What were you up to this past week? Drop me a comment with your story while I tell you about my week.
I enjoyed a white Christmas with my daughter.
Growing up in Kerala, India, Bing Crosby’s I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas was an all-time favorite. At that time, I imagined snow to have a cotton-like soft texture even though I had sufficient experience by then to know it was frozen water. I first saw snow when I came to the United States as a foreign graduate student and my brother Roy took me for a drive to Reno. You know how some memories get etched deeply in your mind ….. Well that first snow experience was one of them.
I attended the morning Christmas service at St. Peter’s catholic church. The sermon was about how we could and should systematically keep hope alive. So here’s to 2025 filled with joy and hope!
Later in the day, we took a drive by Lake Ontario and stopped at Humber Bay. Check it out.
Back at the house, we lounged on the couch by the fireplace and the cutest Christmas tree and binge-watched the new Matlock show starring Kathy Bates as Matlock.
Roger Ebert closes out his review of the show with this:
This earnestness, combined with Bates’ performance and the show’s strong and consistent use of humor, makes for a good watch. “Matlock” isn’t exactly throwback TV, but it delivers on the comfort food of solving at least one complex problem in forty-two minutes. That it’s funny and heartfelt along the way just adds to the charm, particularly as the suspense mounts. Toying with our expectations of a recognizable persona like Matlock, CBS’s newest legal drama honors the original while creating something new entirely.
And now back home with Neo
A few more holiday greetings from our California Community Colleges –
Citrus College:
Sierra College:
Good morning California. It is December 28, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
Over the last several weeks I have been featuring blogs from the past starting in 2013….. today I wrap up the “throwback series” by highlighting blog posts from 2021-2024.
2021
March 13, 2021: An evening to remember. Sterling Silver 2021.
Last Saturday’s Sterling Silver broadcast on KGET/Channel 17 was an amazing celebration of our outstanding philanthropists. I hope you were able to tune in and watch as the BC Foundation honored Margaret “Peggy” Haight, Patricia Mettler, Greg & Mary Bynum, and Becki Whitson.
The projects proposed will include expanding the college’s Rural Health Equity and Learning collaborative, the Certified Nursing Assistant and Registered Nurse programs, and the allied health programs such as the new Physical Therapy Assistant program, while also providing funding for new post-pandemic student health and wellness services, and new certification programs, such as the Mental Health Worker Certificate.
September 26, 2021: Join us in imagining and making it so
On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, Bakersfield College’s Early College Program announced a new Early College option to McFarland High School freshman to earn a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Automation in five years! This year’s class of 232 incoming ninth grade students will be able to start on a pathway toward a bachelor of science degree that begins their freshman year and is completed one year after they graduate from high school. Really appreciate the leadership of Superintendent Aaron Resendez and Trustee Romeo Agbalog.
November 6, 2021: KCCD paying attention – to a moment, to an idea, to a feeling
On Wednesday, the PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series continued with a virtual event featuring Clint Smith.
Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of the narrative nonfiction book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, which was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and the poetry collection Counting Descent, which won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award.
January 29, 2022: KCCD Colleges settling into the Spring Semester
On Wednesday of this week, I was so inspired by the conversation led by the California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus, and California Competes, in a panel discussion about “student parents” in community colleges.
Dr. Su Jin Jez from California Competes shared their findings on how to best help our student parents reach their educational goals.
One message that in particular stood out for me was when Su Jin advocated for “enabling more pathways that are accessible, cost effective and portable.”
April 30, 2022: Kern CCD – No shortage of worthwhile work to be done
On, Friday, April 22nd, the Porterville College Foundation held its 53RD ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS CEREMONY.
The annual scholarship ceremony is a mainstay event that has long offered a personal touch that students, donors, faculty, and staff have come to look forward to each year. We were pleased that this year’s event marked the return to an in-person format – with the ceremony being held inside the Porterville College Gym.
It was an exciting week at the Kern Community College District as we welcomed some very special visitors. Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of Small Business Advocate, and the California Energy Commissioners Siva Gunda and Patty Monahan. I will add photos of the CEC visit in my next week’s blog.
