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Contributor Newsletter October 2023

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October 2023

NFN News Center

Mane Campus: Trailblazing Ag and Equine Studies bachelor’s program finds a home at FRC

Feather River College: Agriculture & Equine Studies Pathway


Across rolling mountains, endless greenery, and the ambient sounds of nature, you’ll find Feather River College’s ‘Million Acre Classroom.’ The miles of scenic landscape serve as a natural outdoor classroom for nearly 1,400 students every year.


Inspiring, engaging, and anything but lazy, the idyllic grounds provide the perfect backdrop for specialized programs like Agriculture and Equine Studies. The FRC campus operates a working, 200-acre ranch, fully equipped with horses, a herd of angus cattle, and cutting-edge technology. Now, thanks to Strong Workforce Program support, students are coming for the beauty… and staying for the bachelor’s degree.


In 2016, the Agriculture and Equine Studies department added a first-of-its-kind four-year program in Equine and Ranch Management. The program supplements available associate degree and certificate pathways at FRC, offering a unique, next-level opportunity for students looking to lead the next generation of California ranchers.


“We find it very rewarding when our students who didn’t have any aspirations in receiving a bachelor’s degree decide to continue their education at FRC,” reflects Russel Reid, Agriculture Department Chair at Feather River Colleges.


READ MORE

All Aboard the Intern-Ship: ARC Design Hub Delivers Opportunities Directly to Students

ARC Design Hub and Design Technology Pathway


There’s one essential career skill that you’ll never learn at American River College’s state-of-the-art Design Hub: commuting.


That’s because the one-of-a-kind center for innovation, internships and more is located right on the ARC campus, saving fuel and easing frustration for time-strapped students looking for hands-on experience in industrial design.


“That’s important [because] we have a lot of students that can’t afford to do an internship,” says Professor of Design Technology Randall Schuster, who regards the Hub as “an internship factory” on the Sacramento campus.


“Because they don’t have a car, or they’re taking care of their kids, or whatever … we saw the whole internship thing as … an equity issue.”


Thanks to this crown jewel of a collaborative space, the Design and Engineering Technology program at American River College is blazing a first-of-its-kind trail for students aiming to make things happen in the versatile industry. The Hub offers the opportunity to participate in on-site internships, both paid and unpaid, bolstered by ARC’s full resources and support.


READ MORE

News


College of the Redwoods Welcomes Chamber Members &Business Leaders on Tours to their Eureka Campus


College of the Redwoods is coordinating monthly visits to their Eureka campus that welcome chamber of commerce leaders and businessowners to observe classes, learn more about the college's Career Education programs, and discuss college and business collaboration and partnership opportunities with CR leaders. The tours come from CR's belief that the best way to build partnerships with industry is to invite community guests to experience the college firsthand. The community tours welcome small groups from chambers ,service clubs, and local businesses to campus for three hour long visits that include a campus tour, in session class observations, and a question and answer meeting with senior CR leadership. During the visits, the community guests also meet Career Center staff who share information about CR services that are available to help businesses recruit, hire, and support job and career ready students to internship and/or employment positions. Comments about the value of the campus visits for industry partners have been very positive, including:


"Thanks very much to CR for a truly meaningful and, dare I say, educational time with you all yesterday! We look forward to exploring further how we can build new and lasting partnerships to support our workforce, both through the Eureka Chamber as well as the Redwood Coast Chamber Foundation.  Nancy Olson, CEO, Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce"


"Thank you for hosting our Arcata Chamber of Commerce group, and for opening the doors to greater collaboration between CR& the Arcata Business Community.  Itis great to see so many areas that College of the Redwoods is working on for their students and for our Humboldt County community.  Jeff Schmitt, owner, Arcata Pro Floor"


"This was a really great experience! College of the Redwoods has a multitude of student support services, beautiful campus, buildings and classrooms. The Career Ed classes and classrooms are top notch and the class I had the opportunity to sit in on was great.  Jesse Miles, McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director"


For more information about the College of the Redwoods' community tours with industry, please contact CR Director of Employer Partnerships Jim Ritter at james-ritter@redwoods.edu

The RP Group’s 2023 Impact and Insights Report

We are pleased to share our 2023 Impact and Insights Report, which highlights our recent efforts to drive equitable change for California community college students. In this edition, we feature:

  • Our ongoing research efforts and professional development programs

  • Project spotlight: The African American Transfer Tipping Point (AATTP) study

  • Celebrating 10 years of impact: Leading from the Middle (LFM)

  • New resources that show what equity, diversity, and inclusion means to us

  • How we are advancing our mission by sharing our work in the world

We hope you enjoy these annual insights into institutional research, planning, and effectiveness (IRPE); community colleges; student success; the current higher education landscape; and the impact of our organization’s collective work in these areas.


