Campus Message: October 5, 2022
Dear Colleagues and Campus Community,
As the nation's most extensive postsecondary education system serving the most significant number of undocumented students in the state, California Community Colleges (CCO) are committed to serving students regardless of immigration status. The Fresno City College Dream Center opened in 2015, years before all CCCs were required to provide centers and services to undocumented students, exemplifying our current mission, vision, and core values.
In support of our ongoing support of and advocacy for undocumented students, on October 17-21, 2022, Fresno City College will commemorate the sixth annual Undocumented Student Action Week. Undocumented Student Action Week is a statewide effort led by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCO), the Community College League of California, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges. This year's theme is Juntos Podemos (Together, We Can): Collaborative Ecosystems that Support Undocumented Students, which recognizes that we must be intentional about integrating undocumented student success throughout our ongoing equity efforts by breaking down silos, creating welcoming campus environments, and advocating for policy solutions that allow undocumented students to achieve their education goals and economic mobility.
In recognition of Undocumented Student Action Week, the Fresno City College Dream Center and Latino Faculty and Staff Association have worked diligently to host a series of events throughout the week of October 17, 2022. In addition to the events on campus, you can participate in the CCCCO Undocumented Student Action Week webinars by registering via this link.
Also, as I reflect on the positive purpose of Undocumented Student Action Week, I am mindful of the implications of the current national and judicial landscape on our Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students. I share similar concerns expressed by Chancellor Carole Goldsmith in a recent district-wide memo which is noted below:
“I am concerned by the pending decision by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals about the future of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which previously had assisted hundreds of thousands of young people to obtain the opportunity to legally work in the United States is at risk and may likely soon be repealed. This looming action directly affects many of our students and others within our community at the State Center Community College District. Our students and their families may be feeling an extra heaviness or uncertainty during this time.”
Given the above-mentioned implications and issues concerning DACA, we must collectively engage in this critical work not just during Undocumented Student Action Week but every day of the year because Juntos Podemos. I encourage you to join the series of events hosted on campus and/or virtually in the CCCCO webinars.
Finally, to our undocumented students, colleagues, and community, you matter to us, you are important to us, we care about you, and you belong at Fresno City College.
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Pimentel
President
Fresno City College