Really enjoyed my visit with Director Gray who was warm and committed to entrepreneurship as being the equity solution to economic development for rural communities. And what a treat to see Linda Quinones-Vaughn after so many years. Nicole Parra and I had a delightful visit with these two wonderful women.
Last weekend, I traveled to UCLA to speak as a panelist at the California Learning Lab Inspire Convening. The incredible Lande Ajose was our moderator, and I joined Michael Drake, John Perez and Romey Sabalius to discuss “who’s really in charge in higher education.” We talked about the stakeholders and governance structure involved in higher education, and what roadblocks faculty and administrators sometimes face in advancing innovation.
January 21, 2023: Kern CCD – Together we can meet our many needs
Started my week joining a group from Kern CCD at the MLK Community Awards Breakfast Celebration to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
March 25, 2023: Moments that take our breath away – March 2023
It was my great pleasure to bring together student athletes, coaches and faculty from across the county for a conference recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that established equal rights for women in education and athletics. Kern CCD’s celebration of Title IX was an inspiring, joyful day of recognizing how far women have come in sports and higher education.
As summer comes to a close, I’ve had a very busy week traveling to several of our community colleges.
On Tuesday, I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for student housing at Lake Tahoe Community College. It was inspirational to see so many people come out to support this fantastic project.
Thank you to Pam Haynes for joining from the Board of Governors, LTCC President Jeff DeFranco, the LTCC Board of Trustees, Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, Chris Ferguson & the CA Department of Finance team, and everyone who was present and who has made this possible.
It was a week of travel for me… headed north to Fresno City College with the Undocumented Student Action Week, then south to College of the Canyons where Chancellor Dianne Van Hook hosted a wonderful event on Vision 2030 and I was inspired by the forward leaning work of the college… then to my office in Sacramento for Consultation Council… then back to Fresno Convention Center for the annual CVHEC summit. Wrapped up Friday night watching episodes of Stephen Colbert and John Oliver. The John Oliver piece was on safety of our foods and after watching it I think when travelling I will stay away from salads and other fresh produce which we eat fresh and without cooking.
February 17, 2024: CA CCs taking care of our planet
On Monday I was at a climate summit hosted by Second Nature and was on a panel with Chancellor Millie Garcia, CSU, and Executive Vice President Nathan Brostrom, UC. The panel was moderated by Lande Ajose, who is now with Waverley foundation.
I started my week at Oracle Park, at the Giants-Dodgers game dedicated to California Community Colleges. CCCCO Vice Chancellor for Communications Paul Feist planned this event as part of the ICan campaign. It was so much fun!
We had Malia Venegas, San Jose City College student athlete throw the first pitch. Venegas is a 4.0 student and a softball team standout player who is transferring to San Jose State University.
This past week, I attended the Women’s Equality Day event hosted by the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women and Delta Kappa Gamma in Kern County. Thank you Janet Tarjan for all of your efforts in making this happen.
Board of Governors President Amy Costa keynoted the event. Her speech was inspirational and brought in her personal experience while quoting stats on the disparities that still exist.
October 5, 2024: California Community Colleges highlighting Noncredit Programs
This week, I was in Anaheim for the Vision 2030: Noncredit Summit, hosted by North Orange Continuing Education.
Thank you President Valentina Purtel who put together an incredible two days of engaging conversations. From data to policy and practice. The speakers were were exceptional and the camaraderie in the room was palpable.
We had 40 of the 72 districts represented in a sold-out auditorium. If you missed this year’s event, plz mark your calendar and plan to attend in October 2025 in San Diego.
Today is the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year and the official start of winter. I love the winter solstice, doesn’t everyone? My reason is because the days start getting longer and I diligently jot down the sunrise and sunset times on my calendar.
Let’s read a beautiful poem by Susan Cooper – The Shortest Day
So the shortest day came, and the year died, And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world Came people singing, dancing, To drive the dark away. They lighted candles in the winter trees; They hung their homes with evergreen, They burned beseeching fires all night long To keep the year alive. And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake They shouted, reveling. Through all the frosty ages you can hear them Echoing, behind us — listen! All the long echoes sing the same delight This shortest day As promise wakens in the sleeping land. They carol, feast, give thanks, And dearly love their friends, and hope for peace. And so do we, here, now, This year, and every year. Welcome Yule!