Our busy fall season is underway, with many professional development opportunities, including the annual Strengthening Student Success Conference and our monthly Equity Research & Social Justice Collaborative and PIER to PIER sessions. We also have several upcoming webinars dedicated to our research projects. Please be sure to visit our calendar to learn more.  


Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or want to learn more about any of the content.


Dr. Darla M. Cooper, Executive Director, The RP Group

Where are the 2020 High School Grads?

At the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020, many graduating high school students decided to hold off enrolling in college. A new report indicates many of them still haven’t done so.


While the rate of students enrolling in college immediately after graduating high school is increasing, that’s not the case for the Class of 2020, whose college-going plans were significantly thwarted by the pandemic, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Only 0.7% of high school graduates who didn’t go immediately to college in fall 2020 had their first fall enrollment in 2021, and even fewer (0.2%) in fall 2022.


https://www.ccdaily.com/2023/09/where-are-2020-high-school-grads/

Improving College Access and Success through Dual Enrollment (PPIC)

Improving College Access and Success through Dual Enrollment (PPIC, August 2023) Evaluation of the impact of CCAP dual enrollment on the populations it is intended to serve. Interviews with CCAP representatives from 13 community colleges helped PPIC gain insight into efforts that had made the CCAP program a success and areas where the program still faced challenges. (Video)


Checkout the report and video from PPIC.


Events

Dr. Robert Eyler’s NFN Economic Update Webinar’s

Please join us for the upcoming North Far North Regional Consortium Economic Webinars with Dr. Robert Eyler.  There will be two scheduled webinars, one for the North Region and one for the Far North Region.  Everyone is welcome to join one or both.  


Save the date(s) on your calendar.The links below will allow you to join the meeting when it takes place. Registration is not required.


North Region


Tuesday October 31, 2023 (9:00-10:00)


Zoom link: Please Join Here


Far North Region


Thursday November 2, 2023 (9:00-10:00)


Zoom link: Please join Here



Western Growers AgTechX event at Sierra College

The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, California Department of Food

and Agriculture and Sierra College have partnered to host AgTechX Ed – a half-day event

dedicated to developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers.

The AgTechX Ed Summit at Sierra College will be comprised of 3 panels, covering topics

including: industry issues and skill identification; education and workforce development

strategies; and current and future workforce needs on the farm.

This event is part of the AgTechX Ed Initiative – a statewide effort, led by Western Growers

and California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, to cultivate a

future workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate emerging on-farm

technology.

Register for the event to help us develop the skills of tomorrow TODAY!

Thursday October 12, 2023 (1:00 pm)

Sierra College, 5100 Sierra College Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95677 Campus Center, Bldg. K

Register Here

More INFORMATION

Upcoming Webinar: Gender Imbalances in Recruiting and Retaining in Today's workforce

The CCCCO Statewide Nontraditional  Project  (JSPAC) will be hosting our first webinar October 25th 1pm-2:30pm. Industry Perspectives: Gender Imbalances in Recruiting and Retaining in Today’s Workforce.We could use your support in promoting attendance. Attached is the flyer.


Join us for a statewide conversation to discuss gender imbalances in recruiting and retaining across industries from the following agencies: Cuyamaca College-Child Development and Automotive Technology Programs, Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board Council Sacramento Valley Manufacturing Initiative


Who Should Attend? Community College Faculty, Staff, Administrators, Career Counselors, Students, and Employers


Register: https://tinyurl.com/4b7vy7kd

Flyer

Save-The-Date: Chancellor's Office Perkins Core Indicator Webinar

REGISTER TODAY!


