2019-2020 REPORT TO THE
COMMUNITY
Message from the President Santa Barbara City College Community, I am pleased to share with you the 2019-2020 Report to the Community. To say that this has been a unique year with unprecedented challenges for our college and the broader community would be an understatement. However, as we have done before, SBCC rose to the challenge. Despite the uncertainty and ever-changing obstacles, SBCC has continued to put students at the center of our response. Our faculty and staff have continued to work together to ensure that our students continue to receive the best possible education and are supported in their educational goals. We also know that our students have needs outside of the classroom. We mobilized to address needs relating to food insecurity and mental health support and in reducing the digital divide. Our SBCC Foundation stepped in to provide emergency grants to students — on a scale that is unprecedented among Community College Foundations. The report will also show that SBCC is continuing to do important work in support of its mission and in its pursuit of excellence. As the new Superintendent/President, I have the joy of joining a community with a vibrant history of dedication to public education. We are fortunate to have a Board of Trustees that is committed to ensuring the long-term stability and success of the institution. The institution is ultimately a reflection of the values and aspirations of the greater community. On behalf of our distinguished faculty, dedicated staff and students, thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Utpal K. Goswami, Ph.D. Superintendent/President
Report to the Community
CONTENTS
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Excellence in
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Extended
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Student
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Vaquero Athletics
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Connecting
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A Community of
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Outstanding
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COVID-19
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Stand-Out
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Commencement
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Artistic
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Facts About
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A Message from Our
Education Success
Community Faculty
SBCC Staff Triumphs
Learning Highlights Kinship
Resilience Making History Santa Barbara City College
Foundation
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Excellence in
EDUCATION
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2019 COMMUNITY COLLEGE in the NATION
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ValueColleges.com
STEPPING UP TO ONLINE LEARNING DURING A PANDEMIC The COVID-19 pandemic took the college by storm in the middle of Spring semester. Heeding advice from government and state officials to ensure the safety of students and staff, Dr. Goswami made the decision to restrict in-person instruction by the end of March, with administrators and faculty quickly moving the vast majority of classes to online formats. “We generally offer 30 percent of our instruction online, and many faculty are already experienced with this mode of course offering,” notes Executive Vice President of Educational Services Pamela Ralston. “Many instructors were already well versed in the use of technological tools and the learning management system, Canvas. Many more learned how to work with synchronous instruction using tools like Zoom video.” Crucial support for the transition came from the Faculty Resource Center and Information Technology, who implemented immediate training of
faculty and staff. Instructors adapted software and online tools while also implementing creative and innovative ways to keep students engaged and motivated to complete the term — including instructional videos, student surveys and extended online office hours. Art history instructor Joy Kunz, for example, recorded sessions from her backyard and drew inspiration from her surroundings. “Their efforts were impressive,” notes Ralston. “Despite enormous challenges, students were able to complete courses, and we honored 1,736 degree and certificate recipients at our virtual commencement on May 8.” At the School of Extended Learning, more than 200 courses transitioned to a live, video conferencing format. “Staff and faculty moved quickly to train and transition and did an incredible job,” said Vice President, Extended Learning, Melissa Moreno.
Chromebooks and mobile internet hotspots were made available for credit and noncredit students needing devices
“Staff and faculty moved quickly to train and transition and did an incredible job.” — Vice President, Extended Learning, Melissa Moreno for online learning, and WiFi access was made available to students in the West Campus parking lot. Grants up to $1,000 (separate from federal or state grants) were offered by the SBCC Foundation for qualifying students. Adds Moreno, “We have seen an unexpected and incredible outcome, with some of our classes breaking record enrollment. Our students are craving connection and our live video teaching strikes a chord with our community — keeping us together.”
RANKED AMONG BEST IN NATION In the past year, SBCC has been recognized by numerous organizations for its academic excellence. Value Colleges rated SBCC the #1 community college in the nation for the third year in a row. Our online programs gained statewide and national attention as well. Intelligent.com ranked two online programs among the best in the nation: the Medical Coding Specialist Program and Photography. In May, the Optimal Guide to Online Schools rated SBCC among the top 10 best California community colleges for earning an online associate degree or certificate.
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| 2019-2020 Report to the Community
Excellence in
EDUCATION
From left: Professor Carrie Hutchinson, Professor Clara Oropeza, Board of Governors President Tom Epstein, Associate Dean Christopher Johnson, SBCC Associated Student Government President Alexandra Montes de Oca, Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Professor Elizabeth Imhof, Professor Thomas Carrasco, Learning Resource Director Vandana Gavakar, SBCC Executive Vice President Pamela Ralston, and SBCC Interim Superintendent/President Helen Benjamin.
SBCC RECEIVES DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AWARD SECOND YEAR IN A ROW On July 16, 2019, SBCC was recognized for the second year in a row for its outstanding efforts to improve student equity and diversity. The prestigious Dr. John W. Rice Diversity and Equity Award was presented in Sacramento by California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley to the SBCC Academic Senate committee, “Leaders for Equity, Antiracism and Reparations Now” (LEARN). LEARN is a grassroots committee that includes faculty, classified staff and administrators, who came together
after expressing concern about the lack of broad, deep diversity and inclusion training at SBCC. This prompted the creation of an independently grantfunded committee who set out to offer rigorous, meaningful and impactful antiracism training for all members of our campus community, recognizing that such training serves as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to developing equity-based programs and pedagogy. LEARN organizes and offers rigorous, meaningful anti-racism training for cohorts of 40-45 people at a time.
ASTRONOMY CLUB BUILDS DOBSONIAN TELESCOPE For 18 months students in the Astronomy Club worked tirelessly to build a Dobsonian telescope. On Nov. 22, they assembled outside of the Physical Education building and tested it by locating and observing Jupiter. “This is something we’ve dreamed about,” said Astronomy Professor Sean Kelly. Explaining how much the students benefited from this experience, he added, “All this work they created is going to be with us for years ... 20 years from now they can come visit and see what they’ve created.”
Cohort graduates then join the SBCC Antiracism Community where they can work with others who are committed to working for an equitable campus. The award is named after Dr. John W. Rice, an influential Board of Governors member who served from 1992 to 2000. He was a strong advocate for all students and believed higher education was the greatest equalizer. The Dr. John W. Rice Awards were established in 2001, and annually recognize community colleges or programs leading the way in progressing student diversity and equity.
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CELEBRATING MORE THAN YEARS AS A HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION
Cultivating educational access and equity for Latinx and all students in our community.
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Excellence in
EDUCATION
FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OFFERS FEDERAL CARES ACT GRANT In April, Santa Barbara City College was awarded $2,883,174 from the U.S. Department of Education under the CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to provide federal emergency grants to students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed 1,400 qualifying SBCC students to each receive a CARES Act grant of $1,000 in May. “The help I received was instrumental in allowing me to continue to scrape by in this pandemic environment, on top of the whole starving student atmosphere I live daily,” said Engineering major Laura Robinson. “It came at a perfect time when I was facing a choice between paying my rent or having food to eat, especially since jobs are so hard to find right now.” Just over 2,500 students applied for the grant and all applicants who met the eligibility requirements were awarded
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the $1,000, which was based on an estimate of one month’s living expenses.