A few more holiday wishes from around the California Community Colleges:
Foothill-DeAnza CCD:
Chabot College:
Merritt College:
Laney College:
Victor Valley College:
Riverside City College:
Good morning California. It is December 21, 2024. Happy Winter Solstice A good day to be a Community College Champion
Continuing my look back at old blog posts – this week we’ll revisit 2017-2020.
Bakersfield College was honored as the Veteran Support Organization of the Year at the 7th Annual Military Order of the Purple Heart Dinner, held Saturday, February 19th, at the Doubletree Hotel in Bakersfield. Dr. Zav Dadabhoy accepted the award on behalf of Bakersfield College.
On Thursday, August 17th, we celebrated our Opening Day – a time where faculty and staff come together to review all we’ve accomplished and the things we look forward to accomplishing this year. This year, the indoor theater was packed and Jennifer Marden needed to organize an overflow room. And plz note that there are three reds in the planning team — Jennifer Marden, Monika Scott, and Kristin Rabe!
This year marks the 60th Homecoming celebration at 1801 Panorama Drive. I hope you’ll come out and show your unique Renegade pride in celebration of 114 years of BC transforming lives in Kern County.
On campus, we’ve been celebrating Homecoming all week. When I arrived on campus on Monday morning, I was greeted with Renegade decorations and school spirit everywhere. We kicked off with an office decoration contest hosted by The Office of Student Life. This year there was a tie between two areas: the shared area of the Marketing & Public Relations and Institutional Effectiveness departments, and the Extended Study Area. Congratulations!!
On Thursday evening, we celebrated the momentous occasion of the 100th Graduating Class of the BC Associate Degree Nursing Program.
Did you know the Nursing program at Bakersfield College is the 6th oldest RN program in the state? An article in one of the BC Archives newsletters says, “It all started in 1951 when a vocational nursing program was initiated in cooperation with Kern General Hospital (now Kern Medical Center). Its first group of nurses graduated in 1952.”
Last weekend marked the first Women’s March of Kern County and the second Women’s March across the nation. It was great to see our community and country come together, standing united. Our diverse community of all genders, races, ethnicity, and faiths came together.
Bakersfield College recently received Strong Workforce Stars Gold recognition for the Radiologic Technology program. Students who participate in this program boost their earnings by 329%; 100% of them attain the regional living wage, and 100% of students get a job in their field of study.
Woke up this morning to Bakersfield College making the front page of The Bakersfield Californian, above the fold. A good day to be a Renegade! Joseph Luiz of The Bakersfield Californian covered the launch of the implementation of Measure J with some level of detail.
Renegades are on the front lines of marching for humankindness as seen in the cover photo on this Bakersfield Californian Article, “March aims to celebrate diversity, spread kindness” by Joseph Luiz. Photographer Alex Horvath captured Mayor Karen Goh with Assembly Member Vince Fong and Robin Mangarin Scott leading the way followed by the charge of BC Renegades. The walk, held on Thursday afternoon at CSUB, celebrated diversity and what unites our community as kind and caring. Robin Mangarin emceed the short program which included speakers Raji Brar, Dr. Matab Singh, and two young girls who started a local organization called Kind Girls Make Strong Women.
As I wrote in last week’s blog, BC was out in the vineyards of Kern County this week. In partnership with the Central Valley Farm workers Foundation, Bakersfield College Rural Initiatives team and outreach advisors visited 20 farmworker crews at local vineyards throughout North and South Kern to promote higher education. The team was able to reach over 1200 farmworkers, planting a seed of hope for higher education. Over 150 workers have requested follow-up services to begin their matriculation.
Bakersfield College and McFarland High School are making education history with the Early College program, and we decided to celebrate the first chapter of that history with a launch event in the McFarland High gym last week on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, April 4, Rolling Stone journalist and New York Times bestselling author Eric Schlosser gave a series of presentations at BC about the development of “Fast Food Nation” and his other books.
