Tag Archives: Feather River College

Moments that take our breath away – May 2024

Uncategorized May 5, 2024 Leave a comment

This week, we had the Board of Governors retreat. Thank you so much to the Santa Monica Team team for your hospitality!

I also spoke at the ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) Summit at the College of the Canyons:

Last weekend I was in Cabo … loved waking up to this:

Beautiful Cabo:

Desert Rose:

At home, too, it’s a season of roses:

It’s also commencement season – with exercises for some of our community colleges happening this weekend!

Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take,
But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away

Good morning California.
It is May 4, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Chico State, Northern Community Colleges Streamline Transfer Process

Chico State President Steve Perez and leadership from Butte College, College of the Siskiyous, Feather River College, Lassen Community College, Shasta College, Woodland Community College and Yuba College signed Memoranda of Understanding to formalize dual admission and streamlined transfer for students interested in pursuing their bachelor’s degree at Chico State. This guaranteed admission and accompanying support mechanisms lay the groundwork to simplify and ease transfer students’ pathways to pursue four-year degrees, credentials, and further education within their region.

Celebrating College of San Mateo’s HSI Status and Black Excellence

On April 22, 2024, as part of California Community College’s Black Student Success Week, CSM’s Title V Grant team hosted an event to celebrate their designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) while spotlighting Black excellence in higher education.

» Read more!

Calbright College Launches Project Management Program

This spring, Calbright College launched its new Project Management program. This skills-based program will serve as an entry point into project management-based careers, which have an expected job growth rate of 10.5% over the next decade and can span multiple industries. 

» Read more!

San Joaquin Delta College Invites Public to View “Eyes of Science”

San Joaquin Delta College is the only community college in the U.S. to offer training in electron microscopy. With magnification of 100,000 times or greater, these powerful microscopes are known as the “eyes of science” because they are used for critical research in many scientific fields. Graduates of Delta’s electron microscopy program have landed high-paying, in-demand jobs at laboratories across the country. SJDC recently held an open house showcasing their electron microscopy program.

» Learn more about Electron Microscopy at SJDC!

In Case You Missed It

Expanding Horizons: How California’s Community Colleges
are Shaping the Future of Education

In a recent episode of the Capstone Conversation, hosted by Jared Asch, a special three-part series on community colleges and local education was kicked off with Tom Epstein, a member of the California Community College Board of Governors. The series explores the unique roles and innovative programs within the California community college system, emphasizing their efforts in local education and community engagement.

» Check out the podcast!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Thank you Paul Medina for sharing this:

Wishing a Happy 21st birthday to Board of Governors member Casey Chang! Casey celebrated this milestone with her fellow BOG colleagues during a retreat.

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From Moorpark College:

Jamaal Brown hosted an exhilarating trivia-style Black History quiz competition at Moorpark College. The Black 365 Knowledge Bowl, a fast-paced, buzzer-beating event challenged participants to answer a series of questions related to African American history. The spirited contest crowned the Black 365 Knowledge Bowl Champ and was an inspirational celebration of Black history and achievements. The hour-long event was designed to entertain and inform attendees with rich historical content and stories of prominent Black individuals.

Winner of the Black 365 Knowledge Bowl: Student -Wren Grant. Special recognition to Tristin Fowler Counseling Service Specialist (Black Student Success) for organizing and implementing this event.

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From Reedley College:

2024 STEM Conference! Over 500 students from our local elementary, middle and high schools on our campus today. Lots of workshops and a lot of fun!

Blast from the Past

As we begin commencement season, I wanted to share my Welcome Remarks from the Bakersfield College 2021 Virtual Commencement:

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Receives Generous Donation of 2023 Lincoln Aviator
Thanks To Jim Burke Ford

Bakersfield College’s Automotive Technology Program has received a generous donation of a 2023 Lincoln Aviator from local dealership, Jim Burke Ford Lincoln. This contribution marks a significant enhancement to the College’s training fleet, providing students with hands-on experience with the latest in automotive technology.

» 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

Wrapping up February 2024

Uncategorized February 24, 2024 Leave a comment

One year ago, February 23, 2023, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors announced the 11th chancellor and I started my new position 5 months later.

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On Tuesday, I was at Cerritos College, sharing the roadmap of Vision 2030. Thank you President Jose Fierro for the invitation. And thank you to the members of the Board of Governors, Adrienne Brown and Paul Medina, who joined me.

I also joined President Jose Fierro for a President’s Hour where every month he spends time hanging out with students and the campus community.

Adrienne Brown, Sonya Christian, Jose Fierro, Paul Medina

On Wednesday, I presented at the Assembly Subcommittee on Education Finance hearing, along with CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia and UC President Michael Drake.

