I began my week in San Diego, for the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding finalizing Assembly Bill 91 granting students living in Mexico, within 45 miles of the California-Mexico border, the opportunity to attend community colleges in San Diego and Imperial Valley at in-state tuition rates.
Southwestern College hosted the event.

Was happy to meet the students … an Architecture major and Graphic Design major…. also met Marisol Tapia undersecretary for education from Mexico.

The next day, I attended the graduation ceremony for Southwestern College’s Restorative Justice graduates at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility.

See if you can spot President Mark Sanchez and Senator Josh Newman
What’s not to like about San Diego?



Then it was from San Diego to Seattle:

I watched the boats coming in early morning from Bainbridge and other islands….

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 October 26, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
New Program at Irvine Valley College Opens Doors to Legal Profession

A new initiative at Irvine Valley College (IVC) is championing diversity in the legal field. The Pathways to Law School program, which is now underway at IVC, is overseen by June McLaughlin, an IVC professor and director of its American Bar Association (ABA)-approved Paralegal Studies program. Created to establish a pipeline of diverse legal students to reflect California’s multicultural population in the workforce, the statewide initiative is a collaboration between the California Community Colleges and the State Bar of California through California LAW, a nonprofit organization.
San Jose City College’s American Indian and Alaskan Native
Student Resource Center Officially Opens
The American Indian and Alaskan Native Student Success Center opened in the Learning Resource Center Oct. 9 to much jubilation from the crowd and organizers. The ribbon-cutting ceremony contained food, poems, songs and student speakers at a grand opening that had been undertaken for years.

Cerro Coso Community College Hosts Astronaut

Cerro Coso Community College recently held an event featuring a guest lecture by Michael López-Alegría, the world-renowned astronaut. Over 250 students from local middle and high schools attended the morning session, asking Michael questions, and gaining unique insights into the life of an astronaut. The afternoon session welcomed over 200 community members, who also interacted with Michael, making it an enriching and inspiring experience for all.
In Case You Missed It
Launch of the Community College Dashboard will help to increase financial aid applications for more community college students
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has partnered with the California Community College Chancellors Office (CCCCO) to create a new data dashboard that will enable 115 California Community Colleges (CCC) to monitor the completion of financial aid applications.
The new California Community College FAFSA/CADAA Dashboard (CCC Dashboard) was launched on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Modeled after the Race to Submit dashboard for high schools, the CCC Dashboard will enable community college campuses to monitor FAFSA and CADAA completion rates and help identify students who may still need assistance, ultimately facilitating a smoother financial aid process.
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Save the Date & Register Now: Building for Tomorrow: Meeting California Community College Students’ Housing Needs
The California Community Colleges Student Housing event will center on students’ needs and bring together student housing operators and prospective operators from across the state. Most importantly, connecting with colleagues from across the state who have a passion for student housing. This is an all-day event where you can immerse yourself in insightful discussions, hear from experienced and new housing operators, and learn from subject matter experts on emerging and best student housing practices.
Tuesday, November 12 at Sierra College
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Virtual Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Summit
Discover the latest changes and collaborations designed to streamline credential and career attainment, as well as ensure proper CPL allocation to our valued working adults, apprentices and veterans. We are thrilled to announce the MAP cohort will expand to support all 116 California community colleges in the 2024-25 academic year, through our partnership with the Chancellor’s Office. Speakers from the Chancellor’s Office, MAP Initiative and the Academic Senate for California Community College (ASCCC) will share CPL best practices and strategies to optimize student access and outcomes.
Friday, November 1 – Virtual
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Evergreen Valley College:
Art student Debi McKee did her first mural! It is located in Welch Park, off Tully Road, across the street from Eastridge Mall.
Here is a photo of Debi standing before the mural and next to the designing artist Andy Kong Knight (another former student). Andy was commissioned by the City of San Jose to do the mural, and he asked Debi to be his assistant. Debi ended up doing a large part of the mural and gained a lot of real-world experience.

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From Antelope Valley College:
Thank you to everyone who joined Equity and Student Achievement last week for a festive event celebrating the rich cultures and traditions of Hispanic and Latin America as Hispanic Heritage Month came to a close!



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From Compton College:
The Compton College Board of Trustees proudly recognized the Compton Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for their unwavering dedication to the betterment of the Compton community.
Since their chartering on March 6, 1989, the Compton Alumnae Chapter has been a beacon of public service, addressing vital issues in education, health, and community development. Their commitment to “Sisterhood First” and “Moving Compton Forward” through meaningful service continues to inspire us all.

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And check out this video from Cypress College’s International Cultural Festival:
And From the Home of the Renegades
Collaboration of BC Agriculture and Culinary Arts
Creates Delicious Food While Promoting Sustainability

The Bakersfield College Agriculture and Culinary Arts Departments have teamed together for a unique collaboration, displaying the talents of both programs through stunning cuisine. This inspiring collaboration showcases the heart of the farm-to-table concept, bringing the freshest ingredients from the BC edible garden directly into the hands of our aspiring chefs, creating vibrant dishes that highlight sustainability, flavor, and creativity.
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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

























