Schlosser was the person most recently featured in BC’s Distinguished Speakers series for the 2018-19 academic year, which has brought other notable speakers such as Temple Grandin, Clementine Wamariya, and Christina Sommers to campus.
Bakersfield College had a phenomenal week of celebrating the diligent, committed, and focused work of BC faculty, staff, and students. The talent at BC is truly exceptional and the work ethic one of a kind. We are BC!
On Monday morning we started with a crowd of approximately 200 packing the Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery on the Panorama Campus for a press event where Assembly Member Rudy Salas presented Bakersfield College with a check for $1 million from the state legislature for the second consecutive year.
The Launchpad is Bakersfield College’s new entrepreneurship center developed to provide a system of connected resources and support for local entrepreneurs to help increase the number of new businesses in our community and to assist small businesses to grow.
The Office of Student Life (OSL) and the Bakersfield College Student Government Association (BCSGA) are kicking off the Spring 2020 semester in spectacular fashion as part of Welcome Week, which actually stretches across two weeks, January 22-31.
To make sure that our Renegades’ first day of classes runs smoothly, they’ve been hosting Welcome Tents at the Administration Building, Outdoor Theater and the Gym Huddle to pass out maps, help students find their classes, and provide information about what is going on during the first two weeks of school.
Our third-semester students joined the battle last week and began working as COVID-19 screeners at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. Thank you to all our nursing students who are working on the front lines of the pandemic to protect us all.
Another big thank you to our classified staff and their families, who have been making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of cloth face masks and caps. Thank you to BC staff Venessa Reyes and Robin Patterson, and their mothers Corrine Reyes and Vivian Patterson, for working hard to meet the national shortage of PPE. Over 170 masks have been distributed to students and faculty to keep them safe as they provide patient care.
This week, 354 students from Kern High School District attended their first course from our new KHSD Early College Pathways program. About one third of these students are incoming 9th grade students who are beginning a pathway that will lead to the completion of one of the following associate degrees: Industrial Automation AS, Psychology AA-T, Administration of Justice AS-T, and Public Health AS-T. The rest of the students are 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who are getting a head start on their college education and will graduate from high school with between 9 and 45 college credits.
The second week of our ACCJC conference featuring leaders in education, civics and policy wrapped up on Dec. 7 and 8, with hundreds of participants from across the state tuning in to #OccupyLearning. The conference was spread out over four days, with two one-hour sessions each day.
For the first session on Day 3, December 7, we had Deb Bushway, President and CEO of Northwestern Health Sciences University, to talk about competency-based education with Vice Chancellor Aisha Lowe and our BC facilitator Erica Menchaca. For the second session of Day 3, Concentric Sky CEO Wayne Skipper engaged in a discussion with Bill Moseley about Badgr, micro-credentialing, and its implementation within guided pathways.
The California Community Colleges are wrapping up Fall 2024 and gearing up for the holiday season. Let’s check out a few Holiday Greetings from our colleges ….
Palo Verde College:
From Antelope Valley College:
From Lemoore College:
From Coalinga College:
From College of the Canyons:
Good morning California. It is December 14, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
Can’t believe that I have been blogging for 11 years…. started in 2013. As we close out the year, I will do the year in review over the next three blog posts. This week, let’s look at the posts from 2013-2016.
2013
April 20, 2013: Centennial Year Celebration. Planting of the California Oak
Today, April 20, 2013, the campus was alive with the annual Garden festival. This event is always a highlight of the year for campus and community, with food, performances, booths with information and a wide range of plants and garden goods for sale. This year’s Garden festival was a special one marking the start of BC’s year of activities commemorating the college’s 100th year.
You may have thought the world of curriculum stopped spinning in the summer but our BC Curriculum Team attended a three-day intense Curriculum Institute last week.
Sharon Bush, BC’s curriculum specialist, pointed out that, ‘The Curriculum Institute is a great forum to discuss hot topics that are at the forefront in the ever-changing world of curriculum. State resources include information about the Bakersfield College student success scorecard to the wage tracker, which shows a students salary before and after completing a program at Bakersfield College’.
