How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Education
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“Students shouldn’t have to starve in order to get an education,” Sen. Dodd said. “Hunger is a serious problem on California college campuses today. My bill will ensure students of modest means don’t go hungry by making it easier for them to receive public assistance.”
The inability to afford food – or food insecurity – is a top concern among college students.
A recent Government Accountability Office report shows a third of all college student are struggling to afford food and basic nutrition.
It recommends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service take steps to enroll people in federal food assistance programs.
Senate Bill 173 addresses the problem on a state level by removing barriers to students to get subsidies under Cal Fresh, in part by streamlining the application process.
More than 50,000 California college students could be enrolled in food assistance thanks to the senator’s legislation.
The bill cleared the Assembly committee on Tuesday on a unanimous vote and heads next to Appropriations.
It is supported by the California Welfare Directors Association, the County of Yolo and student groups.
“The Cal Fresh rules for students can be extremely limiting, forcing too many struggling college students to go hungry,” said Cathy Senderling McDonald, deputy executive director of the California Welfare Directors Association. “County human services agencies hope this bill will help ease participation in the types of work-study programs that enable more students to become, and remain, eligible for this critical nutrition support program.”
Sen. Bill Dodd represents California’s Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.
- Details
- Written by: California Community Colleges
Awards were made through the Improving Online CTE Pathways grant program developed by the California Community Colleges’ California Virtual Campus – Online Education Initiative. One-time funding for the program, $35 million in all, came via the 2018-2019 state budget.
“These grants will help improve the online education ecosystem in the California Community Colleges,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. “This holistic approach includes strengthening traditional college offerings and opening of Calbright, the new online college that will serve low-wage working adults who can quickly gain short-term credentials.”
A total of $27.5 million in grants to the 70 community colleges were awarded earlier this month. Grants are administered by the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, which serves as the fiscal agent for the California Virtual Campus – Online Education Initiative.
The California Virtual Campus – Online Education Initiative’s primary focus is to increase the number of transfer degrees awarded by the state’s community colleges and its mission is to provide access to and success in high-quality, online programs and student support services.
It is complemented by the new Calbright College, which is tailored to provide working adults with access to the short-term education and career training they need to move ahead in today’s economy.
Both efforts align with the California Community Colleges’ ambitious Vision for Success by expanding access to degrees and credentials leading to good-paying, in-demand jobs.
Improving Online CTE Pathways grants are aimed at helping community colleges develop online programs that either lead to short-term, industry-valued credentials, or enable a student in a career pathway developed by the new California online community college – formally known as Calbright College – to continue his or her education in a career pathway offered by a traditional community college.
One-third of students in the California Community Colleges system now take at least one class online.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 115 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The honor roll follows.
12th Grade Trustee Scholars, grade point average of 4.0+:
Anna Jordan, Adriana Martinez-Lopez, Katlyn Minnis and Rosemary Su
12th Grade Principal’s Honor Roll, 3.0-3.9 GPA:
Cyndal Ader, Jose Fernandez III, Alex Serrano, Rebecca Harper, Chad Ferguson, Courtney Phelps, Abigail Wilson, Daymion Martinez, Blaine Feola, Caitlin Lucientes, Amanda Maxwell, Jasmine Myers, Alicia Pena, Lauren Phelps, Hugo Ramos, Jared Thornberry, Garret Martini, Armando Santos, Jeff Fannon, Sarah Williams, Bryor Minton, Cheyanne Obedoza, Kehlani McKelvey, Jackson Tichava, Raymond Moran, Jesus Valencia, Michael Valdez, Dylan Armstrong, Kenneth Hodges and Desmond Mueller
12th Grade Dean’s List 2.0-2.9 GPA:
Eduardo Mendoza, Brittney Anderson, Eduardo Eufracio-Duran, Destiny Bulik, Ashley Grzymski, Madeline Hammers, Emily McKelvey, Colleen Poe, Alissa Sparks, Wiley Kirk, Jason Campfield, Samantha Green, Gihon Russell and Ryan Grivette
11th Grade Trustee Scholars, 4.0+ GPA:
Lillieanna Cabrera and Maria Tinoco
11th Grade Principal’s Honor Roll, 3.0-3.9 GPA:
Jason Belveal, Madison Hicks, Benat Love, Graciela Becerra, Alana Sanchez, Wesley Villarreal, Mark Dutcher, Jay Arroyo, James Juarez, Edgar Garcia, Colene Pulido-Doyle, Maria Wade, Harmony Byrd, Cooper Stangland and Jack Wurm
11th Grade Dean’s List, 2.0-2.9 GPA:
Ricardo Alvarez, Alexandra Santana, William Cromwell, Joseph Mincey, Sebastian Benitez, Jason Martinez, Alyssa Nevarez, Ryan Seely, Dayanara Beecher, Eian Kurtz, Alyssa Navarro, Dalton Slater, Seneca Snow, Michael Dore, Mallory Henry, Hope Koeppel and Bryce Beavers
10th Grade Trustee Scholars, 4.0+ GPA:
Kaitlyn Grivette and Deeya Kalan
10th Grade Principal’s Honor Roll, 3.0-3.9 GPA
Chelsea Garcia, Noah De Los Santos, Brian Jimenez, Hailey Reams, Emma Schaffter, Diego Velasco-Ramirez, Laylah Medina, Jessica Lee, Cody Snider, Abbie O’Bryan, Pedro Alvarado, Benny Cowan, Angelina Diaz, Colby Smith, Jonathon Thiessen, James Jojola and Alyssa Lindsay
10th Grade Dean’s List, 2.0-2.9 GPA:
