Tag Archives: Fresno City College

California Community Colleges: Celebrating Rising Scholars Milestones and Achievements

Uncategorized September 28, 2024 Comments: 4

Woke up this morning to the news that Maggie Smith had passed. A legend.

One of my very favorite Maggie Smith roles is in the move Sister Act. Check out this 2-min video.

And the NY Times has a long piece on her – https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/27/arts/maggie-smith-dead.html

Started this week with the BOG meeting at San Bernardino Valley College. What a phenomenal visit to the campus. Here are some photos.

Here are the BOG members who were able to join the meeting in person.

We did a great tour of the STEM-MESA center. Here is a selfie that Board Member Joseph Williams snapped. See if you can spot Board Members Tom Epstein and Bill Rawlings

We had dinner at the KVCR studio. What a treat! Former senator Connie Leyva is now the Executive Director of the PBS station. We also met Assembly member Eloise Reyes – I sat next to her at dinner and thoroughly enjoyed her warmth and care for our students and community.

Snapped this photo of John Stanskas when he presented to the BOG.

After the BOG meeting, I headed to Irvine for the 10-year anniversary of the Rising Scholars Network.

So many great speakers, including Le Barron Woodyard who stepped in for Tonya Williams, Martha Garcia, Keith Curry, Chelsea Esquibias, Anthony Cordova, Bryan Hirayama – and Rising Scholar graduates Serafin Leon, Isaiah Posey and Marquis Jiles.

We were joined by BOG members Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Bill Rawlings.

Did you know – one academic year of graduates saved over $27 MILLION in incarceration costs?

Serafin was in the first graduating class in 2019 at the Kern Valley State Prison – I was president of BC at that time. Check out this 37-sec video.

And now, here I am with Serafin 5 years later at the 10-year anniversary celebration of the statewide Rising Scholars program legislated in 2024 with the passage of AB 1391.

Was wonderful reuniting with he BC team who made this program happen.

And Vicki Coffee snapped this selfie.

Forever grateful to Bryan Hirayama for doing the first fully in-person course in the state of California in Spring 2015.

Following the Rising Scholars 10-year celebration was the DEIA Institute which opened with Tom Heasley’s BC Drumline. Just fantastic ….

Here is a panel with Gina Brown, Tony Cordova, and John Stanskas who joined us via zoom. Clearly Stanskas said something witty…

and here is John…

Good morning California.
It is September 28, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Mt. San Jacinto College Celebrates Grand Opening
of New STEM Building at the San Jacinto Campus

Mt. San Jacinto College proudly announces the grand opening of its state-of-the-art STEM Building at the San Jacinto Campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by college officials, local leaders, and community members celebrated the completion of this transformative facility designed to enhance educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

» Read more!

Santa Rosa Junior College Awarded $3 million HSI Grant
From U.S. Department of Education

Santa Rosa Junior College has been awarded a $3 million grant, to be received over 5 years, from the U.S. Department of Education under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) program. This grant will fund the college’s latest initiative, Transformando, aimed at enhancing SRJC’s ability to serve its growing Latinx and underrepresented student populations.

» Read more!

New Ballot Drop Box Unveiled at Woodland Community College and Voter Registration Drive Announced

In a significant step toward expanding voter accessibility, Woodland Community College (WCC), in partnership with Yolo County Elections and the League of Women Voters, is proud to announce the unveiling of a new permanent ballot drop box at the Woodland campus. This initiative is aimed at providing easier and more convenient access for students, staff, and the community to securely submit their vote-by-mail ballots during local, state, and national elections.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Undocumented Student Action Week: Education and Career UndocuDreams Made Possible

Register today for the Eighth Annual California Community Colleges’ Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW) on Oct. 14 – 18, 2024. Join the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Foundation for California Community Colleges, the Community College League of California and our statewide partners for a week of collaboration and supporting students, faculty and those involved in advocating for undocumented students.

