June 12, 2025

Dear SRJC Community

There are moments when the spirit of SRJC shines brightest—when we see the impact of education on individual lives and our broader community. May was full of those moments. Through Celebrate CE, Commencement, and dozens of end-of-year recognitions, we celebrated student achievement and saw our institutional priorities come to life. These events reflect a college living its mission with purpose, pride, and culturally grounded in the lived experiences of students.

I’d like to highlight a few topics aligned with our institutional priorities, which I shared with the Board of Trustees during our June meeting held Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Student Success: Enrollment Recovery & Growth

Celebrate CE offered a powerful reminder of the role Career Education plays in transforming lives. On May 9, we recognized 1,946 students who completed a combined 2,317 certificates and majors across health sciences, skilled trades, public safety, culinary arts, and more. These students are prepared to enter high-demand careers and support regional workforce needs.

Two weeks later, at Commencement, we awarded 2,045 associate degrees and celebrated students preparing for the next phase of their academic and personal journeys. These accomplishments highlight the strength of our diverse pathways and the wraparound support that helps students succeed, whether they’re headed to work or transfer. They also contribute to our broader enrollment recovery efforts, reinforcing SRJC’s value to the communities we serve.

IDEAA: Institutional and Workplace Culture
Throughout the month, cultural and academic celebrations highlighted the power of belonging. Events such as the Latinx Celebration, Black Grads, Rainbow Send-Off, Transfer Celebration, Fire Academy Graduation, and many others affirmed that when students are seen and supported, they thrive. I want to express my appreciation to all the faculty, classified professionals, and administrators that work together to create these spaces of love and celebration for students. YOU make it possible for students to feel cared for and boldly continue their journeys.

As we enter Pride Month and prepare to observe Juneteenth, we reaffirm our commitment to building an inclusive, identity-affirming college culture for all students and employees. Take a moment to see the pride flags displayed at each of our campuses and sites. Take a moment to learn about the meaning of Juneteenth, as commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. And we are still a nation that continues to struggle with realizing the value of “justice for all” and the generational impact of slavery among our Black and African-American communities. Because of these constant injustices, SRJC becomes a place and experience that strives to honor students, their aspirations, and create a community that communicates, “You are welcome here!”

The stories we celebrated in May remind us why we do this work. They reflect achievement, belonging, and a shared focus on aligning our initiatives with purpose, equity, and care.

Thank you for making this a year of community and connection.

In Community,

Dr. Garcia

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• Hosted a Pop-Up with the President at Shone Farm 
• Attended and provided remarks at  
  • HOPE, Avanzando, MESA (HAM) Sashing Ceremony
  • Fire Academy Graduation
  • Celebrate CE
  • Commencement
  • HERo Girls Fire Camp hosted at PSTC
• Served as a panelist for Roseland University Prep Portfolio Presentations
• Supported SRJC Athletics attending the SRJC Men’s Baseball playoffs and SRJC Swim meet
• Attended Puente Y Ganas Breakfast hosted by Los Cien where Trustee Martinez was awarded the Puente Y Ganas Award for her service to the Latinx and broader community
• Participated in the Sonoma County Pride Parade along with 70+ SRJC family and friends where SRJC’s float (History, Joy, and the Future) was awarded Best Overall Float
• Attended President’s Circle luncheon
• Attended and received an award at the North Bay Business Journal's Influential Women’s Award ceremony
• Hosted the 2024-25 SRJC Retirement Reception, celebrating 31 retirees representing 563.5 years of service to SRJC.

The following BP/APs were presented at the June 10 Board of Trustees meeting:

First Reading:

• BP 3100: Organizational Structure (replaces 4.6.3)
• BP 7100: Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Antiracism, and Accessibility (IDEAA) (new policy)
• BP 7750: Complaints Concerning College Personnel (replaces 7.4.1)

Information Only:

• AP 3435: Discrimination and Harassment Complaints and Investigations (Replaces 2.7p)
• AP 4021: Program Discontinuance (replaces 3.6p)
• AP 7150: Employee Evaluations (replaces 4.10)

Second Reading:

• BP 2105 Election of Student Trustee
• BP 2110 Vacancies on the Board Replaces former policy 0.27
• BP 2345 Public Participation at Board Meetings New
• BP 2350 Speakers Replaces former policy 0.19.5
• BP 2355 Decorum New  
• BP 2610 Presentation of Initial Collective Bargaining Proposals Replaces former policy 2.1
• BP 2735 Board Member Travel New
• BP 3430 Prohibition of Harassment Replaces former policy 2.6.1
• BP 5300 Student Equity Replaces former policy 8.1.17