The Community College League of California came to Bakersfield College to hold a small meeting regarding how to properly work with elected officials and communicate the needs of community colleges.Thank you Michele Bresso for making this happen.
Invited were trustees, presidents/chancellors, and governmental relations staff. We were a small, but robust group in the Fireside Room at Bakersfield College as CCLC staffers and our very own Amber Chiang talked about the dos and don’ts of working with Sacramento.
November 30, 2013: BC Featured: Collier Talks Health Care Needs with Assembly Committee
Bakersfield College made its presence felt at the recent California Assembly Select Committee on Workforce and Vocational Development, an event facilitated by 32nd district Assemblyman Rudy Salas in Bakersfield. The hearing featured information about health care needs, issues and trends as presented by local and regional experts, including Bakersfield College Dean of Allied Health and Nursing Cindy Collier.
Each fall, with the support of Chevron and Bakersfield College’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) grant, students start school early for Week Zero: a six-day orientation which exposes students to problem solving and team work dynamics. Held during the two weeks prior to the start of fall semester, Week Zero is designed for students majoring in science, engineering, and mathematics. During the 2013 Week Zero program, students participated in projects in various subjects, including biology, chemistry, green technology, industrial design with SolidWorks, and leadership training. In addition, break out sessions were offered for engineering statics, interdisciplinary filmmaking, computer integrated manufacturing, microcontrollers, and mathematics. This program, which has been offered for several years, had more than 150 students participating in 2013, and 14 faculty continue to guide the programming.
On Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014, students, faculty, and staff at Bakersfield College gathered to observe “Denim Day,” a campaign originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Since then, wearing jeans on “Denim Day” has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault (http://denimdayusa.org/about).
September 12, 2024: A Circle of Friends – Milt and Betty Younger and Jim Young
On Thursday May 1st, 2014, Bakersfield College had the honor of hosting a very special event– a Betty younger sculpture dedication honoring Dr. Jim Young. “Circle of Friends” is an outdoor sculpture located atop a small hill Northeast of the GET Bus terminal on Panorama Drive. The sculpture, which consists of four red upright figures standing together in a circle, was created by Betty Younger to honor her friend JimYoung, who served as Kern Community College District’s chancellor from 1978 to 1999.
David Valadao, Jean Fuller, Andy Vidak, Rudy Salas
Thanks to Cindy Pollard, CEO of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and Michele Bresso, Associate Dean of Instruction, Bakersfield College hosted the second legislative forum on September 26, 2014. We hosted the very first legislative forum last year. I hope the Chamber will continue to bring this event to
2015
March 20, 2015: Design Challenge Gathers Local Students to Test Engineering Smarts
Each Spring semester, the Engineers Club invites middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students and professionals of all ages to participate in their Design ChallenOge in honor of National Engineers’ Week. During the Fall, the Engineers Club members come up with the specific “design challenge” they want to hold in the Spring. They create a set of parameters that the entrants should follow in designing their machine, and send them off to the various schools and businesses by December. Contestants build their machines and bring them on the day of the event.
May 19, 2015: BC’s Second Annual Equity Conference
I am so proud to report that BC held its second equity conference on April 23rd. The day closed with frank presentations from a handful of BC students, all from various walks of life, sharing their personal stories of getting to where they are today and how BC can do better to address their needs.
It was an eye-opening and ultimately very satisfying and encouraging day.
July 22, 2015: BC Choir Reunion Celebrates Historic Victory’s 50th Anniversary
There have been many great events in the past 100-plus years since Bakersfield College first opened its doors. But few elicit the same type of warm memories and deep sense of community pride as one that happened a half-century ago thousands of miles away from our beautiful campus.
Earlier this month, nearly three-dozen surviving members of the 1965 Bakersfield College choir reconvened to remember the good old days and savor the memories of the day they helped put BC on the global map, scoring an underdog win for the ages with a first place showing at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in North Wales.
