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.
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.
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.
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. Anew reportindicates 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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 theBudget 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.
