Tag Archives: Riverside City College

Celebrating Community College Innovations in California

Nine years ago, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece “Hamilton” debuted to rave reviews, following 2005’s “In the Heights.” Here is the 4-min piece My name is Alexander Hamilton.

He’s been busy in the years since, including soundtracks like “Moana”, “Vivo” and “Encanto”.

This week, he released his newest musical – a concept album, based on the 1979 movie The Warriors.

Check out a few minutes of it:

I attended the Inspire conference at the UCLA Luskin Center. It was a lot of fun. Here are a few pictures snapped by Cirian Villavicencio, member of the Board of Governors who attended the event.

Elizabeth Gonzalez, College Futures; Sonya Christian; Michael Crow, ASU; Julia Lopez, CSU Trustee; Kim Wilcox, UC Riverside

Good morning California.
It is October 19, 2024
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Riverside City College Hosts Inaugural Digital Art & Animation Convention, Inspiring Creativity and Cultural Representation

Can you imagine what happens when educators, industry professionals, and aspiring artists come together for a day of creativity and inspiration? That’s exactly what unfolded at the 2024 Digital Art & Animation Convention, where over 150 participants gathered to explore the latest in animation technology, learn from top industry leaders, and dive into hands-on experiences that brought digital art to life. Hosted at Riverside City College (RCC), the event was a game-changer for students looking to break into the world of animation and digital media.

» Read more!


Grand Opening of Mission Market: A New Era of Student Support

Mission College is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Mission Market, an innovative initiative designed to support students by providing access to fresh, nutritious food every week. In collaboration with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley and the Bill Wilson Center, Mission Market aims to be a cornerstone of student support, recognizing that access to healthy meals is vital for academic success.

» Read more!


Cuesta College Hosts 3rd Annual Awareness Gallery for Students

Cuesta College is proud to announce the return of the 3rd Annual Awareness Gallery, an interactive health-focused exhibit open to all students, staff, faculty, and the public. The Awareness Gallery is a collaboration between the Cuesta College Student Health Center, the SLO County Behavioral Health Department, and the Cuesta College Libraries.

» Read more!


Yuba College Expands On-Campus Support for Students Through Partnership with Yuba County Health and Human Services

 Yuba College is excited to announce a significant expansion of student support services through a partnership with Yuba County Health and Human Services (YCHHS). Beginning this month, a dedicated social worker from YCHHS will be stationed at Yuba College’s Marysville Campus to provide essential services and assistance to the college’s growing population of more than 10,000 students.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

Building for Tomorrow: Meeting California Community College Students’ Housing Needs

The Chancellor’s Office Student Housing team is hosting an all-day, in-person Student Housing event: Building for Tomorrow: Meeting California Community College Students’ Housing Needs on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Sierra College in Rocklin.

» Learn more & register!

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No Magic Here: Demystifying Black Female Leadership in a California Community College HSIs

Contra Costa College President Kimberly Rogers wrote this piece for Diverse:

Today, the California Community College System, with more than 1.8 million students at 116 institutions, boasts 29 Black CEOs and nearly 40 Latine CEOs. As a Black woman, I am privileged and proud to serve as President of Contra Costa College (CCC), an institution serving approximately 10,000 students annually in the East Bay. CCC has a diverse student body, with 44% self-identified as Hispanic, 20% as Asian Pacific Islander, 14% as white, and 13% as African American. CCC is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). If Governor Gavin Newsom signs SB 1348 into law, CCC will seek status as a Black Serving Institution (BSI). 

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Citrus College:

We are so grateful to Arlene Abundis for coming back to Citrus College to share her story. A Citrus College alumna, Arlene is the author of the acclaimed children’s book, “Into the Mighty Sea.” In front of faculty, staff and students, Arlene talked about her journey as a student, mother and author. During her appearance, which also included a book signing, Arlene encouraged everyone to keep chasing their dreams.

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From Ventura College:

We’re creating a college-going culture in Ventura County! During Higher Education Week our Ventura College Outreach Team visited eight local high schools to share info about the amazing programs and services we provide

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From Fresno City College:

We are excited to announce the grand opening of our brand new Child Development Center!

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And check out these videos from De Anza College:

As Latinx Heritage Month draws to a close, we want to share the new Tiny Mic videos created by the Office of Communications in celebration of the month. Students and employees were asked about their culture, traditions and favorite foods, as well as any advice they have for our Latinx students.

Find the rest at https://www.deanza.edu/news/2024/latinx-heritage-month.html.


And From the Home of the Renegades

Headline

Bakersfield College hosted a series of events to celebrate Homecoming Week. Students had the opportunity to participate in the various activities and contests all leading up to the Homecoming football game on Saturday, October 19th.