Anthony Garcia, Marylin Halvorsen, Clayton Mincey, Jose Muniz-Landa, Jisel Horne, Molly McCabe, Christina Roberts, James Schwind, Katarina Acrey, Shelby Horton, Rocco Bassignani, Angelica Becerra, Richard Guaydacan, Lukas Kalawaia, Aldea Schmit, Joshua Gonzalez, Jarron Santos, Adam Driskell, Jakob Pruett, Victor Santana, Brianna Serafin Perez
Ninth Grade Trustee Scholars, 4.0+ GPA:
Atlantis Jones
Ninth Grade Principal’s Honor Roll, 3.0-3.9 GPA:
Robert Harper, Jessie Ornellas, Ruben Rodriguez, Annalise Smith, Sierra Manley, Paige Smith, Bradley Sneathen, Karlee Zimmerschied and Shelby Dodson
Ninth Grade Dean’s List, 2.0-2.9 GPA:
Hayleigh Sertich, Miguel Becerra-Lopez, Kayla Leeson, Miranda Martin, Kindelle McMahan, Cristian Muniz, Ashley Sprague, Joslyn Huntley, Cameron Sutton, Guadalupe Alvarez, Blaine Rhodes, Isabel Sanchez, Cody Banks, Kaydee Beauregard, Alyssa Coffman Boston Halstead, Adam Uden, Kai Young, Summer Coleman, Raymond Jaramillo and Dena Loans Arrow
- Details
- Written by: Mendocino College
He has been appointed as the 10th superintendent/president at the Rio Hondo Community College District in Los Angeles County, pending approval of a contract in July.
“The pending departure of our superintendent/president will leave a giant void, so many good things have come from his six years with us,” Mendocino-Lake Community College District Board President Robert Pinoli said.
Under Reyes’ guidance, Mendocino College has made critical institutional changes to meet the needs of all students while maintaining strong enrollments.
The college doubled the number of full-time counseling faculty; increased high school concurrent/dual enrollment; created a career center, a veteran’s center and a dreamer center; increased annual grant funds; celebrated the opening of two centers, acquired the coast territory and Fort Bragg Coast Education Center; augmented ESL offerings; grew the EOPS program; and expanded the MESA program.
Recognizing that the college’s service area has the third highest number of tribes in California and fourth highest in the nation, Reyes initiated a highly successful culturally appropriate American Indian first-year transfer learning community on the Coyote Valley reservation.
Also among his accomplishments are improved relations with K-12 districts and community organizations, significant growth in state and federal grant monies, the creation of a middle college in partnership with Ukiah Unified School District, and a successful effort to create a more equity-minded, inclusive culture at Mendocino College.
President Reyes also increased professional development spending for faculty, staff, and managers while providing financial stability and maintaining a 20-percent general fund reserve.
“President Reyes’ unwavering focus on ensuring success for all students and creating an all-inclusive institution has been unrivaled,” said Trustee David Geck commented. “He provided the vision and energy needed to move the district in the direction it needed to go so it could serve all students. His ability to bring on staff that were focused on student success, utilize grants and resources, and his strategic focus to reach out to different populations in our community leave us very well positioned as a college to continue to serve our students and help them reach their educational goals.”
“I want to wish Arturo well in this next phase of his life, and I want to thank him for his work here,” said longtime tenured math faculty member Deborah White. “The Latinx and the Native communities are major players now, as they should be. Under his leadership Mendocino College became a Hispanic Serving Institution, and Mendocino College now accurately reflects our community's demographics, which was not the case when he started. Also, Arturo led the way in the reform of our math curriculum to remove an unnecessary stumbling block from our students' paths, enabling many of those who had originally struggled to succeed in a transferable math course.”
Classified Senate President Elect Jeana Thompson added, “Since coming to Mendocino College, Dr. Reyes has made it a priority to develop more opportunities for classified staff participation in professional development activities. Under his leadership, equity work was expanded to include work with our classified staff, making it the first institution the Center for Urban Education has contracted with that devoted workshops specifically for classified staff. As the incoming Classified Senate President, I am sad to see Dr. Reyes go, but am looking forward to building upon the work he has already initiated and continuing to make Mendocino College an excellent choice for higher education in our region.”
“On behalf of the faculty, I wish Dr. Reyes well as he moves on to a larger community college district. Colleges across the state have been challenged with how to best serve students while addressing numerous legislative regulations and new programs. During Dr. Reyes' tenure, Mendocino College has made significant advancements on the implementation of Guided Pathways, online education initiatives, math and English acceleration, and the implementation of AB 705 to ensure students complete transfer level math and English courses. Under his leadership, our student population has increasingly represented the diversity of our community and we have continued to focus on equity and social justice for our students, faculty and staff,” wrote Academic Senate President Catherine Indermill.
“As a business leader I’ve never felt sad when someone leaves to better their life. Today’s announcement by Dr. Reyes to depart Mendocino College is bittersweet. Bitter because he’s done so much in the areas of equity and diversity. He has brought segments of our community together when in the past they were left on the sidelines. Sweet because his new role is one for growth and professional advancement,” added Pinoli.
The Mendocino-Lake Community College Board of Trustees will be meeting soon to discuss a plan of action to replace Reyes upon his departure.