December 18, 2024

Dear SRJC Community, 

We’re nearing Winter Break and many of us are focused on wrapping up final tasks – submitting grades, closing out processes, and checking off our end of semester “to-do” lists.  Before we leave for break and (hopefully) disconnect from work, I want to take a moment to share a few key developments from November that showcase our collective efforts:  

• Board of Trustees: In November, the community elected two new board members: Erin Bricker (Area 6) and Andre Bailey (Area 3). Trustee Bricker and Trustee Bailey were sworn in at the December 13 board meeting alongside Trustee Martinez, who was re-elected to serve Area 4.   Executive Officer Zehra Sonkaynar and I have developed a comprehensive orientation and onboarding program for our new trustees and have begun the training process in earnest. On behalf of our SRJC community, I extended a warm welcome and congratulations to our new and returning trustees and shared how we look forward to the perspectives and impact they will bring to students, staff, and the broader Sonoma County community.
• Emergency Response: We navigated multiple emergencies, including an atmospheric river storm and power outages. I am grateful to our cross-departmental team for their swift and collaborative response efforts. From campus safety updates to ensuring essential services remained operational, colleagues worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of students and employees during these critical moments.
• Post-Election Communications and Advocating for Undocumented Students: Following the U.S. Presidential Election, we prioritized transparent communication with the community. Our goal during this time of transition is to provide clear guidance and assurances, ensuring that students, staff, and faculty are informed and supported.

This past month, the District shared Resolution 5-17: Affirming Santa Rosa Junior College as a Safe Haven for Undocumented Students & Marginalized Populations. The District has provided guidelines for our legal obligation to support undocumented students, as well as an active plan to address the needs of undocumented individuals by strengthening available resources and training opportunities. Student leaders, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators are collaborating to provide as much support and resources to students and the community. This effort included a Know Your Rights (KYR) Training held in partnership with nonprofit organizations and immigration attorneys from across Sonoma County, ensuring that students and their families have access to critical resources.

In December, the Management Team participated in an Undocu-Ally Training facilitated by First-Gen Empower. The training focused on addressing resource gaps for undocumented students at SRJC. During this meeting, managers were also trained on our updated protocols for responding to the presence of U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials on District properties. We aim to ensure that SRJC’s approach remains informed, thoughtful, and continuously improving. 

We’re committed to offering additional training opportunities in the future, both during spring PDA and throughout the Spring semester. I encourage everyone to participate in these opportunities to deepen our collective understanding and support of undocumented students. My goal is for students and the community to have confidence in our informed and steadfast approach – fostering a sense of calm while remaining attuned to the experiences of undocumented community members.

 

End of year reflection

Our work as educators is an important and noble profession. You are precisely the person to educate and support students to accomplish their academic and career aspirations by simply being present and excellent at what you do. I am grateful to all faculty, classified professionals, and managers who guide students along their educational journeys. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for your commitment to showing up, staying engaged, and working collaboratively through complex challenges.

I encourage everyone to prioritize rest and wellness over the Winter Break. I am aware that this holiday season can be a time of celebration and community, while also challenging for some of us. Please take time to recharge your energy space and reach out for support. My family and I look forward to volunteering our time to support the Foundation’s 2nd annual holiday dinner at Polly Hall with students.  Being in community with students is a gift that I treasure. Being in community with each of you is a privilege that I respect.

My wish for our SRJC community is that we may be able to return in January with renewed energy to continue the vital work we do in service of students and the community. 

Thank you for all that you do and Felíz Año Nuevo!

In Community,

Dr. Garcia

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Office of the President

• Events:
  • Attended COLEGAS Annual Conference in Sacramento, CA. SRJC had a team of classified professionals, faculty, and administrators participating in pre-conference workshops focused on HSI Identity & Programs, Supporting Undocumented Students, and Culturally Relevant Teaching & Learning.
  • Attended League Annual Convention with Trustees Battenfeld, Chaaban, Fishman, Student Trustee Spinozzi, and Student Government Assembly President Ruben Garcia.
  • Attended Pepperwood Preserve Community Gratitude event that celebrated the volunteers, staff, and more importantly the impact that programs and research have on Sonoma County.
• Held VPHR and Faculty finalist interviews
• Hosted Pop-Up with the President in SRJC Roseland

Academic Affairs

• In November, MESA and Avanzando jointly held their annual STEM Shadow Day event, pairing 30+ STEM professionals with SRJC students to discuss career and personal/professional journeys. Over the next two months, SRJC STEM students will participate in on-site job shadowing to deepen technical knowledge which will support retention and motivation.
• MESA and Avanzando also partnered with faculty on AB1705 implementation, convening 30+ SRHS and SRJC faculty from English, EMLS, Mathematics, and Counseling to plan a 2025 Summer Bridge program aimed at supporting high school seniors transitioning to SRJC. Lastly, MESA and the Infinite Learning and Resource Center welcomed 35+ middle school students from marginalized communities to tour the Lindley Center for STEM Education and engage in interactive workshops with STEM student clubs.
• On November 8, SRJC Child Development Faculty Tracy Johnson and Child Development graduate Rose Hammock were honored with 4C’s Champion for Children Awards. Johnson received the Inspired Start 0-5 Care & Education Award, recognizing her 40 years of dedication to Early Childhood Education with a focus on infant and toddler care. Hammock was awarded the Inspiring Education K-12 Award for over a decade of impactful work supporting Native American youth and families in the community.