“The help I received was instrumental in allowing me to continue to scrape by in this pandemic environment, on top of the whole starving student atmosphere I live daily.” — Laura Robinson, Engineering major In order to meet the qualifications, the applicant needed to be a degree-seeking student (i.e. associate, certificate or transfer; hybrid or face-to-face program), eligible for funding under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and enrolled at least half-time (6+ units). “The SBCC Financial Aid Office was excited to administer the federal CARES program to assist students affected by
COVID-19’s disruption to their educational goals,” said Director of Financial Aid Maureen Goldberg. “The $1,000 grants that we were able to quickly award to many made a tremendous impact on the students eligible for the monies.” SBCC promoted the CARES Act grants and reached as many potential eligible students as possible. Students were notified in English and Spanish via email, the SBCC website and Pipeline student portal, and social media posts. SBCC plans to make the remaining CARES Act grants available in Fall 2020. “I’m so fortunate to have the support offered by SBCC, as well the food pantry and all the programs the college provides to their students,” Laura said. “They make it easy to get help by communicating well and doing so without judgement.”
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Excellence in
EDUCATION
ALEVRA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEE, ALEJANDRA CORONA LESSER When Alejandra Corona Lesser arrived in the United States from Mexico in 2011, she was surrounded by barriers hindering her success, but she persevered. Within a week, she found herself a place to live, got a job at McDonald’s and enrolled herself in SBCC’s English as a Second Language Program. She has gone on to become a Sociology major with a 3.9 GPA, a community volunteer, a peer advisor and the recipient of the 2019 Peter A. Alevra Scholarship. “She’s an outstanding Sociology student at SBCC and a very dedicated employee at Cottage Hospital,” said Associate Professor Marit E. ter Mate-Martinsen. “But she’ll never forget her humble beginnings and will use her English, big heart and knowledge to help others. She’s inspired so many of our students to continue their ESL classes, even when life’s full of obstacles. She’s living proof of that.” Alejandra was awarded the 2019 Peter A. Alevra Scholarship based on her contributions to multicultural understanding and participation in campus community activities, which help to create a sense of community within diversity. This award honors a former SBCC Foundation Director who was deeply concerned with issues of equality and who worked to endow the annual Leonardo Dorantes Lecture. “I attribute my success to my family,” said Alejandra. “I came from the most loving, caring and hard working parents and siblings ... I make the extra effort to achieve all my goals because I am the reflection of my family. When I see them working hard from sunrise to sundown, I have no excuse for not doing the same as them.” Alejandra has been giving back to the SBCC community in the lead ESL peer advisor role, assisting the non-native immigrant and international student population while keeping herself educated on any new immigrant laws that pertain to DACA students. She has volunteered at the United Way’s Day of Caring and the Santa Barbara Foodbank, and collects and donates clothes for the local homeless community through Casa Esperanza. “I have learned to enjoy each day, even if it is not a good one,” said Alejandra. “When you understand that learning is a privilege that not everyone around the world has, you are going to value your academic experience for the rest of your life. We are lucky to have the opportunity to study at SBCC, as it is the best college with the most beautiful campus.” Alejandra Corona Lesser with 2019 Dorantes Lecturer Dr. Marc Lamont Hill.
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Student
SUCCESS
STUDENT SARA SAIB IS PING PONG CLUB PRESIDENT AND ACADEMIC ALL-STAR After moving to the United States from Nagasaki, Japan, Physics Major Sara Saib found inspiration, support and success at SBCC. The 20-year-old SBCC Ping Pong Club president will be transferring this Fall with four associate degrees, a NASA Scholars internship and a San Diego Department of Energy internship under her belt. Sara attributes her success at SBCC to the support she found in her professors, staff, friends and the STEM, TAP and EOPS programs. “It was the individuals that I connected with through classes, clubs and programs who helped me make connections and learn about the resources and opportunities available to me,” she said. “These individuals made me feel supported and included. They inspired me.”
Sara shifted her focus away from academics and decided to start SBCC’s first Ping Pong Club to “make my life unique and develop my identity at SBCC,” she said. “Staff members and professors at SBCC are so supportive and helped me gain the confidence I needed to start something if I wanted to.” The academic all-star said she wanted to teach students how ping pong can be more than just a fun game and that it is a sport. She competed competitively in Japan and wanted to teach others the skills she had learned. “I am so glad I started the club as it was the place to make friends and made me known to some others as the ‘Ping Pong Club president,’” she said. “Being in a leadership position also taught me so many new skills like leading meetings,
contacting others and getting connected with other leaders on campus.” Navigating a community college worried Sara when she first arrived, but she said she quickly realized that the support she needed was right here at SBCC. “I met so many incredible professors and friends who I want to keep in touch with forever,” she said. “I also learned that places like SBCC, which provide affordable education, are very important in a community.” Sara has some advice for City College students: “Get involved! It is so important in making your college life a success,” she said. “Even if you feel shy, you can be a part of a club or a program and make friends who are alike and make connections with so many people. You will grow in the process – I definitely did.”
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Student
SUCCESS
FILM STUDENT WILL HAHN WINS BEST DIRECTOR HONORS IN SBIFF On the final afternoon of this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), a near-sellout crowd assembled at the Arlington Theatre to screen 10 student films and find out who would take home a coveted 10-10-10 award. When the award for best director among the college finalists was announced, Santa Barbara City College film student Will Hahn was given that top honor. This year’s theme for the competition was “Satire.” Hanh’s film, titled “The Goatman” (written by Troy Wullbrandt, another SBCC student), takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the horror-film genre and the trials and tribulations of a student film crew trying to film an entry for a film festival. Hahn was drawn to Wullbrant’s script from the start. When considering how best to bring it to the screen, he commented, “I was influenced by the cinematic techniques of ‘Stranger Things’ [the Netflix original series]. We wanted to go for that kind of quality. For satire, we drew inspiration from Saturday Night Live – after all, who does that better than SNL?” When asked about his biggest challenge in making the film, Hahn replied, “Over half the film took place outside, at night in an avocado orchard. It was about 40 degrees, pouring rain and there was no power. But the cast and crew were amazing. They kept on going above and beyond the call of duty.” Going forward Hahn plans to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree and has applied to several of the top film schools in the country. Eventually he would like to make films that tell the stories of people in America’s small towns; stories about people who feel forgotten and left out. If he ever achieves the same success his mentors achieved, he expressed this desire: “I want to do what my mentors did for me. I want to give back.”
PROGRAMMING TEAMS WIN TOP HONORS AT COMPETITION In November, SBCC’s computer programming teams turned in successful performances in the 2019 Southern California Regionals for the International Collegiate Programming Competition (ICPC) in Riverside, CA, including First Runner Up among two-year schools in the competition. The top team, consisting of Monica Aguilar, Nhan Le, and Jianlyu Mao, outscored teams from a number of four-year universities, including Cal Tech, UCI, UCLA, UCR and UCSD.
