February 13, 2025

Dear SRJC Community, 

As we began the spring semester, we knew it would present us with challenges that would test us in new ways—and it certainly has. But SRJC has always been a place of resilience and dedication. For more than a century, we have been a source of opportunity, adapting to meet the needs of students and our community. This year is no different. Even as we navigate uncertainties, our purpose remains clear: SRJC is where students come to achieve their aspirations, and we are committed to providing the support, education and resources they need to succeed.

Community colleges play a vital role in transforming aspirations into reality—whether that means earning a degree, transferring to a university, or gaining the skills for a meaningful career. Now more than ever, we must stay focused on that mission. Challenges may come, but they do not define us; our response does. Let’s continue to lead with purpose and resolve.

February is a time to celebrate, reflect, and engage. Black History Month offers an opportunity to learn about and honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black leaders, scholars, and changemakers who have shaped our society and continue to inspire future generations. One such changemaker was Maggie Lena Walker (1864 – 1934), who was the first woman to own a bank in the United States, influencing black business practices. Born to enslaved parents, she worked to help her family and in 1903 founded the St. Luke Penny’s Saving Bank, which included teaching children about money and savings. February is also Financial Aid Awareness Month, a reminder that financial resources are critical to making higher education accessible, especially for under resourced communities. Please encourage students to explore available financial aid opportunities so they can stay on track toward their goals.

The District will be closed on Friday, February 14, and Monday, February 17, in observance of Lincoln’s Day and President’s Day, respectively. 

Thank you for all that you do to support our students and uphold SRJC’s mission. Together, we will continue to be a place where aspirations turn into achievements.

In Community, 

Dr. Garcia

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Office of the President  

• Presented to the ACCJC Commission with Accreditation Liaison Offer, Dr. Jeremy Smotherman and VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Robert Holcomb; Received ACCJC Action Letter re-affirming SRJC’s accreditation for the remainder of the cycle.
• Hosted Pop-Up with the President in Public Safety Training Center, which included the Food Pantry for students to have access to fresh produce, grains, protein, and power snacks.
• Invited to serve on School & College Legal Services of California (SCLS) Governing Board as well as the Community Foundation of Sonoma County Board of Directors.
• Facilitated the Management Team Retreat focused on District response and protocols regarding immigration activities engagement and effective communication skills giving and receiving feedback.
• Attended the Legislative Conference in Sacramento with Trustees Battenfeld, Chaaban and Valdovinos; New Trustee Orientation engagement with Trustee Bailey and Trustee Bricker.
• Joined the Press Democrat and Northern California Public Media for a brainstorm on coverage ideas to support communities, such as immigrant and non-English speakers for next year, and the journalistic platforms.
• Attended a national convening of LGTBQ leaders in higher education addressing the needs and concerns of LGTBQIA+ students and employees during the current political climate. 

Academic Affairs

• SRJC Forensics: SRJC Forensics partnered with the Golden Gate High School Speech Association to host a speech and debate tournament at the SRJC Santa Rosa campus on Saturday, January 25, 2025. The event welcomed over 550 Northern California high school students and 175 community members, offering participants a chance to engage in advocacy, gain valuable experience, and explore SRJC’s campus, team, and opportunities.

• MAKE Space Opening: The Engineering & Applied Technology Department opened the MAKE Space in the Innovation Center on the first floor of the Lindley Center for STEM Education in January. The state-of-the-art facility, available to students, staff, and faculty, supports course projects or other endeavors. Equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and more, the space has hosted multiple weekly workshops to introduce users to its advanced tools. Funded by Strong Workforce Program and IELM, the MAKE Space also offers open lab times supported by MESA. To learn more about workshops, equipment, and lab access, self-enrolled on the MAKE Space Canvas page: https://canvas.santarosa.edu/enroll/L7MNGT  
  
   

Student Services

• In the first two weeks of January 2025, Admissions & Records processed 1,835 transcripts reflecting Fall 2024 grades. During Fall 2024, 896 certificates were awarded, including 623 auto-awarded single-course/capstone certificates and 464 associate degrees.  
• As supported by the Chancellor’s Office, we have expanded the refund policy for AB540 (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption) students which is now retroactive to 2018.
• Super Saturday – January 11, 2025: A total of 998 students/contacts were recorded across three sites: Santa Rosa, Petaluma, & SRJC Roseland.  Various Student Services offices opened to help students with last-minute needs before the start of the semester. A detailed breakdown by department is available Saturday Services January 2025 Recap.docx.

