October 2023: Report to the Board
First Responders Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
On October 20, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the First Responders Campus at 10:00 a.m. The campus is on approximately 40 acres at Willow and North avenues in Southeast Fresno. The Police and Fire academies will share the campus. In late August, the academies began moving in. The $46.1 million campus houses fire training structures, a scenario village for police training and simulation spaces. Funding for the campus came from Measure E (2002) and Measure C (2016) bonds. The design of the First Responders Campus is unique with modular construction. The American Modular Systems design team worked with the Fire and Police academies in planning the space at the new campus.
Transformative Climate Community Meeting
On September 20, a Transform Fresno meeting was held at the West Fresno Center. President Robert Pimentel presented an update on the campus that included the number of students enrolled, courses offered and student services available. He also provided details on how the $16.5 million from the City of Fresno’s Transformative Climate Community (TCC) allotment is being utilized for pedestrian/bike pathways, water retention and native landscaping on the campus.
Undocumented Student Action Week Kick Off Planned with State Chancellor
Registration is now open for 2023 Undocumented Student Action Week. For the first time, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office will have a kick off with a full-day event to be held on Monday, October 16, from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Fresno City College. The day is organized to foster connections and provide engagement as a community of advocates. A series of webinars throughout the week to carry on the efforts. Registration is now open for all the week’s activities.
Repatriation Workshop Series
State Center Community College District, in partnership with the CSU Chancellor’s Office and Fresno State, is supporting a free workshop series to review the requirements of the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (CalNAGPRA) and the Federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These are regulations to which all California higher education systems, including Community Colleges, must comply. The first workshop on September 27 was a virtual training session to review the repatriation laws. The second workshop is on October 30 at Fresno State and will include various Central Valley campuses and tribal representatives to work towards positive repatriation outcomes.
Speakers Forum
The next Speakers Forum is slated for October 25 at 11:00 a.m. in the OAB Auditorium with Award-winning poet and FCC alumnus Brian Turner. He is the author of My Life as a Foreign Country and Here, Bullet. A veteran of the US Army, he is known for his writing about the Iraq War. The event is free.
Tim Miller: Activism Through Art
Renowned performance artist Tim Miller will bring his message of activism through art to Fresno City College the week of October 9. Miller will perform a new work created from his brand-new book A Body in the O. The solo performance is on October 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the FCC Theatre. Throughout the week he will work with theatre students to create a production based on their own life stories and experiences for Body Maps on Saturday, October 14 at 2 p.m. in the Theatre. Both events are fundraisers.
During his long career, Miller has focused his creative and political work on many social issues including marriage equality and addressing the injustices facing lesbian and gay couples in America.
Queer History Month Workshops
The Rainbow Alliance Staff and Faculty Association and the Office of Student Equity & Success are hosting a free, 2-day workshops celebrating Queer History Month on October 26 and 27 in the OAB. Lucca Petrucci, a motivational speaker and LGBTQIA+ activist will be leading fun and engaging workshops for FCC students. He has facilitated talks throughout the US for organizations, colleges and schools.
High School Counselors Conference
On October 6, FCC will host the annual High School Counselors Conference from 8:00 am – 2:30 pm. The SCCCD Outreach Teams will provide updated information on college programs and services. Over 200 counselors from the central valley will be in attendance.
Book Launch
A book launch is slated for FCC English instructor and author, Dr. Apryl Lewis, on October 17 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in OAB 251. Her new book is entitled, Black Feminism and Traumatic Legacies in Contemporary African American Literature.
Pizza with the President
On October 2, President Robert Pimentel hosted Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval for a special Pizza with the Presidents lunch that was held in the Staff Dining Room. Students were provided with transfer information 
and the areas of study that Fresno State provides. In addition, they made announcement regarding a Transfer Recognition event planned for April 2024.
Disability Awareness Month
The Disabled Student Program and Services will host Disability Awareness Day on Thursday, October 26 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM on University Mall. The event is designed to promote Disability Awareness by connecting students and the community to local organizations who are passionate about serving individuals with disabilities. Included are a resource fair, trivia booth, photo and game booths, emergency preparation and information on self-care and wellness. A one day virtual conference will be held on October 27th with disabilities in mind, and is open to everyone. Presenters will include Anthem Blue Cross, Elevance Health and RICV.
Adult Education Model Program
Congratulations to the Fresno City College Adult Education Program for being named a model program by the State of California Adult Education Program (CAEP). The FCC Adult Ed Program provides non-credit EMLS and Business Technology classes, High School Equivalency courses, dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment Pathway courses, matriculation services, and counseling support for adult students, including those at local Adult Schools and Community Organizations. The program will be recognized at the CAEP Summit 2023 in October.
Ram Health Fair
The 2nd annual Ram Health Fair was held on September 27 on University Mall. There were health-related vendors who showcased free services to help influence positive healthy habits for students and staff. Some free services included: vaccinations, WIC Services, Narcan distribution, and blood pressure screenings.
Art Space Gallery - Warping the Distances
A solo exhibition by new FCC Studio Art faculty Marla Sweitzer is in the Art Space Gallery AH 101. Marla Sweitzer: Warping the Distance runs from September 14 to October 26. Regular hours for the Art Space Gallery are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Marla Sweitzer’s ceramic paintings explore how changing light interacts with color as it falls across a hand-built surface. Each form sits between sculpture and painting, blurring the distinction between architecture and landscape. She holds an MFA in Studio Art from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has exhibited her ceramic sculptures at Housewright Gallery (Seattle), Warbling Collective (London), Jason McCoy Gallery (NYC), and Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture (Knoxville). Sweitzer joins as an Instructor in the Art Department at Fresno City College.
Friends of the Arts Fundraiser
Celebrate and support the Friends of the Arts at their annual fundraiser Toasting the Arts on October 20. Dinner, entertainment and an auction will be held in the OAB East Courtyard. Tickets are $65 each in advance and various sponsorships are available. Wine and light hors d’oeuvres begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner served at 7:00 p.m. You can purchase your tickets online.
Wresting Fundraiser
On Saturday, October 21, the Ram Wrestling team will host the 2023 Casino Night in the OAB East Courtyard at 6:00 pm. Three wrestler, Alfonzo Sanchez, Steven Urquizo and Angel Olea will be inducted into the Fresno Wrestling Hall of Fame. Tickets are $30 each and include hors d’oeuvres and gaming chips.
Fall Festival
The FCC Fall Carnival will take place on Friday, October 27 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm on University Mall. The annual event provides family friendly and safe fun. Admission is free. Expect free candy, games, performers, photo booths, food trucks, science demonstrations, a haunted house and a pumpkin patch. The Fall Carnival is sponsored by the Student Activities Office and the Student Interclub Council.
Sports Update
Women’s Volleyball Player, Druegan Davis was named the California Community College Athletic Association NorCal Player of the Week. The 6-foot sophomore from Hanford earned this award last year as a freshman. She had two outstanding games against Folsom Lake College and West Hills Lemoore where she recorded a combined 22 kills with a .286 overall hitting percentage. View all Rams Athletics