October 5, 2015: Another usual weekend enjoying the Bakersfield Community
I stopped by Wendy’s last evening to pick up a spicy chicken sandwich for dinner and the young woman serving me spontaneously commented that she was a student at BC, psychology major, and that her teachers in all of her classes were the very best. This encounter is not unusual for me or for any of you. BC has stood for excellence and leadership for over a century and this community has steadfastly supported its college for all that time.
November 11, 2015: Veterans Day, Vet Fest and Remembering America’s Best
U.S. armed forces veterans made the conscious decision to step up and serve their nation. And as the nation pauses today to honor Veterans Day, I think it’s important to not only thank veterans for their service, but to thank them for making the decision to do so in the first place. Since we did away with the draft more than 40 years ago, the decision to join the military has been a complex one and a responsibility that no one takes lightly. It’s a choice born of courage that so many of us couldn’t or wouldn’t make.
Soldiers of all branches obliged to honor our country with their service. At BC, we feel a strong sense of obligation and responsibility to serve them with equal vigor when they transition into higher education. We know they’re entering into a new stage in their lives, one that, in its own way, can occasionally seem as confusing and frightening as military service.
To show our ongoing support to military veterans and their families, BC hosted our 3rd annual — and best yet! — BC Vet Fest last week on the Student Services lawn.
We all have our traditions. One of mine is listening to Martin Luther King‘s I have a Dream speech (about 14 minutes long) on Martin Luther King day–this year on Jan 18th.
In Bakersfield there are several events that occur during Martin Luther King Day. More than 350 people poured into Bakersfield’s MLK Community Center Jan. 18th to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and further his message. Among those assembled, proud BC Renegades gathered to celebrate with local community leaders, and to offer support in striving for equity and justice.
March 25, 2016: The State of Kern County … is Strong!
Good morning Bakersfield. It is “Good Friday” morning. The start of a three-day weekend leading up to Easter. Easter, this year, falls on March 27th, my dad Paul’s birthday. He passed away 10 years ago so Sunday is going to be an extra special day.
A relatively calm week at BC with students away on Spring Break. Walking the quiet campus yesterday, I enjoyed the grounds and the buildings that were so meticulously planned in the 1950’s when the leadership of the campus and the community decided to bring the 40 year old college from Bakersfield High School to the hill. 1801 Panorama Drive….theHome of the Renegades. A campus carefully planned by visionary leaders 60 years ago.
July 23, 2016: Providing Pathways to teh Future and Buildng a Better BC
Good morning Bakersfield. It is Saturday, July 23rd and I woke up to a wonderful piece by Jeff Evans in The Bakersfield Californian above the fold. Indeed, a wonderful day to be a Renegade.
Here is an fuzzy image of the article taken on my iphone. For the entire web version check out http://tinyurl.com/h2f79wy. There is also a 15-minute video segment of Louis Amestoy interviewing Jeff Evans on the gymnasium and other athletics facilities that are on the BC facilities needs list. Note this is a “needs list” not a “wish list”. I particularly appreciated the comment that these facilities serve all of our students and not just our student athletes.
September 18, 2016: On remembrance, and making memories
Good morning Bakersfield. It is Sunday, September 18th…I started this blog yesterday, but since the day was packed with events that ended with driving to Riverside to watch Renegade football on the road I could not finish my blog. It was great to see the Bakersfield Community come out to support an away game.
Here is a gang of regulars at the games. Sharon Baker and Bill Baker (The Renegade Football doc) come to all the games. It always warms my heart to see both Dr. Baker and Dr. Tivnon out there with our student athletes.
The Blue Marble. On this day in 1972, one of the most widely-reproduced photographs in history was taken aboard Apollo 17.
This was the last crewed lunar mission. No human since has ventured far enough away to be able to photograph a whole-Earth image. There have been photographs taken by uncrewed spacecraft missions.
The photo has long stood as a symbol of Earth’s vulnerability and the need for environmental protection.
In January 2012, NASA unveiled “Blue Marble 2012,” a composite image created from a series of photos taken on January 4, 2012.
