It’s National Apprenticeship Week. Check out my opinion piece in the Hechinger Report.
Back in San Diego and here is my traditional picture for you.
What’s not to love about San Diego?
Pathways to Equity Conference was held in San Diego this year. We had quite a large team from the Chancellor’s Office. Happy that Board members Pam Haynes and Adrienne Brown were able to join us.
The conference started with dance students from San Diego City College. Captured this 15-sec video for you.
Jenny Saechao snapped this photo of me with the dance students and their faculty member from San Diego City College.
And more photos of the student panel I facilitated at the event –
Back home to my boy Neo
Good morning California.
It is May 2, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
New Calbright College and NLET Initiative Will Modernize California’s Skills-Based Economy and Workforce Infrastructure
Calbright College, California’s statewide exclusively online community college, and the National Laboratory for Education Transformation (NLET) today announced a strategic partnership to bridge the gap between workforce policy and practice. By establishing a dedicated “Education to Workforce Working Group,” the two organizations will develop and scale competency-based training in high-demand technical sectors, including emerging technology and AI infrastructure.
Orange Coast College Students Take Second
Against Four-Year Universities in Food Science Contest
Orange Coast College’s food science student product development team won second place at the 38th annual Student Product Development Competition hosted by the Southern California Institute of Food Technologists (SCIFTs) on March 3 in Anaheim, California. Morgan Downie, culinary/food science; Anna Jensen, food science; and Hannah Thompson, nutrition and dietetics, made up the first team that OCC has sent to the competition and were the only community college competitors.
West Hills Community College District Joins Fresno State Bulldog Bound Program
to Expand Transfer Opportunities
The West Hills Community College District is proud to announce its participation in the Fresno State Bulldog Bound program, expanding access to a clear and supported transfer pathway for students across the Central Valley. Chancellor Dr. Robert Pimentel, Lemoore College President James Preston, and Coalinga College President Dr. Carla Tweed joined higher education leaders from throughout the region to celebrate the launch of the program, which is now being extended to include community college students.
In Case You Missed It
OPINION: As graduation looms, students need pathways that are practical, affordable and connected to opportunity
As we wrap up Apprenticeship Week, I wanted to share my op-ed that was published in Hechinger Report:
For too long, higher education has acted as if learning only counts when it happens inside a classroom. Millions of Americans know otherwise.
Opportunity should not require relocation, excessive debt or navigating systems built for someone else’s life. Our nation needs to broaden its definition of where learning happens and recognize learning wherever it happens.
Apprenticeship is a natural place to begin building that broader network of opportunities. At a time when the nation is debating college costs, workforce shortages, economic security and the future of work, apprenticeship offers something rare: a solution that works for students, employers and communities at the same time. It is a framework to learn, earn and advance.
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Community College Reforms Have Improved Student Success in Math
Seven years after the California Community Colleges began implementing placement and remediation reforms, almost all students are enrolling directly in transfer-level math—a key milestone on the path to college completion. In a virtual briefing last week, Marisol Cuellar Mejia outlined the findings of a new report that examines the impact of these reforms and answered audience questions.
Assembly Bill (AB) 705 requires the state’s community colleges to maximize the chances that students take and complete transfer-level courses in math and English within a one-year time frame. Before AB 705 implementation, most students were placed in remedial courses and many dropped out without ever taking a transfer-level course.
“Completion rates have increased consistently since AB 705 took effect,” said Cuellar Mejia. She noted that initial increases were driven mostly by expanded access, but a 7 percentage point improvement from 2022 to 2024—when almost all students were starting in transfer-level math—indicates that changes in the classroom have recently played a major role.
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Meanwhile, Board Member Cirian Villavicencio attended the press conference hosted by Assembly Member Mike Fong and Senator Eloise Reyes announcing two bills that establish Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANHPI) designations. Deputy Chancellor Rowena Tomaneng represented our system and spoke at the event.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Mission College:
The Rising Scholars Program participated in the Santa Clara County Adult Probation Employment and Resource Fair in recognition of Second Chance Month. Program Analyst Steve Duong and Hospitality Management Instructor Eve Little connected with justice-impacted individuals.
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From Modesto Junior College:
This month, students and community members united to celebrate the 2nd Annual Traveling Around MJC: A Multi-Cultural Event. Everyone came together in the spirit of cultural awareness, inclusivity, and unity.
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From Glendale Community College:
Spring at GCC Garfield Campus is a whole mood. The Jacarandas are in full bloom, turning our daily walk to class into a purple dream. Sometimes you just have to stop and take it all in.
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From Saddleback College:
It was a busy week at Saddleback, but one that showed what a vibrant and energetic campus we are! Discover Saddleback High School Senior Day on April 21 – Over 1,350 local high school seniors came to campus to discover all that Saddleback has to offer!
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From San Diego Miramar College:
We are just about ready to host our Scholarship awards banquet! Over 150 students are about to receive $137,000 in scholarship aid.
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And check out this mini-documentary about the De Anza Auto Tech program! It was produced as part of the California Career Training Showcase.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC STEM Hosts Physics Olympics for Local High School Students
Last week, the STEM Department at Bakersfield College hosted their annual Physics Olympics for local high school students. The event took place on BC’s Panorama Campus and participants competed in a variety of physics activities. More than 200 students from twelve local high schools competed in the event, and one school went home with an award for earning the most points throughout the day.
Stephen Waller, Dean of Instruction at BC for Math, Science & Engineering, has helped coordinate this event for more than 15 years. “Today, we are hosting our annual Physics Olympics that we coordinate with Kern High School District,” he said, “which includes competitions set up by Physics faculty from the local high schools that cover different areas of physics including catapult launches, egg drop, bridge building, paper airplanes, and more.”
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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