• Welcome and Wayfinding Weeks – January 13-29, 2025: A total of 2,201 students/contacts were made during Welcome and Wayfinding efforts in the first two weeks of the semester. Volunteers from all areas of the District greeted students, helped them find their classes, provided water and snacks, and answered general questions about student support and other services. A breakdown of numbers by site:
  • Santa Rosa – 1,200 total contacts, welcome and Wayfinding tables January 13-15 – average 300 contacts per day.
  • Petaluma - 356 students served through January 29.
  • SRJC Roseland – 430 students during the first week of the semester.
  • PSTC – 15 students came to the welcome table on January 16.
  • Shone Farm – 200 students during the first week of the semester.
  • ISP Welcome Reception – 40+ students in attendance on January 17.
• Apple Accessibility Session: SRJC reaffirmed its commitment to accessibility and inclusive education by hosting an Apple Accessibility Session at Newman Auditorium. The event provided students, faculty, staff, and the community with valuable insights into Apple’s built-in accessibility features for vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, and speech needs. Attendees learned how to customize iOS devices to enhance learning, productivity, and digital access, making technology more inclusive for all users. Offered both in-person and online, the session included ASL interpretation, reinforcing SRJC’s dedication to breaking down barriers to access and fostering an inclusive campus environment. This initiative aligns with SRJC’s mission to empower all students through equitable access to education and technology.

Finance & Administrative Services

• 2024/25 FTES Update: SRJC has submitted our first Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES) report for the 2024/25 academic year. This Period One (P1) report marks our initial opportunity to report FTES to the State, covering actual enrollment for summer and fall, along with a 6% projected increase for spring. Summer and fall enrollments grew by more than 6%, leading to a projected total of 14,998.33 FTES for 2024/25. As a reminder, the Long Range Plan for Fiscal Stability set a goal of restoring approximately 5,000 FTES to reach 17,500. Reaching the 15,000 FTES milestone represents significant progress toward this target, demonstrating the positive impact of the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. Additionally, FTES growth from incarcerated and non-resident students as well as special admit/high school students, continues to contribute to overall enrollment recovery.
• Governor’s January 2025/26 Budget Proposal: The Governor released his January budget earlier this month, presenting a balanced financial plan that aligns with his California Jobs First Economic Blueprint. While this budget is generally positive for SRJC, we remain on hold harmless status, as our current FTES levels remain below our earned funding level. As a result, any Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) would be allocated to the District as one-time funds only. While the P1 report reflected strong enrollment growth, the District balanced its 2024/25 budget using $6 million from the fund balance. With plans to utilize additional fund balance to bridge gaps in 2025/26, we must be prudent in containing costs, as the expiration of 2025/26 COLA funds in 2026/27 will present additional financial challenges.
  • Key 2025/26 Governor’s Budget Highlights:
    • 2.43% COLA proposed for the Student-Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) and select categorical programs, including Adult Education, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, Disabled Student Programs and Services, Apprenticeship, CalWORKs, and mandated costs.
    • 0.50% enrollment growth funding allocated.
    • $30 million to expand the Rising Scholars Network.
    • $60 million (second allocation from the prior budget cycle) for Strong Workforce Program expansion of nursing programs.
    • $10 million (third and final allocation from the previous cycle) for LGBTQ+ student support programs.
    • $29 million (ongoing) and $133.5 million (one-time) for a Common Cloud Data Platform.
    • $168 million (one-time) for Statewide Technology Transformation to improve data collection.
    • $7 million (ongoing) and $93 million (one-time) to expand Credit for Prior Learning under the Master Plan for Career Education.
  • Despite these investments, the proposed budget does not allocate funding for Instructional materials, deferred facilities maintenance, or cost-of-living adjustments for categorical programs with ongoing salary obligations, such as full-time faculty hiring funds, associate faculty reimbursement programs, and Student Equity & Achievement funds. There are still significant budget discussions ahead, we will continue advocating for the resources necessary to support our District’s needs.
     

Human Resources

• Classification Review & Salary Study: The Classification Review and Salary Study has been successfully completed, with the Board of Trustees approving the results at their January meeting. This comprehensive process, which began in 2018, involved a thorough review of more than 190 classifications affecting over 400 Classified Professionals. As a result, classification and salary placements have been updated for all impacted employees, who have been notified via email. The revised salary schedule and updated job descriptions have also been posted. The District appreciates its partnership with SEIU in this process.

Foundation

• To kick-off the New Year, the Foundation Board met on January 23, 2025, on the SRJC Roseland campus. Vice President Molly Senecal, and Director Hector Delgado highlighted the needs and opportunities for SRJC Roseland, and former student Maria Gatto also spoke. To date, the Foundation has raised $310,000 toward its $500,000 goal to support both short and long-term needs.   
• The next Building Futures fundraising event for the Petaluma campus will take place on Saturday, April 26 from 4-7 pm. The Foundation is partnering with the Friends of Petaluma, and our colleagues on the Petaluma campus, to raise money for the Construction Training Center and other Petaluma campus needs. We are grateful to our good friends at Exchange Bank for their $15,000 lead sponsorship. To purchase a $75 ticket, visit https://petaluma.santarosa.edu/buildingfutures
• Through the end of November, the Foundation has secured $5.8 million for scholarships and programs, including $3.3 million in new endowment funds. Overall, this is a $2.1 million increase over last year. We also had a strong December, and we look forward to including those numbers next month.