College Report: September 2023
Historic Fall Enrollment Exceeds Goals
The first day of every semester is always exciting and busy on campus. This Fall was no exception, it was an exceptional start for our students on the main campus and the new West Fresno Center. The college has exceeded the target enrollment with nearly 7000 students registered full time.
Here’s a quick look at the first day (FB).
KVPR: Higher education comes to West Fresno with opening of city college satellite campus
ABC30: Fall semester begins at Fresno City College, new West Fresno Center
KMJ Radio: West Fresno Center Campus Opens
GV Wire: Take a Tour of the New Fresno City College West Campus
GV Wire: New College Campus Message to West Fresno Kids: ‘You Belong Here’
CBS47/KSEE24: ‘Dream’: New West Fresno community college opens Monday
ABC30: Fresno City College’s new West Fresno Center starts classes on Monday
KMPH: Fresno City College unveils new West Fresno Center
The Rampage: West Fresno Center Campus Set To Open
State of the College
Save the date for the 2023 State of the College breakfast with President Robert Pimentel on Friday, September 29 in the OAB East Courtyard and Auditorium. Tables and sponsorships are selling fast for this event. The funds raised will be used for the President’s Fund for Excellence to help students who may need support with special projects. There are still a limited amount of sponsorships and tables available that will include breakfast and special presentations in the OAB Auditorium.
DSP&S Increases Enrollment
The Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) surpassed their pre-COVID numbers for the fall 2023 semester with 2,187 students. DSPS conducted a student orientation during the summer for 100 students. They continue to partner with Fresno Unified and are offering an Adult Transition Program for 18 current students who are enrolled in the fall semester.
Transfer Day
FCC is hosting a Transfer Day event on September 13 with over 70 four-year colleges and universities participating. The event will be held outdoors from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. In addition, Guided Pathway workshops will be held to help students learn about specific majors.
9/11 Ceremony
FCC will commemorate the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 with a ceremony on Monday, September 11 in Veterans Square at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will include a memorial wreath march featuring retired biology instructor, Scott Porteous, playing the bagpipes. Peter Cacossa, Fire Academy Director, will emcee the event. The keynote address will be given by Chief Joseph Gallegos from the 144th Fighter Wing, who is the dual Air Force and Fire Chief for the 144th.
Financial Aid reaches record number of students
As the college enrollment increases, so does the number of students receiving financial aid. Due to the efforts and hard work of the classified staff who work in the Financial Aid Office, they disbursed over $8.6 million in Pell Grants. They have seen an increase in disbursements for the 2023-2024 academic year and distributed over 7,000 checks to date.
FCC receives Humanities Grant for the "Deep Maps" project
California Humanities has recently announced that Fresno City College will receive one of ten Humanities For All Project Grant Awards. Fresno City College has been awarded $25,000 for its project titled Deep Maps. The funding will be utilized for a visual art exhibition and public program hosted by the Fresno City College Art Space Gallery in the fall of 2024. It will feature artists, designers, and cultural practitioners who make work that deepens understanding of place and landscape. The Humanities For All Project Grant is a competitive grant program of California Humanities that supports locally developed projects that respond to the needs, interests and concerns of Californians, provide accessible learning experiences for the public, and promote understanding among our state’s diverse population.
Women's Conference
FCC will participate at the 2023 Central Valley Women’s Conference to be held at the Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall on September 26. The college will feature information booths that will include program information. Actor and model Brooke Shields is the keynote speaker.
College Night
The annual Fresno Area College Night will be held on September 13. This year’s fair will be held at the Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall with thousands of students and their families learning about their options in higher education from colleges and universities from across the country. Fresno City College’s booths and displays will include FCC counselors, faculty, outreach specialists, and Student Ambassadors. FCC counselors and staff will also participate in various workshops to provide information on college, financial aid and the admissions process in a digital environment.
In the News
ABC30: Fresno City College ‘Ram Pathways’ aim to give students a road to success
KSEE24/CBS47: FCC Wall of Famers talk about getting Wall call
GV Wire: Fresno Unified’s Summer Camps Are the Nation’s ‘Gold Standard’
Welcome Black Week
The FCC UMOJA Program will be hosting the FCC 2nd Annual Welcome Black Week from September 18 – 21. The week is designed to celebrate, welcome, and engage FCC African American students by building a sense of belonging and purpose on campus. The events include opportunities to meet with campus leadership, faculty and staff on Sept. 18, and Sept. 19 there is an opportunity for students to explore transfer and trades offered on campus and a community event with a barbeque is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Scholarship Reception
The annual Scholarship Reception was held on August 25 in the OAB Auditorium. This year, there was a substantial increase in the number of students who received scholarships with over 700 students receiving State Center Community College Foundation awards totaling more than $ 460,000 for the 2023-24 academic year. The evening began with the donor and student reception at 5:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria and the scholarship ceremony followed.
Mexico Trip
FCC President Dr. Robert Pimentel was part of an SCCCD delegation that traveled to Mexico to meet and find more information on a variety of topics that would benefit the district. Meetings were held with Chancellor Juan Marquez of the Universidad Mexiquense del Bicentenario and his cabinet that included some of the directors from the district’s universities on the expansion of faculty and student exchange programs. There were meetings held regarding programming for English courses for some of their more advanced faculty that SCCCD could organize for them. There was also a visit to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CYMMIT) where the possibilities of research partnerships for faculty were discussed.
CityFest
The dancing, food and fun is back on Friday, September 29 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. in the Old Administration Building. This exciting and festive event features a silent auction, food and drinks and dancing to DJ Dave, a well-known local radio personality and Fresno City College alumnus. Be part of the fun and help raise funds to endow the Library and Learning Support Services Dean’s Medallion Scholarship.
FCC Faculty engage in summer programs
This summer Fresno Pacific University’s Summer Sierra program partnered with FCC’s Dream Center and EOPS Office to include students in their outdoor classroom to study environmental ethics and build deep connections with each other and with nature in the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountains! FCC philosophy instructor Dr. Max Parish’s philosophy ethics class joined FPU students and faculty for five days hiking and studying in Wawona and Yosemite Valley, and then six days backpacking near Leavitt Meadows in the Eastern Sierra. President Pimentel was able to visit the students at their base camp in Wawona for student presentations and a hike.
FCC English instructor Juan Luis Guzman directed the musical On Your Feet! The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan at the Selma Arts Center this summer. Reviews of the musical gave Guzman high marks!
FCC Music instructor Brandon Bascom presented the ABC’s of Teaching with Technology Online and Beyond at the Music Teachers Association of California State Convention in July.
Sports Update
The Fresno City College athletic teams have started their respective fall seasons. The women’s volleyball team will start their season on September 13 at Folsom Lake College.
The Ram football team opened their season at Diablo Valley College on September 1. All the football games will be broadcast live on 940 KYNO.
The men’s soccer team will start their season on September 7 at Skyline College. The women’s soccer team hosted their first home game against Santa Rosa Junior College on August 29. The women’s water polo team will start their season hosting American River College on September 13. Check out all the fall sports schedules on the FCC athletic website.
