4-year universities and community colleges swap degree programs

Share: Amid transfer season, higher education alternatives are beginning to materialize for students who struggle with paying high tuition. While community colleges typically offer associate’s degrees and four-year universities with bachelor’s degrees, the opposite may soon be true. In other states, four-year universities such as Butler University in Indianapolis and the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis have either implemented or are preparing to implement new, two-year colleges after Chicago’s Loyola University started the model in 2015. The effort comes in response to rising college …

Dual enrollment soars, but can PCC keep up high numbers?

Share: Amid changing demographics for community colleges, PCC presented new enrollment strategies to the Board of Trustees at the Nov. 15 Board meeting.  This comes at a time as California community colleges are experiencing enrollment returning back to pre-pandemic levels, but now with a different demographic. As of this academic year, the under-20 demographic has become the majority of students attending community college, surpassing the 20 to 29 age group for the first time. This is in part to high school students who are taking …

New PCC foster youth housing program begins in early 2024

Share: At the November Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees approved a five-year contract to rent out a six-unit housing complex near PCC’s Foothill campus, a first of its kind for the college to support its foster youth who face significant challenges obtaining secure and clean housing while in school.  Because foster youth face some of the highest rates of housing insecurity and homelessness at PCC, their needs were prioritized for PCC’s first ever housing project that directly provided free housing to those in need …

Three PCC trustee seats up for grabs in March election

Share: Three members of Pasadena City College’s Board of Trustees (BOT) are up for reelection on the March 2024 ballot, where voters in areas two, four, and six from Altadena to Rosemead will have the opportunity to elect their trustee.  Prior to Board Member John Martin from district six announcing his decision to not run for another term after serving as a PCC Trustee for over 40 years, he was facing off against PCC alum Ryan Liu. In area six, after Martin dropped out, Liu …

PCC students advocate for zero carbon by 2030

Share: Several PCC Students have joined the grassroots efforts to align Pasadena City College’s policies with Pasadena’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. On Nov 14, several PCC students attended the Pasadena City Council meeting of the Municipal Services Committee to ensure that the city’s new water and power plan is true to its Zero Carbon by 2030 resolution. This goal puts Pasadena 15 years ahead of the state’s goal of a zero-carbon 2045. Also in attendance were representatives from several local climate organizations, …

Trustees approve PCC Presidential search timeline and committee appointments

Share: At the November Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting the board publicized and approved the PCC presidential search timeline, committee appointments and a document outlining what PCC’s constituency groups, shared governance and on-campus community is looking for in their next permanent Superintendent-President.  The preliminary preparations and creation of the search profile have been going on since late September when the Board hired AGB Search to facilitate the process.  As a part of the undertaking since their hiring, AGB Search has hosted several listening sessions with …

Mental health on campus: Professors need help too

Share: As the United States grapples with a continuing mental health crisis, especially among college aged adults and teens, many professors are feeling the brunt of having to console and act as mental health providers to their students as mental health has worsened and outside care has become more expensive and harder to access. Fear and isolation caused by the pandemic, along with the surfacing of social issues and economic instability, are said to have exacerbated a national struggle with mental health and substance abuse …

Do campus attempts to stifle protest violate the 1st Amendment?

Share: Colleges around the country have been dealing with increasing risks for students due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, while some have banned protesting altogether citing students safety, PCC vowed to protect free speech as it is staying vigilant. “PCC safety personnel are aware of the need for increased awareness during this time of international conflict,” PCC spokesperson Alex Boekelhide said in an email. “There have been no changes to PCC Police policies or procedures, and the college will adapt its approach …

Faculty Association survives ouster from state union

Share: In the second decertification attempt in a year, the Pasadena City College Faculty Association (PCCFA) won a majority over the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) to remain as the on-campus faculty union representative.  The vote to remain with the FA was at approximately 52%, according to Political Science Professor and PCCFA Director Marcus Green. Just above the 50% needed to remain as the on-campus faculty representative. The CFT does not plan to contest the vote at this time or challenge the results.  “I’m hoping …

BLOTTER: Student cited for day drinking in class

Share: Monday, November 06, 2023 8:09 a.m.: Officer advised a transient to leave Lot 4 level 5. 8:57 a.m.: Staff at CEC reported an irate female yelling on the second floor near room 210. Officials were unable to locate.  12:39 p.m.: CDC staff reported a subject made a concerning statement to staff members in their department. Officials took a report. Tuesday, November 07, 2023 8:32 p.m.: Cadet advised a transient was loitering inside the GM building men’s locker room to leave the area. Wednesday November …