With Chanelle Win and Linda Vázquez

Chanelle Win, Diablo Valley College and UC San Diego student and Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the Student Senate of California Community Colleges, also spoke on student perspectives. She was joined by San Jose State student Dominic Quan Treseler and UCLA student David Ramirez.

I shared with the subcommittee that enrollments were on the rise at the California Community Colleges. We have bounced back to serving over 2 million students for the first time since 2019, after a steep enrollment decline. We increased over 100,000 students from Fall 2022 to Fall 2023. 

To put this growth in perspective nationally and statewide –

National picture – from Fall 2022 to Fall 2023, CA CCs accounted for 50% of the student headcount growth for all community colleges in the country.
In California – from Fall 2022 to Fall 2023, CA CCs accounted for 89% of the growth in undergraduate student headcount.

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I always enjoy this view overlooking the river.

And a beautiful walk to the Capitol …. early spring already in California in February.

Also this week, the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships, Career Ladders Project, and The Education Trust–West presented the 2nd Annual California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference at the Westin Long Beach.

Here’s Aisha Lowe at the summit along with Ben Chida, and Mike Munoz. The panel was moderated by Lange Luntao from Ed Trust West.

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I’ve greatly enjoyed seeing pictures and videos from across our California Community College system as we celebrate Black History Month.

Check out these highlights from Monterey Peninsula College’s Symposium – African Americans in the Arts: Supporting our Black & African American Scholars.

From San Diego City College‘s Cultures Day – African Diaspora Celebration:

Don’t forget – Black Student Success Week is scheduled for April 22-26, 2024. This year’s theme is Building a Better Future Together: the Urgency is Now. The 2024 Black Student Success Week will focus on innovative approaches to ensure Black and African American students succeed in community colleges.

» Learn more and register for webinars here!

Good morning California.
It is February 24, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Southwestern Community College District and CETYS University System
Forge Cross-Border Educational Alliance

In a groundbreaking partnership aimed at enhancing educational opportunities in the cross-border region, the Southwestern Community College District (SWC) and Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS) University System have officially joined forces. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in addressing the diverse educational needs of the community on both sides of the border. As a part of this collaboration, SWC students can attend CETYS at the same rate as Mexican citizens.

» Read more!

Cuesta College RN Students Achieve 100% Exam Pass Rate,
#1 National Ranking

Cuesta College’s Registered Nursing (RN) graduating class of 2023 ranks number one for students passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which allows nursing graduates to be licensed as a registered nurse in the United States. 

» Read more!

FRC & Sierra Pacific Industries Partner Up
With New Commercial Driver’s License Program

In an effort to meet local labor market demand, Feather River College is now offering a Commercial Driver’s License program. Through a valuable collaboration with Sierra Pacific Industries, Feather River College will have access to one of SPI’s manual semi-truck and trailers to utilize as a training tool for students interested in a career in transportation and trucking. 

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Cal Matters: Community college bachelor’s degrees have been a win-win. California should offer more

Two years ago, a UC Davis research center devoted to community college issues published a study indicating that having even limited authority for Community College Baccalaureates, or CCBs, has been hugely beneficial to students in terms of both availability and cost.

» Read more!

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EdSource: Enrollment at California’s community colleges surpasses 2 million

Enrollment across California’s 116 community colleges was up more than 8% this past fall, surpassing 2 million students for the first time since before the pandemic.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Paul Medina:

Alongside great staff from Los Angeles Valley College Dual Enrollment program @lavcdualenrollment. Thank you for the great work you all do in advancing opportunities for students in the SFV area from the Burbank Unified School District and my alma matter the Los Angeles Unified School District. I’m glad to have run into you all. #GoLACCD #GoLAVC

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From Hartnell College:

Hartnell was at today’s College and Career Fair at the King City High School ! Here are some action shots of todays event!

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From Fresno City College:

Women in Engineering 2024 for female high school students designed to encourage more women to pursue STEM careers. Thank you Chevron for the gift of $75,000 to the college. We’ll use this to support STEM education.

Blast from the Past

Check out this video highlighting everyone who worked so hard to get Measure J passed for the Kern Community College District in 2016:

And From the Home of the Renegades

Transfer Pathways and International Student Services Host Open House

The Office of Transfer Pathways and International Student Services welcomed students, faculty, and the campus community to its open house on Tuesday, February 20th. University representatives from CSU Bakersfield, CSU Channel Islands, and the University of LaVerne were also present. The new Transfer Pathways and International Student Services Center is located in the east wing of the 2nd floor of the Center for Student Success (CSS) building on BC’s main campus.

» 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

Juneteenth 2023 – CA CCs promote empathy and unity

Uncategorized June 17, 2023 Comments: 2

Last Saturday, I walked out of the gym after my Saturday morning class and spotted this bird.