» Register for virtual events

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2024 System Webinar: Education and Career UndocuDreams Made Possible

Join California Community Colleges on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. for the System Webinar “Education and Career UndocuDreams Made Possible.”

» Register now!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Board of Governors Member & Kern CCD Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg shared this photo from the BOG visit to San Bernardino Valley College:

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From Fresno City College:

Thank you,@senatortoniatkins for letting us showcase the @fccwestfresnocenter We continue to empower our students with hands-on skills & opportunities for the future. We appreciate your dedication to advancing education & workforce development!

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From Santiago Canyon College:

Santiago Canyon College is continuing its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The college’s First Year Support Center, SCC TRiO and TRiO Future Teachers sponsored a workshop on Tuesday afternoon, titled Breaking Barriers: Latino Men in Education.

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From Evergreen Valley College:

Our latest graduates from our Tesla START program finished a 16-week intensive program as employees of the automotive company. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

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From Saddleback College:

Happy Birthday to us! Today we celebrate 56 years since we first welcomed students to our interim campus (where Mission Hospital sits today). Students finally took their first classes on the campus we occupy today in 1970.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Writing Centers Offer Renegades Valuable Support and Resources

The Bakersfield College Writing Center proudly offers its services to all BC students, allowing Renegades to hone the craft of writing throughout all areas – from structural elements and stylistic improvements to public speaking and academic reading. More than that, BC’s specialized Writing Consultants are determined to help students gain independence and confidence in their academic reading, writing, and English language speaking, while also equipping them to take those life-long skills into their careers.

» 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

First six months of Vision 2030

Uncategorized April 6, 2024 Comments: 2

Check out this photo collage (less than 5-min) video of the first 6 months of Vision 2030:

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This week started with a Monday holiday honoring Cesar Chavez. After that, it was another busy week of travel!

On Tuesday, I joined fellow members of the Governor’s Council for Career Education to visit Sierra College’s workforce programs. Before the Council meeting the First Partner swung by to do a tour of the mechatronics program.

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On Wednesday, we had a System Webinar, “Our Time is Now! Advancing California’s Economy Through Community Colleges.” This month, I was joined by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, who is the author of our sponsored bill, AB 1885, College Access for Students with Disabilities Act.

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On Thursday, I spent much of the day visiting San Bernardino Community College District.  Chancellor Diana Rodriguez is a rock star.  All the trustees came out in full force.

It was great to see BOG member Joseph Williams on his home turf!

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Back at home, I was able to enjoy Neo and the start of the rose season.

Good morning California.
It is April 6, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Norco College Receives RP Group Outstanding Project Award
for Faculty Impact on Black Student Success

Norco College announces its recognition as the recipient of the 2024 RP Group Outstanding Project of the Year Award for its groundbreaking initiative, “Faculty Impact on Black Student Success.” The project, led by Dr. Greg Aycock, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, and Caitlin Busso, Institutional Research Specialist, has been lauded for its significant contributions to student success and institutional effectiveness.

» Read more!

Santa Monica College Law Pathway Program
Receives Diversity Champion Award

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Law Pathway program has been honored with the Diversity Champion Award, established in 2016 by the California LAW Pathways Advisory Council to recognize outstanding organizations for their efforts in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the law field. The award was announced at the Annual Pathways to Law Summit held Feb. 23 – 24 at UC Davis School of Law. Past awardees include UC Berkeley School of Law, UCLA School of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Rio Hondo College, and Saddleback College, among many others.

» Read more!

Fresno City College Celebrates
Social Justice Center Grand Opening

Last month, Fresno City College celebrated the grand opening of the Social Justice Center. The new center is designed to engage the campus and greater community in cultivating and promoting social justice and equity on campus, locally, nationally, and globally.

» Read more!