• On November 7th the Career Hub hosted a Computer Studies and Business Services Career Fair, drawing 176 student attendees and 17 local employers, including Marin and Sonoma Counties, Exchange Bank, Redwood Credit Union, H&R Block, Keegan & Coppin Company, among others. Employees provided positive feedback, with many identifying potential candidates for open positions.
• The Bear Cub Wrestling Team closed their regular season with a standout performance at the P.S.T. Invitational at Chabot College on November 23, earning the 1st place team trophy. The team placed 10 wrestlers, including four finalists and two champions. Top finishes included Tito Rodarte (149) and Rayhan Jaleel (197), both taking 1st place with 4-0 records. Other placers were Ali Hamzia (141) and Joe Ellis (197) in 2nd, Zac Morgan (174) in 3rd, Derek Ruffin (125), Ikaika Madayag (149), and Jesus Anguiano (184) in 4th, and Karmine Berndt (141) and Tyler Boldt (157) in 5th.

Student Services

• Admissions and Records completed the first week of Spring 2025 registration for the priority 1 group, with students actively submitting applications and forms. As this marks the final registration under SRJC’s homegrown SIS system, A&R staff are reviewing and refining business processes in preparation for the transition to Banner for the summer/Fall 2025 registration cycle.
• Umoja and the Sawubona Black Learning & Opportunity Center (BLOC) hosted "Viben with the VP" on November 20, offering SRJC Black students a space to engage with and be in community with Dr. Molly Senecal, Vice President of Student Services. Over 30 students participated, followed by a site visit meeting with regional Umoja Coordinator – a required component the Umoja program). The visit highlighted and commended the impactful work of SRJC’s Umoja team.
• On November 20, the Queer Resource Center hosted an event in the Intercultural Center to honor and mourn lives lost to anti-trans violence in 2024. QRC Coordinator Jennifer Espinoza shared the 25-year history of this observance, followed by stories of trans individuals who inspired it and those who lost their lives this year. The event features a poem from a local poet and a writing exercise where attendees crafted letters and poems to honor the deceased. This powerful gathering fostered education in transgender history, raised awareness of current issues, and provided space for reflection and connection amid ongoing social and political challenges.
• To prepare for the 2024 elections, Student Life formed an Elections Engagement Workgroup with 25 students and employees from all constituent groups. Meeting biweekly from late September to November 1, the group focused on voter engagement, registration, ballot literacy, and post-election student support. They launched an elections hub website (Election Hub) to centralize events and resources for voter education and engagement. The site is continually updated to support students impacted by the election, and the workgroup will continue developing programs throughout the academic year.
• For the third year, SRJC’s Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (LFSA) hosted La Carpa, a talent show uniting students, staff, and the community for a night of music, dance, comedy, and family-friendly entertainment. This year’s event was co-hosted with Espejo de mi Alma, a new student club promoting Mexican folkloric traditions. Performances included a fashion showcase of traditional Mexican attire, folkloric dancing, jump rope, singing original pieces and covers like “I Will Survive,” and a special Pipa performance. Supported by the Randolph Newman Cultural Enrichment Grant and LFSA, La Carpa celebrates culture, heritage, and the arts, with plans to continue annually!

 

Finance & Administrative Services

• Capital and Facilities Projects November Update: We provided an update on the Projects to the Board of Trustees.
• The external audit of the District, Foundation and Bond Funds for 2023/24 is complete, with the District receiving unmodified opinions on all its statements – the highest rating possible – and no audit findings. This comprehensive process involves numerous areas across the institution. Special thanks to Finance Director Whitney Schultz for her leadership and to all audited departments for their dedication and effort.
• The Finance and Administrative team played a critical role in responding to weather-related impacts during the atmospheric river event from November 20-22. A total of 28 water leak-related work orders were reported across 17 buildings at all sites. Thanks to the team’s swift response, the District remained largely unaffected. While flooding occurred at SRJC Roseland, temporary closures at PSTC and the Shone Farm site were due to access issues, not site conditions. Special thanks for the Facilities Operations, Custodial Services and District Police teams for their dedicated efforts during these events.

 

Human Resources

• At the November Management Team Meeting, the HR Technicians continued the Hiring Process Training by presenting on hiring processes, policies, and procedures for Associate Faculty, Contract Faculty, and STNCs, culminating in the launch of our updated STNC Hiring Process. This comprehensive training included updates to our processes and forms, ensuring a more streamlined and transparent approach to hiring and retaining STNCs.

Foundation

• The Foundation Investment Committee met on November 7. As of September 30, the Foundation’s investment portfolio of $75 million saw a 4.20% gain in the first quarter of the new fiscal year. Investment performance is up 10.07% for the Year to Date.
• The Foundation has launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign to support the SRJC Roseland campus. With the addition of a new Welcome Center, and the refurbishment of Heritage Hall, there are sizeable equipment and supply needs for the campus. We are happy to report that we have raised $285,000, including a recent $200,000 donation.
• To date, the Foundation has secured $5.9 million for scholarships and programs.

 

Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning

• The Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning launched the Grant Interest Form allowing the District to provide support for obtaining approval for grant application submissions and to ensure the proper structure is in place for grant management. For more information, visit https://research.santarosa.edu and select Grant Process. Approval for the application and acceptance of grant funds comes from a recommendation by the Superintendent/President and ratified by the Board of Trustees.
• Following the approval by the Planning and Budget Council to establish a Strategic Plan Actions Workgroup, the Workgroup continues to meet weekly to craft action items to achieve our Initiatives and Goals. Additionally, on November 21, students and employees received a survey to provide action items. The Workgroup will incorporate the responses of the survey into the development of action items. For more information on our strategic planning efforts, please visit the Strategic Planning website.