I texted a friend who is a bird watcher and she immediately came back with gray hawk. She then checked in with a raptor expert and came back with hybrid falcon.

What do you think?

Gray Hawk
Hybrid Falcon

Then on Sunday, I enjoyed watching the 76th Tony Awards. Kimberly Akimbo received top honors for Best Musical, while Leopoldstadt took Best Play.

I love musicals.

Check out the opening performance with host Ariana DeBose.

This week I also had my first Consultation Council meeting as California Community Colleges Chancellor. Great group of talented and dedicated folks. Our time is now!

***

On Monday, we celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas, to take command of the federal troops who went there to enforce the emancipation of its slaves. He issued General Order No. 3, which enforced the Emancipation Proclamation and freed all remaining slaves in Texas.

Now, Juneteenth is a federal holiday – first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

Here is excerpt from an email I sent to our staff :

“This celebration allows us to foster a deeper understanding of our shared history and promote empathy and unity among our colleagues. Linked here is a short video featuring renowned Harvard historian, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., further explaining the significance and history of Juneteenth.”

And wishing all the dads out there a very happy Father’s Day tomorrow!

Paul Christian, Sonya Christian

Good morning California.
It is June 17, 2023.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges

Woodland Community College, Feather River College
among Community College Innovation Challenge winners

The Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) is led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF). It is a national competition where community college student teams, working with a faculty or administrator mentor, use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to innovate solutions to real-world problems; participate in an Innovation Boot Camp; and compete for cash awards.

This year, two California Community Colleges are among the winners. Woodland Community College took 2nd place, while Feather River College took 3rd.

» Read more about the CCIC

» Check out posts from MESA at Woodland Community College

» Learn more about Feather River College’s team

Norco College Rocketry Team
AR 51025 Competition Update and Video

In Fall 2022, Norco College Rocketry collaborated with the Flabob Airport Rocketry Program by taking weekly classes and worked diligently to educate themselves on rocketry fundamentals and techniques. On March 4th, the team successfully launched and retrieved their rocket “Vector” and performed a static fire in the Mojave Desert. After Vector, the team began preparations for our competition rocket for the FAR 51025 Competition. 

» Read more and see additional videos about the Rocketry team

Re-imagined Hiring Event
Hosted at Butte College Career Center

This spring, the Butte College Career Center partnered with SynEd to launch a new pilot to connect students completing certificate and degree programs in accounting and business with employers hiring for those skills. The career center modeled the event after SynEd’s Appointment with your Future.

» Read more about the Hiring Event

De Anza College Receives MESA Grant
for Underrepresented Students

De Anza has been awarded $1.55 million in state funding over the next five years for a new cohort program to support historically underrepresented students who want to transfer in STEM majors.

The new MESA (Math, Engineering and Science Achievement) program will build on strategies that proved highly effective with De Anza’s Math Performance Success program, which has used dedicated counselors, embedded peer tutors and additional support to improve student success rates in Math – particularly for Latinx and Black students.

» Read more about MESA at De Anza

In Case You Missed It

Diverse Issues in Higher Education: Education Department
Announces Grants for Initiatives to Support Native Students

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced more than $8 million in available grants to fund initiatives for Native students.

» Read more about his grant program

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LAist: America Needs Pilots, But Training Is Pricey.
Community Colleges Are Stepping In

A commercial pilot license is also a necessary step toward flying for an airline, and those pilots should have some leverage when they hit the market. According to analysts with consulting firm Oliver Wyman, while the gap between supply and demand of pilots has improved from projections in 2022, there may be a shortfall of up to 24,000 pilots by 2026.

Still, pilot training programs can get expensive, as students navigate an array of fees. That’s left affordable community college programs an opening.

» Read more

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Dr. Zav Dadabhoy tweeted

Allan Hancock College‘s Beyond Incarceration Greater Education (BIGE) Club visited the Santa Maria Police Department to share their stories and discuss how the two groups can work together to Change the Odds in our community.

Calbright College spreading the word at the Juneteenth Education Fair at Camp Pendleton:

Mission College kicked off their Summer Concert Series:

And thank you to Assemblymember Mike Fong for sharing this photo of us after we met in Sacramento this week:

Blast From the Past

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $13.5 Million Investment
to Equitably Grow Solar Energy Workforce

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced 12 projects, whose work will span more than 13 states, selected for negotiation to launch training partnerships that expand the solar energy workforce in underserved and underrepresented communities, as well as create career pathways with thousands of good-paying jobs.

Kern Community College District (Bakersfield, CA): In partnership with IBEW, this project will provide solar installation career-track training and electrical apprenticeship readiness training with opportunities for union membership for participants from disadvantaged communities in the Central Valley of California. ​(Award: $1,000,000)

» Read more about the grants

» Read more about this week at BC!

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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

Sonya Christian's Blog