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Student
SUCCESS
STUDENT BY DAY, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN BY NIGHT Working five nights a week from 7 p.m.–7 a.m., and saving people from near death, is probably not how most college students would choose to spend their time, but SBCC student Tia Taylor wouldn’t have it any other way. Nineteen-year-old Tia is the youngest Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at the station at the American Medical Response Station in Goleta. From the time she was 16 years old and saw a presentation given by paramedics and firefighters at her school, she knew that she had found her career path. Tia begins her shift by organizing the equipment and preparing for whatever the next 12 hours will bring. “When you work in the medical field,” she says, “You never know what to expect.”
WOMXN CODERS WIN AT UCSB HACKATHON WomxnHacks 2, a 36-hour event held last January, saw over 70 female-identifying student programmers collaborating in small groups to create a team project from start to finish. At the end, the students showcased their skills and hard work with live demos, presenting their finished products to their peers and industry professionals. Of the 28 projects that were submitted, the SBCC teams won three out of 12 awards: Best Education Hack, Best Runner Up Hack (Advanced), and Beginner Honorary Mention.
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Student
SUCCESS
THE CAMPUS CLUB COMMUNITY Students have created, and run, a number of active and vibrant clubs on campus, providing themselves with opportunities to get involved, make friends and make a difference. Clubs focus on a variety of interests such as career options, student diversity, service, recreation and academic interests.
“With over 45 clubs here at SBCC students are sure to find ‘their people.’ Clubs offer our students the opportunity to explore new experiences, express their culture and creativity, improve on their own or help others to achieve success in academics and foster their need for community. From social to academic endeavors, SBCC offers a club for all who are interested!” — Amy Collins, Program Director for the Office of Student Life
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Connecting
COMMUNITY
MARCHING FOR CLIMATE ACTION Between Sept. 20-27, 2019, a record 7.6 million people took to the streets to strike for climate action in the biggest climate mobilization in history. Among those who assembled in downtown Santa Barbara on Sept. 20 were dozens of SBCC students, including members of the Student Sustainability Coalition and SBCC Biology Club.
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Connecting
COMMUNITY
FREE FAMILY FUN AT MESA FALL FEST TRUNK OR TREAT This year’s annual Halloween community event was better than ever, as the SBCC Athletics Department and community group Our Mesa Neighborhood (OMNI) partnered to host the Third Annual Fall Fest Trunk or Treat. The event for local children and their families included live music, food, games and a costume contest. As a community college, SBCC prides itself in giving back to the local community. “We really believe that we have a great platform for community outreach as an athletics department,” said Athletic Director Rocco Constantino. “Our goal is to provide families with a memorable experience while also teaching our student-athletes the value of community service.”
FOOD SHARES TO HELP HUNGRY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY SBCC has continued to do its part to combat student hunger by hosting monthly “Food Shares” to supply the campus and the community with fresh produce and pantry items. Even through the COVID-19 pandemic and summer semesters, volunteers banned together to host social-distancing friendly, drive-thru food shares. The food shares are heavily attended with the produce, pantry items and supplies being depleted at every distribution. The effort is largely supported by the Santa Barbara Foodbank who delivers the food to SBCC’s Food Pantry for distribution by students, staff and faculty.
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Outstanding
FACULTY
community, and modeling best practices for diversity, equity and inclusion, the conversation about race is just as important here as it is anywhere, perhaps even more so. Students of all races benefit when SBCC faculty, staff, administrators, and other students gain racial literacy- that is, the ability to understand the impact of race in our society and hold meaningful, well-informed discussions about it. FACULTY MODERATORS STEP UP TO Newman: It’s incredibly important to have honest, open, and DISMANTLE RACISM transparent campus conversations about race because all of SBCC employees unconsciously hold implicit racial biases. We In July, Dr. Carrie Hutchinson and Dr. Donte Newman introall hold hidden biases because of our socialization in a society duced and moderated online webinars focusing on the present that preferences dominant groups over non-dominant groups. It and historic damage racial injustice has perpetrated on commuis through honest conversations where we can begin to radically nities of color, why it continues to occur, and ways in which all of rethink how we think about employees and students of color on us might work to implement positive change. our campus. Hutchinson’s “Disrupting Racism: Foundations for Allies Describe your hope for the main takeaway(s) of your Seeking to be Accomplices” focused on identifying common presentation. roadblocks experienced by people with racial privilege who want Hutchinson: People with racial privilege who are newly to fight racism. Newman’s “The America We Know” series; co-fa- interested in racial justice must identify our mutual interest cilitated by Interim Coordinator of Equity, Diversity, and Cultural and personal stake in dismantling systems of oppression so Competency Roxane Byrne; is a monthly offering for the “racially that we approach this work as though our lives depend on it, inept to the racially competent” that brings together marginalized because they do. We must work under the leadership of people voices to critically examine racial injustice in America. The profes- of color who are at the forefront of this movement, while identisors weighed in on these conversations and why they are crucial fying the ways in which we can leverage our racial privilege to in implementing change, especially in our campus community. best partner in a multi-racial coalition for our shared societal Why, in your opinion, is the conversation about race liberation. important for staff and faculty at SBCC? How might our Newman: My hope is that people will feel empowered and students of color benefit? more confident to learn about racism, talk about racism, write Hutchinson: The conversation about race and racism is about racism, challenge racism and practice anti-racism to important for everyone in our society, and SBCC is not exempt. dismantle racism. Given SBCC’s critical role in educating our students, serving our 12 |
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Outstanding
FACULTY
ADVISOR OF THE YEAR At its annual convention last November, the National Communication Association (NCA) awarded Associate Professor Sarah Hock, Chair of the Department of Communication and Faculty Adviser of Sigma Chi Eta Communication Honor Society, the Lynn M. Disbrow National Advisor of the Year Award for the second time. Professor Hock and two of her students were also selected to give a presentation, which focused on how Sigma Chi Eta creates a space for belonging at SBCC for high-achieving, leadership-oriented students.
PETER GEORGAKIS: 50 YEARS OF TEACHING, AND COUNTING... Peter Georgakis, professor of mathematics, has taught for 50 years, 35 of them at SBCC. Georgakis was awarded the Presidential Award by the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges in 2011. The most prestigious award that the Mathematical Association gives, it is awarded every two years to an individual for outstanding contributions and dedicated service to two-year mathematics education. Peter was also the 1997 Hayward Award recipient, the highest award given to a California Community College instructor, and was named the SBCC Faculty Lecturer in 2005. He was a high school Teacher of the Year Award winner in 1976 and the Career Education Corporation’s 2006 Educator of the Year.