Laney College Eagle’s Nest Addresses 
Clothing Insecurity with Popup Event

On March 20, 2024, in the Laney College Student Center, the Laney College Eagle’s Nest, which is the College’s Basic Needs Center, hosted a “pop-up” style event focusing on giving away clothing to students in need. All items were free, gently worn items, including shoes, for women, men, and children. In addition to these much-needed resources for students, students were also offered hygiene kits and other basic needs resources.

» Read more about the Eagle’s Nest!

In Case You Missed It

Challenges for Higher Education: An Emerging Skills Shortage
and Inequity in the Workforce

George Boggs and I co-wrote this piece in Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.

American higher education is called upon to serve a variety of purposes: advancement of knowledge, expansion of cultural appreciation, extending understanding of societal benefits and obligations, and preparing a diversity of students with the skills they need for a successful and rewarding life. These missions are important to the well-being of our people and the strength of our country. Recently, it has become apparent that higher education must give increased attention to skill development and educational attainment.

» Read more!

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Black Student Success Week

The 2024 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. Administrators, faculty, staff & students from across the California Community Colleges are invited to join for a series of daily webinars.

» Learn more and register today!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Citrus College:

ICYMI: On 3/29, students in the Citrus College Cosmetology & Esthetician programs provided Whitcomb High School students with hairstyles, makeup & manicures for their prom! This was a free community service event & about 25 Citrus College students participated. Way to go, Owls!

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From Gavilan College:

GAV COLLABORATES WITH UC MASTER GARDENERS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY ON CESAR CHAVEZ DAY! Thank you to Gav’s Dean of Counseling, Student Success and Equity, Diego Espinoza (pictured standing, second from left) for coordinating a Cesar Chavez Day of Service with the South County Teaching and Demo Garden in San Martin. Despite the cold and drizzle, students, and even President Avila, came out to honor the legacy of labor rights leader, Cesar Chavez, by volunteering, and led by Master Gardeners.

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And check out this video from San Diego College of Continuing Education, highlighting the 2024 surviveHEADSTRONG Walk and Health Fair:

Blast from the Past

Here are my video remarks from the Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel on March 4, 2021:

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC And Wonderful Industrial Park Support Local Workforce

Bakersfield College was honored to gather with leaders from the Wonderful Industrial Park (WIP) to learn more about the exciting growth opportunities taking place in the WIP! Leaders from organizations such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, the City of Shafter, and others came together to provide updates on their operations. It was a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the dynamic ecosystem that drives economic development in the region.

» 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

Hello Spring 2024!

Uncategorized March 23, 2024 1 Comment

Spring 2024 is officially here … and with it beautiful skies and bursts of spring flowers to enjoy during my sunrise and sunset Neo walks.


Another busy week of traveling

On Tuesday, I presented Vision 2030 at Citrus College.

I headed to San Diego on Wednesday to co-present with Eloy Oakley at the California Guided Pathways Institute.  It was a lot of fun and we got an opportunity to visit on designing a potential project on Guided Pathways in the space of economic mobility.

On Thursday, March 21st, I joined Pam Haynes and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg on a panel moderated by Cindy Miles at the ACCT Governance Leadership Institute in Long Beach. 

And we celebrated Neo’s seventh birthday on March 17, 2024. Spent a lot of time in the backyard which is what he loves doing.

Good morning California.
It is March 23, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Netflix Partners with LATTC for Work Study Program
Benefitting CMU Pathway Students 

This past January, Netflix partnered with LATTC to host a paid three-week work study program for students in the college’s Construction Maintenance and Utilities (CMU) pathway. During the program, students were exposed to real world work situations, and enhanced their proficiency in leadership development, building operations, and construction. 

» Read more!

West Hills College Coalinga Firebaugh Center and Fresno Pacific University Celebrate Historic Educational Partnership

In a landmark event held on March 4 at the Firebaugh Center, West Hills College Coalinga (WHCC) and Fresno Pacific University (FPU) officially unveiled their innovative educational partnership, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to enhancing learning opportunities and academic resources in the region. The ceremony, attended by community leaders, faculty, students, and media partners, highlighted the collaboration’s aim to create seamless educational pathways and foster academic innovation.