Good morning California. It is December 7, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
San Bernardino Valley College Recognized as Global Leader in Water Stewardship
San Bernardino Valley College was honored on August 20, 2024, by GWF, a renowned Swiss technology company founded in 1899, as a global innovator and leader in water stewardship. This prestigious recognition–the first of its kind awarded to a college campus anywhere in the world–underscores SBVC’s dedication to sustainable practices and its pioneering role in water resources education.
The National Council for Workforce Education Awards Solano Community College’s Biotechnology Program its Top Award
The National Council for Workforce Education, a non-profit organization that promotes and supports education and training programs across the United States, awarded the Solano Community College Biotechnology program one of its top awards. The NCWE citing the program’s comprehensive education pathway, partnerships with industry leaders and other institutions, high job placement rate, contributions to local economic development, and overall impact.
West Valley College Students Win National Math Research Championship
For the second time in three years, West Valley College students coached by Math Instructor SerKuang Chen have captured first place in the national Student Research League competition. The competition, organized by the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, pits dozens of teams composed of two to three students against one another in applying their mathematical problem-solving, collaboration, and analytical skills, and creativity to a real-world scenario. The 2024 challenge: Create a theoretical plan for transitioning a city of at least 50,000 residents to using 100% renewable energy.
Vision 2030 Demonstration Project Aimed at Creating a Template to Have California Community College Students Covered by Health Insurance
A groundbreaking partnership between 12 community colleges in San Bernardino and Riverside counties and one of the nation’s largest Medicaid health plans is creating a model for getting every uninsured California community college student enrolled in Medi-Cal or Covered California.
The initiative is among more than a dozen pilot projects emanating from Vision 2030: A Roadmap for California Community Colleges, an equity-based strategic plan to guide the state’s community colleges through the end of the decade. The Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is among the nation’s largest Medicaid health plans and currently serves more than 1.5 million Inland Empire residents through more than 8,600 healthcare providers.
Inside HigherEd: A Guaranteed Income Program for Community College Students
The Los Angeles Community College District is experimenting with a new program that gives $1,000 a month to students in health-related fields.
The district is promising to dole out $3 million in unrestricted monthly payments to a cohort of 250 students. The funds, along with support for the program, come from private donors: a little over $3 million from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and $867,500 from the California Community Foundation. Four of the district’s nine colleges will offer BOOST, including L.A. City College, East L.A. College, L.A. Trade-Technical College and L.A. Southwest College.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us at yesterday’s grand opening for Travel OCC! Travel OCC is Orange Coast College’s on-campus, student-run travel agency.
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From San Joaquin Delta College:
Recent highlights from our BIOL 10 field trip! Our Delta students had the chance to observe the Mokelumne River fall salmon run, which is hitting record levels this year! It’s not just a textbook experience—this is the real deal in action.
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From Santa Barbara City College:
The SBCC Ambassadors hosted a Friendsgiving event in collaboration with the Basic Needs Center, Dream Center, CESJ, Veterans Club, EOPS, and Rising Scholars last week in the campus center.
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And check out this video from Crafton Hills College:
Dr. Michael Sheahan, Crafton’s incredible Director of Respiratory Therapy, took the TEDxTemecula stage with his talk: “How Using Perspective Transformed My World.” From shifting viewpoints to embracing resilience, empathy, and adaptability, Dr. Sheahan’s insights inspired the crowd and reminded us all of the power of reframing challenges. Crafton is beyond proud of his achievement and the inspiration he brings to our campus every day!
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Agriculture Laboratory Provides Students a Unique Learning Environment
The Bakersfield College Agriculture Laboratory is home to much more than crops and farm animals – it is a bustling, hands-on learning environment where students can roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and discover the wonders of farming. Located on the northwest end of the Panorama campus, the Agriculture Farm is a cornerstone of the college’s agricultural program, offering students an invaluable learning experience.
Whether it is wrangling baby calves or solving unexpected water leaks, the program’s Animal Science instructor, Julie Beechinor, collaborates with other members of the Agriculture Department to guide students through these real-world challenges, offering valuable life lessons along the way.
The movie musical Wicked – the untold story of the witches of Oz – has taken the world by storm. It’s a great story about prejudices, first impressions, unlikely friendships, discrimination and persecution.