A FOND FAREWELL TO TREASURED FACULTY Faculty members with more than 300 years of combined service to the college said farewell in the last academic year. That number far from sums up the long-standing legacies each of them has left to the institution and its students. We thank them for their incredible service and wish them all the best in their retirements. Kathie Adams, 19 years
Chella Courington, 12 years
Sandy Starkey, 13 years
Elizabeth Bowman, 13 years
Sally Ghizzoni, 24 years
Donna Terpening, 11 years
Randy Bublitz, 27 years
Morris Hodges, 30 years
Sheila Wiley, 16 years
Dina Castillo, 31 years
Charles Melendez, 29 years
Ann Wilkinson, 34 years
Annette Cordero, 22 years
Cathy Schermer, 10 years
Ronald Wopat, 29 years
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Stand-Out
SBCC STAFF
EQUITY COORDINATOR NAMED ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR The college’s Administrator of the Year award went to Adolfo Corral, who with his wife Mary Jane Becerra Corral, died tragically on a Sunday in early February. He was not only an excellent administrator in his position as Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency Coordinator, he also motivated and inspired students and staff each day of his 15-year career at SBCC. In his most current role as Equity Coordinator, Adolfo supervised the day-to-day activities and personnel for the Center for Equity and Social Justice (CESJ), Umoja Center, Food Pantry and Tiffany’s Closet — while working in collaboration with other programs to support equity-related services. He previously served as the STEM Transfer Program Coordinator. In both positions Adolfo excelled at what he did best:
Championing the underrepresented student populations on campus and providing them with tools to succeed. “Adolfo was truly committed to student equity, diversity and inclusion of our SBCC students and I was able to witness this in his work with STEM,” says current STEM Coordinator Virginia Estrella. “Adolfo was only in his role as the Coordinator of Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competency for about seven and a half months, but in that time we came to know him as an incredibly kind, caring and compassionate supervisor,” says Roxane Byrne, who worked under Adolfo as CESJ Coordinator and was recently hired as the new Coordinator of Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competency. “He was committed to supporting students through the various programs
he oversaw including the Pantry, Umoja, and CESJ. Adolfo was always available to assist a student or staff member in need and he impacted many lives in the time he spent with us. He is missed every day and I can only hope that we do his legacy justice as we try to move forward.” “He always remembered and never forgot,” adds Umoja Coordinator Casey Ysaguirre. “Weeks later, he would say, ‘oh, here’s the thing you asked for!’” Knowing him, even for a short time, she says, “was a beautiful experience and a true blessing.” Adolfo set a meaningful example for students and his fellow staff alike. He and his wife Mary Jane, also an educator in the Goleta Union School District, will be missed.
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Stand-Out
SBCC STAFF
Q&A WITH STUDENT PROGRAM ADVISOR, JANNA MORI Janna Mori has worked at the Career Center for a little over five years, and in that time has advised countless students on finding fulfilling job and career opportunities — and defining themselves in the process. Janna came to SBCC after working in education at both elementary and college levels. What would you like students to know about the Career Center you think they might not know? There is a misnomer that career centers are where one has to decide a career after walking in the door. That is daunting! In fact, the Career Center is a place where students learn about how their personalities, strengths and values can help them discover and plan for a satisfying and meaningful work environment. It is not atypical to have students tell us that they have no clue as to what they want to do with their lives; we enjoy walking through the process of figuring things out with them. What are your goals for the Career Center? I work with the Director, Chris Phillips, on plans for the Career Center, and right now we are talking about how best to build upon our efforts that support student career readiness and employability through virtual platforms. While we were already headed in that direction, particularly after the build-out of the new website last summer, the pandemic has forced us to move more quickly. What are your thoughts on students seeking jobs and careers in a post-COVID 19 world? How can the Career Center help? The job market is going to be difficult to navigate for some time. Students will need to be patient, creative and flexible. They may need to be open to delaying working at their dream job, and instead work at a different job where they can build transferable skills. As during any season, we would advise students to reach out to us to learn which occupational areas are growing, attending workshops and job fairs, and creating a LinkedIn account to increase networking opportunities. What makes students who seek your services stand out and how have they inspired you? We see students who are at all stages of career development, from everything between the dual-enrollment high school student to the typical college student, and the mature adult transitioning to a different career. A common theme is that students are often working very hard to overcome obstacles in order to reach their goals and dreams. I am always inspired and humbled by students’ vulnerability, courage and persistence, [and that they] take advantage of the many resources available.
RETIRING STAFF LEAVE LEGACIES We bade farewell to more than 20 retiring classified staff, managers and administrators in 2020. The retirees leave behind more than 450 cumulative years of tireless work supporting the college and its students — in almost every department and on all three campuses. We wish them well in their lives beyond SBCC! Sandra Allain, 33 years
Martha Lizalde, 20 years
Paul Bishop, 14 years
Juan (Carlos) Macias,
Erika Blos, 15 years
33 years
Annette Boatman, 8 years
Marcella Poitras, 9 years
Anita Cole, 29 years
Luis Ruiz, 30 years
Angie Esqueda, 20 years
Elizabeth Smith, 18 years
Sandy Evenson, 21 years
Beverly Jo Stephen,
Andy Harper, 11 years
12 years
Clarice Hillebrand, 12 years
Jerry Lee Thomas, 25 years
Guadalupe Huerta,
Elaine Tomatore, 23 years
31 years James Ingram, 17 years
Gordon Vander Sal, 15 years David Linn Wong, 35 years
Mayuree Leelahatorn, 34 years
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Artistic
TRIUMPHS
ART STUDENTS EXHIBIT THEIR CREATIVITY AT SANTA BARBARA CITY HALL The Atkinson Gallery presented two artist lectures and five exhibitions in the 2019-2020 academic year, including “Student Voices from the Santa Barbara City College Art Department,� which was a featured exhibit during the spring at Santa Barbara City Hall. Showcasing top examples of SBCC student artwork, the show highlighted a range of media including works on paper, painting, sculpture and ceramics. Participating students spoke about their work at the opening reception during the First Thursday Art Walk on March 5. The exhibit was produced in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Barbara and the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College.
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Artistic
TRIUMPHS
MYSTERY, CHALLENGE AND TRIUMPH ON STAGE AT THE GARVIN THEATRE In the Spring, The Theatre Group at SBCC presented the touching play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime,” by Simon Stephens. The tale begins when a 15-year-old boy who has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, detests being touched and distrusts strangers, discovers the dead body of his neighbor’s dog. Determined to find out what happened, he overcomes his fears and difficulties to set off on a perilous adventure to uncover the mystery behind the murdered dog and the truth of his own unique life story.
Photo courtesy of Leslie Holtzman.
THE THEATRE GROUP WINS HONORS IN BROADWAY WORLD REGIONAL The Theatre Group at SBCC was the big winner in the Broadway World Regional Theatre Awards for 2019, taking the prize for Community/University Theatre Company of the Year. Among the other awards granted to The Theatre Group at SBCC, “Significant Other” won for Best Play (non-musical) and Ryan Ostendorf won Outstanding Performance in a Musical for his portrayal of J. Pierrepont Finch in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
SBCC DANCE COMPANY TAKES STAGE “This year our student SBCC Dance Company and dancers gave powerhouse performances throughout California, proving once again that our dancers are talented and amazing artists,” said Professor of Dance Tracy R. Kofford. At the spring dance concert, “Collective 2020,” new works by Tracy R. Kofford, Shelby Lynn Caputo, Danah Bella, Irishia Hubbard, Arianna Hartanov, and student Choreographer Fenna Roukema were featured. In addition to performing here in Santa Barbara at the HH11 Festival, the Company also performed in San Jose, El Cerrito, Monterey, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and St. George, Utah. Major highlights included a performance at the American College Dance Association at CSU Long Beach and outreach at the East Los Angeles Performing Arts Academy.