» Read more!

Lake Tahoe Community College Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On March 5th LTCC celebrated a significant milestone: its 50th Anniversary. The event united community members, students, past and current employees, and local officials to honor this remarkable moment  in their long journey as a respected institution of education.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Inside Higher Ed: To Transform Transfer, Key Barriers Must Be Overcome

Understanding the barriers students face on the transfer pathway is key to improving transfer outcomes. Successful transfer from community college to a four-year university has the potential to improve access, completion and racial equity gains in higher education and produce the educated workforce that California needs.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Board of Governors member Joseph Williams presented at a Vision 2030 event at Riverside Community College District:

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From East Los Angeles College:

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis celebrated the accomplishments of women in community colleges at the President’s First Women’s History Month Celebration & Teatime. She was in a panel discussion with Lenore French of Transformation Arts and Dr. Martha Garcia, Mt. San Antonio President.

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From Fresno City College:

Pancakes & Peeps for staff & faculty at FCC

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And from El Camino College, the latest ElCoChats podcast discusses first generation students:

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Performing Arts Hosts Flute Masterclass

BC’s Performing Arts department recently hosted a Flute Masterclass on March 7 with the legendary Trudy Kane, the first female Principal Flute at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the longest-serving principal to date. Flutists from across the Central Valley gathered in the Performing Arts Center’s choir room for performances by Kane and BC Professor of Flute Tracy Harris, open lessons with Kane, and a general clinic. 

» 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

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!

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

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

Happy New Year 2024. Seize Every moment of every day.

Uncategorized January 6, 2024 Comments: 5

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is off to a beautiful start.

Mine certainly has – winter has arrived!

The past few years, I’ve shared the books I read the past year. Today I’m sharing a few of the books I read in 2023:


The Covenant of Water
By: Abraham Verghese

“Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants.“

***

The Last Animal
By: Ramona Ausubel


“The Last Animal takes readers on a wild, entertaining, and refreshingly different kind of journey, one that explores the possibilities and perils of the human imagination on a changing planet, what it’s like to be a woman in a field dominated by men, and how a wondrous discovery can best be enjoyed with family. Even teenagers.“

***

One Hundred Years of Solitude
By: Gabriel García Márquez

“One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendiá family. Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad and alive with unforgettable men and women—brimming with truth, compassion, and a lyrical magic that strikes the soul—this novel is a masterpiece in the art of fiction“

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I Love Learning; I Hate School
By: Susan D. Blum


“In “I Love Learning; I Hate School,” Blum tells two intertwined but inseparable stories: the results of her research into how students learn contrasted with the way conventional education works, and the personal narrative of how she herself was transformed by this understanding. Blum concludes that the dominant forms of higher education do not match the myriad forms of learning that help students―people in general―master meaningful and worthwhile skills and knowledge.“

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Superintelligence
By: Nick Bostrom

“If machine brains one day come to surpass human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become very powerful. As the fate of the gorillas now depends more on us humans than on the gorillas themselves, so the fate of our species then would come to depend on the actions of the machine superintelligence.

But we have one advantage: we get to make the first move. Will it be possible to construct a seed AI or otherwise to engineer initial conditions so as to make an intelligence explosion survivable? How could one achieve a controlled detonation?“

***

How to Know a Person
By: David Brooks

“Driven by his trademark sense of curiosity and his determination to grow as a person, Brooks draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience and from the worlds of theater, philosophy, history, and education to present a welcoming, hopeful, integrated approach to human connection. How to Know a Person helps readers become more understanding and considerate toward others, and to find the joy that comes from being seen. Along the way it offers a possible remedy for a society that is riven by fragmentation, hostility, and misperception.“

