs to change.  The final plan is reviewed and approved by student government (ASSC), Academic Senate, and the Governing Board before being certified by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office in November 2025.

SEA funds are allocated each year from the Chancellor’s Office, and they are used to expand programs and supports that help students stay enrolled and reach their goals. This includes:

• Increasing staff and faculty resources
• Academic and mental health counseling
• Tutoring, mentoring, and success programs
• Basic Needs support (food, housing, transportation)
• Cultural and identity-based programs that foster belonging
• Professional learning for faculty and staff on equity and inclusion

Not directly. The SEA Plan’s primary purpose is to support institutional change—things like hiring staff and faculty, creating new programs and initiatives, and expanding services and resources that remove barriers to student success.  While SEA funds don’t replace direct financial aid, Solano College provides other forms of direct support through Financial Aid, scholarships, emergency grants, and Basic Needs programs that help students with essentials like food, housing, and transportation.  Together, these efforts make sure students have both the resources and the environment they need to succeed.

The SEA Planning and Implementation Workgroup—made up of students, staff, faculty, and administrators—guides the college’s equity goals and ensures accountability for results. The Vice President of Student Services provides administrative leadership for the plan, ensuring resources are aligned and progress is reported to the campus community.  While the workgroup coordinates this effort, responsibility for advancing equity belongs to everyone at Solano College.

The SEA Plan shapes many of the services and programs you already use or see on campus—from the Falcon Flyer, Pride Club and Black Family BBQ, to tutoring services, heritage month programming, the Wellness Center and mental health support.  If you’ve ever benefited from tutoring, outreach events, or success teams, you’ve already experienced SEA in action.

Student voices shape everything we do. If you have feedback or an idea for a new equity-focused program or initiative, we want to hear it!  You can share your thoughts through the SEA Planning and Implementation Workgroup, connect with Associated Students (ASSC), or reach out to the Vice President of Student Services.  Many of Solano’s most impactful programs—like the Falcon Flyer, Pride Center, Basic Needs, and Wellness Center—started with student ideas and feedback.

The previous plan focused on Black/African American students because data and student feedback showed they were experiencing the largest equity gaps in course success, persistence, and sense of belonging. Concentrating efforts there allowed the college to make targeted, meaningful progress.  The new 2025–28 plan builds on that foundation while expanding focus to include Latinx and LGBTQ+ students—groups that also face disproportionate barriers in higher education.

Not all—but that doesn’t mean failure. The 2022–25 SEA Plan set bold goals to close long-standing equity gaps, especially for Black students.  Some areas showed real improvement, while others still need focused effort.  What’s important is that we learned what works, built stronger support systems, and are using those lessons to guide the new SEA 3.0 Plan (2025–28). The challenges we’re addressing are complex and exist across the state and nation—but Solano remains committed to steady, meaningful progress.

A lot.  Students helped shape new initiatives like Black Family BBQ, Girl, Yes You Can!, A2MEND, and Black Falcon Success Program.  Faculty and staff were hired in key areas, and received ongoing equity training.  Solano launched Basic Needs services, including the food pantry, housing resources, and the clothes closet.  The Black Student Cultural Center and the Pride Center were created to acknowledge and celebrate student identities.  These are all part of a longer journey toward equity.  We like to think it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Equity isn’t just about numbers—it’s about belonging, representation, and support.  We look at data on course completion and transfer, but we also listen to student voices through surveys, focus groups, college governance structures, and lived experiences.  Progress means creating a college where more students feel seen, valued, and connected.

No. SEA work is for everyone. While it focuses on removing barriers faced by specific student groups—like Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ students—the improvements it drives (better counseling, expanded basic needs, more welcoming spaces) benefit all students at Solano.