An epic day, an epic month, an epic year – July 28, 2026. Much love to my amazing family, friends and colleagues.
A friend sent this to me…
It is always a treat to visit my daughter and to visit Toronto.
July 28 began with a visit to St. Peter’s Cathedral on Bathurst Street, followed by a short walk to Nadège Patisserie on Bloor … both just a pleasant stroll from my daughter’s place.
Founded in 2009 by fourth-generation French pastry chef Nadège Nourian, who grew up in Lyon, Nadège has become one of Toronto’s favorite destinations for authentic French pastries, bringing a little taste of France to Canada.
And then… my favorite.
The croissant.
American croissants and French croissants have developed different personalities over the years. The American version is a bit more bread-like. The French croissant is flakier.
As I happily worked my way through mine, Eisha pointed out that a respectable collection of croissant flakes had found their way into my hair.
When I visit my daughter in Toronto, one of my favorite places is Lake Ontario.
I have now seen it in the middle of winter and in the middle of summer, and I love both.
No matter the season, Lake Ontario has a way of inviting you to slow down and simply enjoy the moment.
And …. my daughter is always finding fun things for us to do. Here are a few photos from the day.
Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take,
But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away
Good morning California.
It is August 1, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
Norco College Team Takes First Place at National 3D Printed Aircraft Competition
A team of Norco College engineering students earned first place at the 10th Annual 3D Printed Aircraft Competition, hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington on July 11. Competing against 21 colleges and universities from across the country, the team outperformed institutions including Virginia Tech, Tennessee Tech, Texas A&M University, and Purdue University. Throughout the 2025–26 academic year, the students designed, manufactured, tested, and refined a primarily 3D-printed aircraft in preparation for the national competition.
East Los Angeles College’s Zero Textbook Cost Program
Saves Over $4.7 Million in 2025–2026
East Los Angeles College’s Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) program delivered significant financial relief to students during the 2025–2026 academic year, with an estimated $4,780,800 in savings generated across all four terms. The program saw strong participation across all terms, with 727 ZTC course sections offered in Fall 2025 and 623 in Spring 2026, representing the two largest terms by section count. Summer 2025 and Winter 2026 contributed 199 and 116 sections, respectively.
HealthRIGHT 360 Invests $15,000 to Support Behavioral Health
Training Course at City College of San Francisco
HealthRIGHT 360 announced a $15,000 investment in City College of San Francisco (CCSF) to support HLTH 99: Group Counseling for Treatment and Recovery, a required course in CCSF’s Addiction and Recovery Counseling Certificate Program. The course, which is offered on a limited basis due to funding constraints, is a prerequisite for students seeking certification as Addiction and Recovery Counselors.
In Case You Missed It
Commentary: Not every California student can afford to transfer.
Community college bachelor’s degrees could help
Since the implementation of state Assembly Bill 927 in 2021, students have faced an unexpected barrier to expanded educational opportunist — one that runs in direct opposition to the bill’s intent.
The bill authorized community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees, so long as those programs don’t duplicate those offered by a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC).
Yet as community colleges have looked to expand bachelor’s degree programs to meet workforce needs, many proposals have faced opposition from CSU campuses, stalling the growth of new degree offerings.
CSU leaders have argued that bachelor’s degree programs should not duplicate existing university offerings, and have expressed concern that expanding community college degrees could blur the distinct missions of California’s higher education systems.
Those concerns deserve consideration, but they should not outweigh the needs of students who cannot realistically access a CSU campus because of cost, work or family obligations.
The real question is not which public system awards a bachelor’s degree. It is whether California is giving students a realistic opportunity to earn one.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Folsom Lake College:
As Folsom Lake College prepares to launch its Puente Program in Fall 2026, co-facilitators–Counselor Celina Navarro and English Professor Josh Fernandez–recently completed the week-long Puente Summer Institute at UC Berkeley.
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From Cañada College:
Cañada College officially deepened our partnership with Pal Center signing an MOU (partnership agreement) to strengthen youth pathways to higher education in North Fair Oaks and Redwood City. Our missions have always been aligned: empowering students and families to transform their lives through education.
This MOU also serves as a formal recommitment to an even deeper level of partnership, allowing Cañada College to be more present, more mindful and more active in our community. Thank you to the Pal Center team for co-creating this partnership with us. This is just the beginning.
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From Santa Rosa Junior College:
Congratulations, HEP Class of 2026! Nearly 40 students graduated this week from the SRJC High School Equivalency Program. The program will begin its 15th year at SRJC, and during the past years has enrolled more than 1,100 migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families with the goal of obtaining a High School Equivalency Certificate. Over 95% of SRJC HEP graduates have matriculated into English for Multilingual Students (credit/non-credit) pathways or into other credit classes.
The SRJC HEP program serves students in Sonoma and Napa County. Most students are heads of household who work long hours, holding two plus jobs to sustain their families. After obtaining their high school equivalency, they pursue higher education and improve their economic status.
Funding for SRJC HEP is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education.
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And check out this video from KEYT-TV showcasing Santa Barbara City College’s Summer Jazz Seminar:
And From the Home of the Renegades
Bakersfield College Hosts ‘Bridge to BC’ to Jump Start Student Success
Each Summer, Bakersfield College invites more than 3,000 incoming students to participate in Bridge to BC. The interactive, one-day, in-person course is designed to help new students prepare academically, socially, and personally as they transition to college.
During the program, students get a tour of the campus, participate in workshops that introduce various student resources like Canvas and STARFISH, learn about the BC website, meet one-on-one with an educational advisor, and much more. Bridge to BC first launched in 2014, making this the 12th year that the program has been offered. Since its inception, more than 20,000 students have participated in the program.
More than 3,000 new students are expected to attend Bridge to BC this Summer. We are excited to welcome these new students and look forward to supporting them throughout their academic journey. Thank you to all the Bridge to BC directors, coordinators, instructors, mentors and everyone who helps make this program a huge success.
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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.
That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!
With much hope and joy,
Your Chancellor,
-sonya
#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora
