Tag Archives: Clovis Community College

California Community Colleges Driving Positive Impact

39 years ago today, on July 13, 1985, the Live Aid concert was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. One of the most memorable performances was Queen. Check out this video of “Radio Ga Ga”:

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On July 14th, eight years ago in 2016, the Kern CCD Board of Trustees voted to put Measure J on the November ballot.

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Was in Clayton, Georgia last weekend for a family reunion. My first visit to this beautiful state… so green with majestic oaks, pines, rhododendrons…. Woke up in the morning to birds chirping away. Did not snap pictures for you like I usually do. Just close your eyes and imagine.

Good morning California.
It is July 13, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Cabrillo, Clovis Take Top Honors at MATE ROV Competition

Each year, the MATE ROV Competition pushes students to the forefront of real-world
underwater technology. The 2024 competition is no exception, with innovative mission tasks
designed to address critical global issues under the theme of ‘CREATING SOLUTIONS.’

In preparation, participants have engaged in diverse and impactful projects, from expanding
the Global Ocean Observing System, protecting and restoring ecosystems, and developing
ocean-based climate solutions. This year’s tasks include deploying advanced ocean observing
assets for data collection, installing state-of-the-art submarine telecommunications cables,
administering probiotics to heal diseased coral, identifying healthy habitats for lake sturgeon,
and deploying autonomous robotic floats to monitor ocean health.

The Cabrillo College team won in the EXPLORER Class Category.

» Read more about Cabrillo College’s win!

The Clovis Community College team took first place in the PIONEER Class category.

» Read more about Clovis Community College’s win!


How Calbright College Connected With San Diego (And Camp Pendleton)

Calbright is statewide – right now they have students in 52 of California’s 58 counties – and they’re always looking to make new connections with new communities in every corner of the state. In May and June that meant a special emphasis on southern California, where Calbright attended three different events in Oceanside and San Diego.

» Read more!


Crafton Hills College and CONFIRE: Pioneering Partnership
for EMT Training and Employment

In a groundbreaking move, Crafton Hills College has forged a partnership with local employers to address a pressing need in the community: emergency medical technicians (EMTs). With a vision to bridge the gap between education and employment, the college has collaborated with CONFIRE’s Priority Ambulance to launch a program that not only trains aspiring EMTs but also guarantees them employment.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

CalMatters: California Boosts Spending to
Help Students Earn Math and Science Degrees

California allotted millions of dollars in 2022 to create MESA programs at community colleges across the state. Currently, 91 out of 115 campuses have programs established, with three more set to create one next year. The state hopes the expansion will reduce barriers to STEM jobs for “underserved and underrepresented” students. As the initiative rolls out statewide, questions remain about how long the funding will last, and how the programs can track how well they’re working.  

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Oxnard College:

This summer, our Trio Upward Bound Program welcomes over 50 students from Hueneme and Channel Islands High schools to participate in its Summer Program. This week, the students took a break from classes by having a field day!

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From San Bernardino Valley College:

SBVC collaborated with the San Bernardino Symphony for the third annual SummerFest last Saturday!

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From College of the Sequoias:

Former Giant Quincy Hall just ran a 43.8 in the 400m in a tune up race for the Olympics. He ran a 44.18 to win the USA trials just a few weeks ago. His 43.8 is the best time in the world this year in the 400m. Go Giants!

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And check out this video from American River College celebrating their Early College Academy graduates:


And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Hosts Project HireUp Summer 2024 Graduation

It was a day of celebration and optimism as Bakersfield College and CityServe Educational Collaborative celebrated the graduating participants of Cohort #12 of Project HireUp. This unique project provides education and training to adults seeking reentry into the workforce or higher education programs. Project HireUp aims to decrease homelessness in the community through a creative and innovative partnership that supports students currently experiencing housing insecurity or other setbacks.

» Read 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

Honoring our people

This week, our nation honored the D-Day at Normandy, which took place 80 years ago on June 6.

The stories of veterans who were part of that day…..they are now between the ages of 96 and 107.

At a ceremony commemorating the anniversary, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Legion of Honor on 14 U.S. veterans and a British female veteran.

The female veteran is 103-year-old Christian Lamb, the daughter of a Royal Navy admiral who was studying in Normandy in 1939 when her father called her back to London. Lamb created detailed maps that guided the crews on places to land on D-Day.

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On Wednesday we celebrate former Bakersfield College Athletic Director Sandi Taylor, who was inducted into the California Community College Athletic Directors Hall of Fame at Lake Tahoe.

Sandi Taylor is a very special person. Check out the video below under the “blast from the past” section of the blog.

Good morning California.
It is June 8, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Palomar College Student Earns Prestigious Internship

Jerrie Fabrigas got a bachelor’s degree in art history because she thought she wanted to curate other people’s art. It wasn’t until she took a ceramics class at Palomar College that she realized she had a talent for making her own art. Since her first ceramics class at Palomar College in 2020, Fabrigas has been making and selling her ceramic art pieces. She recently was selected as a 2024 Artaxis fellow, which provides funding so that she can attend a two-week summer workshop at the renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine.

» Read more!


Folsom Lake College and Sutter Health Announce Partnership

Sutter Health is launching a new initiative, NextGen Scholars, to provide educational opportunities and career pathways in healthcare for high school students from Title 1 schools and diverse backgrounds—with a goal of training 5,000 youth by 2030 as part of the program. Sutter is investing $1.7 million in Folsom Lake College as a pilot and plans to extend the program to other schools in the Los Rios Community College District and others across its Northern California and Central Coast footprint in the coming years.

» Read more!


Longtime Riverside City College Supporter Raises
More Than $6,500 for Student Emergency Fund

Justin Scott-Coe, a former adjunct professor and long-time Riverside City College (RCC) supporter, recently organized a crowdfunding campaign to benefit the RCCD Foundation’s Student Emergency Fund. In lieu of birthday gifts for his 50th birthday, Scott-Coe raised more than $6,500 to support RCC students in need. 

» Read More!



In Case You Missed It

EdSource: California releases $470 million
to put students on track for college and career

California has made good on a promise in the 2022 budget to invest in programs that simultaneously prepare students for both college and career. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Friday that the state has released $470 million to 302 school districts, charters and county offices of education to fund the Golden State Pathways program.

» Read more!

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CalMatters: An obscure option could help Californians
without high school diplomas pay for college — if it survives

Many adults in California are missing out on financial aid for college — and for years, the state declined to help. 

The most popular form of federal financial aid, the Pell grant, provides low-income students with around $7,000 a year— money that can go towards all kinds of expenses, such as tuition, rent or transportation. Typically, college students need a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify, but a workaround, known as the Ability to Benefit provision, allows adults without a high school diploma to get federal financial aid in college.

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From San Joaquin Delta College:

Congrats to San Joaquin Delta College’s student-run media group, Fierce Mustang Media, for their recognition today by the Board of Supervisors for their work on San Joaquin County’s illegal dumping awareness campaign!

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From Clovis Community College:

Congratulations to our amazing CCC team that just completed the Mental Health First Aid National Certification Training! @cccwelcomecenter @scccd#GoCrush#SafetyFirst

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Jackie Vanderbeck from Broadway Sacramento shared this post:

I am so thrilled to welcome our Broadway At Music Circus Intern & Professional Assistant class of 2024!

In partnership with American River College, 46 students join us for the summer in the fields of Stage Management, Wardrobe, Costume, Props/Scenic, Sound, Marketing & PR, Graphic Design, Social Media, Development, Education & Community Engagement, and IT.

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And congratulations to Southwestern College’s Randy Beach, who is completing his second term serving on the ACCJC

Bittersweet day today. In 2018 I was honored to be elected to serve a three-year term as an Academic Member of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Today, after two terms, four presidents, three commission chairs, dozens of presentations and webinars, hundreds (yes hundreds) of commission and committee meetings, and thousands (yes thousands) of pages of reading college reports, and a global pandemic (yikes!), I completed my second and final term as a board member and commissioner. The work has been one of the most professionally rewarding experiences I’ve ever had supporting the mission and success of two-year colleges. The commissioners and ACCJC staff that I’ve worked with over the years are wickedly talented, insightful and knowledgeable, and dedicated to student success for the diversity of students that make up our institutions.


Blast from the Past

Here’s the video from 2020, when Sandi Taylor and Corny Rodriguez earned a Presidential Leadership Award at Bakersfield College:


And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Hosts Measure J Community Brief and Update

In 2016, the Measure J bond was introduced to the Bakersfield and Kern County communities with the goal of improvements to Bakersfield College and its rural campuses. The measure passed and BC was awarded $502 million for facility updates, new educational spaces, technology upgrades, and more.

 On June 5, 2024, BC hosted a Measure J Community Brief and Update in the Renegade Events Center to offer students, faculty, staff, and community members a detailed update on the various projects funded by Measure J.

» Read 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

Recognizing alternative forms of learning

Another wonderful action packed week.. testified at the Senate Fiscal Committee …
and Bessie came to visit.

Bessie and Neo

Good morning California.
It is April 27, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Pasadena City College, PUSD Celebrate Seven Dual Enrollment
High School Students Earning College Degrees

Local leaders and Pasadena educators gathered at PCC to celebrate seven students, who between them are earning 13 associate degrees in addition to their high school diplomas this spring. The event marked a major milestone for the college’s partnership with the Pasadena Unified School District. This is the first time that multiple dual enrollment students are earning their associate degrees in the same year.

» Read more!


Clovis Community College, Madera College
Join Achieving the Dream

Clovis Community College and Madera College are among eight community colleges that have joined the ATD Network of more than 300 institutions across the country as part of the 2024 Network cohort. The colleges will enter into ATD’s Foundations of Transformation core engagement, an intensive three-year program.

» Read more!


Final Beam Signed for Butte College’s
New State-of-the-Art Science Building

The Butte College Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students celebrated a major milestone in the construction of the college’s new science building by signing the final beam that will top off the 72,276-square-foot facility. The campus community gathered at the construction site at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17.

» Read more!


Rio Hondo College Community Unites
to Celebrate Grand Opening of Campus Pride Center

Río Hondo College students, staff and community leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the grand opening of the institution’s first Pride Center on Feb. 15.  The Pride Center provides students with a place to bond in community and access support resources.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

Equity in Support: Strengthening Behavioral Health Services
through Partnerships

Join us on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. for the California Community Colleges System Webinar, “Equity in Support: Strengthening Behavioral Health Services through Partnerships.”

» Register online!

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Application Period Open for California Community Colleges
Chancellor’s Climate Fellows Program

Are you passionate about climate action and sustainability? Would you be excited to make a two-year commitment to support statewide level climate related work with Chancellor Sonya Christian and the Chancellor’s Office?

If so, please apply for this exciting opportunity to become a Chancellor’s Climate Fellow. Fellowships are available in four focus areas including community engagement, curriculum development, workforce and campus facilities.

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Calbright College – it was great seeing the Calbright team at the ASU+GSV Summit!

The Calbright team was thrilled to participate in the conversation at the recent @asugsvsummit to discuss the intersection of AI and equitable education design! Our thanks to the organizers for convening a group of inspiring professionals to advance these important ideas.

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From Shasta College:

Shoutout to our Forestry & Natural Resources club for their work in cleaning up a mile-long stretch of Old Oregon Trail near campus. 7 students & 2 faculty filled 3 55-gallon bags and collected large waste items. What a fantastic way to honor Earth Day! Way to give back

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From Hartnell College:

#ThrowbackThursday: In March, Hartnell MESA students explored Elkhorn Slough Reserve and attended the impactful Black Men in White Coats Conference. Proud of their learning journey!

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And check out this amazing dancing from Rock The School Bells Hip Hop Conference at Skyline College:


Blast from the Past

Here are my remarks about Competency Based Education and recognizing alternative forms of learning, from Day 2 of Bakersfield College’s virtual Opening Day 2021:


And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College Performing Arts Presents Metamorphoses

The Performing Arts Department is pleased to announce their latest performance for the Spring semester entitled Metamorphoses. Based on the original writings from legendary director Mary Zimmerman, adapted from the classic Myths of Ovid, the play combines both the modern and mythical for a must-see spectacle of love, loss, and transformation.

Performances will be held in Bakersfield College’s Edward Simonsen Outdoor Theatre: Saturday 4/27, and Sunday 4/28 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are now available online: $12 for general admission; $8 for students, staff, seniors, and veterans. Visit BC’s Online Events Calendar for additional information!

» Read more!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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

A week of beautiful beaches and sunsets

Made a thing out of watching the Oscars last Sunday …. so fun!

And then there was Ryan Gosling

Check it out.

The entire evening was wonderful, culminating with Al Pacino announcing the award for Best Picture (which went to Oppenheimer). He walked up to “Speak Softly, Love,” from “The Godfather” – which I love.

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At home, I enjoyed some quality time with Neo, and lovely walks

And managed to snap this photo of a duck in the pool!

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I traveled to So Cal this week – LA for President Gebru’s investiture and then to San Diego where I gave the McFarlane Lecture for the SDSU Alumni CCLEAD Alumni Group and then the Community College League of California’s annual CEO Symposium.

The LA City College Choir did a wonderful rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.

I so love San Diego and brought back a little beach scene for you.

Good morning California.
It is March 16, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Merced College Driving Innovations in Agricultural Education
for the Valley and Beyond

Artificial intelligence, automation, electric vehicles, and robotics are reshaping the landscape of agriculture, as evidenced by the AgTechX Summit held at Merced College on March 7. Agricultural professionals, local farmers, and leaders at Merced College shared cutting-edge technology, discussed the future of the industry, and highlighted Merced College’s pivotal role in agricultural education, showcasing a new AgTEC Innovation Center currently in development.

» Read more!


College of Marin Library Receives Insight Into Diversity Magazine’s
2024 LEAD Award

The College of Marin (COM) Library received the 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The LEAD Award honors academic libraries’ programs and initiatives that encourage and support DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) across their campus. These include, but are not limited to research, technology, accessibility, exhibitions, and community outreach.

» Read more!


Contra Costa College Hosts 12th Annual Dreamers Conference

The 12th Annual Dreamers Conference was a free event for undocumented students and allies in the Contra Costa Community College District (4cd). The conference provided information, resources, and support for dreamers to succeed in their academic and career goals.

» Learn more!


Coastline Community College Submits Competency-Based Education Direct Assessment Application to the Department of Education

Coastline College has officially submitted their Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education (CBE) application to the Department of Education. This significant step forward aligns with Coastline’s commitment to providing flexible, high-quality education that meets the needs of their diverse student body. Coastline College is the first community college to submit their application as part of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office’s CBE Pilot project.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

2024 Systemwide Webinars

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office next Systemwide Webinar is set for Wednesday, April 3, from 9-10 am. Please join us for Our Time is Now! Advancing California’s Economy Through Community Colleges.

» Register today!

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Student Housing Virtual Forum –
The True Price Tag: Calculating the 24-Hour Cost of Student Housing

The Chancellor’s Office is hosting a series of virtual and in-person professional development events to support California Community Colleges student housing programs. This Student Housing Virtual Forum will feature a panel of student housing professionals who will be discussing the total cost of ownership of operating student housing, providing tools to calculate the lifetime costs of housing operations and the challenges and considerations for transitioning to 24/7 operations. Panelists will engage with virtual attendees and there will be a chance to answer questions.

The next virtual forum is Tuesday, April 9 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

» Register today!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From San Jose City College:

On Pi Day, we celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for SJCC’s MESA Center, which supports educationally and economically disadvantaged students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) transfer pipeline.

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From LA City College:

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the investiture of President Dr. Gebru at #LACC! Dr. Gebru’s leadership promises a future of excellence & community impact. Together, we’re embarking on a journey towards an even brighter future for our college and community.

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From Clovis Community College:

And more fabulous photos from the President’s Luncheon w/Dr. Kim E. Armstrong. We truly appreciate everyone’s support. @scccd @DrGoldsmith777 @cccwelcomecenter #GoCrush#ThankfulForStudents Link to photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBgQbH

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And I’d like to extend my well-wishes to this group of CCC students in Barcelona:

A cohort of Citrus College students – as well as students from other Southern California Foothills Consortium Colleges – are currently learning in Barcelona!