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A Message from
OUR FOUNDATION A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDATION
For more than a century Santa Barbara City College has served as a lifeline for community members in search of new opportunities, a gateway for first-generation college students and a launching pad for those who are just setting out on their academic journey. As I write this, we are several months into a pandemic the likes of which almost no one alive today has ever experienced, the cascading impacts of which are touching virtually every facet of our lives. Beginning in mid-March of 2020 with California’s stay at home order, life was upended for millions across our state. Throughout our region, the sudden closure of hundreds of local businesses, schools, childcare centers and social service agencies meant the loss of thousands of jobs, a crash-course in home-schooling for parents and isolation for many. These challenges only serve to highlight the value of our work together. The current crisis has shone a light on several of the critical roles that SBCC plays in our community. SBCC’s School of Nursing ranks among the top in the nation and our local health systems rely on its graduates. Our Early Childhood Education Program and Orfalea Early Learning Center lead the way in providing our region with skilled childcare providers and early childhood educators. And these are just a few examples. Together we have created two resilient, innovative institutions – SBCC and the SBCC Foundation – working together to ensure that quality higher education is available to everyone in our community. Creating and constantly reinventing one of the nation’s top community colleges has been a labor of love for generations of SBCC faculty, staff, administrators and trustees. Likewise, supporting the remarkable students who seek a brighter future at the college has been the passion of the SBCC Foundation, our donors, staff, board and volunteers for nearly 45 years. Even as a pandemic, a recession and a renewed public debate on our nation’s racial injustices create massive challenges, they offer new opportunities to stretch, rethink and reinvent. You can read about just a few of these efforts on the following pages. Now more than ever, we are counting on our community of generous donors, supporters and partners to join with us and ensure that the SBCC Foundation is strong.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Thank you for supporting our work. Gratefully,
Geoff Green, CEO SBCC Foundation
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N. Scott Vincent, President Edward “Ted” Friedel, Vice President Jeff Pittman, Treasurer Kandy Luria-Budgor, Secretary Frank Tabar, Member-at-Large Laurie Ashton, J.D. Sarah de Tagyos Roger Durling Pedro Paz, Ph.D. Michelle Lee Pickett, J.D. Wendy Read, J.D. Frank Schipper Philip J. Wyatt, Ph.D. Ex-Officio Alexandra Montes De Oca Utpal K. Goswami, Ph.D. Melissa Moreno, J.D. Craig Nielsen Pamela Ralston, Ph.D. Patricia Stark Emeritus Members Silvio Di Loreto (in memoriam) Stan Fishman Jane Habermann Perri Harcourt Len Jarrott Morrie Jurkowitz Steve Lew Peter MacDougall, Ed.D. John Romo Suzi Schomer Michael Towbes (in memoriam)
Investing in Our
COMMUNITY
SBCC PROMISE In Fall 2016, the SBCC Foundation launched the SBCC Promise, an ambitious effort to make our community’s college accessible and affordable to all local students who have recently completed their secondary education within the SBCC district. Since its inception, nearly 4,000 students have benefited from the SBCC Promise.
The idea of a “college promise” is not new, but the SBCC Promise is revolutionary in that it is comprehensive (covers all required fees, books, and supplies), robust (covers two full years) and open access (not restricted based on past academic performance). Eligibility is determined by a student’s high school location, year of graduation and commitment to the SBCC Promise eligibility requirements (sbccpromise. org). Research on college achievement correlates a student’s chance of success in college with early enrollment, full-time student status, and access to academic counseling and support. The SBCC Promise is specifically designed with this in mind by requiring all three. It is also an exemplary model of a public/ private partnership, as 100 percent of the funding for the SBCC Promise is privately raised from donors to the SBCC Foundation.
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The SBCC Promise reinforces our community college’s commitment to our local community and strengthens our region’s economy, neighborhoods and families. Whether a student wishes to pursue a trade, earn a certificate, complete an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution, SBCC is the place and the SBCC Promise provides a new pathway.
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Foundation
HIGHLIGHTS
THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE ARTS The SBCC Foundation has a long, proud history of supporting SBCC’s outstanding arts programs. These programs are vital to the college’s educational mission and serve to strengthen its connection to our local community, as exhibits and performances are regularly open to all. On September 14, 2019, the Foundation presented its second sold-out benefit concert featuring SBCC Music students and faculty with rock legend Michael McDonald at the historic Lobero Theatre. It was a night of memorable performances, reminding everyone that SBCC’s Music Program is extraordinary. The Foundation’s work also includes grants that have brought new resources and programs to SBCC’s Atkinson Gallery. This year, for example, the gallery was accepted into the highly competitive Museum Assessment Program, a national effort between the American Alliance of Museums and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The Theatre Group at SBCC is well known in our community, bringing students and theatre professionals together. The Foundation’s ongoing sponsorship provides opportunities for all members of our community to learn, create and discover new talents.
PHILANTHROPY IN A TIME OF CRISIS: FOUNDATION PROVIDES $2 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS THROUGH COVID-19 EMERGENCY GRANTS In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping communities around the world, the SBCC Foundation sprang into action to support SBCC students as they faced multiple challenges resulting from the health crisis: having all college classes rapidly moved online, loss of paid work, homeschooling of children and loss of childcare options. Philanthropy has a unique role to play in crises like this, as community-based organizations can immediately move resources to help bridge the gap between the initial shock and the eventual arrival of public assistance. The SBCC Foundation was in a position to ensure that students could find some financial stability while they figured out how to navigate the public health crisis
and resulting economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, the SBCC Foundation launched the largest Emergency Grant program in its history (and one of the largest at any community college in the country) to help students with immediate financial needs. One-time grants of up to $1,000 per student helped cover such costs as housing, food, child care, and other essential items, including the technology and internet access necessary for students to continue their education remotely. The Foundation received over 2,300 requests in less than four weeks and provided $2 million in assistance.
“I am a first-generation, low-income student who has been financially independent since I was 17 years old. Due to the Coronavirus I lost two of my jobs. This is an amazing resource the SBCC Foundation is offering to students and I am eternally grateful. Thank you!” — J. Tellez, SBCC Student
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Foundation
HIGHLIGHTS
FOUNDATION FACTS The SBCC Foundation has served as an independent 501c3 nonprofit partner organization to Santa Barbara City College since 1976. Today the SBCC Foundation is a national leader, innovating new ways to connect donors and partners with our community’s college. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the SBCC Foundation:
• Was supported by over 1,800 generous donors • Grew its assets by 3.4 percent • Had a total revenue of $9.6 million • Distributed more than $5.7 million
$8 M
2017–2018
$7 M
$1.1
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS 2018-2019
$6 M
2016–2017
$0.2 $2.0
Unrestricted (all sizes)
$5 M $4 M
$2 M
$2.8
$2.3
$3 M
$2.0
$2.4
$0.8
$1.4
Restricted (in excess of $1 Million*) Restricted (under $1 Million)
$3.5
$1 M $0 M
The bar graph to the left shows all funds raised by the SBCC Foundation for the fiscal years 2017-2019 by gift type (audited). Dollars are in millions.