***

And from previous years –

2022 Books
» Read my January 8, 2023 post – Rain Bathing CA in Glee

  • Cry of the Kalahari by Mark and Delia Owens
  • The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs 
    by Madeleine Albright
  • The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human 
    by Siddhartha Mukherjee
  • The Distance Between Us: A Memoir by Reyna Grande
  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
  • The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa Yoko Ogawa
  • The Loneliest Americans by Jay Caspian Kang
  • The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now by Thich Nhat Hanh
  • Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs 
    by Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker

2021 Books
» Read my January 8, 2022 post – KCCD CEOs welcome you to the new semester

  • The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson
  • Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard
  • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
  • Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer
  • Post Corona by Scott Galloway
  • The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris
  • Divided we Fall by David French
  • Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon
  • Untamed by Glennon Doyle
  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
  • The Guest List by Lucy Foley
  • Deadliest Enemy by Michael Osterholm
  • Grace and Grit by Lilly Ledbetter

Good morning California.
It is January 6, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Yale University Honors WLAC’s Center for Climate Change Education

Yale University recently included West Los Angeles College‘s Center for Climate Change Education in its list of significant milestones in climate-related issues for 2023.

» Learn about WLAC’s Center for Climate Change Education!

West Hills College Lemoore Awards Nearly $200,000
in NSF S-STEM CORES Scholarships to STEM Students

West Hills College Lemoore recently awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM CORES Scholarships to 20 STEM students studying Biology, Engineering, Physics, and Math. The scholarships, valued up to $10,000 annually per student ($5,000 per semester) for a maximum of four semesters, are part of WHCL’s commitment to developing future STEM leaders.

» Read more!

MiraCosta College Receives Prestigious Department of Energy Grant to Bolster Clean Energy Workforce Training

MiraCosta College is proud to announce its selection as one of the new Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This prestigious recognition positions the MiraCosta College’s Technology Career Institute (TCI) at the forefront of energy innovation and workforce development.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Workforce and Economic Mobility
Ready – or Not: Will California Close its Skills Gap?

George Boggs and I co-wrote a blog post this week for the Workforce and Economic Mobility blog.

The United States—including California—must accelerate educational attainment to meet the need for more advanced employment skills. By 2031, 72 percent of the jobs in the US will require postsecondary education and/or training, and 42 percent will require a bachelor’s degree. The fastest-growing industries, according to the recent report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, require workers with disproportionately higher education levels compared to industries with slower growth.”

» Read more!

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Diverse: Report – Adult Community College Students Make Strides

Adult community college students in degree-progressing English and math courses are nearing parity with their traditional-age student counterparts when it comes to course completion, according to a new report from California Competes.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Fresno City College:

All smiles We are ready to welcome thousands of students to campus on Monday

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From Oxnard College:

Our Associated Student Government wrapped up the semester by taking students on a guided tour of SoFi stadium! Students checked out team locker rooms and facilities while also learning about various career paths in sports. They even tested their throwing skills on the field!

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And check this out – the College of Alameda Dance Department performing at the SF International New Concept Film Festival last November:


Blast from the Past

As colleges across California celebrate their opening days, I remembered the Bakersfield College Opening Day back in 2016 –

And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College – IDA Endowment Fund Recipient

Three years ago, automotive professors Andrew Haney, CD-SV, and Rick Range, CD-SV, ASE Master | L1 and California State Smog Technicians and state license certified instructors, embarked on a mission to enhance the Automotive Technology training program at Bakersfield College (Bakersfield, California, United States) by introducing automotive detailing. Their combined expertise and extensive experience in the automotive repair industry set the stage for a transformative addition to the curriculum.

The crowning moment for the program came in 2023 when Andrew applied for and received the IDA Founder’s Endowment Fund Grant, a $2500 boost that propelled the initiative to new heights. With unwavering support from Bakersfield College’s administration, the grant was strategically invested in upgrading the automotive training program’s wash bay.

» 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

Sonya Christian's Blog