The week kicked off with ‘Conquer the Gauntlet’, which featured a large, inflated obstacle course for students to race through. Students could compete against each other while running through inflated stations, climbing hills, and a huge slide to the finish line.

» 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

California CCs advancing Vision 2030 Workforce Development

The Fastest Man in the World.

Last Sunday, The US’s Noah Lyles took gold in the men’s 100M final. It was a photo-finish; he beat the silver medalist, Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, by only .005 seconds. It was another in a series of amazing finishes and great story lines that have been all over these Olympic Games.

A huge congratulations to Diablo Valley College student Amit Elor, who took gold in 68kg women’s wrestling. Her cumulative score during the Games? 31-2.

20-year-old Amit is the youngest American to ever win wrestling gold at the Olympics.

Former Giant Quincy Hall made College of the Sequoias proud with a comeback win to take the men’s 400M gold. College of the Sequoias hosted a watch party –

Check out the race video from NBC Sports.

And congratulations to MiraCosta College student Bryce Wettstein, who made the finals for Women’s Sktateboarding Park, ending up in 6th place.

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As for me …..

This week I signed a MOU with Jensen Huang of NVIDIA and Governor Gavin Newsom as we launched a new state initiative to expand AI tools and resources for students, educators and workers.

This initiative will help our more than 2 million students get prepared with industry aligned skills in AI, and will support our Vision 2030 work about Generative AI and the Future of Learning.

Next I made a stop in Orange County to attend the Credit for Prior Learning workshop. It was a great conversation of how we can scale this work and bring it from the margins to the mainstream.

Valerie Lundy-Wagner, Erin Larson, Gar Adams, Sam Lee, Gina Browne, Don Daves-Rougeaux, Michelle Smith, David O’Brien, Sonya Christian, Billy Wagner, Ginni May

Then I headed south to San Diego to speak at the Hunt Institute. I try to always squeeze in a walk when I am in San Diego.

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Good morning California.
It is August 10, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

U.S. Department of Commerce Leader Alejandra Castillo
Tours Chaffey College’s InTech Center

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo visited the Industrial Technical Learning Center with Congresswoman Norma Torres on July 26 to learn how the federal government can support workforce development in the Inland Empire.

» Read more!


College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team
Receives $136,000 Grant from NASA

It’s all systems go for the College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team (AST), which has received a $136,000 grant from NASA to support its High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP), RockOn, and RockSat-X suborbital rocket programs.  To date, COC is the only community college that has successfully participated in HASP eight years in a row, as well as four RockSatX missions and two RockOn missions.

» Read more!


Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC
Achieves Unprecedented Success

In June 2024, 52 students graduated from Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC with Associate Degrees for Transfer. This milestone was marked by the first graduation ceremony since 2019 that allowed the presence of family and friends, making it a particularly special event for the graduates and their loved ones. According to the 2024 Rehabilitative Programming Report by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC has awarded more college degrees than any other CDCR institution.

» Read more!


MSJC’s Roger Schultz Elected as League Board Chair,
CEOCCC Board President

Roger Schultz, Ph.D., Mt. San Jacinto College’s President/Superintendent, has been elected as the President of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) Board of the Community College League of California. Schultz will also serve as the Chair for the Community College League of California (League) Board of Directors.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

California Community Colleges Expanding Nursing Programs
to Meet State’s Regional Nursing Shortages

The California Community Colleges announced the launch of a new initiative to increase the number of nurses to meet the growing needs of California’s aging and diverse population.

Twelve community colleges convened in a virtual kick-off of the associate degree for nursing demonstration project led by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The goal of the initiative, part of the community colleges’ Vision 2030 strategic framework, is to increase enrollment in associate degree nursing programs to address the shortage of registered nurses in rural and remote areas while ensuring equity in access to the profession.

The 12 colleges participating in the demonstration project are: Butte College, Cabrillo College, Monterey Peninsula College, Bakersfield College, Modesto Junior College, Cuesta College, Ventura College, Golden West College, Saddleback College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Riverside City College, and College of the Desert.

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Los Angles Harbor College:

Harbor College celebrating DSPS pride month College President, Dr. Dorado and VP, Dr. Dorado welcoming students Go Seahawks!!

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From Bakersfield College’s Kimberly Bligh:

Love love love our Bridge to BC team. One week to go for Summer 24… 10 years and over 15,000 students served!

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From Allan Hancock College:

The Santa Maria Valley YMCA, in collaboration with Allan Hancock College, hosted a RiseUP Bridging Ceremony Aug. 2 celebrating the achievements of local youth as they transition to higher education and future careers.