$1.2
Restricted (Disaster Response & Recovery) *Jack & Julie Nadel (2016–17), Estate of Selmer O. Wake (2016–17), Cottage Health Systems (2017–18), Estate of Laurie Converse (2017–18), Estate of Christine Allison (2018–19)
NET ASSETS BY FUND TYPE The pie chart below shows the SBCC Foundation’s net assets by fund type as of June 30, 2019 (audited). At 62.9 million, net assets increased 3.4 percent over the prior fiscal year (2017-2018).
6% 82%
12%
Permanently Restricted Endowment Funds $51,758,628 Temporarily Restricted Non-Endowed Funds $7,268,578 Unrestricted Funds $3,924,100
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Extended
LEARNING
CAREER RECOVERY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN APRIL FOR JOB SEEKERS With social distancing, the cancellation of public gatherings and restaurants, pubs and shops of all kinds closing their doors until the pandemic crisis passes, hundreds of our friends and neighbors suddenly found themselves without work. The School of Extended Learning responded quickly with an immediate ramping up of tuition-free courses for the recently unemployed. The summer sessions schedule offered accelerated courses allowing students to earn California Approved Certificates in the Personal Care Attendant Program (PCA), the Construction Technology Program and the Green Gardener Program. Certificates in essential business skills and computers, offered through the School of Extended Learning’s Career Skills Institute, included Customer Relations, Project Management, Social Media and Digital Design Basics. These certificates align with the sustainable local career pathways identified in Extended Learning’s 2019 Economic and Workforce Gap Analysis for Adult Education Students. Needs identified in our region include sales and customer support, project management and supervision, healthcare and construc-
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tion. The School of Extended Learning is well-poised to continue providing these valuable educational opportunities for new or transitioning job seekers.
“As we transition to re-open our community and small businesses, we anticipate that those expecting to return to work may find continued unemployment. As such, we are providing a rapid response to assist with re-training and up-skilling, so that students can re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible, and reduce the negative financial impact on families in our community.”
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— Melissa Moreno, Vice President, School of Extended Learning
Extended
LEARNING
FIRST INCARCERATED WOMAN TO EARN CAREER SKILLS CERTIFICATE At a ceremony held at the Santa Barbara County Jail on September 30, Kylee Shane was honored by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office and SBCC after becoming the first woman to receive an SBCC Career Skills badge and certificate while incarcerated. The digital badge demonstrates mastery of specific skills, such as supervision, leadership, motivation and productivity, and is earned by completing all four courses in the Emerging Leaders Program. The course is taught by Linda Croyle to inmates in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail. Representatives from SBCC and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office were on hand to watch as Shane was given her certificate.
VITALITY PROGRAM RECOGNIZED FOR ITS “BIG HEART” WITH AWARD In the fall, the School of Extended Learning Vitality Program was honored to be recognized with a Big Heart Award from Friendship Center, a fully licensed non-profit adult day services program providing professional, compassionate and affordable care in Montecito and Goleta. The Vitality Program has grown to provide nearly 70 classes a week at independent, assisted and memory care facilities in our community. SBCC is proud to partner with 13 locations locally. Andy Harper and Associate Director Jeanette Chian were on hand to accept the award (pictured with Event Co-Chair Karolyn Hanna). Thanks to the Friendship Center for the important resources they provide.
A REWARDING PATH TO CITIZENSHIP Jessica Martinez is proud to be a newly-minted U.S. citizen. She attributes her success to the tuition-free U.S. naturalization preparation class offered at the School of Extended Learning. Jessica encourages her fellow immigrants to “work hard, be responsible and seize the opportunity!” At age 13, after her father’s death, Jessica moved to the U.S. with her mother and brother. She learned English as a Second Language and attended college for two years. After having to take time off from school in order to support her family, Jessica decided to apply for citizenship to open more doors for her education and employment. Jessica now works in accounting and lives with her husband and son. She is excited to vote in the next election and is grateful for what living in the U.S. offers.
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Vaquero Athletics
HIGHLIGHTS
Taylor Brooks rewrote the record book, breaking SBCC’s school record and topping California with 134 goals in 35 games (3.8 avg.). Women’s Waterpolo went 30-5 for the second straight year and finished third in Southern California. They captured their sixth straight Western State Conference (WSC) title with an 8-0 record. Women’s Waterpolo has won 40 straight WSC contests and they are 50-2 all-time in six seasons.
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WESTERN STATE CONFERENCE TITLES Women’s Water Polo and Women’s Soccer
TH
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IN THE STATE OF CA out of 108 schools by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA)
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-STATE TEAM (3.0 GPA or higher)
TEAMS AWARDED THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR TEAM AWARD Women’s Waterpolo and Men’s Golf
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Vaquero Athletic
HIGHLIGHTS
2020 VAQUEROS HALL OF FAME
Pratima Sherpa of Nepal placed fourth in the state and was the low freshman with two rounds of 74 at Morro Bay GC on Nov. 17-18. The Vaqueros finished second in the WSC (40-10) and 7th in the state. Photo courtesy of Nathan Stephenson.
The Athletics Department announced its 2020 class of the SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, which was established last year, will again induct a mix of seven former players and coaches as well as one athletic team. The SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inducted former players Jesse Orosco (Baseball), Don Ford (Basketball), Tim Tremblay (Football), Cindy Banks (Track and Field), Kieran (O’Leary) Roblee (Volleyball) and coaches Ed DeLacy and Kathy O’Connor, along with the 1983 State Champion Men’s Volleyball Team. “We’re very happy to announce the Class of 2020 to the SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame,” said Director of Athletics Rocco Constantino. “This class is special because this group not only did very well as Vaqueros, but they also all went on to incredible accomplishments once they left SBCC. It’s a very worthy class indeed.” The group will join last year’s inaugural class of Bob Dinaberg, Bud Revis, Gary Woods, Booker Brown, Marina Gomez, Pat Moorhouse, Debbie Ekola and the 1977 Women’s Track & Field team.
Women’s Soccer won their third straight WSC title with a 9-1-2 record and tied for fifth in the state. Sophomore forward Mekaylla White notched four hat tricks in her last eight regular-season games and earned WSC Offensive MVP honors. She led the WSC North and was 13th in the state with 19 goals in 22 games. Photo courtesy of Nathan Stephenson.
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Leadoff hitter Ryan Guardino, a sophomore from San Marcos High, hit .415 in 18 games for the Vaqueros (12-8, 4-3). He was sixth in the state with 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts.