Check out the amazing choreography and vocal performances from “What is this Feeling”:
Amanda Gorman, who was our nation’s first ever youth poet laureate, wrote the poem “Do Us Good,” inspired by “Wicked.”
With heart alight, I raise a cheer, For laughter, love, and dreams held dear. A life lived big, in joy I soar, Grateful today and evermore.
Good morning California. Happy Thanksgiving! It is November 30, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Moreno Valley College’s Serrato Named 2024 MAP Champion of the Year for Transformative Work in Credit for Prior Learning
Arlene Serrato, a dedicated leader in the field of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), has been honored as the 2024 MAP Champion of the Year for her exceptional work advancing equitable access and career attainment for students at Moreno Valley College. Her efforts have helped thousands of students earn college credits for their prior learning, saving them both time and money while significantly impacting their educational journeys.
LACCD Wins Prestigious Award for Pioneering Sustainability in Design
The Plant Facilities Warehouse and Shop Replacement project at Los Angeles Mission College was recognized with the prestigious Merit for Design Award at the Annual CCFC Conference. The facility will be LACCD’s first Net-Positive facility; 574 solar PV panels will have the capability to produce up to 252,560 KW of renewable power—over 115% of the facility’s average daily use.
Former City College of San Francisco Parking Lot Will Soon House More than 1,000 Residents
Construction will begin soon on the major Balboa Reservoir housing development to be located just west of City College’s Ocean campus. The project’s development team held a Community Update meeting on Saturday, Sept 28, 2024, in the plaza on Ocean Avenue next to the Muni bus turnaround. A large map of the planned project was spread out for the public to view, and many representatives from the project were present to answer questions.
Voice of San Diego – The Progress Report: More San Diego Unified Students Are Taking College Courses Than Ever Before
“We work very closely with the principals. We work very closely with the counselors,” said Mesa College President Ashanti Hands. “We do outreach at each of those schools so that they’re consistently hearing from our current students who are enrolled. We do parent outreach to the families in the communities as well to make sure that people are aware of the opportunities that we provide.”
Our community came together for food and fellowship in the season of giving thanks. See our programs: International, Umoja and Student Affairs Office.
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From El Camino College:
Happy Thanksgiving, Warriors! Campus will be closed today and tomorrow in observance of the holiday. Have a terrific weekend and enjoy the extended break from classes. Now, let’s throw it back to last week’s Turkey Giveaway hosted by CA Senator @SteveBradford!
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From Las Positas College:
Yesterday we celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new Viticulture and Winery Technology program Buildings 3600 and 3700! We are incredibly excited about the opportunities these new buildings and state of the art technology will bring to students interested in careers and/or lifelong learning in the viticulture and enology industry. Thank you to Livermore @mayormarchand for attending to celebrate as well as representatives from the Office of Congressman @repdesaulnier, Office of Representative Bauer Kahan, and Office of Congressman @ericswalwell.
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And check out this video from the ribbon cutting for Gavilan’s Hollister campus:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Apprenticeship Program Promotes Valuable Opportunities for Students and Community
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, Bakersfield College hosted an event designed to connect students with the BC Apprenticeship team and highlight the importance of apprenticeships in building successful careers. The event, held on November 28 and 29, provided students and community members an opportunity to learn more about apprenticeship programs and the resources available to help them succeed in the workforce.
Throughout the two-day event, the BC Apprenticeship team set up a welcoming station in the Renegade Crossroads, where they greeted attendees with hot coffee, delicious treats, and valuable information about apprenticeship opportunities in various fields. The team is dedicated to supporting students and community members at every stage of their apprenticeship journey, sharing insights into the benefits of apprenticeships, including firsthand training, certifications, and the potential for long-term career growth.
The Workforce & Economic Mobility Blog blog shares approaches to workforce and economic development, with a goal of supporting economic mobility for our community while staying committed to the health of our people and the health of our environment.
In the Bhambi & Christian blog, Dr. Brijesh Bhambi join together joined together with the goal of facilitating healing and conversation in our community.