For more information on BP/APs, visit New and Recently Revised BP/AP

• In May, the HOPE, Avanzando, and MESA (HAM) programs celebrated student achievement with two significant events. Avanzando hosted its first-ever Student Poster Conference, where nearly 20 students from diverse disciplines presented their innovative ideas, research findings, and studies on various topics, including pollinators and native plants, mental health awareness through early intervention, effective teaching strategies for menstrual health, and coastal erosion. Supported by mentors from the HSI STEM Avanzando team, these students participated in a research experience that is rarely available at the community college level. Later in the month, the programs hosted the annual Sashing Ceremony, recognizing over 50 students who had completed program requirements, were transferring to other institutions, or were entering career training this Fall. During the ceremony, Superintendent/President Dr. Garcia emphasized the significance of recognizing the obstacles overcome by students and the supportive community built by these programs, all committed to advancing student success. 

• The 10th annual Celebrate CE was another great success, honoring the accomplishments of students in Career Education programs. More than 450 certificate-earning students RSVP’d, joined by over 40 faculty and more than 1,000 audience members in a vibrant show of support. Student speakers Sarah Ruiz and Elaina Dimond delivered powerful remarks, highlighting how Career Education programs can transform lives and open new opportunities. The event was a true celebration of community, thanks to the dedication of CE staff and the incredible Career Hub student team. Special thanks to Jamie Longnecker and her volunteer team for making the event such a memorable success.
  

• Student Health Services: Healthy Minds Survey & 2024-25 Therapy Sessions
  In early May, Student Health Services completed administration of the Healthy Minds Survey to all enrolled SRJC students. The response rate was strong—11% of students participated, compared to 9.7% in 2022. Survey data will be available later this summer and will be used to compare results from 2022, as well as to benchmark SRJC against other California Community Colleges and institutions nationwide. These insights will support planning efforts to address the physical and mental health needs of SRJC students moving forward.
  
  During the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Psychological Services provided a record number of therapy sessions and served the second-highest number of students in SRJC history (second only to the 2017–2018 fire year). Compared to last year, the number of students served increased by 10.7%, and the number of therapy sessions provided rose by 16.4%.
   

• Students for Recovery Club: Supporting the Community: Students for Recovery (S4R) is a student club focused on raising awareness around substance misuse and offering inclusive, diverse support and resources. The club promotes harm-reduction tools such as naloxone (opioid overdose reversal) and fentanyl test strips (used to detect contaminants in drugs like cocaine or marijuana). In May, S4R convened an emergency intersession meeting to provide mutual support and coordinate a community response. Stay tuned for upcoming events
   

• Admissions & Records: Spring 2025 Graduation and Diploma Processing: Admissions & Records has been especially busy with graduation-related activities. We are currently reviewing final grades and expect to mail spring 2025 diplomas and certificates by the end of June. A total of 625 students registered to participate in commencement, and approximately 520 attended the ceremony on Saturday. 3,000 tickets were provided for family, employees, and community members to come to SRJC and celebrate our graduates. 

  Status	AA/AS Degrees	Certificates
  Applied	1,510 (1,118 students)	1,300 (1,229 students)
  Denied	240 (201 students)	56 (56 students)
  Approved	1,270 (878 students)	1,244 (1,173 students)

  

   

• Student Life & Cultural Programs:

  • New Rosco Student ID Cards: Student Life & Cultural Programs collaborated with IT and Marketing & Communications to launch the new Rosco Student ID card. Both the Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses are now using the updated design. Staff can update their ID cards during regular business hours. Please bring a valid photo ID and your Student ID number.

  • Student Outreach and Roseland staff tabled at the Santa Rosa Cinco de Mayo event, making connections with more than 300 attendees who visited SRJC’s booth.

  • The Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (LFSA) hosted the 12th Annual Latinx Celebration on Saturday, May 17th. A total of 178 students were honored for their accomplishments, with close to 1,000 family and friends in attendance. Student achievements included: 30 Adult Ed Certificates, 32 AA/AS Degrees, 9 Career Ed Certificates, 10 EMLS Credit/Non-Credit Certificates, 52 High School Equivalency Certificates, 42 Transfer with AA/AS Degrees, and 3 Transfer Only recognitions.

  • The International Student Program held its End of Year Celebration on May 16th, honoring 15 international students who graduated and will be transferring to four-year universities this fall. Destinations include CSU Monterey Bay, CSU Fullerton, UC Berkeley, Midland University, Sonoma State University, and Saint Thomas University.