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From Ventura College President Claudia Lourido-Habib:

I’m grateful for my admin team’s openness & contributions during a productive leadership retreat. Grounded in the student experience, we worked towards increasing team cohesion and collaboration so we can lead and support our colleagues


And From the Home of the Renegades

BC History Highlight: Memorial Stadium

The Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium was not an easy feat for those credited with its creation, but certainly a triumph! The stadium was the first structure completed on Bakersfield College’s Panorama campus, and the construction plans were meticulously assembled. It required intensive research and close attention to detail by Theron McCuen, then Superintendent of the Kern County Union High School and Junior College District and its Board of Trustees, and then BC President Ralph Prator, who contributed significantly to realizing Grace Bird’s vision of a college on a hill.

» 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

2023 – Happy Holidays all

As we finish the Fall 2023 semester, I’ve been enjoying seeing the holiday greetings sent out from colleges across the state.  Here are a few….

Antelope Valley College:

Cypress College:

Chabot Los-Positas Community College District:

San Jose-Evergreen CCD:

North Orange CCD:

Good morning California.
It is December 16, 2023.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Los Angeles City College Student
Recognized by LA Rams a Community PLAymaker

LA City College Associated Student Government Executive of Clubs Natalie Goodliffe was recognized by the LA Rams as their 12th pLAymaker honoree of 2023. Earlier this year, LACC’s student government opened Cubby’s Closet, a free, on-campus clothing store aimed at helping students obtain clothes for interviews and fancier events, as well as books, toys and accessories.

» Read more!


Riverside City College Bridges the Transition for Adult School Students

In a dedicated effort to support nontraditional, first-generation, and older adult students, Riverside City College hosted a series of campus tours in collaboration with local adult schools. These tours aimed to bridge the gap between adult education and community college, providing valuable insights and resources for students pursuing diverse educational paths.

» Read more!


Cosumnes River College Cybersecurity Program Ranked Seventh in Nation,
Top Cyber Program in California

Cosumnes River College‘s Cybersecurity program was ranked number seven in the nation (out of 150 schools) and the top cyber program in the state of California.

» Read more!


San Bernardino Valley College Foundation
Awarded $25,000 SoCal Climate Champions Grant

SoCalGas awarded a $25,000 grant to San Bernardino Valley College’s (SBVC) Clean Energy/EV Tech Program. he grant will aid in the purchase of additional training modules and classroom tools for a second lab section, supporting the growing interest and enrollment in the college’s CNG/Clean Energy Training Expansion program.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

LA Times: The Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Accessibility Forum 2023

LA Southwest College President Anthony Culpepper is featured in this year’s Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Accessibility Forum.

Increasingly, corporations are recognizing the importance and need for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives in the workplace. Listed alphabetically below are some of the area’s most influential and innovative thought leaders who are driving change, holding companies accountable and helping employees feel more valued.

» Read more!

» About the Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Accessibility Forum

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Inside HigherEd: Painting a Picture of More
Student-Centric Career Services

Getting students to engage with campus career centers—and, more specifically, to engage early in their college careers with services and events provided by these centers—has been a nearly universal challenge within higher education. Being available to assist students in various stages of career exploration and development as well as having a presence across campus, including in classrooms, are aims that can help. Strategic data collection and use can help drive planning and prioritizing.

» Read more!

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EdSource: Hope for West Fresno Now Comes
in the Form of a College Campus

West Fresno is home to over 25,000 people in a historically marginalized section of the Central Valley’s largest city. It’s a region with one of the highest levels of concentrated poverty in the nation, higher rates of incarceration, and a lower life expectancy rate by about 20 years than their neighbors in wealthier sections of Fresno.

This history is why the newest Fresno City College location was thoughtfully chosen to be constructed within a 1- to 2-mile radius of more than 10 K-12 schools.

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

West Hills College Coalinga‘s holiday staff photo:

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From Monterey Peninsula College:

Our Stress Buster event was an absolute blast! From pony cuddles to therapy dog hugs, we had it all! Plus, nachos, hot cocoa, and more treats to keep you going this finals season! Can’t wait for the next one!

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From East Los Angeles College:

#ELAC Music Department students merrily perform Jose Feliciano’s holiday season favorite “Feliz Navidad” as the final number of the Jazz Ensemble and Popular Music Workshop Concert on Wednesday. The concert was directed by Professor and jazz guitarist John Storie #CalCommColleges

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Check out this video from Los Medanos College about their Early College Credit program:


Blast from the Past

This 9:16-min video is from the ACCJC Learning Seminar in 2021. Check it out.


And From the Home of the Renegades

From Bakersfield to Monterey: The Math Club’s Journey to Success

The Math Club at Bakersfield College excelled at the recent CMC3 Fall Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel in Monterey, CA. Dominating the event, the team secured 1st and 2nd place with their research projects, namely “NLP Essay Grader” (NLP referring to Natural Language Processor) and “Covid-19 Research.” The conference showcased innovative projects from four research groups within the Math Club, including studies on “Flying Spiders Biomimicry” and “Foundational Math.”

» 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

Sonya Christian's Blog