Topic:     Chancellor's Office Perkins Core Indicator Webinar

Date:       Thursday, November 2,2023

Time:       1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Pacific Time  


The Workforce & Economic Development Division, in collaboration with the Digital Innovation and Infrastructure Division, is providing a Management Information System (MIS) Perkins Core Indicator Webinar. The focus of this Core Indicator webinar is to:

  • Receive updates from the Chancellor’s Office about the upcoming FY 2024 - 25 Perkins State Plan requirements;

  • Gain a better understanding of Core Indicators and how to find local level reports in the MIS system; and

  • Receive guidance on how to address Core Indicators as part of the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments (CLNA) planning process.


REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR:  

https://cccconfer.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DK3CtbD-T2CaTecaZpAL8Q


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. To submit questions for the presenters in advance, please email: perkinssupport@cccco.edu.


Competency Based Education Training Invitation

The Central Valley Mother Load region is sponsoring a free training on competency based education (please see the flyer below) that we’d like to share across the regional consortia.


Understanding & Implementing

November 8, 2023 (8:30 am-3:30 pm)

Visalia Marriott at the Convention Center, 300 S Court St. Visalia, CA 93291

Registration Link

More Information

Upcoming NFNRC Regional Meetings

October 18, 2023

CCCAOE, Omni Resort, Las Palmas CA (9:00-10:30)


December 6, 2023

Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Pomenade, CA (8:00-3:00)

More details to come.

Center of Excellence (COE)

NEW!  Industry Sector Profiles

The Center of Excellence conducted a webinar about our Industry Sector Profiles on September 22, 2023.  Click on the links below to review the sector profiles and the recording of the webinar.


Sector Profiles

Webinar Recording



Thank you to Ebony, Juan, and Sara for all of your hard work on these.


Chancellor’s Office

September Update: 2023-24 Compendium of Allocations & Resources

The September Update to the 2023-24 Compendium of Allocations and Resources is now available!


To support districts and college leaders in student-centered implementation and in the effective use of fiscal resources, the attached and linked resource, known as the Compendium, provides fiscal and program guidance in one central location – facilitating access to information. The funding allocation tables contained in this resource provide comprehensive information about ongoing and new 2023-24 resources.


The September Updates includes the following guidance and allocation information:

  • Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program

  • Community College Pathway to Law School Initiative (Cal LAW)

  • Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) Emergency Financial Aid Assistance Grants

  • Culturally Responsive Pedagogy – Innovative Best Practices Grants

  • Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) – Revised Allocation Table

  • Economic & Workforce Development Program

  • Equal Employment Opportunity – Innovative Best Practices Grants

  • Homeless and Housing Insecurity Program (Rapid Rehousing)

  • LGBTQ+

  • Nursing Enrollment Growth and Retention Program Grant (Nursing Education)

  • Regional Equity and Recovery Partnership Grants

  • Strong Workforce Program

  • Student Equity and Achievement Program


Updates to the Compendium will be released through the First Principal Apportionment in February and demarcate any new or updated content. You can find the Compendium and additional budget information on the Budget News page.


Thankyou for your leadership in support of students!


California Community Colleges Expanding Access to College Credit for California Apprenticeship Students

PRESS RELEASE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —The California Community Colleges is creating a new opportunity for students to access college credit in pursuit of their career goals. The initiative, the Apprenticeship Pathway Demonstration Project, will create a roadmap for all colleges to convert existing, new and innovative apprenticeship experiences, including related supplemental instruction and prior on-the-job training, into college credit.


Students who are current apprentices, as well as those who have completed apprenticeships in existing, emerging and priority industry sectors will be eligible for these new credits. The two-year initiative will also seek to encourage these apprentices to continue their educational journey in community colleges – from pre-apprenticeship in enhanced noncredit programs earning a certificate, to credit programs offering associate degrees and the new community college baccalaureate degree in career technical education or applied learning.


“The goal of this demonstration project is to establish a gold standard for how new and innovative apprenticeship programs are designed with our students’ success driving everything we do,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian. “By awarding college credit for prior learning and expanding access to new certificates and degrees for current, past and future apprentices, we are meeting students where they are at and giving them the tools they need to follow their dreams.”


Christian has tapped Rancho Santiago Community College District Chancellor, Marvin Martinez, to lead this demonstration phase with a cohort of up to 25 colleges. The project is one of several demonstration projects included in Vision 2030, a Roadmap for California Community Colleges.


READ MORE