Monday, January 5th arrived quickly after the holiday break, and just like that, we were back in motion. The quiet rhythm of the holidays gave way to full calendars and early mornings.
For me, it meant heading back to Sacramento, returning to the Capitol as the new year’s work began in earnest, with budgets to review, conversations to start, and the pace of 2026 already well underway.
Flight starting the descent into the Sacramento Valley.
One more –
Good morning California.
It is January 10, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
San Joaquin Delta College Group Earns
Prestigious ‘Freedom Fighter’ Award From NAACP Branch
In a powerful recognition of its work to support underrepresented students, Delta College’s Black Alliance for Student Empowerment (BASE) was presented with the 2025 Freedom Fighter award on Saturday by the Stockton branch of the NAACP. BASE, formerly known as the Black Faculty Task Force, received the award for its work bringing the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caravan to Delta.
Modesto Junior College Receives $400,000
National Science Foundation Grant
Modesto Junior College has been awarded $400,000 from the National Science Foundation Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation grant program. The NSF EPIIC program is designed to strengthen the ability of two-year colleges, minority-serving institutions, and emerging research institutions to participate in the national innovation ecosystem. MJC’s award is part of a multi-institutional collaborative proposal titled A-SPARK: Agriculture and Science Practice and Access for Research-Driven Knowledge.
Monterey Peninsula College Launches Adult Learner Bridge Programs
with Monterey Adult School
Monterey Peninsula College has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding with Monterey Adult School to develop and implement bridge courses and programs that support the successful transition of adult learners from the adult school to college. This proactive partnership brings college coursework directly into the community, serving adult learners in the Seaside area where they are.
Copper Mountain College Stories: Notes from the fire line
Note from Cody Almanza, graduate of Copper Mountain College Wildland Fire Academy:
After earning my S-130, S-190, L-180, and ICS-100/200 certifications, I was deployed to the Sunset Fire in Idaho, where I spent several days digging nearly three miles of handline with my crew. Much of our work took place at night, cutting hot line and staying constantly vigilant for snags—dead, burned-out trees that threatened to fall without warning.
In Case You Missed It
After years of volatility, Newsom previews
a stable budget year for California schools
Governor Newsom’s proposed budget is $42.5 billion more than was forecast, a “windfall” that does not include nearly $3 billion from December projections. The budget projects $248.3 billion in total revenue for the general fund. Proposition 98, a constitutional amendment four decades ago, guarantees that about 40% of that total must go to TK-12 schools and community colleges.
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As job market tightens, more Californians are heading back to college
If you want to gauge the health of California’s economy, start with its community colleges.
“When the economy is doing well, our enrollments are down, and when the economy is in a tough stretch or in a recession, we see our enrollments go up,” said Chris Ferguson, an executive vice chancellor with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, which oversees all of the state’s 116 community colleges.
Ferguson said the state has yet to release authoritative data on fall enrollment, but early data shows upward trends. In interviews with CalMatters, some college presidents said they’re seeing over 10% more students compared to last fall. But they say the state hasn’t provided enough funding to keep up with their growth.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Shasta College:
CRAFT Apprenticeship recently hosted a Student Skills Showcase featuring Shasta College’s Heavy Equipment Logging Operations Fall 2025 students. This event builds opportunities by giving industry partners a direct look at student skills through live equipment demonstrations and resume-based evaluation, in collaboration with Sierra Pacific Industries.
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From MiraCosta College:
We have a feeling these grads are going to have the best bedside manner. Celebrating the 29th graduating class of Registered Nurses. Thirty-three students graduated this past December 2025 after completing either one or two years of nursing coursework through the program.
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From Gavilan College:
Huge congratulations to our EMT graduates. These graduates are prepared to respond in critical moments and make a real difference in our communities. We cannot wait to see the impact they will have.
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And check out this video from Citrus College:
ICYMI: Night Shift, our acclaimed group of student musicians, performed on New Year’s Day at Floatfest, a showcase of Rose Parade floats following their appearance along the parade route. Way to go, Night Shift!
And From the Home of the Renegades
Industrial Automation Students Showcase Senior Projects
Each year, the Industrial Automation Department at Bakersfield College hosts their Senior Projects Open House which allows students in the program to present the innovative projects they have been working on throughout the year. The event is open to the public, and attendees have the opportunity to preview the students’ automation creations and interact with the people who developed them. This year’s open house took place during the first week of December and was hosted in the Robotics Lab of the Science & Engineering Building.
There were a variety of projects that covered multiple industrial practices including agriculture, human-machine interface, industrial processes, and more. One of the participating projects was titled ‘Aerophonics with Weather Machine’ and was conceived and created by a student team. RJames Viloria, Juan Manriquez, and Amy Huerta have been working together on the agriculture-based project for nearly two semesters. The ambitious endeavor focuses on optimizing a controlled environmental system for more efficient farming.
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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