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A Community of KINSHIP “LEONARDO DORANTES LECTURE” WITH DR. MARC LAMONT HILL In November, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill came to campus to deliver the 2019 Leonardo Dorantes Memorial Lecture, “Building Community in an Hour of Chaos.” A noted scholar and award-winning journalist, Dr. Hill offered a critical analysis of the current social and political moment. By identifying key issues, challenges, controversies and trends that have emerged or lingered during this challenging time, he outlined the work that must be done to sustain the progress of the “Freedom Struggle.” Moving beyond mere critique, he provided concrete solutions, as well as hope and possibility for healing our national, local and university communities. His bold vision of the future, where social progress and the pursuit of equality depend on listening to each other while adopting a fearless attitude toward change, was enthusiastically received by the audience of faculty, staff, students and members of the community.
CHANCELLOR OAKLEY’S “VISION FOR SUCCESS” VISIT TO CAMPUS “As a Community College, you are at the epicenter of all things that are going on in the community,” noted California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley when he visited SBCC as part of his listening tour of all 155 California Community Colleges (CCC) last fall. The purpose of the tour was to discuss the CCC’s Vision for Success, its goals and the state’s progress on achieving those goals. Oakley described their “Vision for Success” in its most basic terms as making sure that students from all backgrounds succeed in reaching their goals and improving their families and communities. He defined and then elaborated on six specific “bold and straightforward” goals: • Increase credential obtainment by 20 percent • Increase transfer by 35 percent to UC and CSU • Decrease unit obtainment for a degree • Increase employment for CTE (Career Technical Education) students • Reduce and erase equity gaps • Eliminate regional gaps He spoke seriously of how “our students are going through very challenging times,” namely, “war, recession, a gig economy or an economy that forces them to continually change jobs without having reliable access to health and welfare benefits
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or retirement, growing housing insecurity and growing food insecurity. We have to adapt to help them meet those challenges,” he stressed. “We were built to be the most adaptive system of higher education in the country.”
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A Community of KINSHIP
UMOJA PROGRAM WELCOMES NEW ADVISOR, CASEY YSAGUIRRE Umoja (a Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of California Community College students. The Umoja community serves at risk, educationally, economically disadvantaged African American and other students. Casey Ysaguirre was hired to oversee SBCC’s Umoja program at the beginning of the Fall semester. Just 27, Casey possesses a master’s degree in counseling and a background in academic advising, program organization and black activism. Her sense of fun and penchant for “glitz and glamour” has transformed both the decor of the Umoja center and the hearts of the students who find community there. Vibrantly colored posters and prose adorn the walls of Casey’s Umoja space, including pennants from Historically Black Colleges as well as Ivy-League schools strewn across the entire room. The space is designed to highlight the African American diaspora and includes designated areas for events and programming, socializing, and study. Physically dividing the spaces has been a “game-changer,” Casey said. “I also try to make it as comfortable for them as possible.” Although the administration of Umoja programs vary from college to college, all emphasize supporting students through academic support and community-building activities. For Casey and her students these have included attending the November Umoja XV Conference in Oakland, California, where student participants experienced empowering speakers, culturally relevant discussions and networking opportunities. Another highlight was when black author/activist Marc Lamont Hill visited the center to spend time with the Umoja students before speaking at the Garvin Theatre as the SBCC Dorantes Lecturer.
The incorporation of Umoja women’s and men’s support groups addressed the emotional well-being and unique challenges faced by students of color. For the men’s group, Casey adds, “It was really important to invite therapists who were black and male. I’m trying my best to develop our students as scholars and as whole people, and to give them the tools that they’ll need to succeed when they transfer ... and also just to succeed, as black people. I want my students to be able to determine what their own success means and how it’s defined for them.”
SUPPORTING EOPS STUDENTS DURING WILDFIRE When flames from the Cave Fire erupted just days before Thanksgiving, evacuation notices, fluctuating power and poor air quality prompted SBCC campuses to close. That didn’t stop Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) from serving our students, however. For over 20 years, EOPS has given out a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to single parents in the CARE program, but with the campus closed, the dedicated group quickly switched gears. Staff went to the El Centro S.B. Community Center to hand out Vons gift cards, a pumpkin pie and face masks, while Program Advisor Chelsea Lancaster delivered an additional 18 dinners to students who didn’t have transportation.
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COVID-19
RESILIENCE
2020: THE YEAR OF THE CORONAVIRUS Two months into the Spring 2020 semester, the Coronavirus pandemic took the world by storm, and SBCC administrators worked to implement policies and instructional plans to continue classes while also protecting students, staff and faculty from the highly contagious virus. Superintendent/President Dr. Utpal K. Goswami made the decision to suspend in-person, on-campus operations beginning Monday, March 16, and the majority of instruction was quickly moved to online platforms.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORT The importance of accessible mental healthcare resources and tools for self care is crucial as the COVID-19 health crisis continues. Students, staff and faculty have all struggled with adjusting to physical distancing guidelines. SBCC’s Student Health and Wellness team banded together to find new ways to provide support to the SBCC community, from implementing telehealth counseling services, creating helpful online resources and collaborating remotely with local healthcare agencies. “Everyone on our team has worked very hard to keeping our services strong and available to students. We are also coming up with creative ideas for improvement,” said Laura Fariss, Director of Student Health and Wellness. “We are mindful of the diverse needs of our campus community and are flexible in accommodating students’ accessibility to health information and services during this sensitive time.” The Student Health and Wellness team moved all of their personal counseling services to Zoom and the counselors added an additional four-to-five students per week since the outbreak, increasing their total caseloads to 50 to 60 students per week. In addition, the Student Health and Wellness Center, a.k.a. “The WELL,” prioritized providing services and resources remotely. The WELL’s Student Program Advisor Becky Bean created a broad range of digital health and wellness resources and services for students to gain meaningful wellness support during this time. These included online guides and video series for the community such as the “Staying-In Self Care Kit,” “Alternative Activity Guide” and “Keep Well By Eating Well.” The WELL also continued to host its Positive Psychology and Single Parent Support Groups and its club meetings via Zoom.
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SBCC’s two full-time therapists, Alyson Bostwick and Lacey Peters, kept in contact with local healthcare agencies for referral resources. The two are in weekly contact with key players from community resources such as Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Isla Vista Coalition for Healthy Communities and Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health and treatment programs. The Student Health and Wellness team has to maintain their well-being in order to give continued support, “... to stay positive, we are practicing what we preach to students and practicing self care, meditation, exercise and time for connection and gratitude,” Fariss said. “We are all very grateful to be a team that can help students during this very difficult and uncertain time,” she said. “We want students to know that we are there for them if they need us. We also want them to know that they are not alone and that it takes courage to be vulnerable and ask for help.”
| 2019-2020 Report to the Community
COVID-19
RESILIENCE
REGISTERED NURSE ON FRONT LINES GOT HER START AT SBCC Kaitlin Shipley always knew she wanted to work in the healthcare field. After working as a medical assistant for several years after high school, she enrolled in the nursing program at SBCC, graduating in 2019 with an associate degree in nursing. Fast forward less than one year, Kaitlin found herself donning protective gear to enter the isolation room at Lompoc Valley Medical Center as one of the local heroes in the battle against COVID-19. In the acute hospital, on the medical/surgical floor, there are 40 beds to serve a diverse patient population. When COVID19 hit Lompoc, a part of that floor was sectioned off solely for COVID-19 patients in order to isolate them. Nurses caring for those patients remain in that unit, whereas the nurses caring for the other patients remain with that population. Kaitlin is one of the nurses in the isolation unit. “Although this has been one of the most emotional and exhausting times in my life, I feel proud to be fighting this alongside my fellow nurses, medical professionals and hospital staff,” said Kaitlin in a recent interview. She credits SBCC for providing her with “excellent clinical instruction,” noting that although it is an emotionally challenging time for healthcare workers around the world, it is what they trained for. “It is satisfying to help people who need us the most right now.” In addition to the challenges, she describes moments of joy. “I became a nurse because I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting and patient focused. I feel the greatest sense of fulfillment by improving someone’s day and making them feel cared for. Being amongst my fellow nurses and working as a team makes me realize I am part of something important; especially in times like these. I am extremely proud to be a nurse and am grateful to be in this profession.”