Blast from the Past

It’s been four years since the Covid-19 pandemic shut down our colleges – and much of our world. I’d like to share the message I sent out to our Bakersfield College community on March 17, 2020:


And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College Welcomes New President, Dr. Jerry Fliger

Bakersfield College is proud to welcome Dr. Jerry Fliger as its new President. Dr. Fliger’s appointment by KCCD comes after a comprehensive nationwide search, spearheaded by a committee of faculty, students, and alumni, aimed at finding a visionary leader capable of navigating the complex challenges facing higher education today.

» Read 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

CA CCs starting the new year 2024 full throttle

Santa Barbara – what’s not to love?

This week, I attended the Dual Enrollment conference at Santa Barbara City College.

Student Trustee Paul Medina, SBCC Trustee Jonathan Abboud and SBCC President Erika Endrijonas participated in an awesome panel moderated by Tonya Williams, titled “Mobilizing Vision 2030.”

Our new Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development, Anthony Cordova, and Don Daves-Rougeaux, Senior Advisor, Workforce and Strategic Partnerships, were also on hand to discuss Career Education and Dual Enrollment.

It was also so much fun to catch up with Kylie Campbell. Here we are in the photo with Naomi Castro

Good morning California.
It is January 13, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Los Angeles Trade Tech College Hosts Barber Battle

Last December, LATTC’s Cosmetology Pathway hosted its first barber battle. 33 of the college’s Barbering students faced off in a competition across six categories, including Best Haircut & Style, Most Creative, The GOAT (greatest of all time), Fastest Fade, Crispiest Lineup, and Best Beard Style.

» Read more!


Yuba College Receives Grants to Extend Zero Textbook Cost Efforts

Many students at Yuba College will soon see their textbook costs be dramatically reduced, or eliminated entirely, following the awarding of a series of grants designed to help institutions create or utilize existing open educational resources (OER). OER are teaching or learning materials that are free to students because they exist in the public domain and are designed with the intent of sharing freely.

» Read more!


College of the Canyons Earns Carnegie Classification

College of the Canyons is the only California community college to receive the 2024 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation that indicates institutional commitment to community engagement awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

» Read more!


Evergreen Valley College Celebrates Latest Tesla START Program Graduates

Congratulations to Evergreen Valley College‘s latest graduates of our Tesla START program, one of two programs in the state devoted to this discipline. The program has had a 100 percent graduation rate and is ranked No. 1 for women wanting to get into the field. It also places graduates around the Bay Area and in places like Arizona and Tennessee within Tesla.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

Headline

GV Wire: What’s the Secret Sauce
in State Center’s Enrollment Boom?

“State Center Community College District appears to be on track to set a new high-water mark for student enrollments, erasing the losses that occurred after the pandemic. The district, which includes colleges in Fresno and Madera counties, is about 3% under the record set in the 2019-2020 school year, just as the pandemic was arriving and forced classes to move online.“

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From David O’Brien:

The hardest-working Government Relations team in higher education is working hard on analyzing the State budget and helping @CalCommColleges ensure we have the resources to continue serving our students, our communities, and the planet!

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From Clovis Community College:

President Armstrong at the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Essay & Speech contest reception at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District

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From American River College:

At just 13 years old Alan Daniel started the long journey to fulfill his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Alan, now 14, enrolled at American River College as a biology major, taking some initial pre-requisite classes while working to complete his high school graduation requirements. Starting with the Spring 2023 semester, Alan plans on becoming a full-time ARC student where he will focus on completing his transfer requirements. He hopes to be transfer-ready at 15 and to start the next phase of his education journey at UC Davis or Sac State.



And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Launches Spring 2024 Semester with Series of Welcome Week Events

Each semester, the BC Office of Student Life hosts a series of Welcome Week events to promote student engagement and provide important information for new and returning students. 

This semester’s Welcome Week events will feature “Pop by and Play” where students can participate in various lawn games, including soccer, volleyball and a bounce house, a trivia night, an evening of video games and board games, Campus Rush, and more. 

» Read 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