• Governor’s May 2025/26 Budget Revision: The Governor released his May Revision to the January budget proposal, presenting a 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 P2 continued to report strong enrollment growth, the District balanced its 2024/25 budget using $6 million from the fund balance and plan to utilize additional fund balance to bridge the gap in 2025/26, so 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:
  • 2.30% revenue COLA is proposed to be funded for SCFF and select categorical programs (including Adult Education, Extended Opportunity Programs and Service, Disabled Student Programs and Services, Apprenticeship, CalWORKs, and mandated costs.
  • 2.35% enrollment growth funds
  • Backfill for apportionment related shortfall in 2024/25
  • Adds $10 million to expand the Rising Scholars Network
  • A second allocation of the commitment in last budget cycle of $60 million in Strong Workforce Program funds for expansion of the nursing program
  • A third/final allocation of the commitment in previous budget cycle of $10 million in LGBTQ+ student support program
  • Adds $12 million (one time) for a Common Cloud Data Platform
  • Adds $6.6 million to fund the expansion of e-Transcript California
  • Adds $5 million (ongoing) and $40M (one time) to expand the Credit for Prior Learning/Career Passport under the Master Plan for Career Education

• Despite these investments, the proposed budget still 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. The District Tentative Budget will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval at its June meeting. We will continue to monitor and advocate for District needs through the remainder of the State’s budget process and a final budget will be brought to the Board in September.

• Bond Feasibility Study Session: On May 13, 2025, the Board of Trustees held a study session to hear a presentation and engage in discussion regarding the feasibility of conducting a General Obligation Bond poll to help the District to make an informed decision as to whether the community is ready to support a General Obligation Bond Measure on the June or November 2026 ballot. After a presentation from various members of the bond planning team, the Board of Trustees voted to move forward with engaging a consultant to conduct a poll for the purpose of determining the feasibility of pursuing a general obligation tax measure for the District. The results will be presented to the Board of Trustees later this year.
   
• Banner Student Information System Implementation:  At the end of the spring semester, the District announced that after careful evaluation and ongoing consultation with our implementation partners and internal teams, we’ve made the decision to further adjust the go-live date to Summer/Fall 2026 registration. While launching on the previously revised timeline remains technically possible, this adjustment reflects our collective commitment to delivering a stable, fully tested system that truly supports our students and the broader college community and will allow us additional time to:
  • Build greater comfort and familiarity with the system across all users
  • Identify and address gaps related to system customization
  • Provide more in-depth, effective training
  • Strengthen our communication and rollout plan
  • Move beyond a basic implementation to deliver a more impactful student experience

We remain committed to transparency and collaboration, and we will continue to provide updates in the Fall, including training opportunities beginning with the Fall Professional Development Activities Day.

• Courageous Leaders Academy: The Year 3 cohort of the Courageous Leaders Academy (CLA) successfully concluded with 26 participants: 10 Faculty members, 11 Classified Professionals, and 5 members of the Management Team. The completion ceremony was held on May 16, 2025. During the event, participants presented their action projects, shared real-time solutions, and provided recommendations for the upcoming cohort. A video highlighting the work and impact of the academy also premiered during the ceremony. Video link: 3CMedia
  
   
• Career Empowerment Conference for SRJC Students: On May 2, 2025, approximately 40 students attended Santa Rosa Junior College’s first-ever Career Empowerment Conference, hosted by the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Advisory Committee. The event featured interactive career and business workshops, valuable resources, and expert guidance to support students in both their academic goals and professional development. Presenters included a diverse group of District departments and community partners:
  • SRJC Career Hub
  • SRJC Financial Aid
  • SRJC Human Resources
  • Health Sciences Department
  • Child Development Education
  • Welcome and Connect Center, Santa Rosa
  • North Bay Black Business Chamber of Commerce
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Sonoma Small Business Development Center
  • Santa Rosa Metro Chamber
  • Rotary International (Rotaract)

Feedback from post-event surveys indicated the conference was a great success. Students reported gaining valuable insights to help them on their career and business paths. Community partners expressed strong interest in continued collaboration to support SRJC students in future initiatives.
 

• The Scholarship Office recently held a Doyle Trust Scholarship Committee Meeting. In 24/25 we awarded $6.3 million in scholarships - $4.1 million from the Doyle Trust, and $2.2 million from Foundation scholarships. 92% of the students who applied received a scholarship.
• Please Save-the-Date for the next President’s Address to the Community that will take place on Thursday. September 18. The President’s Medallion this year will be awarded to Sam Guerrera, and his wife Ava, who passed away in 2022. Sam and Ava have been donors since 2006 and have supported many SRJC programs including laptops for students following the Tubbs fire, Study Abroad Scholarships, International Students, the Student Housing Endowment, and most recently, the Roseland campus. 
• As of April 30, the Foundation had secured $10.5 million in donations to support scholarships and programs, compared to $9.1 million last year