“Although this has been one of the most emotional and exhausting times in my life, I feel proud to be fighting this alongside my fellow nurses, medical professionals and hospital staff.” — Kaitlin Shipley, Registered Nurse at Lompoc Valley Medical Center
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Commencement
MAKING HISTORY
VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY HONORS 2020 GRADUATES Commencement 2020 was one for the record books. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full force and social distancing orders in place, the college promised to postpone the in-person commencement ceremony for its 2020 graduating class. To honor the graduates on the original Commencement date of May 8, an all-online “virtual” ceremony was conducted in “real time” via the SBCC website. A simultaneous YouTube version included a chat feature, offering friends, family, faculty and staff members the opportunity to cheer on their graduates with encouraging comments and emojis.
Featured Commencement speakers included President/Superintendent Dr. Utpal K. Goswami, Academic President Patricia Stark and Student Commencement Speaker Isabel Agundis. Presentation of the candidates and diplomas followed, led by Dr. Goswami and Vice President of Educational Services Dr. Pamela Ralston, as slides displaying the names and degrees of each student were presented in succession to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Said Patricia Stark, “We know that every pandemic since the Black Plague has violently reshaped civilizations —
education, sanitization, the arts, even social hierarchies — and despite the bleakness of our current environment, I believe the opportunity lies before us, and not just the privileged few.” “I have great hope that despite where we are today,” said Dr. Goswami, “your future is going to be bright. It may have to take a little bit of a detour to some other parts that you never expected to go … and then you’ll be back on your path to success and your ambitions.” The class of 2020 totaled 1,752 graduates and 4,325 degrees and certificates.
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| 2019-2020 Report to the Community
Commencement
MAKING HISTORY
2019-2020 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, ISABEL AGUNDIS In 2015, 18-year-old Isabel Agundis left Mexico, the country of her birth, with the dream of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from a premier university and to eventually attend graduate school. Five years later, crediting SBCC as “an incubator for those dreams,” she stood before her fellow classmates (via video) as the commencement speaker for 2020. Thanking her “top-notch professors, reliable classmates, and resourceful staff across the campus” she stood poised to realize her potential as a university student (transferring to San Jose State University in the fall) and as a future professional engineer. As an SBCC student Isabel received accolades from national organizations like Great Minds in STEM and National Engineers Week. A high point was when she received a full-time internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she worked hand in hand with world leading program directors, engineers, scientists, commanders, astronauts, and conducted research for the Orion Spacecraft mission. In her concluding remarks, she issued this challenge to her fellow classmates in the class of 2020: “It is your time to pursue your wildest dreams. It is your time to declare that you matter. It is your time to change the world. It is your time to be great. It is your time to inform, educate and inspire others. Most importantly, it is your time, SBCC graduates, to demonstrate that Community Colleges Matter.”
“Overall, I think of SBCC as my home because, apart from giving me an excellent education, I feel like I am part of a strong and diverse community where people take care of each other and where their main goal is to help you succeed in all aspects of your life. I also feel extremely lucky to be living in such a beautiful place like Santa Barbara.” — Isabel Agundis, 2019-2020 Commencement Speaker
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Facts About
SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE Based on headcount numbers for the Fall 2019 Semester
SBCC’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Santa Barbara City College strives to build a socially conscious community where knowledge and respect empower individuals to transform our world.
Robert K. Miller, Area 2 Board of Trustees President Dr. Peter O. Haslund, Area 1 Board of Trustees Vice President
SBCC’S MISSION STATEMENT
Veronica Gallardo, Area 3
Santa Barbara City College welcomes all students. The College provides a diverse learning environment and opportunities for students to enrich their lives, advance their careers, complete certificates, earn associate degrees, and transfer to four-year institutions. The College is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, respectful, participatory, and supportive community dedicated to the success of every student.
Craig Nielsen, Area 4 Marsha S. Croninger, Area 5 Jonathan Abboud, Area 6 Kate Parker, Area 7 Kenny Igbechi, Student Trustee 2019
STUDENTS SERVED
DIVERSE MAIN CAMPUS
Main Campus..........................................................................11,478 Local High Schools (Dual Enrollment)................................ 2,146 Exclusively Online.....................................................................2,496 Total...........................................................................................16,120 School of Extended Learning................................................. 7,765 (Tuition-free and fee-based courses)
WHERE ARE OUR STUDENTS FROM? In District (Gaviota to Carpinteria)....................................... 8,157 Elsewhere in Tri-Counties....................................................... 2,458 Elsewhere in California........................................................... 3,913 Out of State...................................................................................711 International...................................................................................881 Total...........................................................................................16,120
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SBCC’S VISION STATEMENT
White..........................................................................................42.7% Hispanic.....................................................................................39.1% Asian/Filipino/Pacific Islander.................................................7.9% African American....................................................................... 2.9% Other.............................................................................................7.4% *Other includes: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Two or More Races, Unknown, and other non-white
ADOPTED 2018-2019 BUDGET (Unrestricted General Fund) Total Expenses.............................................................$103,657,190 Total Revenue.............................................................$100,403,500
GREAT PLACE TO WORK Full-Time Faculty..........................................................................247 Adjunct Faculty........................................................................... 523 Staff............................................................................................... 366
| 2019-2020 Report to the Community
Administration
SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE
Report to the Community prepared by
SBCC EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Utpal K. Goswami, Ph.D. Superintendent/President
Luz Reyes-MartÃn Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications
Dr. Pamela Ralston Executive Vice President, Educational Programs
Sally Gill Marketing Communications Specialist
Dr. Paul W. Bishop Vice President, Information Technology
Amanda Jacobs Marketing Communications Specialist
Lyndsay Maas, MBA Vice President, Business Services
Hong Lieu Webmaster
Michael W. Shanahan, Esq. Vice President, Human Resources
Kirsten Mathieson Administrative Assistant
Dr. Melissa V. Moreno Vice President, School of Extended Learning
MAIN CAMPUS 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 965-0581
SCHOTT CAMPUS 310 W. Padre St., Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 687-0812
WAKE CAMPUS 300 N. Turnpike Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (805) 964-6853
Office of Communications 721 Cliff Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93109 www.sbcc.edu SantaBarbaraCC SBCityCollege SantaBarbaraCC SBCCOfficial Santa-Barbara-City-College SBCCOfficial
