California College of the Arts requests $20 million one‑time state support to stabilize operations and launch credential pathways

California College of the Arts President David House and CFO Ramey Hathaway testified in support of a $20 million one‑time general fund proposal in the governor’s budget intended to stabilize the private nonprofit art and design college and underwrite program innovations, including a proposed arts teaching credential pathway.

House said the campus has raised approximately $45 million in philanthropic support since the last Legislature action and described deep cuts and restructuring undertaken to address enrollment declines. He said a one‑time state investment would support steps toward sustainability and allow the college to expand degree pathways — including a proposed arts teaching credential program that would, if accredited, launch in fall 2026 and provide K‑12 arts teacher preparation aligned with Prop. 28 goals.

Department of Finance staff told the committee the administration sees value in CCA’s plans but recommended rejecting the $20 million proposal for four reasons: the school recently raised $45 million in philanthropy; other colleges face similar fiscal challenges; the state's fiscal constraints and proposed cuts to UC/CSU make one‑time support for a private institution difficult to justify; and state support for private higher education is rare. Committee members asked for additional detail on program timelines, accreditation steps with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and potential measurable outcomes if the state were to invest.

The subcommittee did not make a funding decision at the hearing. Members said they would review CCA’s revised materials and track the proposed credential program timeline as the May revise approaches.