September 24 plan: McDonald’s fries for Mom’s birthday. Reality: work hijacked the day, so I honored mom with bonus potato chips. Happy birthday mom. Miss you everyday.
It was back to Orange County this week as we kicked off the California Adult Education Summit in Anaheim.
This annual event is presented by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Department of Education in partnership with the CAEP Technical Assistance Providers, North Orange Continuing Education, the Sacramento County Office of Education, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges.
Good morning California.
It is September 27, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
San Diego City College Celebrates Grand Opening of AANHPI Connections Center
San Diego City College proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Connections Center on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The event, held at the Business and Technology Quad, marked the official launch of the college’s newest identity space dedicated to fostering belonging, cultural pride, and student success.
Solano Community College Unveils Solar-Powered Soofa Signs,
Ushering in a New Era of Smart, Sustainable Campus Communication
Solano Community College (SCC) proudly announces the installation of solar-powered Soofa Signs across its Fairfield campus, marking a significant stride toward sustainable innovation and enhanced community engagement. These state-of-the-art digital kiosks, powered entirely by solar energy, provide real-time information on campus events, transit updates, and community news, aligning seamlessly with SCC’s commitment to environmental stewardship and modern communication.
College of the Siskiyous Partners with NACCE
to Launch Everyday Entrepreneur Program
College of the Siskiyous (COS) is proud to announce its participation in the Everyday Entrepreneur (EE) Program, a national initiative led by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to start and grow small businesses in their local communities. The program is designed to serve both students and community members with the ambition and passion to create or expand a small business.
Citrus College Expands Nursing Program
Citrus College is significantly expanding its Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to prepare more graduates for successful health care careers. This growth is in response to increased student demand and will help address the region’s critical shortage of skilled medical professionals. For more than a year, Citrus College has collaborated closely with the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) to grow the scope of the program. Last month, the BRN granted the college its official approval to increase enrollment from 30 to 120 students each year, opening the door for more aspiring nurses to begin their careers.
In Case You Missed It
OPINION: Rural community colleges are uniquely positioned to tackle complex regional challenges and drive community transformation. Here’s how
Every person deserves a place close to home where they can learn, grow and build a better future. In rural areas, that place is often a community college.
But in today’s environment, community colleges are under threat. Enrollment has been declining for most of the past 15 years as increasing numbers of Americans question the value of higher education. Recent reductions in federal support for college programs and for low-income Americans will almost certainly create additional pressure on community colleges to deliver education more effectively and efficiently.
But improving delivery alone will not be enough to regain trust, enrollment and government investment. Rural community colleges must become rural development hubs, delivering value by bridging economic, social and civic sectors to address regional challenges.
» Read more!
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Santiago Canyon College/UC Irvine Partnership
Streamlines Master’s Degree in Accounting
Students who earn an associate degree in accounting at Santiago Canyon College are well-prepared for a variety of entry-level positions, as well as promotional opportunities, in such areas as accounts receivable/payable, income tax preparation, payroll and more.
However, those seeking to aim higher are encouraged to enter a unique program that will fast-track them toward an eventual master’s degree in this in-demand field.
Created through a partnership between SCC and UC Irvine, the SCC and UCI 2+2+1 Masters of Accountancy Pathway Program closes the gap between a community college and a graduate degree. Students spend two years completing prerequisite courses at SCC, earn a bachelor’s degree at UCI (or another accredited four-year university) over the next two years and complete UCI’s Master of Professional Accountancy Program the final year: hence the term “2+2+1.”
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Fresno City College:
California Native American Day – A celebration with drummers, dancers, cultural practitioners, artists & poets
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From Cañada College:
Womxn of Color Collaborative kicked off Fall 2025 with a powerful Community Circle!
Students, faculty, and staff shared reflections on today’s social and political climate, found affirmation, and wrapped up with food & fellowship.
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From Ventura College:
La Batalla Esta Aquí We celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a multimedia presentation explaining the Chicano/a Movement. Thank you Dr. Elias Serna for this great discussion about ethnic studies.
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From College of Marin:
Club Fest 2025 is in the books! Thanks to everyone who joined us, here’s to an exciting year ahead!
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From De Anza College:
Welcome Day was a blast! Thank you to everyone who made this day possible. We were so glad to see so many of you back on campus today for the start of fall quarter!
And From the Home of the Renegades
VP of Student Services César Jiménez Named to 20 Under 40
Bakersfield College is proud to celebrate Vice President of Student Services César Jiménez, who has been recognized as one of Bakersfield’s 20 Under 40.
At 39, César has already built a career defined by service and community impact. Born and raised in Chicago, he came to Bakersfield in 2023 and quickly found a home here, embracing the city’s mix of opportunity and small-town connection. “I have been loving every single moment living in this great city,” he says.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
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Tagged: #NuestroTiempoEsAhora, #OurTimeisNow, Bakersfield College, California Community College Chancellor, California Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian, California Community Colleges Chancellor, Canada College, citrus college, College of Marin, College of the Siskiyous, Dare Might Things, De Anza College, Fresno City College, Nuestro Tiempo Es Ahora, Our time is now, San Diego City College, Santiago Canyon College, Solano Community College, Sonya Christian, Ventura College
Dear Sonya and the Readers,
Before dwelling upon the challenges to the Rural Educational aspects in the County and the Nation and elsewhere in the World coupled with facilities provided/acquired by the State fund, Management and sympathisers, remembering Pam Paulo, recollecting memories of the loving and lovable personality of the Easter years, tears rolls down on the compassion, love and affection showered upon near and dear ones and also on total strangers like me too, once upon a time between 1982-84, do understand the pain of separation of a Mom who moved heaven and earth for your education, safety, well being and what not on Earth to shine as a Star in a foreign land for a great achievement .
State Funding on Education is a complex methodology throughout the World as the balancing between State owned Educational sectors and Trust/Privately managed ones in the Democratic setup of the Nations and conditions to enhance capabilities to face regional challenges with active support of not only the Management of Educational Institutions, staff & Students but of the whole Community requires a thorough and sequential planning in the coming days for setting up State and Private Organisation in the Taxation, Collection for the purpose of Education and total utilisation of the same with constant monitoring of the same including the general public too as Accountability of mis using-utilisation of the funds are not so seriously viewed in Democratic setup.
Hundreds nay, thousands of courses have evolved throughout the World in various fields in the past 50 years and many are viewed for obtaining certificates and securing jobs. What\’s it that a student acquires from the Schools upto to Higher education, sometimes may not even match with the work that a particular person acquires after all his/her efforts spending hours as a student.
I happened to read a news article that a student who was upset as she failed to get through in NEET – for Medical selection Exam landed with a job package of 70 Lakhs (Indian Rupees) and is the most happiest person and time will change the person to be very happy forgetting the pain of loosing NEET exams to become a doctor as livelihood in the present scenario is important than specific professions which needs support from many angles.
To dwell more on the Education front, I feel I am neither competent nor acquired more knowledge like the stalwarts in the Educational field who are tirelessly working for better education, better Educational and infrastructural facilities like Sonya Christian and others in the field.
However I congratulate Sonya for great efforts for constantly working for the Development of Education and Education system and you are a gift to the students and the people in the Region and definitely students and people in Quilon, Kerala and India miss a Great Educational Expert.
Hope for a day and time that will Inspire and augment knowledge of the students in India too for Educational expertise and for All Round Development of the Nation.
Manohar P